A Womans Weekend Out

This weekend, I got to get away for a little while, with some of my FAVORITE Women! My Mom and Sister and I went to Time Out for Women. We rented a room at the Crown Plaza Hotel by the convention center. It was really nice! Time Out for Women, was awesome. Friday night was basically a concert with some amazing musicians. One was from the Country group Diamond Rio, another has written songs for many singers, including Jessica Simpson and Shedaisy. They were really good. Saturday we got to hear a lot from Kenneth Cope. I love his music. I use to listen to him all through High School and his music has always touched my heart. That was no exception this weekend. The speakers were inspired and I needed the messages they sent out. Plus some were HILARIOUS! I feel spiritually Refreshed! I love to be able to do these things at least once a year. Rejuvenate my spirit and lift my soul. And having it so close to General Conference, made the spiritual experience that much better.
HERE ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITE WOMEN! My Mom, Sister Jenny, and my second family growing up. The HAWKINS GIRLS! (I missed you Angie)

Kim, Kenneth Cope & Me!!

Jason Deere!

A Special Note to Kim

I have been very lucky in my life. Lucky that I can look back in the past and in the present and see that I have always had good, no GREAT, INCREDIBLE FriENdS in my LIFE! Recently I have been able to spend a lot more time with a very special friend. Kim has always been one of the most caring people I have ever known. Not to mention forgiving. I could tell you stories, and you would fall in love with her, just like have. She has always been a strength to me, a beam of light, and a true friend. The more I've been around her lately, the more I love her. We have shared some tears together. Kim, your strength is amazing. Your willingness to do what's right and better yourself is amazing. I will love you forever! My ETERNAL FRIEND!
Here's some pics from our weekend at Time Out for Women. (It was a little crazy!)

FAMILY HOME EVENING - Part II

If you remember my post about Family Home Evening, a few posts back, this will make a little bit more sense to you. Kami is HiLAriOUs I must say. We were getting ready to do FHE and Kami came up to me and asked if she could do a "show" For FHE. Sure! So after we started, she ran to her room and came back with a dog carrier of stuff. (Kami doesn't usually get up in front of people to do things like this, even if it's just our family.) She pulled out one item at a time (just like Kylie did) and asked us what it was. There was a belt, candle, headband, monkey, one shoe and goggles. So we raised our hands and "guessed" the item. When we were right, which was everytime, she would just say "YEP!" and move on. Then when she was all done she made us close our eyes while she "got ready". When we opened our eyes, this is what we saw! I still can't stop laughing! There was no real point, but it was funny and she was trying to be big, like Kylie!

QUACK QUACK...HAHAHAHAHA...QUACK QUACK...HAHAHAHAHA!!

Sorry, the video's not very good, it was on my cell phone. But Kensley was so cute feeding the ducks! We come her every Tuesday while Kylie & Cassidy are at piano lessons. I wish my phone would have recorded a little longer, her laugh was so cute.

My GREAT PUMPKINS

Our small pumpkins and MY CUTE Pumpkins!!
Cassidy and her friend Audra

Ummm...Mom?...I think this pumpkin is a little too heavy!?!

Diaper Cake

My sister and I made our first diaper cake for our nieces baby shower!

Cute little twins!

Our friends Brad and Susan Conger came over for dinner with their 6 week old twins, Brady and Beth. This isn't the best picture, but they are so dang cute!

Kensley found something to do with all those extra socks!!!

Kenlsey has found a new hobby. Climb inside the sock basket, and throw them all out!

TAG!!! You're IT!

I was tagged! Six weird and random things about me!

The rules are:

* Link to the person who tagged you (adventuresofthedomesticengineer.blogspot.com )
* Post the rules on your blog
* Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
* Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
* Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
* Let the tagger know when your entry is posted

Weird things about myself, in no particular order:

1. I will NOT EVER blow my nose in PUBLIC!! I think that snot is the grossest thing. And for those of you who do it at the dinner table???...STOP!!! How are we suppose to eat knowing that ALL THAT SLIMY GROSS GREEN CRAP is being SPEWED OUT YOUR NOSE! THe sound alone makes me wan't to vomit.
2. I don't eat shredded coconut because it reminds of chewing on TOENAILS!! (not that I have chewed on them, but that's what I think it would be like)
3. Cutting raw meat GROSSES me OUT!!! (I just cut 30lbs of chicken-blah-)
4. I LOVE making up songs with my girls. If you were ever a fly on the wall in my house while Kami and I are home together...we are quite the musical!!
5. I love having my foot CRACKED! Right in the middle! I can't relax till Chris gives it a good crack.
6. I grew up with 6 brothers and I had to clean their Bathroom. GROSS. Snot everyWHERE!!! (maybe that's where my complete disgust in snot comes from.)

Was that Too Much Information?

TAG!!! You're IT!

1. Bonnie
2. Sara
3. Jen
4. Trishelle
5. Michelle
6. Kim

FAmILy hOMe EvENinG

I have to say that FHE has been so awesome with my girls at this age. It's rare that they want US to plan a lesson,because they like to do it all themselves. On Monday, Chris had the lesson plan. It was on how to save money (mainly by keeping lights off and using less water,etc.) and how the girls could help! Well before we even started, Kylie had said that she had planned something for FHE too, so we needed to save some time for her. Chris let her go first, and though she has taught us many a FHE Lessons, I have to say this was the best ever! She brought a gift bag to the Kitchen table, full of secret stuff. One at a time she pulled out a random item and asked "What does this item represent in the gospel?" I was immediately impressed. She started with a candle. The other girls gave their answers and then Kylie talked about how it represents the light of Christ, and now matter how dark it is just that little bit of light helps. Then she pulled out matches and asked what they represent. She said that in order to have that light we need to have something else (the matches) and we talked about what those things would be...Holy Ghost...Keeping the Commandments...Scriptures...etc. Then she lit the candle, turned off the lights and finished pulling other objects out of the bag. She ended with 4 words that she found on blocks around the house. Faith, Hope, Charity, and JOY. It was so awesome. We could have skipped Chris' lesson (no offense Chris) but we didn't. Both lessons were needed. Kylie is such a blessing in our home and such a great teacher to me and her Sisters! She is wonderful BIGGEST SISTER. WE LOVE YOU KYLIE!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY KENSLEY DEAR!

Kensley turned ONE on Sept. 19th but I wanted to have her one year old picture back before I did my blog.
It has been so much fun to watch her grow the first year of her life. She is definitely Chris' child. Not only does she look like her Daddy, but she is just as social as he is. Where ever we go, she HAS to say "HI" to everyone. And she has since she was 8 months old. I love it. There's no way that I can be shy when I have her with me out in public. Here's just a few of her accomplishments of her first year:
Smiling (always my favorite)
POOping regularly - I know it's kinda gross, but in the beginning when they're going about 8 days without pooping, you're grateful when they get regular-
Cooing
Sitting
Crawling
Clapping
Dancing
LAUGHING
Saying: HI - MOM - DAD - Kylie - BYE - Kitty - Tickle - Go get it (although not very clear) -
Hot - and my least favorite...nonono
Sign language for PLEASE and ALL DONE
Blowing kisses & waving
All of these things I love to watch her learn.
Now...if we could just get her to walk so she will stop eating things off the floor, (like CAPRENTER ANTS!! remember that post? Gross...if you didn't see it, go to the beginning of my blog, it's a gross one)
KENLSEY, I LOVE YOU and my life would not be complete with out you in it. You complete our family, like the cherry on top of an ice cream sunday! You are the sweetest baby and always SO HAPPY! May Heavenly Father continue to bless you as you grow in this life. I know he has blessed me by letting me be your Mother! 123 Always

Kensley JoLee 1 month old

1 year old