The Chosen Land! (This is for you, Jean)

Many of us have been watching how the politicians have been failing us this year. Last night was one of those moments. I waited all day wondering if I wanted to post anything - my emotions have gone from FRUSTRATION, to OUTRAGE, to FEAR, to HOPELESSNESS. When I talked to my mom she said that she was sent this quote that was uplifting to her. I thought it was just what we need to hear at a time like this.

"Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through."


Harold B. Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World, pp. 350-351

Don't you love that? All of us that have been fighting this battle - going to Tea Party's, writing and calling our representatives, staying informed, and educating ourselves truly believe that "this is the greatest country in all the world." Knowing this brings comfort to me but blessings like this don't come without hard work. We still need to do our part to help KEEP this the greatest country in the world!

Food Storage

I'm sure with this title you are probably thinking you don't really want to read this post. Who wants to hear about food storage? Well, I do. I was introduced to a new way of storing my food. Well organized and yummy things to eat. Go HERE to see this blog. You can also find segments of her presentation on You Tube! Well worth the watch. I don't have everything I need yet for my food storage but I have it all organized and know EXACTLY what I need to have a full year's supply. Not to mention I don't feel like it's weighing me down worried about if I have enough or what I'm going to make with all that wheat or the worst, ROTATING.

Anyway the point of all this is that one of the ideas she has is to have a solar oven in case of an emergency. You can bake jar cakes in the oven. Put the lid on and they will seal and they can sit on your shelf and stay fresh for a LONG LONG LONG time. That way on a day that the sun is not out and you can't cook with your oven you have cakes already made from when the sun WAS shining. Well, I don't have my solar oven yet but we decided to try out the jar cakes in the regular oven. The girls thought it was great, of course. Who wouldn't want cake?

First we made the batter (just a box mix.)

Second you have to coat the jar with crisco to keep the cake from sticking.

Third: You fill the jars about 1/2 way and bake it. After they come out of the oven put the lid on and in a few minutes they seal. Easy Peasy.

The verdict: The girls ate it all!

I'm a big girl!

McKenna thinks because she has 3 older sisters that she can do whatever they can do. She LOVES having her nails painted. The other night we were working outside. I was fertilizing the lawn, the girls were playing in the yard, and Tim was cleaning out the cars (after a long cold winter). McKenna was "helping" him. While he was vaccuuming, McKenna found a bottle of nail polish in the car and decided she wanted to paint her own nails. Here's her art work:

After taking a closer look (nervous that there would be nailpolish EVERYWHERE) we found that she did her toes also. Amazingly, she only got 2 little tiny spots on the seats of the car - thank goodness for leather.

I had to add this picture because after an experience like that, I want to remember that she is such a sweet little girl, especially when she's sleeping.

Alexa Piano Festival #2

So, for some reason there is an error on the other song and I can't upload it. I'll have to record her playing it another time. While we were waiting for Alexa's turn we decided to take some pics.

Alexa and Lisa (her piano teacher)

Alexa, Daddy and Livie
Alexa and Daddy

Alexa expressing how she was feeling before she went in to play.

The Babe!

National Federation Junior Festivals

Alexa was able to perform in a festival again this year. She plays in front of a judge only (no one else is in the room.) They score them on their pieces. They play one required piece and one song of their own choosing. Before she had to go in, we went to a practice room and recorded her playing. She was pretty nervous but held it together so well. I think she actually performed it better in front of the judge than in these clips (we listened through the door.) She recived a rating of Superior for the second year in a row. We are so proud of her. Not as much for the Superior as we are for the effort she put into practicing. Great job, girl!

Elegy in E

For some reason the other song won't load. I guess I'll have to try it later.

Watch out American Idol

McKenna loves to sing. Here she is singing for me. Notice the "microphone" - enjoy the lyrics - it's a catchy tune. (Again, sorry about the sideways shot.)

A few days after her rock star performance we decided to do her hair to match.

Her sisters came up with the idea to put the pick in her hair.

Nice Touch!

All done up. She loved it and really loved the attention she got at church. Except the next day when it still had some curl in it and I just pulled back the top, she looked in the mirror and said, "I don't lika my hair, mommy. I don't lika it.)

Maybe she really DOES think she's a rock star and is trying to have a Rock star attitude.

It won't be a secret much longer. . .

I have known for a long time that my children are smarter than me. And for a while, I've been able to keep it a secret for a while now. But I think the secret will be out in no time.


If you follow my blog, I posted HERE about my girls learning about saving money. Last week Maya came out of dance with a flyer for a teddy bear wearing a dance outfit for $25. Here's how the conversation went:


Maya: Mom, Look, I think I have enough money to buy this teddy bear.

(She already knew I wouldn't buy it for her so she didn't even ask. Love it!)


Me: Maya, I thought you were saving your money for some roller blades.


Maya: I know but it's sooo cute.


Me: Well, let's think about this. You could buy that teddy bear that is so cute and you would put it on you bed and end up just looking at it. But, if you bought roller blades, what would you do every day, ALL summer long with your sisters?


Maya: I would roller blade.


(After a second.)


Maya: But, mom, I wouldn't GROW OUT of the teddy bear.


Yep! The secret's going to be out in no time.

I LOVE SPRING!

I don't want to jinx it but I think we might be encountering spring. We are so tired of the cold and being snowed in. (Although I have loved having "climate change" discussions with the kids.)

Here's how I know spring is coming:

1. I wore flip flops the first time!
2. I opened all the windows. (I won't mention that it was because I burned the chicken I was boiling - yes the smoke alarm went off while I was outside in my flip flops.)
3. I was able to go out and work in the garage - I'm to whimpy to be out there in the winter.
4. I have plans to actually wash the car this week.
5. My kids were stinky after playing outside all afternoon.
6. I was actually alone in the house for more than an hour (since the kids were outside playing.)
7. The kids were outside playing.
8. There were no coats, mittens, wet shoes, or scarves all over the floor after the girls came back in.
9. My kids all wore shorts to school today.
10. All the neighbors are outside visiting and not running from the car to the house.

And to think we just had a 2 hour delay last week because of snow. Let's just hope a Noreaster doesn't decide to pass through.

Yeah for paper bags!

Since it has been so cold for so long, we have had to find creative ways to keep the girls busy. One day I was busy and the girls were getting a little restless. I suggested that they take some paper bags and make puppets. They grabbed some bags, ran upstairs to the play room and worked for a good hour or so. Here is what they came up with. They even had a little skit they performed for us. They even "helped" make one for McKenna.

Check out Alexa's - beannie, ipod, and converse tennis shoes.

Livie - I love the tiny arms she put on hers.

McKenna, of course, just wanted her picture taken.

Valentine's Day!

So, I loaded these pictures and forgot to post them. Valentine's was so long ago, I hope I can remember what we did. Nothing too exciting. I love to spend the day with the kids. Tim always try to get them a little something. - and they are beginning to expect it - dang those traditions. Anyhow, it was Sunday and I had forgotten that we signed up to feed the sis. missionaries. They mentioned it to me right before Sacrament meeting. With church being at 1:30pm now, and I don't get home until 5:30 usually, we try to plan ahead and have the meals ready. Luckily, we planned to have heart shaped pizzas. The crust was made and paritally cooked ahead of time with all the toppings cut up and ready to go and Tim had his fabulous sauce ready. So we all got to enjoy some yummy pizzas. The sisters did a cute object lessons that ended with the girls getting some little valentine treats. That's about it for our day. Here are a few pics to document the day.

Glenn Beck

Tonight, Friday, March 5, 2010

5pm Fox News Channel

Watch Glenn Beck

Learn about how our children are being indoctrinated instead of educated in the schools.

Don't just watch it, record it, and have your kids watch it.