I Love Hair!

Here are two more of the latest hair styles I've tried on Rylee. I think the one I did today (the last two pics) is my favorite so far. I found another website, so I think I'm going to add a whole new section on my sidebar dedicated to hair blogs, since this is my newest obesession. Love it!
You can't tell very well, but in the second picture, the two piggies were braids that I wrapped together in the middle and left the curls out for a cute piggy tail look. These hairstyles are mostly meant for girls with long hair and Rylee's is not quite long enough, but we make do!

In the last style the ponytail is meant to be curled and then pinned up to make a crown of curls, but we left it in a pony since she's not going to prom or anything. Maybe for church we'll try the crown of curls.

Family Photo Shoot

Here is a SMALL sample of the family pics we did this weekend. Thanks to my friend Becki for taking them for us. It was a lot of fun (at least for me, the kids got a little bored, nothing that ice-cream cones can't cure)!

Baby Monkey

I forgot. . .

In case you want to check out the hair blog from the previous post, HERE is the link

I don't consider myself to be much of a fashion/hair person, but when I find something cute and fun I get really excited. I've never been really good at figuring out how to style my own hair let alone my daughters, but with the help of fashionable friends and a sister-in-law who is always in the know (thanks, Taryn), I think I've done a pretty good job of staying away from the "frumpy-mom" look. So, when I discovered this blog that's all about hair, including step-by-step instructions, I was excited. These pictures are my first attempt and I think it turned out pretty good! You can kinda see the black ribbon inter-twined with her hair. This hairstyle is suppose to be for those of us who don't know how to french braid. Perfect! What do you think?

Now I'm off to the store for longer ribbons (so I can tie a bow at the top of her ponytail) in many, many, many colors!

Look what I got in the mail this week!

Well, it's totally official! I'm graduated! And I have the papers to prove it! I got an "official transcript" in the mail as well that is no longer official since I HAD to open it. I graduated with a 3.81! Yay for me!

We love Santa! (mostly)

The kids got to see Santa at our Primary activity this year. That's why they're in their favorite pajamas. We had a pajama party with breakfast. Way fun. Anyway, the kids were pretty excited to see Santa and get a little goody bad. As you can tell from the last picture, Gracie feels the same way about Santa as she did last year.

Christmas Trees

I don't know if you've ever tried to make a gingerbread house, but thier hard! So, in our family we make a gingerbread tree. It's much easier. And look how cute it turns out! The kids licked probably half the frosting and ate nearly a third of the candy's, but overall, a cute little gingerbread tree!
This year we were going to buy a fake, pre-lit tree, but then we realized we have nowhere in our tiny little house to store it! So, unless we want to tree to stay up all year, we had to get a real one that we can throw away. But we love it (and all the pine needles all over the floor, grrrrr)!

Christmas Pajamas!

I love new pajamas! Growing up, my parents always gave us pajamas every year on Christmas Eve and we would wear them as we drove around town that night and around the zoo looking at Christmas lights!

We still carry on that tradition in my little family, but this year I had to get them early.

1. Because I really wanted them.

and 2. Because I really wanted them for my Primary Christmas Party!

For our Christmas party this year we all got to wear our pajamas for a Christmas breakfast. The 11-year-old kids worked really hard and put on a short skit of the Christmas story for us to watch and they did such an awesome job! Then, some Christmas tree ornament making, a little Christmas music dance freeze, and of course, Santa Claus took some time out of his VERY busy schedule to bring a little treat to all the kids.

So fun!

Thanks to all the leaders and teachers who came to help with all the chaos! We couldn't do anything without your help and support!

I don't normally comment a whole lot on political issues, maybe because I often feel inadequate in my knowledge of both sides on any subject. But, today I was reading an article on the church website (HERE) about a few statements given from people on both sides of the Prop. 8 controversy in California.

Most of you know there has been a massive attack on our church after the passing of prop. 8. It seems funny to me that people who work so hard in the name of "tolerance" is now calling for the dismissal of the voice of the majority. Where is their "tolerance?" Perhaps tolerance is only granted to those with whom you agree?

The reason I've decided to post about this topic is because of my concern for my children and the world that they face as they grow up. Will they have to face persecution because of their faith as "tolerance" continues to be redefined? Will they have to defend themselves and the church? Will they be ridiculed or loose friends because of their belief in the value of traditional family?

As children (and especially teenagers) there is a great deal of pressure to define who you are and the person you will become. What kinds of pressures will we have to counter-act as parents? What will be the fight and will we win?

As I ponder on these questions I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who understands my fears and concerns. I am grateful to know that I can turn to Him when I feel lost and that He will protect my children as thier faith in Him grows.

At this time when the church is under attack, it is our job to do what we can to protect and stand up for what our faith holds so dear. But while we stand up for what we believe in, we must show love and compassion to those who lack love and compassion for us.

"But I say unto you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matt 5: 44)