Utah 48 - BYU 24 - November 22, 2008

Utah 48 - BYU 24

How's that for a score!?!

We had a great day on Saturday at the Utah-BYU game. Branden gave the girl's tickets to his Aunt Maurie and Uncle Larry from Arizona so they came with us. Larry is a HUGE Ute fan and he was SO excited to come. At the last minute Dylan decided a day with the cousins was more fun than a football game (who is that kids mother?) so Grandpa Bailey joined us as well.

We had a fun tailgate party on campus with Grandpa Dave, Maurie & Larry and Aunt Tammy and Uncle Olaf. Good Food, Good People and Good Fun!

What a great game!!!!!!! The Rivalry game is always big and hyped but the game itself isn't all that great to watch. But not this time!! It was awesome. We were on our feet the entire game clapping and cheering. We have great seats on the west corner of the north end zone so we can see everything!!! After sitting together all season we know all the people in our section. So there were High Fives all around.

The row behind us is a general ticket row so of course we had BYU fans sitting there. I was really pleased that our section was really civil and didn't harass them. I know that wasn't the case everywhere. The BYU fans were good too and didn't get in our faces either. I felt bad when the BYU fans in another section were leaving early and were booed and mocked.

For us, it was a really awesome day! I always take the games so personally, even now that I don't work for the U. I wonder if that will ever go away. We'll have to wait a few more weeks to find out where we go for a bowl game but I'm already planning a party! Come Cheer with Us.

GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a Child of God - Primary Program, Nov 9, 2008

Sunday, November 9th was our Primary Program. This years theme was I am a Child of God. As the primary Chorister I have been preparing for this program since November of last year. We sang some really great songs. If the Savior Stood Beside Me was a new song by Sally Deford. I had used her music when I was choir director and loved it! The song was beautiful and the children really enjoyed learning it. We also learned the American Sign Language for I love to see the Temple. It was really fun to learn the signs. I gained a much deeper testimony of the song by learning the signs.


All year we have talked about feeling the spirit. Every Sunday as we sing the Spirit is so strong. I always stop and point out to the children the way the spirit talks to you; Tears, Shivers, Goosebumps, tingles. I have felt very blessed to be surrounded by the children and singing these songs that instantly invite the spirit. I've encouraged the children to sing their testimonies. There seems to be in every song a part that if spoken it would be a testimony. I call it the testimony verse. My Favorite this year has been the last verse of Home CS#192


Home is where our Father,
Who dwells in heaven above,
Guides us in the way we live
And lets us feel His love.


I love that and think of it often. Through these simple words I have a greater testimony that I am a child of God and with that knowledge I can learn, do, & endure all that He asks of me in this life.

We ended the program with "Testimonies of Power". I reminded the children that we share our testimonies in many ways and one is by using the spirit to testify with power. We sang Called to Serve and invited all past, present and future missionaries to stand with us on the last chorus. It Was AWESOME. Reminded me of the MTC or a Zone conference. Then we sang I will be Valiant. This is a song I hadn't heard in a long time but I felt I HAD to teach it to the children. In the program they sat on the edge of their seats to sing the first part and then jumped to their feet when the sang "I'll stand for truth! I'll stand for Right! The Lord can Depend on ME!" I know it is true. The Lord can depend on these valiant children.




Each of the children had their own part as well. Dylan gave a short talk on how the priesthood blesses our family. He talked about receiving blessings when he was sick or before he started school. He talked about learning service from watching our home teachers. It was really sweet. It's hard to believe that at this time next year he will be a deacon.


Alesha gave a part from the song The Holy Ghost. "The Holy Ghost is given to us to guide us every hour". This meant a lot to Alesha as she was just baptized and received the Holy Ghost this past September. And I asked Jenna how she can strengthen her family and she said "I can strengthen my family by loving one another". So that was her part. It was super cute.





I guess it's time to pull out next years primary program booklet.

Daddy Daughter Date - Friday Nov 7th.

Alesha & Branden had their first Daddy Daughter Date for Activity Days at church. Alesha was SOOO excited. She counted down the hours until it was time to go. They had a great time playing games and even "brought home the Gold" for golf. Alesha's favorite part was doing Branden's hair. He had 9 pony tails and a big Pink Ribbon. Not Bad for hair an inch an a half long! Branden was a good sport but the ponies gave him headache! Alesha Can't wait for next year!

Happy Birthday Great-Nan - 1 NOV 08

Today is Branden's grandma's birthday. Nan is either 85 or 86. (It's not polite to ask!) Either way she's getting up there. She's always been an energetic and independent woman but she is feeling and showing her age. After her party today she spent the afternoon at the REAL Salt Lake Soccer game!!

We are happy that she is still with us and I am especially grateful that my children have a great-grandma that they will remember.

Last year Nan came to our house to watch General Conference. The girls were so excited to have her. They played and talked with her all afternoon. After the session they went out back to swing. It was so cute watching this Nan push the girls in the swing. Notice the purple suit. Nan is a snappy dresser!!

For Blake's birthday last may we went bowling. I was so touched but 4 year old Jenna helping 85 year old Nan. They shared a ball and Jenna was always trying to hand it to Nan. I'm not really certain which is the strongest of the two!

I love this picture! Dylan at 10 is nearly the same height as Nan and 85.

Happy Halloween 2008!

Happy Halloween!!

Last year I made the kids Halloween costumes. I guess I was still burned out because this year I just didn't want to deal with it at all! So we pulled out the costume box and I let the kids go through all the costumes from years past and choose what they wanted to be this year. It was really fun and less of a headache coming up with something to wear. I did have an unforeseen consequence though. The kids had so many options that they did their best to wear a different costume to every Halloween event! It was a bit crazy but I think we all had fun!


Every 5 or so years Branden and I buy or make costumes and then stick with that for the next 5 years. Good thing it's the pirate years and not the Hawaiian Hula w/ coconut bra years!


For Halloween Day Jenna chose her pirate costume from 2 years ago. We had to add some pants as the dress was OBVIOUSLY too short! Over the holiday time Jenna also dressed as Alice in Wonderland, Tigger and a Dalmatian.



Dylan is forever Yoda! During the summer of 2007 Dylan worked had to earn money for the ultimate light saber from Brookstone (comes with display stand). He earned $130 and purchased a fancy green Yoda light saber with neon bulb and sound effects. (Green is Yoda, Blue for other Jedi & red for Darth's (Maul, Vader). See the things a mom has to learn!) Last year he had me make this cloak for him. He's played in it all year and I don't think he even considered being anything else but Yoda this year. When he was like 3 he wore his buzz light year costume night and day for a a year. Then next 2 years it was spider man. Somehow his Halloween costumes have turned into pajamas for the following year! BTW "Dress ups are for girls. Costumes are for Boys!!" Dylan screaming at Alesha as over heard my Mom.

Lovely Alesha! She dresses up everyday in one thing or another. She chose the Good Witch from 2 years ago for Halloween day. She added Vampire teeth and red lipstick from time to time to become a "Vampitch". She wore her genie costume to the ward party. Which was actually Jasmine from the year before. I think she was enamored by the pointy hat ad veil this year.

I guess my kids grow pretty slow or we just figured out how to make the costumes fit from years past.



Branden went to work as "Crazy Utah Man". The black wig goes with Branden's pirate costume. He makes one excellent Blackbeard! Goldman Sachs opens the office one day a year for families to trick or treat. It's really fun for us to see where he works and meet his co-workers. Besides that the kids HAUL in the Candy!

The kids are off track at Halloween and I have always worked so we have never been to the schools Halloween Costume Parade. This year we took the opportunity to go. It was really fun! Lots of Creative costumes, (Lego's, toilets, caged animal). Another great blessing of being a stay at home mom!

Pumpkin Carving - October 30, 2008

On Thursday, October 30th. We carved our pumpkins. We had a great time with the gooey mess.



Dylan found some templates online so he made an awesome skull on one side and a floating ghost on the other. He's not a big fan of pumpkin guts and flicked it off of his hands all over the kitchen. He picked up pumpkin seeds from various places in the kitchen for 2 days!

Jenna also found a template on line. She chose Tigger because she also had a tigger costume. She was really good to poke the holes in the pumpkin to make the outline and then I cut it out for her. She was probably the biggest fan of squishy pumpkin guts!

Alesha has her own style and does her own thing. She drew on a traditional Jack-o-lantern face and then carved out her pumpkin. She also added BOO to the back.

We had a really fun night. I'm so glad we are off track so we can enjoy activities that seem to go on late into the night!

Happy Halloween!