Cheap or Free

I know not many people read my blog, but I am requesting ideas from all who do read for cheap/free entertainment for a date night or family activity.

Here are some of my ideas...

1. Go to the park and swing on the swings (OK I stole that from Krista)
2. Game night with friends (my personal favorite)
3. A stay home date after the kids are in bed - movie and popcorn
4. Date night at the temple - do a session and eat in the cafeteria
5. Go for a walk
6. Sledding (I can say that today because it is snowing in the mountains!!!!)
7. Play catch/soccer in the backyard
8. Board games
9. Go to museums
10. Come to the Cloward's to help drywall the playhouse!

OK, the last one isn't really that fun. Please comment any other ideas you have out there!

Thanks!

WOW

Wow is all I can say. This has to be one of the hardest weeks we have faced in a long time. There were more layoffs of employees and family members and more financial struggles, yet my good husband is ever up beat and hopeful for a better future. I cannot mistake the tender mercies I have seen this week in my life. First and foremost in my mind is a loving Heavenly Father that asks us to be prepared. We have been throwing money in savings this year like crazy, living more simply and building up our years supply of food. We have tried to always do these things, but we have known all year that this might happen and have been preparing for it while hoping and praying it wouldn't happen. I have Christmas almost completely taken care of for the kids! Another mercy is that family members are still talking to us!!! This has been the hardest part, worrying about the family relationships. I love my sister/brother in laws so much! I am so grateful that business has not come between us. The company landed a contract yesterday! It isn't huge, but it is work and money coming in! What a blessing! Kindnesses have been shown by loving friends who have brought over treats, bread or just a hug. We talked to the kids last night and they are amazingly strong. The tears fell, but they too know everything will be OK. Fuzzy said, "I know one thing we can do mom, we can take shorter showers so our water bill will be less"! We are truly blessed even in this very difficult time. I continue to choose to see the good and find the blessings even when things look bleak (at least most of the time, when I am not having another breakdown at dance!!!).

Waterfall Hike 2009

There is this beautiful waterfall hike not far from my house that is nice and easy for kids to hike to. We found it one time my parents came to visit. My dad was looking through the paper and found a local hikes guide. We had no idea what was right around us! We have tried to hike it at least once every year. This year, Jamie and I decided to take our kids on the hike and we had a blast.

The kids at the start

They are so cute!

Crossing the stream the easy way. The kids wanted to cross it by jumping on rocks to get to the other side. Let's just say that their shoes were soaked!

Alli and her friend in a cave they found. I am impressed Alli got in there!

The boys imitating "firepower" from Night at the Museum II"

Then the girls had to do it too!

Fuzzy is my scaredy cat when it comes to heights and things like this. Notice the log she is on is way out over the stream and kind high up. Way to go Fuzz!

The kids and I at the waterfall. Missy had volleyball camp that morning so she couldn't come with us.

Scotty tells me, "Mom, you gotta try this, it is so cool!" So they had me run down to where the spray from the waterfall was really great and put my arms up and yell. I gotta admit, it was pretty great!

Oh yeah, then you have to run away!

We took Scotty's backpack with us and there happened to be a piece of sidewalk chalk in the bag. The kids had so much fun with that piece of chalk. Jamie brought her GPS and was trying to go geocaching with the kids (mostly mine because it was so cool to them). There was supposed to be a spot, but they could never find it. In the meantime, the kids colored rocks with the chalk and then hid them to see if they would still be there the next time we hiked.

Scotty decided he needed a little war paint!

Great day! Good friends and hiking in God's country!

Still finding tender mercies

So, I can now blog about my bad news last week. Corry's company is not doing well. He has mostly been running it since the beginning of the summer and I have found a new profound respect for my father-in-law and other business owners. This was not the way Corry had imagined taking over. He had always imagined taking the reins of a strong company and adapting his leadership style to it. Although he has made his best effort, the economy is still not good and more layoffs happened yesterday. It has been heart wrenching for Corry because he felt he needed to let his brother-in-law go. I cannot express the turmoil that has gone on in our home over the last week. My heart aches for Corry for having to make those decisions and for my brother-in-law and his family. Last night was very difficult for me. I went to my dance class and couldn't even make it to warm up when the tears came. I was feeling hopeless. I have read several thing about the corruptness of our government and keep reading about the job losses around the country. Last night I was without hope for the future. A future for my children to go to college, to live in peace, to travel and many other things. I couldn't see the end to the economic crisis. I saw an end to the suffering when we leave this life to live with our Father in Heaven, but I couldn't see the end to the suffering here. I left dance and had my good friends follow me out. I was too overwhelmed to speak and just needed to be with my husband. I came home and had a good cry and talk with Corry and he tried to give me hope. Somewhere I found that hope. I was again amazed by the tender mercies of my Father. When Corry talked to his bro-in-law, both he and his sister took the news very well. What a huge tender mercy! Corry's heart ached, but was relieved to have the news taken so well. I was blessed with wonderful friends who wrapped their loving arms around me. My Father gave me a wonderful husband who is always there for me and is a hard worker. Then this morning I watched the latest Mormon Message that my heart needed. My mom called and my dad emailed their love. I am truly blessed and found the hope I need to go on.

Fabulous Backyard Party!!!!

We had the best time with a huge backyard party. We invited tons of our friends and had everyone bring there own meat to grill and a side to share. Then we watched a movie in the backyard. Loads of fun!

Fuzzy and her friends

We had two grills going and tons of people

Alli and some of her friends

What could be better than a beautiful summer night, friends and food?

Missy and her friends

So Braadyn poured a cup of water on Corry, bad idea!

Finally Corry caught her

Just before she got drenched

Jeanie thought it was funny!

It was a great night! I love our friends! We live in the best neighborhood! (Especially when our friends who have moved come back to join the parties!)

Children's Parade

For the children's parade this year, the kids were supposed to dress up as one of their ancestors. Fuzzy asked me constantly to help her with this, but I never did, so we went with the pioneer look and Scotty wore his train hat. I know, bad mom, but they still had a good time. It was the nicest children's parade. We got rained on a bit, but overall it was clear and not hot! Bummer we couldn't use our rodeo tickets though... :(

Jim Phelon took some great pictures of the kids. I would love a new camera and some lessons! Thanks Jim!

14 Years and counting

I know this isn't our best picture together, but I had to commemorate our 14th anniversary! Honestly I can't remember what we did to celebrate. We had dance dress rehearsal, a baseball game and Corry went to YM's that night after his dad and Fa came over for dinner. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I think it was a great anniversary. If I remember right we went to dinner the next night and it was just good. I remember on our anniversary feeling so loved. We don't need stuff. We don't need gifts (although they are nice) and we don't need exotic getaways (although those are really nice) we just need each other. I was lucky enough to marry my best friend and the greatest man I know and to have 4 wonderful children with him. I love being married. We just have fun together, although it is not always and has not always been marital bliss, it has been good. Through all the ups and downs, the sadness and the joy, we have been together. That is what I love about our marriage, we are working together to accomplish our goals. I love you Cor! Thanks for letting me be "your problem now"!

Tender Mercies

So yesterday was a hard day. I got bad news in an email that just had me down. If I hadn't been committed to teaching dance that morning, I would have stayed in bed all day. 1st tender mercy. I wasn't sure about taking on more dance classes this year, but so far it has been a blessing to be with those sweet girls. (Yes, so far) I came home and decided I needed to get to work, so I mowed the lawn and trimmed the rose bushes. Another tender mercy - hard work. I know, I never thought I would enjoy mowing the lawn, but there is something about the roar of that motor that brings me into a peaceful thoughtful place. Then, a dear friend of mine drove by and stopped to chat for a moment. Tender mercy again. How often do we take the time to stop and chat with our neighbors when we see them? The biggest tender mercy came when I was trimming the roses. I actually cut off a stem accidentally that had the most beautiful rose on it. At first I was disheartened to see I had cut it off my bush, but then I felt very blessed, to have that beautiful rose. I sat and stared at that rose in my had, perfect with thorns all over it, but this flower rose above the thorns and was still beautiful. maybe that is how my Heavenly Father sees me. I have my thorns, but I am trying to push past them to become that rose. I took that rose in my house and put it in a vase. Somehow life will work out for us. I don't know how, but it will.

I started thinking about this experience again tonight when I had another bad night with Alli. She has been really difficult the last couple of weeks (maybe she misses her daddy?). As I got on blogger, I read my friends very tender entry about her love for her little sister and I was sad for me that no one would write that about me (selfish, I know). Then I started looking at my past posts and saw these great pictures of my little Alli. She too has thorns, but she is also a beautiful flower in the making. Tender Mercy - I think so. Being able to see the one you are struggling with in a way that shows their inner beauty, I think that is a gift from God.

Grandma and Grandpa turn 60!

Happy 60th Birthdays!

The girls

Cecil's strong mad tricks. Those are Katie and Sophie's ankles he is holding onto!

Fate, Fuzz and Chance

Cute Father and son - Chad and Jack

Fa and Aubrey

Paco and Miss

I loved this picture of Cecil kissing Aubrey's head

I love family! We had such a fun birthday celebration, but the best part for me was the video Corry made for them. We gathered pictures and tried to cut pictures out, but it ended up being 40 minutes! Not going to load onto the blog. Corry did a beautiful job though. I wish I could post it!

Ballet Recital

The next night was the ballet recital and no more sitting in the audience watching my girls dance. This time I got to watch them from on stage. That was fun too!

Miss and Fuzz were so excited to be helpers this year and help with my little preballet class. My three dancers together! This was the one they were all in together! (Bluebirds in Cinderella)

Miss and Fuzz had two separate classes that danced together. So FUN!!!

Alli wanted to hang out with me back stage and I wanted to get her picture. This is what I got...

Fire power!

Princess with an attitude...

Finally, a beautiful palace maid. Secretly I like all the other pictures better! :)

And the true character comes out again!

Grandma and Grandpa with all the girls (my niece Katie dances too)

Our little family

Cute Alli and Katie together!

The apple doesn't fall far... When Corry was younger he got stuck between a couple of pillars too. I will have to find that picture!

Jazz Recital

This year for the jazz show it was soooooo long! 3+ hours! But, it was fun to watch the girls and it was fun to get to be the mom and watch from the audience! I love these girls. They did a great job and had a lot of fun together and with their classes.

Grandma came to watch! Thanks grandma!

The whole family - very tired!

The traditional going to Iceburg for the mini shakes!

The other side of the table!