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.

Cousins+Cookies= LOVE

Yesterday My kids and I had the chance to spend the day with some cousins from Don's side of the family. 

Zac and Jake spent the day at Luke's Birthday party,,,while Glenda, who is Don's cousin and her daughter Sophie and Ashlee made, frosted and decorated Valentine Cookies.  We  had so much fun and ate WAY too many cookies:).  It's funny..We just met at Thanksgiving time...but it seems like we have known them forever.  Back in the fall, Don was on his way home from a business trip and he was on her flight, they were always close as children, so it was fun to reconnect with her and her children!

Matthew Reed Smith ~~~1980-2005

It has been 5 years today since our family's precious Matthew passed away! Matthew was my nephew,  who was serving in Iraq, when his helicopter crashed.  30 Marines and one Naval officer were killed.  I always think about him and I am so grateful for the sacrifice he made for me and his Country.  He is a true hero in my eyes, giving his life for a cause he truly believed in.  We love  you Matthew and we know we can thank you in person some day:)!!

I love my Family:)!

I have been thinking alot lately about how grateful I am for all of my blessings.  The greatest blessing I have is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the opportunities it brings me in my life.  In the midst of such turmoil in this world it gives me security & happiness.  Yesterday I had the chance to go to my nephews farewell. I want Brad and my other neices and nephews to know  how proud I am of them, and how much their example means to me & my kids.   As I visited with my family I realized how much I really have.  I was TRULY born of goodly parents, and was blessed with a WONDERFUL mother. I love all of my brothers and sisters and my nieces and nephews. I was really blessed with some great ones. Obviously I love my kids so much, but it's so much more. Because of eternal families, I will be with these people Forever.  What could be better than spending eternity with those we love!!

***These are my greatest blessings..and I  LOVE them so much!!

On the mend...FINALLY!!

So It has been 23 days that Jake has been really sick.  It started the day after Christmas.  At first, we thought it was just the flu, but after about a week of not getting any better, I started to get worried... sooo many things can happen and my mind went a million places.  We took him to the Dr. and they took a blood test that showed that his blood count was high, but the Dr.  was still baffled as to what it could be.  After another week of no improvements,we took him back for another blood check.. his numbers were still high, although they were going down.  I have to say I have been a nervous wreck thinking of all of the possibilities.   Life is so fragile. 

Since October I have had 2  high school friends pass away from cancer (One of them just today).  You just never know!!  I am so happy that Jake is finally getting better.  I love him so much and hate to see him sick.

Please pray for Jacob...

Since Christmas, we have all been under the weather a little....However Jake has been a very sick boy!  The day after Christmas he started the day by "throwing up", (we  thought that that it was just  a 24 hour thing)...apparently not, because here we are January 6th and it shows no sign of letting up.  He asked Don for a blessing, which made him feel a little better and  the Dr. drew some blood to see if they could find something there.  So please keep him in your prayers...It would mean alot to us:)! 

"Out with the old" & "In with the new"!!

Wow, another year is coming to a close, and I just have to ask myself…Where has the time gone?!? It seems like 2009 just flew by. For the most part things have stayed pretty calm, but there have been a few changes that are worth mentioning********


*Out with our old Toyota Corolla….In with our new Mazda 6.

*Out with driving James everywhere he needs to go…In with James having his own driver’s license.

*Out with Primary….In with Young Women’s and Young Men’s.

*Out with eating not so healthy….In with eating healthy.

*Out with church at 11:00….In with church at 9:00.

We look forward to seeing what’s in store for us in 2010.***Bring it on!!!