Category Archives: Family Fun

Liam & Homie!

Posted on by
Reply

This is Liam & Homie.

Homie is the one with fur.

They both came to stay at our home for a bit. It was so fun and such a blessing to have them stay. Liam is our nephew, my hubby’s sister’s son.

He’s ten.

He blessed us by reminding us how the world looks to a ten year old. He blessed us by reminding us that someone is watching your example, so be a good example. He blessed us by teaching us patience. He blessed us by reminding us that the most important thing is love. 

I love this boy. When I look at this picture, I just watch to give him a squish!

Then I want to kiss his cheeks! 

Then I want to cuddle with Homie! And hear him squeak. When he squeaks, he’s telling me he loves me. And I love him too. 

I’m so glad that Liam & Homie came to stay! 

Suicide “Dew”!

Posted on by
Reply

My hubby is a scout leader in our neighborhood. When they have campouts and plan the meals for the campouts, one of the meals they sometimes plan to eat is called suicide stew. All of the scouts and leaders bring some type of a canned food item, and they throw it all together. An example is, cans of: any kind of stew, green beans, corn, cream of anything soup, ramen noodles, spaghetti o’s, chili, etc. Take all of these things, and put them together in the same pot and you have suicide stew. 

Flexy had a genius idea the other night.

I’ll make suicide “dew!”

He loves Mountain Dew (I wish he didn’t love it so much). He took six different kinds of Mountain Dew; traditional, Code Red, White Out, Game Fuel, Livewire, and Voltage, and added them altogether. 

Kelsey helping Flexy do some very serious mixing!

More mixing!

Here it is, now let’s taste it! 

It tastes great!! Suicide “Dew”!

Traditions: Our Favorite Christmas Movies!

Posted on by
Reply

Who doesn’t love a great Christmas movie! Here is a list of our favorites:

  • The Polar Express
  • Elf
  • Grinch
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • It’s a Wonderful Life
  • A Christmas Story
  • Home Alone
  • Miracle on 34th Street
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • Charlie Brown Christmas
  • Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
  • Muppet Christmas Carol
  • A Christmas Carol (George C. Scott)
  • What About Bob

For years we would read the Christmas story from the scriptures, then watched “It’s A Wonderful Life.” (I’ve told this story before on here, but I have to share it again.) One year we could not find the movie. We searched and found the case for the movie, but no movie was found. Then one of the kids said, “Let’s watch, ‘What About Bob’!” It’s a movie about a guy who thinks he needs a psychiatrist and has all of these issues. He becomes very attached to his shrink and follows him to his vacation home. The plot takes a turn near the end of the movie, and it’s quite funny to see how things turn out. It’s doesn’t have any ties to Christmas, but it became our traditional Christmas Eve movie for a while, until we got a new copy of “It’s a Wonderful Life!”

Updated December, 12, 2023-

Our favorite Christmas movie is “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Some of the things we love about it are: 1-The innocence of the time the movie takes place, which is around World War II. 2-An important part of the story is about sacrifice. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) is the main character, and always puts other peoples needs first and foremost, in spite of the fact that he has big dreams of traveling the world and seeing new places.  3-The movie speaks truth. It tells us that God is real and aware of us and what is going on in our lives. And that He will help us, and bless us. 4-That angels are near and helping whether we see them or not. Some people don’t like that others see angels with wings, but I love it. It’s just symbolic and means they can move quickly to aid or help us.  5-This is such an important thing to know, is that we are all significant, we all matter. If we had never been born life would be different for all who love us.

I love that there are wonderful stories that teach us important things. I am grateful for this time of year when we get these reminders while being entertained too. Merry Christmas

Best Mother’s Day!

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve always struggled a little bit on Mother’s Day.

It’s a combination of feeling like I don’t cut it as a mom, and that my children don’t appreciate me. I know, that sounds pathetic. But I do have a desire to be a good mom, and no one likes it when they are constantly taking care of people, and they don’t get a “Thank you” on Mother’s Day.

When my children were young, I always got the token hand print and poem which I loved and still have, but now my children are grown up. I really don’t expect much. I hope for it, but I don’t expect it.

This year one of the biggest things that I was planning on for Mother’s Day was talking to my two children serving LDS missions. I have only talked to them on Christmas and Mother’s Day, and they have both been gone over a year. I miss them, but I know they are doing great things. I was able to talk to both of them on Sunday (Mother’s Day) morning. They both sounded so great and my button’s were bustin’, I am so proud. They will both be home in 2-4 months. So wonderful!!

Next, for the first time in my motherhood, my children here at home and my son’s girlfriend were all competing to see who could write the best Mother’s Day card. How fun! It was so perfect. Riley, wrote a nice note about how he has learned the lesson’s I tried to teach him, he just has to push my button’s. Janet wrote about how I have made her feel loved and she loves me. And Emily wrote a nice card and filled it with coupons, one of which has already happened. It said, “Coupon for 4 amazing kids, 1 amazing husband and one darling grandbaby, and Janny :).” Then she put “paid” all over it. So cute! Then she heart attacked the sliding glass door. Here’s a picture of it.

My favorite part was this note that said,

“If you would like to take credit for a part of this magnificent gift. please sign below…”

What a cute daughter! It was a wonderful day and loved it!

I think the key is to not expect anything, then you will be surprised and amazed when something does happen.

I hope all mother’s and those who mother, had a great Mother’s Day.

I am so grateful for my Mama! She is a women that get’s life, what where here for and how to do it. She is busy, using her time serving others and Heavenly Father. She is smart and understands people. She has taught me so much. Thank you, Mama!

My Mom is 80!

Posted on by
Reply

For my Mom’s 80th birthday, me and my siblings and our spouses took Mom and Dad out to dinner at a fancy restaurant. We gave her a “Love Note” book. A week or two before, I asked everyone one in our family to write a “Love Note” to our Mom and Grandma, telling her that we love her, and that we admire her, and that we are so thankful for her. One of my Mom’s love language’s is affirmations. So I thought, “Let’s make a book of “Love Notes” from all of us who love her, and she can read them any time she feels the need.” My Mom is reading the “Love Note” from my Dad. The book turned about pretty cute. And I think my Mom loved it. She also got other gifts and we laughed and had a great time! I asked her if she feels 80. She said, “No!” What a blessing to have healthy parents. There she is with Dad watching her blow out the candle on her treat. It was one of those trick candles that doesn’t go out. Funny! I love my parents so much, and feel so blessed to have them. This is my “Love Note” to my Mom:

My Dearest, and most sweet, and wonderful Mama,

On the day I was born, I met my “first” best friend. In fact it is because of you I learned how to be a friend. From that day on you have been there, always supportive, always listening, teaching and consoling. Always showing me how to live by example, and at the same time, trusting in my abilities and allowing me to be me, and most important, always loving me.

Your example has taught me to love and serve Heavenly Father, to choose happiness even when I feel sad, to not let others actions keep me down, to be responsible for my own life, to think about how others feel and love them, and how to not judge, but to look for the good in everyone.

I know that you love our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ and believe in the Holy Ghost. You live the gospel. I have watched you give countless hours in sharing your knowledge of the gospel and of family history. You have spent the time it takes to know, and then share your knowledge with others. That is amazing to me. Some people learn and never share. You are a gifted teacher, and continue to share with others what you have learned. You are amazing to me.

The years of service you have given our family are a testimony of your devotion. You have kept us a close knit family by providing a well-balanced meal for years on Sunday. When Brett and I were a young married couple, it was the best meal we had all week. And now our family still sees more of each other than most families, by spending time together often. We are all very strong personalities, but we love and respect each other, because you have taught us to love and respect each other.

You love our children and Natasha, and have told them how important they are to you. They always feel so important after getting hugs and kisses from you, and having you whisper in their ear how much you love them. You are a wonderful Gramma, and Gramma-Great.

As I have become a mom and a grandma, I have become even more aware of the sacrifices and time involved in loving and caring for a family. It makes me more in awe of all you have accomplished in your life, while raising a family, and I am so thankful for your example and all you have taught me. Thank you for the many times I called with questions and received just the right answer to what I needed to know. Your knowledge is a blessing to me.

I am so thankful that Heavenly Father blessed me to come to live at your home. He knew that you are what I need to help me make it through this life. You and dad are both wonderful and such a great example of a loving married couple, and I thank you for that. I am so blessed to have you Mom, for 50 + years. Thank you for being the wonderful person you are!

I know you will have the happiest birthday ever, because you will always be the most “super“ Mom.

I love you, my Mama, my “best” friend.

Happy Valentines Day!

Posted on by
Reply

“It is not how much we do,
but how much love we put in the doing.
 It is not how much we give,
but how much love we put in the giving”
– Mother Teresa
—————–
We had our traditional Valentine dinner by candlelight. At our home, the whole family eats together, candles lit, and yummy food. We have done this since the children were little. The children are my sweethearts too. This year, it was me, my darlin, Emily and our sweet Janet, Riley’s girlfriend. Riley had to work. So the four of us ate and visited. Then I told them all how much I love them. I was a fun time.
I hope you all enjoyed your Valentines Day, too!

Collecting Pins!

Posted on by
Reply

Years ago our family had an awesome opportunity.

We were able to go to, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D. C.

We had so much fun! It really was a once in a lifetime trip.

My in-laws were serving an LDS mission in Boston, so we were able to stay with them and we were able to stay with other relatives along the way. We packed as light as we could, and we were on a budget. So when we talked to the children about souvenirs, we told them we would have to be very careful in buying souvenirs.

#1 We had limited space to bring them home, and

#2 We had limited money to buy them.

One thing we did for the kids before the trip was, we bought each of them a baseball cap to wear while we traveled to protect them from the sun and to help us spot them easily.

I had a great idea come to me. We could buy pins at all of the places we visit and the kids could put them on their hats. Pins were never more then $4 at any of the places we went and that meant we could get all of our kids something at each of the places we visited. They came home with a hat full of souvenirs! I think this worked out well. It was fun to see the children’s hats have more and more pins as we traveled. The kids seemed to be really happy with their pins. We were able to travel to some amazing places, and historical places. The kids learned a lot about the is history of our great country. They had fun seeing things that they had only heard about before. Now, when they look at their pins, all of these memories will come back to them.