Youth Conference

Youth Conference took place during winter since summer is so busy. There was no school on a Friday so they did it that weekend. The youth met early Friday morning for breakfast. They went to the Taylorsville Temple and did baptisms. 

Then they drove to Bear Lake. They had fun playing at a club house, swimming, doing a cold plunge in Bear Lake, playing pickle ball, and other group games. 

Sunday they had a devotional in the morning. Then they had free time to swim, play games or whatever. After lunch they drove to the Jordan River Temple and did baptisms. 

Marshall, James, Lynnlee, and Kade went to youth conference and they said it was a great weekend. I'm so grateful they all got to go. 

Sienna's Galentines

We took advantage of a quiet house (older kids were at youth conference) and invited Sienna's friends over for Galentine's. Not all of her friends could come but we still had a good group. They started off making bracelets with beads or rubber bands. Then they played Bingo. They loved it so much that they played for a very long time. I was the caller but then Tag got home from his friend's house and he took over as caller. He enjoyed it. 

We had chips, pretzels, brownies, popcorn and lemonade for snacks. They played charades, wally ball, and some other games the rest of the night. They were an energetic bunch but they all got along and there was no drama. The party was from 6-10 so it was a good party. 

Lynnlee FCCLA Regions

Lynnlee completed at Regions. She and Paige did a project together. It was based around physical fitness. James was their athlete that they tested their project on. It was a success. They gave a presentation about it. It went very well and they got Gold! 

Ice Skating Youth Activity

The youngest YM and YW classes went ice skating together which meant that Tag, Sienna, and Marshall went to the activity. They had a fun time!

Pink Box

Pink Box donuts to me reminds me of fun trips to St. George to soccer tournaments. It represents happy times with my kids. So when Pink Box opened by my house I really wanted to go to the grand opening, even though I can't eat anything. I talked my kids into going. There was a massive line wrapped around the building. The people in front of us told us it was probably about an hour and a half. So we decided to wait in line. We took turns at the photo booth, getting balloon animals, and just hanging out. It is next to In & Out so Kade went over and bought himself lunch. Lynnlee got a lemonade. We had a fun time hanging out in line. There was fun music playing. 

After an hour and a half, we were only half way to the front. We decided to cut our losses and leave. We also asked people who were leaving with their donuts and they had waited 4+ hours in line.!

We went back another night when there were no lines.

Pete's Winter Formal

James asked Lizzie to Pete's Winter Formal. The theme was pajama jam. I found these pajama pants at Target and thought they would be fun for James and his date. The hoodies we found at Five Below for $5!

We knew we were hosting the after party but it wasn't until the morning of that we found out we were hosting Bunco which included prizes. So that took over the rest of the day, finding supplies, borrowing tables, and buying snacks and prizes. 

It all worked out though and the group loved it and then after Bunco, they enjoyed the court, and the rest of the basement.

January Birthdays

We had January birthdays. Lynnlee and Ivy matched at a family dinner so this picture is included in this post.

Lynnlee made this awesome Barbie cake.

The candles make it very funny looking.

Ivy loved the cake. 

Developmental Center

Our stake had the opportunity to serve at the Developmental Center. There was a high councilman in charge and then the stake YM president and I helped coordinate volunteers and youth speakers for the Sunday church service. James was asked by the stake YM president to give a talk. When we showed up that morning, the high councilman asked me who the speakers were. I gave him the names of the youth speakers and then he asked who the adult speakers were. I told him that he had said he was assigning them. I even showed him the text. He said he forgot and then right there asked me if I would speak. I told him yes. Then I frantically began searching and thinking about what I could speak about. We got to the center at 7:30 and the first half hour all of the youth and leaders volunteering were singing hymns. I had time to think back to the week and some thoughts that had come to mind during the week. At the beginning of the week when I had those thoughts I remember thinking that they would be a great spiritual thought. Occasionally I get asked to give a spiritual thought in stake council so I figured I would file it away in my notes app for the next time I had a spiritual thought in stake council. Anyways, as I was sitting in the chapel trying to think of what to talk about, the thoughts came to me from earlier in the week. I began typing them in my phone and then I found a talk by President Freeman that had the perfect quotes to go with my message. In the foot notes there were scriptures that fit perfectly too. I put them all in my notes app and then by the time the pre meeting was done, I had my talk ready to go. The youth then left and walked all of the residents to sacrament meeting. Then sacrament meeting began. The talks all went well and it was a great meeting. Sunday school was really good too and I really enjoyed our Sunday there. The thing that stands out to me the most though is that the Lord has helped me in my calling as stake young women's president and continues to help me. When I'm doing what I'm suppose to, studying the scriptures, praying, listening to conference talks, and going to the temple, the Spirit can teach me the things I need to know.

Wednesday that week we helped with a dance. They didn't allow any pictures but it was so fun to serve the people there.

Sealings

My mom, dad, and I have been going to the temple once a month for the last few months. This month we did sealings. I have a new motivation to print off family names when going to the temple. I printed off a few couples and a few daughters. We had time in the waiting room to look at the name cards. My mom noticed she recognized some of the couples. One was her great uncle. So it was so cool that she and my dad were sealed for him and his wife. I noticed that three of the daughters were sisters. There were enough people in our sealing session to seal the sisters all at the same time. My mom and dad were the parents. I was the youngest and two others were the older sisters. It was so neat and I could feel them there so strongly. Definitely a moment in the temple with my parents I will never forget.

Fill a Bucket

We saw an ad for fill a bucket at Cinemark for $5. I had clinical but Marshall took the kids. They took this green Rubbermaid tote. It was crazy how fast everyone ate the popcorn over the week!

Half Way

I am officially half way through school. The stress of school and life have been so hard lately but thankfully we got a school loan so that has taken a huge weight off of my shoulders. I feel like I can put financial stress aside and focus on academics and getting through school. I started my 5th semester and with that, I started my first clinical rotation. My first rotation is with MMG- Mobile Medical Group. The NP I follow sees patients at two assisted living facilities, one in Sandy and one in South Jordan. I was SO nervous the first time but it went well and I really enjoyed it. I look forward going everytime. Laura the NP is so kind and a great teacher.

I got this new Sunday outfit with Christmas money and am so excited about it. It is so warm and comfy.

Lynnlee learned punnet squares in biology. I have learned punnet squares many times starting in 8th grade science, high school biology, college biology, and even my first semester of grad school. Each time I don't fully understand. I told Lynnlee this. She had just aced her test so she taught me and cleared up all of my questions. 

To keep me pumped, I keep thinking that after this semester, I will have my last summer in college, then my last fall semester in college and so on. I'm getting close and I just have to keep my eye on the end goal. 

Baptisms at the Temple as a Family

We went to the temple as a family to do baptisms as a family as soon as we could. Tag and Sienna got their recommends at the beginning of January and then we went together on Wednesday, January 7th. The earliest appointment was 7:00 so everyone had to go to school a little late but it was worth it.

Before going in

I expected it to be crazy busy there with new youth but it wasn't. We got in and out in a half hour so James and Lynnlee weren't too late.

I will publish this with the date of January 8th but in reality I'm writing this on February 22nd.  Sienna has almost been every week since this day. Tag went a few times in January and twice so far in February. They love it so much!

Random Picture Dump

It's time for a post of single pictures that aren't enough to have their own post. Marshall and Kade went to the temple on the Friday morning before Christmas break.

I helped James and Miles get coaches gifts for the XC coaches. Someone needed to step up and make it happen. I was grateful that I had the time with school being on break.

I found an appointment for Lynnlee to go to the temple with friends. There were seven spots but her friends couldn't fill all of the spots so James and Ryan went too. It was nice because James drove and he and Ryan baptized. 

James went on a date to Peaks Ice arena. It was a fun date because he loves ice skating. James doesn't make it in very many pictures in on the blog very often so even though this was a one time date and nothing major, it needs to be included. 

Our neighbors invited us over for a party. They had this fun chair that reclined when you pushed back.

Tag tried cutting his finger tip off. Ha ha, just kidding. He was cutting fruit and accidentally cut the tip of his finger. It bled a lot and took a few weeks to heal. We super glued it because it wasn't something that could be stitched up. 

I saw James running one morning on North Lake Trail. It was fun to see him!

Sienna wore this cute skirt for New Years.

James took a live picture of Chewie and when he went through the frames of the live photo, this was one of the shots. Haha!

Kade is growing a lot these days. He has almost passed up Lynnlee. Lynnlee is 5'5" and I think she is done growing. 

Family game night. Tag let us all play Plinko with him. 

James bought an ice bath from a friend and set it up on the deck. He has used it a few times. He stays in it for 5-10 minutes.