Michael's First Campout!!!

Michael's first campout was a ton of fun! Michael and Tristan (they are the only 2 weblos that come regularly) had to earn a few badges so they planned an overnight campout so they could finish out their weblo requirements plus earn their arrow of light! Their dad's, along with their weblo leader, camped out with them. They went to Tristan's house because they live on several acres of land with a pond and camped out down by the pond! Michaels words when I asked him how the camp-out was were and I quote, "It was AWESOMESAUCE Mom" (that translates to It was the greatest time ever!)! They did all kinds of fun things and Michael ended up catching a fish! They ate steaks with potates and veggies they cooked over the campfire for dinner and had a great breakfast of bacon and eggs! As Jeff says..."if you go camping with me, you are gonna eat good!" I am so happy it was great fun for Michael and that Jeff survived..hehehe...he is now laying down for a little nap before we move on with other things for the day! Michael still has plenty of energy and is looking forward to the next time they can camp out!!! Below are some pictures of their adventure....

The camp!

Michael relaxing at the campsite!

Michael and Tristan in the tent!

Michael showing off the fish he caught!
Michael and Tristan fishing!

A Day in May!

OK...I don't really have a reason to post or anything wonderful to share or tell but I did want to say that I love going to the temple! Jeff and I went this morning together and can I just say that to start your Saturday morning off by going thru a session at the temple is just the perfect way to start a day! Our whole day has been so much more relaxed and we are getting everything accomplished that we wanted to! We got up at 6:30 this morning, got dressed, and left by 7:45 a.m! Momma and Nathan came over to help out until Jackie (the kid's nurse) got here! We normally leave Emily in charge when we go somewhere but because we can't be contacted while we are in the temple, we feel more secure having an adult here while we are gone! I was just reminded again today of all my blessings and how grateful I am for the peace and joy that comes inside the walls of the Lord's house! The burdens and challenges we face seem to fade away within those walls and we come away with more strength to face life's challenges! I set a goal this year to attend the temple once a month! So far I am right on schedule and I am thankful that everything works out so that I can accomplish my goal. I usually don't meet physical goals that I try to accomplish each year (i.e. - exercise, weight loss...although I continually try) but I am very determined to meet the spiritual goals I have set. So far on all of those, I am right on schedule and hopefully will stay that way! So for just a normal Saturday in May....it has been a great one because we started it out the best way we know how! I love the temple!!!!

Happy Mothers Day!

I just wanted to write a post and wish everyone a Happy Mothers Day! I have been blessed with a wonderful mother who taught me everything good that I am. She lifts me up when I am down, encourages me to move forward with faith, allows me to lean on her until I can get enough strength to stand on my own and taught me about a loving Father in Heaven who listens to me and walks with me each day! I love you, Momma and all that I am I owe to you. Thank you! I have also been blessed with a wonderful stepmother who treats me with kindness and respect and who has always been my friend. I am thankful for the love that she shows to me all the time and how she accepts me for who and what I am. I love you, Dibbie..and thank you! I have also been blessed with sisters who have taught me more than I could ever express in words. You have been my greatest examples of love, tenderness, kindness and taught me what being a friend is all about! You have followed me into the depths of grief and carried me thru and you have laughed with me in our silliest moments and shared all my joys and all my sorrows! Libbi and Kim...I love you...you are my best friends and I am grateful! To my sister in law...thank you..you are my friend and my biggest defender! I have found great joy in our friendship and we have walked together down many roads! I love you, Jewel! To my wonderful nieces who are either mothers or will one day be mothers...I am so proud of how you live your lives and I love you very much! You make me proud to be your aunt! Most of all I am grateful that I have been given four beautiful children to mother...each of my children have brought different joys and different challenges to me and they have all taught me to be better and live closer to the Lord. I will celebrate today with my family and be grateful I came from a rich heritage of loving women and I will look at my children and hopefully pass on to them what I have learned. I will kiss all my children tomorrow and I will look up into the heavens and think of my precious baby and I will know that he will be with me tomorrow and my tears will fall but I will know that I have been blessed beyond what I deserve for I have been given the greatest of all gifts...a great heritage and four beautiful children in whom I will be honored to hear them call me Mother! Happy Mothers Day everyone! I love you all!!!!!

House Facelift!!!

When Jeff and I first bought this house, the thing we did not like was the covered porch and all these big ugly overgrown boxwoods in the front of it! Well, it will take a lot of money and work to tear down the covered porch and make a real one so until we can really do that, we weren't sure what to do. One day Jeff got irritated with the bushes out front, wrapped a chain around them and jerked them up with his truck. Since then, there has been nothing out there (which believe it or not, looked better than those ugly boxwoods) but then we have had to decide what to do. We have finally gotten the front of the house done to what we feel like is a pretty view when you drive up. I used to always say that our house was the ugliest one on the block but I can't say that now. Jeff still wants a traditional porch and we are going to be working towards making that happen; however, in the meantime we are happy with what we have now! I took some before and after pictures below. It's hard to really see it as well in pictures but you can get an idea! We also spent the day yesterday cleaning out the garage and our back porch! Not to mention the spring cleaning on the inside...it was a long day but it was worth it when we drove up from church and looked at our new view!

The front of the house before we did anything!

The front of our house after we finished!

The right front side of our house!

The left front side of our house!

The entrance to our house!