End of Summer ramdon FUN...

School starts in less than two weeks. We've been having a lot of fun doing all sorts of things! The beach, Baseball games, (I'll blog that tomorrow) school shopping, playing Wii, Dance parties... and listing to lots of music. One of my favorite moments that i forgot to blog about was on the Thursday before the kids and I went to PA to visit my family.

I had mentioned that...the Young Women in our ward hosted a babysitting night so parents could go have a night out! (genius!) what i left out was, when we were driving over to the ward building our back seat DJ (Caitlin) requested Justin Bieber with the windows rolled down... As we got closer to the ward building she said, "Hey quick, turn it up real loud!!!"

I'm only glad we were the first ones in the parking lot! She's so funny!

SO, on to more resent things...
The kids and i went to Kroger (super grocery store, to get a few ingredients for dinner) and they were being so good i told them they could get slurpees!) Well, they didn't exactly walk out of that store like i had planned, holding their cheep frozen treat...
they walked out with pillow pets and big smiles on their faces! 2 unicorns (or "Corns" as Brinley says...) and one puppy. Will actually wanted to get a purple hippo... but i made him take it back and get something manly!
I made this fabulous purchase at Goodwill the other day! J had the kids and walked in looking for picture frames for a project you'll see below... and i found this... Totally fun for someone for Christmas! They LOVE the "Granch" and it will be a fun addition to our Christmas decor. I remember when i was in high school working at CVS (late 90's), we sold these there... who knew some 13 years i would own one?? love it.
Brinley, more dress up....
I also did something special with Brinley's hair this week... it looked super cute!
the back...
finally finished my Sewing machine cover!! So Happy with the way it turned out!
Last Saturday I took some of my dried goods to the church, where they were having a Mylar packing party!! It was wonderful to get a few things "packed, sealed and saved" for another day!! These bags, when adding an oxygen packet and sealed with the right machine can double the life shelf of most foods, and keep nutrition value!! so great!
I packed 16-1 gallon bags worth of food...

-dried beans
-veggie soups
-quinoa
-pasta
-pancake mix
-wheat
-oats

***only thing i wish i had taken some chocolate and candy!! (next time!)***

Another great project I've been working on... Putting pictures of Temples in the kids rooms!

In April 2011 General Conference, President Monson gave a talk titled "The Holy Temple-- a Beacon to the World.

The message was strong and very moving to me, one part in particular:

"To you parents of young children, may I share with you some sage advice from President Spencer W. Kimball. Said he: “It would be a fine thing if … parents would have in every bedroom in their house a picture of the temple so [their children] from the time [they are] infant[s] could look at the picture every day [until] it becomes a part of [their lives]. When [they reach] the age that [they need] to make [the] very important decision [concerning going to the temple], it will have already been made.”

Our children sing in Primary:

I love to see the temple.

I’ll go inside someday.

I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

I’ll promise to obey.

I plead with you to teach your children of the temple’s importance.

The world can be a challenging and difficult place in which to live. We are often surrounded by that which would drag us down. As you and I go to the holy houses of God, as we remember the covenants we make within, we will be more able to bear every trial and to overcome each temptation. In this sacred sanctuary we will find peace; we will be renewed and fortified."

LOVE IT!!!

When we were in Utah this summer, I was at Deseret Book with Lindsey and Terese, and picked up a few pictures with this in mind! Then, last week I went to Goodwill to find some picture frames.

For Mr. William Adams
Mesa Arizona Temple:

For Miss Caitlin Rose
Salt Lake Temple
For Miss Brinley Jayne
Laie Hawaii Temple

Already, I've noticed that there is a warm spirit given by seeing these beautiful Temples in our home. For as Pres. Monson states,"Temples are more than stone and mortar. They are filled with faith and fasting. They are built of trials and testimonies. They are sanctified by sacrifice and service."

It's so sweet (and brings a smile to my face) to have Brinley look at the Temple on her wall and say, 'Tempbol! At age 2, she already knows how special they are!

To read the full Conference Talk click HERE

Yesterday, we had a little friend join us for the day, while his mommy went to the D.C. Temple for a friends Own Endowment and Sealing! Grant-Man was so much fun, here he is enjoying Elmo's World!! He also experienced the Earthquake with us, but he and Brinley slept right through it!
milk mustache
Justin with his hard-earned SunTrust t-shirt. (Guess now it's time to look for another place to collect t-shirts from) har har
and finally, Caitlin sitting in the cat's basket...
Oh the fun we have!! what will tomorrow bring??