Halloween Fun

 I love to do festive things during the holidays.  One of my favorite holiday traditions is making sugar cookies.  This year we had Meli to help us make the cookies and she was a big help.  Everyone helped roll out the cookie dough, frost the cookies and decorate.

 We also had fun for FHE when Kara and Meli were carving their pumpkins.  Meli hadn't carved a pumpkin since when she was 8, so it was fun to watch her.   Kara made her pumpkin into  something related to Hungry Games and she was so happy because  she put a picture of her pumpkin on Twitter and one of the actors in the movie liked it.  She was on Cloud 9.    Meli carefully cleaned out her pumpkin and then made a fun face for her pumpkin.  

Oops, I forgot the finished result, but when I do I will put them on here!

This week and other things....

Wow!  What a jammed pack week!  This week started off with going to Layla's soccer game.  She happened to be playing her championship game really close to our home so I was able to go and see it.  She is an awesome soccer player and it was fun to watch her competitive soccer team win. 

 Meli started school this week.  Kara and Meli went to a new school orientation to become more familiar with her schedule.  We went to an Aspect Foundation mandatory meeting.  There they discussed the rules and familiarized the students with the program. I really like her program director, Heather.  She happens to have been Kara's German teacher so it was cool for Kara to go to her home.  Aspect, the organization that Meli is a part of, seems to be really organized and very supportive.  I have already gotten several phone calls for them checking on how things are going and Meli has too.  I also went to a Back to School night with Meli and I was really impressed with her school.  I have a Highland Ram and a Bingham Miner.  Kara went to her first high school football game. 

Meli had her first day of school on Wednesday and she really liked it.  She thinks her classes might be too easy, but we decided to wait  a week or so before changing them. Kara has her first day tomorrow.  I have been so impressed with Meli's attitude about starting everything new.  She is so easy going and has a fun sense of humor and very smart! 

We spent a lot of time going shopping for things for Meli.  On Thursday we went to get Meli some school supplies and other things.  We went out to a sandwich shop and since it was so close to Wal Mart we decided to go there.  I generally don't like this particular Wal Mart, but decided since it was close to AT&T that we should suck it up and go.  BIG. MISTAKE.  To make a long story short, Meli wanted to get some slippers.  She picked out some adorable slippers.  They were soft and fluffy.  She put her feet in them to make sure they fit at the store.  They fit just fine, but when we got home and she was taking out the stuffing often in new shoes, she realized it wasn't stuffing, but a MOUSE!!   Seriously, I have yet to see the mouse, but Kara, Meli and Matt both did and I will take their word for it. I despise mice like I can't even describe.  I couldn't even look at it or it would be forever etched in my mind.  Matt is planning to take pictures of it, but I don't want it on my camera or on my blog or I would be ILL!  Sorry, to be so dramatic, but this is how I feel.  Anyways, I feel horrible that this happened to Meli with her first purchase of slippers/shoes.  She was a good sport about it and wasn't too traumatized.   Spencer has been in contact with the store manager and he has been very helpful, I don't really feel like it is the stores fault, but they have assured us that they have check all of their slippers and there are no mice in them.  We are taking them back, mouse and all tomorrow. 

We took Meli and Kara camping.  The weather unfortunately was a little on the cold side.  We brought our boat up to Bear Lake and Meli said she hadn't been on a boat like that before or for a long time.   We came home a little early because  it was colder and Kara just found out on Tuesday that she had to read a book and do other homework before school started on Monday.  Somehow her English teacher didn't pass out the assigned work last year.  Poor thing. 

 Had to go to La Beau's to get a yummy burger.  Matt and Meli got a grilled cheese.

 Camping, right before it started to rain!

And with other news, Spencer has had a two week work vacation.  Colton has been busy working and attending mission farewells and homecomings.  He has an appointment with this counselor at the dept of Vocation.  He is deciding which program he will do with her this Tuesday and then he will start school.  Both boys don't like me blogging about them much, so I try to respect their wishes, but it is HARD. 

Coby gave a talk in church on Sunday.  I wish I could have been there to hear it.  The subject was Marriage, that makes me wish I could have been there all the more! 

 

 

This last week.....

I won my Pick 6 Challenge Contest last week.  I was happy.  Yesterday I started a new Pick 6 Challenge.  I am aiming for 1st place again!!!

The last week at work seemed to exhaust me mentally and physically.  I feel completely overwhelmed and I  don't feel like I am learning everything quick enough.  I know I really am learning, but there is SO MUCH to learn and understand that it is daunting.  I had a pity party  this weekend and felt like I should quit, (there were a lot of factors I don't want to get into here)  but after going today I am feeling better. I am just so hard on myself and I want to learn everything NOW.  I really didn't believe my brother or my boss when I was told that it would take me up to a year to learn everything, but I am realizing they are right.  I believe if I think with that kind of mentality, that I might actually learn things quicker.


Meli's mom sent us more pictures of her and her family.  It is so amazing to feel like you are getting to  know someone who lives so far away.  Kara has been talking to her on the Internet too and has been delighted with Meli's cute personality.

 Coby is graduating from BYU in a little more than two weeks.  We are so proud of him.  He is a very kind soul who I learn from with every encounter.  We hardly have any time to spend with him before he leaves to go to live in Turkey on May 9th as he is swamped with papers and finals until then.   He is planning a trip to Seattle and a trip with friends so I am hoping we can have at least one family day, with everyone before he leaves.  It seems way too complicated to do with everyone's work schedule.

I am trying to plan a family picture and I haven't found one day available, but I am determined to not give up.

My aunt got home from the rehab last week.  And I have been so grateful to my sister in laws, Annette and Suzanne (pictures below) for going to Oregon to go and help her.  It is a sacrifice for them to do it, but I am so grateful.  I feel bad that I haven't been able to take a shift, since I started my job. She has been doing remarkable well. And my Aunt Traci has been so helpful driving everyone around and going and visiting my Grandma each day at the Care Center.

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Matt's dad also had a scare with his health in the last week.  I don't know too much, as they are still doing tests, but we are hoping that they will find some answers and help so he can prevent any more problems.

Colton has been dating a cute girl frequently and they go on the most creative dates.  I am impressed with the things he come up with.

Spencer didn't end up singing with the choir during the Priesthood session.  They had too many young adults and not enough music so he kindly stepped aside, much to Kara and I's sadness.   Spencer, I have learned he a very good chef.  Since I started working I have given each of the kids a night to cook and Spencer has impressed me every single night he has cooked.

Kara got another 4.0 this last quarter.  She finished her driver's ed class and is just waiting on her driver's ed instructor to give her the driver's test and then she will be an official driver.  I am excited and completely scared for her all at the same time!

Kara also got into Theater 3 at school, which is very hard to get into.  She had to memorize a LONG dialogue, and then present it in front of a panel with a lot of expression of course.  WOW.

And Matt has all of his bosses in town for the next two days for a huge dealer presentation.  I hope it  is going well for him (it is going on right now). He has been working so hard and is such an excellent boss and employee for their company!!!!

General Conference was wonderful.  I must admit I didn't have the best attitude, but I did enjoy. My favorite talks were both in the Sunday morning session and were by President Uchtdorf and Elder Holland.    I am going to have to listen to all the CD's  as soon as they arrive in the mail!!!

Scavenger Hunt Birthday---for my hubby!

For Matt's birthday last week I decided to do a scavenger hunt.  I thought it would be fun and all of our children were gone working, or at play practice.  So on Saturday morning when we woke up I gave Matt our first clue for our Scavenger Hunt.  I would read the clues, but probably shouldn't because they are catered just to him! It told him to get dressed and that we were going out for the day.  He was pretty intrigued. Of course I told him to only have a piece of fruit before we left. 

So we dropped Kara off at play practice and then we headed for a beautiful drive to Ruth Diner's  Above is a picture of Matt waiting and you can see how deep the snow is. We both had the yummy food. I love the food there. So delicious.

 After that I gave him the next clue and we headed  to the movie he wanted to see. I continued to give him clues as I had planned out the whole day.  It was fun to do things that I know that he likes.

Our sixth and final clue was an outing to Chick Fil A for a candle light dinner.  Colton had gotten this for his dad's birthday.  He liked it, and of course I did too.  They even had a professional photography there to take our picture.  They had beautiful music playing, they gave us some roses, and we had our server in a tux.  It was a lot of fun.  All in all Saturday was a perfect day. 

On Sunday after church everyone was home to celebrate.  It was fun to be together.  I made what Matt requested and it all turned out well.

For his cake this year, I made a Chocolate Torte cake.  It is my sister in law, Suzanne's recipe.  Very yummy, and darn good cake!  I love my man and I love celebrating his birthday each year!!!!!

Wow, maybe next year we won't use all the candles.

I made this Birthday wreath after seeing my friend Adrianne's.  I went over to her house and we had a wreath party.  She is very creative!!!   And this wreath will be up for a few weeks as we celebrate Kara and Coby's birthday over the next couple of weeks!!!!!

More Valentine's

 Matt always spoils Kara and I with flowers.  I don't think I have ever asked for flowers, but for some reason he just does.

 Some of the other 12 days of love tokens I put in my children's mailbox.

 On this one, I cut out little circles and put them on some of the individual kisses. I found them on the idea door.

 A sweet basket Matt gave me the Saturday before Valentine's day!. 

The basket Matt gave me on Valentine's.  He always goes to the Chocolate Cottage in Sandy and this year the basket was a lot smaller. I told him I wasn't eating chocolate this year, well at least very sparingly.  He is very sweet.

For Valentine's we went out for a very early dinner and then went and watched the movie, "Safe Haven."  I had already read the book and liked it.   I need to check out the book again, as I don't remember some of the stuff being the same as the book.    I hope you all had a very Happy Valentine's day!!!

Gratitude post 1, 2, and 3

For the month of November I am again trying to list all of the things I am grateful for each day of the whole month!  Gratitude 1 

I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ.   Because of Him I  am able to repent and progress in this life. I know that I am a Child of God and that the Atonement is for each one of us---regardless of what we may do.

 As I have come to understand the power of the

Atonement of Jesus Christ I feel a peace that is not of this world.  I know that as I repent and seek the Lord in my daily life I notice an increase in my love for others. I  know that as I accept myself and others -- that it is, one of the great evidences of a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atoning power. 

Gratitude 2

I have so much gratitude for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  I feel like having this gift, is by far, the greatest gift I have ever been given.  I gave a lesson last month to all of the Young Women in our ward about  the Holy Ghost.    I focused on the heart and how the Holy Ghost truly can change our heart. I believe that the Holy Ghost is the greatest teacher. 

Gratitude 3

 I am grateful for  my husband Matt.  He is my best friend and my everything.   He brings a lot of joy to our family and he is always looking for little ways to serve our family.  I always have to be careful that I don't ask for something or mention something I like or it seems he will buy it for me or make a way for it to happen.  Matt has sacrificed so much for me. 

 I have been quite stressed since our new insurance will no longer cover my medicine for Hypopituitarism/pituitary gland/Panhypopituirtarism.  For a long time doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me and I just felt pain awful.   Finally, years ago, I found a doctor who did the right tests and diagnosed correctly.  After I got on the medication, my life truly changed for the better, I felt healthy and FULL of ENERGY.  Anyways,  our new insurance, that we got when Matt changed jobs,  will not pay for this medicine because of a myriad of reasons. 

  I have been fighting with my insurance for months to no avail.  I have been trying to go without my  medicine, but it has caused me to take a nose dive with my health.  Matt wouldn't let that happen and went out and sold something so he could buy my medicine without me knowing.   This may sound like a small thing, but it isn't.  My shot---medicine cost over $700.00 a month.  I am very grateful that he didn't listen to me and cared enough about me to get it.  I will continue to fight my insurance!  I love you Matt!!!!!

 (Just on  a side note,  the reason my insurance company tells me that they won't cover my medicine is because of Obama care and the more I look into this, the truer I find that, their words were correct!