I Needed a Time Out...

Deseret Books puts on a program for women called Time Out For Women. I had never been to one but was so excited. This was absolutely one of the best programs I have been to in a long time. I can't say enough. I would suggest anyone go if they have one coming remotely close to them. I learned so much but a few of my favorite moments that I will share were the songs. Michael McLean is the most talented man. His songI can't wait until next year. I am already ready for another "time out".

Rachel and I Friday night. The program was so special that night I think I bawled through half of it.
Michelle, me, Amy and Leanne caught but the TOFW staff. They were trying to get us to say something to the camera but we all gave the confused I don't know what you are talking about look so they opted for a picture instead.


Time Out for Women 2011
Fresno, CA

Friday, April 8, 2011
6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center
Valdez Hall
700 M Street
Fresno, CA 93721 US

Friday
Michael McLean
Songwriter, entertainer, creator of more than thirty albums and soundtracks, including 25; The Forgotten Carols; and his latest, Mission to Be Happy

Music Artist

Some famous entertainers are known by one name or one song. But Michael McLean is known for literally dozens of songs. And his songs say, sometimes almost perfectly, what all of us have felt. Because of that, chances are he’s written one just for you.

John Bytheway
M.S., Religious Education; bestselling author, favorite speaker, and part-time instructor at BYU; author, Behind Every Good Man

Everything I Need to Know I Learned at TOFW

John Bytheway is a prolific writer and an equally prolific thinker. And so when he shares what he’s learned by attending TOFW events in the past, it means something. Sharing his own insights about life and the gospel, John reminds us of the importance of focusing on the basics.

Kris Belcher
B.S., therapeutic recreation, Brigham Young University; author, Hard Times and Holy Places

Smoothing Out the Rough Spots

Our life's tests and difficulties can refine us; the rough spots in our hearts can be made smooth. We can become polished as we turn to the Savior. Kris's story shows how God used the challenge of going blind to help her see who she was meant to become. And you will see who YOU are meant to become too.

Saturday
Hilary Weeks
Top-selling female LDS artist; singer; songwriter; author; albums include If I Only Had Today

Musical Presentation

You said you can't imagine TOFW without her; happily, you don't have to. Hilary is not just a great songwriter and incredible performer; she is first and foremost a woman-a wife, a mother, a daughter, and a sister. Her humor and her testimony make every event perfect (don't miss her new parody!)

DeAnne Flynn
B.A., broadcast journalism, BYU; mother of seven; author, The Time-Starved Family and The Mother's Mite: Why Even Our Smallest Efforts Matter

"Think Small" Mothering

Bigger isn't always better. And in mothering, sometimes we don't have to "think big" to have the impact we want to have in our homes. If it's true that "by small and simple things" great things can happen, then what seems minuscule can actually make the most significant difference of all.

Mary Ellen Edmunds
Former director of training, Missionary Training Center; author of many books, including Peculiar—in a Good Way

Identity Theft

We all know about the technological attempts to steal our identities, but how aware are we of the adversary's attempts to HIDE our identities? There is an all-out war trying to keep us from knowing who we really are. Know who you are and you will protect yourself from the ultimate identity thief!

Wendy Ulrich
Ph.D.; founder, Sixteen Stones Center for Growth, LLC; former president, Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists; author, Forgiving Ourselves and Weakness Is Not Sin

Your Personal Plan for Happiness

Research says that 40% of our happiness is within our power to control. And much of what we learn from research coincides with what we learn from the scriptures about how to cultivate habits of happiness and hope. Learn seven proven happiness enhancers and start building your own happiness plan.

Mariama Kallon
Survivor of war-torn Sierra Leone, humanitarian beneficiary; LDS convert and public speaker; attended LDS Business College

Why Should My Heart Weep?

Mariama often says, "If someone had told that I would be here, I would have never believed it." From her Muslim upbringing in war-torn Sierra Leone to serving as a Mormon missionary on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Mariama has learned what God can do in our lives when we give our lives to Him.

Laurel Christensen
Director, Time Out for Women programs & events; Creative Director & Product Development, Deseret Book Company;author He Loves Us and We Love Him and If God Sent You a Text Message

Wheel Of Fortune!

So my friend Amy watches Wheel of Fortune and heard they were coming to Fresno for auditions. I am up for anything so I said "sure let's go" and our friend Michelle who is up for supporting us in anything said she would come in "support". Well with anything in life nothing goes the way you want or plan it to. We forced Michelle into auditioning and of course she was drawn in the very first round. Amy and I had no luck that day. Amy did become a local celebrity for the day after Michelle called her out for making her audition on stage. Later when we went to lunch people kept saying "look there is Amy" Haha it was a fun day. I never laughed so much as I usually do when I am with Amy and Michelle. Thanks for inviting me.

Science Olympiad

Gillian joined Science Olympiad this year. They meet twice a week after school and work on certain science projects with a partner. She and a little boy named Blaine were grouped together in their class. They had two projects to work on and then they competed at a regional science fair last Saturday. Their first event was pasta mobile. They had to build a car only out of pasta and the car that goes the farthest wins. They made multiple cars but finally settled on one. Their car actually did great. Most teams car fell apart going down the ramp. Their car went 2' 7" without falling apart. The second competition was Deep Blue Sea. There was no building involved just a lot of research and we didn't get to see how well they did because it was a closed session. We will find out more tomorrow at school since we didn't get to stay for the awards.

Here they are getting ready to set their car off.

Teenager???

Chyna just celebrated her 13th birthday! I know, I know it is hard to believe that I have a teenager. I don't even feel very far past my own teen years. But trust me her attitude lets me know everyday that yes it is true. :P But truthfully she really is a great girl and except for the occasional eye rolling or thinking she is smarter than me she is a pretty easy teen. Hopefully it stays this easy.

As usual Chyna gets more than one birthday celebration a year. This is due to the fact she was born on her grandmother's birthday and a day after her great grandfather on Jason's side and a day before her cousin's birthday on my side. So she gets her own party that is just about her and then a family party eith one family and a family party with the other side. We are all usually sick of cake by the time we get done. This year we didn't even sing "Happy Birthday" by the final party.

Party #1 a sushi and sleepover party with six of her closest friends.


Chyna and her friend Leslie. Chyna hates pictures so it is very hard for me to get any of her looking at the camera.


Party #2 with her grandmother and great grandfather.




And finally party #3 that she shares with her cousin Patrice. Patrice was turning 23 and was home to celebrate with us. She has been at BYU for the past few years. Their grandma gets them the same gifts so they had to open in sync so they could see them at the same time.



Sunday March 27th was her birthday so I got some pictures of her before leaving for Church.


This picture shows how much difference in height Chyna and Savannah are now. They are only 18 months a part and used to be so close in height. Chyna has shot up dramatically and at her last appt the Dr said she would most likely hit 5'7" or 5'8".

Gabriel...

Gabriel has been so much fun this year. I really enjoy spending time with him and can't wait to pick him up from school everyday. I am already excited about this summer to have him home all day every day. He actually makes lists of things he really wants to do. He is making a huge list of summertime activities but I am trying to catch up to all the things he has been asking for over the past few months. Flying a kite was at the top of his list. He has been begging to do it for months. We had a rainy winter so it wasn't feasible until now. Tell that to a 5 year old. His new passion for the past few months has been Star Wars. So when I found a Yoda kite at the store it made his day. And lo and behold a really windy day and a really happy little boy.







































































Gabriel is also very excited about going camping this summer. He loves the tent. Last time we went he just sat in it all day. Well he has been asking me to put the tent up in the living room lately but of course that is not going to happen but I did find this cute pop up tent for cheap at Walmart. So today I became the best mom in the world when I gave this to him after school. He immediately made a bed in there and filled it with toys and books. I just love this little guy.

The End of 2010

We had a very busy end of the year. So busy I never had time to blog or get any of the million things I wanted to done. Over Thanksgiving break we went down to sunny San Diego, only it wasn't very sunny. It was SO COLD! We visited with Dino, Aki and Sara and took the kids to Legoland. Sara went with us which was fun to spend the say with her. What an awesome cute girl she is. We had a blast at Legoland but froze while doing it. The rides were geared towards little kids. So most of the time Chyna,Sara and Savannah were kind of bored. Gabriel and Gillian really liked it. Alot of the rides are very interactive and Chyna didn't think that you should have to work on a ride. :P
These three were so excited to have a chance in the lion.


Chyna was embarrassed that her mom made her climb in the lion.
I don't think Sara knew she was even in the lion????


Gabriel's absolute favorite ride. We had to do it several times.
Once again these two were embarrassed they were even on the ride.
The most awesome part of Legoland is looking at all the things they built. It was absolutely fascinating. I could just walk around and look at everything and skip the rides altogether.

A roller coaster that you have to peddle yourself?
A free fall that you have to pull yourself up the rope and then let go.
Not only are they bored but now they have rope burn.
Once again the beautiful artwork out of legos.





Next came Christmas. It was a peaceful relaxing way to celebrate the birth of Christ. We celebrated with my side of the family on Christmas Eve and got into our usual weird family debates. Then on Christmas morning we woke up to find that Santa had come in the middle of the night. The kids must have been good because they all got what they asked for. :)

Uggs for Chyna
Legos and Toy Story toys for Gabriel.
Even Odie got a sock monkey and a skunk.
Nintendo DSi for Gillian.
Oh and of course sugar...
And a Nintendo DSi for Savannah.


We had lots of fun and enjoyed Christmas dinner with some dear friends of ours the Wadsworth's. I am so lucky to have had such a wonderful year with my kids and friends and family. I am truly blessed and hope for another wonderful year in 2011.

Parties, Parties and More Parties...

So I am not sure where the last two months have gone but they just flew by. We have been very busy mostly with Gabriel and his soccer addiction. If we are not at practices or the weekly games we are in the backyard practicing or at the park. He LOVES it. He has become quite the player too. He is one of the best on the team and is definitely the best at taking the ball away from the other team. He understands the game completely which at 5 years old is awesome. Alot of times at that age they are playing mush ball but he knows exactly what he is doing out there. It is so fun to watch hi. His jersey this year was #77 and I told him that was my lucky number so it made him happy.


The other big event we had was Gabriel's 5th birthday. I think they say one friend for each age they are turning should come to their party. Well I counted the 3 other kids I already had and let him invite one more friend, Braedon. They get along so well and love hanging out. We took them to Blackbeard's and went miniature golfing. That was interesting to say the least. His birthday was so fun. It was great for the whole family to go and play some games together.




In October my good friend Claudia wanted to throw a "Witch Party" so she asked Julie and I for help. It was amazing and so fun to put together. She always goes all out with the decorations. It was wonderful to get together and spend time with all my friends for a little "witch" time.





The following weekend was Savannah's 11th birthday so what better way to celebrate than use the decorations we already had. Claudia was gracious enough to let us use her house to plan a surprise party for Savannah. We told her we were going to pick Brittney and Sarah up and go out for pizza but when we arrived at Brittney's house "Surprise" all of her friends were there waiting to party. And party we did. We tried on many different costumes, had a dance competition, and went to find a haunted house and scare drivers on the side of the road. She later told me it was her best birthday ever.




Okay we did get a new addition to our family. His name is Odie and he is a mini doxie. He is the most spoiled dog you will ever meet. He sleeps right between Jason and I every night and makes me carry him everywhere. The kids LOVE him and they are all helping out taking care of him.
Of course he needed a Halloween costume...
All my "kids"
Ready for trick or treating...