Dress Up

A few months ago I posted a dress up day at school, but I found even more delight when cousins were over and we are still playing dress ups (at 14, 15, 16, and 17 years old). I reasoned that the only reason Meagan really likes going to formal dances is to get new "dress ups" because she know longer fits into the pluthera of dress ups we have under Sydnee's bed

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The tiara's were presents from Christiana

Rachel - quite the pose

No this isn't a prom dress -- sweet Debbie is haivng us store her wedding dress?!?

Pictures Edwards Family Party

The Three Amigo's Singing Feliz Cumplanos

The Cool BOYS

The sweetness of the Nativity and those who always find new ways to participate

A few thought they were too old to participate in the Nativity


I love when Uncle Arthur plays the harmonica

THE JOY OF SANTA

Our Friends The Byer's who Jeff invited found this a night to REMEMBER

Laughter/Edwards Family Party

Today, I seem to have the giggles -- Throughout the day funny thoughts of things my kids have said or done (and I few I've done) just make me laugh. First, Loryn, she can always make me laugh with her sweet innocence -- or whatever others may call it (blonde moments). If you ever need to laugh text Loryn. She always replies it just never seems to be relevent to what you have text her about -- or maybe it's me i.e. I sent her a text asking if she wanted me to buy some socks that were on sale, she answered back "Yeah" I then sent back a text with a picture of the socks a description asking how many and what colors? She replied "What" Yesterday I sent her a text asking if she needed any product from Debbie she replied "Yeah" I then text her back what and how many she replied "Yeah". Debbie also has a few fun examples, but she always makes me giggle when I get her response. So if you ever need a lighter moment text Loryn.

This morning as I was taking Conner to school we were talking about how it's good to be nice to everyone, even when they don't always do things that make us happy. I said try to think of something else they have done that is good about them and let them know. Conner replied, yeah like my friend did to me. He then proceeded to tell me about a class assignment where they had to write 10 things they were thankful for. His friend said, I'm thankful for Conner because then I know I can be smarter. (that made me giggle). I told Conner yeah things like that find things to say that help others feel good about themselves

We just returned from the annual Edwards Christmas Party, Always a joyous occasion. It was so good to eat, visit, and mingle with family. It was also fun to watch the young kids enjoy each other, play together, sing together, and have fun together. Jeff had invited some friends who are in our ward. They are a couple who converted from Judism a little over two years ago. It was fun to visit with them a little more tonight. I was sitting by the wife during our program. After the second performance she leaned over to me and said "No one is shy in this family" my reply was this is true -- we aren't lacking any confidence here. She then replied that "She'd never forget this party". Then Debbie asked me to take some pictures of she and Bailee while they played the guitar and piano. Just to set the record straight -- her digital view finder didn't work, and like Sheldon said if she would just zoom out then she could see the entire picture --

Again it all just makes me laugh and enjoy this season even more.

Non Traditional Gingerbread

Typically every year the day after Thanksgiving we invite anyone and everyone over to make Gingerbread Houses with us. This year we were in Boise and we know Gingerbread homes do not travel well so decided not to do that in Boise. As we returned and I looked at the calendar I could see that our time was disappearing and we may have to do this a non traditional way this year and only have a small group over. Sydnee expressed the most interest and had the most time so we invited a few of her friends over and had a great GINGERBREAD AFTERNOON. Conner and Sarah joined in and we had a sugar filled afternoon!!!


Conner and Sarah finished quickly



The Decorating

We try to help Conner contain his excitement

FALL LEAVES

A few weeks ago I was on my way home and as I was pulling into our community I saw a friend raking leaves in our front common area. I stopped to see if I could help with her "service" project. She explained that the garderners were coming today and she needed an activity for her son and his friend today so she was going to gather leaves take them home and let them play with them. She just needed to do it before the gardeners took them all. I helped her and a few minutes later Sarah and a friend saw us and came and helped.

As I left I thought what a great idea. That would be a lot of fun. As I left later that day I noticed the gardeners made large piles of the leaves and at the end of their day they gathered them and put them in large cloth containers. I decided I would let do this next week and use the gardeners assistance. So the next week at the right time I took Loryn and some of her friends with several garbage bags and we packed up the leaves. The gardeners thought is was great and asked us to come back again. We then proceeded to have one of the funnest afternoons playing in transplanted leaves. Randy thought we were crazy he asked us to come to his home next year and use his leaves. Since they spent all fall trying to get rid of them. We might just have to do that next year.

Thanksgiving

The START OF OUR THANKSGIVING/TEMPLE TRIP

Party with Cheryl and Matt "The Cool Kids"

Marylynn's Favorite Missing Teeth

BOWLING NIGHT

Proof that Brianna scored over 100
Marylynn scored over 100 for the first time in her life (I have to admit I did have bumpers)

Shooting for a Turkey or Coyote
NO, but Skeets worked instead

Meagan's favorite part of Thanksgiving -- The Preperation
(Thanks to Aunt Becky for teaching her the art of Pie Making)

Shelling Pine Nuts for the Stuffing

THE TRADITIONAL DUTCH OVEN TURKEY!!!

Christiana's 21st BIRTHDAY. We celebrated all weekend long

This morning I woke up and shared with Sheldon the many things that came to mind that I am thankful for: My sister Debbie (thanks to her I'm finally getting something new on my blog), my husband, children, colors, ability to visit family, brothers, sisters, parents (including all in laws), warm weather, cold weather (because it helps me appreciate warm weather more), music, food, schools, creation, temples, our home, that we could come to Becky & Troy's for Thanksgiving with our children, Brianna, and Corey, and our trials and experiences we've had this year ... Now for the fun pictures from this week (that I didn't take until yesterday -- again thanks to Debbie for reminding me to take them) -- OK I did start this on Thanksgiving day then I had computer problems, Sheldon's computer woulden't let me download pictures and I kept freezing the whole computer so Here we are two weeks later ... but better late than never

General Conference

This weekend we were again able to travel to Salt Lake City and enjoy General Conference. Besides the added blessing of being at a mini family reunion -- we absolutely love the blessing of General Conference and the powerful messages that are taught to us. For FHE tonight we each picked a note to tell our favorite:
Favorite Thing about Conference: (Sarah) That we get to go and be with extended family, and attend conference in the conference center, and listen and see the speakers.
Favorite Talk: (Conner) Elder Uchdorft - Priesthood session
Favorite Session: (Sheldon) Sunday afternoon
Favorite Story: (Loryn) Elder Watson's about the "Tempered" glass
Favorite Song: (Meagan) "We Thank Thee O God for our Prophet"
Favorite Topic: (Sydnee) Prayer -- from Elder Packer's talk the spirit teaches as we pray
Favorite Thought: The spirit will teach us if we but listen and act (Elder Scott and Sis. Matsumori)

My Top Favorite Talks (this is today -- and there are ones I've probably forgotten) were Elder Holland, Elder Scott, Bishop Burton, Elder Oaks, Elder Sitati, Elder Osguthorpe...
For me the overall theme of the conference was love, truth and the Holy Spirit.
One of my favorite thoughts came in music and the spoken word before the Sunday Morning session. When I was taught "Samuel the prophet led ancient Israel to victory over a powerful enemy. Samuel placed a large stone at the place of deliverance and dedicated it as a monument to God's assistance. He called the stone "Ebenezer" which meant 'stone of help.' The stone became a symbol of the Lord's goodness and strength (Sam 7:7-12, Jos 4:1-7). Then this is refereed to in the hymn "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" That hymn and Our Savior's Love were powerful and touching during the Music and the Spoken Word.
Favorite Congregational Hymn was "How Firm a Foundation", Favorite Mormon Tabernancle "My Heavenly Father Loves Me and Love is Spoken Here".
Favorite Part: All of it, How very blessed we (I) am to be able to be taught at the feet of prophets, apostles, general authorities and auxillaries who love me. Meagan mentioned one of her favorite parts was when Pres. Monson said please pray for us we need your prayers. I loved that too.

Tender Mercies

I know the Lord knows me, but sometimes he surprises me with the tenderest moments. As we were reading The Book of Mormon this morning I was touched as Sydnee read Alma 58:11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea insomuch that he did speak PEACE to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him. As she read the word peace stuck out and brought me great peace than I looked to the bottom of the page and there was this sweet quote "Just as Helaman discovered in the midst of battle that 'he did speak peace to our souls' all sincere seekers can have that same peace spoken to them. That peace comes from the assurance spoken by a still, small voice. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit who generally communicates not through physical senses but by touching the heart and mind; in other words, He speaks through thoughts, impressions, and feelings and does so sofltly. (Dennis E. Simmons, April, 1997, Genereal Conference).

These past few days I haven't felt a lot of peace and have been struggling with negative thoughts, as I prayed last night to feel peace again and overcome these thoughts the Lord knew -- He knew to how to send me a sweet overwhelming experience with peace.

Temples

I Love To See The Temple

(Manhattan)

I Love The Peace That I Feel in The Temple
(Los Angeles)

I Love The Blessings of the Temple -- That not only are we taught more about our Heavenly Father's Incredible Plan, but also that we are bound to our families for eternity

(Provo)

(Oquirrh Mountain)
I love that our children are worthy to enter into the walls of the temple and Love to participate in the ordinance of baptism. One of the sweetest blessings this summer was when three of our children arranged on their own to attend the temple with friends.

I love that as a family this spring/summer we were able to visit nine temples and participate in all the ordinances available there. At each temple we had sacred and special experiences. I'll share a few highlights. Las Vegas, we are so blessed to have a temple where we live, San Diego, Conner is anxious to go back here -- because he was just a few days away from his 12th birthday, Manhattan- what a treat it was to be blessed by the sweet service of the workers within these walls and attend with Linda, Brianna and Meagan while we visited New York, Provo -- I love the power that comes when doing temple work with family, Oquirrh Mountain, Loryn now has a new temple she wants to be married in, Rexburg -- an incredible treat to be in the presence of so much family and have my dad seal a cousin, St. George -- I love the excitement Loryn and Meagan share as they tell us about their experience in the baptistry, Los Angeles -- I am so grateful for the sweet spirit that taught me so powerfully this day, Redlands -- I loved seeing the dedication of the members in this area

(Redlands, CA)
I love that my husband has become so engaged in family history work. I love that he has helped make it so easy for us all to want to and be able to attend the temple. Last Friday as he and I spent a day in the Las Vegas temple we were so blessed with such tender mercies and through the blessings of ancestors we were able to participate in all the temple ordinances that day.

Dress Up Days

Yes We still Love to Dress Up at our Home


For Some Reason it makes us a little giddy

and DEFINETLY BRIGHTENS our days

This week is Fall Spirit Week. I forgot to get pictures of White Out day yesterday -- Maybe They can put on our fun outfits from yesterday when we get home, and I 'll try to get
pictures of the rest of the week. This just made us smile.

Paul Family Reunion

Pre Reunion festivites. We always have to bury ourselves in the sand. This time we ventured

into mermaid burying.

We just returned from the Paul Family Reunion. We went to Oceanside California and stayed in so condo's on the beach. Before the family arrived Sheldon had a couple day staff retreat/meeting. It was fun to interact with his staff and get to know their children better. Before everyone else arrived we had a chance to spend some time in the game room where Sheldon helped Sydnee learn how to play pool.

Tuesday evening most of the family arrived. Early Wednesday morning we were all at the beach ready to enjoy the sun, sand, and water. Wednesday we spent most the day at the beach, boogie boarding, building a huge sand hole, playing paddle ball and watching all the cousins play together on the beach.

Sydnee and Sierra Boogie Boarding

Thursday was a little slower day. Once we all had a little sun it slowed us down, but we still had an enjoyable day on the beach. We still did plenty of boogie boarding and did a little more exploring to the pier, for sea creatures like crabs, urchins, etc. Thursday night we had a FHE and enjoyed s'mores together. We also took some fun family photos. It is amazing we got one

with everyone looking forward at one time.

Friday was another incredible day at the beach. There wasn't enough time to fit in volleyball, paddle ball, boogie boarding, and visiting. Friday night we were able to go to a church and hold a talent show and spotlight. That was one of my kids favorite part of the reunion. They loved the spotlight where they got to tell about one of their cousins and in return their cousins told about them. We loved all the talents, but I think Jeff and Keri's family outdid everyone with the Bunny Foo Foo dance -- Jeff was just a little bit more talented than the rest of us.