Cheerleader fun...

Just a post to document the joys of being on the drill/cheer team 2013-14. This was Hannah's first year as a cheerleader and there was a lot of early mornings and cold football games and hours put into practicing the dances for Drill competition. She got to be a flyer in the stunts since she is on the short/light side. As a mom, that was a bit scary to watch. I think it was for her as well, at least the first few times, if her face was any indication. Thankfully, she was caught every time.
I hope you have some great memories Hannah and that this is something you'll look back at later and be glad you had this opportunity.

attempting to stay warm at a football game...

Hard to hear her when her mouth is hiding in the scarf and blanket...

Cheering at State Volleyball...

Um, trying to remember the moves?

High kick on the way....

Look at that straight leg!! Way to go! and that toe over your head.

Watching the team and chewing her lip. Maybe they didn't get lunch?

more lip chewing. Good chapstick?

The first football game of the season. (the only one I went to and took pictures at..)
Hannah is second from the left.

Crisp moves....

Boy watching from the sidelines....Just kidding....

Hannah dropping into the catch. She is more trusting than I am.

We have a fairly large group of cheerleaders for a school our size. (1A)

following are some of Sadie's shots...

Hey! Hannah!

Sweet.

I whip my hair......

Why? I don't wanna do that one.......

Well, Hello!

We're all for Monticello!

What's that, Mr. Bimbo?

Oh, you like being a cheerleader?

Hhmmm

Good Things:

Being a student in a small school allows for lots of different experiences being involved in lots of sports and activities.

a local radio station to broadcast games so I can enjoy the game in the warmth of my home.

Drill is over for the year. Only a bit more cheering.....

Scripture Journal

So a couple of years ago I learned about scripture journals. I came across the idea somehow and was led to Shannon's website where she shares the why and how of keeping scripture journals. (Hers are beautiful and somewhat intimidating!)
So I gave myself an empty book and pens for Christmas. I dutifully numbered the pages and wrote topics at the top of each page and then I did nothing much with it. I did enter in some quotes I liked and doodled a bit here and there, but for some reason I am/was scared to do the studying and actually fill those blank pages up.
This year, I've made a goal to become more consistent at not only reading the scriptures but I want to actually study them and record what I learn so that I can become a "sister scriptorian". I want to learn to feast on them, and liken them to myself and I want to be able to teach my children from them and teach them to love them.

I have noticed in the last few months that Cambria's scriptures look much more well-used than mine do and mine are significantly older. I know she is being taught to use and search them in seminary and for some reason I want mine to look like hers. Full of quotes and notes and well-worn pages.

I have recently come across another website where Allison K shares how she keeps scripture and conference journals. (Hers are truly works of art, as she is an artist by trade, and entirely intimidating) I would love mine to look as lovely as hers, but I don't see that happening. However I can glean, from these websites, ideas that I can use to make my journal(s) my own and make them a treasure not only for myself but for those who come after me.

Here's to a much more scripture-filled 2014.

Good Things
So many resources to study the word of God
Others who share their wisdom and creativity
A conversation with a son who is at an exciting time of life. College. So many decisions to make and so much life ahead. I'm excited to see what he does with his life!

Baby shower...

The girls and I were invited to come to a baby shower for Shiala. We drove to Price and picked up Stacy and then went on up to Orem for the festivities. The shower was hosted by Shiala's sister, Sierra, and sister-in-law Heidi. It was nice to finally meet most of Shiala's family members, including her mom and brother and nieces and nephews. They are very nice and made us feel welcome.
Shiala got a lot of really cute clothes and other nice things for the baby. She will be a well-dressed baby and it's easy to see that she is loved already.

Sierra, Heidi, Shiala and Bronwyn

Good Things:

Lots of love and support for Shiala

Seeing Nicole and her girls

Seeing Lori too!

Buzz, buzz

We have had a beehive for a few years. Curtis hasn't had the time to work with them like he'd like to in the last couple of  years. Basically we just maintain them and never harvest any honey. But they are great pollinators at the least.

Curtis is always good to show the kids the frames and how the bees do things inside the hive. How they create the comb and fill it with honey and cap it. How they care for the larvae. It's very educational. 

I used to be afraid of bees but as I've learned about them and dealt with them a little I have realized that they are not scary. They are incredibly busy and driven to do what they do. They really have no use for humans and mostly ignore them unless they feel threatened by them. I just try to stay back and I don't breathe on them. (Carbon dioxide sets them off) 

In all the years we've had bees we've only had about 3 people stung. Curtis, of course, and Ford(one got his face) and one of the little kids stepped on one. They're better about keeping shoes on now!

Good things: 

A husband who is handy and wants to increase his skills...

Fresh honey(when we can get it)

Bees that go about their business and ignore me unless I get too close to their business. 

Honey candy!

My grandma Helquist had a sweet tooth. And it was passed on to most of us. She was known for making and eating candy, particularly honey candy. I think as the mother of 10 with a very limited income she had to be very frugal and creative to make life good for her family. 

Of her 8 living children only 2 (that I know of) continue to make honey candy and I'm afraid that it's possible that the recipe and skill of pulling it may be lost. I'm sort of determined that we will continue it, however, I am not good at pulling it, so Curtis has taken on that job! 

This was on Christmas Eve and was the piece de' resistance of the evening!!

Good things:

Family traditions

Calloused hands that are strong

Sweet honey!

Ramen fun

Life with these two boys is always an adventure! Ramen is not the most nutritious lunch but it sure is fun to eat!

Charles

Love James' cute little face!

sucking it into your mouth with or without a straw is the best way to eat it!

It's great to be eight!

The long awaited 8th birthday finally arrived. Since we do not go all out for birthdays around here, it was low-key, like usual. Soren told us what kind of cake he wanted, he decorated it and he also got to pick what he wanted to have for supper. That's the one tradition we have that we continue to follow.

This year he wanted a lemon cake with Ninjago decorations. Now how is a mom in the hinterlands of S Utah supposed to find Ninjago cake decorations? Just look in the lego drawers, apparently.

Another tradition we have is that of giving our children their own set of scriptures on their 8th birthday. They will be baptized and become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and they continue learning about Christ's Gospel and so it makes sense for them to have their own set of scriptures to study and learn from. This is our first child to turn 8 since we moved here and it was a bit more work to get the scriptures than it has been in the past. Glad we had to make a trip north to drop off Montana or we might have been in a fix.

Happy Birthday, Soren!! We sure love you and we're so thankful you're part of our family!

Good VS Evil

So many helpers to get a cake lit.

"Happy Birthday to you...."

...Happy Birthday, Dear Soren....!"

Got em!

Another tradition...Heavy Hangover Thy Poor Head

Sadie is always so thoughtful about gift-giving. She gave him a new stuffed frog.

He decided to name it Kyle. ??

8!!
(who knew it would be so hard to get a shot of him holding up 8 fingers? nuts, I tell ya!)

Off He Goes Again...

Just after the new year Curtis, Charles, James and I drove Montana up to Orem so that he could hitch a ride to Idaho with Kyle and Allyson.

It has been nice to have him home for nearly two months but I knew that if he stayed long enough he'd get too comfy and it would be very hard to get him to go to school later. I'm glad he realized that as well and chose to go to school now.

We have talked to him a couple of times and he seems to be doing well. I'm thankful he's there with Jordan and Lindsey as well as Allyson. Maybe that will help them all be less lonely and homesick.

We're Being Eaten by an Octopus....

Just kidding.
We just happened to need a car wash when we were in Ut Valley dropping off Montana. So off to Sonic Car Wash we went. The boys always think going through the car wash is fun. James wasn't sure at first, but learned it's not too scary. They love the colorful soap suds too.

'Octopus tentacles' on the windshield

James watching the side scrubbers roll past.

Soren pointing out the sprayers and James hiding his face from the camera...

Charles and Soren enjoying the car wash....