Special Family Home Evening

Friday afternoon Craig called me on his way home from work and told me he wanted to do a special Family Home Evening on Sunday (because we now have games on Monday night). He asked me to print out the talk given in General Conference given by Elder Stevenson titled "Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples". If you haven't read this talk it is a great one. After church Sunday after church we packed up the car and headed to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple.

As we walked around the grounds of the temple we discussed this talk. Craig asked the younger kids what they thought the Temple was like inside. Answers varied from, quiet, clean, white and like church. He had Caleb tell them about the baptistry and what it was like. Craig then asked, "how do you think people act towards each other in the temple? Is there any arguing or yelling? In the temple are the room dirty, is there clothes laying all over the floor?" After he asked many questions like this he waited for comments from them. Liberty's comment was classic, yet profound. She said, "if it were like that it would be just like our house." Sometimes the words that come from children sort of shock you, and put you in your spot.

We made our way to the back side of the grounds and sat down and went discussed all of Elder Stevenson's talk and talked about ways to make our house more like the temple. We discussed that this was something that everyone had to help with. We need to be more kind, help around the house, watch and listen to things that would invite the spirit.

I thought this was so cute...Zach and Liberty were looking in the front doors of the temple. They really wanted to see for themselves.

Here's the family!!! Minus me, which is okay and nice man came and took one of all of us and when I saw it I wanted to cry...still feeling huge! So here is the one that I took.

We had a great time sitting there on the temple grounds talking about how we could make our home a "sacred home". I have noticed that my children are trying to be kinder, happier about helping and doing their jobs. It was a wonderful Family Home Evening, one that I hope the children will always remember. I am so happy that Craig was prompted to do this, it was wonderful.

I just had to add this one, Brit loved being in his stroller as we walked around the temple. I snapped this photo and thought it was so cute.

My cute kids...man the boys really need haircuts...add it too the list!

We Want A Pitcher!

This weeks baseball kicks off here in Pleasant Grove. Well, we are so busy during the season. Craig plays on Monday nights, Caleb plays/practices any day Mon-Fri same with Zach. As it turns out after transfering all the schedules to the calendar from now until mid June we will be at the ball park every night of the week with exception of a couple of weeks when the boys games overlap! Thank Heavens. Liberty and Brit are going to have to be troopers...or we will be watching many games from the car. Thankfully we have a DVD player in the car.

This season both boys are pitching for their teams. It is fun to watch them out on the mound. They both have done pretty well so far (it is only the first week, I know). It will be fun to see them progress throughout the season.

Here they are...

Zach pitching in his opening game...he even struck out a few. Way to go Zach!

Caleb on the mound...he also struck out a few. Nice Job!

If you look closely at the photos of both boys, you can see that they make the same face when the pitch. I love it. I am proud of both of them, they are both very athletic and enjoy playing the game.

So if you are trying to reach us over the next few months and you aren't able to...chances are we are at the ball park! Go Braves (Caleb's team) and White Sox (Zach's team).

Someone's Growing Up!

I snapped this photo and right after the camera battery died...so this is as good as it gets.
Not the best photo but he is getting BIG!




I know that I am late at getting the posted but I really did intend on posting this Friday. Brit turned 2 Months on Friday. It is still so amazing to me how much they change and how fast these changes occur. He is smiling more and more, his feet are dangling off the end of the car seat, his temper tantrums are fewer each day, he carries on great coverstations of cooing, ohs & ahhs, and a scream has now been added to his cry. He is adorable and in case you are wondering the battle for his attention has not subsided. Everyone in this house is still so in love with him it is crazy!

Hollywood Here We Come!!

I wish this was an announcement that we were going on a fun filled vacation...but no Liberty's birthday was yesterday and we had a Hollywood/Movie Star Party. It was fun, you know a house full of 6 year old girls who came dressed up like movie stars, oozing with sass running around, dancing to the total girl music what more could we ask for.

I told myself I was going to do this party on a budget...I gave myself $20.00...and I did it!! I will admit I had part of it at home but here's what we did and the break down.

As the girls arrived they each were stopped by the poparatzzi and flashed a smile & some even struck a pose.

Liberty and her friend Kate

Cost...red carpet - fabric I had down stairs. $0.00
photos printed to include in thank you notes $0.28 x 7 = $1.96

You know every real big movie star has their handprint in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood like this...

so being the big stars they are they each got their own square to put their handprint & signatures on. These turned out reaaly cute, we did them on gray parchment paper with stamp pads for the prints.

Cost: 9 sheets of cardstock $1.80

gold glitter for stars $0.99

stamp pad & markers - had them downstairs

These tuned out really cute...here are the girls making them

Next we made a movie...the girls to make a music video...so we blared the music and the girls sand and danced around the room while I taped them .

Cost: $0.00 (I borrowed a friends video recorder)

Everyone was dancing all around...it was fun!

We all gathered on the couch to watch themselves on the big screen. They all loved watching the movie we ended up playing it like 7 times!

Cost: popcorn $0.00 (had it at home)

licorice $1.29

the girls ate popcorn & licorice while watching it.

After opening presents we went outside and had cupcakes. The girls ate and ran around having fun.

Liberty had to have pink cake, pink frosting, and pink sprinkles this year, I guess last years pink frosting just wasn't enough.

Cost: Pink Cake mix $0.88

Pink frosting $1.39

Pink sprinkles $1.00

Just before the girls left I told them I was going to send their movie to Hollywood and I would let them know if they made it big! They ate it up!

As each girl left Liberty gave them a sucker with a little star stuck to it that said...you'll always be a star to me! Thanks for coming!

Cost: 12 tootsie pops $1.00

Other costs: koolaide drinks $2.00

Table cloth, paper products $3.52

Here is the island all set up before the girls got a hold of it. Yummy stuff!

So there you have it!!! Total cost $15.83!!! Even with the cost so low, the girls had a great time, best part of the whole thing...Liberty was in hog heaven!!!

My little girl is 6 years old and I can't believe it. She is so fun to have in our family. She loves life and is a great girl. We love you Liberty! Happy Birthday!

PS...Even the boys wanted to be a part of the party. Too bad they both had baseball practice! Here they are on the red carpet.

Spring Break 2009

This morning we had to get back into the routine of school. It was hard but we managed. Everyone got up a bit droopy but seemed fine by the time it was time to head out the door. Spring Break was fun and of course it went by way to fast!! But when I think of how fast this school year has gone so far, the last six weeks should go pretty fast! Summer can't come fast enough for our household. We had some fun during the break...here's what we did!

Craig pulled out the telescope Monday night after playing capture the flag. The kids love gazing up in the night sky.

Here are the kids hanging out on the grass just after the night games waitin for Craig to get the scope set up & focused

Tuesday moning we woke up to SNOW & lots of it...that didn't stop Liberty & Zach from getting snow clothes on and heading out. They were out there most of the day.

Can you tell that Zach loves the snow?


Lib, Zach & Zach's friend Jackson...when Mother Nature sends you snow during Spring Break what should you do??? Make SNOW CONES! (I must say that I felt like pretty fun mom when I pulled out the flavored syrups and plastic cups and let them have at it! They LOVED it to say the least!)

There was a lot of this going on in the evenings...everyone congregating to Craig's office to play Tiger Woods Golf on the computer. Don't ask me why the big draw to this game but all week long everyone (except Brit and I) played this. Does any other family see this? Where one game is the best thing for awhile then forgotten for months on end? Maybe we are just odd that way.

Thursday we did a little kite flying. It wasn't very windy but we had a good time anyway.

It took a few tries to even get the kites up in the air, Craig was a good sport to help the kids.

Friday we decided to have an indoor camp out. We pulled out 3 twin size air mattresses and one queen air bed and turned on the movies and had popcorn and what was funny is everyone was asleep by 10:30 pm. We live very exciting lives!

Look how cute Libby looked snuggled into her sleeping bag with a matching flower in her hair she made that with her cousin and she loved it so much she slept in it!

There you have it! We had a great week, it was nice to have no real stress all week. Now were back into the swing of things. Fun for us!

Name Change

For weeks now people have been asking me when I am going to change the name of my blog...well the day has come.

LUCKY ME I HAVE 3

no longer applies since the Brit was born...so I have been thinking of a new title for the blog and finally came up with one that I feel fits. So here it is.....(drum roll please!) My blog will now be called....

THE 4 THAT WE ADORE

I felt like Craig needed to be included in this title...seens how I wouldn't have these 4 great kids without him. I like the sound of the new title...I hope you like it too! If not oh well, cause it has taken me weeks to come up with this title and I'm not going to try to come up with another one. SO THERE!!! Ha Ha!

13!!! Are You Kidding Me?

Yep this is my boy! I love him tons!

I am having a hard time grasping the fact that I am now a mother of a teenage boy. Caleb turned 13 on Saturday. Crazy to think how fast the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday that we brought him home. He is such a great young man. Watching him grow both physically (which is crazy...he now looks me in the eye!) spiritually, intellectually (he currently has straight A's!!! Way to go Caleb!) and in every other way is amazing. He changes everyday. He is funny, strong, helpful, a great example to his brothers and sister, loving, fun to be around, and an all around good kid.

For his birthday he got to go snowmobiling with his dad. They had a great time together and the snowmobiling was a lot of fun. I love that he enjoys spending time with us. I hope that is always the case.

Happy 13th Birthday Caleb!!! We love you!