Jammin' Friday

In honor of Good ol' Turkey day

The Turkey song by Adam Sandler.

I think he is just plain funny,

and he comes up with some really unusual

and funny lyrics.

Have a listen and tell me your favorite part of the song!

Vacation

I had some vacation days left that I needed to use before the end of the year.

I took last week off to be home with my kids.

I learned a few things:

1. Paid vacation days are a great time to potty train a 2 year old
Which I'm proud to say is going pretty dang great!
And all it took was a penny gumball machine.

2. I didn't get to sleep in, not even for a minute.

3. I still don't clean my house even when I'm home for 5 days straight.

Plus, what's the point when kids are home
Destroying everything faster than you can clean it.

4. I can have dinner made by 3 o'clock every day

{my husband teases me relentlessly for that one}

5. I read an entire book during the short naptime hours.
"The Art of Racing in the Rain"
Good read {more about that later}

6. I find as many ways to get out of the house as humanly possible.

7. I Absolutly LOVE spending time with my kids,

snuggling in our jammies until right before dad gets home from work,

going to get a coke/slushie {in said jammies} at 9:30am, yes we have a problem.

I still have a few of those Vacation days left

to use before the end of the year.

I am looking forward to them.

8 Favorite Books

I decided to follow one of Mama Kat's writing prompts this week. 

If you haven't checked out her blog, 

every week she posts a writing prompt. 

They are pretty fun because she gives you 5 ideas 

of something to blog about. 

A little inspiration!

This week I chose to write about 8 books

that I think everyone should read at least once in their lifetime. 

So I am just going to put down my favorites!

1. Harry Potter 1-7 by J.K Rowling

Harry Potter is my all time favorite! J.K. Rowling has a way of making 

a children's book totally appropriate for adults too!

And as much as I love the Harry Potter books,

The movies are completely amazing too!

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I was up through all hours of the night reading this book. 

Based during Nazi occupied Germany, 

a young girl whose mother and brother are killed 

go to live with foster parents.

They hide a Jewish man in their basement. 

He teaches the girl to read, 

and in her thirst for knowledge, she steals all the books she can find.

I absolutely LOVED the descriptions, 

they were so subtle, yet so vibrant.

A movie adaptation was released Nov 8th

and is on my list of movies to see!

3. 11/22/63 by Stephen King

This was such an amazing book.

I'm slightly fascinated with history anyway, 

and although this was a work of fiction

many historical events were included.

11/22/63 is about a man who goes back in time 

to try and prevent the Kennedy assassination

and everything that happens 

in the world when the historical events 

are changed. 

It is 800+ pages, 

but I didn't once get bored or hoped that

it would hurry up and end. 

4. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

One that I think should be read to every child. 

The story about a tree who loved a boy. 

The boy would come to the tree everyday. 

As he got older, 

he expected more of the tree. 

The tree loved him, so the tree gave and gave. 

A remarkable story about the act of giving, 

and showing love to those around us. 

5. The Host by Stephanie Meyer

This is not the MOST famous book that Stephanie Meyer has written, 

but it is also nothing like Twilight. 

This is a little hard to get into at first and understand, 

but believe me you will love it!

The world is invaded by other life forms

who take over the human brain and occupy the bodies. 

Melanie Stryder's brain is taken over

but she refused to give in. 

Such an exciting imaginative novel!

I think this is also a movie, 

which I haven't seen. 

Is it any good?

6. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The thought of a child with cancer is heart wrenching to begin with, 

but this brought a whole new perspective. 

About wanting to be remembered in a life that is "a side effect of dying." 

I loved how Hazel saw the world around her. 

I loved that she fell in love.

 The kind of love that is so magical and real. 

Not typical 17 year old puppy love. 

And I loved all the charactera that John Green created.

Be warned, YOU WILL CRY!

7. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

An unlikely friendship 

evolved between a wealthy boy, 

and the servant's son. 

How he feels he must hide it, 

and how they learn to show their friendship and love.

I loved this book in so many ways. 

It was sad, and terrifying at the same time. 

Towards the end of the story, it describes the state Afganistan is in. 

It scares me, and breaks my heart that so many people have to deal with such terrible things.

8.The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

This book was so unusual, 

and unpredictable.

A Circus appears unexpectedly no one knows

when it will come, or how long it will stay

The story behind rivalry and

forbidden love.   

AND A BONUS #9

I couldn't leave this one out!

The Book of Mormon

You can read it all here for FREE! 

Those are some of my favorites! 

Have you read any? 

What are your favorites?

PLEASE SHARE!!!

Spiritual Thought Sunday

Take Time to Be Holy

Take time to be holy, speak oft with they Lord;

Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.

Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak, 

Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek. 

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on; 

Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone. 

By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be; 

Thy friend in thy conduct His likeness shall see. 

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide; 

And run not before Him, whatever betide. 

In h\joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord, 

And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul, 

Each though and each motive beneath His control. 

Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love, 

Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above. 

-William D. Longstaff

Jamin' Friday

Just a favorite dance jam at our house

"Harlem" by New Politics

Spiritual Thought Sunday

I'm super late on my Spritual Thought Sunday,

I've been having way to much fun

spending time with my kids.



Mosiah 4: 14-15

"And ye will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and quarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the evil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another."

This scripture came up in my Sunday School Class on Sunday 

and I loved it!

It is such a great reminder that we need to learn

all that we can,

so we can teach our children

to do what is right.

I know that I need to work on being a better

example to my children.

I need to be better about letting

them see my pray,

and read my scriptures,

and make sure they know how

important it is to attend the temple.

My goal is to strive to teach my children these things

at a young age.

What will you do to teach your children to

"walk in the ways of truth?"

Motivation and Jammin' Friday

A coworker of mine shared this with everyone on our team.

I loved it and thought it was

great advice to help get us through our friday!

Highest vision

Look up from what you’re doing and look around for a minute. See what a beautiful world you’re in.

Take your mind off the problems for a moment, and focus on the positive possibilities. Consider how very much you are able to do.

Turn your attention for a while away from the worries and anxieties. Remind yourself of all your many blessings.

The direction of your focus is the direction your life will move. Let yourself move toward what is good, valuable, strong and true.

The things that fill your awareness are the things that will fill your life and your world. So expand your awareness beyond your own concerns and toward the best of what can be.

Look up and look confidently toward the highest vision you can imagine. The moment you do, you’re on your way there.

— Ralph Marston



I felt like this quote inspires us to strive to fulfill our potential and forget the negative things in life. I don't know why, but this song immediately popped into my head. Enjoy "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor.

**P.S.** It's a long weekend for me! I am thrilled to spend some much needed time snuggling my kids, and husband. I also plan on avoiding housework at all costs {as if that were an unusual thing to be doing}. I hope you do the same!  

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Winter Wonderful

I woke up to snow this morning.

It is not unusal to see snow this time of year in Utah.

Big huge flakes falling to the ground.

a few sticking,

mostly to the grass.

All I could think about was the

fact that I wore the wrong shoes to work today.

The snow was going

to seep into the sides of my flats,

and soak the hem of my pants.

At least I have a heater

under my desk to warm my toes,

and dry my hem.

My kids on the other hand were so excited.

Nixon kept asking

if he could play in it after school.

Gweny kept yelling,

"Mommy so much snow!"

There really wasn't that much snow,

just a sprinkling really.

One of the many reasons to

really love the fact that I am a mother, 

with small children 

who remind me daily about the important 

things in life. 

I wouldn't mind it one bit if this snow 

sticks around for a little while.

What is your favorite weather? 

Spiritual Thought Sunday

“Stop seeking out the storms

And enjoy more fully the sunlight.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

I know that I myself need to take this into account

More often than I do.

I am one who seems to dwell on the negative.

That is something that I really need to work on in my life.

Focus on the “sunlight”

And not the negative.

I thought this quote was perfect for

The beginning of November.

I try to think of all my blessings throughout

The whole year.

But November is just a great reminder

For us to sit back and think of what we are thankful for.

Just a few things that I’m thankful for are:

**My amazing husband**.

He keeps me grounded, when I feel like the world is crumbling

Under my feet.

He is smart, fun, spiritual and knows how to keep m laughing.

**My kids**

They remind me of how life is supposed to be fun.

They teach me so much more

On a daily basis than I think I could ever teach them.

**My Job**

Even though I look forward to a day when I won’t

Have to work full time.

I am thankful that I am able to work

To help support my family.

**My family**

My family is so amazing.

I’m so thankful for my parents, and all they do for me.

I’m so thankful for my brothers and the men they have become.

I am also so grateful for my inlaws.

They are such amazing people.

**The Church**

I am thankful for the knowledge I have

Of a loving Heavenly Father

Who knows me…

Little ol’ me.

He knows my needs,

More than I know myself.

He is there for me

And will never leave me.

I am thankful for the atonement of

My savior Jesus Christ.

That he suffered on the cross for ME

That I may have the opportunity

to repent of my sins,

and live with my Heavenly Father again.

**My Trials**

I am thankful for my trials.

They helped shape me into who I’ve become.

They teach me to rely on my

Heavenly Father,

To trust him

And know that he loves me

What are some things that you are thankful for?

Please Share!



Happy Halloween

Halloween has never been my favorite holiday.

I've always been a bit of a "chicken."

I don't like Haunted Houses,

Or anything that scares me for that matter.

I've been to one Haunted House.

I cluched onto Blake's back,

and did not open my eyes, not for one second.

Best $20+ he's ever spent on me!

It is slightly more fun now that I have children to dress up,

and to see the excitement in their eyes

as they walk up and knock on the neighbors doors.

This is the first year that we have really taken

the kids Trick-or-treating.

They loved it!

Gweny was pretty nervous at first,

but she started getting to the point where she would cautiously

walk up and whisper "trick-or-treat."

Then say "thank you."

Here are a just a few pictures of them in their costumes.

I will post more,

probably next week.

Gweny was Dorothy, she did have a basket with Toto

that she made Daddy carry around for her.



Nixon was a Ninja.

He only wanted to be a Ninja because he

would get to carry nifty swords.

He did inform me that I needed to hang up

his costume nicely so he can wear it again next year.

Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween!