The Leavitt Ledger

Summer Happenings Part 1

2011-07-24T15:38:00.001-07:00

I won't try to catch you up on everything that we've done this summer, but a few highlights:

The last week of June was our Stake's Pioneer Trek. Sydni and Kenzie are old enough to attend, and Don and I were called to go. Don was over Transportation, and I was called to be the Activities/Program Director. It was hot, cold,dirty, windy, exhausting, with tons of bugs, but it was also one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I'm so grateful for the chance I had to go. I don't have any of my own pictures, but as soon as I can get some that were taken, I'll post them.

Before that, we were able to travel to St. George for my little brother's wedding. He's sixteen years younger than me, so I've always thought of him as my baby brother. It's strange to think he's old enough to be married, but Cassie is a wonderful girl and we're so happy to have her join our family.

Provo City Half-Marathon

2011-05-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ran my second ever half-marathon; the Provo City Half. The race organizers did a great job and it was a great course. Unfortunately, I've been training in cold and snow, so the warm weather really got to me. I was so excited every time I reached a water station.

But I was still able to beat my last time by 9 minutes! My goal was 2:24, and I got 2:25:02 - darn those 2 seconds. I'm still happy with the results, though.

The best part about it was "running" it with my brother, sister, bro-in-law, sis-in-law, and her brother. I put running in quotes because they were all faster than me, but it was fun to be at the starting line and finishing line with them.

As tough as it was, it is such a sense of accomplishment to finish those 13.1 miles and I love that feeling. I definately plan to run this one again.

Competition

2010-12-19T07:54:00.001-08:00

Syd performed with the Hunter High Silhouettes at her first drill competition yesterday. It was the Jordan High Invitational and there were schools there from all over the state from 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A divisions. I had been "warned" by other drill parents about what a different world it is, but didn't really understand until spending the day there. It's certainly different than when I was on drill team in high school.

These girls are so talented and it was so fun to watch them perform. Sydni did an incredible job (I'm not biased or anything) and I was so proud. The Silhouettes performed three numbers and took 4th in military, 7th in dance (got a big penalty for an illegal lift -darn), and 2nd in kick. Way to go girls! Now on to Clearfield competition, Region, and State!!!

They all wear matching makeup and it's pretty intense, but Syd is still beautiful!

This is at the beginning pose at the start of their kick routine.

All of the teams sit in circles on the floor waiting for awards. You can see in the background that Santa was there to give out awards.

Here are the awesome Silhouettes with their awards. Syd is on the bottom right end of the group. What a group of amazing beautiful girls!

Cookies With Grandma

2010-12-12T07:37:00.000-08:00

Every year at Christmas time my mom invites the grandkids to her house to make sugar cookies. My kids look forward to it - even the teenagers. We had a great time and brought lots of cookies home; except for Britton who ate all of his before we even left her house.

25 Days of Service

2010-12-05T20:11:00.000-08:00

Well, it's gonna be more like 20 days, because I've been a little slow, but I'm still excited. My good friend, Emily, got me a snowman advent calendar for Christmas this year, and gave it to me early so I could use it. I've been trying to decide what to put in each pocket to pick out each day. I didn't really want to put in candy; how do you decide which kid gets the piece and there are plenty of other treats this time of year. I finally decided to put a small act of service in each pocket. Each night, we will pull out the paper, read the act of service, and have the following day to complete that act. It is something each member of the family should be able to accomplish. For example, tomorrow's service is "Say hi to someone new." I am excited to hear from the girls each day on how they did and hope it will help them think less of themselves this holiday season.

Halloween

2010-11-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

C'mon...is Britton not the cutest Tigger you've ever seen?

Emma's version of Paris Hilton.
You just thought Maddy was cute and innocent...

The Dirty Dash

2010-09-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

To follow up our half-marathon, Stacie, Kristol, and I signed up to do "The Dirty Dash." It was advertised as a 10K mud-run, full of obstacles and fun - and it did not disappoint. It was held at the beautiful Soldier Hollow in Midway. We started by running up a small hill that had a giant sprinkler running on it so that there was lots of mud. After that we ran up a canyon right into a snow-making machine. Since it was warm, there wasno snow, but it was like running into a Hurricane. When we started coming back down the canyon there were humongous hay bales to jump over and big plastic tubes to crawl through. Next up were the walls with mud pits before and after.

The course then went out to the banks of DeerCreek reservoir where we ran through the black, swampy mud. Then we headed back to Soldier Hollow and up the hill to the top of a gigantic slip-n-slide, with lots of mud at the bottom.

Then it was on to the finish line. But to get to the finish line you had to crawl through a "pool" of muddy water.

It was one of the hardest races ever, and I definately didn't set any PR's, but it was the most fun I've had in a long time. I've got several large, lovely bruises on my legs, but it was worth every bump and scrape. Thanks, Kristol and Stacie - can't wait for next year!

13.1 Miles

2010-08-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago I decided to find a race so that I would have something to help motivate me to run more regularly. I was thinking of a 5K. A couple of days later my sis-in-law announces that she has signed up for a half-marathon and invites me to join her, along with one of my best friends. My initial reaction was "no way" but then I thought about it and decided to go for it. It was a lot farther than I had planned on runing, but I found a great training schedule and we got started. It was alotof hard work, but each week as our distance increased I felt better and better. My running partners were so wonderful and I couldn't have done it without them.

Two weeks ago was the day of the race and it was one of the most difficult things I've done, but also one of the most rewarding. My goal was to finish the race, running every step of the way. I wasn't very fast, but I did it! It's a great feeling to set a goal and accomplish it. And it was incredible to get near the end and seemy family there cheering me on!

Dawn, Stacie, me, and Kristol

All Together Again

2010-08-16T12:39:00.000-07:00

Every time I've come to my blog to update, I get overwhelmed and just close it back up, so I'm just gonna move forward from here, and try to do better at keeping it updated. I don't even know if anybody is even reading this anymore...

To summarize the last few months, Sydni made the high school drill team, Kenzie made the junior high cheer squad, Emma graduated from elementary school and entered the Young Women program in our church, and Maddy and Britton keep gettingolder and cuter.

A couple of weeks ago my little brother returned from an LDS mission to Hawaii. To welcome him home, all of the Kidd siblings and their spouses andchildren were in town. It was wonderful to be all together again for a few days! I am blessed to be part of the greatest family ever!

My mom took advantage of the togetherness to get a new family picture taken - nothing fancy or formal, but we're all there. Aren't we a good-lookin' group? And since Britton was four months old the last time my little family had a picture done, we jumped in front of the camera for a little update. That's our new header, but we had to get some of just the kids since they're the cutest ones in the family.

Britton is 3 now, Maddy is 10, Emma is 12, Kenzie is 13, and Sydni is 15.

Walk Now For Autism Speaks

2010-04-19T17:16:00.000-07:00

For years I have participated in the MS Walk, because a woman with MS inspired me as a teen to be a better, more positive person. Although I still believe it is a very worthy cause, a new cause has captured my heart and this year I will participate in the Autism Speaks walk on Saturday, May 1st. A year and a half ago my nephew was diagnosed with autism. Although it was difficult for my sister-in-law to hear, she didn't feel sorry for herself or her son. She jumped right in and began researching interventions and information to help Kampbell. Her dedication and advocacy for Kamp has inspired me to be a better mom and I walk to give back to her. So many families are affected by autism, but there are still so many who don't understand. I walk to raise awareness. And I walk to raise funds for research and programs for these many families. If you feel that you could support me, even a little, please visit here. If you don't want to pledge online, email me at bondngirls@comcast.net and I'll send you my address. If you live close enough, I'll come pick it up. I appreciate any help you can give!

Paying The Price

2010-03-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Ever since I became a mother, I have been recalling words of wisdom from my parents and realizing just how right they were. I am now remembering my dad urging me to put on sunscreen; to avoid so much time in the sun; to think about the possibility of skin cancer in the future. But at 14, 15, 16 do we ever realize the wisdom of our parents? I was invincible - I would never get skin cancer. Or if I did, it would be a quick snip to remove it and I would move on. The important thing was to have that gorgeous tan. So I would head outside on those sunny days, slather myself with baby oil, and end up with a sunburn (which would turn into a nice tan after a few days).

Several months ago, a new mole appeared just above my collarbone. It looked a little funny, and I considered having it checked out, but kept putting it off. Sydni kept requesting a visit to the dermatologist to get a couple of moles removed from her forehead, so I finally made an appointment for her and me. Once hers were removed, the doctor took a look at mine and informed me this wasn't any old mole; it was most likely basal cell carcinoma. He removed it and sent it in for a biopsy to be certain. Last Thursday I received the call that his suspicions had been confirmed. I had skin cancer.

Now, the form of skin cancer I have is not life-threatening and doesn't spread quickly, but it was still a little scary to hear those words from your doctor. We scheduled a procedure for this morning to have the skin and tissue around the area removed in case it had spread at all. All went well, but I am really hurting right now. I know that my little pain pales in comparison to what some I know are going through right now, but it is still my pain. I will have lots of help from my kiddos and hubby, but I'm going to have to take it easy for a few days. Those of you who know me well realize how difficult that in itself will be on me.

So, my plea to you is to wear sunscreen and make your kids wear it. Be aware of any new moles or changing ones. Take care of yourselves and your families. And kids - listen to your parents! They know what they're talking about!

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

2010-02-06T07:23:00.001-08:00

I saw the best play last night - "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." If you live in the Salt Lake area, I highly recommend checking out this play. Don and I went with friends last night to see it and we all loved it. The script is great and the cast is wonderful. I laughed... I cried... but mostly I laughed a lot. It is put on by Pinnacle Acting Company. You can get more info about it here. Seriously - so great!

Cookies With Grandma

2010-01-10T15:57:00.001-08:00

My mom does cookies with the grandkids each year for Christmas. This year we did it after Christmas so that my sister and neices could be here for it. The kids had so much fun and brought home alot of cookies. Even some of the adults got creative and made some fun cookies.

Christmas Day

2010-01-08T07:53:00.000-08:00

Two weeks later...

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. I got up earlier than I wanted, but since it was to talk to my little brother from Hawaii, it was worth it. When I got home, the girls were awake and looking through their stockings. The rule is they can do that as soon as they wake up, but we do presents all together.

Don got up right after that and we headed to the tree to open presents. A few years ago we started doing "Something to play with, something you need, something to wear, something to read" for everyone. It has kept things simple and we love it. Britton really got into it and was fun to watch.

After presents, we do a big breakfast with special pancakes, strawberries and whipped cream, bacon, and sausage. Then I'm finished cooking for the day! We spent a very lazy day hanging out, playing games, snacking, and watching a movie. I even got a nap in. It's one of my favorite days of the year.

Christmas Eve

2010-01-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize that I'm behind, but I figured better late than never...

We have a wonderful family tradition of having a big dinner on Christmas Eve with my family followed by a program where we sing Christmas songs and read Christmas stories, including the original one in the New Testament.

Afterwards, we went home to participate in another Christmas Eve tradition; opening one present. Of course, it's always p.j.'s. Britton got so excited for his.

Gingerbread Houses

2010-01-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, so they're not really gingerbread, but graham crackers count, right? This year I got ambitious and made royal icing, though, and it worked so much better. We had a great time being creative and laughing and sneaking candy. Britton was the best at that.

Here is our Christmas Village - Don's, Maddy's, Emma's, mine, Kenzie's, and Syd's. (Her decorating "bag" exploded all over her hands so she made a winter wonderland)

A Night In Bethlehem

2009-12-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

For our Ward Christmas activity this year, we planned a "Night In Bethlehem." It was alot of work, but so wonderful. We sent out decrees to everyone and asked them to dress in simple Biblical attire. They brought blankets to sit on and we served a light dinner that they purchased with beads at several different shops. There were also games, crafts, and other activities at "shops" that they could participate in. We ended the evening with a special movie presentation on the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Savior. It was a great way to focus on the true meaning of Christmas, which can so easily get lost in the hustle and bustle of the world. Thanks to my amazing committee for making this possible.

One Past Post

2009-11-23T05:58:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I wasn't going to look back at all I missed while absent from the blogging world, but I realized that I missed Kenzie's birthday. She's "officially" a teenager now, although everyone who knows her realizes that she has been a teenager her whole life. She has a very strong will and is very determined. You never have to guess where you stand with her - she wears her emotions on her sleeve. There is nothing fake about her!
We love you, Kenz. Your quick wit keeps us laughing and your ability to make friends is amazing. Happy 13th! (2 months late)

Catchin' Up

2009-11-18T19:03:00.000-08:00

I was trying to decide whether to comment on the fact that my last post was over three months ago, or just pretend I haven't been worried about it...
To keep it brief, the girls are all back in school and having new adventures. Syd is a class officer, played on the girls' soccer team, is a manager for the boys' basketball team, continues to love being on the dance company, and managed to get a 4.0 her first term. Kenz is loving the social aspects of junior high and making lots of new friends, while adjusting to the classwork. Emma is taking dance now and we are looking forward to her first recital. Maddy continues to be a brainiac and social butterfly. Britton is talking so much and getting way to big for my liking. I continue to juggle family, church, work, PTA, and try to work a little fun in there. I won't post all of the pictures I've taken the last three months, but here are a few from Halloween.

Britton was an adorable Dumbo. I wish I would have taken a picture of him from behind. The little tail on the costume was so cute as he walked.
Here is a close-up of Emma's version of Brunette Barbie.
Maddy decided to go the disturbing route this year. She and a good friend decided to wear matching pj's and go as "slumber party murder victims." Where do they come up with this stuff? Don took care of the make-up for this one. You get a better view on the close-up below.

Crazy Pictures

2009-08-11T20:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the Wavetronix Summer Party. For the first part, they had an open house at Don's office so that the employees' families could see what the different parts of the company do. The marketing department had a place set up to take some funny pictures and the kids had a great time. (We took Callie instead of Sydni) Britton would look at himself on the screen and laugh and laugh. I was laughing pretty hard at all of them, too. Enjoy a little silliness...

A Day In The Life...

2009-07-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

After painting with nail polish...

and helping Dad mow the lawn...
It's nice to just relax!

Happy Birthday Britton

2009-07-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

On July 17th, Britton turned two years old. Three years ago I couldn't imagine having a baby around again. Now, I can't imagine life without him. He loves to sing and can turn anything into a microphone. He loves to dance, especially with his sisters. In fact, he loves to do anything with his sisters. He is fiercely defensive of them and will scream if he thinks any one of them is actually being hurt. He loves motorcycles (calls them da-da-das) and his eyes light up whenever he sees or even hears one. He loves to be outside and chase the ants. He is scared of nobody and nothing - except for flies; they send him into an absolute panic. He has the most beautiful blue eyes and the sweetest smile, and we love him so much! Happy Birthday, little man!

Independence Day

2009-07-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

I know, I know - the 4th of July was two weeks ago... Humor me...

Every year we head to Sugarhouse Park to spend the day with my family. We even have a traditional spot. It is a great tradition and we love it! We play games, eat, hang out, and take lots of pictures. And then we watch an amazing fireworks show. This year did not disappoint...
So fun to spend the day with cousins; even more fun when you are "twins."
This was one of the many games played. This group was playing "Oodles" and I almost beat Jeremy. (but who's keeping track?)
Britton and Don took many walks to look for the "da-da-das" (motorcycles). He also had fun playing with his cousins. At one point he tried to wander off, but his 3-year old cousin, Savanah, spotted him before he could get too far. Still a scary moment and we were much more vigilant after that.There was a group of early-teen boys in the family group next to us that were keeping their eye on Kenzie all day. In fact, one of them was watching Kenzie instead of his dog while the dog peed on one of our camp chairs. Emma enjoyed a day where everyone was as laid-back as she usually is.
Syd is fourteen now, so she had to act like she didn't enjoy any of it. Britton and Gracie loved checking out the pictures that Aunt Heather was taking.
We wore the kids out. They needed a little rest before the fireworks. Some of the kids were nervous as the fireworks started, but I laid down on the blanket with them and we enjoyed the beautiful and amazing show exploding right above us! What a great day!

Proud Mama

2009-07-11T19:50:00.001-07:00

It was a long awards assembly, but at the end of it Emma had earned awards for Science Fair, Safety Patrol, National Physical Fitness, Iowa Testing, Honor Roll, and Presidential Academic Excellence. Maddy won awards for National Physical Fitness, Honor Roll, Top Citizenship, and Presidential Academic Excellence. Way to go, girls - I'm so proud of you!

Girl's Day

2009-07-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

We were so lucky to have my little sis up here for a week and a half from St. George. While she was here, my mom and all the daughters and daughters-in-law got together for a day to work on our service project. Each year at Christmas we use our money to do a service project instead of buying each other gifts. It has been a great tradition, and this year we are making hats and scarves for the homeless shelter for part of it. So, we spent the day knitting and crocheting while talking and laughing (and dealing with kids...). I have such a great family!

Family Reunion

2009-07-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

We were able to attend the Leavitt Family Reunion a couple of weeks ago, and had a wonderful time. Don's parents, all 8 siblings, 7 spouses, and 26 of the 27 grandkids were all there. Syd had to miss it this year because of Youth Conference in our Stake. We stayed at Red Cedar Lodge up the canyon from Cedar City. There is one huge cabin and one smaller cabin with a large grassy area for tents, a really nice fire pit, and a small pond with boats a very short walk down the road. My sis-in-law Lyndee put so much work into it and it was great! (Thanks again, Lyndee!) The only "downer" was that Maddy was sick. She had gotten the swine flu, gotten better for a day, and then gotten sick again. We thought she was doing better, so we took her to the reunion. Poor thing really struggled. She wasn't eating anything, but was able to drink, but on Wednesday night, Don's brother, Russ, who is a paramedic and bro-in-law, Toran, who is a doctor, suggested that she should get an IV. Russ had brought his stuff with him and was able to do it right there so we didn't have to drive into town and pay the ER costs. She laid on our bed and we hung the IV from a log coat rack. She was so brave. That really seemed to help her, and we are so grateful for their knowledge and expertise. I'll post more about her condition in my next post (which you may read before this).
On the way home we stopped at a few "scenic overlooks." This one was overlooking Zion Canyon National Park from the "backside." You really can't see it in the picture, but it was absolutely beautiful.
Then we stopped at a park in the middle of Fillmore. They have a really nice rest area, and when we have the time it's a nice break for the kids to be able to play on the playground.
Britton was standing at the bottom of a slide telling Emma, "Ready...Set...Go!"
...and then laughing hysterically as she hit the ground and sent rocks flying.
Yeah....Maddy wasn't having too much fun at the park...poor thing.

I'll Be Back...

2009-07-06T13:46:00.000-07:00

I'm so far behind on my posts that I almost decided to just take the summer off, but there have been so many fun things that I will just start posting tomorrow and keep posting old things until I'm caught up. Keep checking back....

Birthday Time

2009-06-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Emma and Maddy (a little late)!
When they joined our family 11 and 9 years ago, we wondered how we would survive with so many little kids. Now we know we wouldn't have it any other way. We are so grateful for the joy they bring to our home each and every day!
Poor Maddy was so sick on her birthday, but she tried to smile and enjoy it.
Emma really wanted a pet of her own, but since she's allergic to everything, this digital puppy will have to do. Her cousin, Geta, doesn't look too impressed, eh?Britton thoroughly enjoyed Maddy's "Bucket-of-Mud" birthday cake!

Activity Ideas

2009-06-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

I need help! I have been called as Ward Activities Chairman, and the Bishop has asked for monthly ward activities. So, I am looking for lots of ideas. Please leave me a comment with some of your favorite activities. They can be for the whole family, just adults, or even service projects.

Bathtime Anyone?

2009-06-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

Emma wasn't feeling well last night, so she took a bath. Britton couldn't understand why someone else was in his tub, so he climbed in and joined her.

He's Growing Up

2009-06-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

Guess who's in a toddler bed? I can't believe he's big enough for his new bed. Luckily, he doesn't seem to realize yet that he can climb out of it. Once we put him in he stays in until we go get him out.
(A big thanks to Kristol who found this for us at a yard sale for $30.)

Junior High...Here She Comes

2009-06-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the final day of elementary school for Kenzie. They held a very nice 6th Grade Advancement Program where she won a ton of awards and was chosen as one of the speakers by her classmates. She is so excited to be headed to Junior High. I'm excited for her, too, but I did cry a little that my Kenz is growing up. We are so proud of the young woman she is becoming.This is her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Jackman and our great principal, Miss Winger. We are blessed to have great schools for our girls.

Award Winning Gal

2009-05-30T06:41:00.001-07:00

Last Wednesday night was the Junior High's Awards Night. We were invited and told that Syd would receive an award. She got one for Reflections, which she already knew about. But she also received an award for her IOWA test results. These are National Standardized Tests taken in the 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades. Sydni was above the 90th percentile in Math, Reading, Science, Social Studies, Total Core, and Total Composite Score. That's across the whole country - what a smartie!

Memorial Day

2009-05-28T15:39:00.001-07:00

Wow - it has been a very busy few weeks. Maybe that's why I enjoyed Memorial Day so much - It was a laid back day that I got to spend with my family. We needed that!
We started the day with a Stake Breakfast and then headed out to visit some grave sites. Don's grandparents are all buried on the east side of the valley, so we headed over there to take some flowers and clean up the headstones. The weather was beautiful and Don got to share some stories of Grandma Margaret, Grandpa Vernon, Grandma Cherry, and Grandpa Don.Last year we went to the zoo, so we thought we'd make it a tradition. Once we drove up and saw more people there then I've ever seen before we changed plans and headed home for a relaxing afternoon.That evening we had our good friends, the Webbs and Powells, over for a bbq. The weather was perfect, the food was great, the kids all got along, and we had a great time. It was hard to return to "real life" on Tuesday.

It's Planted!

2009-05-25T07:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a yard work day and we ended the day with our garden planted. I'm wondering how we can clean out all the rocks every year and have so many more the next year. Anybody?
We decided to do zuchinni, yellow-crookneck, cucumbers, and carrots from seed this year. Last year half of our plants died and when I replanted seeds they did great. Here's hoping it works again. We did do tomatoes from starts, though.
We need to pick up a few more of the white edging pieces. I'm hoping they will deter Britton from walking through, or digging in, the garden.
Sydni and Kenzie are going to take care of the garden this year as their "Faith" value project, so I will have good help! I'm so excited to have fresh tomatoes and squash in a couple of months!

Spelling Bee

2009-05-25T07:01:00.000-07:00

Both Emma and Kenzie got to represent their classes in the school Spelling Bee this year. It was fun to watch them study together and encourage each other. There were about 35 participants this year, and Emma lasted about halfway. She missed the word "permanent," spelling it "-ant." She was disappointed because she had studied that word, but nerves got the better of her. Kenzie ended up tied for third place and was very excited. She missed the word "prestigious," spelling it "-eous." The word she got in the previous round was "utilitarian" and all the kids in the audience gasped when they heard it. I guess it sounds like a hard word, but Kenz aced it. We're so proud of both those cute girls!

Kenz and Emma studying before the Bee.
Britton hanging out at the Bee. He yelled out the girls names each time they took their turns.A proud Mom with her cute kids after the Bee.

Giveaway

2009-05-16T05:53:00.000-07:00

There is an awesome giveaway here for a professional $200 flat iron. Go check it out!

His First Buzz

2009-05-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

I picked out the 1/2 inch for the top of his head and the 1/4 inch for the back and sides. Guess who wasn't paying attention when she started cutting Britton's hair? Well, he's ready for summer now!

The Whims Of An Almost-Two-Year-Old

2009-04-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

Likes
-Playing outside.
-Hanging with my sisters.
-When Daddy comes home.
-Dancing to music.
-Visiting the school and getting treats from Grandma, the secretaries, and the principal.
-Rides in the car or stroller.
-Cookies.
-Throwing newly folded laundry across the room to make Mom yell out.

Dislikes
-Having to stay inside.
-Being brought inside.
-Sleeping in.
-Being told "no."
-Banging my head on the floor when throwing myself down after being told "no."

Cooking Lessons

2009-04-11T06:42:00.001-07:00

Mackenzie is such a big help to me and I love her so much. On Thursday I was making Asian and trying a new recipe - potstickers. I was getting frustrated because it was taking so long, so she came to the kitchen to help me with the egg rolls. I had already made the filling, so she rolled them all and did a great job. After that, she pulled out the recipe book and made the sweet and sour sauce. When we sat down to eat, she put a big spoonful of sweet and sour sauce on her plate and dipped her egg roll in. After a big bite, she gagged and said, "Something is really wrong with the sauce!" I took a little on my finger and also gagged. It was sooooooooooooo salty. So Kenz pulled the recipe back out to take a look and see what had gone wrong. She gasped and said, "Oh...it calls for 1/4 teaspoon of salt.... I put in 1/4 cup!"

A Good Run

2009-04-10T07:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a good few weeks for Sydni. After the play was over she auditioned for, and made, the Dance Company at the Junior High again. She is such a talented dancer and it's been so fun to watch her learn and grow in her dancing this year. I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Why walk when you can dance?" That fits Syd so perfectly. She doesn't just walk across a room - she spins, or leaps, or glides.
She also decided that she wanted to run for 9th Grade Class Officer for next year, and she made it. We're very excited for her. She is going to be busy, but if anybody can pull if off, Sydni can. We might just have to give in and get another cell phone, though. We've been putting that off for as long as possible.
Then she brought home her report card for third quarter with a 4.0. That's right - straight A's. She's always had one or two A- before, and that was wonderful. But she's very excited to have gotten her first 4.0, and we're proud of all her hard work.

Buzz Time For Britton

2009-04-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

Britton's "comfort move" is to suck his thumb as he runs his hands through his hair. This has caused him to have the hair on top of his head constantly sticking straight up, making him look like his parents never comb his hair. I assure you, they do. We finally decided to just use the clippers and cut it really short, purposely spiking it up on top. He was freaked out by the clippers, so Don had to hold him on his lap while I cut it, so both of them were covered in hair by the time we were finished. I hadn't realized just how long it had gotten. It's taking a little time for us to get used to it. He's still adorable, of course, just looks different.

BEFORE

AFTER

Aladdin

2009-04-03T15:05:00.000-07:00

Sydni was in the Junior High's production of Aladdin as a Harem Girl. She had alot of fun doing it, but I think she's a bit relieved that it's over. I know that's how I always felt when a play ended. She looked beautiful, but I am sooooooooooooooo grateful for body suits!

The Whole Crew at the Zoo

2009-03-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

My niece was out of school all last week for Spring Break, so my sis came up north to spend the week. I took a couple days off work to play and pulled the girls from school a couple of days so we could play. On Monday my mom, sis, sis-in-law and I went shopping at a consignment store near us and found some great deals. I also discovered that my caffeine/sugar/white flour hiatus paid off and I'm down to a size 6! I haven't worn a size 6 in many, many, many years so that was exciting.

On Thursday, we went to the zoo with my mom, sis, two sis-in-laws and all of the kids. We had quite a crew, but had a great time! I'm so glad that we all get along so well and can have fun together. I was hoping that Britton would be old enough to get excited about the animals, but it was naptime and he was too tired. He did get excited about a picture of a cat and kept saying "Puppy, puppy." The only other animals he liked were the lemurs and the baby orangutan. Maybe because they were moving around enough to catch his attention and "wake him up."

This is the "stroller brigade" taking a break before heading up more hills. We all got a good workout.
The girls all wanted to go inside the tropical area, so we sent them in without us. None of the grown-ups felt seeing snakes and spiders was worth the smell in there.

Britton just loves Grandma Kidd. He and Liam were hanging out with her while we waited for the girls to leave the tropical area.

Pampered Chef

2009-03-18T19:38:00.000-07:00

My little sis became a Pampered Chef consultant a few months back and is in town for the week, so we decided to throw a party tomorrow! I love their stuff, so I'm really excited. I also love good food and getting together with friends, so I have lots to look forward to. If you love their stuff, too, you can order at Chelsi's website: www.pamperedchef.biz/ChelsiKroff . Just click on "Shop Online" and enter "Tiffani Leavitt" as host. Or drop by my house at 6:56 if you live close!

Happy Birthday

2009-03-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

Sydni turns 14 years old today, and we're so proud of the young woman that she is becoming. She was a beautiful baby and so happy. In fact, she won the Washington County Cutest Baby Contest two years in a row. She is so intelligent and dependable; and her talents are many. She is one of the hardest working kids ever and we are so blessed that she is part of our family. Happy Birthday, Sydni - We love you!

A Quick Trip South

2009-03-03T10:27:00.000-08:00

Don's brother's son was getting baptized last Saturday, so we headed South to be there for the special occasion, and to enjoy a little warm weather. My sister, Chelsi, and her family were wonderful hosts to us and we had a great time. Near her house there is a park that my girls have dubbed "The Rock Climbing Park" with two huge fake boulders where the kids can climb. Chelsi and I took the older girls to play on Saturday while Don stayed at her house with the napping babies. Britton loved how much time he got to spend outside, and had a great time playing with Chelsi's youngest, Gracie, even if they didn't always enjoy sharing. The trip was over way too soon, but luckily they are coming to visit in just a few short weeks.

Emma and Maddy showing off their fierce rock-climbing skills.

Enjoying the warm weather of St. George.

We discovered a great way to keep Britton occupied on the trip home. No high scores, but no screaming.

Science Smarties

2009-02-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

The school science fair was last week, and Kenzie and Emma did very well. Kenzie took first place in 6th grade and Emma took 3rd place in 5th grade. This qualified the both of them to go to the Granite District Science Fair, which was held yesterday. They both earned an Award of Excellence and I'm so proud of them. Emma's project was on the Left Brain vs. Right Brain.

Kenzie's project was on carbonation.

SB 199 Update

2009-02-26T16:28:00.000-08:00

Senator Bramble has changed his bill to leave out the language about dues paying organizations. It is a great compromise and I'm very happy with the bill. The more parents we can get involved in their children's schools, the better! You can read the text of the bill here:
http://le.utah.gov/~2009/bills/sbillint/sb0199s01.pdf

A Little More On SB 199

2009-02-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

I have had a few questions on SB 199 and I'd love to share my thoughts once again. All of the questions are about the amendment added that would allow a school to work with an organization that waives dues upon request. I agree that this makes the bill better, but I still have a problem with it for a few reasons. (not necessarily in order of importance to me)

First, it would require every local unit (about 600), every council and region (nearly 100), and State PTA to amend their bylaws. This would take at least a year and take valuable time away from helping kids.

Second, a local PTA unit can do a fundraiser to raise money for all of their programs, but State depends solely on membership dues to fund all of their programs. This includes the money they give to the Regions and Councils. Their budgets are already very tight and they have no other way to raise funds.

There is the possibilty of "scholarships" for those who truly can't afford it. In fact, I have paid someone's dues myself because they honestly couldn't swing $5 at the time. But those who just don't want to pay because they don't want any of their money going to National PTA probably shouldn't be in leadership positions anyway. One of the reasons that PTA is so effective in advocating for children is that we present a united front. If somebody can say, "I'm a PTA President but I think the PTA is wrong" it will affect how strongly we can advocate for children.

I think its wrong to legislate who schools can and can't work with. I think it's wrong to legislate how a private organization conducts its affairs. There are many organizations that collect dues, and they shouldn't be told how to conduct their business either.

I'm surprised at the many people who claim to be against "Government Control" who are supporters of this bill. All the organizations and people I know pushing this bill are those angry at PTA for helping to get the voucher issue on the ballot. So is the sponsor, Senator Bramble. The woman who helped write the bill claims that it isn't an Anti-PTA Bill, but that's exactly what it seems like.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!

Utah Senate Bill 199

2009-02-20T15:48:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've ever gotten "political" in any of my posts, but that is a big part of who I am. If I feel strongly about an issue, I don't just sit back - I get in and fight the good fight. Well, I'm up for another fight right now. A bill has been introduced in the Utah State Senate that would effectively outlaw PTA. The sponsor of the bill says that the purpose is to guarantee equal access to all parent groups - which I am all for. But then why outlaw all groups that charge dues? PTA is the largest parent organization in the state and does so much good!!! The groups supporting this bill are being very vocal, and so I am asking all those who want to see parent involvement in schools encouraged to contact your senator and representative and tell them to stop this bill. I absolutely believe it would harm Utah children and I can't just sit by and let that happen!
(There is a lot of misinformation out there, so if you want to discuss it, I'd be happy to. And if you disagree with me, I'd love to hear why...really)

Slow Me Down

2009-02-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

If you're sound is turned up, you are hearing my new favorite song. I heard it this week at the District Dance Concert and it just "spoke" to me. I had been feeling this way for some time, and I decided that it was time for me to "slow down." In fact, one of my New Year's resolutions was to complete the things that I had committed to, but not volunteer for anything new. I have already been tested on my resolve a couple of times, and it wasn't easy, but I did say "no." I don't know why it's so hard for me; I feel this need to say "yes" to everybody. But I realized that saying "yes" to everybody else was causing me to say "no" to my family too often. They are the most important thing in the world to me, but my actions weren't showing them that, and they deserve better from me. So my dear hubby and sweet kiddos are helping to "Slow Me Down."

He's On The Charts

2009-02-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

I took Britton in this morning for his 18-month check-up. I think he must have remembered the nurse because he took one look at her and begged for me to hold him. He was fine with the doctor, but cried and started climbing all over me whenever the nurse came in. Of course, she's the one who has to do the dirty work - give the shots. He is a healthy little guy with, and I quote, "beautiful ears." He is now up to 20 lbs. 14 oz., which puts him on the chart at the 1st percentile. This means that 99% of kids his age weigh more than him. He's also at the 25th percentile for height. So, he's still my little dude, but he made it to the bottom line of the chart -yeah! Now the doctor can quit worrying about him.

Pay It Forward

2009-02-02T06:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, Keri, Kendra, and Emily each get a handmade item for me in the next 365 days. Emily will probably be sooner and the others later since I will need to get it south. :o)

The Rules:
1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!. 2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway! 3. The gift that you send to your Three Friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Count! 4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love!If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same! SO, REMEMBER... it is good... :) Pass it forward.

Quite An Event

2009-01-30T11:05:00.000-08:00

My time lately has been taken up by Region Reflections, which I volunteered to be in charge of last fall. Our Region is all of Granite School District, so it was pretty big. I didn't realize the huge time commitment that it would require, which seems to be a continuing issue for me. (A subject for another post) Anyway, after 2 weeks of hard work, the Awards Night was last night. It was a great event and I was really thrilled. And I'm thrilled that it is over.
Even more exciting, though, was that Sydni won an Award of Merit for her dance entry. She is such a talented girl and we are so proud of her. Way to go, Syd!

It Wasn't Supposed To Be This Short

2009-01-20T05:37:00.000-08:00

My hair had been getting pretty long on top, and I'd been feeling like I needed a haircut. In fact, a little first grade boy got very excited last week because he and I had the "exact same hairdo." So I headed out Saturday morning to get my haircut. Now, I was planning on getting it cut pretty short, and I told the stylist that. She combed up a piece of hair, showed me where she was planning on cutting, and asked, "Is that about right?" I told her it was just right. She then proceeded to drop the hair, comb up a new piece, and cut it 1/2 inch shorter. She must have noticed the look on my face because she asked, "Is that too short?" Well, it's not like she could cut the rest longer, so I simply shook my head and proceeded to get the shortest haircut of my life. On a positive note, I won't have to pay for a haircut for at least a couple of months.

BEFORE

AFTER

In The Grand Scheme Of Things...

2009-01-12T18:01:00.000-08:00

I realize that this is not a big deal, but I like to think that I'm not shallow very often, so please indulge me this time. I've got a decision to make, and I'm having a difficult time. My driver's license expires on my birthday next month, so I have to renew it. Question - do I renew it through the mail or go down to the DMV. Why would I even consider waiting down there for who-knows-how-long when I could just stick a stamp on a form and drop it in the mailbox? Well, my picture no longer looks like me. I have much shorter, much darker hair. More than once I've gotten the raised eyebrow when a cashier asks to look at my ID. Also, my address is incorrect. I know I won't be in this house forever, but it would be nice to have the correct address for now. But then again, my last picture actually looks really good. (I talked the guy into taking a second one) Who knows what a new picture could look like - they're not known for taking flattering photos. And my time is certainly worth something. I could probably do several loads of laundry during the time it would take me to get the new license. So, you see my dilemma...or do you?

Dancing Queen

2009-01-09T12:15:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Sydni! The dance she choreographed and performed for Reflections won her age division at the Council Level. It now moves on to the Region Level to compete against other entries from all over Granite School District. Way to go, girl!

First Day In Nursery

2009-01-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

It's a red-letter day in the Leavitt household. Although he's not "officially" 18 months yet, Don decided to take Britton to Nursery today to see how he would do. (For those not of our faith, Nursery is the class for the children 18 months-3 years) Most children cry when they are left and want Mom or Dad to stay, but not our little guy. He saw the toys and other kids and forgot Don was even there. I don't know wether to be happy or a little sad that he wasn't even a little distressed to leave us...

Updates

2009-01-03T19:40:00.000-08:00

My girls have finally posted again on their blogs. Check out the links on the right for "Emma," "Kenzie," and "Maddy." For the new year, their goal is to post at least once a week. I'm thinking that this will be a good way to improve their writing skills, so I will encourage (and edit) this goal. Sydni is too caught up in her Facebook account to take any time for a blog.

Ringing In 2009

2009-01-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

We had a great time with the Webbs last night ringing in the New Year - we played lots of games and the kids entertained us with Singing Star. I'm looking forward to 2009 and all of the new possibilities and opportunities that are coming up. I wish you all a great new year full of happiness.

Fun Times With The Family

2008-12-31T07:29:00.000-08:00

We have had so much fun while school has been out and Don has been off work. We've completed a few cleaning "projects," and have a few more to do, but we've played, too. On Monday night we headed to Temple Square with our best friends, the Webbs, to see the lights. We mistakenly thought that it wouldn't be as busy since Christmas is over, but the lights are always beautiful. Hot cocoa back at our house finished off the night perfectly.

Then yesterday Kristol and I took the kids sledding at the nearby golf course. It's got a lot of great hills, but it's been warm enough that most of them were pure ice. I took Britton on a very small hill a few times, and then tried a larger one that wasn't too steep. He loved it! We're now hoping for new snow so that we can go back again before heading back to "real life."

Handsome Little Man

2008-12-29T06:17:00.001-08:00

Just a few pictures I've taken of Britton over the last week. I love this little guy!

Looking a little too old in his new outfit.

His favorite Christmas gift.

Just after his bath.

Headed out to play in the snow with Dad.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2008-12-26T20:18:00.000-08:00

I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas. Ours was wonderful! We spend Christmas Eve each year with my parents, having a nice candlelight dinner and program. This year we had Brandon & Stacie & their kiddos, Jeremy & Heather, and us all with my Mom and Dad. It was a yummy dinner and a beautiful program. When we returned home, we all got to open up one present - new p.j.'s and the kids each got a new heat bag. The jammies, at least, are tradition. On Christmas morning, the kids can get up as early as they want and get into their stockings, but they have to wait for Mom and Dad to open any presents. Everybody gets 4 presents - something to wear, something you need, something to play with, something to read. There were many cheers of delight. After presents, we do a big breakfast with special "once-a-year" pancakes, strawberries, whipped cream, pancakes, sausage, and bacon. This year, Don and I left for a bit after breakfast to go to my Mom's and talk to John Cameron who is serving a mission in Hawaii. It was great to hear his voice! We planned to spend the rest of the day at home together, but the storm was so bad that it knocked a power line down around the corner, and we were left without heat. Mom and Dad still had power, so we headed over there to get warm and had fun playing games with them and Brandon & Stacie. After several hours our power was back on and we headed home to get kids to bed after a long, but wonderful Christmas Day.

Gingerbread Houses...sort of...

2008-12-23T06:37:00.000-08:00

I was reminded of a family tradition from when I was a little kid that I wanted to do with my kids this year. We would each get to make our own "gingerbread house" out of graham crackers and decorate it our way. The frosting wasn't perfect, but it did the job. We had a great time together and made some fun houses. Britton just had fun eating M&M's.

Christmas Tag

2008-12-19T05:41:00.000-08:00

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper for Christmas, gift bags for everything else.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real tree - I love that smell!!!

3. When do you put up the tree? I'd love to do it the day after Thanksgiving, but we don't want it to get dry, so usually the last few days of November. Of course, some years those are the same.

4. When do you take the tree down? The week after Christmas when Don is home.

5. Do you like Egg Nog? LOVE IT! Southern Comfort and the Costco brands are my favorite.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't know what the occasion was, but I got a gray stuffed kitty that lasted through high school. My mom also made me a quilt that I kept until a year ago when it finally fell apart (literally) in the wash.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad and my mom-in-law.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Don (James Bond anything or a sweater and he's happy)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? A few - 1 Precious Moments, a wood block one that Britton loves, and a wood puzzle one that my mom made for all of us a few years ago.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail - and I finally got some out this year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't have one - for me it really is the thought that means so much.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Mr. Krueger's Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Black Friday, baby!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope, unless you count white-elephant gifts.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Krantz, cheese ball, sweet Chex mix

16. Lights on the tree? The more, the better.

17. Favorite Christmas song? "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah Mclachlan (sp?)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Comet, and Vixen...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A big snowman

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? PJ's on Christmas Eve, the rest Christmas morning. The kids can get in their stockings first thing, but have to wait for Don and me to open the rest.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Grumpy people - it's supposed to be the happiest time of the year!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I LOVE snowmen!!!

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Clothes, but Don hates shopping for clothes for me.

I tag: Chelsi, Heather, Katie, Stef, Kristol, Brigitta

Making Music

2008-12-17T05:28:00.001-08:00

Kenzie had her first piano recital last Saturday. She played three songs and did a great job. We've always known that she had a great ear (she used to sit down and pick out songs), and it has been fun to watch her progress so quicly with her lessons. Next time I'll know to put her hair back so that I can get a decent picture :o), but here are a few shots of our little musician.

Bragging Rights

2008-12-09T13:33:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to do a little "Mom Bragging" about my awesome kids. Syd entered the Reflections contest at the Junior High with a dance routine that she coreographed and won, so it will be moving on to the next level. Kenzie got an Honorable Mention for her poetry entry for Reflections. Emma won an Honorable Mention for her photograph (see below) and an Award of Excellence for her poem, so it will be moving on to the next level. And last, but certainly not least, we got Maddy's CRT scores from last year back. Those are the big tests that they have to take at the end of every school year in Math, English, and Science. Well, Maddy scored a perfect 100% on her math CRT! She didn't miss a single question. We are very proud of the little smarty-pants and G'pa Kidd is very excited for his little mathematician.

A Tale of Two Movies

2008-11-24T17:29:00.000-08:00

On the opening night, I went with Don and a fairly large group to see the new James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace." LOVED IT!!! Then on Saturday I went with Syd, my friend Kristol, and her daughter, Ashlie to see "Twilight." Sydni loved it, and I'm so glad that she did. I will even let Kenzie go see it - as long as I don't have to take her. I know alot of people absolutely loved it - I am definately not one of them. My advice - spend your money on James Bond.

Buddies

2008-11-21T09:36:00.000-08:00

Emma and Britton are great buddies and love to play together. This little "game" they were playing the other night had them both laughing so hard; it was adorable.

A Prodigy In The Making?

2008-11-17T17:24:00.000-08:00

There are few things I love more than listening to Don play the piano. Britton has started joining him, which changes the sound of some of the songs, but is still dang cute.

Another New Face

2008-11-16T20:33:00.000-08:00

Kenz got new glasses too!

Her New Face

2008-11-14T05:28:00.000-08:00

Syd got glasses for the first time in her life, and we picked them up yesterday. She put them on and smiled, saying "Hey, I can see stuff." Her vision isn't too bad, but enough that they help her. Being a 13-year old girl, she's not happy about having to wear glasses, but at least she found some cool ones.

Reflections

2008-11-07T15:53:00.000-08:00

I am over the Reflections Program at the elementary school, and that is what my week has been filled with. This week was turn in for 3 of our tracks, and we got a record number of entries this year - 334! Hooray!!! The theme this year was "WOW," and it has been fun to see what the kids came up with. Emma, Maddy, and Kenzie all entered photographs, which I will post below.

Kenzie's - "WOW - I ate too much!"

Emma's - "WOW - What a storm!"

Maddy's - "WOW - It's cold!"

Halloween

2008-11-03T13:30:00.000-08:00

Tiffani and Emma as Goths.

Maddy as a flower-child.

Britton as a spider.

Proud To Be An American

2008-10-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

Check out the video at this link. It's pretty powerful.
www.campaignamerica.blogspot.com

Another First

2008-10-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Look what Britton did when we told him it was time for prayer! Now if I could just get the girls to keep their eyes closed, maybe he would learn to do that during prayers, too.

Look Chelsi - We did it!

2008-10-26T15:34:00.001-07:00

We have German Pancakes for lunch EVERY Sunday, and my little sis showed me a new way to make them - in a muffin pan. The girls loved them! Thanks for the idea, Chelsi!

A New Look

2008-10-26T15:28:00.000-07:00

This was my "costume" for our ward Halloween party. We were late, and I stayed after to clean up, so I didn't get any pictures of the girls or Britton, but I'll get some on Halloween. This was after, so my lipstick was starting to disappear, but you get the idea. I got a few votes for "scariest costume," but Britton just laughed at me.

111,111 Miles

2008-10-21T10:51:00.001-07:00

While in St. George, we found out that we have to replace the engine in our van. (I won't get into all of the thoughts and emotions that brought up) Anyway, my little sis and her hubby are letting us use their Pathfinder for the week while the van is repaired. On our way home, we hit 111,111 miles. Don thought that it was an event that needed to be recorded. Of course, he wouldn't be in any of the pictures, but you can see how excited the kids are about it.

A Festivus For The Rest Of Us

2008-10-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we headed to St. George for the Leavitt Family Reunion, 2008 Edition. Don's brother, Mike, was in charge this year and decided to make it a holiday extravaganza. We had a New Year's Eve party Thursday night to begin the reunion. On Friday, we started with an Easter Egg Hunt, followed by a Memorial Day/July 4th/Pioneer Day/Labor Day hike and picnic, and ended the day by celebrating Halloween. We spent Saturday celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas, and even had a visit from St. Nick himself. We all had a wonderful time and are so grateful for the love and friendship we share with the Leavitt family.

The older kids had to do the Easter Egg Hunt "tied" to a cousin.

Britton and Maddy enjoyed the hike...

until Britton got too tired.

That's what you call "relaxed."

A view from the underside. You can see his head resting on his arm which is resting on his leg.

Marathon Weekend

2008-10-12T16:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I'm a little slow posting about the trip, but Maddy, Britton, and I went to St. George last weekend to cheer my little sis in running her first marathon. We went through Koosharem to see my maternal grandparents, Grandma and Grandpa Wickham, where Britton started walking. Chelsi did a great job in the marathon, despite the constant rain, and I was so proud of her.

This is my Grandpa Wickham, my mom's dad. I adore him!!!

It was raining enough that we tried to keep Gracie and Britton protected in the stroller (designed for one). They didn't appreciate the close quarters...

Britton fell asleep in the stroller, and Gracie had to check in on him.

This is Chelsi's fan club after the race. We were all a little soggy (Chelsi was soaking wet), but we were so proud of her!

We had a chance to visit with Don's parents. Britton just loves Grandma Jani.

Kid Tag

2008-10-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Emily. You ask your kids these questions and record their answers. Don wanted to be part of it, too...

1. What does Mom always say to you?
Sydni - "Put the book away and do what I asked"
Kenzie - "It's the tone in your voice..."
Emma - "Stop fighting"
Maddy - "Do your dishes job"
Don - (answer edited for the purpose of this blog)

2. What makes Mom happy?
Sydni - me making dinner
Kenzie - Daddy
Emma - Britton
Maddy - breakfast in bed
Don - peace and getting her way

3. What makes Mom sad?
Sydni - cutting raw chicken
Kenzie - when we fight
Emma - when someone dies
Maddy - when we break something that's glass
Don - missing Survivor or Amazing Race

4. How does Mom make you laugh?
Sydni - Kenzie "smarting-off" to Dad
Kenzie - Dad "smarting-off" to Kenzie
Emma - Britton
Maddy - me trying to dance
Don - when I (again...edited)

5. How Old Is Mom?
Sydni - 35
Kenzie - 35
Emma - 35
Maddy - 36
Don - old enough to know better

6. How Tall is Mom?
Sydni - 5'6"
Kenzie - 5'7"
Emma - 5'8"
Maddy - 5'7"
Don - just right

7. What does Mom like to do?
Sydni - talk
Kenzie - talk on the phone with Aunt Chelsi
Emma - spend time with Chelsi
Maddy - take pictures
Don - stay busy

8. What is Mom's job?
Sydni - helps kids with math at the elementary
Kenzie - helps classes at the school and takes care of us
Emma - parking lot patrol
Maddy - car patrol
Don - babysitting me

9. What is Mom's favorite food?
Sydni - chicken mushroom chowder
Kenzie - she doesn't have one
Emma - yogurt
Maddy - Dove dark chocolate
Don - chocolate and polish sausages

10. How do you know Mom loves you?
Sydni - she doesn't throw me in the street when I act like a snot
Kenzie - she helps us fix our mistakes
Emma - she cooks dinner for us and she buys us clothes and stuff
Maddy - she just does
Don - she tells me every day

Now I'm tagging Chelsi, Stefanie, Lisa, Lyndee, Katie, and Kristol.

A History Lesson

2008-10-08T18:59:00.000-07:00

Sydni took part in this year's History Fair with a project on Helen of Troy. Tonight we went to the Junior High to look at all of the displays, and learned something new. According to a project on Brigham Young, when he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on July 24th, 1847, he took a handful of water from the Great Salt Lake, put it in his mouth, spit it out, and declared "This is the place." Guess that means that the statue at the mouth of Immigration Canyon should really be out by the lake...

And He's Off...

2008-10-03T14:57:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday night, Britton took about five or six steps - the farthest he has walked so far. He even stood up in the middle of the room and took a couple of steps. And then yesterday, he just took off! He is now walking across whole rooms, turning around, and walking back. He still looks a bit like a drunk sailor, but it's dang cute!!!

Kenzie's Birthday

2008-10-01T16:12:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Mackenzie turned 12 years old. It was a great day, and I am excited for this new phase in her life, but it makes me sad that my kids are growing up so fast. She didn't want any regular ol' birthday cake this year. No, she wanted a chocolate cheesecake. I have never made a baked cheesecake before (I have the yummiest no-bake recipe), but I think it turned out pretty good. Nobody complained while eating it, anyway.

Her number one birthday request was a new comforter for her bed. Guess the cute little girlie one just won't do when you're twelve. She wanted one with no pattern - just a dark purple or blue.

Nothin' Like Mountain Air

2008-09-23T15:40:00.000-07:00

We were invited to join our friends, the Johnsons and the Webbs, for dinner at the Johnson family cabin on Sunday night. It was up Millcreek Canyon - what a beautiful drive. We had yummy food and fabulous company.

Emma, Maddy, and Kenzie had fun with the Johnson kids in the "fort."

Sydni, Kristol, Britton, and Stephen put the finishing touches on dinner.

Britton loves being outside.

Emma found a handy place to rest halfway up the hillside.
Maddy was getting a little tired by the end of the night.

The Gift of Music

2008-09-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our friends, Chris and Melanie Hall, Don and I got the opportunity to attend a wonderful concert Friday night. It was the Utah Symphony and Mormon Tabernacle Choir, with special guests Denyce Graves and Brian Stokes Mitchell held at the Conference Center. It was absolutely wonderful!!! The Utah Symphony and MoTabs were awesome, of course, but Brian Stokes Mitchell made the night for me. Denyce Graves is an opera star, with a wonderful voice, but she just sang the songs beautifully. Brian Stokes Mitchell is a Broadway star, and he "shared" the songs with us. It was like he was singing each song from his heart and so many of them touched my heart. My favorite was one called "New Words." It was written by a man named Maury Yeaston when his son was a baby. It is about teaching your child new words, like moon, stars, and love. It brought tears to my eyes. I'm going to try to find it on I-Tunes and then try to add it to this blog. It was also neat when the MoTabs did an Armed Forces Salute. They sang all of the songs from the different branches of the armed forces, and then had all those who were serving, or who had ever served in that branch, stand. It was very moving. It was a great night and a great date with my hubby!

Pickin' Peaches

2008-09-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

My friend, Mary, invited me to pick some peaches from her mom-in-laws tree Wednesday. Since I'm a sucker for peach crisp, I jumped at the chance. Mary took me and our friend Emily over after school and we did our best to clean that tree off. Thanks, Mary!

I got a good shoulder work-out in, too, holding Mary's daughter, Madison on my shoulders to reach some higher branches.

Britton hung out on the porch swing with another of Mary's daughters, Emily.

Good friends and a peach tree. What a great way to spend an afternoon.

Hike Of A Lifetime

2008-09-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, Don and I had the opportunity to hike with my brother, my sister, her hubby, and his mom and brother. We hiked up the backside of Mount Timpanogas, starting near Aspen Grove. It was fun, and beautiful, but also the hardest hike I have ever done. We were up so high that we could see into Heber Valley. We even passed the tree line. After four hours, we made it to Emerald Lake, and decided that was far enough for the day. We will have to try for the summit another day. It took us another three hours to make it back down. There is a beautiful waterfall about one hour up that we want to take the girls back to see. It was great spending so much time with Don and my siblings, and I can finally walk up and down stairs without having to hold on to the rails.

Back In School

2008-09-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

We are in a year-round elementary, so Kenzie has actually been back in school for 5 weeks. Emma and Maddy started 2 weeks ago, and Syd has been back for 1 week. That's right - we will be on three different school schedules this year. I really wanted Kenzie to have the A-Track teacher for 6th grade, but Emma and Maddy needed to have the D-Track teachers for 5th and 3rd grades, respectively. I'm sure it will keep me on my toes this year!

The Rambler

2008-08-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

So, Don and I took Mackenzie to the car show at Thanksgiving Point today. There were some incredibly beautiful cars and we had a great time. It also took me back... Kenzie was asking about a car with a clutch that didn't appear to have a stick shift. Don pointed out that the gear shift was actually located on the stearing column. I flashed back to my days of driving our old station wagon - The Rambler - with a column shift. Those were the days... driving is just too easy now.

Maddy's New Haircut

2008-08-16T18:43:00.001-07:00

Maddy got her hair cut today - 8 inches on the floor of Supercuts. I love it, but I think it makes her look too old. She is a beauty!

Yummy

2008-08-16T06:41:00.000-07:00

I tired a new recipe, with rave reviews, so I thought I'd pass it on. I wish I could thank whoever gave me the recipe, but it's one of those I've had forever and finally got around to trying. Don likes to change the names of recipes, so he's decided to call this:

"You Got Chocolate On My Peanut Butter" Bars

2 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 cups powdered sugar

1 cup melted butter

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz)

Combine crumbs and sugar. Mix together p.b. and butter and then stir into crumb mixture. Pat into 9 x 13 inch pan and chill for 20 minutes. Melt choc. chips and spread over the top. Chill again until chocolate is firm. Cut and serve. (if chocolate is too hard, it will crack; so if it has been chilling too long, pull it out of the fridge for a bit before cutting)

ENJOY!!!

Do Fires Run In The Family?

2008-08-11T18:05:00.000-07:00

I ask this question because my lil' sis had a kitchen fire last week. She was very brave and took care of it before it caused any serious problems. Today I had my own little adventure involving our Fiat. I was on my way to Smiths when the car stalled just before the intersection at 4100 South and 6000 West. When I tried to restart it, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. I ordered Emma out of the car and had her call Don to find out how to open the hood. Just then I noticed that the paint on the hood was starting to bubble, so I figured there had to be flames under there. I was so blessed to have a nice man with a cool head stop and help me. He ran to the house across the street, grabbed their hose, and put the fire out while I was calling 9-1-1. Another man who lives just up the street came down and helped, too. Just as they got the flames out, a small fire truck (SUV) pulled up. We surveyed the damage - mostly charred wires and damaged paint - so it was pretty minimal. I'm so grateful that man came along or we could have lost the whole car. Thank you, Mark Hansen, whoever you are!!! The man living up the street even brought his truck down and towed us home. There are still wonderful people living in this world!

Rear Facing

2008-08-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

That is how Britton will be riding in the car for a lot longer, apparently. We had his one-year check up today and he is only 15 lbs. 14 oz. He's so light that he's a good 1/2 inch below the lowest line on the chart. How does he do it? The kid eats more than Maddy. The doctor was ready to start lab work to find out what is wrong with him until I told him the other girls were all around 16 pounds at one year. I am now supposed to add Carnation Instant Breakfast to his whole milk and have him drink that all day (no juice or water). Then we go back in 6-8 weeks for another weight check. If he was a fussy baby or laid around lethargic all day I might worry more, but the kids obviously doing okay. And his height is in the 40th percentile, so he is continuing to grow there. We just make 'em skinny, I guess...

How Sweet It Is...

2008-08-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I heard about a contest on a local radio station to win tickets to the James Taylor concert at the Usana Ampitheatre. You had to "unscramble" three of his songs that were playing at the same time and then be the right caller. I am a HUGE fan, so I tried, unsuccessfully, for several days and then finally made it through on the last day and won! Then everybody who had won tickets was put in a drawing for front row tickets and I won those - YEAH! Well, last night was the concert and it was amazing!!! James Taylor is FABULOUS and we were so close - less than 20 feet away. What an amazing night!

How Quickly A Year Goes By

2008-07-30T08:15:00.000-07:00

Our boy turned 1-year old in July! He didn't really get presents, although he loved playing with them, but he definately "got" birthday cake!

The First Half of July...

2008-07-29T20:25:00.000-07:00

We had a busy, but awesome, month of July. The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday. We spend it with my family at Sugarhouse Park each year - playing games, eating, and hanging out until the awesome fireworks show. The next day was Maddy's baptism. We had a lot of wonderful friends and family there to support her and we are so grateful for all of them. She looked beautiful and we are so proud of her!After that, we got to have my sister and her two daughters stay in Salt Lake and play for a week. We had a lot of fun, including a trip to the zoo. This one was a lot drier than our Memorial Day excursion.

Sweet Boy

2008-07-16T08:57:00.000-07:00

I have alot of pictures to post of the last two weeks' activities, but I only have a moment and I wanted to share a sweet story with you. We have a very handicapped girl in our ward who is 18 years old, but is about the same mental level as Britton. In Relief Society, Britton was on the floor rolling a small ball around, when he pushed it over to the foot of her wheelchair. She leaned over and was trying to grab it, but it was just out of her reach. She kept reaching, but couldn't quite get it. Britton saw her, crawled over and picked up the ball, and handed it to her. It was one of the sweetest things I've ever seen... I love that kid!