We went to the zoo with cousins during fall break. Thanks Bonnie! It was fun to see the lions be fed by the zoo keepers. About half of the animals were moving around and fun to watch. It was the perfect weather.
10.23.2019
Spiritual Treasures
The talk "Spiritual Treasures" by Pres. Nelson during the women's conference is a treasure to me. I could read it over and over and learn something new each time.
In it he said, "As you shift your focus away from worldly distractions, some things that seem important to you now will recede in priority. You will need to say no to some things, even though they may seem harmless. As you embark upon and continue this lifelong process of consecrating your life to the Lord, the changes in your perspective, feelings, and spiritual strength will amaze you!"
I have been thinking about this while trying to decide the best use of my time. I feel like for the last two years I have been weeding out worldly distractions. It's really amazing to me that in the beginning there were so many things I THOUGHT I couldn't live without. Now I've realized how many things I CAN live without. Many, many things. Some things were harder to weed out but I feel like going to the temple weekly has made it easier. It's still a work in progress. Weeds seem to grow and pop up everywhere and all the time so I'm still in the process of weeding.
P.S. If you need help studying the different scriptures that Pres. Nelson encouraged us to read then go to this website: https://www.emilybellefreeman.com/inklings
Emily has broken it up in small amounts. It's simple and a great way to study from now until April.
In it he said, "As you shift your focus away from worldly distractions, some things that seem important to you now will recede in priority. You will need to say no to some things, even though they may seem harmless. As you embark upon and continue this lifelong process of consecrating your life to the Lord, the changes in your perspective, feelings, and spiritual strength will amaze you!"
I have been thinking about this while trying to decide the best use of my time. I feel like for the last two years I have been weeding out worldly distractions. It's really amazing to me that in the beginning there were so many things I THOUGHT I couldn't live without. Now I've realized how many things I CAN live without. Many, many things. Some things were harder to weed out but I feel like going to the temple weekly has made it easier. It's still a work in progress. Weeds seem to grow and pop up everywhere and all the time so I'm still in the process of weeding.
P.S. If you need help studying the different scriptures that Pres. Nelson encouraged us to read then go to this website: https://www.emilybellefreeman.com/inklings
Emily has broken it up in small amounts. It's simple and a great way to study from now until April.
10.20.2019
PTA Advocacy Conference
This has been an interesting year for me. I have more time to myself since my kids are in school. I have thought a lot about what I want/need/should do to fill my time. I love the Lord and so first and foremost I want to be doing his will. I love going to the temple once a week. I have done some family history. I am more involved in the PTA which has been a blessing in all of the great friends I’ve made. Amazing women with strong testimonies and the right priorities. 
Last week I went to the PTA advocacy conference. I am the VP of Legislature for the elementary school PTA. My assignment was to go to the conference. So I didn’t go on my own account but because I was asked to. While sitting in the conference there were times I wondered why I was there. Some of the presentations didn’t apply to me and I felt out of place. Then there was a presentation about kindness. It was about a mom who became a hall monitor at Bingham High. While there she noticed all of the kids without friends. They would stay in the cars, corners of the school or wherever to avoid connecting with others. She also described how many kids didn’t have social skills to make eye contact, say hi, and make friends. She saw the problems it caused and decided to make a difference. She started a movement called the Golden Gate Movement. It was amazing how many lives she changed and continues to change. The Golden Gate movement is now in many high school, middle schools and elementary school. I was so touched. The main goal is to be kind a make connections. I loved all of the stories. We live in a world with so much evil and Satan is trying to hard. It’s discouraging.
Then I hear great things like this happening to make lives better and I feel God’s love. These are pictures of the pledge kids make to be a part of this movement.
Crazy Hair Day
Kaden, Taggart and Sienna are all about coloring their hair for crazy hair day. Lynnlee loves finding something on Pinterest. James loves shaving a J on the back of his head. So this year Lynnlee had a spider. Kaden, Taggart and Sienna had a plethora of colors. Sienna also had bed head. It was perfect for her since she has really good bed head every morning.
Unfortunately James didn’t get to participate this year. He needed tooth surgery and the only day available was the same day. He has had to sacrifice a lot this year.
Witches Tea Party
Lynnlee and I got to go to a witches tea party for activity days. She had a witch costume from 2 years ago that still fit. I just wore a bunch of black and found a hat in the dollar aisle at Target. The gym was decorated with Halloween decor. The center pieces were very cute and festive.
We played a Halloween emoji game while we ate lunch. Then there was a witch cackle contest. Lynnlee and I weren’t bold enough to enter but we definitely enjoyed watching. We practiced when we got home because we had never tried to cackle before. We had a good laugh practicing.
The lady who hosted the tea party was a sister to one of the activity day leaders. She was a great host. She had the role of a witch hostess down. She even had a real pet cochroach.
10.17.2019
Random
Here is the quarterly random post with all of the photos that would take too long to post separately.
We went to the Museum of Natural Curiosity. The traveling exhibit was a really fun way to learn about the first colonies in America.
Sienna is not into soccer like everyone else. She tried dance and didn't like it and now she is trying tumbling. She goes right after lunch once a week. Taggart and I wish we could go out on the mat and do it too.
Five little monkeys playing at the park.
I was a chaperone for Lynnlee's field trip to Camp Floyd. I didn't know what and where Camp Floyd was and now I know a lot. It was a fun day!
Taggart is the only one who can stand in a locker without bending.
We pulled out the Halloween stuff and played bean bag toss with the ghosts.
Sienna is learning how to do back bends. Lynnlee started dance and does back bends at class. They both practice their back bends in random places.
We haven't used our Get Out pass too much since soccer started. We lucked out and had one free night so we went to Jump Around Utah.
Lynnlee is such a nice big sister to play and read to Taggart and Sienna in the mornings before school.
James can be found on this yoga ball a lot. You can also find James reading a book.
We pulled out blocks, puzzles and mosaics to keep our hands busy during conference. James built a temple.
Laundry day!
James had a blood draw at Primary Children's outpatient lab. The kids really wanted to go on on the bridge. The minis thought it was so cool walking over the road.
Crazy sock day at school!
We went to the Museum of Natural Curiosity. The traveling exhibit was a really fun way to learn about the first colonies in America.
Sienna is not into soccer like everyone else. She tried dance and didn't like it and now she is trying tumbling. She goes right after lunch once a week. Taggart and I wish we could go out on the mat and do it too.
Five little monkeys playing at the park.
I was a chaperone for Lynnlee's field trip to Camp Floyd. I didn't know what and where Camp Floyd was and now I know a lot. It was a fun day!
Taggart is the only one who can stand in a locker without bending.
We pulled out the Halloween stuff and played bean bag toss with the ghosts.
Sienna is learning how to do back bends. Lynnlee started dance and does back bends at class. They both practice their back bends in random places.
We haven't used our Get Out pass too much since soccer started. We lucked out and had one free night so we went to Jump Around Utah.
Lynnlee is such a nice big sister to play and read to Taggart and Sienna in the mornings before school.
James can be found on this yoga ball a lot. You can also find James reading a book.
We pulled out blocks, puzzles and mosaics to keep our hands busy during conference. James built a temple.
Laundry day!
James had a blood draw at Primary Children's outpatient lab. The kids really wanted to go on on the bridge. The minis thought it was so cool walking over the road.
Crazy sock day at school!
10.16.2019
Downton Abbey
We have started a new tradition of going to dinner and a movie to celebrate Betsy's birthday. Last year we saw Little Women. This year it was so perfect that Downton Abbey came out so we had a fun chick flick to see. We had dinner at R&R BBQ. Yum!
Then we made a necessary stop to get movie treats.
The movie was sooo good! The night couldn't have been any better. I have said this before but times with family are like a glimpse of heaven. It's just so sweet and priceless to spend time with my mom and sisters.
Then we made a necessary stop to get movie treats.
Favorite Meal
When Jameson started his elimination diet it was so hard to find meals that didn't include dairy and gluten. We started eating more sea food because it was yummy to eat without sauce. This dish only needs coconut oil, garlic, diced onion, rice, veggies, shrimp salt and pepper. It is soooo yummy!
Now fast forward to a month and a half later when James was still having stomach problems even with all we were eliminating. I took James to a GI doctor. After explaining his story the doctor diagnosed him with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She put him on a new diet/food elimination plan. It is called FODMAP (Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols). These foods are the most likely to trigger bad abdominal symptoms. Too bad this yummy dinner has a lot of those foods so we have had to revise this dinner.
James was eating a lot of FODMAP foods. Honey, peaches, pears, apples, watermelon, broccoli, onions, garlic, yogurt, beans, green beans, peas. So it makes sense that he wasn't seeing much relief when he was still eating foods that were causing bad abdominal symptoms.
He has been on FODMAP food elimination for 3 weeks now. Some of those foods he was already avoiding like dairy and gluten and those foods he has avoided for three months. He is a trooper!
The goal is in 1-2 more weeks he will try to add foods back one at a time and see what he can tolerate.
The good news is that he has been feeling better on this new diet. He is actually getting to school in the morning on time, mostly. He can get through school. He can make it through practice without having a bathroom emergency. We have been able to drive without stopping at a honey bucket. It's so nice to finally see some improvement.
Now fast forward to a month and a half later when James was still having stomach problems even with all we were eliminating. I took James to a GI doctor. After explaining his story the doctor diagnosed him with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. She put him on a new diet/food elimination plan. It is called FODMAP (Fermentable Oligo-Di-Monosaccharides and Polyols). These foods are the most likely to trigger bad abdominal symptoms. Too bad this yummy dinner has a lot of those foods so we have had to revise this dinner.
James was eating a lot of FODMAP foods. Honey, peaches, pears, apples, watermelon, broccoli, onions, garlic, yogurt, beans, green beans, peas. So it makes sense that he wasn't seeing much relief when he was still eating foods that were causing bad abdominal symptoms.
He has been on FODMAP food elimination for 3 weeks now. Some of those foods he was already avoiding like dairy and gluten and those foods he has avoided for three months. He is a trooper!
The goal is in 1-2 more weeks he will try to add foods back one at a time and see what he can tolerate.
The good news is that he has been feeling better on this new diet. He is actually getting to school in the morning on time, mostly. He can get through school. He can make it through practice without having a bathroom emergency. We have been able to drive without stopping at a honey bucket. It's so nice to finally see some improvement.
Swiss Days ~ Labor Day
We went to Swiss Days Friday and picked up Drew. We went to my parent's house to eat. This is how excited all of my kids were to see Drew. Then we went back to Swiss Days and walked around the booths.
James and Marshall ran the Swiss Days 10K on Saturday morning. They each took first in their age group. James improved his time drastically since last year. He trained a lot more this year. It's even more amazing because he did a colon cleanse a few days before the race.
We loved seeing my dad in the parade with the M&M Band.
Going to the parade with my mom and Betsy was so much fun!
Ali had a booth next to the quilt shop. Lynnlee and I had a good time working in the booth. Lynnlee was a great sales woman and was not afraid to talk to strangers and tell them about Pillo Plush. She sold a lot of product by just talking to people as they went by.
We were so grateful to have cousins sleep over Sunday night! We love cousin sleep overs!
Monday we went to a fun park in Eagle Mountain. It's called Cory B. Wride Memorial Park.
This picture was taken a week before but I included it in this post.
The play ground is unique and spans a large space and with the splash pad there is plenty to do.
James and Marshall ran the Swiss Days 10K on Saturday morning. They each took first in their age group. James improved his time drastically since last year. He trained a lot more this year. It's even more amazing because he did a colon cleanse a few days before the race.
We loved seeing my dad in the parade with the M&M Band.
Ali had a booth next to the quilt shop. Lynnlee and I had a good time working in the booth. Lynnlee was a great sales woman and was not afraid to talk to strangers and tell them about Pillo Plush. She sold a lot of product by just talking to people as they went by.
We were so grateful to have cousins sleep over Sunday night! We love cousin sleep overs!
Monday we went to a fun park in Eagle Mountain. It's called Cory B. Wride Memorial Park.
This picture was taken a week before but I included it in this post.
Arrow of Light
Jameson is one strong and resilient boy. He has had many trials over the last sixth months that most kids his age don't have to go through. Jameson has had stomach issues as I mentioned in a previous post. He wasn't having much relief on his strict elimination diet. We did a colon cleanse a few days before Labor Day hoping to help him with some of his symptoms. When we planned his cleanse I completely forgot about Pack Meeting and that he was getting his Webelos and Arrow of Light. We said many prayers and thankfully James was able to make it through the awards portion of the Pack Meeting.
It was so great in May when James told me that he wanted to earn his Webelos and Arrow of Light before his birthday. I kind of expected him not to care since scouts would be ending. He sat down with me one Sunday and we made a list of all that he had to do. He worked on each item over the next month and with the help of his amazing leaders he completed everything.
It was so great in May when James told me that he wanted to earn his Webelos and Arrow of Light before his birthday. I kind of expected him not to care since scouts would be ending. He sat down with me one Sunday and we made a list of all that he had to do. He worked on each item over the next month and with the help of his amazing leaders he completed everything.
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