Like kids in a Candy Store

Paul planned a "Fun" Family Home Evening. He really likes to try "things" when they're brand new. He went to the airport to look around after they had refinished it, and has to go look at every new store or fast food restaurant that comes along. This time it was the new Parkcenter bridge, that has just been completed. Its a nice bridge...:)Boy, how that area has changed in the last few years.
One of Paul's co-workers had been talking about a new candy store, so Paul wanted to try and find it (but he's not so good with directions to places he doesn't know- just ask Steve or Aimee about our Vegas fiasco). Since he couldn't see it right off the road, he kept on driving. He was heading home, and the kids couldn't quite understand why we drove clear to Boise to go over a bridge (we hadn't told them about the candy store). I made him turn around, and go look for it. Since Paul has trial Internet on his phone, we looked it up, and I had seen the road right after we had come off the bridge. The shop (Powell's Sweet Shoppe) was in a new section of town they are trying to make into a little village community, with loft apartments and shops, restaurants, and offices underneath. The area has a quaint feeling to it, and the candy store is so cute (a new favorite adventure for us).




Brennen picked Orange, Black and Green M&M's that he made into a "carrot".


Ash picked old fashioned candy sticks, and pop rocks


Daddy gets in on the fun.

When we were walking in, two girls came up to us and asked how old our kids were, because they were doing a scavenger hunt and needed to give a 5 year old "5". So Brennen gave the girl "5"!


On the way home, Ash wanted Brennen to try her Pop Rocks...very nice of her right.
He put them into his mouth and immediately started whining. He held his mouth open, from the connector all the way home.

Follow the Prophet

Wasn't Conference AWESOME!!!!
I can't wait to read the talks again.
We all have a lot to ponder and work on.
My favorite talks were the first 4 during the Saturday morning session, President Monson's daughter, and President Erying's Talk. I also liked one of the 70's (can't remember his name) when he talked about praying for opportunities to teach teach the gospel while on his mission, and realizing 20+ years later, the prayer was being answered by his son.
I also really liked the history about the Manti Temple, and how we can use learned knowledge in many different ways, when we are inspired to do so.

Die Hard Fans stay even in the RAIN

Ha Steve, Dad, Ryan and Paul... We lasted through two DOWN POURS, and to the bitter cold end of the game. And it was cold. The first, I can see my breath moment of the season!!!

My Little Man gets his Thumb

BRENNEN is 5!!!
Can you believe it. I can remember the day he was born vividly. Mt. Saint Helens started blowing steam a few minutes before he was born.




It has become our tradition to go out to lunch for our birthdays. Brennen wanted to go somewhere they would give him a ballon, like daddy's birthday. So we took him to Red Robin. He ordered pizza and didn't like it. They brought him a sundae and sang to him, and didn't like it. Paul and Papa ordered this combo meal thing that came with dessert, a huge piece of Mud Pie, that he liked.



For dinner I took him to McDonalds to play on the equipment (Ash decided she wanted to play with her friend that was visiting her grandparents, so she didn't go with us.)




Brennen rarely gets a day thats all about him!!! So it felt good to give him the special attention.

Judging a Book by its Cover.

They say you should never judge a "book" by its cover, but I always do, and I generally never wrong when it comes to a book. They also say that everyone has an obsession. Well, I would have to say mine is definitely BOOKS. I have a stack of books on my nightstand,and in it's drawers just waiting to be read. I even have a bag full of Library books (who ever invented the concept of the Library is a genius, the guy that invented the Library fine, not so much). (A little shout out to my favorite all time Librarians-Anne Hankins, Judy Gillat, Stella Ivy, and Linda Short.)

I've been thinking about what my favorite book would be (besides the Book of Mormon of course), and I can't pick one... I have to categorize them...
So here goes:

Favorite Infant books:
Hand, Hand fingers Thumb
Good Night Moon

Favorite Toddler books:
Theres a Wocket in my Pocket
I wish I had duck feet
Inside Outside Upside Down
Anything by: Eric Carle & Sandra Boynton

Favorite Picture Books/Young Children:
And Rain Makes Applesauce
Click Clack Moo series
Parts!
Polar Bear Express
Bearstein Books
Verede!

Favorite Young Readers:
Flat Stanley
Soup

Favorite Tween Readers:
Hatchet Series
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Bridge to Terabethea

Favorite Teen Books:
Princess Diary series
Twilight (First Book only)
Harry Potter (All of Them)
To Kill A Mockingbird (LOVE this book)
The Chosen
The Great Gatsby

Favorite Adult Books:
Emeralds and Espionage series by Lyn Gardner
Hearts in Hiding Series by Betsy Brannon Green
O'Mally Family series by Dee Henderson
Gables of Legacy series by Anita Stansfield
My Sister's Keeper
Fireproof
Two Trees
The Miracle
Letters for Emily
The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Counting Stars
Totto-chan
The Thread That Runs so True


My Favorite Authors:
As a Tween:
Judy Blume
Beverly Cleary

As a Teenager:
Chiam Pottock
Mary Higgins Clark
Caroline B. Conney

As Adult:
Jennie Hanson
Lyn Gardner
Dee Henderson
Betsy Brennan Green
Keri Blair


Books that I think would make great movies:
Jennie Hanson Books
Lyn Gardner Books
Dee Henderson Books
Betsy Brannon Green Books
Ender's Game

Books that are better then their counterpart Movie
All of them!!!

I aspire to be an Authoress some day, and hope that one of my books makes it on to someone else's favorites list.

Hit comments and Post your Favorites!!! Please!!! I want to know what other good books I should read. Feed my addiction!!! Not that I'm getting much reading done these days.

Preparing for Baptism

In preparation for Ash's Baptism, we've been talking to her about why we are baptized and what the different components of being baptized means. This week we talked about why we are baptized by immersion. And this treat was our illustration of what immersion means-to be completely covered. And that by being completely immersed in water, signifies Christ's Burial.

Bye Bye Thursday

So I have some issues....
and abandoning an animal you commit ed to, is one of them (this goes back to the LOBO days).

Well 8 years ago, on the day that I called to get Thursday neutered, he started spraying. We were told that he would get better, but he didn't he got progressively worse. He was only allowed in the house to get from the garage to the backyard.

A teacher brought him to school, after he almost was run over by another car near the duck park. So I brought him home to keep Friday company. He was so cute and loving. He was also a good kitten. When we first got him, he used to lay on Paul's chest and suck on his ear. It was so funny.
And then he turned into a stinky Tomcat. :(

So after fighting about it for 8 years, I relented and allowed Paul to take him to the pound. I'm trying not to think about it.
The kids aren't terribly torn up about it. Had it been Friday... We would still have tears. Friday is allowed in the house, and the kids love to smother him with love.
He is getting so old... and we know he is having some issues.

When Friday dies, the kids want to get a puppy and a kitten at the same time, so that they grow up loving each other. The kitten maybe, the dog-I'm not to sure about.
We'll see.
Good Bye Thursday.