Thought for the Day

Earlier this week I was browsing the Internet for a lesson I needed to prepare and came across this message or thought and LOVED it! I thought I would share.

The Home is the Most Significant Classroom

Perhaps the most significant classrooms is the classroom of the home. It is in the home that we form our attitudes, our deeply held beliefs. It is in the home that hope is fostered or destroyed. Our homes are the laboratories of our lives. What we do there determines the course of our lives when we leave home. Dr. Stuart E. Rosenberg wrote in his book The Road to Confidence, "Despite all new inventions and modern designs, fads and fetishes, no one has yet invented, or will ever invent, a satisfying substitute for one's own family."

A happy home is but and earlier heaven.

Thomas S. Monson

I'm Going There Someday.....

Yesterday we took the kids and went through the open house for the Draper LDS Temple. It was a wonderful experience for our family. The Temple holds a very special place in my heart. Our kids have been anxiously waiting this occasion for several months. Everyday this past week I have been asked if "today" was the day! The temple was absolutely beautiful! There are not enough words to describe it! I think it is one of my new favorites!! I love the calm and peaceful feeling you get when you are there.

As we finished the tour we asked the girls what they thought? They all LOVED it!! Makell said, "I want to go to all the temples!" She also thought that her friend Jackson was going to marry her that day!:o) Kaitlyn had this huge smile on her face and said she didn't have a favorite room. She loved everything about it! She said, "It's sooooo pretty here"! She also said she wanted to come again! Kourtney also had a smile on her face and absolutely LOVED the brides room, sealing room, and the Celestial room. She now can't wait until she turns twelve and has the opportunity to do baptisms for the dead. After the tour we enjoyed refreshments and the many different displays. The Draper LDS Temple is the #12 temple in Utah. We heard several stories as we were waiting of how people had to save money for several months for traveling expenses to be able to attend the temple. Were are so fortunate to have so many of them so close.

This is as we were walking through the "tunnel" to enter the temple. They were almost running! They were so excited and couldn't get there fast enough!

There were three different locations to park and then they had charter buses take you to the temple. As we were on the bus all the kids had their faces pressed up against the windows trying to spot the temple in the distance. Once Makell spotted it she yelled , 'There it is"!!! Do they look excited?!:o) (FYI; If you go, don't sit at the back of the bus:o/!) I love the fact that the open house is not just for members. Anyone can tour this beautiful and remarkable building! They are not "secret" places. They are sacred and a house of the Lord! I loved the opportunity that our family had to go to the temple together! I look forward to the day when they have all grown and we can be there together! I am grateful that Adam and I were married in the temple and we can be an eternal family!

Gone Hawaiian

My brother Matt and sister-in-law Janette were fortunate to spend some of the holidays in the warm sun and on the sunny beaches of Hawaii! Janette surprised Matt with a trip to Hawaii for Christmas! I think Adam (hint) needs to do some talking with Janette:)! I am very lucky to have such a wonderful brother and sister-in-law! While they were on their trip they found some time to send the kiddos a post card telling them how beautiful it was and how much fun they were having! The girls thought it was sooooo neat! Once again they spoiled the girls! They brought back a fresh pineapple(yum!!!!) and Hawaiian dresses with flowers for their hair! They looked so cute! They insisted on wearing them to church the next day and got asked all kinds of questions! I am grateful for the close relationship my girls have with my brothers! They are the best! Thank you for the beautiful dresses Matt and Janette!

Celebrating the New Year!!

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009!! I cant believe another year has come and gone! It's kind of sad to see the year go because it has been filled with so many wonderful memories!! As I look back on all the exciting things we have done and the many projects that have been accomplished, it makes me excited to see what a new year will bring!

My brother and sister-in-law invited everyone over to their home to celebrate New Years Eve! We had a great time with dinner and games! All the adults were whipped by the kids at the Wii! Wow, can they play!! Kourtney was so excited with her 6 strikes (in a row) at bowling! Jared had a shut out with every adult he played in tennis!! Kaylee brings a whole new meaning to the game of bowling! Kaitlyn loved playing the Wii and of course dressing up! Makell was totally mesmerized with Dane and baby Will(surprised?)! We missed Matt and Janette! They decided they would spend the evening together where it was warm and delightful (imagine that:0)!! I hope everyones year will be filled with love, happiness, and prosperity! Happy New Year!!!!

Playing in the Snow!

With all the snow we have had lately we decided we would stop complaining and just enjoy it! The wind was really cold at times but still a lot of fun! We learned we will need a few more layers for next time! Kourtney and Kaitlyn decided to jump on with Uncle Matt and later realized his fun and enjoyment comes from making/watching people eat snow and face plant:0)! JK! Once they figured out Janette was a much "slower/better" driver they jumped on with her. Makell loved riding with Aunt Janette and even through those wind kissed cheeks and lips we still heard several little giggles! We realized Matt and Adam were the biggest kids of all!! They thought hitting snow banks full speed and flying 10-12 feet through the air and face planting was great fun! Us girls would define "fun" totally differently!

Christmas Morning!

I guess Santa thought everyone had been good this year! Our morning started off with three little whispering voices at 4:30 wondering if they could go see what Santa had left?! Of course they were sent back to bed! Another wake up call with whispering voices at 5:30 and again sent back to bed. A third wake up call at 6:30 with everyone gathering in mom and dad's bed to snuggle and giggle with excitement wondering what Santa had left everyone! Everyone was lucky enough to get what they asked for! I love the excitement on Christmas morning!!!!

Getting Ready for Santa!

The girls getting things set out! No one can go to bed without leaving a small snack for the "jolly old fellow"!
The girls put a little snack together for Santa and the Reindeer! They left cookies and milk for Santa and reindeer feed with a carrot for each one!

















Every Christmas Eve Santa delivers one early present (P.J's) to everyone so they can get ready to head to bed so he can come back and make his stop! They get sooooo excited!!!