Happy Birthday Noah!

Yesterday Noah turned 14! All he has wanted for two years now is an electric guitar. He has been learning on an acoustic one that is Chad's. I wanted to be sure he was serious about this music thing and he has been. It is amazing how much he has learned from the books I got him and the Internet. This year he has been feeling a little left out as far as birthdays go. He talked to me a lot how he felt that it just got blended into Christmas. I don't blame him and we have tried over the years to make it special for him but he seemed so sad about it this year. I told David we had to do something really special and completely unexpected. I had told him a guitar was out of the question and to quit bothering me about it. He never did quit asking though. We got a great deal on this one so went for it. David did a treasure hunt with clues for him early in the morning during scripture time. He was getting frustrated until he saw what he had gotten! He was so surprised and David said he had never seen such a big smile on his face before. He literally played that thing all day. We had planned to go to zoo lights after dinner with Toshia and her family as part of his birthday. Well, when we got there only thousands of other people had decided to do the same thing. There was no parking and when we went to where the shuttle was there was over an hour wait for the the shuttle. We decided to go to Krispy Kreme and have hot chocolate and donuts. When I told him how sorry I was for not getting to see the lights he said, "What, this is so much better. I am warm, not having to walk all over and I get one of my favorite treats!" I guess sometimes what we think we are doing for them we are doing for ourselves. I guess I wanted the lights - oh well, he had the best birthday ever!!!!

A few catch up thoughts

Catching up on the last few weeks is something I have been meaning to do for a few days now. I have been very busy since the end of November. I flew to California for my niece's wedding on Thanksgiving. I went with Toshia and Jonathan and at the last minute Autumn got to go with us. We had a great time. The wedding was wonderful - the only exception I guess would be that it rained the day of the wedding. She had planned an out door reception but that got cancelled and moved to the stake center. For all the hurrying around getting things moved I felt it all turned out beautiful. We got to spend some time with family and catch up a little with nieces and their families. I had a great run with Kelly the morning of the wedding. I miss being closer physically to all of them but I am grateful for the time of technology and that I can keep up with everyone that way as well. Still nothing is quite the same as a face to face visit. After getting home I have been working on lots of projects and things for Christmas. I had aprons to make for a friends granddaughters. Five in all. Then the Relief Society progressive dinner to get ready for. A cookie exchange party to bake for and shopping to get done before the Weitzel family Christmas dinner. That will be held here this year. So on top of all of the trying to decorate the house (and clean) so it will be ready for all of the events of the season.

Two Saturdays ago we went to get our tree. We got a twelve foot one and put it upstairs this year. We have vaulted ceilings so I have to say it looks marvelous. The children did a fantastic job of getting it decorated. I seem to always let them do it - they have so much fun. I have stopped trying to go back when they are done and "fix it". It is their tree so I let it be. I get a couple of other trees to decorate the way I want so I am happy to let them have those memories.

David and I got most of the shopping done last Saturday. We made a day of it. We ended up getting just about all of it done and so now I have just a few presents left to get the the older kids. I have a couple nightgowns left to make and few presents for friends left to get or finish up. Hopefully all will be done this week. I have a few lunches planned with friends so some of it might have to happen next week when the kids are out of school. Last night for FHE we talked about our "service" for Jesus. The kids really took to it with very cheerful attitudes. Lots of secret service was going on last night before bed. Next week we will be giving out our "Christmas Jar". David, myself and all the children have been putting all of our loose change and bottle money in a jar to give away this year. The kids can hardly wait to see how much they have collected and who we will give it away to. It has been a fun project that we have worked on all year long.

This weekend is the ward Christmas party and our family has a big role in that. I think it is big - the kids are excited to dress up and be the nativity. Or should I say "activity" as Autumn calls it. Then Sunday night is the Weitzel family party. December has turned into quite the "activity" month for us. I love that the weather has been cold but not icy and snowy. I feels so much like Christmastime when it is cold. Although there have been some really hard things going on within our little family I am excited for this time of year and have a peaceful and hopeful attitude as I remember the birth of Jesus Christ and the great gift of love he gave to all of us. I am so excited for the next couple of weeks and the fun we are going to have!!!

Happy Birthday Autumn

Saturday was Autumn's 6th birthday! I have a hard time believing that my baby is 6 years old! But 6 she is and boy was it fun to share not only her birthday but our Thanksgiving dinner with the whole family. On Sunday all the kids (with the exception of Paige) came to the house for the celebration. Saturday was my "Super Saturday" so we decided to have her party on Sunday. We had a wonderful time together as we celebrated her birthday and Thanksgiving. It was the least amount of stress I have had ever doing Thanksgiving dinner. I don't know what made it different other than I let the older children help with some of the dishes. It was nice also to have Ashleigh and Nick come to church with us while Chad was ordained a Priest. The day seemed to go by way to quickly as soon it seemed everyone was leaving and returning back to their busy lives. Autumn loved all the attention and especially loved that Jonathan helped her open her presents. She loves that little boy and was thrilled he payed a lot of attention to her. Happy birthday little girl and I hope you have a wonderful year being 6!

The Lord does answer prayers!

I have been working on Super Saturday projects for a while now. It is time now as I have gathered all the $$$ to start collecting the materials for the ladies to make their cute crafty things. Yesterday I went to buy the pizza pans from the dollar tree for the advent calendars. Well, there were none to be found. The nice lady at the store said it is an item they usually carry so I could probably buy them online. Well, there were no pizza pans online. So I called stores around our area. No pizza pans. I called Toshia in a panic. This project was the most popular - a lot of ladies wanted their advent calendars. She and I looked up other places online to purchase pizza pans. No luck. I went to bed with lots on my mind - Paige, church stuff, and pizza pans. I woke up at 2:30 in the morning worried. I hate it when I do that. It usually is an indication I am doing to much. I prayed. I mean really prayed hard. I prayed for the family that just lost their sweet baby girl (that was one of the church things) I prayed for Paige - and then at the end of my prayer I just asked that the sweet ladies in our ward be blessed with the pizza pans they needed for Super Saturday. Don't laugh - I know with the other more personal requests I was making I should not bother Him with pizza pans. I went back to bed about 3:00. Just as I was drifting off to sleep "Rite-Aid" popped into my head. That is funny I thought and then fell asleep. This morning I needed to go purchase the wood for the other project we are doing. While driving to the lumber yard I called Toshia and asked her if she thought Rite-Aid would have pizza pans. She looked up online and did not see any and said she did not think so. As I was on my way to presidency meeting I drove past the Rite-Aid store and thought I should stop. What could it hurt. I walked up and down the isles - where would they keep pizza pans in a store like this? I found them - not only the pizza pans but the exact ones that the dollar tree was selling. (I know because I even tried to order direct - I am not a business so could not order) I found out I could order the amount I needed even though they are a little more (not a dollar of course) I ordered them. I am trying to work a deal with the manager. As I was driving to my meeting I just kept thinking - with all I was worrying about and all that the Lord has to do - the one thing he could give me was the pizza pans. I know I have to work on the other things - I have lessons to learn and He is guiding me there as well, but what a tender mercy for me to know that pizza pans are worth an answer from the Lord!

Jonathan turns one and other ramblings

Jonathan turned one last Friday. We had his party yesterday. What a cutie pie! I cannot believe he is already one! He sure has brought a lot of joy and love to our family. Toshia and Andrew are such cute parents and I love how hard they try to do what is right for their children. We are blessed to have Andrew and the boys be part of our family. I have been thinking a lot lately of all that I am thankful for. Mostly because I knew what we were going to be talking about today in Relief Society and partly because of the time of year it is.

This is the time I usually reflect on all my blessings. Family is on the top of my list. I am also thankful to live in this great country of ours. The freedoms we have that seem to under attack are a great blessing to all of us. I have been studying a lot of things lately and a recent talk by Dallin H Oaks really reminded me of this. I did not realize that as recent as in the 1990's there are still countries that people are fighting for the freedoms that we take for granted every day. We are so blessed to have leaders that remind us of the wonderful blessings we have! I am very thankful that this little man will get to grow up and learn and become whatever he wants to! Little people like Jonathan being raised by righteous parents will do great things for our country!

I know yesterday was halloween and that being my least favorite holiday I did not remember to take pictures of the kids. They did go trick or treating with Toshia and Andrew and Chad and I handed out candy. Hayden was sick so she was very sad she did not get to go out but Jonathan being the charming young man he is gave her his bag of candy (or was it that Toshia did not want all that candy around her house to tempt her????) Speaking of sickness - I hope the older kids do not get what the little girls have had - as a matter of fact I hope I do not get what they had. Well, hope next week will be a better one and that I will get all the things done on my list that is already too long!

A creative weekend

What do you get when you put a small white vase and a cool looking pink plate together?

You get a cool looking cake plate!

This last Friday I hit some thrift stores and for about $5 I got some really cool things to do some projects with.


I found these hurricane lamp parts for 25 cents each. I make these cute pumpkin candles with them. I also purchased a couple more vases and plates to do other projects with. I have been wanting to make some things for a long time and finally decided this weekend would be my "get some projects done" weekend. I did just that and finished some letters for banners I have been working on. Finished my fall sign -

I am making a sign for all the seasons to hang by my front door. I started with my patriotic one and have my Christmas one done. I have a snowman one to do for January and I think I will do one of hearts for February and then a spring one and maybe a summer one. I have finished all my pay it forward projects and just have to finish delivering those. I am so excited to be creating! Fall does that to me - I just like to stay home and be by the warm fire and make things. I guess it helps that around here the rains come and it gets too cold to be outside so staying inside is bearable when I can make things!

Happy Birthday Chad

Happy Birthday Chad my dear. I cannot believe you are sixteen years old! I know I keep saying how I cannot believe how old my children are but when you are living in the moment with them the time just slips by. This young man has such a sweet heart. He is not perfect by any means and has made his share of mistakes but along with that he also has learned many lessons that have helped him grow and become a better person. I love his love of learning. He loves school or at least the learning part of school. He is a fantastic writer and I only wish I could someday write with the same use of language as he does. Chad is good at sports and he really loves and cares for his brothers and sisters. I love you Chad - Happy, Happy Birthday!