Everyday...about 3 pm

These cute girls climb up on my bed and watch out the window...

How they know that "their kids" are going to be home soon I know not! :)

New Calling

Jestin received a new calling. He kind of knew it was coming... only because he was in the bishopric meeting where his name came up (the joys of being the assist. ward clerk) and he was then asked to leave. A few days later he got a call from the Stake President's office.

He is feeling completely inadequate and unqualified for this position. It has been a long week to say the least! LOL

Jestin has been called as the new Elder's Quorum President.

I must admit it has been a call full of blessings already. When the Stake Pres. asked if he would accept the call he could barely get his answer out. But as he did, a really neat thing happened! The only way I can describe it is that a conduit from heaven opened up and rested upon Jestin. He seemed full of light. He was asked to seek revelation and select his counselors in less than 2 days time. He was diligent in seeking them. He and I reviewed the ward list and he came up with 13 names. He then carried that list around with him in his pocket all the next day. Later in the afternoon he asked me to go with him to the temple to be sure...

It was hard to get there in the first place (isn't it always when you are trying to go?)... and then we went clear to the AF temple (our favorite) and it was closed for cleaning! We decided to drive to the new one around the point of the mountain and missed the last session by mere minutes! It was a long wait... but the whole session was worth it. He knew without a shadow of a doubt who should be called - even though he did not know either man very well.

On the way home we stopped at the bishop's work and Jestin presented the names. He got complete approval. He then called the Stake Exec. Secretary and gave them to him. It was amazing, but after the names were passed on... the light seemed to lessen. It was not as intense as before. It was an amazing experience I will treasure always!

The men and women that are called to work in this church are TRULY called of God. I *know* it with all my heart. And though I still am in awe that Jestin is called at this time - I know it is Heavenly Father who needs what he can give right now.

The light returned in full force when Jestin was set apart on Sunday. He seems to have more spirit to him than he did before. I don't know if that makes ANY sense! Really though... he just does.

I have been blessed with some quiet whisperings of my own in regards to my responsibilities in this new calling as well. I am called to tend to our home and family. I am called to keep our home "a home of order" so that Jestin can receive revelation here. I am called to be his support and pick up his slack as he has picked up mine the last few years. And I am excited to do so. I look forward to giving to him... as he has given so much to me. :)

We are so utterly humbled and thankful for the opportunity to have our family sacrifice and serve this ward. We have been given so much... and it is truly a tender gift to be able to give back. We love the people of this ward and look forward to getting to know more and more of them. We just pray we are "enough"... but we know with the Lord, and the help of all those around us, all things are possible! :)

Emmalee's 12th Birthday

Emmalee's Birthday was on a tuesday. She had a pretty good day! After school Gram and Millie came down and went with her and mom to Walmart to buy her her first makeup. She choose some mascara, eye shadow and lip gloss. We also got her a bag to keep it in. When we got home Aunt Millie, the anestisist (sp?), taught her how to care for her face and gave her really nice cleansers etc. She looked so grown up!

After dinner, Mom's homemade Wingers, her fav!, Dad and Mom had to go to a meeting with the Stake President. (ha ha) We were gone for over an hour so we decided to give her the gift from us instead of waiting for her friend party.

Jestin had found her a REALLY NICE bike on KSL that just needed the brakes repaired. He got them all fixed and then the next day she and her Daddy did some major cleaning on it to make it look all brand new! She was thrilled with her new bike!

She even used her birthday money and bought herself a bike lock so it would be safe when she rode it to school!

So, she got to celebrate her birthday on her birthday, a friend party on Friday and a family party on sunday! She had a full week of fun!

She had just a few friends over for a party - We could not afford a fancy party or lots of people... so Emma used her own money and paid for her and just a couple of her MANY friends to go swimming at Provo Pool. (Of course it was snowing like crazy and really cold... but they enjoyed it anyway! LOL) She really struggled with who to invite... this girl really has so many good friends! We love where we live!

She requested an Icecream sandwich cake for her Friend party

Then on the Sunday mom made her her favorite meal again - but this time it was homemade chicken noodle soup and homemade rolls. She was so pleased! Following dinner we had a family her birthday party. She was super spoiled and had a good time! We are so blessed to have family close by!

Aunt Millie gave her this awesome new purse. Super cute!

She recieved these knitting and crochetting kits (she LOVES yarn)

And for dessert we made her pumpkin pie and homemade icecream. She was such a good sport about having to keep it simple this year! I just love this kid SO much! We are planning on taking her Grandma's and Grandpa's with us to do baptisms for the dead the week after Thanksgiving... and Mom promised her a shopping day just us when some of these elusive checks come in... :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET GIRL!!!!!!!! I dont know what I would do without you!!!

Wilbur is laying!

*GIGGLE* Here is the size difference in our little Wilbur the runt chicken's egg and the other chicken's eggs! ISN'T THAT SO CUTE??? LOL

Halloween Company

We were blessed to have a houseful of good friends for the Halloween Holiday! The Sorensen Family came to spend the weekend with us! It was FANTASTIC!
They arrived late on thrusday night and we could barely get the kids settled down! They were SO happy to see each other again! :)

We made yummy applesauce pancakes and fresh eggs for breakfast the next morning. Amy & Austin went to the temple and Jess and I kept all the kids here to play! It was really cold outside... but they played together SO well! We even added a neighbor kid or two! LOL
Life size Candyland on DVD was a huge hit!

Everyone got to play! And with 11 kids in the house... it got loud! LOL

Our "little men" together again! Sam, Caleb & Britton. Caleb was IN HEAVEN!

I wish I could say I took a ton more photos... but we had such a great time I did not even think about it! :P

Friday evening Emma watched all 9 kids (bless her heart and thank you DVD player) while the adults went out to dinner. We enjoyed Carrabba's... oh yeah! So good!

The next morning I joined Amy on a photo shoot of the neighbor's family! I took my camera and played with settings I just learned from my photography class. Here is one or two of my fav's:
We played at the old cabboses in Salem

ha ha! Sorry Aim! Couldn't resist!

They are such a cute family!

On the way home we stopped at the grocery store and picked up all the fixin's for Mummy Hot Dogs. We had lunch and had craft time. By this day (Halloween) it had warmed up enough to send them outside to play! Yeah!

We got them all ready for Halloween and off to the ward trunk or treat we went. The kids had a great time! I ended up facing the sun in the back of the car and within 20 minutes had to go home to lay down and get my heart back in rythum. It was not so fun to have to miss out... but everyone else got to visit all the neighbors for me. (Next year we are doing our Halloween party tradition for the neighborhood again... I liked that better! :) )

We came back to the house and while Jestin and Austin took care of the baby and got the scones cooking... Amy and I took the kids out trick or treating. It was really fun! I haven't been strong enough to go with my kids in over 3 years! I really enjoyed it!

We got back and they were W.I.L.D. with excitement! There was a great piling up of treats and swapage going on! LOL

As it got later Amy got them going some moves to create Zen! Bwahahaha! It was a hoot! The kids LOVED it!

Be the tree. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Meanwhile the little ones were lost to the balloon toys they had gotten.

Cam needed a treatment from running about in the cold outside.

We ate chili and scones and got ready for bed. Well... ok. The kids went to bed. We adults stayed up until we felt cross eyed playing cards. *GRIN*

We all got up and went to church the next morning. It was so sad to see them leave after church and lunch. We really miss them all and can't wait for their quick stop in the Saturday after Thanksgiving on their way home from family's!

Ely is just too far away!!!!!!! LOL

She is leaving the nest...

Well... ok... only for a couple of hours to trick or treat but still! It was the 1st year we let her get together with friends and set out on their own for the evening.

She planned it for over a week. I was excited for her and knew she would be fine. We live in a great neighborhood! We got them all ready to go... and last minute gave her Daddy's cell phone (her friend had to call home in one hour) and out the door and down the steps they went... that Zombie Cheerleader, Draco Malfoy and a One-eyed, One-horned, Flying Purple People Eater!

And this Mom burst into tears! WOW! It was like sending her to kindergarten for the first time! LOL I didn't think I was upset about it until she walked away into the dark!

Time flies! Babies grow WAY too fast!!!

She had a complete blast! She was pumped when she got home. She turns twelve tommorow and it is really surreal. She wants to go make-up shopping for her birthday. We are going to do baptisms for the dead with her grandparents. She wants an official "curfew". She goes to her first Young Women's activity tomorrow night. And yesterday was her last day of Primary.

Growing pains I tell ya! Growing pains!!!!!!!

Halloween Costumes 2009

A Zombie Cheerleader

A scary skeleton

A bat (though everyone thought he was batman and it kind of annoid him! LOL)

The "Good" Spiderman

And our houseful of kids... more info to come... :)

Pumpkin Patch - Oct 22 2009

Wake up McKenly!! We are at the pumpkin patch!!

Off we went to the pumpkin patch! It was Gram's 50th birthday and that is what she wanted to do for her birthday..... take the Grandkids to pick pumpkins! (she is such a fun grandma! LOL)

Off the two little one's went....

Cam found "the one".... multiple times! :)

Emma tried to help Caleb make up his mind...

But big brother Cody did it! This is "it"!!!

Mom thought this one was cool! Too bad it didn't stand up! How cool of a pumpkin would that have been!? LOL... any votes on what it would have carved into??

Kenly, her Mommy and baby brother...

Kenly found hers too!

Look at our pile!

CHEESE!!!!!!!!!

Then we headed to the hay maze... oh so much fun!!!!!!!!

Peek-A-Boo Mommy!!!!!!

Hey there Cammer Man!

I hope she enjoyed her birthday. She so loves watching the Grandkids play... and she was headed for back surgery a few days later... so it was a good distraction! ;)

(btw - all went well and she is healing beautifully!)

We are ready to go!

These kids are growin' fast! Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!

School is taking a back burner...

I am very sad to report... we are closing doors on the Dorius Academy for a little while. We have had a series of unfortunate events that require Mom to be a Realtor/Office Manager more than a teacher right now... so Cody is headed to school.

He is really sad. I just can't stomach the thought of him getting behind... and financially I need the time I use for school to invest in finding ways to bring in more income for now.

This is likely temporary... but we are all doing what he have to do as a family to make ends meet... even Cody going back to school.

He is pleased the local charter school has room for him... so he won't be stuck in the same predicament of being held back by the bureaucracy of regular public school. So that is good. Say a prayer for Cody would you? He is really nervous about getting back into the swing of things. And so am I. :)