Forts and Stories

I loved building forts as a kid. When I would climb inside it felt safe and cozy. It was like I was in my own little world. The kids and I built a Huge fort yesterday. Of course when you build a huge one you can't just take it down that day, it's gotta hang around for a few. Tonight we decided to read our bedtime stories in the fort. Jane thought of using Eli's Monkey lamp. It is a small lamp that worked perfect. It was so much fun being in the cozy fort together, with the light of the lamp and some good books. I loved soaking in the moment.

Walter is 1

Walt is now a one year old; one of my favorite ages. Walt has been such a joy and a blessing in our life.
Way cute
Always happy to see anyone in our family
Little snuggle bug
Tender hearted
Ear piercing shriek, that he thinks is so funny
Really one of the most sweet, smart, cuddly,cute kids around
Walt had a very happy Birthday. We had a his grandpa and grandma McConkie and his grandpa and grandma Garner up for dinner and cake and ice cream. Eli and Hyrum were very good at helping Walt open his presents. He is always very happy to see Jane when she gets home from school. Walt now has four teeth on top and three almost four teeth on the bottom, they peek out when he smiles, I love it. He says Dada and finally this last week Momma. He loves to play this game with the kids where he shrieks at the top of his lungs, it is a short high shriek, like a firework, then the kids mimic him and he gives them the biggest smile and shrieks again. With the help of Jane and I, Walt now go's down the stairs. He is very proud of himself. He loves to put things in and take things out. His favorite thing to do lately is throw things down the stairs and play ball. He has quite an arm for a one year old. I love watching Walt learn and grow I don't think I am being bias when I say, Walt is a very smart boy. He is also a mommas boy, which I love. I am soaking it in every day. I know soon he will be running of to the bus stop with his friends. I love when I am holding him and someone talks to him; he snuggles his little head into my shoulder. Oh be still my heart, I love this child. Happy birthday my little sweet little firework. I love you.

10th Ward Girls

I loved growing up in the 10th ward. I had so much fun with this group of girls. So many wonderful memories I have with them most of which start in kinddergarten. Once we were in high school we kind of all went our separate ways. When we would see each other at church or at young woman activities we were always such good friend. Girls camp was the funnest. We made this quilt in jr. high, we called it the friendship quilt. Each of us contributed scrap fabric our moms let us have. That mad it fun that it had a piece of each of us. We stayed up all night one night piecing the top. We did a terrible job, and it might be the most not cute quilt ever made but we loved it. We would pass it around to each other once a week and we would bring it with us to camp. A few years after high school we decided to cut the quilt in to portions so that we could each have a piece of the Friend quilt. We have always been really good at getting together once a year. We usually do it around Christmas now because the ones who live out of state are home visiting family. Even though some of us only see each other once a year you would never know. The conversation is wonderful and the feelings of true friendship are still there. In the photo is, Me, Brittney Smith Jewitt, Nickii Harker sholz, Alyson Willey, Amanda Hill Welsh, and Taunya Martin Whipple. Now we live in a neighborhood with a lot of little girls Jane's age. Sometimes I feel like I am reliving my childhood when I watch them make there plans, play there games, chitchat the way girls do, or have a disagreement the way girls do. I think that she is building some lasting relationships.

It's A New Year

I have been thinking of the talk that Preident Uchtdorf gave, He said "our birthright-and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth-is to seek and experience eternal happiness." I love that a new year seems to bring a new start with it. I didn't want to set any defined resalutions this year, I seem to forget about them. This year I am being inspierd by this talk and a few friend of mine to come up with some words to keep in mind. These words are words I have given a lot of thought to. I have writen them down and I plane to foccuse on them all year and by the end of the year we will see how it worked out for me.
So here is the list:
Push
Develop
Extend
Create
Flourish
Learn
Discover
Content
This list may sound a little odd, I don't know that I well expound on each one today but for the most part, I am going to push myself out of my comfort zone, develop my talents and be content with what ever the outcome knowing that I am giving it my best shot. President Uchtdorf also said in his talk,"You may think you don't have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity exxtend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not reqire a brush, apen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist befor-colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
What you create dosen't have to be perfect. Don't let fear of failure discourage you. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you-whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.
As you take the nomal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beaty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.
I believe that as you create beauty and as you are compassionate to others-God will encircle you in the arms of his love. Discouragement, inadequacy, and weariness will give way to a life of meaning, grace and fulfillment."
As you take

Time Flys When Your Having Fun

I can't believe it is the 11th of January and I am just writing about Christmas. We had a lot of fun over this Christmas season. It is always nice to see family and friends. One of my favorite parts of December is getting fun mail, photos and letters of family and friends. We have a few traditions that we enjoy every year. To name a few; The John Shmit concert, Dinner at our place with Mom and Dad McConkie, Melissa's ornament party, annual get together with my friends from the tenth ward,Garner/Baird party, Mcconkie party, Christmas eve dinner and p.j's from the Christmas elves. This year we had an extra special Mcconkie party with extended family. It was really fun to have Grandma Beth there. The grate grand kids did the nativity. Eli and Hyrum were shepherds. Eli had a wrapping paper tube for his sheperds crook. He got a little board during the nativity and started to hit Hyrum on the head with it. Hyrum ignoring him at first, then he would swat it away every so often after about five minutes of this Hyrum stood up, grabbed the tube, threw it on the floor and stomped on it. It was funny to watching there personalities. It was a wonderful to see everyone and to spend time with Grandma.

Christmas eve was almost as much fun as Christmas day. There was a knock at the door, all the kids started yelling and ran to answer it. They found four presents on our door step. The Christmas elves had come again. Eli was so excited he couldn't stop jumping and yelling. I love seeing the kids with grins they cant wipe off there faces. Soon Christmas day came and went. Jane's favorite thing she got was a ant farm and some magic tree house books(She would tell you, she is just so grateful for everything she got), Eli's favorite was a buzzlightyear suitcase, Hyrum is in dino heaven and Walt got some cute blocks that he loves to sort. We are so grateful for all our blessings. We are most thankful at this time of year for Jesus Christ and our family:)