Family Home Evening

This year in Primary the kids are learning more about the scriptures, I believe the theme is "I know the scriptures are true."  Both of the kids have been so excited to be learning things in the scriptures.   Yesterday Isaac came home and asked if he could read my scriptures.  Of course I said yes.  Then I remembered there were a couple sets of unused older sets in the closet upstairs. So I sent Isaac up to get him a set and Audrey asked if she could have some.  It just filled me with so much joy to know what they were asking for and the fact that they were so excited about them. 

I sat down and explained to Isaac how to find things in the scriptures. He decided that he would like to start reading the scriptures.  So amongst all this new found excitement, I asked Isaac if he would be willing to head up FHE for tonight.  He happily accepted.  So he picked a scripture to talk about. He chose 1 Nephi 1:5 "Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people." Isaac talked to us about how Lehi was a prophet and that he tried to teach the people of Jerusalem to repent and to follow the ways of the Lord.  I sat there and listened to him teaching us, I couldn't help but feel the love of my Savior.  Here is this sweet little 6 year old boy with such faith that the scriptures are true.  It is definitely a highlight of parenthood. 

Audrey chose the song "Follow the Prophet" which went along perfectly with the lesson. After the lesson was over, Isaac wanted to do an activity.  Without any direction from Steve or I he assigned everyone to go sit at the table, he grabbed four pieces of blank paper and went and got the crayon box.  He said that everyone was to draw a  wicked person and he would draw the prophet.  We each glued out people to a stick and acted out the prophet preaching to the people to do what they should and follow the prophet.   Here are some pics:

Isaac's picture cut out of the prophet.

Audrey working on her wicked person.

I love that Isaac is so excited about the scriptures. 

 All of our puppets.

 Making fresh tortilla chips. Yum!!

 Cute kids.

Goofy kids, :)

Steve was in charge of the treat and he decided to make homemade tortilla chips. The kids were really excited to see how this is done.  They had no idea it was so easy to make chips.

I am so blessed with such a sweet family, I just love them all so much. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much!!!

Christmas 2010

I know this is a little late, but better late than never, right?  Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, other than the extreme cold.  I get my house all decorated and this year we decided to do away with the artificial tree and go get a real one.  It was really fun, I enjoyed it so much.  The kids also had fun picking it out.  We brought it home and put it in the nook in our kitchen. It was kind of a random place for a tree, but it worked out well so I could just sweep the pine needles that fell and when the water spilled out of the tree base I could just wipe it up.  Anyway, I just love the feeling of Christmas. Everyone has such a spirit of giving and it is absolutely wonderful.

This year we started our Christmas celebrations off with the annual Price family party at my mom and dads house. Every year Santa comes to the Price house and visits with each child for a few moments about what he or she would like for Christmas.  But after all the kids have had a chance to visit with Santa he talks with them about the true meaning of Christmas.  It is really neat, I just love it.   He also sings Christmas carols with them.  The kids also got to open their gifts from Grandpa, Grandma and Katie. It is always fun to get together with such great family.

Me and my two crazy kids downstairs at Grandma & Grandpa Price's house.

 The kids playing a Christmas version of Twister.  From left to right: Gracie, Ryland, Preston, Sadie, Dalton, Audrey, Isaac and Brinlee.

 Santa talking to the kids about the true meaning of Christmas.

 Isaac in his new pajamas and elf hat.

 Audrey with her new Barbie movie and digital camera.

 The kids with Santa. Gracie did not want in on the picture, she was not so sure of Santa.  From top to bottom: Ryland, Isaac, Santa, Preston, Dalton, Sadie,  Brinlee, Karlee, and Audrey.

 Me and my adorable sisters, Kaytlyn and Tonya.

Another Christmas tradition we have is the annual Christmas breakfast.  Steve's mom makes the best breakfast on Christmas morning and has us all over along with some of the aunts and uncles.  We didn't arrive to Grandpa and Grandma Spencer's house until almost 10:30 because the kids were so engrossed in their new Christmas gifts.  Steve and Isaac were playing the Wii and Audrey was all tied up with her new Barbie's she received, especially her new doll from the movie Tangled.  Rapunzel was on the top item list for Christmas and she was extremely excited to get it from Santa.

 Audrey with her Rapunzel doll.

 Isaac with his new dart gun, better watch out!!

 Some of Isaac's stash he made out with.  Pillow pet, Knex, electric drums, games, pajamas, clothes, puzzles, candy....

 Some of Audrey's stash. Drawing pad, robe, pajamas, Hello Kitty scooter, jewelry box, Barbies, candy.....

 What are we going to do with all this stuff???

 Grandpa Spencer, Isaac and Steve. 

 Audrey got a Leap Frog Tag from G & G Spencer. She was very excited!

Isaac with his new Lego City Fire Station.  I think this took him somewhere around 3 hours to complete.  Grandma was hoping it would occupy him for a few days. Isaac is one smart kid, he takes after his father. :)

 This picture is priceless. This is Steve's Grandpa Spencer.  We love him so much!! 

Audrey was Grandpa's buddy for the night at Aunt Brenda's party.  She snuggled with him and just loved being with him. 

The tooth fairy

For the past few days Isaac has been wiggling one of his bottom teeth.  He has been so excited waiting for his tooth to come out. Last night as Steve and I were sitting on the couch I asked him to come over so I could see how wiggly it was.  His tooth was barely attached, I could move his tooth in every direction. I knew it was ready to come out and I didn't want Isaac to have to worry about it falling out at school today. So Steve asked him to go upstairs and get the floss. Steve tied it in a small loop to put around Isaac's tooth.  Before Steve even had the chance to pull it out, it just fell out.  Isaac was so excited he said he was going to his tooth in his baggie in between two pillows for the tooth fairy with an extra pillow on top. He said he didn't want his tooth to break because the tooth fairy builds her house out of the teeth she gets.  Then he said he was going to put his finger flash light on so that when the tooth fairy came in, it would turn on and he would catch her.  He went to bed completely filled with excitement for the tooth fairy to come.

This morning while I was in the shower Isaac came in and threw open the door and said "Today is the best day of my life." I asked him why and he said because the tooth fairy came to visit. He had gotten a dollar in his bag where his tooth was and now his tooth was gone.  He then opened the bag and said "Whoa, I got TWO dollars!!"  It was the cutest thing ever.  Then I asked him if he caught the tooth fairy last night. He said he decided he wanted it to be a surprise and he did not want to see her.  It made me laugh.  It reminded me that it is such a blessing to have these sweet children that I get to take care of.

The last time Isaac lost a tooth (which has been almost a year ago) Steve was in young mens and they had gone for ice cream. Isaac was with Steve, and the Bishop offered to buy Isaac an ice cream cone. He slurpped the ice cream through his hole where his tooth had fallen out and love it. So in lieu of that we will be taking him for ice cream tonight. I absolutely love my sweet kids, they are what makes everything worth while.

Surprise!!!

   My sweet husband has been planning a birthday surprise for me.  I had some suspicions as to what he might be up to, but I really wasn't sure what he had up his sleeve.  Yesterday when I got home from work, Steve informed me I banned from going upstairs at all. My limits were to stay in the kitchen and down.  I happen to have a pretty significant sense of smell, so as I walked in the door I could smell something.  But I didn't want to give the fun away, so I played along. 
   We ate dinner, made Allie some birthday cards from the kids, and then I headed off for Young Women. I got a text from Steve about 9:30 during my board meeting.  In his text he said that the kids had waited up for me and needed to go to bed, but that he needed me to come home asap.  Anyway, I left my meeting and when I got home I heard Isaac say in the hallway "Hurry, shut the door, it will be more fun if the door is closed." I was so excited to see the unveiling of the surprise.  So Steve took me upstairs, he looked at me and said "I hope I am not in trouble" and then opened the door.  Both of the kids with the biggest smiles on their faces said "Surprise!!"  They were sitting on my bed which was now accompanied by a new headboard, two nightstands, a cute black drape curtain wound around an iron rod, and to top it all of a new paint color.  My bedroom was completely transformed by some magical helpers. 
   I was so excited.  I never would have guessed that one.  Steve did a wonderful job and was very tasteful with what he had done.  He gave me some grief because just the other day I was telling him that we are never going to have a nice bed set.  I was teasing him because for our 1st year anniversary (nearly 8 years ago) he had told me I could have a vanity.  To this day, there is no vanity and so I like to tease Steve about it. It's kind of fun.  To his credit, there have been many things he has given to me and done for me that far surpass the vanity that would probably sit idle. Shhhh, don't tell Steve that last part.....
   I was overwhelmed and very blessed to have such a sweet husband and family members who I know contributed to getting the work done. There are a lot of things that Steve enjoys doing and painting is not really at the top of his list. But he knew that it would make me very happy and he was right.  Thanks Steve for being mine. I have always loved the saying "you may not be perfect, but you're perfect for me."  I love the bedroom overhaul and I am excited to add some fun accessories. Thanks to my sweet kids who make things so much worth the while.  The excitement and the looks on their faces when they showed me the room was just priceless. Isaac and Audrey have been telling me all week "Mom, I know what you want for your Birthday" and I would say "What's that?" and they would reply "A happy family."  Apparently I have said that a lot, but it really is true. The older I get the less material things matter.  I am so grateful to have my beautiful family and I hope they all know how much I love them and appreciate them.
Pictures of the bedroom coming soon....

Happy Halloween!!

I know it has been FOREVER since I have blogged, but life just seems to never slow down. This year for Halloween Isaac decided to be a super hero, Iron Man, and Audrey went with the classic princess costume, Snow White.  I also thought it would be fun to dress up this year and go a little outside my comfort  zone.  So my awesome friend Suzanne helped me out and let me borrow a costume.  So I went as a pirate.  Thanks Suzanne!  I really tried to talk Steve into dressing up with me, but he just wouldn't go for it.  Anyway, here are some pics from Halloween.  It was hard to get really great pictures because the kids wouldn't quit running around for me to catch one.

 

We started the fun off by going to our ward carnival.  The kids had a lot of fun and loved their face painting.

 

Then we joined John & Suzi at their neighborhood Trunk or Treat.  John & Steve were in charge of passing out the candy.  

 

Just about the time the Trunk or Treat started it began raining.  But the kids didn't care.  The major flaw with Halloween is the time of year in Utah.  It really stinks when we have to cover the kids costumes with jackets or coats.

 

Audrey holding out on the rain.  

 

After the Trunk or Treat we went back home, dried out the costumes and then we hit the neighborhood for Trick or Treating. 

 

Isaac enjoying Trick or Treating.

 

The kids going door to door. They were having tons of fun.

 

And this is how each of them made out (not including what their wonderful Grandma's gave them).

 

It was a great night!

Family photos

Home can be a heaven on earth....

About a month ago, we had family pictures taken with the Spencer side of the family.  Saturday we were able to get the CD of the pictures.  I was so excited about how they turned out, they were taken in a field up by Highway 89 and it was the perfect day for pictures.  As painful as it may be to try and keep kids clean and presentable before pictures, it was all worth it.   I am so blessed to have such a sweet family.  I look around and see people who are less fortunate than us and thank Heavenly Father for all that we have.

I loved these pictures of the kids.  Completely kandid.  We are so blessed.

The Kangaroo Zoo

For Audrey's birthday I took the day off work and we went to the Kangaroo Zoo as a family.  It was so fun and the best part was we had some cousins, Grandma Spencer, and aunt Tami join us.  Steve's sister, Tami, and her family are in the process of moving from Hawaii to Texas.  During the transition period she and her two sweet kids, Kalia and Grady, are staying here in Utah until their belongings are shipped over from Hawaii.  So Audrey was way excited that they were able to be a part of her birthday.

I had never been to the Kangaroo Zoo, but we decided to give it a try for Audrey's birthday activity and it turned out great.  It is a place in North Salt Lake where the kids can just play on bouncers and the inflatable toys, and they also have galactic miniature golf.  It was a huge hit.

Audrey, Isaac, Kalia, Kylie and Allie.

The three musketeers.

Isaac doesn't look very surprised to be eaten by a hippo, lol.

Say cheese... I love this picture.

The kids thought it was great to pull the teeth down and pretend to be eaten by the shark. 

Steve's sister was nice enough to take this photo of us. 

We don't have many pictures together, thanks Tami!!

Happy Birthday Audrey!!! 

Just kickin' back. 

Whoever thought this up was genius, inflatable T-ball. 

Audrey said this was a "nice crab."

What a cute boy!!!