Independance

I was canning the other day and I turned around to find Kendall getting herself some ice in her glass. It made me laugh I have such independent children. I tell my friends all the time that I am positive my kids could survive with out me.

I have to share a few things that have made me smile this week.

1. Picking Marshal up from Football and he is from head to toe wet and muddy and the grin on his face. (Its a boy thing)

2. Dropping Kendall of at School and watching her run to the door with her backpack on. Cutest thing ever!

3. Watching Charly trying to figure out the violin.

I love the little things that fill my watershed of memories. I can not believe how fast they grow. I am trying to enjoy everyday with them no matter what the stresses of life might be throwing at us. There are days were I defiantly need to do better at this.

Tryouts

Saturday was nutcracker tryouts. The girls have been preparing for this for months. Charly was trying out for party scene again and Noelle was trying out for party princess. The only thing I can think of to explain tryouts is the word nerve-racking.

Charly auditioned first she felt really good and was very confident. I on the other hand held it together for the girls but deep down was a wreck. The scenarios that were going through my head gave me a headache. What if one girl makes it and the other doesn't etc. When the door opens for the first girls who were being cut your heart stops for a minute hoping you do not see your child. Charly made it through the first cuts, a sigh of relief then about 30 minutes latter second cuts and the door opens and about twenty five girls walk through the door your heart is ponding and your worst fear happens she walks through the door.

Of course Charly being the most positive person I know. She is smiling, she knew what she did wrong and she was acting okay with it. Me I wanted to cry I had prepared myself for another year of nutcracker and to be honest I deep down thought she would make it and really only worried about Noelle.

This is the view of all the girls getting instruction before they headed into tryouts.

This was Noelle's first year to tryout she really was not tall enough but they were letting her tryout because she is older and more experienced. She did not make it either and after Charly not making it I was then worried that Noelle would make it and wondered if Charly would be alright with that. But of course Charly sat by her side pumping her up telling her how well she would do and encouraging her.

I have to say I am very impressed with my girls they are very gracious kind little girls who taught me a lot. Charly instead of feeling sorry for her self was congratulating her friends and comforting those who did not make it. Noelle who had told me that she was not sure if she could be like Charly if she did not make that she might cry. I told her that it would be fine whatever she felt was okay. Noelle came out smiling saying it is a little bit of a bummer but she will try again next year. Wow some adults can't even do this.

I am grateful for the experience to tryout, it is very disheartening to see your child not achieve something they want so bad but I know it is part of life. We are very blessed to have so many good friends from our little dance family. I thank all of you for supporting my girls and for being such good friends.

I guess we always have next year!

Happy Birthday Noelle!!!

Happy Birthday Noelle!

It really just seems like yesterday when she was born. Noelle is such a funny little girl. She is very concerned with always doing what is right and she really has a hard time when people break rules. She is not a big fan of change and she does not like most candy. Noelle loves sports especially basketball.

She has had a few more struggles with life than my other kids, but to watch how she handles each situation makes me proud. She conquers everything head on and is never to afraid to try the impossible. She is a good friend she won't put up with people messing with her friends. She loves her family and really loves playing with all her cousins.

She might be small but she has a heart of gold. I feel blessed to have her as my daughter she has taught me a lot and has helped me become closer to my Savior. I really think that is all you could ask for as a mother.

We love you Welly!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Look what I have been up to

Tuesday morning I called Colle and asked her if she had any plans because I had plans for the both of us. (I am sure she loves how I plan her life sometimes.) I told her I had a box of corn that I needed to freeze and thought she might like some as well so we headed out to get her some corn and came back to do our freezer corn. Don't you just love all our helpers. Shockingly Easton and Kendall did a great job and did not even freak when they saw a few incredible large worms.

We got quite a lot of corn but I am thinking we might need to do a little more.

Then Wednesday I made Jam first a double batch of Raspberry peach and then a double batch of strawberry peach.

Before

My kids had know idea my jam had peaches in it and were amazed that the jam ended up Red

After

The smell of the jam really took me back to my childhood.

And this is all my spoils

30 Strawberry Peach

&

40 Raspberry Peach

And of course when I get all done Charly says so what you canning tomorrow? Although I am not done with my canning I do need a day off I told her. She then ask if I love canning? I have thought of that since she asked me last night and I love all the full jars on the shelf, and I like when I am canning how they sit around the counter watching and talking to me. When I was growing up my Mom did it in the basement and the minute she started my brothers scattered because they knew she would be busy for hours. I usually was drafted in to help her which I am grateful for because I learned a lot. Although at times I now feel I need a Urim and Thummim to understand some of her canning recipes.

Dang cute Jewelry hanger

I have a list of projects forever long. When the kids got back in school I decided that I was going to try and tackle some of them before the year was over. I am hoping to accomplish at least one a week. I have been wanting to make something for Charly's jewelry to hang on that would look cool and have style to last through the teen years. This is what I came up with.

This is a peek at the before I found old frames. I wanted something that was a little over the top and ornate I did not care what color they were because I knew I was going to paint them.

I am a big fan of spray paint.

I then painted them a hot pink and rubbed some silver leaf on it to give it a little pop.

I then backed them with a little batting and some twall fabric and attached crystal drawer pulls.

Thanks Chuck for helping with the drawer pulls. He loves being pulled into my projects. (NOT)

And this is our final result.

Plenty of room for all her necklace's and bracelets.

Sad thing is I thought this might be to many hooks for her and I was wrong her drawer still has plenty of bangles and such on it.

I love it when my vision of something actually turns out as cute as I had hoped.

Saturday Night Football

I love football season!

Saturday we watched our BYU Cougars play. Kyle and Melissa and family joined us. Charly is our family photographer she always makes sure we have pictures when we get together. I think its funny most families have pictures doing stuff together and I think this speaks volumes about my family. We all enjoy a good football game and Saturday was defiantly a good game.
I wish she could of gotten a shot when BYU scored the second touchdown because the boys all jumped up and had their arms in the air. It was a fun game to watch together.

Kaelyn and Kendall were just all about the treats and had a great time playing. They loved that everyone was distracted with the game so they had hours to play together.