Saturday Fun

Our Saturday morning started with what I like to call the Rainbow pancakes. While at the breakfast table I was playing with E'lyses new toy, so that is the picture of my face with my glasses on. I look like an alien. He he
Faith & Gabby had their best friend Taylor spend the night. So after the morning clean- up we decided to do a couple fun crafts. We made little pom pom puppy key chains for their backpacks then we decorated heart sugar cookies. The first picture of cookies is Gabbies and the 2nd is faiths. I had a bunch of Valentine decoration candies left over so that is what we used. We had a good time. The girls are out jumping on the trampoline with the sprinkler on right now. Alan is out running errands, Dallas is at his cousin’s house hanging out, E'lyse is at a friends swimming. So the house is quiet for a while.
This evening E'lyse and I will be going to the YW Broadcast and then coming home to eat dinner with the family.
Sunday we will be going to Pinetop for Talmages Blessing. I am so excited Coco will be coming back with us and staying a little while to visit. I am so happy! I will check in later. Have a great Saturday. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Friday Night Fun

Friday night E'lyse had 10 of her 14 closest friends show up to celebrate her birthday since Spring Break comes at her Birthday time. The kids had fun. We had pizzas, chips & soda. Cesa Merril is a friend of E’lyse’s who I am encourageing to get her creation business going made the cupcakes. They were so yummy! Thank you Cesa! I think E’lyse’s favorite gift was the thing that you can put your face and hands and the little pointy things stay in place of the object. I did find out that that many pre-teens are very loud. It was like having the Houser’s together discussing politics. I think everyone had a good time and enjoyed being together. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Sculpey,left over ceral & rolls

I wanted to share a little about what I have been up to. Last night I worked on Dallas’s Biome Diorama, he comes to me for the crafty stuff (I love these kind of challenges!) any way I got out my sculpey and got to work. I made these animals that are to scale with his Diorama box. The one to the front left is a coyote, behind it is my favorite one a javalina, to the right at the front is a Jackrabbit and behind a not so great looking whitetail deer. I put a separate picture of the javalina. I worked on the box too. Today I have been busy spring cleaning and some fun in the kitchen. I got dinner all prepped to cook when it is time. We are having turkey with long grain wild rice, summer squash, rolls (picture before they are cooked above) and my use for left over cereal. You know those cereals that the kiddos just beg to have but then they don't eat? I used the recipe for the rice krispy treats to use up some of ours. I also made Pickled eggs. They will be ready in about 48 hours or so. I can't wait to have some. I don't know if this is a family recipe, (if someone knows let me know), but they are so yummy!! Pictures to come soon! I know you are all just dying to see them. LOL
You all have a great Thursday night. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

I am addicted

My name is Bobbi Jo and I am addicted to Michaels. This is my second trip to Michaels this week. Today I went there to get some black corner picture tabs for my neighbor and ended up with these goodies. SO much fun! I have great plans for the cute bucket that I will post pictures later when I get it done. And the cute little water cans too! Well back to helping Dallas make a Biome Diorama for school. I don’t understand some teachers but that is a different post. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

My Little Momma

I stole this picture from Coco's blog. (Sorry Coco) I love the picture. To me it captures the true bond and love of a mother to her child. Have a great Tuesday! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Happy Easter!!

Last night the Easter Bunny delivered the baskets. Well Alan got the plate and the pretty big egg with the gold bow. The baskets go from oldest to youngest. Getting the baskets out of their box the other night I realized I had 4 very girly baskets but only 3 girls home this year. I kind of got sad at the thought of not having my Coco here.
The children all got something a little special in their baskets to fit their likes and personality. Hope you may all look at this Easter as a new beginning and enjoy life to the fullest. Happy Easter! Love, Bobbi Jo

Craft Day with lots of pictures

This morning Faith, Gabby and 2 of their friends, Taylor and Guiana, came over to make crafts. My good friend and neighbor, Melony my walking buddy, came over with her daughter Taylor. We made a project called Sleepy Little Bunny, Jelly Bean Chick, Foam Easter Egg decorations, Spring Visor (picture to come on these ones); we also made a take home treat for the families of Rice Crispy Nest with peeps and eggs. We had a good time. The girls really seemed to love all the projects. After we were done with crafts the girls colored the Easter eggs. We did five dozen this year. Love the beautiful colors of spring. Everyone have a Happy Easter. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Awards Assembly

Today at the girls school was their Awards Asembly. Faith won the Respect Award. Gabby won the Fairness Award. This is part of the Character Counts program that is big in the schools.I am really proud of you two for doing such a great job in school.
I am so glad it is Friday. I rented some movies for us to watch tonight or tomorrow night The Bee Movie, Waitress and The Nanny Diaries. Hope you all have a great Friday afternoon and night. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

HAPPY SPRING!

Nothing says the beginning of spring like the smell and beauty of the orange blossoms. Wanted to wish every one a Happy Spring on this the first day of spring .This picture I took this morning of our navel orange tree in our back yard. I am praying that it gives us a lot of yummy oranges this year. Have a great day. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Horton Hears A Who

Tonight for Family Home Evening we went to the movies to see Horton Hears A Who. It was a cute movie. There is a little yellow critter named Katie. It reminded me so much of Gabby. Those of you who know Gabby will understand. Too funny!! Tuesday the girls all go back to school after their spring break and Dallas has this week off too. I am planning on working on some organizing and some scrapping. So looking foreword to doing that!!! Everyone have a great evening. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

St. Patrick's Day!!

Nothing says “Top of the Mornin to ya” like green eggs & pancakes! I just love St.Patrick’s Day. I try and make green pancakes every year for the kiddos. I think they like it. We are going tonight for FHE to see Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who! We are excited to see it. Normally I would make a traditional Irish dinner but we will be meeting Alan at the theater after work so we will have a simple dinner before we leave.
We had a good weekend although way too fast. Coco, Kyle & Talmage came down from Pinetop to visit. I was so happy to see them. I miss having them close by. We really need to get Kyle a job on the police force here so they can move.
Have a great Green Day! And I don’t mean that as a Bunny Hugger. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Saturday was E’lyses 12th Birthday. Alan, Dallas & Kyle went to the movies. Us gals went to Michael’s for the Crayola Family Craft Day. Faith & Gabby made wishing wands, a card, and a doorknob decoration hanger. They had a good time then we shopped for a little while. We met up with the guys at God Father’s for pizza. After this we went home and had cake. This was also E'lyses first Sunday to go into YW. She was very excited. She was given a certificate of completion of her Faith in God in Sacrament by Bishop Kempton.She is growing into a pretty young lady. WAY TOO FAST! Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Clutter and Seeking to Simplify

I decided to start writing about an article I've been reading about simplifying our lives. I am going to start with emotional clutter. The process started last week with a blog that I posted that caused a fuss. In the blog I posted was what I believe trying to relieve some issues that have been held in way to long. I also attended a Enrichment Night that got me to thinking about close friends and how I felt that I have friends or maybe acquaintances that I talk with, but not ones that call and want to go do something or just share what is going on in their lives or ask for help. Now I know I am bad at this myself, worrying that they might be busy or caught up in my own little life. So I think with that blog I wanted to reach out for a friendship that had gotten lost with my family. I am now trying to rebuild this with members of the family who have gotten in touch with me. There are lives that are being cripples by emotional pain, resentment and other negative feelings. I don’t want to live that way. I have a person close to me that there life is very sad due to these things. The negative feelings destroy the soul and complicate our lives.
At times things might be too painful or too hard to get over that we need to talk to a counselor or our Bishops. In the article it says that the negative emotions poison our souls and sap our energy- these are the things we need to let go. So with that I have tried to make amends and I am working on becoming a better person. I had some very wise words from a beautiful and wise friend yesterday that I am going to put to work. Have a good day. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Chocolate

Church Releases New Official Portrait of First Presidency

I just got the announcement in my email and thought it was cool. Now I have to go to the LDS book store and get one. Have a great Tuesday. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Hippity Hoppity Easter on it's Way

Just a reminder that Easter is on March 23rd this year. Thursday night we had our Enrichment Mid- week activity and we made this cute little Easter Garland. It is featured in the March issue of Creating Keepsake Magazine. It was easy and fun to make. My good friend and neighbor Melony came with me, thank you Mel it was fun to have you there! It was a great turn out and some yummy treats were served too. Okay a couple more laps around the block now. He he. Being that it is Friday it is Spring Break for my kiddos. I am working on ideas for fun things to do with them next week and hoping that maybe Coco, Kyle and Talmage will decide to come down to visit. Everyone have a great Friday!
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Reflections of Christ

Sunday after church we went to the Temples visitors’ center. There is a display called "Reflections of Christ". I had heard about this through Heidi Swapp. Thank you so much Heidi! The photographer Mark Mabry did an awesome job. The pictures are so moving. There is one of Jesus and the blind man and I think it would be great if each of us could have a picture of us in place of the blind man to remind us that Jesus is always there watching over us and loving us no matter what. This was the feeling I got from the pictures. Some of the pictures just brought me to tears they are so beautiful along with the music. I suggest you make a point of making it to the display to see them and be spiritually filled.
I would have taken pictures but they weren’t allowing any photography to be done. It is probably a good thing I think it would have taken away from the spirit that was felt.
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Saturdays Doings

On Saturday Faith, Gabby, their friend Taylor, her Grandma Marie, her mother Melony and myself went to Michaels for their Saturday Kids Craft program. They made cute back-pack pens. Faiths is a lollipop and Gabby’s is a bowl of ice-cream. They had a lot of fun the instructor Kelly was very nice. This is one of our favorite things to do on Saturday mornings.
Tonight after church and dinner we are going to the Temples visitors’ center to see the display called "Reflections of Christ" by Mark Mabry. I have heard it is great so I am very excited to go. Talk to you later. And have a great Sabbath Day
Hugs, Bobbi Jo

Friday

Friday night we had Faiths Pizza Party. Everyone showed up and boy was it noisy! With lots of laughter, giggling and yelling to one another what a sweet sound to hear. They played out side on the trampoline and swing set. They had pizza and drinks and played some games that they decided to play on their own. Then it was time for the birthday cake and gifts. They never did get to watch the movie. They played hide and seek and a racing game over and over, talked and giggled a lot. So all in all it was fun. I had a couple of the little girls come up and tell me that it was the best party they had been too. I am not saying this bragging. My point is I think sometimes as adults we plan too much and spend too much time on trying to keep the children busy at parties with games and an agenda, when in the end
Girls Just Wanna Have FUN!!!

This is what I learned. Hugs, Bobbi Jo