Hali's B-day

Hali is already 5 and has been way before this day was here. My Miss Hali is very creative and just wants to have fun all day long. She asks every night what are our plans are for tomorrow and makes sure she has a part in making it a fun day. Hali likes to plan out her days which usually include having a friend over, decorating for a party of some kind, doing an art project, going to the park or the YMCA. Most likely though she is  perfectly happy watching her shows,  going to store and helping Mom with dinner. I love that she is very good with her brothers and gets along with all of her friends at church. Hali is such a joy to have and I am blessed to be her mother. I love you Hali Bo-Bali!!

 Hali requested a Monkey cake not just any kind though, this one had to be made out of what monkey's eat. Any guesses??

A banana Cake!!

With chocolate chips for the eyes, nose and mouth.

 Hali wanted to play Monkey games. We played "monkey in the middle" and  "monkey in the jungle" (a version of pin the tail on the donkey) and of course a monkey pinata.

 A big thanks to all the kids that came and made Hali's Birthday a real PARTY!! If she could she would have one everyday.

Easter

The Church’s First Presidency issued this Easter message:

This is the season of the year when the Christian world remembers the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Out of love for His Father and for us, the Savior allowed Himself to suffer beyond the capacity of mortal man. He said, "Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit — and would that I might not drink the bitter cup and shrink — Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men" (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18-19).

Our Savior broke the bands of death. Through His Resurrection there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.

As special witnesses, we declare that God does live. Jesus Christ is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer, our Mediator with the Father. Jesus Christ atoned for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again.

The First Presidency,

Thomas S. Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf

So grateful this Easter season to know of Jesus Christ our Savior, His sacrifice for our eternal salvation and the blessings that come from striving to do what is right everyday.

I know that we will never be perfect  in this life time on earth. That our Heavenly Father has given us commandments as guide lines so that we may go through life with less heartache and trouble. I know that we all make mistakes, big or small, everyday but that we can repent and do better the next day. We learn from our mistakes and become a better person.

With that said I am so thankful for my loving family. A husband that takes care of me and our kids by working hard which allows me to say home with our kids. I am grateful to have children that are so eager to learn and to love the gospel. I love living right here and right now.

February- Culture night!

I was in charge of doing culture night for our ward. We did a Chinese dance. I had three weeks to put it together. It was a blast. Hali  and her friends were a part of it too and yes I was in it.

Hallie,  Hali and Kaylee

After the dance
Hali, Hallie, Rylee and Eya

All the crew. the young men are the dragon. The Young women are the Fan dancers
The little ones are ribbon dancers.

I think I have a video somewhere too.

February- Valentines Day

I love the holidays. My Mom and Dad always made valentines a special day. Weeks in advance Mom and the kids did crafts to decorate the house. I was always so excited when any holiday came mainly because we were preparing for it. I want to do that with my kids too because I had so much fun growing up! Mom always had a fun valentines breakfast and Dad usually had a heartfelt gift for each kid. I remember one year we woke up and there were gigantic heat shaped sugar cookies on the table for each of us. They were decorated with pink frosting and had our name written on them.  

For the kids I made heart shaped cinnamon rolls with bacon for breakfast.

I gave them and daddy a card and 
some home made fortune cookies( fake ones) with I love you fortunes. 

And of course there was candy.

We also made some cake cookies for their friends but I think those pics are on my camera which is in Pocatello. I am putting this here to remind myself to add them and the decorations the kids made.

January-Bells came to visit

Grandma Sherry came up from California and stayed a few days with us. We loved having her here, she is such a fun Grandma. Sherry has so much energy and spunk the kids and I just took advantage. We did a day of shopping at the mall and costco. Another day of games and movies. Then on Sunday we went to Summer's. We all hung out, had dinner and played with the Kinect. Grandma of course danced and did the adventure games with us too.


The next week we had the Bell family come down. Had a blast as usual just being with them.

Summer and Krinn

Grandpa Bell, Paige and Colby.

Sweetie Paige and Grandpa.

They loved playing with him, asking him questions and

sitting all over him! LOL

The cousins.
 Hali, Maci and Jordyn.

Grandpa and Liam.

Shawnna with her daughter Jordyn. Sierra and Hali.
Maci and Paige

The Sistas!!
Shawnna, Sierra and Mariah

Playing dress up dolls.

All the girl cousins.
Krinn did not want to sit still...Cutie pa-tutti!!

LIam 5 months

These Videos were taken when Liam was a little over 5 months old. We finally got his laugh on tape.  He will also  wiggle when we ask him to. I think it is so cute!!

December 2011- Colby is 3!!

Colby turned 3 on Dec 27th. Colby is such a character. I love his fun personality. Colby enjoys watching his morning shows, Curious George, Sesame street, Super reader and World Word is his favorite. Colby loves to play outside, even if its cold out, with his buddy Shad. His favorite food is Peanut butter samwiches. Favorite color is blue. Favorite Song- Head Shoulders Knees and Toes. Favorite movies are Blues Clues and Litlle Ernestine. Above all he loves to play with his letters. Colby is so close to reading little words, its crazy.  Colby is rough and tough, jumping off everything even church stages and rarely cries about getting hurt, just gets up and brushes it off.  I love this big guy! For his Birthday we went to Mc Donalds as a family because that is what he said he wanted to do. We played a few games there and had Happy Meals. Later that night Colby opened his presents and we had Cheesecake and ice cream.

Gifts and Cake

Word Wamer from Grandma Bell

Colby Plays with it everyday

Cheese!!

I love Christmas

The night before Christmas we usually do the Christmas story with the kids and let them open up their PJ's but they fell asleep early. So we didn't get to do that this year. I did get Hali on you tube telling us the Christmas story Christmas Eve Eve, So precious and a bit silly. On Christmas morning I was busy making Christmas breakfast, Oh how yummy!! It is tradition to have a big breakfast before presents. That was a tradition that was always hard as I was little but came to love the anticipation and the enjoyment of making a delicious breakfast with all my sisters and Mom. We would all have pitch in to help. We used our nice dishes and carefully set the table we made eggs, hash browns with gravy and had fresh oranges with orange juice. It was a process but totally worth every minute of it. While I was reminiscing over my Christmas's as a child Colby woke up. I was probably more thrilled and excited for him then he was. "Good morning!! Merrry Christmas Colby!!" He just stood there in his cute little pj's rubbing his eyes because of the bright light in the kitchen. "Good morning, mommy!!" I had him look for the presents from Santa. Santa does not wrap the gifts for the Bell family because he never did for the Rankin family. It took him awhile to find them even though they were in plain view, an easel and play kitchen, pretty big to miss. He loudly played with them the rest of the morning while I made breakfast and listened to Christmas music. After our Christmas breakfast we quickly opened all our presents. Then went to church and a had a wonderful Christmas Program and then were released to go home. We had Summer and Jared's Family over for Christmas Dinner and hung out  for the rest of the day. I made a prime rib roast for the first time, with potatoes!! Summer brought yummy steamed veggies and pistachio pudding salad. We loved having them over. Spending time with family is what makes Christmas, Christmas!

Kids and their stockings from Santa

Liam's 1st Christmas

Stocking From Santa

Gift from Daddy

Gifts From Lizzy!

Gifts from Grandma Rankin

Tinker Bell Stickers from Auntie Eva

Play food from Mommy

                                                          Colby with his new skates!!