the Bailey Girls

Emma and Taylor Bailey are 2 sweet little girls in our ward who are cojoined. This Valentines day there is going to be a "Two Sisters - One Heart" Fundraising Event at Walker Butte Elementary in Johnson Ranch, Queen Creek, Arizona from 8 am - 2pm. The Non-Profit Organization, "Two Sisters-One Heart" is raising funds to kick off the continued health for the twins and ultimately, provide financial help to those parents of conjoined twins who do not survive.

The girls share one common heart and liver. They are face to face, from the breast bone down to the belly button. They are super sweet and we love to see them each Sunday. Please help support this cause if you are able. We also have their blog listed on the side - the Baileys

http://www.twosisters-oneheart.blogspot.com/

A funny little story I have to share...when we first moved into the ward, we noticed the girls..the kids were very intrigued and had questions, and then they were done. So one Sunday I noticed poor Mandy coming into Sacrament meeting just as it was about to start - Tor was up front to bless the sacrament and Mandy was the chorister so as she passed me I told her I would hold the girls until Tor was done and could return to the congregation. Note - this was the first time I held the girls and it was a little different - they kept cooing at me and would startle each other which would lead to one of them getting a little upset - after all they had no clue who I was - some stranger holding them. So as one of the girls got a little unsettled and was starting to cry, Mason leaned over and said " mom, give me one of the twins and then you can settle the other one down" I giggled a little, and gestured to Mason that they were conjoined. I honestly don't think the kids had paid too much attention to that fact - they were full of questions at first but had given it no further thought. It is funny how children are so accepting of others. They twins did settle down and were very happy to see Tor when the bretheren returned to their seats after sacrament. I don't think I shared this story with Mandy.... but these girls are amazing and have a sweet spirit about them - you can't help but smile when you see their faces. We hope to see you all at the fundrasier - we'll be doing the walk :)

Rock Band

We got the kids Rock Band for Christmas and they have been having fun playing away. Tristen was super excited for Rock Band 2 because apparently you cannot fail...we are still trying to figure the thing out and need Uncle Devin and Aunty Lyse to come over and show us the light so we can get on that band wagon. Anyways - they are doing great - we fully expect to be supported by our rock-n-rollers soon - they are really good. Stevan isn't too bad either..... You will notice Clayton has a little guitar which I bought so he could join in without cramping the older kids style..he does enjoy sitting on mine or Stevan's lap drumming though. At least we are hearing some nice classic rock instead of the crap they have on their ipods these days :) I am slowly replacing some of the songs on their playlists and trying to download songs on their ipods without their knowledge...hey whatever works...there was some method to our madness...this makes our kids listen to great music and it is nice hearing them sing along to RHCP, some Boston and yes my friends - there is some Grateful Dead on Rockband!!! woo hoo.

Incredible Hulk

Clayton is very taken with Superheroes right now. For Christmas Debby and Robbie got him these Incredible Hulk fists and although you can't see them...Incredible Hulk undies. The pajamas came courtesy of grandma Judi and grandpa Al. Well these items are a staple each night and Clayton aka "incredible hunk" aka "anakin skywalker" aka "superman" aka "ironman" aka "Prince Caspian" insists on wearing these. The incredible hunk is not a typo - this is what he calls him..and the funny thing is that Debby also bought him for his birthday, a shirt that says "hunk" on it......So I have to wash these in 1 day so he can wear these things over and over and over. Thank goodness there are 3 undies in the pack...so I get a break with these. We are currently looking for more Incredible Hunk pj's so if you see any, let me know so I can pick them up. Most nights the boys rough house and "Incredible Hunk" gets to beat up Mason - who is a great sport...that's what happens when you ask for a brother!! Stevan is a little disgusted with the new rage...none of our other kids have been allowed to wear "character" clothes...but I figure hey - 1 out of 4 isn't bad...and it's not like he has shoes or anything...just a couple items of clothing - a couple Star Wars shirts, a superheros hoodie(which is cool looking), a transformers hoodie, and a Hulk t-shirt....the rest are worn to bed :)

Mind Blowing

So a couple quick things...first off - I hate Pnut butter and Tristen just got gum in her hair and I had to use Pnut butter to get it out...torture - I think I deserve Mom of the Year. This is our 2nd gum incident in 1 week. Ashlen fell asleep with gum in her mouth while at Palm Springs..Mason got it stuck in his hair cause they slept on the pull out bed together and so he wasn't happy. We had no scissors or Pnut butter (thank goodness) so we had to use Mike's knife to cut his hair - ha ha. So Tristen was quite worried - but being the nice mom I am - I endured and used the Pnut better and got it out. phew.




the next little ditty - so Mason is 12 now - and I know he is a big kid sort of..not in height...but he is a big kid. So he had a pair of jeans in my room that he needs me to hem..and I thought what the heck - they are huge - I think I can fit into these...and I can - they are actually too big for me :( So my son wears bigger pants then I do....I can fit his shoes and he only has 20 more pounds until he weighs what I do..sheesh

PALM SPRINGS

We had the best time in Palm Springs with the Farrers, Boultons and Taylors. We left Thursday night and got back yesterday. Stevan and I decided that the weekend would be a "yes" weekend for the kids. That meant that whatever the kids wanted, we would say yes to for the weekend, but we did not tell them - we wanted to see how long it would take for them to get it. Well Clayton got it pretty fast. We had a couple pit stops on the way and while the kids were all sleeping, we stpped in Quartzsite for a Potty break as requested by Clayton..When we got to the door of the gas station, Clayton turned to me and said "I didn't really need to go potty - I just need something to eat" I told him he would be going potty and then he could get something to eat. So with that he went and got his treat. We got into Palm Springs late and slept like logs. We went shopping the next day and that is when I think Tristen caught on. She asked if she could get something and I said yees - then she asked for more things and I still kept saying yes. Ashlen asked for something and so did Clayton - Masonn asked when we were almost ready to leave and all he asked for was some gum - so thats all he got. I got away with only spending $40.00 at Target!! We went to the grocery store and then back to the condo. When we got back they went swimming, rode bikes, did crafts and continued to eat nothing but candy and drink soda - they watched movies and stayed up until who knows when. They went shooting the following day and then we went to Boomers to play mini golf, play games and drive cars on the slick track. We had the party that night and opened presents, the kids made a gingerbread house, acted out the nativity.....they ate more ice-cream and sida than I'd care to know about. Clayton didn't want to at and kept asking for icec-cream...so I said yes. Tristen went to the store with Stevan and asked for things - that she got...and this happened until we left. While driving home we mentioned this to the kids - did they notice that we had said "yes" to all their requests....You should have seen Mason and Ashlen's face...it hit them then what had been happeneing - Tristen just laughed at them and said she knew. It was a great weekend - we had the best time, we ate tons of food and kicked it in the jacuzzi and laughed and played games. We needed it - we miss everyone and can't wait to get together again. Thanks for including us guys - we love you. I will post pictures when I get them - email them Bart and Clark :)

RIP Stripes

Yes - my Christmas wishes have been granted....j/k - but seriously - you all know how much I loved the kids snake right..well this past weekend Stripes life was ended by a mouse. We were headed to Palm Springs this past weekend and it was my job to pick up a mouse for Stripes to eat while we were gone. Well there is the 1st mistake - asking me to get the mouse. So I went to Petco and asked the person for a mouse to feed to my son's pet snake...a little one I said. So she gave me some paperwork to fill out - the "responsibile pet owner" paperwork...I said "You realize I AM giving this mouse to a snake to EAT right!" She said yes - but you will be responsibile until you feed him to the snake right? I said sure - so I wasn't paying close attention to the size - I just took the box and gave it to Mason. So Mason fed it to Stripes...but it was apparently too big and bit Stripes. So Mason got the mouse out of there and asked Uncle Devin to buy a small mouse and give it to Stripes before we got home. Well we got the call yesterday...Aunty Lyse was the bearer of bad news and told us the snake was gone. They went and bought a mouse for Stripes, the mouse bit his way out of the box and was running around the car so Devin had to catch him and give him to Stripes. Then they noticed that the mouse was sleeping in the feeding terrarium, so they figured something was wrong...the mouse was sleeping on the snake!!! So they checked it out and discovered he had passed away. Poor Lyse thought that it was their fault and she felt bad - nope it was all my fault apparently and now the kids are playing on my sensitive side LOL and trying to get me to agree to a tortoise. Mason thought it quite appropriate that he received Stripes for Christmas 5 years ago - and he passed this Christmas....RIP Stripes - I can't say I am sad......

Photo shoot

Here are a couple of the photos we took for Chrstmas. We hope you all have a Merry Christmas - we certainly will :)

My baby brother Jens

Here is the latest picture I got of my baby brother Jens who is serving in Afghanistan right now. I am so grateful that he has been kept safe and continue to pray for him and the other troops serving. He will not be going home until next year so I thought that I would pay tribute to him for his sacrifice and quit complaining because he doesn't really complain all that much - and look where he is!!!! I am a little scared of whatever has crept under his lip and made a home - shave it off Jens!!!!!!

We love you xoxoxo

Merry Christmas

So today is December 10th and we still have not yet gotten our real Christmas tree...I have struggled to get with the program this season and finally got it together and decided that I needed to do something.....the kids keep asking when we are going to put up lights and get a tree - so their constant reminding helped me too. Being that it is the 10th..I made an executive decision that it was silly to go buy a tree at this stage...I wouldn't be going to get one until Saturday at the earliest...can you really see me at a tree lot by myself...stop laughing...I really do need Stevan to do these things...anyways..like I said - executive decision and decided that I would get the kids trees out and put those up. Now Stevan may override my decision - but not wthout a fight.....he hates fake trees but there is a need for them sometimes and this is one of those times. So the kids have these trees which they normally put in their rooms (that way they decorate these as they please and I get to decorate the big tree by myself) and they are supposed to be 3 ft trees...they are really 1 ft basket 2 ft tree...but they wll do...we are going to be out of town for 4 days next week and then Christmas wi;; be here - that's a lot of work for 10 days worth of tree admiring. So I put up the 2 little tres, threw some lights on them and the plant we have in the front room, pulled out a couple decorations and voila - there you have it - I am no longer scrouge!!!! I also felt a little more in the spirit and decided to throw some lights outside where I could reach without a ladder and pull out our inflatable snowman and set him up. So this poor snowman was purchased about 5 years ago - we went to Home Depot with Rob & Debby to get our trees and decided to look inside - we bought this snowman but didn't end up putting him up for some reason...He has been safely in his box until now:) So Christmas is in full force here at 102 W. Pasture Canyon....it is a little scaled down but at least we are putting in some effort - I just need to start the Christmas shopping - don't laugh people!!!

Clayton Bradley

the laughs never stop with this little guy - I am sure I could bore you all with something cute he says everyday - but the comment he made last night does deserve mention. Clayton likes to stay up and every night he asks us if he can stay up. Last night we let him stay up, but when it was time to go to bed he protested (normal). Stevan put him in his bed, said goodnight and came to bed. I don't think we were in bed more than 10 minutes when we heard a knock at our door and then slowly open. Clayton came in telling us that he had fallen asleep and woke up because he had a bad dream!!! He wanted to sleep with us. No way - we have had a rule in our house that no kid is allowed to sleep in the bed with us. We have had kids sleep on the floor next to the bed, on the foot of the bed, but this normally breaks them of wanting to sleep with us as they aren't allowed IN the bed. Stevan told him that there was no way he fell asleep and had a dream in the short 10 miinutes since he had been put in bed, then took him back to his room. He told Stevan he couldn't go to sleep in his bed because there were snakes in his bed...Stripes sleeps next to his bed in a terrarium... so Stevan said, no Stripes is in his bed - you need to get in yours.


Clayton protested again saying that there was a snake in his bed and that he couldn't sleep there...He pulled back his covers and we found this.......



He had put his stuffed snake in his bed!!!!! Stevan pulled the snake out and sent him to bed :) Gotta love him for trying.

My Early Christmas Present

I failed to recognize my husband and the great surprise he gave me prior to Christmas - a new laptop - what a great present for me :) Only problem is that he thought I was on the computer way to much before....now it is attached to me and I can sit on the couch or in bed with it :) I still love my MAC - the Dell does come second :)

Girls day

Aunty Lyse scored major brownie points this weekend. First off (and this has nothing to do with Girls day but I want you to know how wonderful my sister is) Mason and Jose went and hung out with Lisette and Devin Friday night and played video games, watched movies, who knows what else...because Stevan and I aren't fun and they wanted to have fun. But on Saturday, Lisette came over and took the girls to her house where they painted toenails and watched the sing along version of Hairspray and played Rockband for quite a few hours. They had so much fun. They asked her at church today when she was going to have a baby because they really wanted a cousin close...I pointed out that if she did have a baby they probably wouldn't be able to have these girls days as there would be a baby that would need to be taken care of - hello - you can't rock out on rockband with a baby in house needing to sleep. I think they saw my point....I think I have bought her a couple more months!!! So the toes you see are the girls - the pasty white ones are Ashlens and the tan ones are Tristens :)

I almost died this weekend!!!!

Well I had a pity party for myself this week - I was down in the dumps and then had it pointed out to me that it could be due to the fact that family had left town and I was back to being on my own. Thanks for pointing that out Jade!! j/k But seriously - Stevan's grandparents had stayed with us for almost 2 weeks just before Thanksgiving until just the beginning of this week, and then his parents were here a week also and just left on Wednesday. We had a great time and we really miss everyone now. Our driveway looks so empty without the camper parked there. We also were suposed to go to CA this weekend to watch the big game USC vs UCLA with Stevan's sister and her family the Farrs and we didn't end up going. Stevan has been working on a side job and didn't get it finished so he spent Saturday moving along on the work. I was a little upset...but all things happen for a reason and I guess this was Heavevnly Father's way of telling us to stay put. On Friday (which is whn we would have left) I drove to the grocery store and when I braked the wheels locked up and the car didn't move. I freaked out of course - called Stevan hysterical and told him the car didn't work, it wouldn't drive, I was sitting in the middle of the street and would probably end up getting killed...exaggeration I know but I am NOT a rational person people!!! So he calmed me down and I told him I was actually pulled back into a parking spot - I was out of traffics way and safe - and then he told me he was headed to come get me - he was in Mesa. So he got there fast and then I drove his car home and he drove the Expedition home without using brakes...apparently the abs brakes would lock up each time I touched them and wouldn't allow the car to drive. SO...had this happened on our trip we really would have died out on the highway somewhere. Gotta be thankful for all things..althought I did not see it at the time. So Stevan is fixing them now - I guess a bolt or something came loose, something about calipers catching on something blah blah blah - Stevan can fix it. My wonderful sister did lend me her car to putt around in for a couple days and I did get to freak out to my great friend Jade who puts up with me about my near death experience. Fun times people Fun times.......

Mason turns 12

So it is kind of a huge deal when you blink and then realize that 12 years have passed by super quick. Mason turned 12 on Monday November 24th. It didn't really hit me until he asked me to drive him to Mutual on Wednesday night. It took me back and my immediate response was "you aren't old enough" wrong Kylie - he is now. So reluctantly I drove him to the church, and then watched him jump out of the car and run in - chatting with the other deacons. What a wake up call. Then when I went to pick him up there was a bunch of guys hanging outside goofing off....yep this is all coming back to me - all the fun stuff we used to get up to..the trouble we caused, the thought that we could do whatever we wanted cause we were cool...it is all coming back to me and I am not excited. So Bishop Olson said it is all uphill from here - I could hit him for that comment but it is true :( So now I have a kid who wears skinny jeans, flat billed hats, MP3 constantly in his ear, sports jock with girls hanging around...oh and lets not forget the wearing of Axe body spray in large doses almost teenager who thinks it is cool that Tanya Yost thought he was in 8th grade AND turning 13. UUURRRGGGGG - when will this be over..I don't think I was cut out to be the parent of a teenager....and am I even old enough?? Sadly yes - and I will have another one in 4 years. At least I'll get to practice of Mason :)

LA Temple Faith Builder - Prop 8

I "borrowed" this from Tara's blog - Being that we are in AZ - we don't always hear about CA things. The LA Temple is near and dear to our hearts as that is where we took out our endowments and were sealed. I was shocked to hear about the protestors after Prop 8 passed but did not understand fully the problems they faced at the temple those days after the election. Tara had this on her blog and I wanted to share it as I think it is a true faith builder.

This was sent by a person who works at the LA Temple. What an incredible story! It is so relieving to hear "our side" of what has been happening the last few weeks...
My dear family, brothers and sisters, friends and leaders: My heart is overflowing with joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His tender mercies and mighty miracles in our behalf. I just have to share this with you. As most of you know, I am a Temple ordinance worker and work the morning shift in the LA Temple every Saturday. Today, I had the privilege of translating sister Martz-the new assistant Matron's-message during our devotional.
She started like this "The prophet Joseph Smith said that no unhallowed hand would be able to stop this Work from progressing. These past few weeks when mobs have combined and armies have gathered against the saints, the Lord has protected His house". She went on to say that those, like her, who were inside the Temple when mobs were surrounding it, did not realize how scary and terrifying this looked on TV to the rest of us, because inside the House of the Lord all was calm and there was peace abundant. After Proposition 8 passed, the Temple began receiving threatening calls and mail from those opposing it. They were warned that more than 5000 people would come to the Temple and burn it to the ground, and stop Its work. The first Thursday when the mob came, the new LA Temple President called the Salt Lake City Temple Offices for instructions. He was instructed to call the local police and to insure the safety of those attending the Temple by closing the gates. The assistant Matron said today, that it was a tender mercy from the Lord that the mob chose that Thursday to come since they had only one person coming to receive his own endowment that day, which he received in time to leave before trouble started. The LAPD and the FBI responded quickly to the Temple Presidency's summons and patrolled the grounds and kept the mob from entering the same. Most of them had never been there before and expressed their surprise at how beautiful and peaceful all around was. They were invited to come back during the Christmas season to see the lights and they promised they would. On Thursday, November 13th, sister Campbell, a secretary in the Temple, was opening the mail and upon opening a large manila envelope found inside a smaller one. When she opened this one, a white powder flew all around her desk. She thought this could be related to the demonstrators and feared the worst-ANTRAX. She contacted the President, who in turn called the Salt Lake City Temple office again for instructions. The FBI, the LAPD, and even the SWAT teams were once again in the grounds to investigate, and the Temple once again had to close from around 11:30 AM to 5PM. They closed the gates and were instructed to keep all the people there wherever they were found at the time. Those in the parking lot had to remain in the parking lot. Those entering the Temple had to remain in the first floor and those already upstairs were taken to the Celestial Room. Then, the miracles began to happen: A brother serving as a recorder that day is a Microbiologist by profession and used to deal with hazardous substances every day. He was the first to say the white powder in the envelope was only talc, and put everyone at ease. Then the sister coordinator upstairs was impressed to call upstairs to the sealing area, and said "They said we can't go down but no one said we can't go up, and I have many people in the Celestial room with their ceremonial clothes on ready to work. Could they do some sealings?" As it happened, there were four sealers present that day and they ran four sealing sessions nonstop while the Temple was closed. Downstairs, someone else thought to invite those in the Lobby to do some initiatories, which they promptly did for all those hours too, brothers and sisters alike. Among those waiting in the parking lot there was a large group of young men and women with their leaders who had come to do Baptisms for the dead, and who waited patiently all those hours and decided when the Temple was reopened to go ahead and fulfill their assignment instead of driving back home. The Temple reopened in time for the 5:30 PM session. The next day when recording the ordinances, they discovered that they had performed 2000 sacred ordinances on Thursday, only one less than the day before when three stakes had been visiting the Temple. Once again the assistant matron reminded us of the words of the prophet Joseph Smith, "No unhallowed hand can stop the Work from progressing...". But, this is not all, a prophecy was fulfilled also. When the new LA Temple President was set apart by President Uchdorft of the First Presidency, he received a blessing and these words were pronounced: " The time has come for the LA Temple to come out of obscurity and become an Ensign for Righteousness to the world under your presidency." The pictures of the Temple have been shown on TV, newspapers and the internet, not only in this country but worldwide. People of other faiths have called and sent letters to the Temple thanking the Church for defending marriage and protecting the family, and commenting how impressed they are by how beautiful and majestic the Temple looks . One minister of an African American church, who by his own admission had harbored ill feelings against the Mormons before said " I am impressed by your integrity and Christ like behavior, and even if I am not ready to consider you my brothers and sisters in Christ, we can be first cousins!". I asked the assistant matron if I could share her comments and she said to go ahead. I can only add my own testimony that I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the power and authority of God on earth. God Lives and Jesus, His only Begotten Son and our Savior is coming soon to redeem His people. I am grateful to know this and I pray we stand firm, steadfast and immobile while the prophecies of the signs before His Coming are fulfilled. "Be not afraid, only believe" He has said, and also " What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." I testify that this is true and testify it in the Holy Name of Whom I strive to serve, even Jesus Christ. Be faithful and safe is my humble prayer. Your sister in Christ, Patricia H. Arnazzi

Blue Man group missing one

So Clayton was at it again!! This time I spanked him then took a photo then put him in the bath. He thought it was fun getting his photo taken though...so i'll have to rethink taking photos next time. He was doing this while I was doing homework with Tristen :) The girls left out the markers :(

Welcome to Jnr High Football

Mason's first year playing Junior High Football - he is #22 - could you tell....He is still the smallest guy and the youngest...He isn't getting playing time yet - there are 7th and 8th graders on the team and Mason is the little fish in the big bowl here :) I guess he'll start trying to bulk up so he can run with the big boys!! I love the last photo of Tristen being the ever supportive sister - at the game - giving her support...paying close attention to everything that is going on!!!!

the Cool Kids in Town

Here is Clayton with his friends - they look like a bunch of trouble makers don't they!!!!
DJ, Clayton, Ryker & Jada

Clayton and DJ

here are a couple of pics of Clayton and his buddy DJ who lives on the other side of Jada. They have become good friends and love doing boy stuff together...especially when Jada isn't around to tell them otherwise. The funny thing is that they look a lot alike. When they first moved in Kevin( DJ's Dad) tried to get Clayton to go inside his home...he thought he was DJ - and I have done the same thing too :)

Clayton is Defiant - who would have thought!!

Clayton has become quite defiant in his old age. Yes - there is something in the water because he is not alone - both his best friends DJ and Jada have started this new thing also. It isn't just your normal " I don't want to" It is "I don't like you", "I am not doing that", standing still and not moving, having to drag him to where ever I need him, screaming at the top of his lungs, not staying on his bed when I put him on it for time out....that sort of thing. It is a little discouraging, I did not have these issues with the other 3 kids...and I am struggling with this. I sure hope my willpower outlasts Clayton's cause I can tell this is going to be long fight. I will win - I am bigger after all and the mom!!! The other day he decided to color - on the table - so here are some pics of that lovely episode. I actually cleaned him off and then thought to take photos...so you cannot see his hands completely blue - but I am sure you can imagine. And he did get a spanking for this - can't you tell how sorry he is??!!

MASON DID IT

ok - so even with his sad hyperextended knee, Mason made the Walker Butte Coyote Football Team - Yay Mason and Yay me not having to drive far for practice - it is right after school so I only have to pick him up....AND the sisters in the ward whose kids made it also are working on a car pool - could it get any better people?!? I say no...except that the games will be closer to home too - woo hoo.

the Weekend in action

Happy Tristen
Michelle is the only adult who dressed up
Giselle and Anakin
Here's the Tristen we all love!!!!
DJ the ninja, Jada aka Giselle and Clayton aka Anakin






So this past weekend was a whirlwind - Thursday night Mason came home from Rams football practice and had hurt his knee. No big deal right?! I was wrong - it was iced, it had to be up...He didn't go to school Friday and I was under the impression he was not able to go to "the party". Kids got home - costumes were thrown on and we were headed out the door for Trick or treating. Stevan had his friend James Coleman (also a physical therapist - yay us) come over and check out the knee...it had been hyperextended and now needs to be rested for a week - no activity no sports. He showed Mason some exercises and stretches and Mason has been pretty diligent at doing those. So....we went trick or treating - as you can see from the photos we had some not so happy people - could you guess it was Tristen before even looking at the photos?? Yep - her hair was too poofy and I suck at making her look pretty apparently. Whatever - I told her she looked fine and if she wanted to go she would lose the attitude. I beleive she smiled when Michelle took photos - what a brat! So Michelle, Jade and I took the kids out - they were done pretty quickly - and then we sat out front of of house chatting until what I thought was late...Mason ended up going to "the party". Stevan dropped him off and wasn't happy at the reception Mason got...I guess a ton of girls came out "ooohhhh Mason is here" Ha Ha - Stevan isn't ready for this!!! Not that I am either - but what do you do. So Mason was dropped off at 7 and we told him we'd be back at 10 to get him...I went to bed and Stevan had to fight sleep and go pick him up at 10. How sad is that!!! We were ready for bed at 9pm!!!! oh - and I still didn't get a photo of Mason - Hippie - gotta love the birks and tie dye. So on Saturday we went to watch Mason's team play in the playoffs - they lost...Mason didn't get to play and I could see that it was hard for him to sit on the sidelines. Stevan also had to fix the truck - I guess he had a blowout on the road and needed to fix the upper arm bushings?!? So he did - thank goodness he is a jack of all trades - I am sure that repair saved us a couple hundred bucks. So we ended the weekend with Stake Conference - it was great and we enjoyed hearing from President Boyd K Packer.

Primary Program

We had our Primary Program yesterday at Church and let me tell you what a relief it is that we are done. The kids really did an awesome job and I struggled to keep it together listening to them sing. The weeks of sleepless nights and trying to make sure all kids had a part and hoping they would remember words and get to the pulpit when they needed to and be reverent...well it all came together, which is what everyone kept telling me would happen. After our practice on Saturday I Was not too sure...but they did it and I had many people come up and say what a wonderful job the kids did. Stevan even mentioned that this was the best program he had seen ( he said it wasn't just because I was his wife) The children were amazing - the reverence and the spirit was strong. They truly testified through their actions and singing that they did know that they were Children of God. I am so grateful for this calling that I have, for the opportunity I have to work with these kids. They are so special and they have such a spirit about them, you can't help but fell the closeness they have with their Heavenly Father when you are with them. What a privilege it is to be surrounded by these spiritual giants. On another note, sadly we learned that our dear Bishop Olson and his family are moving from our ward. How saddened I was, along with most of the ward I am sure, to be losing such and amazing man and his amazing family. There are a couple of things I can be sure of each Sunday...and one is the infectious personality and smile of PJ Olson - she is an amazing person who spreads cheer everywhere she goes. I could always count on her to lift me up a little more when seeing her in the halls, and the boys will be missed in primary - what great kids they are. We love you Olsons and you will be sorely missed by all.

Halloween Trunk or Treat

Ashlen. Lily, Tristen & Clayton
Ashlen the footballer
Tristen the Angel
Anakin Skywalker
Anakin and Giselle (jada)
Kiss Nation
Devin & Lisette


We had our ward Trunk or Treat on Saturday night and it was a blast - thank you Lacy and committee - you guys did an awesome job. The kids loved it. As always, I waited until the last minute to do costumes. Ashlen had already decided that she wanted to be a football player - you gotta love when they pick something easy like that - so she donned Mason's gear and I put mascara under her eyes. Tristen wanted to be Little Red Riding Hood, and luckily I didn't go out and buy material without showing her what the costume entailed. Tristen, Clayton and I went to dinner Friday night (Stevan was working, Mason was at a Scout Campout & Ashlen was at HSM3 with friends) and then we went to get costumes. She saw the picture and decided immediately that the look wasn't pretty enough for her :) So she decided to be an angel. Clayton had bought a lightsaver with his birthday $$ so he has been talking about being Anakin Skywalker for a while and Mason decided he would be a hippy - yeah us - I have birkenstocks and plenty of tie dye. So I started costumes Saturday at 2pm - the Trunk or Treat started at 5pm and I finished Claytons as Stevan and the kids returned from football at 4:30pm...not a munite to spare. We grabbed kids, threw on costumes and made it to the church. The Activities Committee had hot dog dinners for us, and the kids played games then went around getting candy. Lisette and Devin came and joined us and I have to say I didn't even recognize my sister. I saw someone waving at me and was confused....I hadn't seen this blonde before...then I saw them manning our car...and then recognized Devin...so figured the blonde had to be Lisette....duh......well it was fun and now the kids are ready for October 31st.