Terri came for a visit

I adore Terri! She is a dear friend that lived in Cleveland and then moved back to Canada. She came for a visit and we had so much fun with her. She brought candies from Canada for my kids and gave them each a miniature hockey stick. So cute. They loved it. She even brought candy for Dave and I (which we promptly finished within 24 hours:)).

We went to the zoo




We ate at Olive Garden and Dewey's Pizza. We learned that the place that served chocolate beet cake has been closed for good. Totally bummed...times one hundred.


Terri stayed with another friend while she was in Cleveland and came back to visit us the night before she left so that she could play the game, memory, with my kids and to read them a book.

Blue and Gold

Trevor's first blue and gold dinner


Trevor and Luke got together and made a medieval castle cake for cake table.


We have the best scout leaders ever. They thought of this creative activity...life-sized angry birds. The kids used a sling shot to knock down the cereal boxes that the stuffed animals were sitting on.

Book of the Week

THE BLESSING OF A SKINNED KNEE
(February 27, 2012)



I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought it would be hard to get through, but it wasn't at all. I love this book. I've owned it for a year and didn't want to read it until I could internalize it. That said, I highlighted half the book and loved what I learned. I love that the author used truths that she found through her faith to teach us how to be better, more effective parents. I love that. I love that she took a year off from her career to immerse herself in Judaism. I love that she was determined enough to do that. And, I love that through her secular and religious education, she became an instrument for good in the world. I will probably refer back to this book often.

Paper Whites all grown up

Ahhh...the paper whites that Dave planted with the kids grew tall and beautiful. They are striking and classy... but why has no one mentioned the fact that they smell like poo? Seriously. The smell permeates the whole house. It is strong. Next year, we will grow them outside.

Book of the Week

THE GIVER
(February 20, 2012)


I know I said I wouldn't read any kid books anymore for a while, but this book caught my eye while I was at the Library. I've heard this title tossed around over the years and remembered the positive feedback I heard. I think it is heavy for a children's book. I think it is sobering. I think it is thought-provoking as an adult. I think it is interesting and I have thought about the book's themes many times since reading it.

I compared the concepts in the Giver to a measure of what Christ had to experience. You'd have to read the book to understand what I am saying, but it made a little more clear to me what Christ felt as he took on the pains of the world. (SPOILER) The giver in the book takes on every memory from every person in the world that has ever lived. Good and bad. The giver starts by sharing really great memories...sledding in the snow, a boat ride, but then reveals harder memories that involve intense emotional and physical pain...and the giver feels it all.

There are two other companion novels to The Giver that I want to read, Gathering Blue, and The Messenger.

I would love to talk to someone about this book!!

Dave and Cathy sitting in a tree...

K - I - S - S - I - N - G

I am totally purchasing this lip balm for Dave and I. Check it out HERE

The flavor of the lip balm is enhanced when combined with another flavor!
What better way to combine two flavors than to kiss, right? :) haha! I love it.
It was created by two UVU students. Here is the ARTICLE about it.

CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST

The other day I told the kids all about College and how great it is and how much they will love it when they go. I told them that they will be in charge of themselves and that they will be able to make their own decisions. i.e.: what to eat for breakfast, what classes they want to take, what time they want to go to bed and that they can be whatever they want to be.

This is what they got out of that conversation....I heard them talking to each other yesterday....

TREVOR: College is going to be SO awesome!! Did you know we get to eat chocolate for breakfast?!

CORBIN: Chocolate for breakfast??

TREVOR: Yes! And we get to stay up ALL NIGHT LONG and play and then we get to sleep at school!!

CORBIN: We do??

TREVOR: Yeah, and we can do whatever we want without anyone else telling us what to do! It's going to be awesome.

So glad our conversation made an impression.