Day 3

Scripture: 2 Nephi 25:21-26

Challenge:

1. Do you have a written copy of your testimony of Christ? Take time to write one today. You might want to include your belief in Him, your gratitude for Him, or an experience that has strengthened your testimony of Him.

2. Obtain and keep a journal of your 21 day journey, recording the treasures and discoveries that come to you as you follow this path.

Day 2 of 21... Sorry it's a little late

I fell asleep at 8:30 last night, so sorry I didn't get day 2 posted on day 2! Here it is:

Scripture: John 13:4-15

Challenge:
1. As you go through this day, find ways that you can bring honor to Christ's name by letting the walk of your life exemplify Him. On this day, try to remember Him always.

2. This 21 day journey will introduce different names of the Savior. Every chapter contains one name that relates to a scripture story or gospel principle. Take a moment each day to reflect on how each name describes a way that He blesses your life.

21 Days closer to Christ

Aaron gave me a book called "21 Days closer to Christ" (written by Emily Freeman) over a year ago, and I started in all gung-ho and dropped off at about day 7. As we are rapidly approaching the new year, I have been thinking about new years resolutions and what I want to do to improve this next year.

Basic goals:
1. Attend the temple more often. At least quarterly.
2. FHE lesson with the girls weekly rather than monthly.
3. Write in my journal more often. At least monthly, hopefully at least weekly.
4. Finish the questions for descendants project I started with Grandma Kimball and Grandpa Trost and Grandpa Kimball and so on....

5. COMPLETE THE 21 DAYS CLOSER TO CHRIST challenge.

I plan on blogging about the challenge so anyone who reads my blog can also participate in the challenge.

So today's scriptures for the challenge are: Mark 1:16-18 and John 1:38-39.

The challenge is:
1. Determine what fills your nets. Are everyday challenges such as time constraints, demands from work or home, or feelings of inadequacy or fear holding you back from developing a relationship with Christ?

2. Today try to listen for the quiet invitations from the Lord to come and see.

Basket 411: brussel sprouts

Basket 411: brussel sprouts: "Lisa mentioned that Albertsons put some recipes in her shopping bag and one of them used brussel sprouts. I told her I would whip them up. ..."

I have attached a link to another blog with a recipe for Brussel Sprouts that I LOVE! I HATED brussel sprouts growing up, but I have made an effort to try all the fruits/veggies in my bountiful basket at least once before passing judgment. I love this recipe and thought I'd share.

National Back Up Your Photos Week

Well... not really, but it should be. How long has it been since you last backed up your photos to disc (either CD or DVD)? If you're like me, it's been too long. I recently read a post on one of my friends' blogs who had taken pictures of her baby and then uploaded the pictures to her computer, but had not backed them up, and lost all the photos she had of the 1st year of her 1st born child's life when her computer crashed. TRAGIC! So I am backing up my photos and encouraging everyone I know to do likewise.

Finally Got Some Pictures Uploaded

Aaron surprised me with tickets to Lion King, the broadway version and Capitol Theatre for our Anniversary this year (August 21st was our anniversary, but we went to the show on August 25th)

Conner came home from his mission so he could spend a few weeks with Grandma before she died, and we went to the airport to greet him (late at night, hence Ally's tantrum/mood)

Kyrie took and aced Preschool level 2 swim lessons at the Clearfield Aquatics center

Ally and I took a mommy & me swim class at the same time Kyrie was swimming (no chasing a 2 year old to keep her out of the water, and Ally learned valuable safety lessons)

I have had lots of problems trying to upload pictures to blogger, so I had not updated in a long while, plus I feel like life's been on fast forward. Consider this my reader's digest version of this summer's happenings.

Kyrie Freestyle Video

Here's the clip of Kyrie's freestyle. It's about 20 seconds long.

Kyrie Freestyling @ Nationals, May 22, 2010

Kyrie took 1st place in Freestyle. She was up against several other girls her age. The 2nd cutest (although equally ranked, for sure) freestyle I saw was EvVah Fewkes. The 2 year old was absolutely adorable!

Western Nationals May 21-22, 2010

Kyrie's Team Dance

Kyrie, Ada, and Ally

Kyrie and Ada in their similar costumes

Kyrie had 2 team dances, and her team took first place for both of those dances.

Lessons Learned about Gardening Thus Far

Perennial herbs like sage do well in the cold, and are safe to be planted around April 15th. Broccoli is a cold weather plant and can also be planted around April 15th, and it survives light freezes.

Peas need a trellis system (so they can climb while they grow), but should be planted outdoors March 15th (I didn't plant mine early enough, or with a trellis).

Corn, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelon, cucumbers, honeydew, and cantaloupe should NEVER be planted before May 15th, unless they are well covered/insulated. (I don't think I'll try bothering with covering them or buying them before May 15th.)

It's been good to learn about gardening. Hopefully I'll have enough figured out before next year to actually be successful.

I also found out the church has a website that is very informative about gardening: Provident Living

Garden Progress Part II, May 20, 2010

Our new watermelon starts

Our new pumpkin starts

Some new tomato starts

Peas that came through ... I didn't know I needed a trellis until after I planted the peas (will place a trellis next year).

This picture doesn't do it justice, but the picture of the broccoli plants shows they're doing well, especially since they started out the same size our cauliflower plants are in the other posts' pictures.

Plant Progress 5/20/2010

Our newly purchased cauliflower (to replace the dead corn plants).

Sweet Basil and English Thyme (to replace the dead lemon basil)

Our still-surviving sage and other herb.

Some of our raspberry starts

Our still-surviving strawberry plants (left from the previous owners).

We bought plants to replace the ones we killed.

Bountiful Baskets

I've picked up about 4 bountiful baskets now, and am so glad what it's doing for our family.

Kyrie, my picky eater, has actually tried spinach and cauliflower. She doesn't like them, but she tried them. She also tried and LOVED honeydew.

I don't always buy a very good variety of produce, so it's nice to try new things without spending too much money.

I also think it helps motivate us to try harder to eat more fruits and vegetables each day. We're getting closer to the five that are recommended, instead of the one every other day we were eating before.

To find a location near you: bountifulbaskets.org

Kyrie's Birthday Part 3

Mardi Gras decorations (since Princess and the Frog takes place in New Orleans, home of Mardi Gras)

Cortland, enjoying the Mardi Gras beads.

Kyrie's 4th Birthday, Part 2

Ally having fun with the clown nose

Silly girl!

Kyrie, all excited to open presents.

Tara, Johnny, Lily, and Cortland

Kyrie, Ally, Ada, and Grandma Cindy

Kyrie's B'day Party : April 18, 2010

Grandma and Grandpa Kimball

Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa Trost

Kyrie Cakes and Pappa Scotty

Louis the Alligator (from Princess and the Frog) and frog eye cupcakes

Kyrie on her actual birthday opening presents.

Garden Pictures

This is one of the pictures I took of out garden. We had a bad hail storm that killed several of our plants, so once the weather warms up again in a week or two, we plan on buying some new starts. our broccoli looks really good. The spices look good. The corn and tomatoes look like they might pull through. The raspberry starts are doing great, and the strawberries are starting to look really green and healthy; and the pumpkin starts look okay. We need to replace the cucumber, watermelon, and canteloupe starts, though.

You may notice the hummingbird feeder (Kyrie calls it the "poky bird" feeder). We are considering also getting a seed bird feeder. Kyrie is so excited to hopefully get to see hummingbirds this summer.

Registration

I registered Kyrie for preschool through the Davis County school system this weekend, and will find out some time between May 8th and May 25th whether or not she got in. I'm hoping she got in because: 1. they have a set curriculum, 2. the classes are taught at the school she will be attending Kindergarten at, and 3. I don't really want to look around for preschools.

I also registered Kyrie for swim lessons in July and Ally for a mom & me swim class that runs the same time (so she won't have to avoid the temptation to get in the pool with Kyrie... she can take a class too). I'm excited to have Kyrie take swim lessons again.

We took Kyrie to Primary Children's Medical Center yesterday, because her pediatrician found a loud heart murmur and wanted her to be seen by a Pediatric Cardiologist. We found out that her murmur is what's called an "innocent heart murmur," meaning that there is no hole in her heart, and there is no arrhythmia. She is perfectly healthy, but the sound of the blood running through her heart is really loud because of her young, thin(ner) heart wall. The innocent heart murmur will not be as noticeable as she gets older and her heart wall gets thicker. May I just say "phew!!" I'm so glad that there's nothing wrong.

Quick Update

We finally finished with buying starts @ J& J Gardens/Nursery in Layton tonight. We have broccoli, watermelon, canteloupe, pumpkin, raspberries, strawberries, 6 varieties of tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, lemon basil, sage, and oregano in our garden. I've taken some pictures, but need to take an updated picture. I will post pictures again soon.

I am heading up to my family's house in Spokane this week for a few days.

Kyrie had so much fun @ her Mardi Gras/Princess and the Frog party (I will definitely have to post pictures of the party/festivities).

Found My Camera Cable

I finally found my camera cable after the trip to Disneyland ... so sorry for all the posts today, but hope you enjoy!

Pocatello Dance Competition (April 9, 2010)

Kyrie freestyling... she took 1st place.

Kyrie and her team dancing to "I love Rock and Roll"

Easter (April 4, 2010) Part II

Easter morning baskets (don't know why the picture didn't upload all the way)

Easter (April 4th, 2010)

Cousins at Grandma's house after the Easter egg hunt (which was indoors because of snow... blah for snow, yeah for good times!)

Bountiful Basket April 3rd

$15 for all this. Need I say more?

Disneyland Part II

Me & Kyrie driving a bumper car.

Kyrie loves the classic animated Alice in Wonderland movie.

Ally waiting in line with her blankie. She LOVES her blankie! The world comes to a screeching halt if she doesn't have her blankie! (Only trouble is trying to keep that blankie clean)

Ally having fun on the carousel ride

Ally eating ice cream while waiting for the parade.

Aaron surprised me with a trip to Disneyland, just the four of us, and we had so much fun!