Happy Campers?

So it's spring break, the girls birthday is coming up and they say they want to go camping for their birthday. We thought sure, that would be nice get out of the city for a couple of days. Courtney wanted to stay the week, but since I'm not a camper agreed to 3 days 2 nights. The closer it came to leaving we were all getting a little excited to go, even me, believe it or not. So we buy a camp stove, a little tent to make into a bathroom (my biggest complaint in camping) and plenty of food. So Tuesday we left, found a nice little place at a site called Mormon Grove by Sycamore Creek, just an hour from home. We set-up camp close to the stream and put up a couple of hammocks that Micah lent us (Thanks Micah, we loved them). Anyway, we had a nice evening, we were hoping Lyndzi and Micah were going to join us, but the dang insurance company prevented them from coming (long story, if you really want to know ask Lyndzi, on second thought she might be a little sore still about it, maybe you should wait :-) )

Anyway, we went to bed early, when the sun goes down you might as well go to bed early. It didn't get too cold, we brought plenty of blankets, however you just can't really get a good night sleep camping can you?

Wednesday morning, wake up, make breakfast, get to relax all day. After lunch still relaxing,,,getting kind of boring relaxing, can only skip so many rocks in the creek. Tried to go on a little hike, couldn't make out any good trails. About 4:00pm the girls say, can we go home. Sure, camping is nice for little while but we found out we like camping with other people better.

I still think I like my mother's motto about camping best, she always says, "My idea of camping is opening the window in my motel room!"

Kaleb's Bad Day :-(

Mom: Kaleb, how was your day at school?
Kaleb: Good, but not the bus ride home.
Mom: How come?
Kaleb: Because me and Sara (name has been changed to protect the innocent)are mad at each other.
Mom: What happened?
Kaleb: Do you remember when I told you I kissed her?
Mom: Yes, but we don't do that anymore remember?
Kaleb: It was a while ago and I found out she was cheating on me.
Mom: Cheating on you? (I'm not sure if he knows what that means)
Kaleb: Yea, when she kissed me I found out she was kissing another boy too, so she was cheating on me. So I broke up with her.
Mom: (hiding the smile) Well that's good because you're not suppose to have a girlfriend until you're 21.
Kaleb: I know, so me and Sara aren't talking to each other any more. That's why I had a bad bus ride.

I guess it's hard being 5.

February Hike

Our goal for a hike a month is on track, okay so it's only 2 down 10 to go, but hey, by February most of my other resolutions are out the window so we are doing good. We hiked Cholla Trail on Camelback Mountain. We didn't quite make it to the top, Kaleb was getting pretty tired but we didn't have to carry him at all, course we had to walk at least half a mile just to get to the trailhead so we did wear the little guy out. It was fun though. It was a bit rocky so we got our exercise, the first hike we did was easy this was a little harder and it was pretty popular, but we couldn't have asked for nicer weather. All in all it was a good day.

What Did You Do The Last Day of January

This is how Kaleb spent his day.


Boys will be boys!

Day One of Needs vs. Wants

So it's only day one and I want to cheat already. I know, weak. So I dyed my hair last night. My kids kept teasing me about all my gray hair. So I bought me a golden brown color kit. I even knew better than buying anything with the word golden in it because it gives me a weird red hair color - yuck! So can I buy a new color, is that a need or a want? I need to feel better about myself don't I? I also wanted a haircut but since it's a want I have to talk someone into giving me one, Kellie, I wished you lived closer, David won't do it.
Alright, enough of the whining, my hair color will fade in a few weeks and I will be happy that I can go without buying something just to make me feel better about myself. It's good for me right, thats what we tell our kids to make them feel better.

My February Resolution

So most people do New Year Resolution's, but I'm a bit of a procrastinator, funny thing is that's not even one of my resolutions. Anyway, I have been thinking a lot about wants and needs lately and how I truly apply that to my life. A general conference article from May 1999 came back to mind, one that David and I had taken many quotes from and stuck them on our fridge, I think it's time to bring it back. The article is called Greed, Selfishness and Overindulgence (I tried to hyperlink this but I ma having technical difficulties) by Elder Joe J. Christensen of the Seventy.. Here are some of the quotes that we had written down:
"There, there, little luxury, don't you cry. You'll be a necessity by and by."

"How many truly great individuals do you know who never had to struggle."

"I choose not to give our children what I can afford to give them. I hold back for their sake."

"Children who always get what they want will want as long as they live."

"Fix it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."

"How much house do we really need to accommodate our family comfortably?"

So as I have been reminded of these it gives me new resolve to make some changes. I am by far not wealthy, but I have enough to share. Elder Christensen goes on to quote C.S. Lewis on being generous. He quotes, "I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare... If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us,...they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them." Reminds me of the widows mite.
He closes by adding "if we desire our families to live lives of depth and meaning, we must have the courage to examine honestly where our treasures lie and avoid the pitfalls that result from greed, selfishness, and overindulgence. Let us each remember:
First: Not to confuse wants with needs.
Second: Avoid spoiling our children.
Third: Live modestly and avoid debt.
Fourth: Be generous in giving to others."

So this outlines my February resolutions. I am going to start by following the first point, "not to confuse wants with needs" to do this I am going to live the extreme of that for one month. Kellie (my sister) has agreed to do it with me.
For the month of February we will not purchase one item that is not a necessity. If we don't need it we won't buy it. We have built in an exception ( I know, weak form the start) we will allow ourselves one food want (most likely something chocolate) a week. Lets face it we don't want to be crazy here. I figured if we could do it for one month it will show us what we really can live without so we can focus on more important things.

Christmas Party

Kellie and her family were down from Utah for half the week and Kellie wanted to do a Christmas party while she was here. Since she needed a place to have it she used our home. The nice thing about letting Kellie have a party at your house is she will come and clean your house first. Every shelf got dusted, 4 chess sets included, piece by piece, windows washed, bathrooms cleaned. You can have a party here anytime Kellie!

David and Ashley


Courtney & her snowman


Ashley trying to pin the nose on the snowman.


Cameron, after they spun her around a dozen times.


Porter, Kaden and my little Russian boy


Kellie's Family


Ethan enjoying the pinata spoils!