Bugs Life

We had the privilege of making my niece Jade's second birthday cake. Mitchell asked her Mom, Danielle, what kind of cake she would like and she said ladybugs, flowers, etc,. He had a month to look online at different designs and different ideas and came up with such a cute cake! They just keep getting better and better, maybe he is in the wrong business. :)

I really enjoy helping Mitchell with the cakes. I was able to help with the design and I made the snail, all of the leaves, and the ladybug that is on the bottom layer.

Mitchell the cake maker! I have been asked how he became interested in cake decorating. While we were in Oklahoma at his Grandma's house she had a lot of cake pans that she wanted me to have. I told Grandma that it was funny that she was giving me the pans because Mitchell was the one who wanted to try his hand at them. We love to watch the show "Ace of Cakes" and he thought cake decorating looked like fun. I also think it has to do with me not letting him build an airplane so he has to build something, so cakes it is. (I like cakes better. :))

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Mitchell always sends pictures of his cakes to his grandma and when he sent this picture to her she said that it is funny that she decorated cakes for years and he just started and he is already better then her. Really, he just does a different type of cake, she mastered icing, Mitchell will one day master fondant - TOTALLY different.

Our final creation. It was so YUMMY and adorable.

I talked him into making our cake for the Daddy/Daughter activity that I am going to be helping with so I am excited to see what we will come up with this time - stay tuned.

I Wish!!!

The one thing on this Earth that I love more than my family is the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to have known since I was a child in Primary the answers to the questions that people all over the world ask themselves everyday. What is the purpose of life? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?

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I KNOW with all of my heart that I will be with my husband and children when we die because we are sealed for Time and All Eternity in a Temple of the Lord.

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Yesterday we found out that one of our residents sweet son died due to a ruptured appendix. He was such a happy little boy. He is in Ashley's class at school. Whenever he would see me he would come up with the biggest smile and say, "Hi Janessa!" I always knew I had a buddy around when he was with me.

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He comes from a house that does not have a mother. His dad works all of the time to support the two of them because of this he played outside quite a lot. A week ago Friday he came to my house with his friend and was so excited to inform me that he was having his FIRST sleepover. He was the happiest that I had ever seen him.

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After I told the kids about his sudden death I was talking to Ashley about it. She told me that she is not going to cry anymore because she KNOWS where he is and that he is in Heaven. She said that she knows that he is happy and is with Heavenly Father. I can picture little Tommy running around in Heaven as happy as can be picking flowers and sharing them with all. I will never forget that sweet little boys face and the happiness that he brought to so many.

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I just wish that his father knew of the possibility of being with his son again. I wish that he knew that his child was safe and in Heavenly Father's arms. I wish that he knew that he IS a Child of God. I wish that he knew what I know to be true.

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My favorite song is I am a Child of God. I have sung this song to my children since they were babies. I knew as a young mother and still know that it is important to teach my children the knowledge of this and for them to understand the importance of knowing this.

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In church today the closing song was perfect. It says:

God be with you till we meet again;

By his counsels guide, uphold you,

With His sheep securely fold you;

God be with you till we meet again.

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Till we meet till we meet

till we meet at Jesus' feet;

till we meet till we meet

God be with you till we meet again.

This is my way to Camp

Who can resist camping when you get to see this? Our new family tradition is to go to the KOA in Astoria for their Come and Camp with us weekend. This means you buy one night and get the next night free. Two years ago we camped in a tent and we were miserable, last year in a cozy little cabin with beds and electricity but nothing else and this year we were lucky enough to get the Kamping Lodge. We will NEVER get anything but this cabin again. It was definitely a fun way to camp, if you call it that. :)

The Lodge is like a little condo. It had everything that you needed; sink, shower, television, bathroom, comfy beds, couch, table, stove and fridge. It was stocked with pots, pans and utensils which made it so nice!
Swimming has to be the highlight of the trip for the girls. They have an indoor heated pool and we enjoyed swimming three times. I definitely can go without the game Marco Polo for the next year. :)
Uncle Jared, Aunt Danielle, Tavis and Jade have also made it a tradition to come and visit us while we are camping. We met up with them in Astoria to look at the fun Sea Lions.

Tavis, Hailey and Jade always have a blast when we get together. Tavis is Hailey's little buddy.

The beach has to be my favorite part of the weekend. It is so gorgeous. We are so blessed to live an hour away from this beauty!
Hailey could play in the sand all day if we let her.

We found this cool fort on the beach. It was perfect since it was so windy. Last year when we went we saw whales so I was hoping to see them this year but we were not able to.

We also did a lot of relaxing.....

jumping on this "jumping pillow" which was free so that was a bonus...

bike riding......

fire making......

and sleeping....Spending Mothers Day with the family without cell phones and the day to day things that interrupt life was WONDERFUL. I could not ask for a better gift!

List of 8's.....

Thanks to my cousin Tiffani for this fun tag.

8 things I am looking forward to........
1. Going to California for our Family Vacation this summer.
2. This school year finishing for the girls.....way too much homework for Lindsay!!!!
3. Losing weight.
4. Finishing Hood to Coast.
5. A girls weekend out in 2 weeks with all of my sisters, mother and sister in law.
6. Buying a home one of these days.
7. Sunday when President Ballard comes to our Stake Conference.
8. Summer, summer, summer

8 Things I did Yesterday......
1. Slept in until 8:00 at the KOA in Astoria in a Kamping Lodge. It was so nice!
2. Went swimming with my girls and brother's family.
3. Played on the beach.
4. Watched Sea Lions play.
5. Rode Bikes
6. Relaxed
7. Cooked Hotdogs over a fire...they did not work very well due to my fire going out so we did not get to roast marshmellows, next time!
8. Bounced on a Jumping Pillow.

8 Things I Wish I Could Do....
1. Celebrate Mother's Day with my Mom
2. Go to Hawaii
3. Learn how to Relax
4. Have one more child, maybe a boy?
5. Keep my House Clean for at least 2 hours
6. Take a Nap on the Beach
7. Figure out if we are going to put Hailey in kindergarten next year.
8. Fall asleep and not wake up 10 times during the night.

8 Shows I watch....
1. The Office
2. Monk
3. Biggest Loser
4. Anything on Food Network
5. Wheel of Fortune
6. Anything on HGTV
7. Ghost Hunters
8. Ace of Cakes

8 People to Tag...

1. Anyone who wants to just comment and let me know.
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My Blue Ribbon

When I was in the sixth grade I was in track. I actually loved running and loved my coach, Mrs. Campbell. I could run a mile in no time at all and run some more if I was asked to. I was shocked to find out that she wanted me to compete in the Long Jump and the Triple Jump at the meets. I could not jump two feet let alone try for a medal. I asked her to switch me but she insisted that is what she wanted me to compete in so I did not complain.

I went to meet after meet and was very disappointed. I always came in last and I came in last by a long shot! I was so embarrassed, I wanted to quit. One day I was at a meet and I jumped my triple jump then moved off of the sand pit when a guy asked me to wait, he had not marked my jump yet. He then marked me. I said, "Wait, I moved like two feet and did not realize you did not mark me yet," but he did not listen. I thought oh well, I tried to tell him. Well, while on the bus on the way home Mrs. Campbell announced the awards and my name was said. I WON THIRD PLACE! I immediately told my coach that I did not deserve it, but what do you do?

Every time I look at the only blue ribbon I ever received, I have to smile. It reminds me of how hard I worked and how much fun I had while I was in track. It also reminds me that I did not deserve it and it is not fair that I took someone else's blue ribbon.

In August I hope to get a TRUE "blue ribbon." I am going to run the Hood to Coast relay race with Mitchell. I am already running a mile and hope to increase it to two miles. I can not believe how long it has been since I have ran so it will take awhile to get where I need to be for the race, but I know I can do it and I am really excited.

To prepare for the big race I have to get in shape first and lose some unwanted weight. My sister, Heather, and her husband Paul came up with an idea that really will help. We are going to have a "BIGGEST LOSER" competition. Mitchell and I are a team and my Heather and Paul are a team. Whichever team loses the highest percentage of weight will have to buy dinner for the other team AND have to babysit while the winning team gets a night alone.

We weighed in yesterday and our final weigh-in will be July 1st.

So, Heather and Paul....................................BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can not wait for our wonderful night alone without kids.

Birthday Thoughts

HaPpY BiRtHdAy to my dear sweet hubby! Favorite things about You

Lindsay - You are very helpful around the house and you help me with my homework

Ashley - You take us on a lot of trips and you love us with all of your heart

Hailey - Playing with you

Janessa - You are such a hard worker and a great provider for our family. You are the best friend any woman can ask for!

Favorite Memory with You
Lindsay - Going kayaking for a day alone with you
Ashley - Snow Caving
Hailey - Going on the airplane to Oklahoma with you.
Janessa - Watching you hang glide when we were dating. You were so persistent and did not give up. Also, while we were dating, we took Adam to fly a kite and this is when I knew that I was in love. You were so caring and wanted to make sure that he had fun. I knew you would be a wonderful father!One Word that Describes You
Lindsay - Honest
Ashley - Enthusiastic
Hailey - He loves me
Janessa - LovingWe love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our lives! Happy 33rd birthday!!!