National Clogging Championship 2010

This year Oakley qualified once again to go to Nationals for clogging. My sweet mother-in-law and my 2 sisters-in-law decided to all go with us. It was alot of fun having all 8 grandkids from that side of the family come.

Here are a few of the kids lining up to ride a ride. We did ALOT of ride riding that day. The weather was cold, but it could have been SO MUCH WORSE, so we were happy with what we got.

Me and my sweet little dancer!! I AM SO PROUD OF HER!

The girls were FREEZING in their costumes. I was SO GRATEFUL that we have the clogging teacher that we do because she ALWAYS has our girls in modest costumes. They were cold in what they were wearing and they were covered.....there were a few groups there that barely had any clothes on their dancers. I felt so bad for them.

Oakley got 4 first places and 1 second place on her solos and her group got a 1st and 2nd on their dances. She did soo good! We are looking forward to going to Lagoon again next year!

(Thanks again Grandma Hawkins....we couldn't have done it without you! and Thanks to Grandpa & Grandma Romrell *AKA "the greats" * we appreciate you making the trip and sitting in the cold more than you will ever know!)

Here I Am, Send Me

Those who know me know that I am not a book reader. I do try to faithfully read my scriptures, but other than those and the ensign, I am not a book reader. So I decided that as a favor to me I needed to start getting some books from the library - for myself - when I take my kids. I ONLY get church books, mostly because I am JUST NOT INTO make-believe stuff. I also ONLY get shortish books that I know I can finish because I don't want to start something I can't finish, that is not how I work. This new found book reading has been WONDERFUL! I have read a few books lately that I love. I just finished Daughters of God by M. Russell Ballard and loved it. It is just 3 of his talks combine into a book. (Whoever thought of doing that was a genius!) The last talk was titled As Women of God. (I tried to find it on LDS.org, but couldn't....sorry) I wanted to share my FAVORITE PART because it is so powerful for all of us who know we are Daughters of God.

When God asked who would come to earth to prepare a way for all mankind to be saved and strengthened and blessed, it was Jesus Christ who said, simply, "Here am I, send me." Just as the Savior stepped forward to fulfill His divine responsibilities, we have the challenge and responsibility to do likewise.

"Father, if you need a woman to rear children in righteousness, Here am I, send me."
"If you need a woman to make a house a home filled with love, Here am I, send me."

If you need a woman who will shun vulgarity and dress modestly and speak with dignity and show the world how joyous it is to keep the commandments, Here am I, send me."

"If you need a woman who can resist the alluring temptations of the world by keeping her eyes fixed on eternity, Here am I, send me."

Today more than ever, we need women of faith, virtue, vision, and charity. We need women who can hear and will respond to the voice of the Lord, women who at all costs will defend and protect the family. We don't need women who want to be like men, sound like men, dress like men, drive like men, or act like men. We do need women who rejoice in their womanhood and have a spiritual confirmation of their identity, their value, and their eternal destiny. Above all, we need women who will stand up for truth and righteousness and decry evil at every turn, women who will simply say "Here am I, Lord, send me."

Flag Football

Dallin and his cousin JD played flag football this year both in the Fall and Spring. We had our last FB Game last night. Dallin had so much fun playing. He did tell me yesterday, however, that he does not want to play again in the Fall because he had to miss too much hunting this past year. HE IS ONLY 7 AND HE IS ALREADY WORRIED ABOUT HUNTING!!:)

He had a really good coach in the Fall and was the only one on the team that caught a pass! Of course, it was the only pass they attempted - which made it even better that he caught it! This Spring season he played defense almost every game, so he was just busy chasing them down to pull flags. He is sure a sports lover with a pretty PROUD MOMMY!

LOOK MOM.....

No Training Wheels!

Rhett has been begging me to take his training wheels off and about a month ago I had him jump on Dallin's bike to see how ready he was....umm.....not at all. Well, alot has happened in a month. On Saturday (when I was puking my guts out) he asked his dad to take them off and Ryan said he didn't even have the 2nd training wheel out of his hand before Rhett jumped on and rode away. Ryan didn't have to help him at all!! Yay Buddy!

Rhett also buttoned his own church shirt on Sunday. Which to most is probably not too impressive, but to a mom of 4 children and a childlike husband that is getting everybody ready on Sunday morning it is a HUGE accomplishment! He is growing like crazy!

P.S. Oh, and Yes, his bike is pink. It is Oakley's hand-me-down. We talked about getting him a new one, but when he said he wanted another pink one with a basket :) for his carebear to ride in we decided he was cool to just keep the pink one he has. (Remember.... he is still trying out his girlie side a little!)

The Crippled Lamb

Have any of you read the story "The Crippled Lamb" by Max Lucado?

This story (which I love) is about a sweet little lamb named Joshua that was born crippled and therefore couldn't do what the other little lambs could do. He would get very upset and hurt when he was always last. When the time comes for the sheep to be moved to the higher meadow Joshua is told by the loving shepherd that he must stay behind; that he isn't strong enough to make the journey. Joshua feels hurt and betrayed. Of course there is a wise old cow that explains to Joshua that we are all special and all have our own place in the world.

Meet our very own live version of "The Crippled Lamb." This little lamb is Dallin's and his name is Brownie. Brownie got a disease called Navel Ill that causes pain in the joints and he is slowly dying. It has been hard to watch him hurt. He can no longer walk without doing so on his knees or being carried. Luckily, he is very friendly and loves to be held and cuddled.

Brownie is Dallin's lamb, but my two sweet little girls have kind of taken over caring for him. The girls have the "nurturing motherly" instinct and naturally want to care for him.

In the story, because Joshua is left behind he - just so happens - to be in the stable the night that the Savior of the world is born. Joshua also gets the opportunity to snuggle the new baby because they had no clothes for him and Joshua knew his wool would be warm. Just like Joshua, Brownie is also a SPECIAL LAMB. He has brought out a tenderness in my children that I love to watch. He has caused us to have a spirit of kindness. It hurts to watch him hurt, but it is amazing to watch him be strong. Who knew we would learn so much from one "Crippled Little Lamb."

Basement Update

Remember THIS:

And THIS?

It is now, THIS

And THIS!!

I know it is REALLY hard to tell anything from the pictures, but atleast you can see progress!

So....we aren't finished YET!, but we are definitely getting closer. We decided we had to do it in a two step process, so we are finishing the family room and THEN we will finish Laiklie's room and the bathroom. Why a two step process you ask?? WELL, the biggest reason is the room that will be Laiklie's is holding the gun cabinet and desk until the family room is finished PLUS it still has about a dump truck load of COAL in it!! So, ANYONE NEED ANY COAL?

Idaho History

I have been CURSING 4th Grade Idaho History all week.....well, to tell you the truth, for the past few weeks!! Oakley's teacher had each of the kids sign-up a few months ago to do a big end of the year Idaho History Project. Oakley's grandma Hawkins bought her a rock tumbler for Christmas this past year, so she decided she wanted to sign-up to do the rock collection. It has been kind of a nightmare. First off we couldn't find the rock tumblers instructions in the remodeling mess that has taken over Oakley's room. So we printed some off the internet and it is quite the process. You start the first sand and tumble it for 7 days and then the next step takes 6 days and then 4 days and then back to 10 days. Ryan has been cursing the rock tumbler that goes day and NIGHT in the basement that makes it so we can't sleep. We have collected rocks from 5 different places in Idaho and have been searching for ways to display the rocks and learning all sorts of info about the rocks. It has been a VERY LONG PROCESS! Good news is.......we sent the finished project today to school.

Oakley with a little droopy eyes. Not so much because of a late night with Idaho History Project, more a late night because of diabetes! Kind of a normal around this house! But....she is looking cute like always! Top view of the finished rock collection! Looks great Oakley!!

Each rock had its own cute little box because she wanted to be able to pass them around. You know, passing things around is important in 4th grade.:)

Now we are on to the pyramid book report that is due Monday. So....in other words....I AM STILL CURSING 4TH GRADE!