England

This week I've been spending a lot of time on this site. But first, let me back up a bit. Last August, I had two of my favorite people over for dinner--2 roomies from my first year of college. One had just been to England the year before and was getting the itch to go back. So, I told her if she went, she'd better take me along with her. A couple weeks ago, I got a text from her concerning cheap airline tickets for this September, and was I in? Heck, yes! We started looking into it, half-heartedly. Well, ticket prices went back up, so we thought we'd just keep an eye out for a great rate again. On Monday, I was just messing around with the airfare app I downloaded, trying different dates and looking at prices. For the heck of it, I popped in some dates at the end of May, and what do I find? Great prices to London! I hurriedly texted and emailed my friend, and she worked some of her charm at work (to get deadlines re-arranged, etc), and by Monday afternoon we had two tickets to London purchased. This means we have about three weeks to plan our trip. I bought a guide-book and already feel overwhelmed--I need 2 months to see and do everything that I would love to see and do! We are definitely going to pack in as much as possible in the 8 1/2 days we have, though. Stay tuned for more!

Here's to you, A. A. Milne!

I love when I find an author that I gain a fond appreciation of. Yes, I'm speaking of A. A. Milne--author of the original Winnie-the-Pooh books.

This book came free with iBooks on my iPad, so a few nights ago I started reading it aloud to Liam and Dallin at bedtime. I had never read the original books before, so I was quite pleasantly surprised at A.A. Milne's wit and humor. Even Kaden started stalling his bedtime routine, in order to sit and listen. I love that my 12-year-old isn't too old for a little Winnie-the-Pooh. And I love that my 7-year-olds are still confused about why he is called Winnie-the-Pooh...when in the first chapter it clearly  says that his name is Edward Bear. And I have no clear answer for them on this matter, either.

If you have never read these books--and I suggest reading them aloud, doing the voices of the characters as you go--I definitely recommend it! I even bought the next one (A House at Pooh Corner), since the kids keep asking when Tigger appears...and it isn't in the first one. 

I just can't believe it has taken me so long to appreciate these books!

Pinterest

There is a new internet sensation, perhaps you've heard of it? I, too, have been sucked into the obsession that is Pinterest. If you've never heard of Pinterest, it is an online pin board. Basically you sign-up to join. However, for some strange reason (that I don't quite understand), you have to be on a waiting list...unless you receive an invitation from someone already on it. (Odd social networking angle, but whatever. By the way, if anyone wants an invitation, leave your email addy and I'll let you into this exclusive club.) You can link it to your Facebook and follow friends to follow from there, lest you are afraid you will not know anyone to follow.

Pinterest (like Facebook) is, largely, a waste of time. However, it can be useful, too. (Like this gift wrap organizing idea--I actually went to IKEA and bought some of these.) If you see anything you like on the web--from quotes to pictures to music to whatever--you can "pin" it to your board and then your friends who "follow" you can also see it and re-pin it, or comment on it, or "like" it. So, it is a great way to get inspiration and ideas. But, it is also a time-sucking trap. Sure, it's one thing to look at something and say, "Neat!" and pin it; and it's another to look at something, say "Neat!", pin it, and actually MAKE IT or DO IT.

And, for this reason, I am not a very exciting person to "follow" on Pinterest. I could count on 2 hands the number of things I have pinned. I only pin things that I have made, am making, or have plans to make. This is why you probably won't see things like those little bite-size S'mores and homemade Samoa girl-scout cookies on my boards. Sure, it's interesting to know how to do it at home...but really, are you going to make them? I can barely get a dessert made from a box, let alone a 25-step process of making homemade cookies.

This is more my speed: Easy Banana Muffins. Nearly as easy as a muffin mix, it uses the over-ripe bananas that I often have sitting on my counter, and my kids LOVE them. Easy to change up, too, by adding cinnamon and cloves, or chocolate chips, or nuts. I will be honest, I have not tried them...but only because I have been doing a no-sugar/no-white-flour challenge. I am counting the days until I can try one, guilt-free.

Until then, the food porn that people keep pinning on Pinterest will have to do.

Baptism Binders

I've been serving as the Beehive counselor in my ward for three years now. It is the best calling ever. I love it. At the beginning of every year, as a class activity we make Baptism Binders for the Primary children who are getting baptized during that year. Then the Bishop presents it to the child with his/her certificate after they are baptized. We really only make a cover-sheet where they can put a picture of themselves, and then there are copied pages that they can fill in--with things like their testimony and who attended, etc. My adviser always headed up this project, but she was taken away from me last month, so I have had to come up with what, exactly, we will be doing. And to try to establish more order out of what is usually a chaotic young women's activity. Especially because this year we have 14 of these to make. Yes, 14. Two of them are mine.

So, this is what I have created. I am hoping the design will be not too paper-hungry, and will be something I will be able to get all cut out, so the girls just have to assemble them. I plan on using a CriCut to cut out the child's name to go across the top. I will post pics of the final products, if they turn out well. It is a great service project for young women, and they love doing it.

Magical Night!

This year has been eventful for us. I didn't get Christmas cards out this year, and I apologize for that. Every time I thought about what I would say in a Christmas letter, my heart filled with emotion and I wasn't sure I could express all the gratitude and love I feel. So, I didn't send them, and thought maybe I would write something here to express my love for the Savior and what his life and Atonement mean to us in our lives.

It is hard to be grateful for trials when in the midst of them. Especially the ones which come out of nowhere and are not a consequence of a decision anyone has made. However, having it behind us, I can say I am grateful we had the experiences we had this summer. We have grown closer as a family and have seen the Lord's hand blessing our lives in more ways than one, and who can't be grateful for that? It really opened our eyes to the loving concern of all our family and friends, wherever they are. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude every time I think of all the prayers that were offered on our behalf during that time. My testimony of the power of prayer and fasting has been strengthened.

Today, Erik (14) is doing well. He had another MRI this past Monday, which showed no change from the last one, which is great news. They will do another in June and then yearly after that. (We wanted to get one more done, before the insurance year.) He had his wisdom teeth removed on Thursday and has been in little to no pain with that. (I don't remember mine being so painless!!!) He does well in school, when he applies himself, and has been enjoying his first year of seminary.

Maren (also 14) is always such a good student. She strives for A's and more often than not, achieves her goal! She is getting very good at the violin and piano, and has been playing the piano for her seminary class this year. She has loved seminary and tells us about the things they are doing there. They are studying the Old Testament this year, and she has made it a goal to read from the Old Testament every night for 15 minutes.

Kaden (11) is taking orchestra this year, and is playing the cello. He is really enjoying it, and can't wait to be able to play with Erik and Maren. In Kaden's 6th grade class this year he had a Harry Potter day, where he was sorted into a "house", participated in competitions (like Quidditch), and came home with a scar and wand. Ever since Maren had this teacher (way back when she was in 3rd grade), Kaden has looked forward to a Harry Potter day, so we were very excited that he had this teacher so he could experience this. Kaden has such a witty sense of humor, and often is the quite instigator of many of the quarrels at home. You'd never guess it, though, with as shy as he is in public!

Liam (7) is our tender-hearted child. He is always concerned about everyone else around him (especially Dallin...usually). This year he has really turned into a great little reader. He is always the one who reminds us to read the Book of Mormon every night, and he has started reading right along with us. He does very well, especially with the big, hard words like "iniquity" and "commandments". He is rather shy when around lots of people, or people he doesn't know well, but he loves to giggle and have fun. Many times during the day I am heard to say "Liam! Not so loud!"

Dallin (also 7) is the classic baby of the family. He loves attention, and loves to be funny. He has always been 7 going on 12 (or 3 going on 6, or 5 going on 10). He loves to act older than he is, imitate his older brothers, and generally try to be as witty and clever as a 7-year-old can. He is also turning into a good little reader, but he is stubborn about it.

The past few months, Ben started a part-time hospice job, and I think he is enjoying that (as much as one can enjoy hospice). He really has a way with the elderly, and he loves interacting with them. He has already made quite the impression on one of his patients, who called 911 and had the paramedics take her to the hospital, just so she could talk to Dr. McEntire. He says he would be flattered, but she has a bit of dementia.

I continue to hold things down at home. I have been creating with yarn a lot lately, and have enjoyed that, however there are always a list of other projects that I should be working on as well. Sometime in the next year I hope to remodel some parts of our house...like the kitchen, laundry, and upstairs flooring.

Again, we are so grateful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for this Christmas season where we can celebrate his birth and life, and what it means to us in our lives. We hope that everyone has been so blessed and felt of His love this year, as we have.

Orchestra concert

We went to the annual Christmas orchestra concert this year. It was Kaden's first time playing. He has been learning the cello since September. He is the face just to the right of the music stand, avove. Maren and Erik (below) have been in orchestra since they were in 6th grade, as well. It is amazing how much they learn in just a few short years.

Spontaneous Ski Lesson

Last night my next-door neighbor asked me to go to a ski lesson with her this morning at Snowbasin. It was her first time on skis, and it may as well have been my first time. I am always so afraid and timid when I get skis on. I thought for sure I would break something. I only fell once, though. And nothing broke, or even bruised (ok, maybe  the pride was a little bruised, but it was a beginner's ski class and everyone falls at least once, right?). 

The "Learn to Earn" programs at Snowbasin are really cool. I may or may not do another lesson. If I stick with it, I get a discounted season pass at the end of 3 lessons. In any event, it was fun, I learned a lot, and maybe I will be more confident on the slopes. As long as they are the bunny kind, anyway.