What big girls can do

This summer my daughter Holly learned how to make cinnamon rolls. She loves cinnamon rolls and wished I could make them more often so I taught her how to make them herself. This photo was taken of them at the rising stage. While they were baking Holly got the idea to make cinnamon bread. She cut the crust off of bread, spread on butter and some toppings and rolled up the bread. These were a huge hit with her siblings.

This week we celebrated Megan's birthday. While I was picking up a few party foods at the store Holly decorated the house. Fantastic, right? Having big kids definately has its perks.She even drew a cute cupcake picture and attached it to the trash can.And here is the birthday girl Megan. She turned 7 and before I know it she will be cooking and decorating just like her big sister Holly.

Today I am thankful that:
*Scott is kindly painting one of the girls' room purple.
*So many people sent me birthday greetings on facebook.
*My parents tended my kids last night so Scott and I could go on a birthday date.

Meet the Cousins

This week our kids got to meet some of their cousins for the first time. We have always lived far away from them and our paths haven't crossed until now. Their Dad just took a job in Seattle. So hopefully we will be seeing them regularly.Here are their kids and our girls posing by the banner we made for them. We got to play with them for a whole day on the day their moving truck was unloaded. Playing dollhouse with cousins was fun.Then they did some gymnastics. Emily was the teacher. Here she is trying to teach them how to do the splits. Good luck with that. Really-who can do the spilts?Then they played go through the body tunnel. Even Nathan thought this was fun. Cousin Michael just played happily with Nathan's cars by himself.The sun came up so we took a long walk to the park. With 8 kids I couldn't fit them all into my car to drive them to the park. I just love pictures of kids on playgrounds.Upon returning home it was dress up time. The hardest part was serving meals to 8 kids. But luckily our table had just enough room. Today I am thankful that:
*Today is sunny.

*My kids really enjoy playing with all their new cousins.

*Holly is at the new Harry Potter movie with a friend.

***please comment***even a short comment will do***I love comments***

A Day at Remlinger Farms

This week we picked up Grandma and headed to nearby Remlinger farms for a day of fun.First the little girls rode ponies.Then we moved onto the pumkin ride. It is a lot like the Dumbo ride at Disneyland. We rode it several times. This farm is great because it only costs $12 a person to get in and there are no lines.Grandma and Holly rode in a pumpkin together.The old fashioned cars were really fun too and very calm. We would drive the course once and if no one was in line we'd just ride it again. We all went on the roller coaster once but it was a rough ride and only Holly, Emily and Megan rode it again. And then they rode it 3 times in a row.The canoes were funWe took lots of cool pictures jumping into the hayAnd of course we couldn't miss this photo opportunityMy mom took this picture of me and my kids on the way out.
Today I am thankful that
*my visiting teachers came over, I really like their monthly visits.
*we have had a good week of swim lessons and Megan and Melissa have learned a lot.
*our yard is almost bunny free(more about this later)

Fun on the Fourth

It was a sunny Fourth of July this year! We started off the day getting dressed in our red, white and blue for the pancake breakfast at our church.
We enjoyed pancakes, bacon and hot chocolate and then listened to a patriotic program. My little kids enjoyed hanging out with their friends on the curb.
My Dad was the special presenter. He served in the army and worked for the government for many years. I am very lucky to live so close to my parents and be able to see them in action.My brother Bryce was there too and here he is holding my nephew Elliot. The highlight of the breakfast for Holly was seeing this giant dragonfly and taking a photo of it.

In the evening we headed to our city hall where thousands had gathered to visit and wait for the fireworks display. Some friends from church came and sat with us and we had a great time visiting and letting the kids run around. This was our first time to view the fireworks. They were amazing and loud (of course). Our kids all stayed awake to see them at 10pm.

Today I am thankful that:

*we got to go to Idlywood beach park and play in the sand and water.

*both Holly and Emily had a friend over, when just one has a friend over the other one feels sad.

*It is going to be sunny and warm (70's) all week.

The purpose of Girls Camp?

I just returned from girls camp where I was the cabin mom for 12 (1st, 2nd, and 3rd year) girls from my ward. It was lots of fun being in nature and the girls had a great time running around with each other, staying up late at night talking and doing pranks to other wards.

But this morning I read an article from the church news called Young Women camp and it said young women camp is an opportunity for leaders to plant the gospel deep into hearts and it allows each woman to be still and connect with the spirit and her Father in Heaven. I don't know if this happened.

At camp we sang lots of silly songs about milk, sipping cider, and Mormon boys. We did funny skits, rode horses, went on a hike, played outdoor games, did Zumba and kick boxing, swam in a lake and completed a ropes course and ate lots of yummy food prepared by the stake. We did have two nice evening devotionals one about being virtuous by a former member of the stake presidency and one by all the Bishops about the for strength of youth pamphlet and how following it helps us to be super heroes (which was the theme of camp). We ended the camp with a testimony meeting with our Bishop. I know all of the girls enjoyed camp but I wonder if any of them had their testimonies strengthened. I was in charge of scripture time with my girls each night but it was always after 11 oclock when we finally got back to the teepees and I just quickly shared some scriptures with them since they were tired and I was so tired. If any of you have been to camp do you remember what things at camp helped strengthen testimonies? I'd like to know for next time I'm a cabin mom and with four daughters I'm sure I'll get plenty of chances to be a cabin mom.

Here are some photos from camp.I made these cute blue chipmunk headbands for the girls to wear. Of course after a day I found them discarded around camp.
Our camp mascot (Steve and Chipmunk) and our ward flag (Super Sammies). Both started out outside but after being stolen and later returned we decided to keep them inside our teepee so they wouldn't be taken again.

Me on a first year hike. I was assigned to attend first year activities each day. I had one of those chipmunk bands around my waist in case you were wondering.

Our skit was like a Dora the Explorer episode and this is the map.

Holly and some of her 2nd year friends. All the girls loved hanging out in this hammock which belonged to one of the girls in our ward.

Today I am thankful that;
*My mom and Scott tended my kids so I could attend camp for four days.
*I didn't have to cook for 4 days--which was a huge break for me.
*My house was nice and clean and the laundry was done when I returned--Thanks Scott!