Woods of Wisdom

Visit With the Tanton's

2011-02-21T18:47:00.003-07:00

Brandi (Tanton) Richard's had her baby shower this weekend and it was so fun to see Brandi and Kelsey and Penny who put it on for her. Linda, Bill and Nikki were here also because they are expecting Brandi to have her baby any day now. We were so happy they were able to take some time to come to our home and join us for dinner along with the Larsen's. The Tanton's have always been some of our favorite people - we just love them.

Nikki was one of the young women Shawnee and I taught in Antelope and we both just love her.

Ethan is Nikki's little boy. He is so funny we loved having him here.

Ethan's Super Why costume

Super Why Grandpa Tanton!

Linda showed us the needle trick to show you how many kids you will have. Looks like we will have lots of grandkids.

I think they were looking at guns or something - or something about Afghanistan

Linda swears this works!

Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Our tradition for valentine's Day is to have crab. This year we still had crab but I found a recipe for scallops that sounded really good. when jeff told me scallops were a shellfish( I like shell fish but not other fish), I decided we needed to add these to our dinner. They were really good. Mom was also up this Valentine's Day because she was babysitting for Nathan so we had her join us with Nathan's kids. On a side note, we had dinner on Sunday because Jeff had to be back up to work in Idaho Monday - Valentine's was really on Monday this year. Sunday night he told me he was going to play hookie Monday and stay home with me. We went to a restaurant near us called Rooster's that we've never been to before and it was really good. After dinner we went to the mall and he bought me some perfume - Viva la Juicy - and I love it. Fun Valentine weekend.

Mom bought supplies for the kids to decorate their Valentine's boxes.

Taylor was pretty stuffed after the meal

Daddy Daughter Dance 2011

2011-02-21T18:10:00.000-07:00

I think it is a new tradition. This is the second year Jeff has taken emma and Olivia to the Daddy Daughter Valentine's dance that the city puts on. The girls just love it and have so much fun having this special time with their dad.

This is just a picture of their cute pony tails.

Senior Appreciation Night

2011-02-21T18:03:00.001-07:00

Madi's second to last game they had Senior appreciation night. This was the night all the girls were looking forward to because Gerald, the main sponsor for their team, gave them their Davis blanket which they all really wanted. It was a fun night and again bittersweet as Madi's basketball career comes to a close. It has been so much fun to be at her games and cheer her on for the past 8 or so years. She has always been my favorite player on the court.

The four Amigo's. they had such a fun time together this year.

I had surgery on my forehead earlier that day so I had to hide under a hat.

Madi's fan club

Emma's 4th Grade Play

2011-02-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

We attended our final 4th grade history play this week. In total, we attended 4 California history plays and two Utah history plays. It is bittersweet to think about the things we won't be doing anymore because the kids are growing up. Emma did a great job and was fun to watch how much she was enjoying being a part of the play.

Emma with her friend Rachel

Emma had two teachers this year. This is Miss Souther.

This is Mrs. Zalit

M&M's 18th Birthday

2011-02-21T17:42:00.001-07:00

Madi and Mikayla again went to California for their birthday. This time they brought Jake with them and did a little sight seeing in San Francisco.

At the airport with dad - Jake loves airplanes.

Fake tattoo. For some reason he likes to get these at Bowman's.

Jackson, Wyoming

2011-02-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

The week after Christmas, Madi and Mikayla went to California for their birthday and Jeffrey went with the Dorius's to Bear Lake so the little girls and I decided to go to Wyoming with Jeff to hang out while he worked up there. It was a fun relaxing few days.

The items behind the girls in this picture were priced in the hundreds of thousands. A very pricey store. We kept our arms folded and didn't touch anything.

We loved our free hot chocolate and warm cookies in the evening at the hotel. we also loved our free breakfast and dinner.

Treats at the candy store

The arches were pretty at night with the lights on them.

In the background of this picture, the little red dots are the eyes of several large Moose.

Christmas Day 2011

2011-02-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

It seems to be a new tradition we have started, since moving to Utah, to have the Sharp's join us Christmas Day. We have a nice dinner, play games, have a little nativity/talent show program and enjoy each other's company.

Time to wake up! It is a tradition for all the kids to sleep in M&M's room Christmas Eve.

Jeffrey hiding under his blanket's

Marching downstairs to see what Santa brought them

These two are silly together

Gifts from my girls. My earrings are diamonds with choose the right all around the sides. I am glad my kids know what I like.

Playing with the new Just Dance present

Love these jammy's

Our gifts from mom and dad

Cute jammy picture

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-02-21T16:32:00.001-07:00

We love our traditions.
Our traditional Christmas Eve is a more quiet day/evening spent together as a family. We play games, eat good food, watch Christmas movies, read Christmas books and end the evening remembering our Savior and the true meaning of Christmas. We also play bingo and everyone gets to open one present as they win a round. The present opened is one from a sibling or from mom and dad(pajamas). We have tried doing other things on Christmas Eve but the kids won't have it. This is our tradition and they do not want to change anything about it and that's ok with me.

Dicken's Festival

2011-01-02T13:19:00.001-07:00

Emma told me about the Dicken's festival that they have every year in Salt lake. She said her teacher goes and it is really fun. I had Emma and olivia play hookie from school and we went to it together. It was a lot of fun with good food and cute crafts and fun things for the kids to do.

This ride was so much fun. I want Jeff to build one for us.

Nutcracker 2010

2010-12-15T14:52:00.000-07:00

It is so fun when I am able to attend special field trips with my kids. I have gone to see the Nutcracker with Taylor first, then Emma and now Olivia. We had a fun time together and I am so glad I was able to go with her class.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-12-13T17:37:00.000-07:00

We decided this year that we needed to go home for Thanksgiving. The kids really missed our traditional Thanksgiving with all the family. We had a great time and now everyone is ready to move back home - except Jeff. There was one little problem with going home though. A big storm was expected in Utah and over the pass. I didn't want to tell the kids we couldn't go or that we had to shorten our trip so instead we went by way of Las Vegas and up through southern California. We left Friday night and stayed the night in Las Vegas then finished the rest of the trip Saturday.

The hotel was great. It was Springhill Hotel and we would definitely stay there again.

Dad liked making us breakfast each morning and it was always something good.

We had dinner at Ruth's house Sunday night and had fun visiting and playing games.

we went to visit the Zufelt's also on Sunday. Brian was trying some magnetic thing with the girls.

I think it was working on Mikayla.

This is a picture of everyone skyping with Carter who is in hawaii.

The ladies man, Alex. He will be leaving for his mission soon.

Zufelt kids and Woods kids minus Carter who is at school and Zach who is on a mission.

We dropped the kids off to bowl while we did some shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.

Can't miss the opportunity to eat at Taco Tree while you're in Auburn.

Beautiful trees by Mena's house.

Did some hair while I was there - pretty much paid for our trip.

The kids all made several different types of cookies with Grandma for a cookie exchange.

The girls made cookies and the boys played video games.

Andy Rooney

Girls having lots of fun together.

We went to the Peterson's for dinner and games one night. many of our friends from Rocklin joined us and we had so much fun.

Allen and Jeff

I love playing Guesstures with these friends. Nothing makes me laugh harder. I'm just sorry I didn't get the picture of Mike skipping across the room or Lisa spanking her boody and swinging her lasoo. Then hearing Brian Favero guess, "who's your mama?" Very funny.

I really should have taken this picture before Brian left so that Jeff wasn't the only short one in this group of giants.

We went to see tangled and we all loved it.

Crafts for the kids Thanksgiving morning.

Jeff and Richard went for a bike ride - something they used to do often before we moved.

Then they checked their blood glucose after.

Thanksgiving dinner at mom's.

The deer were everywhere around mom and dad's house.

We had to leave on Friday instead of Saturday before the next storm came in. But at least we were able to go through Tahoe this time.

Car in the Safeway parking lot in Truckee. Glad we missed that storm.

So Cute

2010-12-13T16:38:00.001-07:00

Whenever Jeff is out of town, the girls(Emma and Olivia) take turns sleeping with me.

Olivia loves to get our books out to read together before we go to sleep. Emma also brings all her animals too. I think it is so cute the beds that she makes for her animals since they can't all sleep with her while she is sleeping with me.

Schmeffer's Sweet 16

2010-12-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey turned 16 this year - Yippee! and what is the one gift all my kids want? A trip home to California, so that is exactly what Jeffrey got. Madi went with him so he had someone on the train with him. Madi also had the camera. I knew Jeffrey wouldn't take pictures so I told Madi to get as many as she could when she was with him. They both had a great time. Jeffrey is ready to move home.

Cake and ice cream before he left

Hopping on the train at 11:30 pm for a long ride to California.

View from the train, I am guessing in Tahoe.

Jeffrey's plane dad is building for him along with a bigger plane behind Jeffrey that Tony is rebuilding.

Tony let Madi drive his truck while she was there. Of course she loved it.

Jeffrey and Jacob at the Rocklin dance.

Madi and cami at the dance.

Mena's Visit Oct. 2010

2010-12-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Conference weekend was a little different this year because it was also Chrissy's wedding. Because mom and dad were coming for the wedding, Mena decided to sneak away from obligations and come play with me. We made crafts, went to Gardner Village, Chrissy's wedding and did whatever Mena wanted since this was her vacation.

Richard stayed at our house over conference weekend and brought a roommate with him. Steve, his, roommate, was with us more than Richard was. He is a good guy and is welcome at our house anytime - we enjoyed him.

Visit from Grandma and Candice 2010

2010-12-13T12:13:00.001-07:00

Mom and Candice came out in October to babysit Nathan and Tanya's kids for them while they went on a cruise. The two of them worked hard to put together a fun week for the kids. We had movie nights, halloween parties, sleepovers and lots of play time together.

Can't seem to turn this picture around. We took Grandma and Candice(and a couple girls that we let cut school for the day) to Gardner Village. It is so fun there in the fall.

Food for movie night.

Cute invites the kids received for movie night and money for treats.

Big breakfast with all the kids.

Party night

And then we had some other fun visitors join us - Jake, Matt(staples in our home) and Chloe came to visit the girls.

Davis family Visit

2010-12-13T11:30:00.000-07:00

We had another fun visit with the Davis family this summer. They came to play with us for a few days and when they come, all we do is play... nonstop - the kids love it. There will be no order to these pictures because I have so many so I am just throwing them on here.

This is what Mikayla and Kiera wore when they went running one morning. Side note - I don't think they ever went to sleep the night before this run.

Ruth and I took the younger kids to the family fun center.

We also went up to visit Matt and Aimee and play the Idaho way for a day.

We spent a little time at the Sunset Equestrian pool.

taylor and Bradley made us tacos one night and they were so good.

the older kids spent a lot of time at the rope swing.

The flumes in idaho

Jeff's birthday 2010

2010-12-13T10:39:00.000-07:00

Another year to celebrate Jeff. We had one of his favorite meals, eggs benedict, I made him a cake with the BMW symbol on it and the Brown's came over to celebrate with us.

Chrissy Boy's wedding

2010-12-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

Chrissy and Heather were married this summer. It was a beautiful wedding. I don't think I have ever seen Chrissy with such a big smile on his face and he kept it there the whole day.

Dad, Shawn, Chrissy and Nathan

Mom and Chrissy

Check out that grin on Nathan! What is going through his head?

Again, Nathan staring at the camera with a mischievous grin

I love this picture of dad with Shawn and Chrissy. It looks like a picture from a GQ magazine.

Karen's Birthday

2010-12-11T13:38:00.001-07:00

Karen Bray is my mom's 1st cousin. My mother and karen were best friends growing up and have always stayed close. Lorna and Brenda(her daughter's/my cousins) put together a fun birthday party for her this year that we were able to attend. It was so fun seeing so many cousins that we haven't seen in a long time.

Birthday girl

Uncle Sheldon, Aunt Dawn, Danny, Karen, Sue and Jeannine

Bob and Dennis

Brenda and Dennis

Strawberry Jam

2010-11-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Shawnee and I have been making strawberry jam together for quite a few years now. Shawnee, Christie Sheppard and I used to make it together in California. Now that Shawnee has moved to Kaysville with me, and I figured out where to get strawberries in Utah, we are back to making strawberry jam together again.

Tawny was helping us too

Finished product. Yum!

5th of July with Sharp's

2010-11-08T11:46:00.001-07:00

The Sharp's town had their fireworks show the Monday after Independence Day. We spent the day with them playing on their friends redneck water slide, riding the flume and then joined them for fireworks that night.

The girls were a little hesitant at first

Jeffrey loved the slide

Jeffrey takes such good care of his sisters.

At the fireworks show

4th of July 2010

2010-11-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

This year the 4th was on a Sunday. Because we live in Utah, all the festivities were on Saturday. Our Independence Day ended up being 3 days long. Richard, who was with us a lot this summer, was here this weekend so we had the young single adults over for a movie and to light off some of Richard's homemade fireworks.

Richard making his own fireworks

Fun group of young single adults

Scary!

Independence Day 2010

2010-11-08T10:43:00.001-07:00

We love our traditions. One tradition we have is attending our towns 4th of July parade and fireworks show. Because we live in a small town, it's like a big get together with all your friends.

I go the day before the parade and reserve our favorite spot on the high school lawn for the parade. Our 4th of July day generally consists of attending the parade in the morning, finding something fun to do after like a bbq and swimming at the Dorius's then back to the school in the evening for the fireworks show. It's always a fun day.

Our friends Clarin Sr. and Clarin Jr. playing the bagpipes.

Another friend Devon Hansen and daughter Emily

Emma and Olivia with friend Madison

Ragnar is a relay that I HOPE to do this coming year.

The girls stole Dakota

Cute little Riley

Swimming at the Dorius's

The girls took Dakota with us to the Dorius's also.

Fireworks in kaysville

Madi EFY 2010

2010-11-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

When the kids are young and have a memorable experience, I am generally a part of it and share the experience also. Now that they are older, they are making memories of their own... without me!?! I so very much want to be there for everything in their lives but at the same time love watching them grow and become their own person. At least Madi is good at taking pictures so I can share in some way. Madi loves EFY and made some great friends while she was there this year. She went by herself because Mikayla didn't want to go. When I dropped her off, I think she was a little nervous but we both knew that wouldn't last long and she would soon feel right at home, which is exactly what happened. One good thing about living in Utah is that many of the other kids at EFY do too. Madi was able to get together with many of them a few more times after EFY. I may not always be able to be there but as long as they're happy... I'm happy.

Girls Camp 2010

2010-10-31T18:35:00.000-06:00

What can I say about Girls camp? I went myself as a first year beehive, two days as a 2nd year Beehive and never went again - until this year at least. When you're given a calling, you don't turn it down and in this new ward, I was asked to be ward camp director. I have been working with the Young Women at church for over ten years now and I have managed to get out of camp every year. I had a bad experience as a 2nd year Beehive and I never cared to go back again. I had a friend from my ward who was going to be my buddy. Turned out, she was not going to be able to go after all. Our leader made her and my mother promise not to tell me because they were afraid I wouldn't go if I knew she wasn't going. The night before we left for camp, my mother told me but said she still wanted me to go and that I could come home if I still didn't like it once I was up there. I was pretty angry at my leader so I had a bad attitude and came home the second day. Besides that, everyone else in my cabin had a buddy from their ward with them and I was by myself. To me, camp was bad enough sleeping on the ground outside in the cold with trails of ants crawling over our sleeping bags then having to get up at the crack of dawn after getting no sleep. So, I went home and never went back to camp as a young woman, or even as a leader until this year.

I will say that if you have to go to camp, Heber Valley is the camp to go to. President Hinckley built it because he was worried that girls weren't enjoying camping. His vision for the YW of the church wasn't so much the camping skills, but the spirituality. So the rough aspects of camping are somewhat eliminated and other things are highlighted. The camp covers 8,000 square acres and 24,000 girls attend through the summer. It began being used in 2003 and is still in the process of being developed, they hope to eventually have 5,000 campers at a time. Pres. Hinckley called it the "Temple in the mountains, or the temple without a roof." It is definitely my kind of camping. we had showers, toilets, cabins with bunkbeds, electrical outlets and doors that lock and keep you safe at night and a great little kitchen outside in the center of our cabins.

I also had three of my five girls at camp with me this year. I loved being there with them. Camp is one of those things that in the end, you're always glad you went and this year was no different.

2010 Kaysville West Stake Girls Camp

Webb Lane Ward

We had the best cook, Lisa Smith. This is her with her daughter Carly.

Look how fancy our snacks were set out each day

Our ward banner

Me and my teenage girls. I love being with them. They are so much fun.

Love them all.

Something was very funny to Madi.

Madi trying to get up on Mikayla's bunk while still in her sleeping bag.

Casey showing us her talent

Emma doing the Napolean Dynomite dance

4 of our YCL'S being silly

Janice, Ashley, madi and Casey

Madi and janice

feeding the beehives baby food

YCL's hanging out

John Bytheway was a special guest speaker for us at camp.

My girls were sitting right up front so I told them to get a picture of him before we started. They were too emabarrassed to take his picture so they only took this one. He told us that he had just been made bishop in his ward and had to head home to do his first temple marriage interview.

Taylor's creative way of wearing her handkerchief

Karen, Lisa and Lisa

Can you see how much Taylor wanted to a part of this play?

Madi and Madi

Madi Ferguson was our honorary YCL because she was so young(not quite 12 yet) and her big sister was a YCL who graduated already but wanted to come back to camp with us this year. So Madi stayed in the YCL cabin with her sister a lot.

Madi and Madi(Strahm) again

Oh look! It's Madi and Madi(Holt) again.

This Madi is from our old ward.

Shaleice, Madi and Mikayla on the canoe

The sky was beautiful this day. The trees up here are Aspen's. I am used to Pines at camp.

Rainy night so we took our activity inside the YCL's cabin

Everyone got a sticker from everyone else that said something nice about them.

Madi and Alexis ready to walk the rope in the cope course.

She's ready to go

Taylor, Mikayla and Shaleice ready to go.

Mikayla heading up the tree

More pictures from the challenge course

YCL's on the last night of camp preparing final campfire.

Preisthood joined us for homemade ice cream on Bishop's night.

L to R Bishop Funk, Bro. Jones(1sr counselor) and Bro. Sorenson who was there for part of the week with us.

The YCL's raided the fridge and cupboards on the last night of camp - I gave them the idea.

Olivia's summer dance recital

2010-10-31T11:57:00.000-06:00

Olivia had her summer dance recital and she did a great job. She really enjoys dancing and it shows as you watch her perform.

Not the best picture but she's in there somewhere.

Livvy and her daddy.

Claire was up visiting so she was able to be there for Olivia's show.

EFY for Jeffrey 2010

2010-10-22T11:59:00.000-06:00

Jeffrey went to his first year of EFY and he had a blast. He went with a good friend from Rocklin, Jacob Zufelt. It is always such a good experience for the youth. Jeffrey went to his first dance at EFY and discovered that he really likes them. Stone and his friend went the same week so Mena and Claire stayed with us while the boys were at EFY. Made for a fun week for all of us.

Sheep

2010-10-22T11:09:00.000-06:00

Jeff bought a couple sheep for our food storage. Matt is taking care of them on his property in Idaho. First a pig, now sheep, what next? Hopefully a cow but I don't think we need to raise one - just buy the meat.

This is one of the ones he chose. They are hairless sheep and Matt keeps calling them goats because that's what they look like.

Dakota's Blessing and Beyond

2010-10-22T10:59:00.001-06:00

Everyone loves sweet little Dakota. We were able to be a part of her blessing day and join the Brown family for a breakfast after. The brown's have a great family, we enjoy their company.

So maybe this post starts even earlier than her blessing. We went to visit Kelli and Dakota in the hospital. Dakota is a day old in this picture.

Downtown Leroy Brown even got to hold his daughter for a few minutes.

Kelli with her beautiful mother and sister with Riley and Rose.

My girls all love Dakota. They are stealing her all the time.

See? Mikayla loves her so much she still smiles even when Dakota spits up on her.

Mikayla talks about how cute Dakota is all the time.

So maybe Dakota is crying in this picture but I still thought it was a sweet picture of Olivia kissing her.

Best Friends

2010-10-22T10:42:00.000-06:00

Emma found these cute shirts and had to get one for each of her best friends, Kennady and Madison.

Emma and Madison Brown

Emma and Kennady Wickizer

Such cute girls - love them all.

Father/Son Campout

2010-10-22T10:37:00.001-06:00

The father son campout is such a great idea. Jeff and Jeffrey look forward to it everyear. As you can see in these pictures they have a blast.

Jeff and Jeffrey don't camp like everyone else does. They sleep in the Suburban and always bring a good movie.

Todd and Cade were there also.

Is he having a good time or what?

They are so close and have such a great time together.

2010 Playoffs

2010-10-22T09:56:00.002-06:00

We have some great friends here in Kaysville. We call Jon and Tera our sugar daddy's -they spoil us. This time they took us to the playoff games with the Jazz playing the Lakers. We were in a hospitality suite with a good view and lots of good food. It was fun visiting and cheering on the Jazz.

Hope Jon never sees this picture. Not sure why I didn't take another.

Emma and Olivia have two other mothers here in Kaysville and Tera is one of them. They just love her.

Day Activity for Prom

2010-09-09T15:02:00.000-06:00

It is not enough anymore to just have a dance for prom. Actually, for every dance at school. The day before each dance you must also have a day activity. I hear the original purpose for this was in hopes that the teenagers would just go home after the dance and not stay out so late doing other activities after the dance. I don't know who thought that would work. The activity Madi and Mikayla's group did was this bounce house in Provo. They had a great time.

Madi and Hollie

In'n'Out after the bounce house

Unfortunately Mikayla's car load went somewhere else so we don't have pictures of her after. Why don't they just let me tag along to be their photographer everywhere they go?

Prom 2010

2010-09-09T14:44:00.000-06:00

It feels like another milestone - kids old enough to go to their high school prom. Madi and Mikayla had so much fun preparing for and attending the prom. It was all they talked about for about a month(or more). I had a lot of fun helping in the preparation for the big night. The dance was at the State Capitol and they had dinner before at Biaggi's.The night turned out to be everything they hoped it would be and they looked like princesses.

This is the whole group.

The girls went to the beauty school a week before to try out the hairdo they wanted. Madi wasn't too pleased with what they did so I did her hair for the prom. I should have done Mikayla's too since they didn't do her's the same way she liked it when they did it the first time.

The girls got spoiled because Kelli, who is a pro at doing make up and who has an entire stores worth of make up in her bathroom, agreed to do their make up.

Madi's date,Tyson, showed up first.

And lucky for all of us Grandma was there to help put the boutinere's(sp) on.

I guess the girls and I are going to have to figure this out before next year.

Too cute!

Mikayla and Dallin

Madison and Tyson

how fun to have a twin to share this big day with

if only I could get rid of my shadow in the picture

ok so this poor kid on the end was sitting in the car the whole time so I told him to get out and get in the picture too

And they're off!

Preparing for the Big Night

2010-07-25T10:20:00.000-06:00

Prom is coming up and the girls are getting ready.

The girls all found their dress at the same place(luckily). This is Hollie in her pretty brown dress -very fitting for a Davis prom although it was harder for her date to find a suit.

Love Madi in blue.

I think this was the first and only dress Mikayla tried on. When she put it on, it looked perfect so there was no need to try anything else.

Trying different hairdo's for prom.

Stake Conference/Adult Session

2010-07-25T10:08:00.000-06:00

I love the Saturday evening session of stake conference. There are always great talks and it seems to have a more relaxed feel to it. It has been our tradition for years to go out for dessert after with friends. These are a few of our friends that we like to go out with here in kaysville. They are in our old ward and we miss seeing them each week so we love the opportunities we have to spend time with them.

Clarin and Cindy Aldridge are on the ends and Devon and Joan Hanson are sitting together.Clarin's grandmother was a former General Relief Society president and now his aunt is in the General primary presidency. Cindy grew up next door to President Hinckley. Good connections.

Yuck!

Jeff got the hottest chicken wings they have. This was taken after he took a bite of one of them. Although actually he said they weren't that hot.

Taylor For Secretary

2010-07-23T16:09:00.000-06:00

Taylor ran for Secretary at school for her 9th grade year. She didn't win but her friend Jesse did so she was happy for her. It was fun to watch Taylor and her campaign manager Lovie work so hard campaigning. I am proud of Taylor for even trying and hope she will try again.

Dressed up for the skit they performed for the school. Lovie was lost in the woods and Taylor was the scout that helped her. "Don't get lost in the Woods" vote for Taylor Woods.

One of Taylor's poster's.

Another one of Taylor's posters and Mariah's poster on the right. Mariah had some funny posters.

Women's Conference 2010

2010-07-23T15:51:00.001-06:00

I had the opportunity to help with a service project atWomen's conference this year. We made bracelets and memory boxes for parents who lose their babies at birth. It was a great experience.

Me, Emily Smalley's SIL Joy and Emily. Emily had a miscarriage at eight months and was given a bracelet and memory box at the hospital. That's where the idea to make these at Women's conference came from.

Emily, Kathy Garcia and Joy.

Mom's Visit May 2010

2010-07-23T15:42:00.000-06:00

Tam Hoopes was coming back to Utah and needed someone to ride with her. Mom came back with her and spent the week with us.

We started the week off going to Chuck-A-Rama for dinner. The kids love all the options of food to eat. I think going here with mom and dad is becoming a tradition when they visit.

We went with Aunt Dawn and Uncle Sheldon to visit their cousins Joyce and Merilee. Love that Joyce.

We had a party at our house with mom's cousin Karen and all her family. It was fun to see everyone.

LtoR: Aunt Dawn, mom, Karen, Stephanie and Audrey

Uncle Sheldon and Bob

Ashley, Olivia and Kaitlyn

Olivia's 11th Birthday

2010-07-23T14:48:00.000-06:00

Olivia and her best friend Katelyn spent the evening together for Olivia's 11th birthday. Olivia wanted to go to Tepanyaki for dinner. They both love it there. After dinner we went home to have cake with the family. So much fun to have Olivia in our family. She is so funny and is our best whiner.

Can you see the shrimp Olivia is about to catch?

Olivia loves chocolate cake.

Of course the Wickizer's had to bring a present for Emma also. Cute socks from the Mismatched store at Disneyland.

These two have so much fun together -it's nice to have a best friend.

Easter/Conference Weekend 2010

2010-07-23T14:23:00.000-06:00

Love conference weekend but it is even better when it is also Easter. It is great to be able to listen to so many talks on the Savior and Christlike love while celebrating His sacrifice for each of us. We had a fun weekend together as a family - love my family.

The usual set up for conference weekend.

Olivia and Mikayla preparing the eggs for the Easter egg hunt.

We had an Easter egg hunt in the dark Saturday night. Jeff and I hid eggs in the basement and the kids tried to find them with flashlights. It was fun and we will definitely do it again next year.

Decorating our eggs. They looked a little different this time because we used the brown eggs from our chickens.

Heading downstairs to look for eggs.

Easter morning after baskets were found.

Olivia fell asleep during conference.

A little more awake during conference in this picture.

Ready to eat our Easter Feast. Good thing the picture is dark because none of us were looking too good.

Not as much food on the table when it is just our family but it was all delicious.

After being inside all weekend we went down to the park to play.

Smith's Easter Egg hunt

2010-06-25T10:12:00.000-06:00

Before the first session of conference Saturday, Jeff and I took Olivia and Emma to the breakfast and Easter egg hunt at Smith's.

They served donuts, juice and chocolate milk to everyone.

They came home with qute a bit of candy.

Gold Knight

2010-06-25T09:57:00.000-06:00

Taylor received the Gold Knight award at school. A friend nominated her for always being nice to her even when others weren't. Definitely a typical award for Taylor to receive.

This is her friend Bailey who also received an award that night.

Taylor being "knighted" by the principal.

Olivia's State Project

2010-06-25T09:52:00.000-06:00

Jeff and I went to Olivia's program at school. They did a cute play and then displayed and told a little about the state they chose. Of course Olivia wanted California but Cade Larsen, who is a family friend and also from California, got it first.

Olivia and her best friend Katelyn

Olivia and this boy had to pretend they were getting married- it was so cute.

Easter Family Night

2010-06-25T09:43:00.000-06:00

We had our usual resurrection rolls for our Easter family night. They are always a hit.

General Young Women's Meeting 2010

2010-06-25T09:32:00.001-06:00

We have a new tradition that I love. I don't know if it is Taylor's favorite thing but the General Young Women's Meeting is always the same weekend as her birthday and we have been able to go each year with Tanya and Renae. It is a special night with my girls that I hope they look back on when they are older and have fond memories of. The question is, do I bring Olivia with me next year since it is only three weeks from her 12th birthday and I can have four of my girls with me? The year after that I will be down to only Olivia and Taylor. These kids need to stop growing up.

Typical picture of my twins when the camera comes out.

What I thought was really neat this year was when the prophet entered the room. There was a lot of talking going on as everyone was entering, getting seated and waiting for the meeting to begin. As soon as the prophet came in, the building went silent and everyone stood.(This picture is not from that moment). Such reverance and respect from a group of young women was neat to witness and be a part of.

Here is the crowd leaving the Conference Center - and Madi's hair blowing in the wind. We got to walk diagnally across the intersection this time.

Taylor's 14th Birthday

2010-06-25T08:29:00.003-06:00

When my kids have a birthday that lands on a Sunday, it seems I go over board doing things all weekend long. Taylor had a fun filled birthday weekend. First, she and I went shopping at the mall. We went to Nordstrom's first for a makeover, then lunch, then clothes shopping. It was fun spending time alone with just Taylor. Since Taylor was born she has been such a happy child and I knew she would bring happiness and joy to our family. Even as a TEENAGER she continues to bring happiness and joy to our family. I love her so much and am so grateful she chose to come to our family.
For some reason I can't write in between the pictures but note the pictures of the girls gathered around the table. As I was taking pictures I noticed the brunettes were all sitting together on one side of the table and the blonds were all together on the other side. Hmmmm... interesting.
You can't tell but the last few pictures were of the Easter egg hunt in the dark. They loved it and want to do another next year.

So Busy, So Fun

2010-05-03T13:58:00.001-06:00

If my computer would let me, I would have everything that I have been so busy with the past month up with pictures on my blog. But since my computer is having issues(nothing new) I will make note of all the fun I have been up to without pictures and will post with pictures when I can.
Taylor had a great birthday that lasted for days, mom came up, visited/had dinner with several relatives, Madi and Mikayla had their first prom, Women's conference, craft faires with Shawnee, friends having babies, fugitive, spring cleaning, missionaries for dinner(which doesn't happen much in Utah), making my first wheat bread with Jeff, helping Taylor with her campaign for secretary at school, Madi winning for president in her economics class, camp, camp and more camp prep, and JEFF FINDING HIS GENEALOGY BACK TO ADAM! Jeff has always been so jealous of all the info I have on my ancestors. I may have lots of info but he has a record that goes back much further than anything I have. Amazing!
Been having fun will post pictures when I can.

Something Clicked

2010-04-06T11:02:00.001-06:00

I am not sure what happened this school year but something clicked and my kids are all doing great in school. Homework is getting turned in, they are studying and doing well on tests and it is paying off. It has been nice to point out and help them recognize the good feeling inside when they do well or complete something that is hard as opposed to when they haven't.
After report cards came out, we took them to The Olive Garden to celebrate as a family. We also got this cool little corner/nook in the restaurant all to ourselves. I ask myself all the time, "how did I get such good kids?"
Congratulation kiddos, we love you, and keep up the good work!

Resurrection Rolls

2010-03-31T12:35:00.002-06:00

We had our Easter Family Night this week and made our usual resurrection rolls. They are pretty yummy. Madi was in charge of the Priest/ Laurel activity this week and made some there too. Everyone loved them and three of her leaders asked for the recipe because they are so yummy and it is so cute with the resurrection/empty tomb story that goes along with it.
Fun tradition.

This one got a little ruined but still tastes good.

Look! the roll/tomb is empty.

Prom Time Take Two

2010-03-31T12:23:00.000-06:00

So we get a knock at the door at about ten the other night. Tyson is at the door asking for Madi. Unfortunately for him Jeff is the one that answered the door and gave him a hard time and told him yes Madi is here but he couldn't come in because it was late. Poor guy, I would have been much nicer, and I was. He has a dozen roses in his hand and asks Madi if she would go to the prom with him. She said yes and they talked for a little bit -at the door of course. Now the girls have both been asked and they are excited about planning and shopping for dresses. I suggested they get matching dresses since they are twins but I don't think they will go for that.
Love the teenage years and all the fun times.

Prom Time

2010-03-31T12:13:00.001-06:00

Funniest story. Saturday night Jeff and I ran to the store and Mikayla decided to go with us. As we are walking in she sees the boys in this picture over by the flowers. Mikayla quickly hides behind the vending machines and says she thinks Dallin is getting flowers because he is going to ask her to the prom tonight. She won't go in the store with us and continues to hide until they leave. The boys saw me but pretended not to. Finally a couple of them walk down the aisle I was on and casually say hi to me like they just saw me for the first time. We talk to them for a little bit and one of them is hiding the flower in his jacket(Dallin must now be hiding from us so we don't know he is there). Jeff gives them a hard time asking what they are doing and if they are stealing.
They were so funny. They got to our house first and we get a call from Madi asking where we are and when we are coming home but she can't say why she is asking(she doesn't know we know what is going on). We get home and the boys were all upstairs and Dallin is a nervous wreck because he doesn't know what to say. Madi tells him to just be himself and ask her. She said yes, of course.
Teenagers are so fun(ny).

Emma and Olivia's Birthday Party 2010

2010-03-31T11:53:00.000-06:00

Emma and Olivia had a really fun joint birthday party at Boondocks. There was so much to do and it was all unlimited. They did bumper boats, race cars, laser tag, arcade games. All the kids had fun.

This a card Riley(Kelly's daughter) made for Emma. Riley is two and so cute.

Olivia and Lily(Hollie's little sister).

Emma and Madison(Kelly's daughter).

These two are so close they fight like sisters but still love each other.

The two in the salmon and blue shirts are Madison's cousins who were up visiting from California so they joined us and we were happy to have them.

Olivia helping with a magic trick.

Emma's turn to help.

Kwincy(Tera's little girl)

River(Tera's son). Jeffrey's buddy.

Jeffrey took River on some rides that he was too small to go on by himself. River was feeling pretty cool hanging out with Jeffrey and walked with a little strut in his step. He told Tera he was inviting Jake from preschool, Michael from church and Jeffrey to his birthday party.

Kelly and Tera - always there for me - such good friends. They are both known as Olivia and Emma's other mother's. But Emma is sure to tell me I am her first mom.

All the girls ready to race.

They were squirting each other and getting pretty wet on this cold day.

Kennedy hiding trying to not get so wet.

Laser tag

I was babysitting a new lady in the wards daughter for her this day because she was on bed rest. My friend watched her while we were gone at the party then we picked her up after and all the girls had so much fun with her.

Happy birthday to our fun, cute Emma. 9 years old.

Happy birthday to our sweet, funny Olivia. 11 years old this year.

And the party continued at home with Katelyn and Kennady.

Sadies 2010

2010-03-31T10:16:00.003-06:00

I was fortunate enough to have the Sadies group of friends at our house Saturday night for dinner. It was fun to see them all together and having fun. They all looked so cute.
Mikayla did not want to go for some reason. By the time Madi and her friends talked her into asking someone(a week before the dance) he had already told someone else yes. Although a few days later the same guy asked Mikayla to the prom.

Chicken Alfredo with prosciutto, garlic bread and salad.

Erica and Hollie

Madi and Jake.All the boys in his family have the best smiles.

The football field Austin from Austin made with the treats.

The group at the dance.

18 year anniversary

2010-03-28T10:11:00.000-06:00

Friday afternoon I told Jeff we were going out for our anniversary but he didn't know what we were doing except our usual trip to the temple. We love going to the temple each anniversary to remember covenants made, 18 years ago now, and to reflect on where our family story began. Now to be here in Utah again and to be able to go back to the Salt Lake Temple, the temple we were sealed together in, is an even better thing. Funny thing though. We never made it to the temple. Jeff forgot his recommend. We thought we would go this weekend but he has been sick. Next weekend is General Conference and Easter so maybe we'll make it to the Salt Lake Temple a month late but we will get there.
We went to the Gateway where I had ordered some dinner to go for us at Biaggi's. I knew Jeff would also want some sushi from the sushi restaurant too so we picked him up a roll there and then got some yummy chocolate caramel marshmallows from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I also got us a room at the Hyatt which is just off of the Gateway so we brought our food back to the room and dug in. I decided next getaway has to be at least a whole weekend long so we have more time to relax but with dinner parties, birthdays and school dances, that wasn't happening this time.
18 years and we are closer and more in love than we ever were!

Birthday Lunch with friends

2010-03-28T09:40:00.002-06:00

I had such a busy/fun weekend. I started out the weekend with a lunch date on Friday with my best friends in Utah. Kelly wanted to take me out for my birthday even though it was a week late - I love dragging out my birthday, everyone knows that and I am not one to argue about getting together with friends. The only one missing was Tera, wish she could have joined us but she had a sick child at home. Thank you Kelly for the fun lunch date - I am so glad we're friends.

Last class in course one

2010-03-28T09:32:00.001-06:00

Had my last cake decorating class Wednesday and we learned to make the Wilton rose. It has been a really fun class and fun to learn how to decorate a cake. Next course starts in April and I will be learning how to work with fondant.

Elvis is Alive

2010-03-18T10:13:00.000-06:00

Look who was driving next to me in Layton yesterday. Here I am trying to slyly take a picture of this guy and his car when I look at the guy in the car on the other side of me and he is also taking pictures of "Elvis". We were both laughing. I wonder what his kids think when he comes to thier school functions. This man is having too much fun - love it.

Emma Victoria Woods

2010-03-18T09:57:00.000-06:00

It was spotlight week for Emma at school. She brought in one of her favorite books, I like Myself, to read to the class and made a poster all about her to share with the class. Jeff and I were able to come to class on Friday to be with her while she answered questions from the students and told them all a little about who Emma is. What a fun thing to be a part of. She is precious and brings us such joy.

Emma also received another "Cool Colt" award this week for helping a special needs girl who was having a hard time. If there is one word that describes Emma it is definitely, helpful.

Licensed to Kill.....Animals

2010-03-18T09:30:00.000-06:00

Jeff is now licensed to hunt and he is excited. He got his first gun as a present from Santa, went through training to receive his license and now awaits hunting season. There is something about hunting that just seems wrong to me, and the last thing I want is my freezer full of Elk meat. Although I am happy that it is something Jeff and Jeffrey can do together and I know it will bring may fond memories, along with bonding time, for the two of them.

Cake Decorating

2010-03-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to know how to decorate a cake so Jeff got me lessons for my birthday. It is a really fun class. This is my first cake and I love it because I love colorful spring flowers( I just love spring colors). Cake decorating is so fun and easy once you learn the little tricks of the trade. Check out those leaves - no lessons, figured it out on my own, it's all in the angle and the pressure. Hee hee.

My Birthday Weekend

2010-03-09T11:36:00.003-07:00

I had a fun birthday weekend. Mom and Dad came up and we had fun hanging out, eating and shopping. Olivia was so cute and must have told me six or seven times happy birthday on Sunday. After we ate dinner, Olivia told me not to clean a thing and to go sit down on the couch so she could rub my feet. I love my kids.

Mom and I went to The Quilted Bear to shop around on Friday. I liked these signs for the laundry room. The top is my favorite - it says, "I don't skinny dip, I chunky dunk.

I saw this a few weeks ago at the Quilted Bear and finally bought it this time as a present for myself. I am excited to decorate it each season.

We went to dinner Friday night with Nathan and Tanya and Mom and Dad. We went to a place in Ogden that my girls(Emma and Olivia) went to before with some friends of ours. It is called Prairie Schooners and it is really good with a fun atmosphere.

Nathan's Rico suave look. He loves it.

This was in the center of the wagons(tables) we were seated in.Tanya is picking the bears nose.

Birthday cake at home with the family on Sunday. It was nice that my birthday was on Sunday so it could be a more relaxing day to enjoy the company of my family without anything else going on. We played games, ate a good meal and had two delicious cakes.

Jeff gave me cake decorating lessons for my present and mom bought me some new supplies. I made up the frosting before we left for dinner Saturday and when we came home, this is what Renae had made just off of the little bit mom taught her about decorating earlier that day. She's a natural. It was beautiful.

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-22T11:57:00.001-07:00

We had special guests join us for Valentine's Day. Our good friends, the Peterson's, from Rocklin came up to Utah for the week. It was so fun to visit with them and have them stay with us for a few days.

Jen, Tyler, Alan and Emily

On Monday morning Tyler woke up screaming because his neck hurt. Short story, they took him to the ER found out he had torticollis which is a severe pain in the neck that usually only happens once in your life. He was on some strong pain killers. It slowed down their snowboarding a little but by the end of the week he was feeling much better. We called him tortellini boy the rest of the week.

For dessert on Valentine's we made a giant heart shaped chocolate chip cookie with ice cream, chocolate syrup and whipped cream on top of it (pizookie).

Dessert was pretty rich but yummy.

Daddy Daughter Dance

2010-02-22T11:18:00.001-07:00

It was my turn to plan the date for Jeff and I this month. I saw that the city was having a Valentine's Daddy Daughter Dance. A city planned activity here in Kaysville is really nothing more than a multi-stake activity. I thought I would let him go out with his little girls this month instead of me and bought tickets for them to go to the dance. we kept it a surprise for the girls. They knew they had to come home from their friends house early that night because something special was planned but they didn't know what. When they got home everyone else but Jeff was gone( it just happened to work out that way) and Jeff had a nice dinner on the table for the three of them. Next they had to get dresses up. The girls saw the signs around town so Emma kept asking if they were going to the daddy daughter dance but Jeff wouldn't tell her. They got to the dance and had so much fun. When they came home the girls couldn't stop talking about it. There was food, face painting, picture taking and lots of dancing. Olivia loved all the dancing and the Elvis impersonations and all the other fun activities they did while dancing. They will definitely go again next year.

Jeff and the girls made the local paper.

Here they are coming home from the dance. They stopped to get a treat on the way home.

Emma and Olivia had their faces painted to match the color of their dresses.

I bought the girls fancy nails the day before. They thought the nails were just because it was Valentine's Day - they didn't know they were for a special date with daddy.

Class Valentine's Day Party

2010-02-22T10:37:00.002-07:00

We started our Valentine's Day Friday attending the fifth grade play. Olivia did a great job and looked so cute. Then it was time to hurry home and get things together for her class party that I was in charge of along with Shawnee, Tera and a couple other mom's. I love being there for my kids' parties.

Tera had the great idea of having chocolate fondue and the kids loved it.

Shawnee made homemade pound cake and it was so good.

Shawnee and Ryan helped the kids play "Don't Eat Cupid".

Junie, Kaitlyn and Bronson

Mrs. Anderson and Tera

Kwincy with her new glasses and a plate on her head.

I ran across the hall to check in on Emma at her party.

Looks like she was having fun.

River - the funniest kid you will ever meet.

Me and my good friend Tera.

Me with my Bune-Juggy. I love my job as a mom, it is so fun.

First Car Accident

2010-02-22T09:47:00.003-07:00

Madi and Mikayla went home for lunch on Friday. On their way back to school they were hit from behind by another car with a bunch of high school boys in it coming back from lunch also. Jeff and I were out having lunch together when I got a call from Madi. The first thing she says was "ok..." and from the tone of her voice I knew exactly what happened. I am very thankful they weren't hurt but there was some serious damage done to their car. By the time Jeff and I got to the accident, some other boys had come to pick up the boys involved and it looked like a party going on. Four of the boys were crammed in the back of M&M's car(along with their friend Hollie) and one of their mothers(a friend of ours) came back around with hot chocolate for all of them. Only in Utah. The poor girls no longer have a car to drive. Or is it poor me because I no longer have extra drivers?

February 19, 2010

Sick Little Emma

2010-02-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

Emma was sick last week. I had to go around to the bathrooms and clean out all the garbage cans full of her tissue. She kept telling me to look at the garbage cans... now I know why. Had to post - thought this was too funny.

Lunch With the Girls

2010-02-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

I went to lunch with Shawnee and Kelli yesterday. There is a cute home decor store in Fruit Heights with a little sandwich shop next to it that we have been wanting to check out. The sandwich shop was yummy and the decor store was... expensive, but a good place to get some good ideas from. It was a fun day that definitely needs to happen more often.

Field Trip

2010-01-31T15:35:00.000-07:00

At the last minute I was able to go on the field trip with Olivia. She knows that she can count on me to be with her on all field trips. This time, too many parents signed up to go and so they chose those whose paper work was turned in first. Someone canceled the morning of so I got the call. Olivia was so excited and kept pointing out how I haven't missed one of her field trips yet. Emma's class was also on the field trip and while I couldn't be there with her the whole time also, it was fun seeing her when we could.

First part of the field trip was a ride on Frontrunner into Salt Lake.

Next, we hopped on Trax to the Gallivan Center.

Watching the show "Circles".

We found Emma at the show sitting with her class.

Walking around downtown Salt Lake.

Best buddies

Two of my closest friends in Utah, Kelli and Tara, were also on the field trip.

Crafty Me

2010-01-30T14:09:00.000-07:00

Look how crafty I was this week.
The blocks are from an enrichment activity last year that I couldn't make. I figured I better make the blocks now so I can use the Valentine's blocks this year.
The temple picture was a class I went to last Saturday. We put the whole picture together - painting, gluing, stapling. It was fun and a really good price for this picture.

Sunday Dinner

2010-01-21T12:23:00.000-07:00

It is always fun to have family or friends over for Sunday dinner. This week we had the Dorius's join us. It was a holiday weekend so the kids didn't have school the next day. We had fun eating, playing games and visiting.

A friend of Madi's brought over some delicious bread that he had just made.

Cupcakes

2010-01-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Madi made some of the cupcakes from the book mom/grandma gave us for Christmas. They are so cute.

Traveling Goodies

2010-01-16T21:09:00.001-07:00

When Jeff goes away on a business trip the kids can't wait to see what he is going to bring home for them. On this trip he went to Boston but had a lay-over in Phoenix. He found some very interesting treats in Phoenix.

Madi and Taylor enjoying the sucker with a SCORPION inside it.

Here is some cactus candy. It was actually really good.

This is the cactus candy.

Some of the kids ate a claw but Jeff ate the rest of the scorpion. Gross. I'm sure dad/grandpa is getting really grossed out looking at this (he has a weak stomach).

Onions

2010-01-16T20:42:00.000-07:00

Emma wanted to try cutting onions because she heard it makes you cry. Her eyes were burning but she had fun cutting her first onion.

Lunchtime

2010-01-12T16:04:00.000-07:00

When I tell my kids to come home for lunch I know that I need to cook for six not three. I enjoy their friends coming too so it is fun to make food for all of them. Fun memories for my kids.

Dinner Date

2010-01-12T15:00:00.001-07:00

We got together again with friends from Antelope and had a great time. We had dinner at the Red Iguana( not to be confused with the Blue Iguana which is closed for renovations)and it was delicious - highly recommend it. We seem to laugh a lot when we are together and I think Kevin and Todd have a lot to do with that.
two words...man card!