Monday, January 31, 2011

14 Day of Valentine Love

 14 Day of Valentine Love For Women

Here are some suggestions for little or no cost, to treat your husband or loved one in your life for 14 days of Valentine Fun:

Use these or be creative and think up your own. Most of all have fun showing your love!!!

Each evening after it's safe, plant your little surprise to be found the next day.

Begin on the evening of January 31st to be found on Feb 1st, then repeat until Valentines Day Feb 14

His favorite candy bar under his pillow

Put a passionate love note in his wallet , lunch bag, day planner or brief case.

Heart Attack (tiny paper hearts taped to) his closet door, or closet floor.
 Heart Shaped Pizza for dinner

Make his favorite sandwich and surprise him at work

A big lipstick heart drawn on the mirror

A red or pink balloon tied to his car door handle

A coupon for a back or foot rub

A heart shaped soap for his shower or sink

Breakfast in bed.

Cook his favorite dinner, serve it by candlelight and possible at it with just the two of you.

A handmade valentine card expressing your love

 Candy kisses sprinkled on his side of the bed or in his car

Make him his favorite dessert or cookies

A love note tucked in his church shirt pocket

Fill his car with red and pink balloons while it at work
A kiss imprint on his car window

Wash his car for him, or do another of his regular around the house chores for him

Offer him an entire day to do just as wishes

A picture of you in a cute frame for his desk or night stand


Friday, January 28, 2011

Primary Binder Monthly Themes July - Dec. 2011

I finally completed the monthly themes for my Primary Binder. When I put together the CTR 7 Class binders at the first of the year, I found cute themes pages from Latter-Day Chatter at this post here. In the binder I have class themes January through July. 

I decided to make my own for the remainder months, because I didn't like the theme pages she created, because they were cartoon people and I knew I could find better pictures.

Latter-day Chatter author does a better job, because she has on-line scrap-booking ability. I do mine the old fashion way - by hand and you can tell the difference. BUT, I wanted "real" pictures. Here is my "GO" at the theme pages.

August
September
October
December
A task complete - Yea!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Technology Overload

Do you ever feel like all you do is waste time on the computer? 

For a while now, it has completely taken over all of my free time. 

My "to do" lists are left undone, while I try to fit in my basic "Mom" duties between checking out the computer each day.

It is such a waste of time. . . . . 

Plus, the pressure of commenting, reading blogs, reading facebook, living up to expectations I've put on myself.

Then ... I just don't want the pressure anymore. I just want to quit!!

I've put my blog on Private and then back again to Public several times this week. I know I need to blog and keep my personal journal up to date and would hate it if my family couldn't read it.  

But then, WHAT is there to blog about when you work and then waste time on the computer day after day?

Boring life -- that is what happens. 

I need to snap out of it and "get a life". Quit living my life by checking out what others are doing. 

I read an article yesterday about "Farewell to Facebook" here.
The article completely spoke to what I was feeling. I decided to delete all of the people who have "found me" through facebook. People I went to school with 30 years ago and never have kept in touch with. It was good to see them on facebook and catch up on what they are doing - but then the day to day life stuff goes on and on. Stuff I don't relate to because I don't know them - but I get sucked into their "wonderful" life and start feeling like such a failure. 

All of a sudden I don't want to blog or share - because I'm not good enough.

SAD....

I sat and deleted all of the people from my ward and school days. Now my facebook profile only has 16 people from immediate family whom I love and love me. People I won't waste time on - my time on. 

I felt relief. I felt like I could start being "me" again. 

I know it sounds silly ... but just deleting "facebook acquaintances" ... has been freeing. Now I won't get my feelings hurt by some brash statement someone says. 

Today, I came home from work and started on my "to do" list. I may have an actual life again - when I limit the hours spent on the computer. 

This will be a great thing. The article was an eye opener and I think it is going to give my life back again. I feel better today .... like a load has been lifted off. It's kinda funny how I feel freer in blogging to people who don't know me and don't really care what I blog about. 

aaaaahhhhh It's been uplifting to get back to what I want to do and not impressing anyone. :-D
(I can't even imagine if I played computer games - thank goodness I don't)

Monday, January 24, 2011

Motivational Monday - "Encouragement and Love"

"We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."
Thomas S. Monson

"Along your pathway of life you will observe that you are not the only traveler. There are others who need your help. There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."
Thomas S. Monson

"The principles of living greatly include the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and trial with humility."
Thomas S. Monson

‎"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty."
— Maya Angelou

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Pink and PurPle Polka dot CuPcakes


The fun has begun! Play practices started out with a cast party.
They watched "Once Upon a Mattress" movie and Brady loved every minute of it. 

Here are a couple YouTube videos of the movie. 
I was surprised that Glee Star Matthew Morrison starred in the movie. 

The cast members were assigned to bring a pot luck food item that started out with "P". 

We chose to send: Pink and PurPle Polka dot cuPcakes.
I used a white cake mix and dyed half pink and half purple. It was extra fun!
So far Brady is loving each minute of practice. The teachers asked him why he isn't in choir. He just doesn't have enough credits to have that class. I can't wait until I can watch the show. It's all very exciting.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Motivational Monday: "Your Happily Ever After"

Edited from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Your Happily Ever After,” Ensign, May 2010
Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”

In most languages there exists a phrase as magical and full of promise as perhaps any in the world. That phrase is “Once upon a time.”
Aren’t those wonderful words to begin a story? “Once upon a time” promises something: a story of adventure and romance, a story of princesses and princes. It may include tales of courage, hope, and everlasting love

In many of these stories, nice overcomes mean and good overcomes evil. But perhaps most of all, I love it when we turn to the last page and our eyes reach the final lines and we see the enchanting words “And they lived happily ever after.
Isn’t that what we all desire: to be the heroes and heroines of our own stories; to triumph over adversity; to experience life in all its beauty; and, in the end, to live happily ever after?


On the first page of your Young Women Personal Progress book, you will find these words: “You are a beloved daughter of Heavenly Father, prepared to come to the earth at this particular time for a sacred and glorious purpose.”

Sisters, those words are true! They are not made up in a fairy tale!
 Isn’t it remarkable to know that our eternal Heavenly Father knows you, hears you, watches over you, and loves you with an infinite love


In fact, His love for you is so great that He has granted you this earthly life as a precious gift of “once upon a time,” complete with your own true story of adventure, trial, and opportunities for greatness, nobility, courage, and love. And, most glorious of all, He offers you a gift beyond price and comprehension. Heavenly Father offers to you the greatest gift of all—eternal life—and the opportunity and infinite blessing of your own “happily ever after.”
But such a blessing does not come without a price. It is not given simply because you desire it. It comes only through understanding who you are and what you must become in order to be worthy of such a gift.
For a moment, think back about your favorite fairy tale. In that story the main character may be a princess or a peasant; she might be a mermaid or a milkmaid, a ruler or a servant. You will find one thing all have in common: they must overcome adversity.
Cinderella has to endure her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters. She is compelled to suffer long hours of servitude and ridicule.
In “Beauty and the Beast,” Belle becomes a captive to a frightful-looking beast in order to save her father. She sacrifices her home and family, all she holds dear, to spend several months in the beast’s castle.

In the tale “Rumpelstiltskin,” a poor miller promises the king that his daughter can spin straw into gold. The king immediately sends for her and locks her in a room with a mound of straw and a spinning wheel. Later in the story she faces the danger of losing her firstborn child unless she can guess the name of the magical creature who helped her in this impossible task.
In each of these stories, Cinderella, Belle, and the miller’s daughter have to experience sadness and trial before they can reach their “happily ever after.” 
Think about it. Has there ever been a person who did not have to go through his or her own dark valley of temptation, trial, and sorrow?
Sandwiched between their “once upon a time” and “happily ever after,” they all had to experience great adversity. Why must all experience sadness and tragedy? Why could we not simply live in bliss and peace, each day filled with wonder, joy, and love?
The scriptures tell us there must be opposition in all things, for without it we could not discern the sweet from the bitter. Would the marathon runner feel the triumph of finishing the race had she not felt the pain of the hours of pushing against her limits? Would the pianist feel the joy of mastering an intricate sonata without the painstaking hours of practice?

In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy.
My dear young sisters, you need to know that you will experience your own adversity. None is exempt. You will suffer, be tempted, and make mistakes. You will learn for yourself what every heroine has learned: through overcoming challenges come growth and strength.

It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life’s story will develop.
We all search for happiness, and we all try to find our own “happily ever after.” The truth is, God knows how to get there! And He has created a map for you; He knows the way. He is your beloved Heavenly Father, who seeks your good, your happiness. He desires with all the love of a perfect and pure Father that you reach your supernal destination. The map is available to all. It gives explicit directions of what to do and where to go to everyone who is striving to come unto Christ and “stand as [a witness] of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.” All you have to do is trust your Heavenly Father. Trust Him enough to follow His plan.

The Gospel Is the Way to Happily Ever After

“Happily ever after” is not something found only in fairy tales. You can have it! It is available for you! But you must follow your Heavenly Father’s map.

Embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ! Learn to love your Heavenly Father with all your heart, might, and mind. Fill your souls with virtue, and love goodness. Always strive to bring out the best in yourself and others.


. “Stand … in holy places, and be not moved,” regardless of temptations or difficulties.

Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your “once upon a time” is now.


Monday, January 3, 2011

2011 Primary CTR 7 Class Binder

 This is the Primary binder for my primary class this year 2011. I decided to put the binders in a bag this year for each of the children. Also included is a set of colored pencils, mechanical pencil and pencil sharpener. 

I couldn't find a binder cover that I liked, so I decided to make it myself. This is the front cover for 2011 binder. The theme is "I know the Scriptures are True". I wanted to include pictures of scriptures stories, because I love the scriptures and stories and hope they will too!. 

For the middle, I thought about the pictures of children reading the scriptures. But I didn't want a girl reading the scriptures for the boys in the class or a boy reading the scriptures for the girls. I wanted them all to be the same, so I used a picture of Jesus with children as the center. I love how it turned out. 
 This is the standard back cover I use every year. It is printed off from the new nursery manual. I use this picture because I teach the class for the children who will be baptized this year.  
 Inside the binder I have the monthly themes with the song for the month on the back. 

I found the monthly themes from Latter-Day Chatter. Here is a link to her monthly themes.    They can be downloaded for free. I admit that I edited February, March, June and July's to add the monthly scripture. Also, I only like her monthly themes through July. The next months I will have to get creative and make my own. I prefer "real" pictures and don't like cartoons - which she uses for August, September and October. I know I can find better pictures for these - so I'll be making my own. I will post what I use when I complete them. 


Her main website is here and you can print off full sheets of songs you need. I do this for songs I sing in my Primary class. They are called "Flip Charts" for full sheet pictures and "Thumbnails" for all the pictures on one sheet. 
 January.
 January song and February Theme sheet.
 February song and March Theme sheet. 
 March song and April Theme sheet.
 April song and May Theme sheet. 
 May song and June Theme sheet.
June song and July Theme sheet. I didn't take a pictures of July's song - but you get the idea. 

I love how they turned out. I have a large class again of 13 children. They wanted to split the class - but it isn't fair for the children who are not in my class - so I told them NOT to split it. I know I can handle it anyway. 

Yesterday was our first day with new students. I forget how small they are at the beginning of the year. They sure do grow a lot this year. It's going to be a fun year! They boys and girls were thrilled with their bags and binders and the knowledge that we have class parties this year. PLUS they will get baptized too - it's a wonderful age to teach! 

The project I have on my "to do list" is to put all the lesson journal pages and coloring sheets on my blog this year. I really want to get this completed, so when you see blog after blog of lessons - you will understand. 

Brady's in the High School Musical this year!!

Yippeeeee!!
Brady tried out for a part in this years high school musical production of:

"Once Upon a Mattress!" 
Or sometimes known as: "The Princess and the Pea". 

AND
He has been chosen for a lead role as the Jester! 

He will be singing 3 songs and do a tap dance. The day that he tried out for the musical, he wanted to learn how to juggle. He found some instructions on how to make the balls out of balloons, watched a YouTube video and practiced and practiced over the weekend. By Monday he could juggle. He is quite good. He is very talented! I can't wait until we can watch him perform.

Below are some YouTube videos of the songs he will be singing. Practices start today. The productions will be held March 10 - 12 and 17 - 19. 

There is an "A" cast and a "B" cast. Each day a different cast will be performing. I'll have to find out the exact dates Brady's cast will be doing the play. If you want to come and watch him, let me know so that I can get you tickets. 

It's all very EXCITING!! 




Christmas 2010

Christmas! Our most favorite time of the year!!
The glow of lights that comes into our home brightens our hearts and minds. I love it!

I took it easy this year. I tried not to over book myself and enjoy the music, sights and sounds of this wonderful holiday celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I wasn't as frugal as I wanted to be, but I paid cash for everything (Nothing was charged). 

I received some really delightful gifts this year. 
Charlotte gave me this set of measuring spoons. The are very heavy duty metal with fun carvings and angels at the top. It's fun to grab a spoon full of flour and see the hearts dented into the flour or spices. I'm having tooooo much fun with these measuring spoons. I love them!!
Jo made me this apron. Isn't it cute?? Snowmen! Jo is really talented. She has been making these aprons to give as wedding presents. I was very happy that she made me one too. I've been wearing it everyday!

It's cool to receive cooking stuff .... do they know me or what? 
Look here! I received this ornament from Cherie!!!! BEAUTIFUL! Thanks Cherie for thinking of me. I was very surprised!! 
This year, Jason, Brady and Sharon gave me a shot gun for Christmas. I've wanted a gun for a long time. I can't wait to go out shooting with my children. I hope I can handle it. It's heavy and big. I know I feel a lot safer having a gun in the house. 

When I tell people that I received a shot gun for Christmas they are all shocked. To me it isn't a surprising thing. I was raised around guns and am a pretty good shot. Guns do not scare me at all - especially if I am holding one. I feel safe and secure and it is a good feeling. 

Thanks Jason, Brady and Sharon! This was a terrific gift! It was funny that Santa put the bullets in my stocking. I asked my children if they checked their stockings Christmas morning - and they asked me if I checked mine. It was a surprise! I felt inside and it felt like a stocking full of batteries. I was laughing when I found out it was shot gun bullets. 
Christmas morning Jason got up and made breakfast for us. He made biscuits and gravy. It was very tasty and nice to be pampered. 
We built a fire and started opening presents. 
Jason received, 2 pair of pants, a shirt, a hoodie, shoes, PJ bottoms, socks, exercise bike, floor lamp, a knife set with a knife sharpener, and a hand made wooden cutting board (made by my brother in law Kelly - thanks Kelly!! He loved it!). 
Brady received 4 pairs of pants - all of his older pants are getting too short and he has "Floods" LOL! 5 new shirts, new shoes, socks, gloves, wallet, two DS games and 2 Halo games for the computer (but Halo 2 didn't work because we don't have a graphics card in the computer - boo hoo).
This is the present I was really excited for them to open. It was a Lego set of a Halo fighter. They loved it too! Brady saw it as we were finding presents for "toys for tots" and we knew we had to get it for them. 
Our family received the Scrabble flash game. I was addicted to playing it over and over during the week and the batteries were ran down within the week. :-( SAD!
Sharon received a blender, rubber made food storage kit (the lids stick to the container), glass casserole dishes, PJ bottoms, shirt, Scrabble, an X-box game, and 2 World of Warcraft upgrade games. 
Jason has always loved legos. The first thing he did was start to put it together. I was excited that it had a ton of parts (I thought it would be like a Biconical with a couple of parts.)
Here it is all put together. I didn't catch a photo of Sharon putting hers together. 
Then they started posing and playing with them... Such big kids!  Here are some really short videos of them playing with their toys. LOL! 


It was a wonderful Christmas. We were all spoiled! 

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