My chickies

So I looked back and noticed that I hadn't update on the chickens in a while.  They are currently laying quite nicely due to Lance putting a lamp into the chicken house to wake them up early in the morning.  Lance also put in a heat lamp so they are pretty much the most pampered chickens on the block and that is saying something since we have quite a few neighbors who keep chickens.  I am hoping to get 4 more chicks this spring to round out our flock to an even 10.  I am not sure Lance would agree but I don't regret getting the chickens one bit.  Even if caring for them in the winter isn't always a cake walk.  Blowing chicken poop is not fun! I haven't taken pics of them lately because the weather has been yucky but I am going to post some pics I took at the end of summer.  

Hannah and her friend Alexis with Hannah's chicken Goldie - she is a  Buff Orpington

My chicken Jane Austen and JJ's chicken Black Hole - Jane is a Silver Laced Wyandotte, Black Hole is a Plymouth Barred Rock

Hannah with Lance's chicken Roc - she is an Australorp

Grandma J's chicken Princess Buttercup - she is either a Sicilian Buttercup or a Golden Campine

Asher's chicken Chickie right after laying the egg at her feet - she is Black Star

So here's my wish list for the new chickies.  I would like a Gold Laced Wyandotte to go along with my Jane.   I would also like a chicken that lays green or blue eggs so that would be an Ameraucana or Easter Egger.  A Rhode Island Red might be nice too.  You just don't know what the feed stores are going to get in until you go there.  I am leery to try and order them online.

re-creation

So I was too busy running around like a chicken with it's head cut off the day of Hannah's baptism to get any pictures of Hannah in her baptism dress.  Then it has been so dreary here in Utah County lately that I just didn't feel like going out for a photo shoot.  But last Sunday there was some sunshine for a few minutes in the afternoon and so I persuaded Hannah to get dressed up in her dress so we could re-create some baptism pics. I really didn't think about how blasted cold it was.  So although the light was pretty nice, I wasn't totally happy with the pictures we got because Hannah was so cold she wouldn't relax and smile.  Oh well we did the best we could before she turned into a popsicle.  Here are the best ones . . .

Changes, Changing me

At the beginning of a new year lots of people resolve to make changes in their lives.  Resolutions are really just choices we make hoping to make our lives happier.  I have started many a new year with and without resolutions. Did these resolutions change my life for the better?  At all?  Maybe . . . once or twice.  So what changes should I make this year that will bring me more happiness or at least a less stressful life.  I have been thinking about changes I would like to make since early December.  There are those changes I know I should make (eating better, exercising more, cleaning my house more frequently) and those that would be fun to make (scrapbook a page a day, take more photos, watch more Penguins of Madagascar).  So what changes would give me the most bang for my buck?  I am still not sure.  One change that is happening this year wasn't really my choice although I am excited about it.  I have a new calling as the second counselor in the primary presidency.  I enjoy teaching in relief society but I have been doing it for about 6 years now so I was really ready for a change.  I have never done anything other than be a teacher in primary so this should be a real learning experience.  The part I think I am the most worried about it the interaction with the ward members.  I really am a very shy person so walking the minefield that is the ward membership is pretty scary to me.  This ward is full of members related to members related to other members and lots of "interesting" personalities.  I guess I wanted to fit in better with the ward so the Lord gave me this opportunity to get to know more people. I already know I really like a LOT of the kids - there really are some special kids in this ward.  I am excited to get to know them better.  I have already been pounced on by some of the activity day teachers so my biggest challenge may be in using tact and diplomacy to help everyone feel good about their callings.  My last experience in a presidency was pretty heinous so I am going into this wanting to make sure I don't make the same mistakes again.  I know it will be different just because the other ladies in the presidency are different from my other experience.  I just don't want to be doomed to repeat the same mistakes again and again.  So some of this years goals relate to my new calling.

2012 Resolutions

( in no particular order)

• 20 minute scripture study per day
• weekly menu plan
• 30 minute workout daily
• 1 scrapbook page a week
• weekly blog posts
• weekly cleaning plan
• one on one time with kids each week

The big day

Saturday was Hannah's baptism day.  She has been waiting for the day ever since JJ turned 8 and was baptized.  It was a great day surrounded by the people we love and who love us.  Family and friend support is such a big deal to me and I am always grateful when people make the effort to come to these special events.  My kids are really blessed to have some great role models in their lives and when those role models show up to an event like a baptism it just really makes a big impression on my kids.  Baptisms are always a time of reflection on the things you learned at your own baptism and even if you aren't living up to the promises you made then it makes you ponder that day and the feelings you had.  Hannah shared with me that she felt the warm feeling of the Spirit.  I know that the Holy Ghost was testifying to her that she made the right decision but what she knows is that choice made her feel good inside.  For me one of the greatest things about watching my kids be baptized is seeing my wonderful husband exercise his priesthood power on their behalf. I am always grateful for the choices I made that brought me to him. My greatest hope for my daughter is that she will try to honor the promises she made on Saturday throughout her life because I know they will bring her happiness and they will bring good things and people into her life.  That is the recipe for a happy life.

This was a stake baptism so there was another little girl from our ward who was also getting baptized that day.  She is a good friend of Hannah so it made it even more special to share that moment with the Jacksons.  There was nothing quite so beautiful as seeing those two girls dressed in gorgeous white dresses, holding hands - smiling at each other.  

After the baptism family and friends came over to the house for a luncheon.  We were reminded yet again that our house is not built for entertaining.  We were wall to wall people and there really wasn't THAT many people here.  But everybody was patient and perched anywhere they could.  I thought it was funny that one of our kids asked if were going to go to Charlie's for the luncheon - Charlie's house is just so perfect for entertaining that we have nearly every family get-together there. The kids are just used to that now.  We were all grateful that my mom could make it to the baptism.  The cancer is continuing to take it's tole on her.  She is now using oxygen now and then and having more and more difficulty walking.  She is very sad most of the time and just really want this to be over but she wanted to hang on until Hannah was baptized.  I am so sad that she won't be here in body to see Asher take this big step but I know she will be with us in spirit. 

Choose to be brave - Have courage to be kind

I had a "proud of my kid" moment this morning while (of all things) cleaning out Hannah's back pack.  I have to back up and tell the beginning of the story first though.  It all started with me being behind schedule in getting the teacher gifts together for the kids to give out.  So there it was the last day before the Christmas break around lunch time and I arrived at the school with the gifts.   JJ's class was just coming in from recess so I handed his teacher's gift to him, gave him a hug and sent him on his way.  Hannah's class was still in the middle of recess so I tracked her down out on the grassy playground.  As I approached I saw something that made me physically ill.  Hannah and another one of her friends were pushing and shoving another little girl away from their group.  They were yelling at her and telling her to go away.  I was stunned.  I had never seen Hannah act that way before - normally she is the most sensitive to other peoples feelings.  As I walked the rest of the way over I saw the little girl sit down on the grass and cry.  It broke my heart not only for her but for the horror I felt at watching Hannah treat that girl the way I was treated all of my elementary school years.  All the pain from those memories came rushing back.  I made the decision right then and there that Hannah would know for sure that was NOT ok and that she would never want to do that to anyone again.  First I stopped what was happening then I let all of the kids in Hannah's group know that what they were doing or watching happen was NOT ok and that I never wanted to see that happen again.  Then I checked on the little girl.  After seeing that she was ok I took Hannah back in to the school explaining to her along the way that there are consequences for that kind of behavior and that I was really surprised to see her do that because it is not the way that she normally she is.  I reminded her that it is her nature to be sensitive to the feelings of others not unkind and mean.  First we found her teacher and I had Hannah explain what she did.  Her teacher expressed similar things to what I said.  I told the teacher that I didn't want Hannah to participate in the class Christmas party.  I think that her teacher thought that was harsh but I know Hannah well enough that I knew that very little else would make a big impression on her (pulling tickets is the normal class discipline method).  Next we visited with the principal.  I felt a little guilty about taking the principal's time over this but I knew that it would make a BIG impression on Hannah because our principal is a bit intimidating.  Again I had Hannah explain what she had done.  At first she didn't want to and said that she didn't know.  The principal called her on that little falsehood and Hannah finally opened up and admitted what she had done.  The principal then had her come and stand by her  - held her hands and looked her in the eyes and talked about how we don't do things like that at our school and how she was sure that isn't something that Hannah normally does.  She told her that she was sure she was sorry and that she would do her best to make it right.  They talked about what Hannah could do to make it right. The principal actually thanked me as we were leaving for bringing her in. After that we had Christmas break and although I reminded Hannah 2 weeks later I wondered if because of the long time lapse if she would remember what she committed to do to make it right.  Then frankly I forgot all about it what with getting ready for Hannah's baptism this week and getting back into the swing of routine.  This morning I opened up her back pack to clean it out and I  pulled out some papers.  The first was a picture she had drawn of all her friends together including the little girl she was mean to.  Next I pulled out a note that the little girl had made for Hannah saying thank you to Hannah for being so nice to her this week.  It also said that she was sad that she would be moving soon because she would miss Hannah.  I got really choked up and I turned to show Hannah what I had been looking at and she just smiled at me and said that she had played with the little girl at every recess this week and so had her other friends.  I could tell that she felt really good about the choice she had made to be kind even though it took some courage to say sorry and try to make friends with the little girl.  This experience really inspired me to look at some of the choices I make every day - do I choose to be brave enough to say I am sorry when I have hurt someone?  I admit  - not always.  I am so grateful for the things my kids teach me.  They truly bless my life.  

Happy . . . everything!

Christmas Eve 2011

Here's hoping your Christmas was as great as you hoped it would be.  We spent Christmas Eve at Charlie and Mary Ellen's house with Charlie's kids and my mom. Charlie invited us to come early and attend their ward's live nativity.  It was beautifully done and really was a great reminder of the real meaning behind Christmas. We had yummy soup and sandwiches and then burned off all the calories playing Just Dance 2!  Becca is the reigning champ! We listened to Charlie read the Christmas Story and watched through the windows as someone in their neighborhood sent off floating lanterns into the night sky.  It was pretty magical!  We came home by about 9 and the kids went to bed with out any complaint!   In years past we have had my mom stay over night with us or come early in the morning to see the kids open their presents but after last year I decided I really didn't want to do that.  So it was just us Christmas morning and although I felt a bit guilty - I really enjoyed a less stressful Christmas Eve night and Christmas morning.  The kids didn't get up too early - of course it was the boys first.  They snuggled in with Lance and I until Hannah finally decided to open her eyes.  Lance put in the breakfast casserole to bake and soon enough the house smelled so delish! We turned on the lights on the tree and Lance started up the video recorder and the kids dug in.  We didn't do nearly as much for them this year but they didn't seem to notice.  They were all really appreciative of what they got.  I must say that my phone getting stolen a couple of weeks ago kinda put the kibosh on my Christmas spirit but it was good to see the kids eyes glow in anticipation and their total and complete belief in the magic of Santa and Christmas.  After all the presents were ripped open and enjoyed it was time to get ready to go to one hour of church.  That done we headed home to get in to comfy clothes and head on over to Grandma and Grandpa Madigan's house.  We spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with them and Vance and Jessica's family.  It was fun to see the kids play and make memories with their Madigan cousins.

The next few days were spent preparing for Hannah's birthday.  I just can't believe that she is 8 already.  I still remember holding her in my arms, watching her smile up at me.  I couldn't ask for a better daughter.  The more I know her the more I love her!  She is so creative - she loves to create just about anything.  She is so loving to the people she cares about - especially Asher.  The two of them have such a special bond. Hannah chose to have a few friends come with us to the local pool on her birthday.  So we took our kids plus three of Hannah's friends and one of JJ's to the pool.  Hannah (after much convincing) even went down the big twisty water slide! She hated it but at least she can say she didn't chicken out! JJ won't even go down that slide.  We lucked out that it was a surprisingly warm day for December in Utah so we didn't freeze to death when we came out the pool with our hair wet.  I made cupcakes with clams made out of cookies, pink frosting and a yogurt covered raisin for the pearl.  The kids loved them!  We also made coloring books for each of the girls with coloring pictures we downloaded from the internet of Disney princesses. They each got a box of new crayons to color with too.  They opened presents and then when the girls all left went out to dinner with the grands to Sweet Tomatoes - one of Hannah's favorite restaurants. 

For New Years Eve this year we had brunch at Charlie and Mary Ellen's house with my other brother Joel and some of his family. Mary was the only one that could make it.  My mom decided she wanted to let everyone pick a quilt that she had made to keep as a remembrance of her. It was a pretty emotional experience for some of us.  I did my best to shove the emotions somewhere around my toes and just get through it.  I think everybody got the one they wanted.  Some people picked quilts that surprised us - like Hannah wanting the golf quilt mainly because it is a quillow type quilt.  On the way home from Charlie's we stopped at my new favorite spot - Orange Leaf frozen yogurt.  It is one of those self serve frozen yogurt places that are popping up all over the place.  I just think this place has great flavors and they taste so fresh! I am forever crazing them even though I have never been one to really like frozen yogurt or ice cream.  For New Years Eve night we decided to stay home together.  It was really nice!  We had a feast of yummy fondue cheese with garlic artisan  bread and chocolate dipped strawberries, little smokies, crackers and cheese ball and meat and cheese sandwiches in rolls. We watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets while munching on our goodies. After the movie we worked on a puzzle for a little while and played some Wii.  Asher conked out well before midnight but JJ and Hannah were still going strong at midnight.  We didn't even realize that it was midnight until we heard people shooting off fireworks. The kids shot off their poppers out side in the cold night air and them came in and snuggled into bed.  The Little New Year came sometime in the night to put coins in their shoes and a puzzle for each of them.  He also brought Hannah the money that the Tooth Fairy forgot to send over a week previous with a little note that explained that the Tooth Fairy had a cold and may have sneezed glitter all over the money.  Sure enough there was glitter on the money!

Jake and Carolyn were nice enough to watch the kids one night so Lance and I could go on a date - my favorite kind of date too! A night of all you can eat sushi and a movie.  We went and saw the new Sherlock Holmes - now I will say that I didn't really like the first one so I wasn't expecting too much but I thought this one was better than the first.  I would give it two thumbs up for being a good old fun popcorn flick.  Have I mentioned my slight crush on Jude Law?  I am sure he isn't nearly that dashing or cute in real life but he sure has stage presence.
Now here we are back to the grind stone.  It was good to get back to a schedule of some sorts. We spent yesterday getting the house cleaned up a bit for the luncheon after Hannah's baptism on Saturday.  She is so excited to be baptized and I think the boys are just as excited to watch her be baptized.  It will be a great day.