So I met this guy......

Online dating has been rough.  You just never know what you are going to get...who is lying...who is telling the truth..is that even your real name??  Its a gamble, but where else do you meet people?  Dating in your 30's is not the same as dating in your early 20's.  Sometimes I feel like I am dating all of the leftovers...the ones that couldn't have a successful relationship...wait...I'm single too!!  What does that say about me??  I'm a good person...there must be at least 1 more good person out there right??


This time, I decided to actually take a chance with one of the normal, good guys!  He has a good job, kids and seems to be a really nice guy.  He's not the flashy, look at me type, but more the lets get to know each other and see if we really have a connection & I'll actually treat you nice, kinda guy.  We've been talking for a few months now and I think he might really be a good guy.  We met for the first time in person at my office....turns out he spends a little time in my office building for work too! Who knew??  Here's our first selfie!  We'll see where this goes!!  I'm optimistic  😊

Caramel Deliciousness....

 

 

First off, can I just say how much I LOVE Pinterest!  I found the most delicious recipe for Caramel popcorn!  It was super easy & quick!  The website is called Pretty Providence!  They are awesome!!Heres the link

http://prettyprovidence.com/aunt-vals-caramel/

 

 

 

 

The recipe:

1 Cup Brown Sugar

1 Cup Light Karo Syrup

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

 

Put all the ingredients in a pan & melt together on medium-low heat.  When the caramel begins to boil, let it boil for about 2 minutes & stir it constantly!  Pour over popcorn.  They suggest it covers 3 bags of microwave popcorn & they were right!  Probably could have done 4!!

 

Delicious right?  I'm sure the can of sweetened condensed milk helps!  Totally worth it though!!  Thanks Pretty Providence!!

 



Small Blessings are Everywhere

We have been doing something new for our family...Scripture Study.  Don't get me wrong we have done it before, but more like were just reading them, not actually studying them.  So we have been using both the picture book scriptures & the actual Book of Mormon.  It was a struggle & I didn't feel the spirit as often as I had hoped.  Kaylie was stuggling to stay focused & I was frustrated.  So I did some research..if you can count Pinterest as research...haha!  And ALOT of praying!!

 

 

I found scripture journaling!!  She LOVED it!!!  We wrote down what we knew about him, one of our favorite scriptures, and what we could do to be more like him.  We are going to add pictures and designs to make them our own & add them to a binder.  I found suggestions from maps to other talks by the General Authorities to make scriptures make sense to us & how to use them in our lives.  If you need a template check out www.theredheadedhostess.com   She has some great ways to break down the scriptures and learn verse by verse!

 

I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows what we need & how to get it.  I feel truly blessed to be a member of his church and that I am teaching my daughter to follow Jesus Christ & how to feel the Holy Ghost!  I'm truly grateful for small blessing in every day life!

 

If anyone is looking for a new way to study the scriptures, try this!  Its awesome!!!



Kaylie's 11th Birthday Party

This year for her birthday Kaylie wanted a pool party with her friends.  So we went to the South Jordan Rec Ctr and celebrated!!

 

Kaylie loves dancing, raspberry sherbet, the color purple and rainbow looming.  She loves going to school, working on her solo and being with her friends.  Her favorite tv shows are Austin & Ally, Liv & Maddy and Once Upon A Time.

 

These girls were so much fun to be with.  They all played together in the pool & out.  Its so fun to see them growing and becoming fabulous young ladies.  And a little silly!  Swimming, four corners, ice cream cake & lots of laughs!!

Being a True Friend

For Activity Days this week we talked about the importance of being a good friend.  I wrapped 2 gifts, one wrapped nicely with a bow & the other in ripped newspaper and tied with twine.  In the nicely wrapped gift I filled it with rocks and in the shabby one I put bags of M & M's.  I asked the girls which one they would prefer to get for their birthdays.  Most of them chose the nice gift.  When we opened them they were suprised with the contents of the gifts.  I related it to how some people may not be as nice looking on the outside, but that isn't whats importance.  Its what on the inside that counts.  Some people who are well taken care of on the outside aren't so nice on the inside.  We discussed ways to be a good friend and that Heavenly Father has commanded us to Love One Another!  Bet you can't guess what the opening song was!

 

Then we had each girl stand at the chalkboard.  I wrote her name on the board and had each girl write something they admired or liked about that girl.  The girls loved it...both to share something nice for someone else & to see what the other girls had written about them.  We talked about the importance of strengthening each other and helping each other.

 

Then we ate the M & M's!

Something Sweet from my Girl

 

 

In Throwback Thursday fashion, I found this picture of a 4 yr old Kaylie.  We were snowshoeing with the family.  We went off of the trail and got a little lost.  We followed Grandma until we could find the trail.  There was alot of uphill climbing & tossing Kaylie ahead of us to get to the trail again.  From there on all we heard whenever we would snowshoe was " Don't go off the trail Grandma."  Hopefully a good lesson for this litte one to show her that eventhough you can go off the trail, its not very easy to get your way back to the trail.  The safety provided by the trail is like the gospel of Jesus Christ and  is comforting and a sure way to get to the end of our journey, our Heavenly home.  The good news is that eventhough you go off the trail you can always get back if you work hard bcecause Jesus has provided a way back!  I'm grateful for the lessons taught in every day life and for the joy of a wonderful family who supports me no matter what!  Let us all try to remember to not go off the trail!!

Begin Again.....

Time has a way of passing by so quickly.  Perspectives change and distractions seem to take over.  Over the past few years my life has been a series of ups and downs like most people.  Only recently have I rediscovered who I want to be & what I want my life to be like.  My daughter and I have an amazing life, wonderful family & friends and a brilliant future ahead.  I have recently been blessed with an worthwhile opportunity at a new career and know that Heavenly Father's hand has placed me in this place.  Not only has he given me an incredible career path, but he has surrounded me with people who have inspired me.  Having quality people in my life has opened my eyes and reminded me of what is important!  I am full of life & excited about our future!  It has been a long time since I have posted anything.  I have a lot of ground to cover!  We looked back at this blog as a family and found how much we enjoyed looking at the things we have done over the years.  Its time to Begin Again.....

May 2014

 

 



Activity Days, Halloween Style!

 

 

 

We made these cute "pumpkins" as part of our activity.  We talked about the importance of serving those around us.  We had the girls think of someone they would like to serve or do something nice for.  They put these together & put a ghost tag on them telling what nice deed they would do for that person and why they were special to the girls.  It was fun to hear all of the people who influence their lives and how excited they were to serve those people!

 

If you are wanting to make these, they are super easy!  First take some construction paper and crinkle it, make it pliable & then roll it up & fold it over.  Stick it in the center of the toiletpaper roll.  Wrap the square of fabric around the roll & tuck it in the middle of the roll.  Then tie a couple pieces of tule around it.  Cute & fun gifts for the girls to give!



Food Trucks??

I've never eaten at a food truck before, but they come to our office every Friday.  The Grilled Cheese Truck is the real deal!  It was cheesy delicious goodness and the best french fries I have had! Not to mention the portion size...its HUGE...all for $10!

 

I'm a food truck groupee now!!  Can't wait for next year!  Next up...Waffle Love!!!

Epic Convention

Teens Level this year...wait she isn't old enough yet!! I guess Tween
qualifies !!

Showin off her new hoodie!

 

 This year for dance we attended the Epic Convention at the Provo Marriott.  This was our first year attending this convention.  We stayed overnight at the hotel with our friends.  She loved this experience and the hip hop instruction she got....Jazz & Lyrical not so much!  She said it was really hard & not as easy as the workshop she did last year, but it challenged her.  She is a talented dancer and I am super proud of her & her dedication to her sport! 

Get Loud!!

As part of Kaylie's 11th birthday celebration, I took her to the R5 Concert at the Sandy Ampitheater with our besties, Jaimie & Ella.  The girls danced the night away & rocked out to the music on the Get Loud Tour.  That is them with their arms raised loving every minute!!  I love that they are growing up & becoming themselves.  There is nothing better than being a mother!!  Happy Birthday Kaylie!!

For the love of the Zoo

One of our favorite things to do is go to the zoo.  This summer was no different.  We love all of the new animals & exhibits that have been built.  Kaylie loves Rizzo the polar bear & the bird show is always on the list.  We are blessed to have access to these wonderful animals.  We attended the Hogle Zoo with Aunt Stacie, Uncle Joe, Grandma Brierley, Elliott, Jensen, Colin, Nancy & Irene.  It was hot, but it was fun!  And the train was back this time...All Aboard

Mini Elite 2013-2014



 

This is Kaylie's 2nd year on Mini Elite!

 

 

Jazz choreography practice

 

 

 

Label of Love...Jazz

 

Goodies...Hip Hop...Undefeated all year!!

 

Angels Among Us....Lyrical

 

Year End Studio pic

Stacie & Joe

 

 

 On January 11, 2014 my sister married her soulmate, her best friend, her other half.  It was a day filled with family, friends, but most importantly love.  Everything about the day was amazing.  They were married at Wheeler Farm.  After months of planning, the big day was here.  The decorations were perfect.  It was a beautiful event.

 

 

Our family photo with Grandpa Howells

 

Her bouquet!  She made it herself with old broaches and other jewelry from our family, friends and some new ones to build memories with.  Both of our grandmothers are deceased, but they were both in attendance through this beautiful tribute to them as well as in spirit!!

 

Our Brierley Family

 

The view from the balcony.  Beautiful and Perfect!

 

The day was just as amazing and filled with love as they were.  It was a fun and special day with a photo booth and all!  I mean what kind of a party would it have been without that...Stacie LOVES pictures!  I love you both and am so lucky to have you in my life!