Perfect Pairs…

I had a cute young woman get married and so me and the other YW leaders went in on this shower gift. I thought it turned out super cute!

 

 

 

Here is a list of some of the ideas we came up with:

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Cookies & Cookie Jar

Fork & Spoon

Dish Soap & Towel

Salt & Pepper

Hugs & Kisses

Candle & Flame

Chips & Dip

Pen & Paper

Recipe Book & Apron

Hot Cocoa & Mugs

Popcorn & a Movie

Whirl Wind Summer…

You wouldn’t believe me if I told you how stinkin’ busy we’ve been lately. I recently got called as the new Young Women President. I know. What in the world were they thinking?! Believe me I ask myself that every single day!! I have wonderful counselors and advisers that make up for way more than I am lacking! We just got back from a week of girls camp. What a blast! It was seriously so fun! We took them to Bear Lake, the Minitoka Caves, floated the river at Lava Hot Springs and really roughed it… I’m talking infinity toilets and all! ha! It was SO good for all of us prissy girls!! We had THE BEST camp director ever, she is also my next door neighbor! LOVE her!!! She had some really cute ideas and it was the perfect mix of spiritual and fun. She gave the girls a swagger bag at the beginning of camp with homemade chapstick- I’ve got to get the recipe it was SO awesome! A journal etc.We did a night hike, she lit up glow in the dark signs and had the girls stop at each sign up the hike to read a scripture or thought. As I walked up the trail and paused I looked up into the starry sky. I am so thankful for the beauty that surrounds us. I know our Heavenly Father is looking down on us, wanting to give us everything that He has. I know He knows us each as individuals, blesses us and is directing our lives.

 

The day after we got home from camp me and my sister in laws threw a super fun bridal shower for Kenzii. Here are a few pics. Our theme was “Love Birds”. We did an Italian Soda Bar, made the best cupcakes I’ve ever had. GO HERE for the recipe! {Thanks Lyndsi for the recipe!}

My SIL Chelsea did the games- SO cute! They were fun and quick. ;) He says, She says- where we asked the bride and groom to answer some questions and the guests had to guess whether he or she said it. The other game we played was Bridal Shower Bingo. You guess what the bride is going to get and fill in the bingo card accordingly. We did a prize for bingo and a black out.

Now we are packing up and heading to Bear Lake for a week. I love summer, but when I’m in the middle of all the work I feel crazy, if I just  stop and pause, I know why we go to all the trouble. It’s totally worth it for the kids. They don’t get many summer’s in their sweet lifetime that will be so carefree and I want them to have great memories. It’s definitely worth it! I hope you are each having the most wonderful summer full of good memories too!

Summer Lovin…

This song is my fave right now. ♥

We just finished our swimming lesson session. It was AWESOME. Until today, diving board day. It pushed Brooklyn a little too far. It didn’t go over well. Hope she will try again next year?! There were tears, screaming,a meltdown and more tears. Felt so bad for her. I kind of have a phobia of deep water myself, so I can’t blame her. The diving board looks so high when you actually get up there!

We are checking things off our summer bucket list left and right. We’ve been having a lot of fun, but I’m ready for a little slower pace of life. I like to be busy, but I also like to have those lazy days lounging around on the porch eating popsicles and running through sprinklers and we haven’t had many of those days yet! 

Camping feet. Can only mean one thing… they’ve had way too much fun!!

We had a super fun 4th of July. One of my favorite holidays- well who am I kidding? I say that about EVERY holiday that rolls around. I really do love the parades, the fireworks,the BBQ’s, dressing the kids up in red white and blue and the patriotic feeling rushing through the crowds.

 

One thing I forgot I was going to blog about was a new discipline method we are using.

These are our “Good Bean/Bad Bean Jars”

If the kids do something they shouldn’t they have to put a bad bean in the jar, when I catch them being good they put one in the good bean jar, when we decide it’s time to do something extra fun like go to the movies or to the water park etc. We check their good and bad bean jars to see which one is more full. So far it’s helped me out a ton this summer. It’s kind of nice too, because the other day Brooklyn came and told me about something naughty she had done. So for telling the truth she got to put in two good beans, but she still had to put in a bad bean too, for doing something she wasn’t supposed to. Thanks to my sister in law Linda for the great idea! It really helps the kids be accountable for their own actions.

We also had a BIRTHDAY in our house! My favorite boy turned 32. They just don’t come any better than him. Love him so much. To celebrate we had a few people over for a little crab boil. It was so fun. Definitely be doing it again soon. Go HERE for the recipe.

New Beginnings 2012…

I work with the the youth in our church. Particularly the young women. We have a great group of girls. Our class the 14 & 15 year old girls were in charge of welcoming in all  the new girls for the year. Here are a few pictures of the night. I must say I’m pretty proud of the girls that helped me. They used our theme for the year  “Arise & Shine Forth”.  We went pretty simple, and I should probably do that more often plus we were super thrifty too, I think we did all this for under $20- $30 , I wish I took better pictures, because it was SO cute in person!  We had leaders make star shaped sugar cookies and we also filled the jars with THIS popcorn ( only I used yellow Wilton melts to go with our theme). and we used THESE printable book marks as handouts.

 

   

Young Women Back to School Breakfast…

 

For our young women’s activity this week, we hosted a Back To School Breakfast for them. It was really so much fun! We ate a big breakfast & then the girls all brought clothing & accessories that that had outgrown them or they didn’t use anymore and switched!  As a handout we gave them these Back 2 School Survival kits. You can see the downloads at the bottom of the post. As usual, just right click on them and save to your own computer then print. :) I got the idea from HERE.

Each kit includes:

M&M's- Be a Member Missionary!

Pen-You are writing the story of your life daily

Now & Laters- the decisions you make will effect you now and later

Eraser- Sometimes you will make mistakes

Almond Joy- just remember the cleansing principle of repentance

Smarties- Study hard!

Gum -Stick to your principles even when things get hard

100 grand-remember your great worth

Hershey Kisses-you are greatly loved!

Snickers -It’s important to laugh

Picture of Christ-remember you are a Daughter of God

Sealed on top with a tag that reminds them to remember who they are and that we LOVE THEM!!

 

 

{Example}

 

 

Download this subway art HERE.

Monday Update…

In list form because heaven knows I LOVE my lists! ;)

1. Repentance Handout for Young Women- you are more than welcome to click on the picture to enlarge it & have it printed- this is a 4x6 size. Super cute to attach to a real orange or the mini orange slices.

2. Tried to “clean up” the look of our blog. (see top right under the blog banner) Still working on it- but LOVING the new PAGES feature on blogger. Here is a simple tutorial if you want to try it on your own blog.

3. Won a photo session with the talented Natalie of Excursion Photography- you can check out some of the pics HERE.

More to come when I get my disc! SO FUN!

You can’t tell me these two aren’t brother and sister! ha! Crazy how much they look alike!

4. Had fun decorating for an Ice Cream Social for the women at our church.

to make your own bunting banner go here for a free printable pattern.

also a cute tutorial on how to make ice cream cones from balloons. Go HERE.

Our summer has been full of fun.

trips to the splash park &

sleepovers with cousins.

Smore’s with neighbors.

drive in movies.

 

Fro Yo @ Kiwi Loco!

trips to the zoo.

a day out with old friends- Kate & I have been BFF’s since 1st grade!

Lunch @ Gator Jack’s YUM! we also checked out a new botique & picked up some bling.

 

Attended my 10 yr. High School Reunion! SO MUCH FUN!!!

4th of July Fesitivites

treats! click on the pics for the recipes.

Summer is wearing me out- but in a very very good way! We’ve got more fun planned! Sunshine, popsicles, swimming, gardening – I just don’t think life can get much better! Are you enjoying your summer?