Ideas for Summer Fun....

So along with setting goals and making chore charts, my husband came up with a " I made a good choice jar". We have tried this before but never really followed through. I made a jar that says, "Good Choice Jar", and every time the children make a good choice we put a bean in the jar. They can get as many beans as they are good in a day. They can also get beans taken out of the jar for making a bad choice! We let them choose what they want to work towards and as soon as the jar is full we get to do it! They chose going to the Zoo, so as soon as they fill the jar, they get their wish. I really hope that this will work and help them to understand the importance of obedience and being kind. They have each put three beans in the jar already and man are they excited!!! I'm crossing my fingers that they won't have to take many out.
Here is a link to make FREE CUSTOM CHORE CHARTS, you can pick a character you want, and custom make chores for each child!!! We have been using this site for a long time. It is so fun and so easy!




























I have also been putting a list together of fun, Summer activities ( preferably FREE) that the kids can participate in. I thought I would let everyone know that every Summer, Edwards Cinema ( in Ammon) does two FrEe MoViE DaYs FoR ThE KiDs. It starts June 3rd and is every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the Summer, starting at 10:00 a.m. They usually have a toddler movie one day and a young adult movie the next and I believe they also have cheap snacks if you want! We have done this every Summer and the kids love it. They don't have it posted on their website, but you can go to the theater and they have a sheet of info about it! I just Love Free Goodies!

Another FuN AnD FrEe ActIvItY for the kiddo's is the Public Library's "Lap Sit Time". Iona also has a branch off of the Public Library, so If you live on this side of town it's a lot closer! They usually pick a theme and read STORIES, have a CRAFT, and sometimes a TREAT! My kids love to go, and it is so good for there little imaginations! Here is a link to there website if you are interested in the times. I know that The Public Library, and the Iona Branch are slightly different, so be sure to check.

One of my favorite activities to do is on Saturday's. We go GaRaGe SeLlInG almost every Saturday and I find all sorts of treasures for way cheap. It is so nice to only spend a quarter on a toy for the kids, and they are completely Satisfied! After garage selling we usually hit ThE FaRmErS MaRkEt for some more inexpensive finds! It is open Every Saturday, Memorial Day - Labor Day, from 9:00 a.m-1:00p.m. I love to buy there fresh flowers and peppers for so much less than you could normally buy them!

There is always PaRkS and FeEdIng The DuCkS for a fun and free activity! I know everyone already know about these, but I was wondering If any of you had a favorite park that you like to go to. Our favorites are Community, Kate Curly, and The Iona square because it is close! I love finding new parks to take my kids to and they love exploring new ones as well, so let me know. Here is A fun Idea that you can do at the park. My sister Rebecca taught me this one. Freeze a super hero or action figure of some sort in a bowl over night, Then take it to a park ( Like Community with a lot of hills) and let the kids race them down the hill until they melt! They'll have so much fun with this one I promise.... Plus It's FREE!!! I just read this one last night in the latest Parenting magazine. You can use it at the park, camping, or at home! I haven't actually done this, but it seems like a laundry saver! It's a Popsicle drip protector. All you need is Popsicle and a coffee filter and your set! Just push The Popsicle stick through the bottom of the coffee filter and it catches all of the drips, It's BRILLIANT!!!!! Why haven't I thought of this before!

Don't forget about the FREE WaTeR PaRk in Rexburg!!! I know that they had problems with it when it was first open but they are extra cautious now and it is so much fun. There is also a Cheap merry-go-round ride that the kids love! It is located on 2nd West 2nd South, Rexburg Id.

I think the most important thing is to spend time with our children and families. You can find so many things to do that spark your children's imagination and help them with confidence and self esteem. I am really going to try hard to be less up tight and enjoy all of the simple pleasures in life!!

Here are a few photograph's of my kids enjoying the simplest of things! Here is another quote that my sister gave to me, she's the best!!! It is from Sister Lant's talk from conference, "The most important traditions are connected with the way we live our lives and will last beyond us as our children’s lives are influenced and shaped." Thank you Rebecca, I love this quote!! I hope that everyone has a FANTABULOUS SUMMER!!! Let me know if you know of any other fun things to enjoy this Summer!!

Just my Thoughts...

I have been re-listening to conference on my iPod and I feel so blessed to have such a beautiful family! I sometimes look at my children and I wonder how on earth they are mine and why I was given such a beautiful blessing. I get so scared to think that I am raising God's children and pray that I can somehow, with help, figure everything out! I truly strive to be a better mother each and every day. I try to find ways to better myself and my relationship with my husband and children. We sat down as a family and came up with ways to better our Family life. We made Family Goals, and set up chore charts for ourselves and our kids. I feel like in the Summer it's easy to get into an everyday routine and not focus on the simple things that give us so many blessings. As a family we are going to really focus on the simple gospel truths that have been reiterated through conference's, church publications, and in almost every talk that I have heard in the past year. I feel like those simple things like Scripture Study, Prayer, and Family Home Evening are so important in raising a family and building life long relationships with one another. I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven, for my Family, and for all of my many blessings!

I know you can't read the quote on the photo very well, but I just about cried when I read it for the first time! I have such a close relationship with my brothers and sisters. We all have such a special bond that we wouldn't have with just any one. I hope and pray that my children have the same special bond throughout their lives! Here is what the quote says on the photograph, It is by an unknown author but I fell in love with it!

"To the outside world, we all grow old. But not to BROTHERS and SISTERS. We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time."


I hope you all had a beautiful Sunday and Challenge each of you to set goals to strengthen your family and bring you closer to our father in Heaven!

GiRlS DaY....

Today the boys were off to go dirt biking so we had the day completely to ourselves! Considering the rain, we resorted to activities indoors. We started off the day with a yummy breakfast, Cheesy eggs and toast,(compliments to the chef, my husband). He woke up bright and early to go biking and found time to make us breakfast before he left. He doesn't even eat breakfast!!! Isn't he sweet? As soon as the boys were gone, we started our day of pampering! First, we gave each other makeovers!!! I wish I
had a picture of mine, (Let's just say I had to retouch some of the not so flattering features of the makeover)!! Then we were off to get grandma and go out for a day of whatever Chandler wanted to do! We went to the mall to do some shopping, get pretzel bites, and go to her most favorite place, Barnes & Noble! Then we went to Grandma's favorite store/boyfriend Wally! We tease her that Walmart is her boyfriend because she spends so much time there. In fact if you can't get a hold of her, you can page her at Walmart and theirs a 99.9% chance she's there! We had some greasy McDonald's and did some shopping for my brother's birthday ( Happy Early
B-Day Everett)! When we were finally done in town, we went home and watched Chandlers favorite movie, also mine as a child, "The Wizard of Oz". She knows every word and song! We then went to the basement for some crafting, and might I say we got a lot accomplished!

Here is a gift bag I put together for Chandler's preschool Teacher, Mrs. Long! Chandler picked out what to give her. She chose note cards, bookmarks, cute brads, and life savers. While I was busy making the gift, finishing a frame for Gabe's room, and a bunch of hair things for Chandler, she made cards for Grandma, Daddy and Gabe! We had such a good day. Next time it will just be me and Gabe, so be sure to watch for the post!

More Yummy Recipes..

We had our second blogging recipe group and it was at my house this month! I have been so excited, because those of you that know me know how much I love to host events! I got to use my new dish set Chris got me for mothers day, and i loved it!! I printed off little questionnaires that we all answered as we ate all of the yummy food! The recipe's were all so delectable. You can check them out here on our Recipe link, Cookin Mama's.

Chandler's Preschool Graduation!

My baby girl Graduated from preschool. I know that the graduation was awhile ago, but she officially graduated today. It was her last day of school and she was so sad when I told her. She is usually trying to find any excuse to miss school like I don't feel well, or faking a cough, or something else that is far from the truth, so I was so excited to hear that she was going to actually miss school! Her teacher was Mrs. Long, and several of my family members had her when they were in preschool as well. Chandler loved how social Mrs. Long's class was and says she doesn't have to miss her because she is in our ward and gets to see her every Sunday! She is growing up way to fast and I dread the fact that she will be in Kindergarten! She is such a big helper and brings such a spunky flare to our family! We love you chandler and couldn't be more proud!!

Our first camping trip of the Year....

We took advantage of all the nice weather we had last week and went on our first camping trip of the year! We went up to Kepps Crossing which is only twenty miles from our house. It was so nice to get away and relax. I feel like sometimes I am so caught up with the house and all of the humdrum business of everyday that I don't take enough time to relax and have fun with my family! It was the perfect weekend for camping and we all had so much fun. We had there cousin Brooklyn for the weekend and they were so excited to show her our Camper/"Winnebago", It's not the prettiest thing ever, but we love it and the price was right, free thirty free. All it needed was some TLC!! The shower and toilet even work, SCORE!!! We had so much yummy food! We had Tin foil dinners with Hamburger, potatoes and carrots cooked to perfection, Pancakes, sausage, eggs, and juice, and the crowd favorite, SMORES!!! We also went on hikes, played in the water, and went on an "Adventure", which consisted of collecting rocks, garbage, dandelions, and other miscellaneous items that he kids could find! Chandler found an old Shot gun shell case and "GOLD" (the old shot gun shells that went inside) . She insisted it was a treasure and Gabe was glad to play along! Here is a collage of picture from our trip and a video of the kids had making apple pie in there own camp fire!

" When life hands you mud, make apple pie!"

The Results Are In....

It's been a week and It's time for the Free Give a Way. I had so much fun doing this that I'm sure I'll do another one soon. I used Random.org to pick a winner so that it was honest and easy! CONGRAT'S TO # 14, Brenda's sister!!! Sorry, you never wrote your name on the comment so I sound incredibly rude calling you Brenda's sister! Please write back and leave your e-mail address so that I can get your address. I can even leave them with Brenda if that would work better for you, just let me know! Keep watching for the next Free Give a Way!!!!

Every Day is Mothers Day!!

I think MOTHERS DAY is the best celebrated day ever, not only because I have the best and most beautiful mother but I also love being a mother more than anything else in this world. If you think about it, everyday is Mother's Day! I think that no one said it more eloquently than Abraham Lincoln, "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." Call me a sap, but I can't ever get through that quote without tearing up! I really do owe everything to my mother. I have been so blessed with such a giving mother. I think of all the lessons I have learned from my mother, I love that she has always been so giving of herself and has taught me to not be so prideful in life! Often when I was younger I remember feeling embarrassed to go to the DI for clothing, or to go to garage sales on the weekends. I remember her spending hours of her time making clothing for each of her eight children and Often times she would even make our friends outfits to match ours. I look back now and think of how silly and unwise I was to feel such shame and embarrassment in such a beautiful gift. She has taught me to be thrifty and to put my family before myself. She has taught me that money does not buy happiness and that material things are only of the world. I am proud to say I am a garage sale Queen, and a DI goddess! I find no shame at all in going to either of these and I am so glad that my children would prefer a nice, used toy at the DI over a brand new, expensive toy somewhere else! I have basically furnished my home in DI treasures and I love every second of it. Although my husband doesn't show my same enthusiasm for the DI or Garage sales, he appreciates that It doesn't take the best of the best to make me happy! I love you Mom and I hope to amount to even half of the mother you are! Thank you for teaching me such important lessons in life, you are my hero!!



Here are a few other quotes that I love and wanted to share!

She never quite leaves her children at home, even when she doesn't take them along.
~Margaret Culkin Banning

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln

I wish all of you Mothers the best day ever and challenge each of you to strive to be better Mothers each and everyday!

More Trash to Treasure Fun.....

I haven't had the motivation to blog lately, so I decided to catch everyone up on what I have been doing! I have mostly been dejunking my house and making all sorts of new projects! I made these cute ladder's that hold pictures for my Mother and sister in law. I think they turned out so cute. I hope they liked them as much as I did.

This Table, is one of my favorite projects by far! I made this for my friends mom, for Mothers Day! it turned out way better than I had anticipated and I was so proud of the finished product! I don't want to mention names in case your mom is a blogger, but let me know what she thought!

I am the craft lady in the ward. I hate that name, it makes me feel like some crazy cat lady but I enjoy this calling so much. Our last craft were these candle stick holders. You may have seen mine on my other "Trash to Treasure" post. We all had so much fun making them. I love getting to know new sisters in the ward , accomplishing a project, and let's not forget EATING while doing it all!!!! You girls are all the best!!!

These are the left over 4x4 ends from our candle stick project! I didn't want the pieces to go to waste, so I created these funky coaster's. I thought that It would be fun to do a Give A Way. I have seen this done on other blogs and who doesn't love a free goody? All you have to do is leave a comment ( even if you are a blog stalker, like myself, you are invited to participate!) and in a week from now I will do a random draw and send the winner these six, fun coasters! If they are not your style at all, call me tacky but they would make for a great "re gift" as well! So that is what I have been up to besides getting bigger by the minute! I hope everyone is doing well and Loving life!!