Youth Conf.

For Youth Conf. this Year We went to the Manti Pageant. It was Awesome, and several of our youth had never seen the production before. We stayed in Fair View, and did a service Project for two special needs sisters in Fountain Green. It is amazing how much we go done in 2 1\2 hours (We weeded the whole lot and planted sod in the front Yard!!!) We went to Deer Creek on the way home and tubed and wake boarded tons (it was way too choppy to ski). I am constantly in awe of the youth in our ward, They have firm testimonies of the Church of Jesus Christ, and their ability to love and serve each other leaves me is awe!! I truly LOVE getting to serve them!

My Baby the Runner!!!

Madi's started track, and is loving it. She runs the 50 Meter Dash, the 100 Meter Dash, and she throws Shot Put!!!

Welcome Back Madi!!!

Madison Slept over to Grandma's House for her Birthday, and Kyle misses her so much. He woke up at 6:00 a.m. to make her this awesome banner. Everyone who drove by wondered where Madi had been, oh, just overnight @ Grandma's House!!! Pretty Darned Cute!!!

Madison Turns 10!!!

I am having a hard time believing that it has been 10 years since our sweet Madison joined our Family!!! It's funny how it can seem like it was just yesterday I was holding my breath, praying that everything would be OK, and that she would be born without any complications. But on the other hand it's hard to remember my life without her. Madi you are an awesome kid!!! You have the best heart, and you are so loving and caring. You are a beautiful young lady, you are my best daughter ever!!! Happy 10th Birthday Kido!!! I LOVE YOU BABE!!!

Slow and steady finishes the race... Hopefully!

I just finished the first of three runs in my fifth week of training for the 5K. And I am very surprised that I have been able to increase my running time each week. I'm learning to push myself just a little farther than I thought I could go each week, and I keep feeling shocked when I get home and have completed another round of what I thought was Impossible!!! I'm not fast. NOT AT ALL, but my goal does not include speed (or time for that matter) I just want to be able to run for the whole 5K! So... I'm hoping slowish and steadyish finishes the race!

Trying something new

Last night I got a wild hair and I started baking @ 10:00. I don't know why my creative juices don't start flowing until it's time for normal people to go to SLEEP, but that's just how I roll. I've been trying to reduce the fat in the recipe's I've been making to help our family be more healthy. (lots of them have been in desserts, so I don't know if that really counts:) You all know the trick to great Pumpkin Chocolate chip cookies is:

1 Large can of canned Pumpkin

2 Spice Cake mixes

1 Bag Milk Chocolate Chips

Mix together. Form balls. Bake @350 for about 13 min.

(I'm all for super easy)

Well I've been thinking for a while, Couldn't I make similar cookies with applesauce? (I've been having a hard time finding canned pumpkin lately. Apparently last year wasn't the best pumpkin growing season according to a Wal-Mart Manager. At least that was his reason why they have not had it in since November of LAST YEAR) Anyhow.... Last night I got very adventurous and tried something new!!!

2 Cups Unsweetened Applesauce

2 Chocolate Cake Mixes

1 Bag Mint Chips

Mix Together. Form Balls. Bake @350 for 16 Min.

Now They aren't spongy like Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, but they are rather tasty, if I do saw so myself!!! But you don't have to take my word for it Jeff, Madison and Kyle loved them too!!!!

Maybe, it's good to try something new every once in a while!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Mom's out there who awe and Inspire me!!!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day starting out on Saturday. Jeff had arranged for a babysitter, got me flowers, and took me to Ruby River for a HOT date!!! I woke up to AMAZING Whole wheat cinnamon rolls and fresh fruit!!!! And the kiddo's could hardly wait for me to open the fabulous gifts they had made me at school. (Kyle's was a poem and a card and Madi's was a hand painted turquoise jewelery box) Jeff also got me some music that I've been wanting and he put in the garden!!! Wow, I LOVE being a Mom!!!

I did it! I Did It! I DID IT!!!

OK, like many people in January I evaluated my past year and set some goals to make some adjustments in my life, one being to be a better example of being healthy for my kids. (That and I wasn't going to buy pants in a size bigger) Well since January I have changed my eating habits to include much more fruits and vegetables and at least eight glasses of water every day (basically Weight Watchers). The result. I have lost 30 lbs. and I feel a lot better. As a Family we are making better food choices and we are moving more!!! Now, for the real reason for my Post this morning. I AM NOT A RUNNER. I watch my friends and neighbors who are in awe. Don't get me wrong I have TRIED to be a runner. I have even went out and bought running shoes and running outfits, I even have an arm band for my i-pod, but I am still not a runner. Now, typically when I try to run I put on my i-pod and try to run two songs and walk one, or after I get started I try to run one song and walk one, but I ALWAYS get a stitch in my side and I give up pretty easily and walk the rest of the way. This week wile running to get Erin's New Camera (YAY!!!) She told me that she and her sister-in-laws were going to run a 5K. I asked if I could tag along figuring This might motivate me into being the runner I always dream I could be. So I did a little research and today I DID IT!!! I completed my entire training without giving up and having to walk before I was supposed to. I know it's not much, but it's a start in the right direction, and if I've learned anything in my life it's that I just have to keep taking those steps toward my goals, and sooner or later I'll get there. I just have to keep moving!!!

Something Old, Something New!!!

I bought these sassy Jeans a little while ago from a Jean Party at my sister Becky's house and have loved them.

While I was going through my closet last weekend I found these Jeans.

They fit good, but they are a little boring. So.....with a needle and some orange floss I turned them into this!!!!

Something Old into Something New!!!

What do you think?

So So Sad

The kids and I went to the dentist and I am So So Sad to report that at the fine age of 31 years old I have my first cavity:( I can't believe it. It is in a tooth that has a sealant on it and the Dentist said that the cavity was actually caused because of the sealant on my tooth. No fair. Madison has 2 and Kyle is very happy to report that he doesn't have any!!! Jeff was teasing me that having no cavities was my best asset, and we'd have to come up with something else FAST HA HA very funny.

Not Fun

The kidos are off track and we have been having a PARTY!!! (It's always a party at this house), but since Wednesday it has been "not fun," because Kyle has STREP:( He told me yesterday, "Strep is the very worst sick I've ever been," and has become very germ aware because he doesn't want anyone else to get it. Poor kid. But on a good note his fever did break today and he seems to be on the mend!!!

Before and After Kitchen!!!

In February Jeff decided it was time to start our kitchen Project!!!! We (and when I say We I mostly mean Jeff and Matt) removed the old tile and the path of carpet in our living room. Next I (I did help with the whole project, but Jeff and Matt did lots of the labor) sanded down and cleaned the cabinets and drawers and ripped out the wood spindles of the banister and sanded it down too and added bead board to the bar, Jeff Painted them with one coat of flat black paint and let them dry for 24 hours. I distressed them by sanding were they would naturally look worn and Jeff put on a coat of gel stain and wiped it off (so the exposed wood took the color of the stain and the black paint had a light coat on it) then let them dry for 2 days. Jeff then painted 2 coats of the finish and added hardware. Next Jeff and Matt laid the tile and removed our old counter top and replaced them with granite. Tom came and welded our new iron spindles and we put then into place. On President's Day we went and picked out our appliances (unfortunately so did A LOT of other people so we had to wait 2 more weeks for the project to be done so I decided to refinish the table too!) I sanded it down (seriously this was the worst part of the whole project because of the finish I had put on it previously) and painted it RED distressed it and stained it with two coats of finish.
I decided I wanted a new shelf so Jeff Built one and we stained that and got it hung!! Here are before and after pictures!!!!

BEFORE!!!

AFTER!!!!

Not Ready!!!

We went to St. George this past week to check out the new town home Jeff's parent's bought, and can I just say I am not the only one in my Family that was NOT READY to come home. So... Were going back in a week and a half!!! (Sorry there are no pictures, I didn't take a single shot. I know, I know, Weird, right?)

Much MUCH Better!!!

After the spill I took a little while ago I am finally feeling much MUCH better!!! My only ailment now is that I can't kneel on my knee yet, but other than that I am in pretty good shape. My Knee and wrist got the worst of it, but the swelling has mostly gone down and the bruising is fading. I'm so thankful to be on the mend.

Still Alive and Ticking... Barely

Well Like everyone else on the planet, We've been busy with our Family, getting Christmas Shopping done, putting up lights and decorations, work, and church callings, getting out Christmas cards, and neighborhood Christmas goodies. But... on Saturday Night... it all came crashing down (literally, well at least I did.) Jeff took me out to see The Blind side (Best Movie I've seen in a LONG, LONG time) and somehow the kids talked the babysitter into making popcorn on the stove even though she had never done it that way before (This is how Grandpa McMillan does it, and Jeff Just learned how. It tastes SO good) Well when we got home the house was filled with the terrible stench of burnt popcorn, so while Jeff was getting the kids ready for bed I went outside to throw out the offencive popcorn, and as soon as I hit the patio, Yep you guessed it! WHAMO!!! Jeff is still calling me names like Hob-a-long and Gimpy, but he has lifted me in and out of the truck when we've had to go anywhere, and he pretty much carried me in the church parking lot for fear that I would do it again!!! So just in case any one out there was wondering, (Becky) I'm home, I'm Safe, and I'm Alive, and I'm still ticking...Barely!!!

Lego Birthday!!!

Kyle asked if he could have a Lego Birthday Party this year, and when I asked him what he wanted, his reply was the same every time, LEGOS. So we had a Lego Pinata!!
(Made from a shoe box, red plastic cups, and red Duct Tape!!!)
We also had Lego Cake!!!

We Played Lego Games!!!!

We had Bags with Lego's in them (A set for each guest to put together and take home) and on them!!!

And of coarse he got LOTS of LEGOS!!!

Happy 7th Birthday Kyle!!! I love you Baby!!!

Last Day of Six!!!

This is Kyle's last night to be six (as he just informed me) for the rest of his life!!! I can't wait for all the adventures seven will bring, but I will miss six, It's been pretty Awesome!!!

Make that 13!!!

Sorry, I didn't realize Morgan wasn't really smiling in the last picture so I guess this really is 13 pictures combined onto one!!!

Family Pictures

Wow!!! I can't believe just how much work it is to get 40 people to look at the camera at the same time, little alone smile (let's get real I would settle for at least looking happy). Last night for Family Home Evening we met at the park and took these family pictures. I think they turned out pretty good. (Thanks Wendy for setting this up, and Jeanette and Jessica for snapping shots of my very cooperative Family HA HA!!!) the group shot is actually 12 different pictures combined to make this shot!!! (If any one has a complaint or looks like a demon child please try to let me know by Wed. and I'll try to fix it. Sorry Liz, Becky & Jenn this is the best one there was of Chloe, Kenna, and Desi) On a Brighter note our family shot is only 2 different pictures!!!

Fall Cleaning?

I am cleaning the carpet today, and as long as I'm doing the job, I might as well tear the whole house apart , Right? Last night in preparation for the big job I helped Jeff move all the furniture (except the beds) off the carpet or into the garage. Now I'm off to Don Asslett's Cleaning Center to pick up the carpet cleaner!!! If any of you are thinking about cleaning your carpets, I strongly recommend renting this carpet cleaner. I works wonders!!! Somehow the spring cleaning of our carpets didn't get done, so I guess this is our Fall Cleaning!!!

Poor Little Choppy

Madison has caught the bug. Yesterday she threw up at school (on her desk in her class room to be exact, now she's going to be the kid that threw up on her desk for the rest of her life) :( Poor Little lamb. Yesterday was pretty rough, but she hasn't puked since last night around 8:00, so we're keeping our fingers crossed. Poor Little Choppy. I hate being sick.

Catching Up

Like the rest of you I feel like life has been CRAZY lately. Here are some of what has been going on lately!!!

About two months ago I found a mass at the base of my skull. I waited for a week to see if it would change, and it got bigger and more painful, so i went to have it checked out, they referred me to a specialists and I had an appointment 4 weeks later, now i don't know about you, but I'm not the best non-worrier there is, but I tried not to panic until we knew the facts. I finally was able to see the Dr. on July 17n and it's just a cyst! (the size of an apricot) He wanted to schedule surgery to remove it, but with girls camp and youth conf. just around the corner I asked if we could wait. He was able to relieve the pressure I was feeling (like a hot poker above my right eye) by draining the cyst in his office, and I have a follow up apt. next week.

Bear Lake was next, and I already posted a little about that. Along with our traditional Family Picture We had a lot of fun. Madison rode the Knee-board and I had so much fun watching her!!! Kyle still LOVES being thrown in the the lake from off the boat, what can I saw he's crazy!! I wasn't sure I would be skiing this trip, but I had the opportunity the last day of our trip!!! I Love Water skiing, and each year I worry that I won't be able to get up, but Jeff keeps me in line by Lovingly reminding me that, "It's Mind Over Matter." Well, any way I can still tear it up on the slalom ski!!! There were a lot of fun things going on for the 4th. There was a sand castle building contets, side walk chalk art contest, and fireworks!!! We also went swimming @ the pool, played horse shoes, miniature golf, and played on the huge playground!!! I have Wonderful In-Laws who put up with us and let us tag along!!!! Thank You Randy & Paulette!!!! The trip was Awesome!!! I love you both so much!!

Jeanette & Brad invited us up to their house for the 24th of July, for golfing, playing, laughing, fun, fun, and more fun, and to break in their new motocross track in their very own back yard!!! Justin was very generous and taught Madi to ride his motorcycle, and Spencer took Kyle around till his heart was content!!! Kyle and Travis had a blast discovering that they love playing together, and when they weren't begging Spencer for a ride, they were catching grasshoppers, fighting bad guys, or playing games. Madi and Justin were hooked at the hip, and Justin took care of all of her riding needs, including putting his riding boots on her so she wouldn't burn her leg on the pipe!!! Later we had an awesome feast, and snow shack (my favorite) then headed to Tremonton day's For the fireworks!!! So much fun!!! Thanks Atkinson's for a great time!!! (P.S. Can you guess what Madi is saving up her money for?)

I have mentioned Girls Camp in a past post also, but only briefly. Can I just say that I Love Girls Camp!!! I think part of my love stems from when I was a young women myself. This is where I started to branch form the testimonies of my parents and really grow my own testimony roots. The friendships that developed and the spirit that was felt helped me become the person I am today. As a leader I have realized just how much work and prayer goes into not only girls camp, but all of the activities, and they don't just "happen" to be great. On that note, I work with some of the best leaders in the church (I'm not biased at all!) These Women are wonderful, and they make my life better for being able to serve with them. I do have to say what a privilege it is to serve the young women in our ward as well. They are amazing and I truly Love them each of my girls. Their testimonies amaze me and I have partaken in a spiritual feast. Did I mention that I Love Girls Camp!!! A huge thank you to Mom and Erin for watching the Kids!! I don't know what I would do without you!!!

Then The kiddo's went back to school. Madison started 4th grade, and Kyle started 1st Grade!! I remember driving Madi to Mrs. Sandra's Pre-School and thinking it was going to be forever until Kyle was in Pre-School, and now that part of my life is done and over with. I can't believe how fast time flies, and I am constantly reminded that I need to simplify my life and take time for the things that are most important to me. I know it's supposed to be "Mother's Day" when the kids go to school ALL Day, but I miss them, and I miss My little shopping buddie. I do have to note that I am getting used to not stopping everything @ 11:18 everyday to pick Kyle up from Kindergarten everyday, and I even went to WalMart @ 2:00 the other day with no kids and I ran in and out in 7 minutes. Like all things, I'm sure I get used to it, and they do go off track in 4 1/2 more weeks. Remind me to read this again, to see if my perspective has changed!!! HA! HA! I'm sure it will have!!!

Because of the kid's starting school, and Jeff taking off the next week for Youth Conf. we were only able to go the the Thomson Family Camp out from Friday to Saturday, but we had a blast!!! I love how crazy my Family is, and how much fun we have when we get together!!! Brad invited Kyle to go fishing with him and his boys. He had so much fun, and caught 4 fish!!! Thanks Brad for letting him tag along!!! I brought up stuff to make duct tape wallets, and I had so much fun teaching the Older kids how to make them!!! We played my favorite Camp out Traditional Game of Who's Song Is It? Where Tom gathers every one's Favorite songs and compiles them onto a CD. We get to try and guess who picked each song, and he gives each family a copy of the songs to enjoy the rest of the year!!! We had a visit from the Village People, and even went to the beach for a swim!!! Thanks Liz and Dan for another great Camp out!!!

The next week was our Stakes Book of Mormon Youth Conf. Jeff & I have been preparing for this since January, and like most things, nothing could have prepared me for the amazing experience I had. Jeff has been able to participate in youth conf. when he was in the Bishopric, and I have been able to go because I served in Young Women's, but we have never gone together. I LOVED being able to share this experience with him!!! It truly was Amazing, We Were Lehi & Sariah to a family of 10 young men & young women in our stake, and we didn't know any of them. 2 1/2 days later we are family!!! My testimony and Love for the Book of Mormon has Grown, as well as my Love and Knowledge of the Savior!!! Thank you to everyone who made this wonderful experience happen. Especially Erin & Kendall!!!! We wouldn't have had this opportunity if it weren't for you willingness to help us out!!! Thanks Again!!!

For my 31st Birthday We decided to go to Lagoon!!! While we were there Kyle asked me, "Are you having a fun Birthday?" My reply, "YES, I'm having so much fun." Then he says, "I think this might be my favorite Birthday of yours, Mom!!!" I'm glad the kiddo's had as much fun as I did celebrating my 31st Birthday!!!

On Monday evening I started to feel kind of crappy, with a sore throat, headache, fever, aches and pains, and this really horrible cough. By Tuesday Morning I barely able to get out of bed. So, after I counseled all of my appointments, (Sorry, and Thanks for being so understanding to those of you that have to wait to have your hair or nails done) I pretty much slept all day long.(one of the privileges of having kids at school I guess) I talked to my Mom later,(Thanks for dinner, Mom, It was delicious) and she was worried about the swine flu, so I went and was tested that night. The rapid test came back negative, but they said 1 in 3 cases do, and I was supposed to assume I did have Swine Flu and wait for another culture to be sure. The Lab just called, and thank goodness I DO NOT have it and I am starting to feel a little better (my Fever broke this morning!!!) I know I have sucked at this blogging thing, but I am trying to do better, but no promises. I HATE lying!!!