Warm Fuzzies. . .

As parents  it is our responsibility  to make sure that our kids understand the importance of service and helping those who are in need, among MANY other things..  Don is always trying to give the kids incentives for good behavior.  Even though they should do good without being rewarded it gets them thinking in the right direction.

We came up with the idea to give them opportunities to earn warm fuzzies ( actually we didn't come up with it, we just copied it),  the  idea was inspired by the birthday gift that President Monson got from some primary children...click here to read the story...to earn . a warm fuzzy, each member of our family has to do a  kind, helpful deed , basically  just going the extra mile. Everyone has a specific color  of pom pom (A.K.A warm fuzzy)... so when they serve someone, they are able to  drop a warm fuzzy into the jar!  When the jar is filled up WE as a family  get a special reward.
 Kids in general are very self centered so this gets them thinking of others instead of themselves,..Besides, we can all use little reminders...right?
   It's amazing how helpful and happy my kids are. I think they are learning that we love those we serve!


I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet       
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind.

Our new "Puppy Love"

Ever since Max passed away,  the kids have really wanted to get another dog.  I have to admit I have  really wanted one too.  We already have Casey, but he only likes Don and doesn't like it when the kids try to love him...he likes attention and love on his terms..  Whenever the subject came up Don would just tell me that if we were supposed to have another dog it would find us.  Well, our neighbor's dog has been known to get out of her fence....one morning last week, he followed Ashlee home (right into our house)from school.  She said to me,  "mom, I sure wish we could keep him"   I informed her that he was ALREADY someone's dog.  Anyway, I took him home and we learned that she (the neighbor) was just fostering him and that she had been praying that she could find him a "forever home"  before she moved at the end of April!  So the Hulet's have another addition to their family!  His name is Benji (the name he came with) and he is just the funnest, sweetest, cuddliest little fellow EVER.  Casey even likes him a little:) .

I think one of the reasons why Don was so easily convinced, was that  he bares such a strong resemblance to Don's precious dog.  They do sort of  look like brothers.

***

But the real reason that we decided to keep him was
  the fact that he found us!!  We sure love our Benji:)!

Conference/Easter Sunday

It was so fun having Easter on Conference weekend.  What better way to celebrate the life and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ!  A few weeks ago our Bishop had  four extra tickets to conference and he asked Don if he would like them...Don absolutely said YES!  The kids, (all 3 of them) never having been to a session of General Conference were SOO excited!! I wasn't able to go because I didn't have a ticket, but I was so happy that they were able to go. 

Ashlee...I can't believe she is getting so big. 

* * Doesn't she know she is still my baby?* *

*Jake and Ashlee*

Ready to go to Conference. . .James being a teenager wasn't really ready in time for pictures, but he did his duty and posed for a quick one.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

 John 13:14 -

Easter festivities part 2

We have had such a busy weekend that it was hard to squeeze everything in!  So while the boys and Don went  to the Priesthood session of conference & then to in-n-out burger for dinner,   Ashlee invited a friend over and they had a little girls night .  They had burgers from Wendy's and then they dyed all of our Easter eggs. 

For every Holiday, we like to do a kitchen craft that  I usually let Ashlee be in charge of.

So this year we made rice krispie treats and then used our cute spring cookie cutters to make our "spring treats".  The girls used skittles and other candy to decorate them.  

I think they had a fun night:)! 

Easter Egg Hunt 2010

Saturday, Grandma Smith had her annual Easter egg hunt and party.  Basically since all of the grandkids (except for my kids)are grown and have children of  their own....it is really for the great grandkids.  This has been a tradition for a long time, and now it starts with another generation. It is so fun to get together and for the little kids to get to know their cousins.

* * *

  We had sloppy joes and pizza for lunch, and then the kids colored easter eggs & decorated cookies.  Then, all of the kids  searched for  eggs.  It is so nice for grandma, we know it takes alot of time energy and T.LC..to put a party like this together.  But she does it because she loves us :)!  We love her so much! !

Some of the girls....

Lora, Marsha, Paula, Leah, Mikayla, Sadie & Ashlee

* *Halle, Mikayla, Ashlee & Sadie* *

Just a few pictures of the fun day!

"April Fool's" & a "Birthday boy"!

 Ashlee and I love April fool's day and playing tricks. For weeks she has been looking on the internet for ideas for pranks that she can play on us.  Well, she found one and pulled it off by herself.   She made grilled cheese sandwiches out of toasted  pound cake and orange frosting.  They looked so cute, and were yummy too!

  Can you tell which ones are the real deal?

Jake and Don...being "fooled" and Ashlee playing along...Wow!  Jake even gave it a 2 thumbs up! 

it also made a fun dessert:)

****

AND.......

We also celebrated Casey's 4th Birthday.  Wow I can't believe we have had him for 4 years!!!  He got a little birthday surprise....

Yep,  his very own real grilled cheese sandwich with a candle on it!!!

Look how patient he is...he wanted it sooo bad:)!

FINALLY!!!! what a lucky dog!

sidenote:  Clifford also had a birthday today ...Happy Birthday to the cutest redheads around...CASEY AND CLIFFORD!!

Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing"

Thursday was the big play!!!  Ashlee did AMAZING, as did the whole cast!  I was very impressed by these 6th graders.  Here are a few pictures from the day:)!

~Ashlee as URSULA~

**Alyssa, Monique, Talia, Emily and of course Ashlee**

These girls all did amazing!

**friends**

**The Cast**

It was a great play, and very fun to watch.  Loved every second.

*P. S. Hopefully I will be able to post some video soon.

A Meal fit for a Leprachaun?

Ashlee was 'in charge' of dinner tonight....so in honor of St. Patrick, she decided that we would have green pancakes!!  There were even some left over for the leprachauns. :)

'Gathering the Wheat'

Tonight at our Relief Society  Enrichment night the theme was 'gathering the wheat'.  Speakers read about how the early Saints(many were Relief Society sisters)  worked so hard to grow and gather wheat to feed their families.  We also had a demonstration on how to make bread and then all of the sisters were given a little loaf of bread.   I  remember when Don and I first got married,  we got a bread machine as a wedding gift.  We would just dump all of the ingredients in the machine and like magic, we would have yummy warm bread.  Many times the irresistable smell of the fresh baked bread would wake us up from a deep sleep and we would get out of bed to have  hot bread and homemade jam for a midnight snack.  Well, we don't have a bread machine anymore, but lately I have been thinking about making bread...and I have to admit I was inspired tonight to actually do it.  However this time

the machine wouldn't be doing the work.  So my question is.....Am I up to the challenge? Will my  inspiration last for more than a day? 

We shall see!!

FREE PHOTO SHOOT GIVEAWAY!

My friend Anna is an amazing photographer! She is having a giveaway for a free photo shoot!  For more information go to her photography blog and leave a comment and take a look at her work.....You only have til the 15th so you better hurry:)!  You  will not be disappointed:)!

A Valentine's day present worth waiting for.....

I am just so excited that I had to share!!!  Don's Valentine's present to me was (Drum roll please)....Tickets to the U2  concert at the Rice Eccles Stadium.  I can't really say it was a surprise, but it was just what I wanted!!!  I was actually TRYING to talk Don into taking me out of the state to see them,  but as it turns out they will be coming to Salt Lake in June....Happy Valentine's day  to ME!!

Happy "LOVE" day!!

We had a very fun and happy Valentine's day.  I "love" this Holiday.  Maybe it's because it comes right before spring, or maybe it's because every year (without fail) I get flowers delivered to my door...but I think I just love to spoil those who mean so much to me. 

We had spaghetti, and heart shaped breadsticks.  Clever, huh?

I also made chocolate covered strawberries.  They turned out better this year. YAY, and  I filled a mug full of hugs and kisses and put a frosted cupcake  and a chocolate strawberry on the top, and a heart shaped straw, it WAS supposed to look like a sundae!  I know, I am just oozing with creativity:)!

Last but not least...Teddy bears for all!!

By the way the idea for the sundaes came really last minute.  I will work to perfect my creation:)!

Happy Valentine's day, LOVE us:)!

Joseph Smith~~~The prophet

A few of my favorite things...

Since this is the month of LOVE...I have been thinking about some of my favorite things, you know, raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.  etc, etc....

1~The sweet smell of Russian Olive trees...It always reminds me of my growing up days and home, to this day, I feel so happy when I smell them.   Kinda sappy, I know!!!

2~Spending time with my kids and doing crafts with them, or just spending time with them.  They make me so happy.(most of the time.

3~Listening to music...I love MUSIC, I can do anything as long as I have my music to listen to!

4~Time alone with my sweetie...  Those days are few and far between lately, So I have to take advantage of  the little time I get.

5~Lunch dates with my girlfriends! (hint, hint)I love spending time with my friends, and the yummy food is okay too:)!

6~Vacationing with my family...especially to the beach or Disneyland. (We're going this Summer.) YAY!!  But really anywhere, as long as we're together.

7~Scrapbooking.  I love, love, love it!

8~Sugar cookies...eating them...baking them, not so much!

9~Watching a good movie....My Favorite is "The  Sound of Music".

10~Playing Rockband~  LOVE it.. especially "The Beatles".

11~Hot Chocolate, with crushed candy canes and LOTS of Whipped cream on a cold, snowy night!

12~A good game of Phase 10....As long as i win ;)!

13~Puppies and Dogs...All kinds ...But big dogs rock!!!

14~Relaxing in a HOT tub, with lots and lots of yummy smelling bubbles.

*** So there you have it "a few of my favorite things!!!(Not necessarily in that order)!

The perfect part:)!

~Every year at Crestview, the 6th graders act out one of Shakespeare's plays, this year they are doing the play... "much ado about nothing",  In January they held auditions.  Ashlee worked very hard learning her lines &  acting them out etc...she practiced constantly until she had them down... she  did a great job with her audition, and she  felt really good about it.  Well she got the part of Ursula, which isn't a main part, but it is a really good part . It was also just what she was hoping for..(you know,not too many lines, but enough), !  She got her lines yesterday, and she has 9 of them.  WAY TO GO ASHLEE!!!!  We are so excite to watch her big debut.