After the crowds were gone...

After school on that last day before Christmas break, I had expected every student to head back to the snow hill and have more fun but there was only one little family. We grabbed the lids to our rubber made containers and enjoyed the snow. (those lids are not the best sleds - just fyi)

Ben hadn't been able to play in the snow during the school day because he is not yet a student at Ronald Reagan (next year!) So I was glad he was able to play too. He had just as much fun climbing up the front of the snow hill as he had sledding down the hill.

Once Troy arrived he had to try out the slopes.

 (I was happy to just watch everyone. I'm such a party pooper. I guess I don't miss snow as much as I had previously thought.)

Snow in Yuma?!

I purposely am way behind on this post. I needed to recover first so that I could write an unstressed narrative for these pictures...

The last day of school before the Christmas break (Dec. 16, 2011) Lizzy's school had a party and I was right in the middle of it all.

It all started one day at the end of November when Mr. Fletcher, the principal, asked if I wouldn't mind helping out with the activities for that day. Because "I'm just a girl who can't say no." (Oklahoma - for those of you Musical buffs) I, of course, said, "Yes!" What I didn't know was that he was only going to ask one other person to help!! I was in for a doozy of a two weeks when we finally got things started.

Mr. Fletcher wanted the whole school to be involved - 650 students! The biggest project he had in store was to bring in a snow making machine and make a sledding hill for the kids. That is a BIG deal in Yuma because most of these students have heard about snow. They have seen pictures of snow. They have watched people having fun in snow in movies but they have never experienced snow for themselves!!

It was such a big deal that the local news station sent down a camera man. I talked him into sledding down the hill with his camera. He was shocked at how fast he went down that little hill. I guess he had never played in snow either.

Here is Lizzy enjoying the slopes. I even bought gloves and a scarf for this fun activity!

Here is Lizzy with two of her friends Migalley and Holland and her teacher, Mrs. Gordon, is sledding in the background

Lizzy going down again. She loved it! The faster the better! Notice Lizzy's crazy hair? Lizzy and Troy LOVE "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". They watch it all December long. I have to hide that DVD for the other 11 months of the year or else I would go insane. Lizzy wanted to be Cindy Lou Who for the day. Troy did his best to oblige her (I was too busy running around getting ready for the day.) He put a red bouncy ball under a layer of her hair and tried to make her look like Lizzy's favorite Grinch character.

The rest of the day was spent having fun at several different stations throughout the school. We had chosen to use the theme of "The Polar Express". So an extremely talented lady made some cute train tickets (sorry no pics) and at each station, their ticket was punch as if it was a train stop.

As you can see, the students were allowed to wear their pajamas if they so desired.

Now that it has been over for about three weeks, all that I can remember to say was that it was so fun! So much work went into the success of this day and yes, I did say that I would do this again next year. I like the thought of planning this way in advance with a year's worth of experience this time. Hopefully it can be bigger and better than before. The one part I vividly remember about this day was that when I was finally able to go home that evening, I changed into my pajamas and went to bed. I was EXHAUSTED!!

Just What I Needed!!

I have needed to make some changes in my completely crazy schedule lately so that I can do what is of most worth in my life. I have second guessed myself in every one of these decisions. It's not like I am involved in a bunch of stupid stuff. All of my commitments are to worthwhile, wonderful activities - but are they what is most important at this time in my life and at this time in the lives of my children? Some hard decisions have been made and I've worried.


But an inspired friend sent a quote to me that set my heart at ease.


I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one in this over scheduled, over committed, over stressed situation, so I thought I would share.


"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley


I loved those phrases "comfortable for us" and "maturity to stop". 


EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED!!

Ben, the abstract art photographer

Last night I sat down to work on some seriously overdue posts on this blog. As I was going through the pictures on my camera, I came across these oddities.

Ben admitted to taking these pictures.

I was laughing at them until Ben said...

"Mommy, I thought you would like them because they are temples."

Oh. He's such a good boy.

Two days later update...Every time I look at these pictures, I'm pretty amazed that Ben set it all up the way he did and took such great pictures of his "temples". He is one smart cookie!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

We started off December with the annual decorating of the Christmas tree. This is the first year that I wasn't worried about someone breaking an ornament. We always wear our pajamas, blast Christmas music, eat Christmas goodies and have lots of fun. When it is all decorated. We turn out all of the lights, except for the tree lights, and sit back and admire our beautiful Christmas tree.

 

Ben and Lizzy had the opportunity to meet Santa at our ward Christmas party. Ben gave him a very long list of presents he wants. Santa sat patiently and listened. I didn't hear a single word he said so I hope Santa comes through with his promises.

Lizzy whispered the one toy she hopes to get - a Lalaloopsy Silly Hair doll. Lizzy has been a very good girl this year. I'm sure Santa will place her wish under the tree. (Notice Lizzy's bare feet! My children should live on a beach because shoes are such a bother to them.)

Lizzy's school Christmas concert was wonderful! The music teacher at her school is so talented and is able to get this young kids to just sing their hearts out and sing well at the same time! Quite an accomplishment for elementary school.

Here is Lizzy with one of her BFF's Brielle before the concert.

Two other BFF's - Hannah and Kaelynn.

This is the best picture of Lizzy at the concert we have. She was soooo great!

After the concert with two other BFF's - Holland and Migaley. (Lizzy has lots of BFF's. Her teacher has told me that she is amazed at how Lizzy is able to make a friend out of anyone and she seems to include everyone. Love her!)

After the concert Lizzy posed with her bestest friend - Ben up on the stage at Ronald Reagan Elementary.

Ben's preschool had a parent program the last day of class. We made crafts, ate lots of food and listened to the kids sing some fun Christmas songs. Daddy surprised us and was able to move his schedule around to show up for the party. Ben was thrilled!

Ben singing songs with his classmates.

 The 4th annual Gingerbread Village construction party was also part of our Christmas fun.

 Ben and Lizzy do a great job but they usually eat more candy and frosting than they put on the houses. (Someone should clean that kitchen!)

 Here is Lizzy with her finished products. Ben was already in the bathtub for this picture because, although he did much better this year than before, he still managed to get more frosting on himself than on the actual gingerbread houses.

We'll see how long these stay intact as Troy made the executive decision to put them on a reachable table. I reminded him that they are made of candy and we do have small children who think sugar is the most important food group. He thinks they will be fine. We shall see

(I especially love these houses because I always find them on clearance after Christmas for $2 a box - that's $.20 a house! Super cool!)

December is exhausting and fun and wonderful and maybe it is good it only comes once a year - although the Christmas Spirit, well that can come all year long if we so desire.

Yuma's Veteran's Day Parade

Yuma has beautiful November weather + Yuma is a military town = a big Veteran's Day Parade.

We're all standing with our hands over our hearts here. I have to admit that I always tear up during this parade. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to live here in the United States and I've always been keenly aware that this freedom does not come free.

Our parade friends: from left top Jacob Horrocks (8), Clara Stewart, Ariana Stewart. From left bottom: Jeff Hill, Ben Love (4), Elizabeth Love (6), Migalley Stewart, Holland Stewart, Oliver Stewart, Joel Stewart, Sparkles the pug.

Lizzy has her own ideas of what should happen at a parade. Those ideas include donuts and hot chocolate. Her mother obliged. I'm such a sucker for a child's expectations of exciting events.

The kids loved all of the big military equipment. We clapped and cheered and had a great time.

Open the Gift

All over the world, women who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, are receiving a marvelous little book this year. This book, "Daughters In My Kingdom" is a book which was commissioned by the First Presidency, but after reading it, I have no doubt they were following directions from the true leader of our church - even Jesus Christ Himself.

This is a book from our Savior and our Eternal Father. Our Father knows His daughters. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be all that we can be. He knows that we are a powerful group and have a tremendous capacity to bring love, healing and change in this world!

This book can teach us how to do that. It is amazing! At first glance, one might falsely think that this is just an historical document. It is so much, much more than that. When read prayerfully and with an open heart, the women of the RELIEF Society will know what they are capable of and will be filled with a desire to live up to those capacities.

As I have turned its pages, it seems to me that it is a reminder of something I've been taught before, something I was taught before even coming to earth. We are daughters of a King. This little book is our Father's reminder of exactly who we are and what that knowledge will enable us to do in this life. Mediocrity was never our earthly goal! :)

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don't just let it sit on a shelf and gather dust. It is short and can be read little bits here and little bits there.



In the spring of 1842 when Emma Smith said, "Sisters we are going to do something extraordinary." she wasn't just talking about the women sitting in the room that day. She was talking about ALL OF US and sisters, here in 2011, we still have some extraordinary things left to do!!



If you are a member of the Yuma, AZ Stake, we as the Stake Relief Society Presidency have issued the challenge to every Relief Society sister to read this little book by March 15th, 2012. On that day we will meet together to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the RE-organization of the Relief Society here on earth. (I capitalized the RE in reorganization for a reason. Read the 1st chapter of the book and you will know why.) Our Celebration that night will be a royal event fit to honor the daughters of a King - which we all are! I hope you can all come!!




(If you do not have a copy of this book, talk to the Relief Society President in your ward. Relief Society Presidents and counselors, PLEASE makes sure the women in Primary and Young Women callings receive a copy of this book as well.)