Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the most amazing, wonderful, talented, kind, caring, beautiful 20 year old in the universe!

I love you will all my heart - thanks for being you.

What's up with the weather?

Last weekend we were having a waterfight - and this weekend all I want is a fire in the fireplace cuz it is so cold. I will say that I am grateful that it is not 100 degrees yet because sometimes in May it is already 100 degrees and that is way worse than it being a little chilly and rainy.

So, last weekend we had a party - no reason. I just thought is would be fun to have a party. We filled 500 waterballoons - yes, you heard right 500. And yes, that is a lot and yes, my fingers hurt for days after but we got really fast a filling waterballoons. Walmart has a great deal on waterballoons if you are in the market. We bbq'd and watched Rocketman which is hilarious and you should watch it and then we had a fire in our little firepit thingy in the backyard. Over all I say it was a success. And I have decided having parties for no reason is great and I will do it more often.

Things I learned from my sons birthday party

So, having raised 3 girls I thought I pretty much knew everything about birthday parties and sleep overs. . .I was wrong. Last night we finally celebrated David's 13th birthday. He really wanted to have a sleep over for his birthday, I really didn't want him to have a sleep over for his birthday but since he has seen all of his sisters have had many sleep overs I really couldn't justify saying no. But it was only going to 5 boys . . .I figured no big deal. Anyway, this is what I learned last night about the difference between girl sleep over's and boy sleep overs. . .

1. Boys have two volumes . . . . .Loud and LOUDER
2. Boys like to talk as much as girls. . .just minus the giggling
3. Boys talk about farting A LOT
4. Boys really like to throw water balloons at each other and the neighbor:)
5. Boys snore. . .loud
6. Boys are very polite and gracious

and after all is said and done. . .I think we will be having more boy sleep overs.

Happy Birthday David - I love you.

KATIE'S Going to HONG KONG!

Hey everyone,

I (Katie) am going to Hong Kong with Noteworthy next week and I needs a few dollars (about $300) to offset the cost.

This is a really great opportunity for Noteworthy. we are going to be singing for and doing workshops with underprivileged kids there and we're really excited! thankfully we don't have to pay for it all, but I'm still just a poor college student...So if everyone just donates a few dollars it'll help a lot! I'll post some of our adventures on my own blog afterwords. (katielynn27.blogspot.com).

Just click on the "donate" button below and you can donate through paypal. It's super easy!! :)
Thank you for all of your help!

LIFE

Last night David received his advancement to Life Scout. This is very exciting because now he can start working on his Eagle. I am super proud of him and this accomplishment especially considering he is not even 13 yet. He has earned 18 merit badges and will be receiving 7 more at the next court of honor. He has also earned all of his required badges as well. He has been working really hard and is hoping to get his eagle before he turns 14 which I am pretty sure he will. I love this boy and can't wait to see what other great things he will accomplish.

Where does the time go & Service is great!

Junior Prom

I just can't believe that Ciara is old enough to go to Jr. Prom. Where has the time gone? She is turning into such a beautiful young woman inside and out. I am not ready for her to grow up. Anyone know how to stop time?

Ciara getting ready

DISNEYLAND HERE WE COME!

A couple of weeks ago we went and worked at an elementary school up in Granite Bay for a few hours on a Saturday morning. We raked, hauled dirt and bark, pulled weeds, filled the play area with new bark and then we got 4 tickets do the happiest place on earth! Yes, we volunteered for Disney's "Give a Day, Get a Day" program. It was a great to give service and it will be great to go to Disneyland so basically a win, win!

See all that bark - basically Ciara and I raked out all that bark and made it look all new and pretty.















WE had to move all that bark into the play area and rake it out. And when we started the hill of bark was way taller. And also here is Ciara shoveling dirt. She looks thrilled doesn't she?















Stephen, Marissa and Ciara shoveling and moving dirt. David and the Larsen kids weeding the ball diamond. They did that for about 2 1/2 hours!

Thank heaven for the sunshine

Why I do What I do:)









Today I am so grateful for the sunshine. I have so many things I need to do and yet I have so little motivation. I have come to the conclusion that my mood is based on the weather - when it is cloudy and overcast so am I . . .when it is sunny and warm so am I.

I needed a sunny day so I can find the motivation to get up and get some things done. I sometimes feel like I do nothing and I need to get a life. Yeah, I feel that way a lot actually and I am pretty sure that that is Satan talking in my head trying to make me feel like a loser. But when I take a moment I know that that is not true that I am actually a pretty busy person with lots on my plate.

For example right now these are things I am working on:

Stake Youth Conference - Hubby and I are in charge of our stake youth conference this year and there is so much to do, infact, I realized that the reason I kept putting it off was because I really didn't even know where to start but yesterday I made myself sit down and do something and well we got a plan together and it is gonna work.

Elk Grove Musical Theatre Company: Yes, I am President (whatever that means, I have tons of help from some wonderful women whom I admire greatly and couldn't to this without them) of this little childrens theatre company and I am also producing our spring show "Beauty and the Beast". As you might guess this does take a little bit of time. Right now I am working on designing t-shirts and getting them to the printer. Ahh, if you know me at all you know that I am not a visionary, am not creative and this little job of getting t-shirts made was another overwhelming task. I didn't know where to start and so I kinda put it off but I think I have come up with an ok design and found a printer and will get those shirts to the printer today or tomorrow. Thank goodness for the internet where I can find logos to copy. . .saved my life.

Strauss Festival - This year I am directing. Ahh, why did I say yes? I ask myself this question often. I love the Strauss Festival. It has been a part of my life for 22 years and I just love to be involved. I really have no idea what I am doing but once again I am surrounded by some amazing people who make me look good.

Luckily all of these responsibilities have different "crazy busy" times - April will be crazy busy with EGMTC, May and beginning of June will be busy with youth conference and July it will be Strauss. And in between it I still have a family to cook for, to clean up after, launder and love. And speaking of my family they are pretty great and don't get upset when the above mentioned things don't get done because I am busy with other things.

I just want to say to my fellow bloggers "THANK YOU" for inspiring my with your words, life lessons, and funny stories. I read your blogs and realize that we are all pretty much the same. We are all just trying to do the best we can and sometimes we fall way short of our goal but other times we rock! I love you all and keep posting because even if I don't comment I still love reading your stories and they make me smile and movitivate me to be a better person.

I guess I need to get off of here and go make some good use of this beautiful sunny day. Have a great day everyone.

P.S. I forgot to mention that I am also Choir Booster president for the Sheldon High Choir program and I am in the midst of planning a trip to disneyland. Whoever, said being Mom is an easy job has never been a MOM.

Help?

So, I have a cute new blog header that I got from shabbyblogs.com but I can't figure out how to get a picture up there in the frame? Anybody got any ideas or know how I can to that? Your help would be much appreciated.

Nothing Exciting

I don't really have anything exciting to say but I really need to put up something new. It is so windy today. I just had to go outside and save our trash cans from blowing away and my neighbors as well. Why do we have to have such a stormy day on trash day? I really just want to stay under the covers all day and read a book but alas, I do not have a good book to read. I did just read the Hunger Games (all in one day) I should have tried harder to make it last longer. I just couldn't put it down. Interesting book by the way. Still trying to decide what I think about it. It is disturbing almost like seeing a horrible accident and knowing you should turn away but you just can't, you want to see everything and then you don't all at the same time. That is kinda how I felt about that book. I mean it is about children being forced by adults to kill each other - that is terrible. Ahhh, and still I read the whole thing in one day.

And because of the wind the TV isn't working the signal is just coming in and out. No TV and no good book what shall I do? I am not going out in this weather but dang I do need milk. I think I will watch a movie. How about Julie and Julia? Yes, I enjoy that movie. Got it from my best friend. Oh, but it will make me hungry. It makes me want good food. Yes, I am rambling. Let's see if I can end this with something inspirational.

Well, I have a great family. My husband and 2 kids at home let me travel to Utah for a week to go visit my other 2 kids. I know they hate it when I am gone but they were super understanding and supportive. I love them for that and I loved being able to go to Utah. Not only did I get to see my girls I also got to visit with my best friend which is always great. So, yes, I am grateful for an amazing family.

Oh, and one more thing. Noteworthy is going to China! Yes, they are! Hong Kong in April. Now, that is exciting.

The Sing Off 2

Viva La Vida


Hold On