CHIZMO

14 of the Koala Bears I gave away this last year. I have been collecting Koala's since I was a child. I gave these koalas to someone who also loves them. I am missing one picture. I did not take a picture of the tie. I gave her dad a tie and he surprised her by wearing it one sunday!

I love Upwards Basketball!!!

Will had the best time at the first Practice.

At first I thought Will would hate it and complain and want to quit, but he was so excited! I think his favorite part was the basketball. They give you your very own green basketball! He also got a jersey, shorts, t-shirt, scripture cards and holder, key carabiner, a CD, car magnet, and other things too. I like it because they have equal play.





Will had the best time at the first Practice.





not really sure why Will and the other boy were just standing there. I think at first they were told to stand there to set up the play and they took it literally to just stand there!

For anyone not fimilar with Upward Basketball, it is
"Upward is a fun, reliable, passionate and encouraging sports experience for boys and girls, in K5 through sixth grade. Upward provides first class, organized and detailed sports programming in basketball, soccer, flag football and cheerleading. Unique aspects of Upward include an evaluation system that promotes equal and competitive teams as well as a substitution system which allows for equal playing time for all participants.Through Upward, children are exposed to quality coaching and sport development. Upward emphasizes character and integrity instead of a “win at all costs” mentality associated with today’s sports world."

TAGGED

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:

• Quiting my job in the smokey dungeon
  
• Taking lots of Pills and shots to get Pregnant
• Having Surgery to try to get Pregnant
  
• Working at Kinko's (again)
  
• Getting an awesome job with a great friend at a law office
  

5 things on my To-Do list today:

• Prepare a lesson for Sunday
  
• Prepare a meal for a family of 9 now (yep that's right she just had her 7th)
  
• Laundry, Laundry, Laundry, Laundry, Laundry, did I mention Laundry?
  
• Clean
• Spending some alone time, folding laundry and catching up on my shows!
  

5 snacks that I LOVE:

• Popcorn!
• Peanut M&Ms
  
• Ferrero Rocher
• Chips (Sour Cream and Onion or BBQ)
  
• Carrots (Raw baby)
  

5 Things I would do if I were a Billionaire:

• Go to Australia and pet a Koala
  
• Take my kids anywhere they would want Madi wants Hawaii
  
• Donate some money to my church
• Build a house with a lot of acreage and give my friends land and money to build their dream houses, so we could all live close together
  
• Make sure my kids didn't have to pay loans to go to college (esp. for 30 years) (the loans not college)
  

I TAG:

Kirsty, Maria, Kim, Megan and Melissa (all of them!)

It's Cookie Time

Madison in her Brownies outfit! Cookies are $3.00 a box. Let us know if you would like any Cookies!

Happy Birthday Mike

Today is Mike's Birthday. We went to church then the kids and I left him there for meetings. I was surprised when he didn't return home until about 3 pm. We then gave him his gift. Then headed up to Toledo. Thanks to Maria and Jonathan for hosting family dinner. I thought it would be easier for Mikes Mom to come if it was up in Toledo due to weather and stuff. We were sorry when Jeff and Denise could not come due to illness (darn flu blug!) Some random photos from the night.

Mike and Jon maxin and relaxin!


Kids enjoying Family Dinner!





I forgot about the cake! Sharon picked this up at Kroger and it is awesome!!!

David Bowman Artwork

David Bowman: has had a passion for art ever since he could pick up a pencil. He loves creating images of the Savior that inspire and uplift. Along with his Christian fine art, David has also written and illustrated a series of scripture storybooks for children titled "Who's Your Hero". Check out his website at www.bowman-art.com to see more of his precious art.



"Innocence"
The Savior tells us we need to become as little children to inherit the kingdom of God. I've often wondered what it is about little children Jesus loves most, and I think its their innocence. They are clean slates, seeing the world and others through untarnished eyes. Their hearts are pure, without the baggage of cynicism and self-doubt. In this piece, I've tried to imagine how a child would act upon meeting the Master for the first time. Without reservation or inhibition, I think he would simply want to play with Him. He would be at complete ease, allowing his pure little heart to soak in the love and laughter of His pure, infinite heart. Its no wonder Christ delights in these little ones and sets them up to be our examples.


"Security"
One of the greatest human needs is a sense of security. In all aspects of life, we naturally gravitate towards anything that makes us feel safe. In this piece, I wanted to convey a sense of complete peace and calm like only the Savior can provide. It's a security that allows us to rest assured, without fear or worry, when we put ourselves trustingly in His arms. Little children have that inherent kind of trust in their parents, so it's fitting that the man and girl who modeled for "Security" are actually father and daughter. They generated
the exact feel I was looking for.



"My Child"
This piece conveys an intimate, up-close-and-personal feeling of the Savior's love. Notice how all the lines draw your attention and point towards Jesus' face in the center. I chose the name "My Child" because the only thing that could compare (even remotely) to Christ's compassion for us is the love of a parent for his/her child. This image is also intended to put things in perspective. Above all, we are God's children first. He allows us the privelege of experiencing parenthood for ourselves and we are entrusted to be the mothers and fathers of His children here on earth.

40 Tips for Better Life

I found this while cleaning out my inbox and thought it was worth the post!

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Sleep for 7 hours a day.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did in 2008.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15. Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. GOD heals everything.
28. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
29. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
30. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
31. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
32. The best is yet to come.
33. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
34. Enjoy life each moment , try new things, don¢t make your life busy saving money for tomorrow when you are not certain about tomorrow, if you'll be still alive or not.
35. Call your family often.
36. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.
37. Each day give something good to others.
38. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
39. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
40. Forward this to everyone you care about

2008

This year has gone really quickly. I can't beleive it is 2009 already. There was so much I wanted to do and I look back and I am a little sad that somethings were not accomplished but I look at how much my children have grown and would not want to change that for anything. So here is a small look into the happenings of 2008!


We started off the year with some fun dancing! Madison as Hannah Montana!
Will trying his best to be cute! And working it I might say!

Will and his 100 day celebrations at school.
Madison Just having fun.
Will having a blast with all the boys at Aunt Alexis's house.
Madison walking the egg, during Easter Celebrations.
Friends and Crafts were a big part of 2008.
The discovery of the Rock Wall!
I love you!
Just spending time together.
They really do like each other.
Always curious!
Almost always posing for the picture.
Lots of Swimming.
And more Swimming.
Some new fun by the Lake.
That's my boy!
How pretty is she!
Climbing Trees.
And again.
Loving the weather!
Time together doing things to make lasting memories.
Lot's of Ice Cream.
What can I say!
WWF and Star Wars

And a lot of fun was had by all.