Counting My Many Blessing

The little boys reading together on my bed! Enjoying the time while Spencer is at school!!

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

We had a warm spell between snow storms and the boys got out in the backyard to play together!

Count your many blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly, And you will keep singing as the days go by.

This is a tradition we started last year with Gramzie and the kids love it! Its our Christmas Candy train!

So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all.

This year it was almost 100% mom free design! The boys took turns and designed it together!

Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done!

Some days amid the messes and the fights I feel overwhelmed. But I love this song, because I tryley do feel the storm tossing me around. And sometimes my mind and my heart have a hurt that they carry around.. and its hard to shake it!

But all I have to do is look around me and see all the many many blessing all around me! I have a little board in the living room that says

"Give me the patience to appreciate my Blessings"

My beautiful boys, my hard working husband and the family we created are such a blessing! Not to mention yummy treats, fun notes from friends, crafty ideas, laughing and playing with the kids...

the list goes on and on!

But this song helps me remember to look up and see whats all around me and let the sad feelings go!

When Lifes Got You Down

Wow things are so busy over here!

(Pictures from our trip up to Bear Lake)

BJ's in school and work all day from about 8am-7pm. But this was expected! And he is doing so fabulously well with staying on track and getting all of his homework done and going the extra mile at work!

I am so proud of him.

I am holding down the fort at the house! We are almost all the way moved in, still waiting on some new furniture for the living room!

HURRAY!!!!

If you knew what my furniture looked like before, you will be excited too!

It seems my list of things to do each day just gets longer not shorter! I keep telling myself once we get moved in things will slow down....

But I think I need to adjust my expectations so that I am good with busy! Busy can be fun, busy can be fufilling!

We have already made some new friends in the neighborhood AND my visiting teachers are coming today so there is a few other new friends! The boys have found LOTS of little boys across the street to play with! And our yard is like a magnet because of the trampoline! I LOOOVE it!

When we have 4 or 5 kids over my boys are so nice! All the kids play together and just get creative and explore and pretend! ITS SO GREAT!

I am busy at work on my website for Beautiful Blooms! I have been doing some tutorials on home decor! Its been super fun! I am still learning the art of doing a tutorial!

But it seems that among all this craziness the simple moments when the kids and I go hunting for leaves or all of us go for a drive up the canyon and go exploring are the MOST REWARDING! I love how this new crazy life is teaching me to appreicate the small things we get to do together. And to say to myself and others I CAN DO WHAT I CAN DO!

I have had lots of opportunities to serve in this new ward and ...

It feels so good! It helps me get outside my to-do list and remember relationships, serving the Lord and helping his children, THATS what counts!

I am so grateful for this new chapter!

Here comes the bride.....

This last week we all went up to Boise and then Salt Lake for Chris and Sommers WEDDING! HURRAY! I got to do the flowers so on Wednesday night BJ and the kids and I drove to Boise so that I could do all the flowers on Thursday! On the way up BJ and Spencer started playing the funniest game! So I captured a little bit of it on video! Keep in mind this game went on for over and hour!!!!!

I put all the flowers together over and Sommers family home and had a great time! GB even flew in just in time to help with the centerpieces!

So if you love flowers like I do here are TONS of pics of all the arrangements and bouquets! I didn't get any of the corsages and boutonnieres!

Graham and his cutie bow tie!

Friday evening we had the reception in the Rice family yard! It turned out beautifully! Not to mention Chris and Sommer were SO twitterpated and happy! It reminded me of what it felt like to be engaged and all the excitement and anticipation you feel as you are about to start this new life together! Lets just say Mom wasn't the only one who teared up that night!

The wedding cake and Moms grooms cake! Chris and Sommer made both of the toppers! The one on the mountain is Chris attacking a bear that was trying to eat Sommer! Funny right?

Here are the dances! Ahhhh .....

There were SO many pics I made a slide show for you die hard picture fans!

We drove to Salt Lake and went to the Salt Lake Temple for the Sealing and then had a SUPER SUPER yummy dinner buffet and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building! The food was to die for my favorite was the Salmon and Scallops in this cream sauce! OH MY GOSH! Dad had people get up and tell funny or heart felt stories about Chris and Sommer and then had them take pics with all the different tables! It was such a fun way to spend the evening! Chris and Sommer took a carriage ride around Salt Lake after they left the reception and few of the kids and I went over and decorated there room with candles and goodies! We made it out of there with no more then a couple of minutes cause they walked in as we snuck out! IT was SO much fun!

It was a great weekend! I was so happy to see my Aunts and Grandmas and meet all of Sommers family! Oh yea and I am SO happy for Chris and his new beautiful Bride!

Valentines Photo Journal

It snowed on Tuesday and we went over to Amber's and played in the snow and made Valentines.I made the boys some Valentines Bears! My mom made bears for us when we were little and every year she filled them with treats! I always looked forward to seeing what was in my bear! So I am excited to carry on the tradition! We had a Valentines Party at Ambers on Thursday! We had a great lunch and a pink strawberry heart cake to celebrate Aubrey's 1st Birthday!We made heart cookies and the kid decorated their own cookie box and then they frosted and decorated their own cookie! The boys made a special one for BJ!
Then we had a heart scavenger hunt! The kids had a great time and then they exchanged the valentines they made for one another!
We went to St George so BJ and I could work at the flower shop, we meet Tippy and Noah for lunch. Who doesn't love playing at MC Donald's?
Kritie took Spencer to the Dinosaur Park for his Birthday! He got a new friend, MAX the dino that he has been taking everywhere! THANKS NANA!
We also got to go to the Barnes and Noble for a special story time to see Curious George! Everyone at story time sang Spencer Happy Birthday, and afterwards Cooper was all about going up to check out the big monkey! NOT scared at all, my brave little guy! Spencer was excited to see him too (even though he wouldn't smile for the picture!) He lingered and lingered in the front, he didn't want to leave!! It took A LOT of pleading to get him to say goodbye to Curios George!

BJ, Caleb, Ephriam, and Cade took all of us girls out to dinner at Benja! I had some GREAT sushi and BJ had a really tasty curry!After dinner we went home and had such a relaxing time cuddling and talking! I really treasure the quiet time we have to talk just US! So thanks for making time for me this Valentines Beej! Life is crazy and wonderful and I wouldnt want to be here with anyone but you! HAPPY VALENTINES little family!

Graham's Blessing

On Sunday February 1st we Blessed Graham! It turned out to be to Superbowl Sunday as well but we didn't realize that until we had already set everything in motion! I guess it just shows how much we pay attention to football! We had a busy morning getting all the food prepared and the house all ready! But as soon as we got to church we were able to calm down and enjoy the moment! This is the first time we have had a blessing on a fast Sunday so I was excited to be able to bear my testimony (silly I know!!!) and enjoy the spirit of the meeting! It meant a lot to us to have so many friends and family there to support us! BJ's parents and brothers and sisters came, His Aunt Liz and Uncle Jess, my brother and sister came and lots of friends made the drive to Cedar City to be there! We wish we could have had all of our family there and missed my parents and little sister but we understand why they couldn't make it! And look forward to seeing them soon!

Church went so smoothly! With all the friends and family 11 kids at church but they all shared and played so quietly! Graham even cooperated and sat really quietly while he was being blessed!! He is such a great baby!

The Blessing was very sincere and meaningful! I always write down what is said! I hope its not inappropriate but I want to write it down here so we can make sure to have a record of it! 

BJ Blessed Graham with the help of Chris King, Jess Holm, Ephraim Hanks, Caleb Steele and our Bishopric! The blessing said;

I bless you to: 

Learn and grow in patience, love and understanding.

Seek out the Right and to Look for ways to Serve others.

Be Steadfast and Immovable.

Be Thankful.

Know that WE are Thankful for you, that you are a blessing in our home and to your brothers.

Be patient with your family and to know that you are loved by them.

Graham I do hope that you know all your life how much we love you! How grateful we are that you are a part of our family! I know your calm sweet spirit it so needed in our home and I hope that we can give you as much love and support as we have already felt from you in the short time you have been with us! I am sure great things are coming for you my little Teddy Graham!

Afterwards we went back to our apartment and had lunch! I made 8 different Stromboli pizzas and everyone was kind enough to bring something to share! It was really filling and SUPER yummy!

Cooper enjoyed the Kol-aid! 

BJ's Mom and Dad and Colton all made it. His sister Brisit and her boyfriend Matt and Mindy and here family all came up too!

My Brother Chris came down from Rexburg with his girlfriend Sommer, and Jenise came up from St George!

We had SO many friends come to support us! Megan and Ephraim brought up their 2 boys. Caleb and Steph drove up from Hurricane with Tippy and Gage and Dang and Amber came over before their big Superbowl party! THANKS so much for coming everyone it meant a lot to both of us!

I tried to get a picture of all the kids (we missed AJ, Aubrey and Andy:(  But we did get: Cooper, Shay, Kaly, Gage, Tippy, Graham, Spencer and Noah!

I managed to get a few family pictures after everyone went home! I don't think its possible to get one with everyone looking but I still think they turned out great! 

In the evening BJ had to sleep to get ready for work that night so the boys and I got CREATIVE! We decided to make a fort so we could watch football (for about 10 minutes) and then one of our all time favorites The Backyardigins!! We had lots of snacks but all the boys wanted was Baloney! YUCKY but they love it! 

We got lots of blankets and pillows so we could all cuddle (and of course take a few pictures!!!) It was such a great day! It was one of those days when just being together was like vacation! So much fun and something you will always remember!