Troop 630 Birdhouse Making

Tyson's Boy Scout troop met over at the Home Depot on Monday night for pack meeting, where the got a chance to make a real bird house. The instructors were great, and really taught the boys some skills on using a hammer and how to align two pieces of wood. They turned out great. We have had an amazing year in scouts. I am so grateful
to all those who help make it an enjoyable thing for the boys to do.

Touched by an Apostle

Yesterday we had a special stake conference where Elder Dallin H. Oaks came to speak to us.

About an hour before the conference started, Elder Oaks walked around through the crowd and shook hands.  We didn't know if he was going to shake everyones' hand, so when we saw him a few rows up from where we were sitting, both Vaughn and I pushed Tyson up towards him to go and shake his hand.  Well...we didn't have to push much, because Tyson was thrilled at the chance to shake his hand.

It was awesome!  Tyson came back and said, "Mom, I was touched by an Apostle.  I am never washing my hand again."  Love it!  Then, to our surprise, Elder Oaks worked his way to our row and shook the whole family's hand.  So Tyson got to shake his hand twice.  Lucky kid!

The meeting was really good and the spirit was pretty strong in there.  Needless to say, I have been on a spiritual high ever since.  I hope this feeling doesn't go away for a while.

Jillian Again!

Yes, I have resurrected the Jillian Videos to get back in shape.  It has been a LONG time since I have worked out; a year to be exact.  So Vaughn and I have been doing Jillian for the past 4 weeks.  Not everyday, but at least 3-4 times a week.  It feels good to get back in shape, and Vaughn has needed to get in shape.  So...mission accomplished, except that we are on level 3 and it is a killer.  I am bound and determined to be like we were before we went to St. Marteen for Vaughn's graduation 3 years ago. No Pain!

Ijams Hiking

What are we looking at?  Honestly, I don't know.  But we were hiking at the Ijams Nature Center, and we had to stop and take a look at something across the road.

Monday was Presidents Day and the kids were off school.  I was bound and determined not to stay in the house no matter what.  It has been rather chilly during the past several days but this day was an exception.  So I called my friend Heather, whom I knew was hanging out at home, and told her to grab her kids and come with us.

Taryn was less than happy to go on a hike.  (I think the one we took her on last time, Abraham's Falls, kind of took the fire out of her.)  She did everything possible to let us know that she didn't want to go and do this.  Thank goodness the trails were not hard hiking and she was all smiles, like shown above, the whole day.

Look closely at the kid in the grey sweatshirt with his arms outstretched.  Yes, that would be Tyson. He is all about being a photo diva these days.

At one point along one of the nature trails, there were these rope looking trees that were growing up and over the other big trees.  The kids had to try climbing them.  That is about as far as Taryn got.

Nice photo op. I want to come to this place in the spring, when everything is in bloom or during the fall when the leaves change.  I bet it is gorgeous.  I have to come for another photo op.

There was this little courtyard looking place.  Looked like a place to have a wedding.  Vaughn posed for my picture.

This is what the trails looked like.  Not to hard to hike.  

My sweetheart.  It was so nice to spend a day with my family, outdoors, having fun.  Loved it!

Taryn found the totem poll.

There were these man made tepees.  Tyson was pretending to play a peace pipe and wanted a picture. Told ya he was a photo diva.

We found the biggest rock there and had to climb it.  That is my girl.  Her momma was a climber too.

At the end of the day we were all tired, but it was worth it.  I love being outside when we can be, and there is nothing better than doing things with your family.

Cookies, Hair Hearts and Braids

The BEST thing about February and Valentine's Day is the cookies!!!  I love to make sugar cookies around the different holidays and I don't feel bad eating them, because it is a holiday.  (At least that is how I justify it)

Instead of having Taryn and Tyson decorate their cookies together, I decided to have some one-on-one time with Taryn and help HER decorate cookies.  It was the best decision I have made all week.

Taryn wanted a sparkly heart cookie with lots and lots of pink sprinkles on it.  It has to be the most sprinkles I have seen on one cookie.  She is so meticulous when she decorates.  She thinks about each cookie, and decides carefully in her mind how she will decorate it, then she commences with the decorating.

This is one she made for me.  It was DELICIOUS!!  Of course I had to try one just to make sure they were okay.

For Valentine's Day, Taryn wanted me to make hearts in her hair.  After much pondering and trials, this is what I came up with and luckily, for my sake, she was thrilled with the results.  Lately she has been in such a rut when it comes to her hair.  All she has wanted is a pony tail.  I am so grateful that we are back to having different hair styles.

She had seen a little girl at the mall with two braids and wanted me to attempt them.  Well...here is the result.  I have never been the best at braiding hair, but this wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be and, like before, she was thrilled with the results.  I love having a life size doll to do hair on, and she finally will let me do it again!!

There Is A Bird On My Head

During preschool last week at Miss Heather's house, Taryn got the opportunity to see Ava's cockatiel bird. The bird decided to rest on Taryn's head and she was so excited to have this happen.  Look at that face.

Valentine Day Preparations

I am not the fondest of Valentine's Day, but I do it for my kids. Tyson and I have big plans for his Valentine's Day box.  So we decided that we had better start on it sooner rather than later.  We started last week.

 I saw a box on Pinterest that looked like a monster for the Valentine's Day box.  A perfect boy's box.

 Take an old Kleenex box, cut the middle out a bit and then start the monotonous job of painting it over and over till you can get the flowers to GO AWAY!!!

 Ahhh, the finished product.  I love taking things around the house and turning them into something amazing.

Best boy Valentine's Day box ever!  Now we have to make the Valentine's for the class and the teacher.