Here's your sign!

During a recent visit to Oatman, AZ on Route 66 Chris and I saw this sign. Oatman is an old mining town and many borro's were left behind. There are "wild" burro's wondering the one small road of this deserted mining town chewing on everything. I assumed it was a joke until we were wandering down the other side of the street and saw the baby borro's with the stickers on their heads. Oh...how sad...HERE's your sign!

Master Yoda

 

A few weeks ago I had Dawn and her 3 kids over for a play date. We were sitting at the table looking at the new Halloween costume catalog that had come just a few days before. James saw this picture and said " Look mom master toyoda"! LOVE it!

sayings of a sunbeam 2

I went to a jewelry party this week. One of my sunbeams was there. We had a great visit. She told me that she had been swimming that day, and that she wears a life jacket. When she wears the life jacket she can do a "Cannonball" and an "Eyeball" I was really impressed and had to inquire "what is an eyeball?" She said "it is just like a cannonball but way BIGGER and with MORE SLASH!" :) Awesome! Next time I go swimming you better believe I will be trying an EYEBALL!!!!!

Eat, Pray, Love

Chris and I saw "Eat, Pray, Love" last weekend! I really liked it. I could relate to the character. She is searching for herself, for her is because she has always been in a relationship. For me I feel like I am at a new beginning, my baby is going to high school. In just 4 years...which now I know will fly like the wind...she will be graduating. I know I shouldn't be getting ahead of myself but with how hard it was for me to cut the apron strings on Sara (not sure they are completely cut yet) I have to prepare myself. I am starting to have a little more alone time...and believe it or not...I do not know what to do with myself.

I love my children and the wonderful people that they are becoming. It is such a joy to watch them blossom! I thank my Heavenly Father every day that he sent the to be with me!

Great Grandma's Cookies

This past weekend we went to St. George for the Bishop reunion. Wed arrived just in time for lunch. Lunch was sandwiches, carrots and grandma's cookies. As we sat down at the table I looked at the plates of John, Tony and Taylor (the only children to accompany us to the reunion) each plate had at least 2 pieces of pizza and 5-6 cookies. I said "where are your carrots". Taylor said "Grandma's cookies count for about 8 servings of veggies because they are so full of love, so we're good!" So what do I say to that? I better grab a cookie and one to go!

sayings of a sunbeam

A few months ago I got a new calling as a sunbeam teacher (which I love). Sunbeams are so fun and they say the cutest things. On Sunday I had cut out little fish and drew faces and fins on them for a game we were going to play. I layed them on the floor and one of the little sunbeams says "why do the fish have mustaches?" I had to explain that what he thought was a mustaches was actually a fin. I guess I won't be winning any art contests

The meanest mom ever

Well after a 6 month break from blogging I guess I will get back at it. I found (through a friend from work) a funny blog that I thought I would share. It is themeanestmom.blogspot.com I have only read one entry JULY 31 called EXPOSED...so funny! I think as mothers we need to remember to laugh at the crazy things that happen rather than stress about them! I wish that I would have done that more when I was a young mother...well and now that I am an old mother too! So today I am going to share a meanest mom ever story. I had taken Sara (6), Jacob (3) and Rachel (6mo) to the grocery store with me. As we walked up the isles of the store of course they (Sara & Jacob) kept asking for things, and whinning that they want to go home. They were fighting and running off. I finally couldn't take it anymore so I get in the check out line where they continue to fight. Jacob bites Sara on the butt, I am sure she had tortured him first, he yells at the top of his lungs "Sara bit my butt"...I was mortified. I couldn't get checked out fast enough. We went to the car; I loaded Rachel into the car and the groceries into the trunk. I got into the drivers seat and started the car. Sara and Jacob were standing out side the car knocking on the windows, saying "let us in!" "what about us?" I rolled down the window and said "yes children?" Sara said "Let us in." I replied, "why would I let you in, you are not my children?" Sara and Jacob in unison "we are your children, we are your children!!" I said, "Really? because my children don't act like you two did in the store". They said "we are sorry mom!" And of course I let them in.

I think every mom has had those moments where she felt like she was the meanest mom or her children proclaimed that she was the meanest mom. That is a difficult place to be at BUT in order to raise good kids a necessary place sometimes!

Hyrum Porter Banks

 

This is the newest member of our family. Proud parents: Clint & Amanda Proud siblings: Brooklyn, Noah and Emery.
He was born on Friday Feb. 12. He weighed 5 lbs 15 oz. Both him and momma are doing well. Welcome Hyrum!

Jacob's bday celebration!

 

Jacob will be 17 on Friday. My oh my how time flies! It feels like not that long ago I brought that bitty boy home from the hospital. (He was not that bitty at 9lbs. 5oz.) It is hard for this mother to cut the apron strings. And admit that my baby boy is becoming a man. I am proud of the man he is becoming! He has a great sense of humor, he is very intelligent and extremely handsome! Happy Birthday Jacob!

Somebody loves me!

 

 

Cupid came early! Tonight when I got home from picking up Rachel, I had a basket full of goodies! I am loved! Thanks Chris!

4 matches, 4 pins, 1 First place medal!

 

What is pink & black & chocolate all over?

A birthday party for Rachel! Happy 14 Rachie!

Snowballs

Kids say the cutest things. At our New Year's Eve party we had creme puffs. Nicole (Dawn & Dan's 5 year old daughter) said to me; as she ate her 7th or 8th creme puff "these are soooo good...they are full of snow!" Creme puffs are good...and if that is snow in the middle...it DOES NOT melt as easy as snow out side. ;)

Celebrating Emery

Emery (Clint and Amanda's Son) turned 1 year old on Dec 26th. He is such a cutie pie. He loves to have his picture taken. He smiles as soon as he sees the camera come out. Happy Birthday little dude!

New Year's Eve 2009

This is the New Year's Eve party that almost didn't happen. Thankfully my Mom & Dad & Sisters stepped in to save the annual tradition! We had so much food, it was so yummy! We ate and put together a puzzle, played games, laughed, and ate, celebrated Emery's 1st birthday, opened more christmas presents and ate, and laughed some more. At midnight we went onto the balcony and watched fireworks! The little kids all of them made it all the way to midnight!

Dec. 25-27

Dec. 25th was a quite day. Chris and I celebrated by sleeping in...one of my favorite things to do by the way. And then we wrapped and wrapped and wrapped presents. We also went to see "Up In the Air" with George Clooney. It was kind of depressing but I got a good message from it. The message I got was that people that come into our lives do have an impact on us. Then we came home at watched "The Forgotten Christmas Carols". This had the same message...or it was the message that I got from it. This got me thinking about my children and how each of them have special gifts and lessons they teach me. (More about this later) On the 26th we invited my parents to go to the movie "Sherlock Holmes" and then we came home and made a yummy Ham dinner. The kids arrived...AND NOW IT WAS REALLY CHRISTMAS. We ate our dinner and gathered around the tree. Before we started with the frenzied opening of presents I wanted to let them know what special gift they had given me. I started with my parents. My mom is testimony. I have always know that she had a testimony and it has been a souce of comfort for me. There are times in my life that I leaned heavily on her testimony. My dad is service. I have always watched my dad doing good things for others. He is just that way. He has helped our family many times...especially when things have broken down. Next was Mike (Chris' dad). For him I chose leadership. He is a leader with his family and at work. And Debbie (Mike's wife) was caring. The Bishop's are a big crew and she has tried to get to know everyone and connect with them. Chris gives the gift of patience. He is so slow to temper and helps ground me and keep me from getting to impatient. As for Sara she brings happiness. When she is around...there will be laughter and sunshine. Chelsey is obedience...she chooses the right. It is such a comfort to know that your children are making good choices. Jacob is strength. I feel stronger when he is around, almost like a protector. For Tony I chose humor. He has a very suttle sense of humor and he can say such funny things at the most unexpected times. Taylor's gift is friendship. She is such a great example of friendship. She makes friends every where she goes. Rachel Is motivation...I have never met a person more motivated than her. If she decides that she is going to do something...there is no stopping her. For John I chose loyalty. He is such a great example of loyalty to me. I closed with bearing my testimony of how we have a responsibility to share our gifts with others, because Jesus shared the ultimate gift with us.
This wasn't the biggest, best Christmas we have had but I hope that it is still a memorable one for them!

Dec. 20-24

One of the traditions that we love is that we have a family Christmas Party with my cousin Laura and her family. This year it happened on the 20th. The food was wonderful, and with our tummys full we had enjoyed lots of love and laughter. We always do a white elephant gift exchange and that proves to be a lot of fun. On the 21st Chris opened his b-day presents...he was not in a big hurry this year. Maybe he isn't liking that we are getting older. Chris and the boys went to the bowl game (Dec. 22) to watch BYU, but it was very cold and they left at half time. No worries though BYU still won. Christmas Eve we did a little last minute shopping and some wrapping then we drove to Overton for another Christmas Party. This one was with Chris' Grandma & Grandpa Bishop and several of their children and grandchildren. We had more good food...including Grandma's yummy rolls and fudge. We were grateful to be surrounded by family while our children were away.

Dec. 1-19th

It is hard to believe that it has been over a month since I have blogged. But after reviewing what we have done, I realized why...I just have not had the time. Started filling in for my friend Mandy at Dr. Stratton's office on Mondays and Tuesdays. Chris & I attended a Christmas party hosted by Dr. Stratton and his wife Dec. 4th. The girls from the office were missing Mandy that first week, so we scheduled a lunch with her on Dec. 7th. Chris & I attended the annual Harrah's Holiday Party on Dec. 11 at the Rio. But don't be surprised when I say that we were home by 10 and asleep soon after. We can't really do those late nights much any more. Dec. 12 was busy. Rachel marched with her cheer team in the Henderson Winterfest Parade. It had been cloudy and yucky, the weather cleared up right before the parade started and started raining as soon as we got home. Soon after we returned I drove to Hurrican, Utah to attend a wedding reception for my friend Dana's daughter (Brianna). It was stormy and wet but I was glad that I went. Dec. 19 was Chris' birthday. We had lunch at the Pizza Factory in St. George, because we had another wedding reception for Chris' cousin Mandi. Aside from the activities mentioned above we had work, school, cheer practice, wrestling practice, 7 overnight visitors, and Chris flew to Rexburg to drive back with Chelsey.