334: making cookies

Ryder's favorite part of making cookies!

333: starting off jim's birthday week

We had a glorious day in San Diego today! We started it off at the temple. A young man in our ward was going for his first time and we wanted to support him and his family.  Afterwards, we headed down to La Jolla and the Sunny Jim caves. Jim had never been in the cave under the store before. Lastly, we drove back to the temple to see it all lit up in it's Christmas glory! 

It was a wonderful start to a great birthday weekend!

332: happy thanksgiving

Enjoyed turkey day up in Glendora, at my parents home.

331: my addiction

I'm addicted to the State Hunt App.  I love looking for license plates. Strange, yes, but I love it.  These 2 are probably the most difficult to find here in California and I found them both in the same day, in the same parking lot! JACKPOT!

330: my dog is a spooner

Both Ryder and Buddy sleep so much better if they are on top of each other. To me, they look terribly uncomfortable!

329: living room tree

The living room tree..2 down, 1 to go!

328: taking a little break from it all

A nice Sunday afternoon nap! It was so nice knowing that I had a week off from seminary and didn't need to worry about preparing a lesson today!

327: the trees are slowly going up

First tree to get up and decorated:  the travel/kids tree.

This has all the ornaments the kids have made throughout the years and also an ornament from all our travels. This is also the only tree that the kids are 100% in charge of.

326: a walk in the rain with the dog

I'll take every opportunity I can to wear my rain boots! I actually enjoyed walking the dog in the rain!

325: new phone..oregon state team party

 Oregon State flag football end of the year party!

After months of being eligible for a new phone upgrade, I finally got one. Jim couldn't believe I waited so long, but my thought was, "my phone isn't broken, why buy a new one?" It wasn't until they sweetened the deal by offering me $100 for my old 4 phone. I gave Skyler the 4s and I got the gold 5s.  It's a win win for everyone!

324: the golden plates

Today in seminary my class learned about how difficult and laborious it was to etch the golden plates {the book of mormon}. Prophets had to use great editing in what they wrote because it took so much effort to write it. Only the most important things could be written! Each student was given a "golden plate" and a writing device and etched their testimony. We put them all together and created our Seminary Golden Plates.

323: the price of growing older

My very first mammogram! 

Happy to report that everything looked great and normal! 

322: bubba's book of mormons

We had the most amazing speaker come to my seminary class today. Bubba is a convert to the church.  A year after getting baptized, he went on a mission to Denver, Colorado.  He has an incredible story, but even better than that, an incredible testimony.  He shared his experience of reading the Book of Mormon 11 times in 4 months, each time with a different question.  He would make notes and add quotes and inspiration pertaining to the particular question he had in each book.  He was so motivating and so inspirational.  

321: christmas cards in the making

 

Trying to decide which picture to use!

320: time for family pictures

The makings of a family photo!  This year I decided to keep things simple.  Instead of stressing about everything I stress about when I hire a professional photographer, I had my dear friend Theresa just snap a few shots for us. She took some amazing shots and I liked her price...free! I had to include a mishap photo..afterall, the finished product doesn't come without it's share of mishaps..especially with my brood.

319: mormon battalion hike

This weekend was the Mormon Battalion hike/campout.  Jim decided to go with Jayden and help out.  I was a little worried when I woke up in the middle of the night and it was pouring rain.  I was really hoping that somehow, the rain would skip them.  I heard from Jim in the morning and even though it was really cold, it never rained. Lots of stories came from this adventure, some Jim would rather forget!

318: beautiful day at the temple

Need I say more?  It was an absolute perfect day at the temple.

317: a welcomed break

Jim is my hero!  For no reason at all, he told me to take a break this morning and he'd teach my seminary class. It's been awhile since I got to rise with the sun shining! Didn't think I could love him any more!!

316: beginning to look like christmas

Enrichment activity tonight was getting us ready for Christmas.  I was in charge of teaching the tree decorating class, however, I didn't even end up taking any pictures.  We have some crazy talented ladies in our ward. I'm in awe of their skills!

315: lego to the rescue

The deep bin shelf in our refrigerator busted the other night. The bracket fell off the side.  I called to see how I could get a replacement part and the lady told me that I would have to buy a whole new door for $1007.00. What?! For one little piece.  My resourceful husband to the rescue. He took a Lego and some liquid nails and voila..a new bracket! I love that man!

314: saying goodbye

Always so much fun visiting with Amy..tonight we had a little goodbye get together with her as she's heading back to Utah. 

313: winter formal

Jim had to chaperone at the Mormon Winter Formal, so naturally, I  got to be his date.  It was fun seeing all the kids having such a great time. Though I had to question some of the music selections..teaching a bunch of 16+ teenagers the Charleston may have sounded good on paper, but it wasn't a huge hit at the dance.

{sorry..no pictures of us}

312: ryder's flag salute moment..san diego

 Ryder was recognized today at flag salute for having learned all his multiplication facts!! 

Spent the day down in San Diego, helping at the SHERUNS retreat.  It was a gorgeous day and a beautiful night. It was great seeing the Amy's again and helping them with the running packets and medals.  It was a perfect location, right on the bay and marina at Shelter Island.

311: feeling crafty

I have a baby shower to go to this weekend and I was feeling a bit crafty.  Actually, I've been working on Ryder's baby book and I was realizing I wish I had been better at taking specific pictures each month of his first year.  That's what spawned this idea.  So I made a onesie for every month of the babies first year to take a picture in! Just add baby!

310: leader of the pack

It is so refreshing to get good news from the school once in awhile! Skyler was presented the "Leader of the Pack" award from one of his teachers.  I guess it's kinda like a student of the month in high school. Needless to say, we are so proud of him!

309: horrible, rotten, no good, very bad day

I'm sick! Bad cold, congestion, body aches..one of those days you don't want to get out of bed, however, I had to! I had to teach seminary and it didn't go well. I came home, got in my bed and slept the day away. Unfortunately, kids still need to get picked up from school and practice and dinner has to be served. This was the best I could muster up..ice cream on the road! My kind of fast food!

308: doughboy, i love you.

My girlfriend Jenniffer went home to Nevada for the weekend and brought 2 dozen of these bad boys home with her.  They are from, quite possibly, one of the best donuts shops ever..Doughboy Donuts! They dip them in glaze first, then dip them in maple. Now  that's my kind of double dip. 

307: some exciting news

Got this text tonight from my sister in law!! Shocker, but so excited to welcome a new baby to the family..I had kinda thought all the babies had been made that were going to get made! I can't think of a luckier kid! 

306: catalina triathlon

Jim's at it again!  This time he brought 6 of his friends along for the fun. He was very happy with his performance. He beat last years time and the course was harder this year.  There's no stopping this guy! He now wants to sign up for an ironman..that's considerably longer than a sprint triathlon. More power to him! 

CATALINA TRIATHLON

side note:  happy birthday to Buddy!  He's 1..7 in dog years.

305: last league fnl game

Jayden's last FNL game for the season!  They came off strong in the beginning, but didn't keep up the momentum.  This was Jayden's first year and he loved it! He scored 3 touchdowns in his first game and continued to be one the teams mvp's throughout the season.