Birthday Fun

So L turned four. I can hardly believe it, he is getting so big. It is strange to see that he is not a baby anymore, although he will always be my baby. So for the past several months he has been telling everyone that he was going to have a go Diego Go party. And that is exactly what he had. I have to admit when it comes to planning my kids parties I am a bit of a freak. For one thing, I always have to have a theme. For another thing, I have to do it for as little money as possible. I just don't think I could have an expensive party for my kids. Not that I skimp, it is just a pride thing almost. Can I have this party for under $25? And that is what I did with L. For Under $25 we had cupcakes in diego wrappers, diego plates and diego cups with chocolate milk. I made 10 gift bags with candy and a deck of diego playing cards for each kid, I bought balloons, a table cloth, candles for the cake. We started the party out making toilet paper telescopes for all the rescue rangers and then set off on a scavenger hunt to find the lost lion cubs. The entire hour was filled with fun, no tears, and little stress. It was another hit. I say another because (and here I have to thank Aly because I could never do any of this without her, and this next comment I am about to reveal was given to both of us) at M's 8 year old 80's surprise party Aly and I had several of the neighborhood girls tell us we should be party planners. So not to brag, but if you ever want to have a fun cheap party, just give me a theme and I will be glad to help you out (of course I may have to run the ideas by Aly for good measure, but that's what friends are for.)
Oh and just so you know, L may be four now, but he still run around in just his undies! How am I ever going to keep clothes on this kid?
So now I get to relax until August when I have another party to plan...Got any ideas Aly? I bet I can do it for pretty cheap!!!!

Family Scriptures...with little ones?

So I will admit that family scriptures study/prayer is not the easiest thing to gather for when you have soccer/piano/yoga/work/homework/housework/bathtime/etc.... to contend with. And add to that the fact that with young kids getting them to sit still for a long enough time to learn something is insane! But I think we have found the key. This little book has been our lifesaver. Each day is filled with a scripture and a small piece of advice from President Gordon B Hinkley. And now that M and C are jut a little older we can actually have them read it, and tell us what it means.
Okay sure, we are not reading the entire Book of Mormon in a month, or spending hours trying to dig through Isaiah, but in the ten minutes we can get the kids to sit and listen, they are getting it. C even makes sure that when I yell for Family Prayer, she comes with the book in hand to do our nightly scripture.
Maybe as the kids get older we can increase our study time, but then again life is even busier for older kids. So I am just glad that we found something we can all agree on, and hopefully remember to let the Savior into each day of the week and not just Sunday.

What kind of Kung Fu are you?

So last night for family night we watched Kung Fu Panda (which is awesome on Blu-ray). My children especially C and L like to choose a character they are in the movie and then remind us the whole way through. So we all picked which one of the kung fu fighters we were at the start of the show. When the movie ended we were looking through the special features and after dancing several times to the music video of "Everyone was Kung Fu Fighting" we found a quiz we could take that told you what kind of fighter you are. It asked questions about your fav subject in school, what you like most about yourself, fav type of pet. Basically it was a personality test. At the end it matched you to your character. So D was the first to take the test and he ended up being a Tiger just like he had earlier claimed he was. I took the test next and was a Crane, just like I had picked. Then each of the kids took it and wouldn't you know it, they each turned out to be the character they had originally chosen. M was a monkey, C was a viper and L was of course a Panda. I just thought it was funny that it matched each of us perfect to the one we already decided we were going to be. So go watch the show(it was worth it) and then find out what type of Kung Fu you are.

What is 33?

For all you inquiring minds who did not know what # 33 on my birthday list was check out this link....Bucca di Peppo. Last year when we went with the family to California, our friends took us to this great restaurant called Bucca di Peppo. The food is good, the atmosphere fun, and it wasn't outrageously priced (trust me we had taken the kids to the Rainforest Cafe a few days earlier and were still wondering why the food was as much as it was.) We loved it and were excited to find out they have one in downtown SLC. But really, how often to go to Downtown SLC just for dinner? We don't, but one day this year we will. I need my Bucca!

Here is to 33!

In celebration of my 33rd birthday I thought I would post 33 things I want to accomplish in this 33rd year of my life. These are in no order, just as they are floating around in my head.
1. Read the Doctrine and Covenants.
2. Get in Shape.
3. Make prayer time more meaningful.
4. Write a book.
5. Get something published.
6. Go to some writing conferences.
7. See the new x-men movie at the midnight showing. (This is a tradition for me)
8. Get more food storage.
9. Be a better flosser.
10. Remember to wash my face every night!
11. Read everyday to my kids (I am great about week days, it is weekends that kill me)
12. Go back to school, for at least one class.
13. Make one friend in my new ward (I am a loser and after a month still no one talks to me. I promise I shower every Sunday, I miss my old ward!)
14. Read 55 books this year. (I read 54 last year!)
15. Make some of those books non-fiction.
16. Spend quality time with each kid each day.
17. Keep my house clean.
18. Help someone.
19. Plant a garden
20. Take my vitamins
21. Take time for me each week.
22. Go on a date with my husband once a week.
23. Make Temple visits a priority.
24. Plan FHE ahead of time.
25. Be a good listener and friend.
26. Write a short story.
27. Get my pictures in order.
28. Save my money.
29. Use a kinder voice.
30. Be active in a writer's group.
31. Learn a song on the piano.
32. Get on a schedule and stick to it.
33. Go up to eat at Bucca di Peppo at least once!

So there you have it. 33 things I want to do this year. Most are attainable, I just have to get in gear and get them done. Some will take more effort than others, but I think all are important. Some more so than others, but hey I am 33 I can do it!