The price of a (somewhat) peaceful shower

Note to self ~ Put toilet paper up when showering

Hearts and Hands Service Day

I have been the Hearts and Hands coordinator for my local congregation. We have been gathering donations for the last couple of months to donate to various community organizations. I am so grateful to be able to participate in such a wonderful service project. Can you believe that this isn't even everything that the Laurel Ward donated, I am grateful to be around women that are so willing to give of their time and talents, and are willing to share with the entire community!

Hygiene Kits

Twin, lap, & baby quilts ~ receiving blankets & burp cloths

Hats, scarves, gloves, & socks

Backpacks

Food, towels, school & baby supplies

Imagine all this x 15 x all the time women from around Billings will donate to assemble hygiene kits to go to the Women & Family shelter, Men's shelter, layettes to go to the Crisis Pregnancy center, backpacks full of supplies to go to children who wouldn't have them otherwise. That is only a few of the many organizations that will benefit from everyone who is participating in this. The community organizations benefit from the physical donations, we benefit from the JOY that we receive from serving others! Thank you to everyone who helped out. It has been a pleasure for me to see all of the collections coming in (although I have to admit I am glad to have all of that stuff out of my house).

Case Solved

Wednesday: Facts

1. Taylor is caught in Britnee's room with all of Britnee's Easter candy on the floor.


2. I quickly put the candy away.


3. After school Britnee comments that all of her good candy is gone (i.e. many of her foil wrapped Hershey's eggs and quite a few jelly beans)


4. I tell her I have no idea where they went. Jake is accused of high grading her stash.

Thursday: Case Solved

1. Shortly after Jake, Colton, and Britnee board the bus Taylor crawls up the stairs to Britnee's bedroom.


2. Kelly peeks around the doorway and spots the suspect. Taylor pulls out a box from Britnee's bookcase and reaches her little almost 16 mo. old hand into the box and pulls out a treat that she immediately puts into her mouth.


3. Missing treats found and returned to rightful owner.

Why?

Why does my family eat an entire 9x13 pan of cornbread one day and there is this much left tonight (from an 8x8 pan plus 6 little muffins)? Does any one else have unpredictable eaters?Would a post of mine be complete without a picture or two of Taylor? Here she is "in jail" she likes the view she has from in the kitchen into the family room where all the big kids are hanging out.

Pictures and Basketball

Here are a few pictures of our family

3.14.2009

Taylor almost 15 mo. (& almost walking?)

I love the picture below, Saturday was Annie's baptism (Nels & Andrea's daughter). It was so fun to watch Annie, she is such a sweetie. After the baptism we had refreshments and all of the kids sat in a big circle. Notice Carter surrounded by girls!

It was also Kelly's birthday on Saturday, I felt a little guilty but not guilty enough because I ditched him Saturday evening to go watch Fairfield play in the State Championship game. It was a good game (especially because Fairfield won). It was fun to see friends & watch the game.

Ashley, McKay, Tate & Jake

Waiting for Spring!

Britnee and Taylor 2.27.2009

Kelly tells me that this is child abuse, I promise Taylor was not even outside long enough to make her little nose red. Britnee made me promise no more than 5 pictures, at 9 she left me alone in the snow with only my camera. We are ready for Montana's beautiful spring weather mixed with snow storms (of course)!

The "H" Word

Today I am making valentine sugar cookies. I really do not like to make cut out cookies. They are way too messy and they get crumbs everywhere. However I remember coming home from school around Valentines Day to stacks of heart shaped cookies and pink frosting and lots of red hots and candy hearts and thought that it was so fun to be able to decorate cookies. That is why I am baking cookies right now. So far I have an undercooked batch that is falling apart and an overcooked batch. Since I have those 2 out of the way the rest should be perfect, right?

I won't say I hate making the cookies although that is the word that has been going through my head. A few days ago Britnee told me that kids were using bad words on the bus. I asked her what they were saying. She told me that a kindergartner was "using the H word" when a 1st grader got on the bus. I asked her if the word was hate, she shook her head yes. Ever since then I have taken notice when I say hate and I am trying not to use the "H" word. If only hate was the worst word they heard on the bus/at school/in movies. I just thought that was a cute pre-valentine story. I will love eating the cookies my kids decorate for me!