Updated Family Photos

I've been reluctant to change our family photo on our blog or on my Facebook page until Austin returns home from his mission and we have a truly updated family photo with all of us in it.

However, I was determined to get a photo of Riley before he headed out the door to college once again.  We didn't ever really have Senior year photos taken, nor did we have a nice pre-mission photo done either.  Our kids grow and change whether we want them to or not.  I want to remember the kids at all phases of life and photos are the one way to do just that.

So, thank you, Mickisha Glen for coming on Dec. 31, 2011 late in the afternoon and taking a few casual photos of the kids and the rest of us to document this moment in time.

Riley

Parker

Macey

The kids and me.

Silly kids having a good time.  Love the laughter.

TOFW = Time Out For Women

I got to have a great weekend with some great women.  I have only been to one other TOFW event probably 9 years ago.  I was so glad to go again.

The theme for this year's event was - Seek the Good!  What a great thought to consider and apply in one's life.  The speakers and the music used this to base their remarks around.  It was very uplifting and inspiring.  It is good to feed one's soul!  There's so much I could share about the talks given and what I felt.  I think I will save it for a future post.

We got to start the weekend at the Orlando temple.  The traffic was outrageous - add to that construction zones and an accident.  It took us an hour longer to arrive.  We didn't get to do all we had planned at the temple but still was grateful for the short time we spent there.

 

 We had dinner that night at TGIF's.  I had the Parmesan Crusted Chicken - A sautéed chicken breast basted with Caesar Vinaigrette dressing, then finished with a Parmesan crust topping. Served with three-cheese tortelloni tossed in spinach Alfredo sauce and a side of our fresh tomato mozzarella salad. Wouldn't be complete without a little Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie - Chocolate ganache layered with peanut butter mousse in a peanut butter graham cracker crust. Topped with whipped cream and a peanut butter cup. 

 

 Great food.  Great women.  Great friends.

 Here's Dana Shaw trying to figure out how to upload our photo to the TOFW on Facebook.

 

 Here's Marji Winder trying to do the same.

 Here they both are trying to help each other. 

Me, Nicole Prime, Dana Shaw, Marji Winder

 I was taking these few pictures and then a lady behind us in the line for lunch offered to take our picture with us all together.  Thank you Nicole for lending me your black flip flops to wear since I forgot to pack mine.

Mickisha Glen

On our way home.

Another Thought!

Can you believe it?!  I am actually having another thought and THIS time I am actually posting it!  I had to laugh at Nicole's comment "I'm glad you had a thought today!" regarding my last non-existent post.

I have been a little busy - STUDYING - actually (20+ hours this week alone).  I set a goal to get all my ducks in a row to be 'qualified' and accepted to be a Non-Instructional Substitute in the school district here.  I don't have an Assoc. Degree or 60 credit hours so extra testing required.  I finished my online testing (last of 8) late last night.  Prior to that I had to take a Para Professional test at the District offices.

Today, Tues. 3/6/12 was 1/2 day of school for kids.  I had a limited amount of time this morning but got my friend, Nicole Prime to tag along on some errands for fun.  My errands you ask?

1.  Pickup Johns suits from JOS Banks - funny that I got off on the right exit and headed over but then turned N instead of S and was almost to 2nd errand before even getting the 1st one checked off my list.  Oh well - I adjust well.  Errand #1 will turn into Errand #3.

2.  Drop of Scout re-chartering paperwork at the Scout office and request printout of my own son's progress.  I have no idea where he really stands.  They don't work on merit badges at scouts (someone explain that one to me) so I'm afraid he's horribly behind but don't even know.  I was pretty on the ball with the older boys.   Maybe because they started out with a really great Scout Master (Travis Mitchell) that got them off and running from the get go and maybe because my husband was Scout Master towards the end of their scouting experience and I was his go-to-GAL for badges and record upkeep.

3.  HOBBY LOBBY!  Why else do you think I was eager to go to the Scout office to drop off paperwork?!  They are both in Ft. Myers.  I have to have a reason to go to Ft. Myers and justify the trip to Hobby Lobby!  We only had time to run in and get the fabric we had in mind and head back out.  I want to make Macey a couple of under-skirt ruffle slips to make her dresses longer and Nicole is making some adorable bibs for baby gifts -Shhhh - don't tell.  Nicole's youngest daughter had preschool so we rushed back to get her there almost on time.  Another time we will do our browsing and really enjoy.

4.  Dropped her off at home with an extra child, my daughter, and returned back to my 1st errand of picking up John's suits. 

Parker had a friend, Max over after school.  You know all they want to do is play video games.  However, when I got home I made them take a break and treated them to a cold drink of their choice @Walgreen's (exciting, I know) and found kites & gliders.  Perfect for our blustery & windy day in Florida.  A little fresh air and outside time didn't hurt anyone - not even them.

I even treated myself to a little outside time and enjoyed feeling the wind in my hair.  The boys decided to get out the skateboard, wood board, broom stick and take each other for a ride.

Macey and Janiel came back to our house.  It is never hard to get them to be outside.  They are masters at tree climbing.  We have the perfect tree in our front yard and they spend HOURS up in it!  Literally!

Thought for the Day!

Time!

 It's time for a new year.  It's time for new goals to be set, new things to achieve, new decisions to be made, new challenges to tackle, new joys to be had, and so much more.

 It's a time for fun family reunions - Riley's home and Austin will be sooner than we know. 

 It's time to blog more!  It's the only journal of events I have in the works and it has suffered.  I need to give myself permission to do it. 

It's time for great strides, great moments, great good!  What a great year awaits.

Taking Time to Say I'm Sorry.

We've had a busy week. I'm sure most people have.  It's been late nights and more.  We had a catchup day with Riley taking the two youngest out to do some shopping.  When he got back, I headed out.  Got a few things done and then met up with John.  We did a few things and headed home. 

The kids and I took Riley to meet up with some friends, picked up some Christmas things from the storage unit.  We came home, threw a cheese pizza in the oven, watched Wind At My Back on the BYU channel while we ate.

Then we attempted to fix the lights on the Christmas tree - meaning we pulled off the ones that weren't working and added some more.  Then the kids added their ornaments.  We watched the Mormon Tabernacle Choir with guest, David Archuleta perform.

Then Macey wanted to wrap some gifts. Gifts to me from her and Parker and then her gift to Parker.  Well, they didn't make it very far.  An argument ensued over the use of the tape.  From both parties it was the other person's fault.  Arguing, unkind words, lots of tears does not make the season bright. 

I think our week of late nights has caught up with us.  The only good thing that comes from moments such as these is being able to teach the principle of saying I'm sorry and making it happen.  Hopefully it won't be a lesson they have to learn too many times. 

There is a peace that comes with the softening of one's heart, saying I'm sorry and giving the other person you have wronged a hug - trying to make things right!

The Spirit of Christmas - The White Stocking

I was looking online this morning for some ideas to supplement my Young Women's lesson this Sunday.  I so want the spirit to touch each Young Women's heart each time.  It's one of so few opportunities to do so.  There's this burning desire to want them to know what the spirit feels like so they recognize it and seek for it in their lives. Besides the fact that I want to feel it too.

I came across the idea of the White Stocking.  What an awesome idea for Young Women's & Monday's FHE!  You can find it here.  There is a lesson outline and list of scriptures of the gifts we can give.  Definitely for the Smith family FHE.  I'm still formulating YW.

White Stocking Poem
It wasn’t that anyone had really been forgotten,
no children had been slighted or made unhappy
and no adult had been left unremembered.
The presents had all been distributed
and all the stockings were beautifully filled,
all that is except one;
It was the stocking intended for the child of Bethlehem.
Of all the people belonging at that Christmas gathering,
only He had been forgotten.
Only He had been left out of the festivities.
This didn’t seem quite right,
inasmuch as it was His birthday that was being celebrated.

This year, hang this little white stocking
in a special place in your home.
On Christmas Eve, as you reflect upon the Savior,
write on a piece of paper
a gift for Christ to be placed in the stocking.
It will remain in the stocking
until next year’s Christmas Eve,
When you can reach into the stocking
and read the paper from the year before,
written from your heart to the Savior.

We hope that you will enjoy beginning this
Holiday tradition. Your gift could include:
personal goals you wish to achieve,
or relationships you wish to improve,
ways you will be of service to others in the coming year.
Whatever you choose, may this gift to the Savior
bring you closer to Him as you walk in His light
And follow in His footsteps.

Another lesson focused around the Nativity that I liked as well.  You can find it here.  It would be another great FHE idea.  Funny how that works.  It has a fun game called the Left Right Christmas Nativity Story. 

"In those days, Caesar Augustus decided to count everyone LEFT living in the whole Roman world. Joseph LEFT, taking Mary with him RIGHT to his town of Bethlehem to register."

Young children would find this a fun activity most of all.  Gives them the opportunity to move along with the story - be part of it.