Ripped Off!!!

Stupid fake ticket...the guy had some skills, don't ya think?  Either that or I am an idiot!
My mom & Shay
Kelsey & Alyssa...they sorta LOVE David Archuleta

After our awesome experience with David Archuleta I decided to take the girls to the concert.  I tried a few different "avenues" for tickets and finally decided to buy some from a guy on KSL.  We met at 7:20-I bought the tickets and we got to the show just in time-it started at 7:30.  OUR TICKETS WERE FAKE!!!!  There were atleast 50 other people in our exact same situation...we all bought from the same exact guy!  Some were young moms with crying kids who I am sure had no other choice but to take them home-I am sure they couldn't afford to buy another set of tickets when they just stretched to buy the first set.  Made me sad I couldn't just buy another set of tickets for everyone there!  The weird thing was I called the e center at 5:00 and the only seats they had were suites-suddenly now they had 4 really good seats I could buy.  Miraculous AND annoying but whatever.  We bought the 4 seats and had to do some talking to get the 5 of us in but it worked-thank heavens for the awesome police officers that were on the case of the fake tickets!  :)  The show was great~we saw him with the American Idol tour but he's improved so much with performing.  We love his cd so it was fun to hear him sing his songs.  Fun night!!!  I love doing things like this with my kids--and my mom was along for the ride too.  In all honesty I would have bought 3 tickets for each of us to see the show....totally worth it!  :)

I have spent 35 years of my life talking my way into tons of things in life~I love the challenge~I'd be a great salesman.  Have I learned my lesson???? Probably not.  Dang it!   Hopefully next time I buy a ticket from someone other than Ticketmaster it will be a real ticket! :)

Once in a lifetime.....

The youth in our Stake have the awesome opportunity to participate in the Temple Cultural Celebration for the Oquirrh Mountain Temple.  Our Stake is doing the 50's-we have some of our youth dancing and some singing in the choir.  I attend dance practice with the kids and tonight was incredible!!!  Our building is right next door to the temple-brings such a neat spirit as you glance at the beautiful Temple when you are walking into the church!!  Before they start their practice they have a prayer, a scripture, & the youth all sing a song-tonight it was "I Love To See the Temple" all with no piano-incredible to hear them!!!  It brought tears to my eyes.  Ok-I cried like a baby!!!  The dance practice is really a challenge for them to get but it was amazing to watch their progress tonight!  I didn't get the opportunity to serve a mission BUT I have heard how miraculous it is that missionaries can learn a language in such a short amount of time because of the Spirit.  I believe we are witnessing that with our youth-they are learning this HARD dance and dancing with eachother-boys with girls!!!  To see a gym full of youth 12-18 willingly working hard and doing their best is incredible but it really is coming together.  Miraculous!

They cut the practice short by 1/2 hour and announced we were going on a field trip.  David Archuletta's voice coach was at the other building with the choir and we got to go there to see him.  There was a TON of excitement and lots of screaming OF COURSE.  As we filed into the gym with the choir they just continued their practice-no David yet.  Their music was beautiful!

At the end of their practice the voice coach announced he was friends with David-that David was coming to share his testimony-but that he was lost.  He asked the kids to not scream or tackle him-to be respectful-and remember we are in a church.  He shared what an awesome missionary David Archuletta is-that there have been 20 baptisms because of him and 4 members of his band have received a Book of Mormon from him.  Not because he's David Archuletta but because he is an example-just like our theme this year-Be Thou An Example of the Believers!!!  As we waited the voice coach sat at the piano and played primary songs and everyone sang-seriously so cool!  I cried like a baby again.  These are TEENAGERS IN 2009-growing up in this ugly confused world!!  The Spirit was so strong as they sang Armies of Helaman, A Child's Prayer, & I Am A Child Of God...I just can't even put it all into words.  He didn't ask them to sing-he sat at the piano and played and they sang.  When David came the kids were SO excited of course but I think they did so good staying under control.  He listened to them sing and then shared his sweet testimony of music.  He told them how awesome it was to be a part of The Day of Celebration...I am sure that got them more excited about their own experience that is coming!!!  He wasn't allowed to sing because he's within a few miles & a few days of his concert but it was cool to hear him talk to them.  The Spirit was incredible.  I know they were all touched!!!  This is for sure the first of many great opportunities in the next few months!  What a cool thing to hear David Archuletta share his testimony in a church-totally casual-and to feel the Spirit as he spoke.  These kids and leaders :)  were so blessed!!!  Here are some pics:  k-dumb-they went to the top....I'm not so good at this!  haha

Yummy Recipe

Here's a yummy summer recipe....save it for when the stinkin snow leaves!!!  :)

Tres Leches

1 yellow cake mix

Bake & cool completely.  Poke holes all over cake with a toothpick.

1 can sweetened condensed milk

3- 5oz cans evaporated milk (I just use one 12 oz can!)

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1/2 tsp vanilla

Whisk together and pour over cake.  Cover & refrigerate for 24 hours.

Serve with sweetened whipping cream & sliced strawberries.

SO yummy and super easy!

Alyssa's Party

Cute Jaycee taking a turn singing...
Chelsey & Shaylee.....
The amazing Chelsey Stallings...
Chelsey & Alyssa's friends singing happy birthday!

Alyssa has the cutest primary teacher...her name is Chelsey Stallings and she is amazing!!!  The only thing Alyssa wanted to do for her birthday is have Chelsey come do a private concert for her party-she was willing and we were so grateful!  I think all of the girls had a great time, she really is so talented!!!  We now have her cds and our kids won't quit listening to them.  I have to say I was a tiny bit nervous to have THIS many girls for one party but I was impressed with how well it went-everyone got along and included the girls who don't go to their school.  Alyssa had a fun party and we are glad it went so well.  The only problem was I only made 1 chocholate eclair cake and probably needed 3....silly girls!  We bought 5 pizzas and they only ate 3-cake is what they wanted.  I can't say I blame them!!!  :)

Scripture Treats

Casey & I have been parents for 12 years now.  We love our kids and our family is very important to us so we TRY to do Family Home Evening and have attempted scripture study a few times.  The funny thing is when you start to yell or lose your patience the Spirit leaves so it defeats the purpose.  I'm not saying that would happen at our house or admitting I wasn't patient enough but just saying what COULD happen!  :)

Anyways...a few months ago we started something new and for our family it has been awesome!  We bought The Book of Mormon for Latter Day Saint Families....so helpful...it breaks it into sections and has a few pictures to hold the little kids attention.  And do you see the blue bucket on top of Sawyer's head????  That looks like an Easter bucket but it's really our Scripture Treat Bucket.  Amazing what a little incentive can do!  The kids get 3 warnings--we want them to be reverent and give whoever happens to be reading the respect they deserve.  If they get 3 warnings it's no treat for them--so far it hasn't happened!  At one warning they usually remember what is expected!  Sometimes when they are quiet they even listen & they are learning so much!!!  It's incredible!  It has brought so much peace into our home and I am blown away at how much they understand....even cute Sawyer can read a verse when it is his turn!  I think the neatest thing for me as a mom is the conversations that happen with my cute kids-that we can relate the scriptures easier to every day situations because we are reading them together.  I love the scriptures and hope my kids can gain a strong testimony of them!

I have to share a quote from President Ezra Taft Benson that I love...it's a long one but the promises are incredible and I know that they are true!!  Apparently reading the scriptures is essential...especially in this day & age...who has seen the news lately???

"There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.  You will find greater power to resist temptation.  You will find the power to avoid deception.  You will find the power to stay on the strait & narrow path.  The scriptures are called "the words of life" and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon.  When you begin to hunger & thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.  These promises-increased love & harmony in the home, greater respect between parent & child, increased spirituality and righteousness-these are not idle promises but exactly what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said the Book of Mormon would help draw us closer to God."

Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Alyssa & friends with Cafe Rio....Yummy!
Me, Alyssa & Jaycee in the school lunchroom with WAY better food than anyone else is eating!  
I felt bad when I realized we didn't have a cake-we had cake Sunday with my fam and are having cake next Sunday with the Olson's and Alyssa is having a friend party Friday BUT today is her birthday!!!  SO I made some blonde brownies last minute so we could sing and blow out the candle before we left for her first night of Young Womens. 
Alyssa got clothes and make up....yikes!!!  Are we ready for this?
First night at Young Womens-learning to dance 50's style for the Temple Cultural Celebration-

so much fun!

I still can't believe cute Alyssa is 12!  Time went SO SLOW thru my childhood-now my kids are growing so fast!  It really seems like she was born a week ago!  I always take lunch to my kids at school on their birthday-Alyssa requested Cafe Rio.  Jaycee & I went to the school to eat with Alyssa and visit with her cute friends.  It's always so much fun!  Her cute friend came over after school and we quickly sang happy birthday, opened gifts when Casey got home and ran off to our first Temple Cultural Celebration practice.  It was a blast!  We are going to have so much fun.

I have to take a second to express my feelings for our awesome Alyssa!  She is such a special girl and I am so glad she is the oldest-Heavenly Father sure knows what he's doing when he sends these sweet babies to us!  We all learn so much from her and are so blessed to have her in our family.  She is such a natural leader and always tries to do what is right.   She has so many talents-she is an awesome dancer, great singer, plays the violin & is now teaching herself to play the piano!!!   I sure love her and feel so lucky to have her call me mom.

Sawyer's Crutches

Cute Sawyer got his kindergarten shots today...he was super excited because he got to go on a "date" with his dad.  That is top secret code for mom is terrified of shots so she wimps out when it comes to kindergarten shots--I did them when they were babies and it always freaked me out!  :(  I'm a little bit ridiculous!   Casey & Sawyer got lunch at Wendy's then hung out at Boondocks for awhile...that is until Casey threw up all over the simulator ride they wanted to ride!  Not the first time he's thrown up on a ride but that's another story for another day!  So dang funny!  So their little "daddy/son date" was cut a little short!  Sawyer's legs are of course sore so he invented some crutches...pretty funny!  I'm sure he's milking it a tiny bit but I thought it was cute.  So weird my little Sawyer is going off to kindergarten-why does time go so dang fast?  I just had him, didn't I???

Who's the mom around here???

Yesterday Shaylee got a wild hair and helped Sawyer & Jaycee clean their room.  She did a great job!  She helped them make their beds, put all of their toys in their buckets, put their shoes away...their room looked awesome!  I usually try to help them with their beds every day and we go thru their rooms together once a week-the rest of the week it's just whatever they think is clean!  :)  I need to be better-we need a new chore chart or something-but I need to be better at a lot of things!  Ya know-overwhelmed mom.  Aren't we all?

Today when Shay got home from school she marched Sawyer & Jaycee to their room and helped them again.  I thought it looked pretty good but apparently it wasn't up to Shay's standards.  She informed ME they need to keep their room spotless-that I need to continue helping them make their beds every day- and that when she gets home from school she will check their room.  If it is clean they will get a prize and that she will give them points for a bigger prize.

Totally cracks me up.  The funny thing is when it came time for Jaycee to be potty trained I had nothing to do with it.  She's my 4th kid-I had decided when she was ready she'd let me know.  I didn't want to deal with accidents this time and as long as she wasn't 4 and still in diapers she would be fine.  Alyssa & Shaylee however made a plan-they made her a sticker chart and got the job done.  I was VERY structured with Alyssa & Shaylee when they were little-now I am spread thin and maybe a little checked out with these things.  Makes me laugh my older kids are trying to be the mom now.  I am not neglectful or anything but the little details sometimes go unnoticed-funny they must remember and think things need to be the same for the little kids as it was for them.  I am so grateful for them!  They are awesome big sisters and a huge help to me!  Maybe I need to "check back in" and be a little more attentive to the little things.  How do you snap out of survival mode and back into living life?  This is the reason I love the saying "Finding Joy In The Journey"...it's an every day effort I am trying to make!  They are growing so fast and I am so lucky to be their mom!!!

Instacare....

Jaycee has had a little bit of a cough all week.  It hasn't been a really big deal-no fever and she's in a great mood.  Wednesday night she had a couple of horrible episodes of coughing in the middle of the night-she coughed so hard she threw up a couple of times.  While I was up with her I decided I would call her pediatrician first thing in the morning and take her in.  When she woke up she was fine-not coughing, totally happy, wanted to go to preschool.  So I took her.  My day was so busy that I felt relieved to not have to go to the doctor!

She fell asleep on the couch and while she was taking her nap totally had another bad episode of coughing.  Weird!?  I took Shaylee to Parent/Teacher Conference, Alyssa to dance, got home at 7:30-made french toast for dinner (I know-mother/wife of the year award should be coming anytime for that dinner!) and then decided to take Jaycee to Instacare.  After waiting for 2 hours the dr diagnosed her with Walking Pneumonia-made me feel totally bad!  We got our prescription and headed to Walgreens in West Jordan  because that's the closest pharmacy that was open that late.  I dropped off the prescription-they said it would be 30 minutes-so Jaycee and I got some french fries from McD's and visited while we waited.  I went back at 11:15 to pick it up and the pharmacist couldn't find it.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME????  Long story short-after about 20 minutes he & I figured out I had the wrong prescription-I didn't check to make sure Jaycee's name was actually on it-I had a little girl named Cicely's prescription.  Cicely had been prescribed the exact same meds as us is all I can think of!  Instacare was now closed.  I called my poor pediatrician who was on call and he called in a new prescription for us.  He probably doesn't want to see us again for awhile...nothing like being woke up for such a silly thing!  We got home with our Augmentin at 12:45.  Eventful?  Yep!  Moral of the story...if you are crazy enough to go to Instacare make sure you check to see if your name is actually on your prescription!!!!  4 hours of craziness-now I can laugh-I hope Cicely's mom is laughing too.  

Fevers & Colds

Tonight as I was washing our dinner dishes Shaylee was just sure she felt too hot and was running a fever. I had asked her to go brush her teeth & get in bed so I was pretty sure THAT was why she felt this way but whatever! I got out the thermometer and told her a normal temperature was 98.7 so we'll see what it says. Sure enough-98.7...you're fine...go to bed...I love you Shay! Nope! She says, "Mom, if it's called a fever when your temperature is too high, is it a cold when it's too low?" Made me laugh! :)