All my friends are doing this, and I thought it would be kinda fun. So if you want a gift made by me, follow the instructions....
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It'll be done this year (might take a while).
4. You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? YOU must repost this on YOUR blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! I know that you all want to join so hurry fast, remember it is only the first 5 people to respond and then put it on your blog. If you don't put it on your blog then you don't count!! :)So, post this on your blog, then comment and let me know you did it! Woohoo!

Young Women's New Beginnings

I want to tell you about our ward's New Beginnings. I'm sure some of these ideas you could use in your own callings. It turned out to be a great night. Our theme was "Now is the Time". We decorated with all kinds of clocks and greenery. The new Beehives and move-ins got these cute little watches, with a tag that said "Take Time to be the Best You!" We had one of the Laurels speak on the new value Virtue. The Bishop gave a wonderful talk that went along with our theme, our Bishop is fabulouse!! The girls sang the song "The Best Year Ever" from the New Year program at the conference center. Some of the girls had solos in it. They all were so impressive! Sister Hawkes did and awesome job helping them get ready for it. It was just a really neat night in the chapel. We felt so good about how the night went.

All the girl went home with these frames and a starter kit for a time capsule. We figured they could be working on one of their value projects together through out this next year. It goes with Individual Worth to put together their family history using different things like journal entries, pictures, important papers, and what ever else they would like to include. We're going to have them sealed up in those big cans from the cannery after they display their things at evening in excellence.

For refreshments we had these cute spiral cookies of all the different value colors (I have this recipe too if any body wants it) and sherbet & Sprite

I really do love being in the Young Womens. These girls are so strong and teach me so much. I hope they're learning as much from me as I am from them. Thanks Girls!!

Our Little Cinderella!

I caught Alyvia slaving away scrubbing our entry way with her spray bottle and paper towel. I'm glad she knows how to earn her keep. Not to mention she was all decked out in her beautiful princess dress. She's a busy Cinderelly!

Play Dough Anyone?!!

For all of you who would love another thing to keep kids occupied for some time. I have a playdough recipe for you. I make it all the time and it lasts so long if you keep it in the refrigerator. Here's Alyvia in her apron I made her for Christmas. She loves to wear it when she plays with playdough or helps me with dishes. It was so easy. My sister made me a larger version a couple of years ago for Christmas using dish towels. It's my favorite one and super cute. I just used washclothes for Alyvia's.

*Playdough

1 Cup Flour 1 Cup Water

1/2 Cup Salt 1 TB Oil

2 tsp Cream of Tarter

Stir together in pan & cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mizture pulls away from side of pan. Remove from heat. Add food coloring. Knead onto wax paper.

For those of you whos kids will eat the playdough, here's an edible version.

*Peanut Butter Playdough

1 Cup Peanut Butter 1 Cup light Corn Syrup

1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar 1 Cup Powdered Milk (may need to add a little more)

Mix all together

Some of Alyvia's two year pictures!

This was one of my favorites, but I didn't end

up buying any of them! I need to reorder. It's hard not

to love them all.

Alyvia enjoying her birthday goods!

I would say Alyvia got pretty spoiled for her birthday! She got two sets of leap frog fridge magnets (the farm animals and the alphabet) from both Grandmas and Grandpas, a new wagon, a xylophone, microphone and a tent set that Brady and I scored at the Grocery Outlet! It came with a backpack, tent, flashlight, water bottle, headband, and a sleeping bag all for $9.99. Hurry, they may still have some left.

There's a monkey here who had a birthday!!

It's pretty hard for us to believe that our tiny baby is now 2. Time goes by way too fast. We had such a fun day. First I took her to Zurchers and got her a monkey balloon, which is a little bit scary, but she likes it. Then we went to hop 2 it with cousins and friends. Then following a three hour nap Brady and I took her to dinner at Arctic Circle where she could play on some more toys. ( I thought we might as well wear her out as best we could) That night we had such a fun party with Grandmas, Grandpas, cousins and friends. So our house was full of monkeys (literally). Thanks to Martha Stewart and my sister Anna, I was able to pull off a monkey cake! It even tasted decent (considering it came from a box). Alyvia starting saying "Happy to me, happy to me." I think she had a ball today, and I hope she knows how special she is to us.

I got a good idea from the family fun magazine (the greatest by the way) that I started doing just this January. You write a letter to each of your kids telling them what they've been up to, the funny things they do, how much they mean to you, etc. Then you could include a picture and whatever else you can neatly fit in an envelope, then you mail it to your kids. When it comes back in the mail you find a special place to keep them. Then on their 21st birthday you give them a box of sealed, postmarked letters from you for them to go through and read. I thought this was a pretty special idea, that would be very easy to do and would mean a lot to them later. Thought I would pass that idea along. http://www.familyfunmagazine.com/