Snow Fun!

Evie was so excited to run out and play in the newly fallen snow. She ran back and forth and back and forth across the front lawn and gathered snow for the little snowman. Stratton helped put the finishing touches on the snowman...cheerios for the eyes and mouth, BYU hat, and stick arms. Evie couldn't resist tasting the snow too, yummy!

Skiing

January 23rd we went skiing as a family for the first time EVER! Trish, Clay and Tyler came with us! I haven't been skiing since I've been married, which means 16 years! I was a little nervous for myself, but I should have been more nervous for the boys! What an experience. It all started with putting on those %$#!! boots. We must have sat in the parking lot for 45 minutes trying to get our boots on. We ended up laughing so hard that then we really couldn't do anything! Then trying to teach the boys how to put the skis over their shoulder, hold their poles and walk in those boots, it was hilarious! So as you can see, we were really off to a great start... then it started snowing. Not just any snowfall, but worst blizzard ever, snowfall. The flakes weren't falling down, they were falling sideways into our faces..lovely!! So off the boys went to ski school. Trish and I looked on (because we're experts, you know). Anyway, I started to wonder if this was the best idea, I think the instructor was starting to wonder this himself. But, after many falls, tears, frustration, and a few laughs, it seemed to be coming together. We only had 15 minutes left with the instructor of our 2 hour session so we decided to head up the ski lift and test our skills. The instructor took Stratton, I went with Andrew, and well Troy and Haden were together. Troy totally biffed it getting off the lift lol... I'm sorry, but it was hilarious! Andrew was wild man with no way to stop but by falling, and not gracefully. Troy could go one direction, but couldn't turn, Stratton was holding on to the instructor for dear life, and Haden biffed it so bad, both of his skis came off and he was covered in snow from head to toe! Well, as for me, it was a rush! I have never had so much fun skiing, or I had just forgotten how fun skiing is! After this venture down the mountain we decided the boys needed more practice on the bunny hill while Trish and I did a few more runs. All in all it was a great day, the boys say that they will go back, but they're definitely not begging to go. I am so proud of Troy to put on skis for the first time at 37 years old, I think he did great! Hopefully we'll make it back up before the season is over! And hopefully the weather will cooperate next time and hopefully this can become a great family tradition!

Motivation

Sometimes we have to find ways to motivate our children. Perhaps to develop new habits or change old ones. Andrew really struggles getting to school on time. He likes to take his own sweet time and at his own pace not matter how much I remind him that "You need to hurry, you're going to be late!!!" Well, he got a letter from the principal that he had too many tardies and needed to try harder to be on time. You would think this would motivate him, but only slightly... then I had a grand idea! When his exercise ball popped, he wanted to get a new one so bad. Mmmmm, perfect opportunity/motivation... how about no exercise ball until he is consistently on time to school... Ah ha, great idea! It worked brilliantly! I have never seen him so motivated and moving so quickly in the morning, it was awesome!! After 2 weeks he got his ball, and now his consequence for being late...the ball is taken away for an extended period of time, until he proves that he is still "motivated" to be on time... still working like a charm!

Daddy and Me

Evie loves her Daddy! Her mood totally changes (for the better) when he walks through the door from work. Suddenly, she's all smiles (she can get a little grumpy that time of day). The cool thing is, she cheers him up too, after a long day of work. I love watching the bond they have, it's priceless!

Sledding

January 2nd we went sledding with Trish and boys, Kerry, and Darleen. We went to a great hill in East Layton. Troy built this really cool sled. He wants to use it for snowmobiling this year to pull our gear to the cabin. So we got to try it out. It was awesome! Super heavy duty, sturdy, and stable. We packed on it with no problem. Kerry even enjoyed the ride! The only down side was getting it back up the hill... super heavy... especially when Evie and Tate got to ride it back up the hill. SNoW FuN! (scrapbooking cliche')... couldn't resist!

Princess Evelyn

Evie got this "Prayer Bear" at church a couple weeks ago from her Nursery teachers to help her remember to say her prayers. She loves it! She has been going to nursery so good lately and actually loves to go now! Evie has been saying her prayers all by herself now too. She says things like; Thank you for my family, Thank you for the temple, Thank you for my brothers, Thank you for mommy and daddy. It is so adorable. Lately she has been singing her prayers and even puts a little vibrato in at the end of each sentence. She loves to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Horsey Horsey, Wise Man Foolish Man, and Follow the Prophet. After I received my YW Medallion I sat down by Evie and put it on. Evie looked at it and said, "It's so cute, it has a temple on it." I love how she notices little things like that. She went shopping with me the other day and everything I tried on she was admiring it and saying "I like this one, it's so cute... look at the beautiful dress mama. Try this one mama. Do you want a purse, this one's pretty, put it on." She was totally into it and I was just eating it up!! Other funny things Evie says are "Oh Barnikles", "Holy Crap", "I don't know", and "Allright". She still loves to wear dresses and pretty shoes, but still doesn't like to get her hair done! She is always talking about Princesses and loves to watch Snow White. She is our little princess, there's not doubt about that!!

Young Women Recognition Award

I have been serving in Young Women for over almost a year and a half now in the Layton 2nd Ward. I was the Mia Maid advisor for just over a year. I loved that position and had so much fun getting to know the girls and leaders. In November our ward split and I was called to be the Young Women president. It was so sad to split up our great board and Young Women. But we have carried on and it has been great so far! This is my 2nd time being YW president. Some of the memory of how busy and overwhelming this calling can be had truly left me. But my memory has come back now in full force as I take on the many responsiblities and challenges of this calling. It has been really busy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world! I love it!! Over the past year I have been working on my YW Recognition Award as a leader. After I was called as President, I set my goal to finish it up by New Beginnings at the end of January. This was no small task as I still had some value experiences left to do and I had a lot left to read in the Book of Mormon to finish up the value of Virtue. I was also in charge of a couple big activities right off the bat, and headed up the Sub for Santa for the ward. I also taught the first combined YW lesson as the new presidency. Not to mention the fact is was Christmas time and all of the extra obligations and time commitments that creates! So needless to say, at first, I didn't know how I was going to do it all. However, the Lord truly blessed me and my family during this time and made it possible for me to accomplish this goal. I know I was blessed with more energy, inspiration, ideas, cooperative family, etc. I really saw the hand of the Lord in my life and truly everything went so smooth and just worked out. It was a great experience! I actually didn't want it to end because of the flow of blessings and extra portion of the Spirit I was feeling in my life. I was reading the scriptures every chance I could get. I read the Book of Mormon along with a study guide that really brought it to life and my understanding increased and my testimony grew! I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve and for the this inspired program. This is just what I needed in my life right now. I was able to receive my medallion along with Ashlee Porter and Kaley Wall during Ward Conference on January 16th. It is truly an experience I will never forget!