While Mommy is away

Today I did a very daring thing. I took Mariah to the dentist and left Hayley, Jaden, and Isabella home. Jaden said he would keep an eye on Bella. I think his eye never strayed from the Wii game he was playing. Bella didn't get into anything dangerous or get hurt. However she loves my computer. She is also quite good at using it. My dad called me using his webcam and Bella answered. Her most favorite thing to play with is "photo booth". She even figured out how to make a short video. It made me laugh so hard I had to share it.

Love Day

To start of my Valentines post I must write about FHE we had on Monday. I actually planned ahead! This is really not like me. We had a lovely lesson on loving one another and then we make valentine cookies to decorate and deliver to our neighbors. All of the kids had a blast. Even Gabe got in on the action. I can't say he actually made anything though. I want to thank those of you who received cookies from us and were brave enough to eat them.

The night before Valentines Day we were "supposed" to have a small snow storm hit. Nothing to worry about they said, should blow through in a couple of hours. This was not so. At about 3 the snow started to flurry and the winds began to blow. It continued on and the snow quickly stuck to the ground. It could not have hit with worse timing. School was letting out and as the storm really got going the evening commute started. Lehi was hit the hardest. School busses got stuck and many had to return to the schools where kids eventually spend the night. The worst part of the storm seemed to be the wind which created huge drifts.


We got our kids up to get ready for school and just before we were about to leave we discovered that school was delayed two hours. I hate it when I discover I could have slept in and didn't do so. I guess I should watch the news in the morning. Scott spend three hours outside helping neighbors clear out their driveways. He had to refill the snowblowers gas tank three times. The neighbors with north facing houses had four foot drifts up against their garage doors.

It was kind of nice to have the morning to spend with the kids. Especially because it was valentines day. It's usually such a rush in the morning that we really don't get to spend time together.

Scott decided to work from home. Yeah for me. What more could a girl ask for than to spend a day with her valentine? Bella and Gabe love having him around. I am not sure if he was able to get any work done. Bella sat next to him with my laptop so they could "work" together.

To top off a great day we went to Bucca di beppo with Judy, Paul, Lisa, Mikayla and Dallas. It was very very good. There Chicken Marsala is the best I've had anywhere.

I hope that you all had a lovely Love Day. I am so grateful to have so many to love.

Scripture Power

Scripture time at our house is never dull. Usually Scott reads to the kids during breakfast. He has become quite expressive in order to hold the kids attention. Saturday night we were reading together and decided to give the kids a chance to read. Hayley has learned well from her father. Although this is not exactly how Scott reads to the kids, it's pretty darn close. Hayley has added her own flair to scripture reading. It is so rewarding as a parent to see your kids enjoying scripture time.

I wanna do it

I gave Gabe some applesauce today. I usually let him feed himself but I he doesn't do very good with applesauce. After a few bites he wouldn't let me give him anymore. I thought he was done so stood up to take the bowl to the sink. He let me know right away he was not done. He wanted more but he wanted to do it himself. He's not very good at using the spoon yet but he still gave it a try. By the end he had resorted to using his hands. I guess you do what works.

would you like a muffin my dear?

For Christmas this year Danielle took this picture of the granddaughters for my mom. They are wearing hats and using tea sets she gave them last year for Christmas. Danielle sent me a copy and and I just had to share.

waiting to say good-bye

Last Friday, February 1st, we went to go pay our final respects to President Hinkley. I had not intended on going. The thought of waiting in long lines for hours on end was not appealing. However, on Thursday my mother-in-law went and in her report said she was in and out in 45 minutes. This time included her parking and walking to and from the conference center. Well, I thought, that doesn't sound so bad. I discussed it with my friend Haylie and she thought it would be a great experience for our kids. I also talked Scott into the idea. It's not going to be that busy. In and out in an hour tops I thought.

My dear friend Shalynn agreed to stay home and watch Bella and Gabriel as well as Haylie's twins if we would take her girls Kate and Chessa. What a good trade! We wouldn't be gone long and all would be well. This was not the case. Not to say that all was not well but it was indeed long. Very very long.

Upon arriving downtown we soon found parking to be our first feat. We ended up parking 4 blocks away. We arrived to the conference center only mildly scathed (Mariah tripped and skinned her knee). It was at this moment that we encountered THE LINE. I put it in all caps because such a line deserves it. This was the mother of all lines. Even at Disney land there are not such lines. We came to find out there was actually two lines that snaked their way around the plaza. My plans of a quick in and out were quickly realized to be false. I think everyone must have had someone telling them how quick it had been the day before. Friday is early out for most elementary kids and many can take work off early on this day. I had failed to factor these variables into my equation.

We spend the first 1 1/2 hours standing outside in the freezing cold. Poor Jaden had not grabbed his coat and had to snuggle with me beneath my coat to warm up. When we finally reached the door we were told we had about 1 1/2 hours left. "WHAT!!!" I couldn't believe we still had that long to go. Well I didn't. It was longer. After snaking through the conference center for an hour before we were finally seated. We spend the next two hours sitting in the conference center watching President Hinkley's 95th birthday celebration. We saw the entire thing. I am grateful that they had something for us to watch. My kids were real troopers. Even though they were hungry and tired they never said they wanted to go home. Even when dinner time came and went they still held tough. Finally we were led to the Hall of the Prophets where President Hinkely lay in state. As I walked in the room where his body lay I began to cry. This was before I even realized this was the room he was in. The spirit was so strong it about knocked me over. 4 1/2 hours of waiting for 15 seconds to say goodbye. Totally worth it.

It's to bad we still had to trek back to the car. Again Mariah fell and skinned her knee. By the time we got back to our car 5 hours had elapsed from the time we parked.

It is probably good that I didn't know how long it was going to be. I might not have gone. I am glad I did not know. The memories my children will have of that day and the spirit I felt while in that room made it an experience of a lifetime.


Click on image to make it larger.
Here is a brief description of the above pictures. Labeled left to right, top to bottom.
1. The start of the line
2. Scott and Chessa.
3. Hollynd. Notice the red nose. It was a common sight in this line.
4. The wait was not free of the kids having "moments" (it was only Haylie's kids though. He he)
5. Haylie and her little chicks.
6. This is about 30 minutes into the line. This is where I started to realize we would be a while.
7. The Bowlers, again. I really should have handed her my camera to get some shots of me (so vain I know).
8. Chessa, Hayley, Jaden and Kate. They were huddling for warmth.
9. What good looking kids!
10. Moving along. Slowly.
11. I couldn't resist. The view was beautiful.
12. Almost done waiting outside. My hands were so cold.
13. We just had to take a picture in front of the waterfall.
14. Hollynd's hands were cold too.
15. Inside the conference center.
16. Resting. Waiting is very tiring.

Isabella's Birthday Festivities

I am still trying to catch up on my blog entires. I do this more for my benefit than anyone else's. Bella turned four years old on January 24th. It seems to be that we are starting a new tradition of holding two separate birthday parties in our family. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a day that works for both my side of the family and Scott's side of the family to all get together. Even though this can be a bit of a pain you will not hear my kids complaining about it. They love that they get to have two parties.

Bella's first party was on her birthday. What a novel idea eh? The Turner's came over and we had pizza, cake and ice cream. That's pretty much the staple for Turner family birthday parties.


Bella helped me make the cake. She did a wonderful job and everyone thought it was delicious.

As far as presents go, from us she got more furniture for her Dora Talking House, a tinkerbell dress-up (one can not have too many dress-ups) and some Dora bath toys. I had no idea what to get Bella this year. Instead of guessing I took her shopping with me. She only changed her mind a few times and in the end we were both happy with her selections. She still looked surprised when she opened the gifts.



From Judy she got the most adorable toys called Calico Critters. If I was a kid I would play with these. In fact I am not a kid and I still want to play with them. She got the Toy Store, Preschool and two families of animals to play with. Aunt Lisa got Bella her very own jewelry box to decorate. I think Bella made out like a bandit.

Because my side of the family was unable to come on her Birthday we celebrated at my parents house on Sunday. My mom had called Bella and asked her what her favorite food was. Bella said, "Pizza". This may be because we had just had Pizza and it was still fresh in her mind. I don't know if she really does have a favorite food. Unless you count chocolate milk and apple juice (she would live off of these if I let her). My mom had an individual sized pizza for all the kids and the adults got to enjoy some delicious salmon. We had cake and ice cream and of course more presents. My parents gave her some adorable P.J.'s, Adam and Danielle gave her a tinker-bell play set (she likes to play with this in her tinker-bell dress-up), and Janie and Ryan gave her a Go-Diego-Go rescue submarine.



Bella still has trouble blowing out the candles. I had to help her a bit on this one. Her hair nearly caught fire.


We had a great time this year celebrating Bella's birthday. Thanks to all of you who celebrated with us.

mmmmm... oatmeal is good!

Scott takes the kids to school in the morning for me. What a saint he is. Every once and a while he doesn't have time to finish his breakfast before he heads off. A few weeks ago he left a half eaten bowl of oatmeal on the table. Gabriel didn't use to like oatmeal. I believe that has changed. He climbed right up in the chair and helped himself to the rest of dad's oatmeal. Yum!

Moving on up

I am still a bit behind with my blogging. January 14th and 16th Hayley, Jaden and Mariah had belt testing again. They all did an awesome job.

Mariah really likes Tae Kwon Do. She gets to go with her two very best friends Addie and Chessa. They all were able to earn their blue dragon. They are three very tough cookies.

Jaden and Hayley were able to get their high yellow belt. I am always amazed at all the moves they are learning. They can even break a board with their foot. It give me great peace of mind as a mother that my kids are learning to defend themselves.