YW Service – Pilgram’s Inn Fair

Monday, July 27th, 2009 | Young Women | 2 Comments

This Saturday we took six of our Young women to help at the Pilgram’s Inn Fair. The Pilgram’s Inn is a shelter for women and children in the area and the fair was one on the many fundraiser they hold throughout the year.

We arrived at 7:30 AM to help set up and then the girls all waited patiently for things to get going. We were in charge of the kiddie area which included a bounce house, a big inflatable waterslide, and face painting. As you can tell our young women really got into it. When it was time for us to go we had to practically drag them home. I am so grateful for the opportunity that we had to serve and so pleased that the young women had a blast doing it!

2008 Mutual Theme – First Vinyl Project

Friday, July 10th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

So I finally got around to getting the boards routed and painted to put the 2008 mutual theme on it. I think it turned out pretty well for my first vinyl project. If I had to do it over I would have probably picked a different color for the paint but I used what I had on hand already and considering it’s way past time for the 2009 theme I don’t think the young women will mind if last years is less than perfect (at least by my standards).

Welcome Home Elder Addis

Thursday, May 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

Well at long last the day has arrived.  All the siblings traveled to NJ to be able to welcome home Elder Addis.  He arrived at 9:30pm at the Newark, NJ Airport.  It’s almost bittersweet to have a missionary come home.  Sweet because you’ve missed him dearly for two years and can’t wait to be with him again but bitter because there is just something that special about serving a misson not only for the person serving it but for his family also.  After many hugs and tears at the airport we piled in the family suburban and headed to the Stake Center where we met President Stokes who released our favorite Elder. 

It has been so nice to have him home.  Words cannot even describe how much he has grown and matured – both physically and spiritually.  I am so grateful for my brother – and all my family.  It’s amazing how after two years of only weekly emails, and only 2 phone calls a year for 45 minutes each I feel even closer to my brother than when we lived under the same roof.

Welcome Home Elder.  Now let the fun begin!

PS – Devin was here but was our photographer.  Dad was circling in the car (we go there too late to park in typical Addis fashion).

PPS – Video to come…

Turks & Caicos

Saturday, May 9th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

As I blog I am sitting on a lounge chair underneath an umbrella taking a well deserved break from the sun. My iPhone and the hotel’s wireless make blogging from my perch on the beach effortless. The attendants come by with cold bottled water, frozen fruit, a mister, and cold refreshing face towels. What more could one ask for.

Here are a few pictures (again taken with my iPhone.) I will post more, better quality photos when we return home.

Chuck E. Cheese – Where a Kid Can Be A Kid!

Saturday, April 25th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

This weekend we are ‘kid-sitting’ for the weekend for friends of ours. We are having the best time and really enjoying ourselves.

Last night we watched the movie Bedtime Stories with OJ and Lucy while Emily and Joseph were out. Today we went back to our place and played Kung Fu Panda on the xbox. We took a break for lunch a chick-fil-a. Afterwards we went back to their house to relax and let Emily work on her science project.

Devin had the bright idea that we should go to Chuck E. Cheese. When we walked in to ask the kids what they thought about the idea you should have seen their eyes get huge and their jaws drop! It was priceless. You would have thought we just told them we were going to Disney World!

Here are a few pictures of them in action at Chuck E. Cheese having a ball. Thanks Oliver and Joanne for going away. We are having SO much fun with your kids! When is your next trip?

Fancy Cupcake

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 | Uncategorized | 3 Comments

My little friend, Laurel Joy, turns 4 on Saturday. Her mom called me this morning to see if I had any cupcake tips. Not being well practiced in the art of cupcakes myself I remembered something I had seen on another blog. And that’s all it took to inspire me to try to make a fancy cupcake. Well that and a trip to Sur la Table (who wouldn’t be inspired to cook/bake while in that store)! So here are the results. I still need some more practice but I love the overall effect! Mmmmm fancy cupcakes! Fit for a princess!

Gardenias

Saturday, April 18th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

We have been working like crazy in the garden. I am quickly becoming more and more like Devin in that I love spending all day Saturday in the garden. I like to sit and enjoy more than I like to get all dirty and sweaty.

As I type I am blogging from my iPhone sitting on our back patio and enjoying the incredible scent of our first gardenia blossoms. It’s heavenly.

Baby Shower Gift

Friday, April 17th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Last night I attended a baby shower for one of my friends in our ward.  It’s her third girl!  So understandably they asked for no gifts.  What would a shower be with no gifts?  So we went with practical gifts.  I didn’t go out and get a back of Pampers but I chose instead to offer her a newborn photography session.  I made up this little coupon in the form of a baby announcement (the date and weight are merely my projections)  printed it as a 5×7 and put it in a darling little frame.

I think I will do this from now on.  What better way to celebrate the birth of a new baby than with photographs that capture all that is sweet, innocent and pure about a newborn.

HSM4 – Saturday Night Live

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Ok so I’m not a fan of High School Musical and I definitely haven’t seen all three of them.  I think I’ve only seen the first one.  Anyway Devin and I were watching SNL and saw this skit.  It was hilarious.  So whether you love High School Musical or hate it you’ll find this skit quite funny (worth watching the commercial that NBC puts at the beginning of the clip).

Easter

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments

I think most people have seen this by now but I just had to share it.  It’s a lovely video clip of Elder Holland’s talk on the Easter Season that was given at the most recent LDS General Conference.  Such a lovely reminder of the ‘reason for the season’.