bisel family

Index it...

2012-01-15T20:45:00.003-07:00

Today we had stake conference (well, we had it last night too), and our stake has set a goal to index 1 million names by the end of the year. That is a pretty lofty goal...that means at least 1000 members of our stake need to participate, and each index 1000 names. With that kind goal, it means we all have to get involved. Luckily, I have a great husband. When I get overwhelmed by more and more things on my list of things to do, he just gets to work.

So, today after church, we went to work. We logged on, went through the beginning tutorials, and got to work. It really was much easier than I thought it was going to be. Simply reading through scanned records, and typing in those names to the database. The church has made it as simple as possible, thank goodness!

We also got our kids involved. They each got their own account for lds.org, and signed up to be indexers. They have spent much of the night adding names, and it has been fun for me to hear them talking about birthday's, name choices, funny county names, etc.. I have been proven wrong (yet again), indexing will be easy for our family to do, and hopefully it will continue to be a fun activity for our kids.

Want to learn more? Want to help in the effort? Here's how:

1. get an LDS.org account user name and password. You will need your membership number!

2. To begin indexing go to familysearchindexing.org, and click on Get Started. Follow the instructions to download the FamilySearch Indexing program. After installation, click on FamilySearch Indexing icon to begin.

Try it out!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-15T11:38:00.003-07:00

From our family to yours, have a very Merry Christmas.

Love, the Bisel family

It's been awhile but...

2011-12-12T13:04:00.001-07:00

Okay, we are still alive. I am sure you have all wondered what our family has been up to. Well here it is:

A steam engine came by our community. We stopped to see it in all its glory. HOT DOG, it scared the pants off me (the pants actually did stay on). I was only about 10 feet away when this baby went by, it blew its horn right as I took the picture and my heart certainly skipped a beat. The kids thought it was fun to see the train, and Noah was a little shocked by the horn as well.

We spent our Thanksgiving with family like we always do. Oh, the fun of swimming in the pool, and being with cousins. Noah joined the rest of my kiddos as official water babies. The best part???? My kids are old enough now to take him swimming with them, and I can just watch from the side of the pool. All my dreams are coming true.

Dont' be too confused. This picture of bocci balls comes from my new photographer, Mitchell. While he was bored one day, we sent him around the compound taking pictures of the world around him. We got lots of interesting pictures.

My Noah. Ohhhh how I love his guts. Seriously, he is one of the happiest babies I have ever known. I want to squeeze and love him all the live long day. What a fun kid. Okay, not right now, he has a cold and he wants me to hold him throughout the day, that's okay, because I want to hold him all day too. XOXOXO

As I am writing this, Noah is standing at the keyboard screaming the names of his sisters he sees in the picture. And, now he wants to go swimming. This should make for a fun day. Noah loves being with his siblings, they make his life complete.

Lest you think our lives revolve around Noah, the rest of us are all super busy and happy. We spent the fall at soccer games, and gymnastics practices, practicing piano, and working away at our homework. Dad has been working extra hard at his new calling (YM president, this calling is making me miss his calling as EQ pres.), and at work. I have been trying to remember orthodontists appointments, school volunteering, practices, after school activities, and everything else that 5 other people's lives hold. I have truly lost my mind a couple times, and I have dropped more "balls" than I would like to admit. But, I like to tell myself that my kids are fed, clothed, and happy, so if I forgot they had scouts one day, it won't kill them. Maybe it will even teach them to be in charge of their own calendaring?

We feel very blessed during this Christmas Season, we love to remember those of have gone before to make our lives so blessed. We are especially grateful to our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. May you all have a very Merry Christmas.

Happy Halloween

2011-11-02T13:23:00.002-07:00

This is how it starts.....no kid likes to be dressed up in a weird costume. Noah shows his feelings quite clearly, he has no idea why we are all being so strange. Even though Noah was feeling out of sorts, we continued having fun at the ward trunk r treat, and he started warming up.

He began playing with donuts and stuffing them in his dads face. That's always a BLAST. I don't have pictures of it. But, we took him trunk-r-treating that night. The first pass through the cars, he was SOOOOO confused. But, on the second time around, he was saying his own version of trick or treat, and he loved collecting the candy.

Now that Noah understands that the Pooh costume means CANDY...this is what he looked like on the real Halloween night.

JOY!

Mitchell went as the last airbender. It was all his idea, and honestly, Bj put the whole thing together. They died some white sweats, and an old white sunday shirt (and then they modified the shirt). They bought some print your own tatoos for the arrow (by the way....they aren't awesome, the print your own tattos...it was a glorified sticker). You can see, we did away with the "sticker", and just drew his arrow on for the real night. And, luckily, I have shelves full of fabric to make the sash and the leg straps. Go Mitch!!!!

Maddie just looks creepy. She is a stylin' vampire. We worked hard to make her this ugly, it wasn't easy. She went through my closet to find some clothes to ruin and rip to make her costume, and she used some ripped jeans for her pants. Pretty easy, pretty cheap, and pretty awesome.

Lizzy went as a Chinese girl. Ummm, she looked gorgeous. Are little girls supposed to be so cute on Halloween. I loved this costume, it's one of the old ones we pulled out of "the bag." No work, just put it on over some black shirt and pants. Do some hair, and call it good. LOVE easy costumes.

And, if you are still here, you must really love me. Here's the cutest picture of the bunch. This is Noah after eating way too much candy. He would pick up one candy, take a bite, put it down, and try another. He was hilarious, hyper, and so so so so so fun to watch.

I am so grateful to be a mother. What a blessing it is to experience life through the eyes of my children. Even though Halloween is a totally crazy holiday, my children make it magical. Plus, at the end of it all, we are all covered in melted chocolate! That makes everyone smile.

2011-10-20T16:40:00.001-07:00

Like mother like son.

When I was little, I ate butter by the stick.

I know, you can hardly tell now with my long lean body.

Noah came upstairs the other day, sucking down this stick of butter with nothing but joy showing on his little face. Instead of grabbing it from his hands and downing some myself, I ran for the camera.

My thighs are thanking me for abstaining.

Even though I know this is "gross," I think it is hilarious, and it brings a small smile to my face to know that one of my children is almost exactly as weird as I was when I was little.

We Live

2011-10-05T14:02:00.002-07:00

Life at our house has been a little busy as of late. Just like everyone else in the world, we are running to and fro. It's fun, and crazy, and full. Life is very full. I wouldn't have it any other way.

So here is the quick update. We have been doing a lot of this...

and this....

Just imagine soccer 3 nights a week, gymnastics 2 nights a week, piano 2x a week, Saturday soccer games, and add in some after school programs and you can bathe in the joy I am living. But at least I get Sundays to rest. I love Sundays.

We celebrated Mitchell's Birthday. He loved all the gifts, and attention, and love he received.

He especially loved the birthday party at Monkey Business. I loved that Bj took care of it all. Okay, I planned it, made the party favors, and cupcakes...but Bj was the man on duty. I had to take Liz to her gymnastics, and get Maddie to her very first babysitting job, so Bj was on his own with 11 little boys. I am sure they all had a blast without Mom there to intervene!

They are off....

2011-08-08T13:35:00.000-07:00

The day has come, the kids are off to school. Last night they spent time primping, getting their lunches ready, preparing their outfits, and getting excited. Today, they are at school, hopefully learning lots.

This summer has been fun. Fun and not productive at all. I kept thinking of all these great plans, all these fun things to do, and what really happened is my kids were happy, well fed, and my house didn't fall apart. I can call that success.

So today, I have done laundry, worked on stuff for church, and enjoyed not cleaning up piles upon piles of dishes. And yet I miss their sweet gigglings and the piano playing in the background. I sure love my kiddos!

This poor kid is left all alone. He totally wanted to go with the others to school (he even learned how to say school, just for them). He carried Maddie's lunch box around the house all morning and was pretty sad to let it go when they had to head off to school. Now, it's just us. He has made quite a few messes this morning, it's his own kind of "school."

Summer

2011-06-28T13:17:00.001-07:00

Nothing says "SUMMER" like a cute baby, sans pants, playing at a park in the sunshine.

I am just starting to go through my pictures from our trip. This one comes from my phone, and it makes me smile. There are stories behind the details (like the missing pants) and it makes me remember the details I might otherwise forget.

I have been doing the project 365 for the past two years. You know, the one where you take a picture a day, and document your life. Your real life! The seemingly mundane little tasks we do all the time. But these little details make up who we are, and it's fun to look back on the piles of laundry, or the kids cutting the lawn, or the yummy food that has become our favorite at the moment.

Want to learn more about project 365...go to

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/2009/06/project-365-inspiration/

Trevor Daley

2011-05-31T21:05:00.000-07:00

My friend Trevor (he's my friend now that I took this class from him), is giving another class for photography this Saturday. If you are interested in photography, you should TOTALLY do it. The price is pretty great, and when I took the class I came away from it with so much knowledge. My pictures were better, and I finally understood my awesome camera. DO IT!

Here's the link:

http://trevordayley.contactmystudio.com/workshops/a03e26a6fca238e1

Tell him Sarah Bisel sent ya!!!!

Already

2011-05-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost here. In 2 days school is out, and it is party all the time at our house. I don't know if I am quite ready for all the fun we are going to have, but I will try.

The past month has been interesting. I have been sick, and I was well, and then I was sick again. Luckily, I am blessed with the worlds best hubby, and he picked up the slack for me. I have almost been productive, but not quite productive. However, I have finished reading 2 books,....yeah for me.

In a week I will be in the promised land, working with the women of my family on all things fabric, and I have hopes to finish something. Or, at the very least, move forward on something. Truthfully, I should have much more ready to go at this point, but c'est la vie.

Here's my little dude, he is throwing a fit, which is his newest form of communication. I am sure I should be frustrated by these antics, but it really just makes me laugh. What a good mother I am.

Showing Love...

2011-05-08T17:15:00.001-07:00

Missy, my reader, this is for you. You asked what I was doing to help the parents.... Here it goes.

I got this idea from my friend Summer. I gathered money from all our ward members (our church), and we got them TONS of gift cards (the little grey thing in front has little pockets full of the gift cards). The gift cards were for restaurants, movies, amazon, etc.... As you can see we also got flowers, a Scentsy was donated, candy, and I photoshoped a photo of their baby and a picture of the temple the parents were married in.

My biggest goal from this was to show how loved they are. It wasn't the "stuff" that was important, but it was a show of love that was relevant.

We also filled their freezer with meals to heat up when they are ready, and we cleaned their home before they returned. Honestly, I just did whatever I could think of. It may have been overkill, or maybe I could have done more.

I wish I could have done more.

Farewell....

2011-04-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Adelaide's funeral was held in SLC, which meant I was unable to attend. However, we had our own event here in Tucson. Nurses, Doctors, and loved ones met at UMC to release balloons as our way of saying goodbye to Adelaide. It was the same time as the funeral in SLC, so it felt like we were there supporting the Otte's.

Honestly, I have cried more than I would like to admit this past week, and today brought more tears. Tears that I couldn't do more, tears that Adelaide returned to her Heavenly Father so early, tears that so many lives were touched by her sweet spirit, tears for her parents, and tears of loss.

Tears.

I am so impressed at the outpouring of love I have seen. The world truly is a beautiful place full of people wanting to help, cure, and love. I feel so blessed.

We LOVE you Addie.

God be with you till we meet again!

Adeladie Ann Otte

2011-04-25T07:11:00.001-07:00

Heavenly Father welcomed home brave little

Adelaide Ann Otte

2/27/2011- 4/24/2011

Visiting her in the hospital on Friday brought so much joy. I could tell she was a strong, brave, amazing soul. Her parents are beyond amazing, through each trial they have been a source of strength and Christlike example. I am continually amazed at Jessica (her mother) who is wise, calm, a momma bear, loving, selfless, and beautiful. Her dedication to her sweet Addie fills my heart. And Preston (her dad), full of optimistic hope, belief, and knowledge that Addie is happy and well in the arms of her Savior.

I am ever grateful for the knowledge of the gospel.

Those of us who knew and loved her have hearts that ache, yet we know she is happy, at peace, and out of pain. I am grateful for the tender mercies I have seen throughout Addies life. We love you Addie.

Here is a sweet video of her at the hospital getting her first bath.

Spring Break 2011

2011-04-07T11:43:00.001-07:00

So, Spring Break was a couple weeks ago...Big Deal. I am a little behind.

Monday morning of Spring Break we made a list of all the things we wanted to do that week.

Here's the list:

Swimming

Hiking

Mani/Pedi

Dinner Out

Picnic

Movie

Bowling

Arcade

We did all the things except swimming, because well...it was cold that week. Like in the 70's. That is way too cold to take a dip.

Our biggest adventure? Hiking for sure.

Who's idea was it?

Mine!

The hike was 6 miles round trip...to Romero Pools. That sounds fun, right, hiking to some water you can swim in! The kids thought it sounded like work. They were right.

This was the terrain for most of the hike. Moderately steep, a pretty great workout, and a great opportunity for some people to whine!

This is who I was carrying the whole time. Yep, we went on the hike with just me and all the kiddos. This kid is heavy...I can attest to that. After 3 miles hiking, my shoulders hurt, and I was feeling like I was a little insane.

I can't tell you how many people stopped to ask us if we were alone, and how crazy we were, and that it got really steep up ahead....maybe we should turn around.

Hello, don't PSYCH me out.

Finally we made it to Romero Pools. I didn't get to hike all the way in to this spot because it was way too steep for a mama with a kid on her back. But, I got some good pictures of the kids playing in the pools. They thought it was really cold.

While we were there, some crazy teenage boys were there cliff jumping. I sure hope Mitchell didn't think they were cool, I just thought they were crazy.

Cute boy, look at that sweet baby enjoying a little water in the desert. It was a great trip, really hard, a challenge for all of us, and something we will always remember.

Finding Love in the library

2011-03-18T16:17:00.000-07:00

Noah found his one and only.

It was during story time at the local library.

He saw her, went straight to her, held her hands, and wouldn't let go.

I hope her mother didn't mind.

She's 2 1/2, he's 18 months.

I am realizing he really is a monster (I mean his size).

She wasn't there this week, he seemed forlorn.

Babyland

2011-03-03T15:25:00.001-07:00

What happens when a mother takes a shower?

Congrats

2011-02-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

I don't know how I got away with never having to do a science fair project myself, but this was my very first experience with the science fair fun.

I am so proud of miss Maddie who amazingly took 2nd place for the 5th grade! Go girl!

Yes, we worked on it together. I tried to have her work with her dad for the final push (because I had some sewing to do), but she would have none of it. So, we spent 3 hours the Saturday before, working hard together, trying to make everything the way she wanted it. I typed, while she read to me what she wanted the things to say.

After winning, Bj wondered if we did too much for her. Honestly, I think not. After seeing what all the kids did, it was easy to see which kids worked hard, and which ones didn't. I think she just did her assignment. Yeah, I typed up her results, but many parents did that. She is one amazing young woman, and I am glad to be her mother.

It was so fun to go to the science fair where so many members of our ward were there. Their kids did well too, 1st place, honorable mention, and 2nd were awarded to members of our ward. Go WARD!

Ahhhhh!

2011-02-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

That's all I can say when I see this picture of my boy....ahhhh! He is one super cutie pie. And you know what? He knows it. He hams it up for anyone and everyone so they will smile at him and give him the attention he has come to know and love so much.

Noah is getting so big. It is breaking my heart, but I am excited about his new growth and excitement for life. This is what Noah is up to now:

emptying any cupboard, shelf, or drawer he can get his hands on
running outside at any possible moment
learning wipe his nose
helps me get dressed (loves to pull up my pants)
still lovin' the bottle
loves dogs and makes dog noises
getting new teeth
digs through the trash
will play with a dirty diaper if he can get his hands on them
climbs up the playhouse and goes down the slide
loves to swing
enjoys reading time at the library
thinks his elephant book is a riot
throws phones into garbages full of water, requiring his mother to purchase a new phone

He is an absolute joy. Seriously. I love him to pieces, even if my house is a total disaster whenever he is awake (luckily, he is asleep right now, and the house is spic and span).

In other news....

Madeline took 2nd in the science fair. I am so proud of her, she worked hard, and she was recognized for it. Go Madeline....(pictures to come later)!

Sicko

2011-02-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

It's that season.

We were sick with the stomach flu last week.

This week, the sickness is a little more like a cold.

My dream is to be moderately productive.

Keep Dreaming!

Blowing Results.....

2011-02-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth

Madeline

Yours Truly

Mitchell

I must say, {even though I probably should keep my thoughts to myself}, that Heavenly Father must really like Mitchell. Why? 12 hours after we got these back from the glass shop, he was dinking (yes, it's a real word) around before school one day, bumping the ornaments together to make fun sounds. If that isn't bad enough (can't you see the issue?....new glass banging against each other is a sure recipe for disaster if you ask me), while he was banging his ornament against mine, he lost them both and they dropped on the tile floor.

At this time, I had heard the ornaments banging together, and I ran downstairs to see him picking up the ornaments off the tile. They were whole. I could hardly believe it. Mitchell is one lucky soul, because he only got a good scolding. Mitchell is counting his blessings!

That Blows!

2011-01-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

Saturday our family had a fairly busy day. One of the fun activities we had the day was Glass Blowing. You heard me right, we all made our own glass ornaments. Where? At the Sonoran Glass Art Academy.

We got to choose our own colors, texture, swirls, etc.... It was so fun. I was a little nervous about the kids being around something so HOT, but we were well protected, and the instructors did a great job.

Here is Mitch starting the blowing process. It takes a lot of breath to get the "bubble" started, and he did a great job. Interesting fact: Mitchell's colors were green and blue....that glass was pretty hot!

This is Liz working in the furnace to warm up her glass and get it uniform.

Here she is doing a great job blowing her ornament.

My tough guy was fun. Glass was periodically exploding (in a controlled environment), but it made Bj a little jumpy. I loved it.

Madeline was a little tentative to do this, so she chose to go last. She did a great job, and made a beautiful ornament. After our afternoon of fun, the kids were all too excited, and they have dreams of taking tons of glass blowing classes. That sounds like a blast to me...but maybe, just maybe a tad expensive.

Hello Again....hello!

2011-01-18T12:05:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been awhile. No, I have nothing monumental to say.

What took me so long? Honestly....you could say there was a little burn out over at my house. Christmas was fun and wonderful, and FULL very FULL. Lots of work goes into the preparations for Christmas, and I got plum tuckered out. So, I took a break from all the things I "should" do and just did the necessary things. You know, feed my kids, clean the house, and be nice to my family and friends. I know, I know, I am lazy...but it felt sooooooo right.

We have found the wonders of Just Dance for the Wii. Seriously, I love this game. Why? Well, my kids are grooving and moving when they are playing video games, plus it is fun for me to watch....and play. I love that anyone can play, you can switch the controllers around without any issues. It's just really user friendly, and FUN!

Another reason I love it so? Watching my older kids dance is fun, but watching my baby dance along? Well, that is pretty darn heart warming. I love his little groove!

'tis the season

2010-12-19T21:07:00.001-07:00

The past few weeks have been full. Full to the brim, overflowing even. Of course, we are so blessed to have such a full life, and I am feeling even more blessed to have things slow down a little.

Noah took his first flight last week. He did....okay. Not great, not bad. He was pretty spazzy. I have to say I was pretty happy it was a 1 1/2 hour flight, and that we don't live in Detroit anymore (4 hours would kill me).

My dear friend Melinda got married (which is why we flew....), and it's the first wedding I have cried at. She has been waiting for the perfect fit for awhile, and what a blessing for her to find the perfect one for her.

Here's my cute friends. I have to say, with all of us growing up, and some of us moving away...it is rare for all of us to be together...in the temple. After all these years, it's pretty great to be able to all gather there.

And I have to say....my friends are all so cute. Seriously, my friends are super fabulous!

So, the trip to UT was great, fabulous, and wonderful. I saw my friends, got to go to the temple, celebrate, and party. I got to see my family, and make cookies with my mom. I got to be in the cold and eat at Cafe Rio. I also got to run away from it all. You know, the responsibilities, expectations, jobs, etc.

When I got home, I thought my week ahead was doable, maybe even a break from the week before. Little did I know I was in for a crazy week. A super crazy week. I had no idea what was in front of me, and I am glad I didn't. We had two school concerts...Liz's is pictured below, which were so fun to go to. Luckily, I almost remembered everything (sorry Katie,...someday I'll have my kid prepared for scouts). Now, school is out, the kids are going crazy waiting for Christmas to come, and expectations are lowered. YEAH. Hopefully, the craziness of Christmas can leave, and the spirit of Christmas can enter.

Giving it all away!

2010-12-03T09:04:00.002-07:00

Tis the season of giving. And it is my turn to give. I have a huge stack of books that I got to review for Martingale, and now there are going to be a few lucky winners. Want some gifts for friends, family, or teachers? Want a little something for yourself? Head on over to milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com, and you could be the lucky winner.

Know someone who would love a chance at winning....share the Christmas spirit and let them know. Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

Want some relief?

2010-11-17T15:50:00.001-07:00

Head on over to milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com and get yourself 2 free Christmas card templates. Now you don't have to fret about what you are going to do for cards this year...just go and download my free template and use it at Costco. Party ON!

Finally Feelin' It

2010-11-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

It's cool. It's almost cold. And, we are finally feeling it. You know, the desire to put something warm in and on our bodies. My kids new favorite thing is hot cocoa (we can thank Summer Driggs for this). Everyday we brew some up, and everyone is happy. I am happy too...because I get to wear socks, and put a blanket on. Yum.

If you hate discussion of diets... please leave the website.

I'm feelin' it. I have been for awhile. The desire to shed these baby lbs. has been strong for quite awhile. Yet, the ability to shed them has been alluding me. I have run and run and run. I have cut back. Still, nothing.

So, here it goes. The real push. These are my snacks pictured above (the celery, not that man). My calorie allowance a day? Too low! Anything below 1000 is too low, but that is what my computer tells me I am allowed to have if I want to lose weight.

I guess it is right. I have been working hard, consuming far fewer calories than I ever thought right, and I have finally nudged that scale a little lower. I have a long road ahead. And, Thanksgiving and Christmas are looming, but I will not be deterred.

I can do hard things.

What happens?

2010-11-09T15:39:00.000-07:00

What happens when you neglect all your duties? Your camera gets full of pictures. I downloaded all my pics to my computer today and I was so surprised at how long it has been. This Halloween picture is one of the recent ones. Crazy.

Life has been somewhat insane here lately. Isn't it everywhere. We are all trying hard to be the best we can be, and it is hectic. The nice thing in my old age, is that I have learned to let certain things go. Like my blog. Now, I can just relax and know that when I put first things first, it will all work out. I may not turn out like Martha Stewart, in all her crafty perfection, but I probably won't end up in jail either. Just sayin'.

I have to say, I love the picture above. Liz's personality shines through. Her impish ways are visible....the crumpled witches dress shows we pulled it out of the halloween bag minutes before we went to the Trunk R Treat. I love it all.

And even as I sit here, Noah is crawling under my chair, wanting some extra love. And, you know what? First things first.

Adios.

Beauty

2010-11-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

I took this picture ages ago....like in the summer. I love it. Someday, when I pull myself together, I think I might edit it, and make it fancy. But for now, I just think, wow, my kid is pretty awesome. She looks so pure, so clean, so untouched from the world. I love that. Kids are perfect. Sometimes, very rarely, they push our buttons. However, there are pictures like this...and moments when they are sleeping, that we remember how very precious they are.

Are you kidding me? Again?

2010-11-01T17:08:00.000-07:00

This title fits for both of my subjects.

I am going to be on the Morning Blend,...Again. Tomorrow, Nov. 2, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. Set your DVR's. Ha ha. This time, Corinne and Mandy Fono are joining me. I can't wait!

Yes, we had another rattlesnake in our backyard....again. Friday night. I don't have time for many details, but I will say, we tried to catch him, he got away. All my kids were outside at the time, even the baby.

I hate rattlesnakes.

I want to kill them all.

If they went extinct, I might start singing with the tabernacle choir.

I might be slightly overreacting.

I don't care.

I hate rattlesnakes.

General Conference October 2010

2010-10-21T09:20:00.001-07:00

After the craziness of Saturday, we actually had the opportunity to watch conference on Sunday. ( we DVR'ed Saturday's...lucky us). We had prepared the kids at FHE the week before conference...to get them ready. They came up with a couple ideas for us to make traditions for Conference (we have tried MILLIONS of ideas over the years ...none of them has stuck). This year, we had conference bingo....

And cinnamon rolls....to be honest, we had cinnamon rolls, french toast casserole, and egg/cheese casserole. Yum to the 10th degree.

and family, what is conference without a little extra family. We sure love the Avey's!

I loved Pres. Uchtdorf's message about slowing down. When we hit turbulence, we need to take care, and feed our souls. I loved this talk. I know sometimes I feel like I need to do more, be more, try harder, etc... But, this talk helped remind me to do the things that matter most...choose the best activities, and let the others slide for a bit. That's a little hard, but since I am already letting things slide (not on purpose), I guess it needs to happen.

Guess What?

2010-10-18T09:20:00.002-07:00

Guess what happened this weekend?

Yep, steps!

Birthday

2010-09-27T09:52:00.000-07:00

He had a birthday, shout hurray!

We got to sing to him that day!

One year old and wiser too,

Happy Birthday to you.... yesterday!

We had fun celebrating the "stitch's" birthday yesterday (and Saturday). Lucky guy was surprised to get the ipod touch shown above. We were lucky to get a great deal from craigslist, and everyone is happy.

I can't believe my baby is nine. This kid used to cry like crazy whenever I left the building. He doesn't feel the same way now. But, some things haven't changed. He still talks non-stop, he still is a great cuddler, he still is a super big smarty pants, and he still is a great kid to be around. This is the kid that convinced me that some babies are easy, and that I could have more. This is the kid that never gives me grief when I ask him to do a chore. LOVE THAT!

I love my Mitch, and I am grateful that even though he is growing up and growing old.... he still wants me to tuck him in, and give him a snuggle before he starts his slumber.

Happy Birthday DUDE!

Sunday Thoughts

2010-09-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

As I found myself traveling a couple Sunday's ago. Here I was in a sea of people, and my day was not going well. I had a connecting flight in Denver, and the airlines were not friends, making me get my checked baggage from baggage claim, then go all the way to the beginning of the flying process.....

check in, check bags again, go through security ....again, and walk back to the gate area.

I was slightly annoyed. And, not in a holy way. It was still Sunday, I was trying to keep it holy.

So, I sat down. Got my ipod out, and started listening to the 2011 primary program songs. Then, I thought to myself, Heavenly Father loves all these people. I played a little game, I looked at all the people passing, and said to myself "Heavenly Father loves them." At first, I thought I was being a little funny...but the more I thought those thoughts, the more I realized the truth of it. A love of these strangers poured into my heart. My usual snap judgments came crashing down, as the pure love of Christ flowed in.

What might happen if every day I thought "Heavenly Father loves them?"

I think I would forgive quicker, give a little more latitude, have a larger desire to serve, and

hopefully, I would see them as God sees them.

Even though I have always tried to steer clear of Sunday travel, I am grateful for that Sunday. The Sunday that taught me a lesson I already thought I had learned.

Heavenly Father loves all of us.

update

2010-09-23T18:18:00.000-07:00

While I sit here waiting for the water to boil, and kids and coach to come home from soccer, I have at least 5 minutes to write a little blog post. Life is full, fun, and frazzled. I'm loving it.

My sweet baby had his first haircut, and I am pretty sure his grandparents would love to see him. So here he is, sans his beloved mullet, and he is looking more and more like a little man than ever.

Truth be told, he is my joy. Each day when I wake him up, he smiles at me and gives me the unconditional love I can't resist. He imitates me, and still won't call me mama. He makes funny noises with his tongue, crawls around the house, and walks along the furniture. Emptying the cupboards is a main past time, and as I say ..."noah, nnooooooo" he shakes his head from side to side.

Oh I want to squeeze him. So, I do.

I know why God gave us babies. It's because He loves us!

Babies fill our hearts to the brim, and then add a little something extra.

Monsoons baby

2010-09-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

Just a few short weeks ago, we had a great storm. It was beautiful. The streets were like rivers and the pavement glistened, drinking up the rain. I love monsoon season. Rain is amazing.

My children ran outside to partake in the celebration of water. We rarely get this opportunity, and storms can be short here, so we have to enjoy it while we can. I love how Liz is decked out in garbage sacks (on her head and her body). My girls bounced and jumped down the street trying to get as wet as possible.

I remember playing in the gutters as a kid. I loved it. I loved getting dirty and wet. There is such freedom in playing in the rain. Watching my kids enjoy the rain as I did brings warmth to my heart. Rain on!

Door Signs

2010-09-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

After read this post, I decided to do something! I have been putting up post-it's on my door...saying baby sleeping, and the signs always fly off in the wind. Bummer. So, I printed a baby sleeping sign found here, laminated it, hung it with a semi-temporary hook, and called it good. But, on the same post, I found a sign to keep those pesky door to door sales people away.

SERENITY NOW....that's what I have. So, for the 25 people that have asked me to share the link with them....here it is...enjoy.

Guess Who?

2010-08-25T21:17:00.000-07:00

Guess who has some teeth popping through?

Truth

2010-08-22T20:25:00.002-07:00

The truth is, life is busy. We are all working hard to do the best we can, and make the most of what we are given. So, I haven't been great at keeping up my blog. Ooops. I guess life will go on without my little moments of sharing. I am surprised though, that my readers haven't known my thoughts. I mean, I have been blogging in my head, have you heard them?

So, things have happened. Small things, like school started (2 weeks ago). I can't believe I have kids that are so old. It's super fun to watch them grow up. Of course, because this is my family, I had 2 kids home from school (sick) last week. Ahh, the joys of new germs and asthma. I'm loving it.

We have also entered the land of orchestra. Hot dog. I can't believe we are here already. This is the age I started taking violin. Of course, I always took private lessons, and I didn't really enjoy playing in groups....ah well. Madeline has been wanting to take violin FOREVER, but I made her stick with piano because I think it is easier.

Now today is Sunday. I love Sunday's. They are generally quieter, calmer, and time for reflection. Time to prepare for the upcoming week, to recharge our batteries, to recommit ourselves to the goal of perfection. Today as we enjoyed our Sunday, my daughter pulled out the video for Emmett (my nephew who died in October).

I was unprepared for the flood of emotions that filled my heart. What a sweet baby he was, and I didn't even know him. As I watched the pictures from his short life, all that filled my mind was Dani, his mom. A mothers love is so strong, so binding, so eternal...I can only imagine the feelings she must have. Our babies are cousins, and oh my...can I see the resemblance. Not only do they have similar looks, but Noah is wearing all of Emmett's clothes.

My heart feels tugs of pain.

I have a resolve to cherish each moment.

To take even more pictures.

To take more videos.

I have a resolve to lift up the weary.

To listen to the whisperings of the still small voice.

To be less selfish, and SEE.

Burger Wars

2010-08-13T08:05:00.000-07:00

While in UT, we decided to formally conduct the 1st Annual Burger Wars.

What started this? My kiddos professed their love of In-n-Out (rightfully so). At this, my parents said...No way, there are better burgers. And the list started.... 5 Guys, Tony's Burgers, Salt City Burger, Apollo/Crown Burger, and Big H. So, we went on the quest to find the very best burger. Hot DOG, this was hard.

How was it judged? On the flavor of the meat, the bun, the condiments, and the fries. Honestly, the judging is questionable. Some of us are pretty discerning, and others of us like to give a Fabulous rating to anything. Hmmmm....suspect.

But here are the results:

1. Five Guys (Best Burger and BEST fries)
2. Tony Burgers (Best tasting meat)
3. Big H (Great options, and super tasty)
4. Salt City (seriously tons of variety...buns fall apart, juicy burgers)
5. In and Out (Best Buns and crispest lettuce)
6. Apollo Burger (Weirdest service)

Now, when you are in the great land of SLC, and you are looking for a burger, you know what the best is. By far, Five Guys had the best fries of all of them. I love big chunky crispy fries. Little crispy fries are LAME.

Want to?

2010-08-10T21:49:00.000-07:00

Want to come make a quilt at my house? Want to come hang out and watch people make quilts? If so, check out my milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com for more information.

Home

2010-08-03T15:25:00.001-07:00

Home is where your heart is. If that is true, I am always home when I am with my little family. As long as I am with Bj and my little ones, I am home.

But really, I have returned home. Home to the hotness. I am roasting.

And yet, I miss my hometown. I miss the smell, the sights, the family, and the familiarity of it all. Each time I am home, I secretly wish we could move there. And yet, I am as happy as I have ever been, living right here!

I am home.

Where?

2010-07-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Am I MIA? Yes.

I am far away from home, in my home away from home.

My husband is all alone. I am sure he is crying his eyes out. Maybe he is just moping, or enjoying the silence?

Being away from home always brings with it some pros and cons. Here are mine...

pretend I have pictures, I promise I will share when I get home

I am loving:

cool morning runs

time to play with the kids

watching Noah bond with his grandparents

seeing cousins play and scream their guts out

going to church with Apostles and general authorities

being taught midweek lessons by Elder and Sister Coleman

not cooking

cool nights

big mountains

green grass

flowers in every front yard

long walks

I am missing:

my hubby

our ceiling fan

sleep

early bedtimes

great friends

the chance to see the monsoons actually come this year

my iMac

Hello.

2010-07-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

Hello there....

I love seeing this little face pop out from behind my door.

Hello Mom...

doesn't he know, he shouldn't make my heart swell with joy like that. He's too cute!

Learning time?

2010-06-30T08:59:00.000-07:00

Summer at our house is pretty great.

But, our kids might argue that point with you. Each day they are required to do 4 pages in their workbook, reading for at least 20 minutes, piano practicing, cleaning their rooms, and maybe 1 more chore.

In all, this might take about 1 hour.

Not long.

I hear some interesting arguments about why this is completely unfair. Summer, they tell me, is all about playing video games, swimming, and playing with friends.

Yet, I am steadfast and immovable. I am momzilla. And, my kids' brains will not turn to mush on my watch.

Plus, isn't it fun to see how smart kids are? I love watching their brains work away.

LOVE IT!

Father's Day

2010-06-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Alright, I know Father's Day was long ago. You can hardly remember it now, it was SOOOO long ago. I had to share what we did, since it was fun, cute, and tasty.

For activity days I had the girls make these hamburgers and fries, idea from bakerella.

It was a pretty fun activity. Okay, it was a blast. Messy, loud, filled with kids screaming (I mean politely asking) for more. I had a lot of fun getting it together and ready, and it was even more fun cleaning it all up.

You may or may not know that Bj and I love to do something special for each other on Mother's Day and Father's Day. This year I made him stuffed french toast. It was heaven. Sinful. If heaven can be sinful.

We also made him a scavenger hunt. It was pretty fun. He had a puzzle he had to put together for his first clue, a word jumble for his second clue, and another word puzzle for his third clue. After figuring out each puzzle, the clue sent him to the location of a gift. The kids loved it, and so did Dad, and I was happy the day went so well.

Here's the recipe (courtesy allrecipes.com)

Ingredients

8 fresh peaches
1/2 cup sugar
4 pinches ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 Mexican bolillo rolls
1 cup mascarpone cheese
6 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 lemon, zested
6 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons butter, or as needed
2 teaspoons vegetable oil, or as needed

Directions

Peel peaches, remove pits, and slice into a heavy saucepan, catching all the juices. Stir in sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and cook over medium heat until bubbly. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reaches a syrupy consistency, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, cut off and discard the ends of the bolillo rolls. Slice the rolls into 1 1/4-inch-thick slices. Lay each slice of bread on a board, and with a sharp knife held parallel to the board, cut a pocket into each slice, leaving three sides intact. Set aside.
Stir together the mascarpone, confectioners' sugar, and lemon zest until smooth. Scoop this mixture into a small plastic bag. Cut off one corner of the bag, and pipe as much filling into the pocket in each slice of bread as will fit without overflowing.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla in a shallow bowl. Melt butter with oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet. Dip each stuffed piece of bread into the batter, add to the skillet, and cook until browned on both sides. Serve hot with the warm peach sauce.

13 seconds

2010-06-28T15:43:00.000-07:00

What happens when you leave your shutter open for 13 seconds? Some pretty whispy water fountain action. I could go into photoshop and make this look cooler...but my life is not allowing that at this time. Maybe in a few days I can share some of my other pics... here's hoping.

Glorious

2010-06-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

That is how I feel now, glorious. The party has come and gone. I cleaned the house (again) this morning, and I am feeling calm. I love the feeling after a big event has come.

It went well. People came, ate, talked, and enjoyed each other. Kids played, ate, smeared chocolate on their faces, and made their tummies hurt with too many sweets.

A complete success by all accounts.

And for my beloved family and friends who wished they could be here, but couldn't.....

pictures for YOU!

Can you tell I love babies? Yum.. Parker looks pretty darn cute.

Heart Melting

2010-06-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Another update....and one to melt your heart. I mean, can anyone look at a picture of a cute baby smiling without feeling little tugs on your heart? I don't think so.

My little Noah is the best baby ever. I love him like crazy, and I am enjoying every part of this experience. I love watching him grow, and I mourn his growth at the same time. This is my baby, my last baby, and I am surprisingly sad about him growing up.

What is Noah up to these days? He is now 9 months, weighing in at a whopping 19 lbs....funniest part, he is in the 25th percentile. That is crazy, are all the babies in the world giants now? He smiles whenever he sees mom, dad, maddie, mitch, or liz. He absolutely has a love affair with food. He is a fan. Table food is his favorite. Mine too I might add. He is generally a very happy pleasant baby.

I love to squish his growing chubby legs, and squeeze his cheeks. His slobbery kisses shower me all day long, and I adore every goo filled love I get. He is starting to clap, throw balls, army crawl....and my very favorite? He imitates my sneezing (yes, I suffer...enjoy, seasonal allergies). He is cute. SUPER CUTE.

And you know what the best part is?

He is mine, all mine!

Busy, You?

2010-06-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Lazy Summer?

I keep thinking that life will slow down. But it doesn't. It gets busier, and crazier. Yesterday I had a couple of goals to accomplish. One of them was going to the Dr.

Hmmm, forgot to do that.

Another was to grab a couple minutes to read. That's what summer is about to me...a good book, and a little laziness. I tried, I really did. I kept saying, after I hurry and finish this. After I clean up breakfast, get the laundry going, go get Liz's haircut, ....okay, after I go visiting teaching. Now, after I feed the kids. Okay, now after I do a favor for a friend. Oh wait, more laundry.

Ahhhhh, how many messes are there. I will hurry and clean up this mess real quick, it's 4 but maybe I can grab 30 minutes. Okay, I'll fold that load of laundry...ahhh, I should start dinner. Okay, the dinner is ready, the table set, the mess is not too bad. I'll sit down and read.

Ahhhh.....door opens, Bj's home, and that means it is dinner time.

Reading time did not come to me yesterday. But I accomplished some, and sufficiently tired myself out.

Summer is kicking my can!

All this to say, my blog is .... lacking in material lately. So, instead of trying to catch up, I will throw you a picture of our days, and say whatever comes to my mind at the time. I will have no guilt, no regrets, and the check will happily be checked off.

Book Release Party

2010-06-18T20:41:00.001-07:00

You are all invited!!!!!

Tucson Morning Blend

2010-06-14T14:11:00.000-07:00

The day came. It is here.

I was on the Tucson's Morning Blend this morning. It was so much better than I thought it would be, and I didn't even choke (too much).

For all of you who don't live in Tucson, here's the link to the video. I don't know how long they will have it on their website, so watch it while you can.

Quilt Raffle Update....are you the winner?

2010-06-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

Anyone who donated to Great Strides, PLEASE READ.

The donations from my web page, went to the general fund at great strides. I thought that no one had donated. Then my mom said she donated, I kept checking the site, and it stated nothing. I did track down her donation, but now I am concerned about all of YOU.

I don't have a record of who donated, and how much. Last year when I did a similar thing, it worked swimmingly. DRAT!

So, I hope the people who donated will send me an email, with their name and donation amount. I sincerely want this quilt raffle to be fair, so please let me know! I will be checking the amounts and names with Great Strides to insure correct accounting.

Thanks so much for bearing with me, and technical difficulties.

Set your DVR

2010-06-08T10:18:00.001-07:00

I am going to be on the Morning Blend, KGUN 9.....Monday June 14.

Bj took his new job seriously (I named him my Marketing Director), and got me a spot on the morning show. Gotta love a handsome bald Marketing Director/Biggest Fan.

By the way...yes, I am nervous.

"well, excited and scared" (name that musical)......

To Love or Not to Love

2010-06-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

What I LOVE:

This baby.

Sweet. Perfect. Happy.

Hugs.

Slobbery Kisses.

What I don't LOVE:

To find a snake in my yard.

Then to find another one 2 minutes later.

To know that snakes are indeed able to enter my yard,

even with Snake Away.

I hate snakes because of this.

Liz doesn't hate snakes.

Weird!

Birthday Party #10

2010-06-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Birthday time at the Bisel house. Maddie decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday early this year, and being the fabulous fun mom I am, I consented {plus, then I could get the planning and doing over with}.

This year, we had Maddie plan her birthday party. A pajama party, pillow fight, pizza, and movie is what she wanted. Score! Pretty easy stuff. Lately, I have been enjoying the "not at home" birthday parties, they are easier, and end up less expensive in the end. I digress. We had a fabulous birthday party, the girls loved being wild, and staying up until 8 is so awesome!

As soon as the girls showed up at the house, they made these fun scrabble necklaces. It was fun watching the girls pick out their designs...their designs matched their personalities!

PILLOW FIGHT!

PIZZA!

Watching the beloved Princess Bride. We brought Madeline's mattress downstairs to jump on!

The treat bags. Those are really pillowcases filled with yummy chocolates. Look at milkandhoneydesigns very soon for a tutorial.

Quilt Raffle for Cystic Fibrosis!

2010-05-24T20:14:00.004-07:00

You know those people, the ones you love to death, and would do anything for? My friends from High School/College fall into that category. We have been there for each other through thick, thin, pregnant, sad, happy, and whatever else you can think of. When I found out a few years ago that my friend, Katie, has a daughter with Cystic Fibrosis, I knew I wanted to help. I wanted to ease her burden somehow, rally around her, and let her feel loved.

In the past few years, I have become more aware of what CF really means, looks like, etc. I grabbed this off the CFF website.

"Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that:

clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and
obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food.

In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond."

Lauren Stevens

Since we learned of our friends daughter, our group of friends has played a part in raising money for Great Strides, a charitable organization that for CF research. Each year we get together, and do what we can. This year, I thought I might do something for those of us who LOVE quilts.

I made this 26" square quilt to be "auctioned" off.

HOW? Simply donate to Great Strides by following this link. For every $5 you donate to the cause, I will put your name in the pot for a drawing. How will I know who donated? I get the information from the cff.org website.

Since I really want to raise as much money as possible, I would really like your help to get the word out! If you put a link on your blog, facebook, or twitter, I will give you a chance to win the quilt as well. (Remember to let me know you posted it on your blog, or I won't know!!!!)

Let's work together and raise a little money, and share some love!

You know you're a mama when....

2010-05-21T16:42:00.001-07:00

You know you are a mama when you continually wake up through the night, wondering about your kids, even when 3 of them are GONE!

The wild bunch and their dad went camping this weekend with the ward. I have not been too upset by this development. The thought of having time alone, with Noah, sounds pretty great. But alas, I apparently, am more invested in motherhood than I even knew. I mean, really, the kids just finished school...why in the world am I waking at 4, 5, and 6 wondering if it is time to get them up and ready for school? Each time I woke, I had to remind myself that school is indeed OVER, and the kids aren't even HOME! Heavens!

I have all these wonderful plans to finish a million projects, and work hard while the crazy clan is gone. It is going well, but truthfully, I am working and then just enjoying the time while Noah is awake. MAN, that kid is a joy. Seriously! All he wants from life is a clean diaper, a full belly, and a nice smile. I LOVE his guts.

I put him down for a nap this afternoon...thinking maybe it would last an hour. After three hours, I was dying! Did he die of SIDS (I know, I am morbid, I know)...so I went to check on him. There he was, happily laying in his bed playing with his quilt. What a cutie pie!

Now I am off to love my Noah a little more, make him laugh, make him dinner, and enjoy the relative silence. AHHHHHH.

Congratulations....well done!

2010-05-13T16:33:00.000-07:00

Who, pray tell, needs a little congratulating?

Elizabeth! (and her mother)

She learned to ride a bike! We tried to teach her (it was a half hearted effort) about a year ago, and that ended in tears.

We planned it this time, put it on the calendar, and then actually followed through. I donned my rollerblades, took her to the basketball courts, and we had a ball. This little pumpkin learned how to ride, lickety split. She automatically understood balance, she only had to overcome fear.

I can honestly say I never planned on being the one to teach my children to ride a bike. That always seemed like the "man's" job. But I guess since I did plan on potty training them, and Bj does that, all things are up for discussion.

I have to say, this is one of my favorite lessons. It is such an accomplishment...a measured accomplishment, that I can point to and say, "I taught them that." There are too few things I can actually take a little credit for.

Heaven knows I need all the pats on the back I can get.

Each day this week we have gone for a bike ride to solidify this new skill. Liz has been testing her limits on the bike, and without any major disasters.

Now, all I have to do is teach my heart not to leap out of my chest, when my previous youngest child, rides out of reach.

I can let her go. I can let her go. I can let her go.

Birthday's

2010-05-12T09:28:00.001-07:00

We had a great birthday celebration for Liz. Her birthday started with a friend birthday party. It was a build-a-bear party. When we came home from the party, Bj and the kids had decorated the house for her SURPRISE family birthday party. Nana and Papa were there, as well as Grandma Gina (who went to the build a bear party with me).

We started out with some yummy cupcakes!

Here are the "goody" bags.

As we were picking our bears, I thought it was funny that only 1 girl got a different bear. It was so fun to watch the girls make their own bears, name them, dress them, and love them.

Lunch Box Love Notes

2010-05-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

In my quest to be a better, more supportive, and loving mother, I made these lunch box love notes for my kiddos. Want to win a sheet? Go to milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com to enter.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T15:48:00.003-07:00

My heart sings!

Quick Update

2010-05-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Super busy at my house, so much to update on, not enough time right now.

Just checkin' in to tell you to:

Check out my other blog... milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com. I have had a number of give-aways, and there will be many more!

Happy 12th Anniversary

2010-04-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

12 years ago today, I married my sweetheart in the SLC Temple. It was a fun and crazy day. I was excited, terrified, nervous, and relaxed all at the same time.

This year we (I) decided to forget spending money on anniversary presents. My idea was that we each had to make something for the other person. I was a little luckier, because each year I have always made these collages. Bj decided to write me a poem, and I love it.

The poem is below. Please take note, there are inside jokes, and background stories....so if you don't get it, don't worry..I do. Also, this is a good humored poem, there will be no tears of romantic love, just good clean funny love. Enjoy.

The year was nineteen ninety six,

I had just transferred to BYU from Ricks.

A young lady knocked on my door and said,

“Will you help with my stuff… you can use your head?”

So I helped you move in just down the hall,

“I’m such an IDIOT! Why didn’t I call?”

I wasn’t quite ready, so we had to wait,

Before I got better it was a little too late.

You moved away to be with a “friend”,

It gave me some time for my heart to mend.

And then you came back, and I knew your name,

Lucky for me, you didn’t think I was lame.

Although I was fat, and bald, and old,

You gave me a chance for your heart to hold.

“You’re my new boyfriend”, you said with a smile,

“And mine won’t be back for at least a little while.”

Now it was on! The game had begun,

There was no telling then the extent of the fun.

We laughed, we cried, it became a part of us,

I know this line doesn’t rhyme, but I wanted to add it anyway.

There were highs and lows, and laughs and tears,

Excitement and breakups, and threats and fears.

I had my fears before the big day,

You waited till after, and that’s OK.

We’re perfect together, that’s why we work,

We each do our part and make sure we don’t shirk.

Now here we are, twelve years down the road,

We have ups and downs, but we share the load.

I knew I was lucky even way back then,

You get better and better now I’m the luckiest of men.

I thank the Lord every morning and night,

For you in my life and making it right.

I love you most deeply with all of my heart,

And promise for eternity we never will part.

Happy Twelfth Anniversary, it still feels like new,

And I’ll always feel very warmly toward you!

My Very Own Star

2010-04-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Last week, Madeline starred as Sacagawea in the school musical of Lewis and Clark. I was so proud of her. She had to try out for a part, and I was excited when I found out she is playing one of the main characters.

I was surprised, however, when her teacher talked to me about how well she was doing memorizing all her lines. huh? What lines, I don't hear a thing about this at home. She practiced, obviously...but when? She never shared that she was excited, or scared. Even a few nights before the "show" she didn't seem to have any feelings about it.

On the night of the show, she was nervous. {Okay, she is normal!} On stage, she was picture perfect, didn't seem nervous at all. She sang her solo perfectly, and I was so impressed by her ability to keep her cool.

We teased her about being "married" to her school mate Drew....that was lots of fun. {because Sacagawea was married to Charbonneau}.

We are still singing the songs...

.they were Lewis and Clark, Clark and Lewis.....

Temples Added

2010-04-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, you have all been anxiously awaiting more temples to be added to the group folder (at Costco), see this post. Alas, 3 more temples are in there.

Are you curious?

Denver

Logan

San Diego

Wouldn't it be cool if this was like the Prophet announcing the next temple to be built?

Let's just pretend....shall we.

And the next temple to be built is,.......... the Northwest Tucson Temple,

to be built near Gladden Farms (there's lots of land there, you know).

Okay, wake up now!

The pics are real, the Tucson temple, isn't.

Super Great Finds

2010-04-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Magnavox 160GB HDD & DVD Recorder with Digital Tuner

My life has changed for the better. I know, how lame, my life has changed because I found 2 fabulous ways to make watching TV and movies easier/better.

The first is the Magnavox Recorder. This is like Tivo, but not subscription. I love it. I can rewind/fastforward TV, pre-record shows, etc. I am way too cheap to pay for a service each month. I am loving this....and it is only the cost of the machine. Happy Day.

We used this a lot recently, and I have to say, it saves us time. We watch what we want to watch, fast forward the commercials, and it rocks.

I know, the rest of america already has something like it, but if you don't...check this out.

The second is streaming netflix onto our TV through the Wii. LOVE this.

I exercise on a treadmill and watch DVD's to keep me interested. I have had netflix all these years to help me out. Now, life is even better. I don't have to wait for DVD's, I can stream video through my Wii.

Sweet Sandwiches!!! I love this.

I can watch TV episodes, movies, documentaries, etc..

How do you do it? Go to http://www.netflix.com/InstantStreamingDisc?device=Wii

and order your disk, they will send it to you. It is free, and you keep it FOREVER.

The only drawback? No parental controls, so be careful and aware of what your kids choose. We like the idea of hiding the disk.

And?

2010-04-11T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here it is. The semi-finished product. Yes, the entertainment center still needs all it's goodies, but this is essentially it. The living room still needs a good scrubbing...and some base boards...and to move all the furniture back in....okay, there's still some work to do.

The family room.

What changed? The big one: the floor. We went with wood looking tile. The carpet we originally had was builders grade carpet...yuck. After five years, it was ready for a change, and we were ready for something better. I totally wanted wood, Bj wanted tile, and we both got something we wanted. The walls changed too, from a tan to a light blue (valspar...oxygen white). Why? I love that color blue, plus....I think it lightens and brightens. Also, while we were at it, we got new base boards....soooooo much better.

Here is what it used to look like.

So, what do the kids think? Liz (who has been requesting a move for nigh unto a year) said our house was like new, and she likes it now. Madeline and Mitchell have been over hearing their parents (apparently), and keep talking about how this will be so much easier to clean, will look better, etc....

Bj and I did this ourselves, with some help from friends.

Would I do a project like this again? I want to say no...it was slightly horrible. Yet I know I love to save money. I am sure I will forget the pain and agony of the last few weeks...just like childbirth.

Man, that entertainment center looks nice with nothing in it....(yes, I am a minimalist)...maybe I should leave it empty.

Camera Strap Tutorial and Give Away

2010-04-07T14:17:00.002-07:00

Check out my blog, milkandhoneydesigns.blogspot.com.

Want one of these camera straps?

Want to give to a good cause?

Donate $25 or more to Great Strides, and I will send a camera strap cover your way.

To DONATE press HERE

Why Great Strides? I have a dear friend (friends since Junior High, and we were roommates in college) whose daughter has Cystic Fibrosis. The more I learn about this disease, the more I want to fight it. For those of you who want to know more, go here.

The life expectancy is about 37, which is getting better.

I have a friend who just died of CF, and although she lived a long life (in her 50's), it is still hard to see her leaving her kids, grandkids, and husband.

Her death served as a reminder about how serious this disease is.

I hope you will take the time to make a donation, no matter how big or small.

And if you do make a donation for a camera strap, please email me, sbisel@comcast.net, and send me your address, and I will send you a little joy in the mail.

Tear it up!

2010-04-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

Saturday our world changed. We bought tile, had an easter egg hunt, then promptly decided to tear out all our carpet before the neighborhood dumpster got all FULL.

Goodbye carpet, you were well loved, and now completely trashed.

Our kiddos did lots of work.

Tearing carpet, taking out tack strips, pulling out the base boards, and being happy the whole time.

M & M worked together. One on the tack strips, the other on the base boards. They tried to switch it up, but afterwards I heard them both say they were better at their previous jobs.

Oh yea, hey...if you are going to get new flooring, the walls should change color too. RIGHT?

You betcha! At first, I thought I should go safe, but changed my mind at the paint store. It's still a "safe" color, but no more tan.

Hello Mr. Noah. Are you enjoying being neglected? Do you love that Bumbo seat? Are you tired of all the dust, paint, and lack of a soft surface?

Me too!

What's new?

2010-03-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Chaos.

Our life is chaos.

I have pictures of the chaos, but since everything is torn to shreads, I haven't found the time to download the pictures.

Here's the deal:

torn out carpet

dusty cement floor

furniture filling the garage

full dumpster

tile....late

paint to buy

groceries

birthday's

conference

In all that chaos, all I can really seem to see is my BEAUTIFUL baby. Every time I look at him he gives me the biggest grin. Seriously heart melting stuff!

Ode to Burn Notice

2010-03-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Burn Notice....I miss you. I started watching you a month ago (thank you library), and we shared many special moments while I ran on the treadmill. I have seen both season 1 and season 2, and now I want more. Running is never as fun without some serious explosions, mysteries solved, and a little romance (very little romance). So please, Burn Notice, release season 3 on DVD. I know my library will buy you, and then I can spend a very good 3 weeks watching you while sweatin'.

Happy St. Patricks Day

2010-03-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Lucky Charms and green milk is not enough of a green celebration.

My kids promptly got up and made green eggs and green pancakes. Crazy fun kids!

Family Update

2010-03-12T20:27:00.003-07:00

Can you believe it? My little girl has braces!!! I knew the day would come, but I always thought it would be when she was older, when I was richer, or something like that. However, the day is here, and in a way I am excited for her. She gets to experience this time when she is young, when her self esteem won't be knocked to nothing by the looks and comments of boys.
Our family is consumed by game nights as of late. Last weekend we spent Friday night playing Monopoly and eating candy meant for Christmas (don't worry....it was stored nicely at the bottom of our freezer). The fun never ends when there is chocolate and gaming involved. Our kids love this time, and in these small moments I think that maybe, just maybe I might be an okay mother.

Seriously, this was an awesome moment. Two weeks ago, while nursing my little one in bed on a "lazy" Sunday morning (7 a.m.), my big kids made a plan. The plan? To make breakfast for mom in bed. One might imagine, cereal, pancakes, or muffins. Nope, my kiddos went all out and made FRENCH TOAST for their dear mother. Did they have help? No! Completely independent of any adult assistance, they made and delivered french toast to my bed, complete with syrup and whip cream.

Where was dad? Church meetings.

These are the shining moments of joy I need to reflect on more often.

These are the moments I need to remember when my youngest empties out all the albuterol from the fast acting inhaler, and all the vials for the nebulizer. When my children fight to the death over who gets to sit next to the baby. When I get sassed left and right.

There is joy all around me, I just need to stop and remember it.

Sad Realization

2010-03-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

I have had a sad realization. I am no longer young and spry.

How do I know this? Each time I raise to standing from a sitting position, I cringe at the pain in my knees.

Yes, I still sit indian style at the dinner table, at the computer, on the couch, or basically anytime I sit.

Apparently, the time has come for me to sit like an adult. hmmm. I should probably grow a couple inches so my feet can touch the floor (wouldn't that be nice).

As I type this, I am sitting indian style. Ahhhhh, when it comes time to walk away from the computer tonight, the walk will look more like a hobble.

Amazon Here I Come

2010-03-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

Could anyone be more excited than me? Highly unlikely.

Here's the scoop. The book is ready for pre-order (thanks Mindy for finding that out). The really fabulous and great thing, is that you can see many of the quilts from the Amazon.com page. If you click on the image, it opens up all the images, and you can see every quilt. Enjoy!

Follow this link and enjoy!

Hey Baby!

2010-03-01T09:03:00.001-07:00

Man, this baby is adorable!

I love him SOOOO much. Every time he talks, I melt. He cries, and I laugh because he is so stinking cute. As I write, my little man is talking to me and doing raspberries. I even love that he leaves his scent on me.

YUM!

The Solution

2010-02-24T14:08:00.001-07:00

image from beckyhiggins.com

Scrapbooking....is it the the bane of my existence or a cherished hobby? The answer is yet to be determined. I love working on scrapbooks, and I love watching my kids devour their scrapbooks. And yet, I don't get as much done as I would like. I really thought the digital revolution would change me, and make me get stuff done quicker. I guess it has, when I actually find time to do it.

The solution??? Project Life from Becky Higgins. Honestly, I just started this new idea/method and I hope it works for me. The idea is to take a picture a day, and put it in a scrapbook. (There is digital and a hard copy method) The picture a day thing is sometimes hard for me, but I have done pretty well so far. Yes, I have missed days! So what? I used pictures of things around the house to tell our story for those days... Like what? The morning paper to illustrate my love of reading the news, the dirty sink in my kids bathroom, my rainy windshield, etc..

So, what about all those past years I have still waiting for me? Becky also has a scrapbook that has a page per month. The story still gets told, in a shorter way, but at least it is there.

More questions, check out her website www.beckyhiggins.com. You won't be sorry.

Bella the Great

2010-02-18T15:19:00.001-07:00

Bj's best friend, Derek, has published his very own children's book.

Derek and his family have encountered some trying times in this challenging economy.

I know there are many of us who are the lucky ones, we have jobs.

Now, here's an opportunity to make a big difference, a big bang for our buck. Please join us in supporting a friend!

Go to their website www.bellathegreat.com, to purchase the book, and other goods.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T17:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Valentines Day!

Of all the things I love about Bj, the thing I love best is that he is my absolute best friend.

I want to tell him everything, and I want to hear everything about him.

He is my very favorite person.

I love you, honey!

Day 13

2010-02-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

Bj serves others.

This is a picture of him serving me and the kids by making sandwiches for the week. If he didn't do this, all of our mornings would be much more hectic.

What I don't have a picture of is the other ways he serves. He attends every move in our ward he is able to. He happily sets up/takes down chairs and tables at the ward functions.

Quietly and without fanfare, he serves others. He thinks nothing of it. And, I love him for it.

Day 12

2010-02-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

Bj is a goofball.

He makes me laugh. Even when I don't laugh out loud, I am still laughing.

Sometimes I am laughing at him, but only when he wants me to.

I love that he doesn't take life too seriously.

Day 11

2010-02-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Bj is in it for the long haul.

He is strong and immovable.

I love knowing that he is committed to me FOREVER. We will be together for eternity.

I feel safe, with him, in a way I can hardly explain.

I trust him completely.

(Plus, I love his buns.)

Day 10

2010-02-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

Bj encourages me.

I came to him a couple years ago, asking what he thought of me working towards writing quilt patterns. He said go for it. Without a second thought, he told me to go for it. He wasn't concerned that I might drop the ball as a mother and a wife. He only thought about what I wanted.

Over the next 2 years he continued to encourage me, through a lot of fabric purchases, changing plans, almost giving up, going full speed ahead, and quilting/writing my brains out.

Even when I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, he still didn't second guess me. He simply asked how he could help. He did more chores, supplied me with time alone with my sewing machine, and peanut m&m's.

As the publishing date gets closer, he continues to encourage me. There could be travel to different quilt shops, and he tells me to go and is happy to watch the kids.

I love him to pieces.

Day 9

2010-02-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

When I was searching for my one true love, I knew this was a quality I couldn't skimp on. I had to marry someone who knew the value of hard work. Little did I know I needed to put a caveat in there... My love needs to know when to work hard, and when to play/rest. Heavenly Father must love me a lot, because He gave me Bj, who knows exactly when to put the shoulder to the wheel, and when to lay back and have some fun.

I love that Bj works hard.

No matter what he does, he does it well. He puts his whole heart into it.

Even if it is 3 year old soccer.

I love that he holds a busy calling in our ward, does all he needs to, and still doesn't stress out about it.

He works hard, and is a good delegator.

I LOVE HIM.

Day 8

2010-02-08T16:23:00.000-07:00

Flowers

The first few years we were married, Bj worked hard to bring flowers to me, at least once a month.

I have always loved that he is so thoughtful.

I love that he had that goal, from the very beginning, to be the best husband he could be.

Honestly, the flowers aren't coming once a month anymore, but they have been replaced by:

diapers, dove chocolate, formula, cheese, hamburger buns...

whatever we need that I am too lazy to pack all the kids up and go get.

I love these little acts of kindness.

He goes out of his way to show me he loves me.

I LOVE HIM.

Day 7

2010-02-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

What else do I love about Bj? He is a smarty pants!

I mean it, he is super smart and handy. He is an engineer, and I love how his brain works.

The patio cover, the new island, and all the pinewood derby cars....I love that he can figure out most our "fix it" needs.

We rarely need to hire a professional to do work around the house.

When I need help with quilt patterns, this guy is there for me!

I love knowing I have my very own "smarty pants."

Day 6

2010-02-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Each night, as I sit down from a long day of loving my family, my dear love gets me a glass of water to sit and enjoy.

I don't have to ask, this man I married knows my needs before I do.

These little things mean the most to me. The small kindnesses he shows me each day truly touches my heart.

Day 5

2010-02-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

You thought I forgot. Okay, almost! I have family in town....busy.

Bj is such a great dad. I love that! He has so much fun with the kids, he wrestles, reads stories, changes diapers, and goofs off with them.

I love watching him with our baby. Here is this tough man, and he is so gentle and loving with our baby! His tenderness always warms my heart.

Day 4

2010-02-04T10:17:00.000-07:00

September (baptism Saturday, baby blessing Sunday)

Day 4

It's Day 4, and the reasons for why I love my sweetheart keep on rolling.

I love Bj because he is such a good man. I love that he honors his priesthood, and he is always worthy to perform blessings and baptisms.

I love that he listens to conference on his way to and from work.

I love that he is always working to improve himself, and be even better.

I love the way he reads scriptures to our family every night.

This is one of the greatest blessings of all, that my sweetheart honors God.

Day 3

2010-02-03T08:27:00.000-07:00

I love that Bj is playful. We have a running joke in our family, that he is the "fun" one, and I am not. Why is this? Because Bj will do almost anything to provide a good time for our family.

Our first date....he took his mattress, put it in the bed of his truck so we would have a comfy spot at the drive in.

A date at the park = at least 4 different lawn games packed in the back of the car.

Seriously, this guy is all about having fun, and I am grateful we have at least one person fun in this family.

Day 2

2010-02-02T08:15:00.000-07:00

The next thing I love about Bj is that he is helpful. Of course, he goes to work all day, and has many things pulling for his attention, but he is still so helpful to me. Just last night, as I was doing dishes and laundry, and he was holding Noah, he took the time to clean the ceiling fans. I love that he is tall, and uses his tallness to help this shorty pants.

He does so much to help, and when he can see I am starting to get overwhelmed with my ever growing list, he always asks how he can help. Thanks honey, for all you do. Thanks for making all the sandwiches, cleaning the bathrooms on your off Friday (or on Thursday's), thanks for doing laundry when I have missed the appointed day, thanks for always taking out the garbage, thanks for mowing the lawn and watering all the plants, and thanks for all the little things you do, I notice!

14 days to Valentines

2010-02-01T09:09:00.002-07:00

Picture from Becky Higgins' Blog

Traditionally, I am not a very romantic person. I am a little too practical for that. But, I thought it might be fun to do a 14 days of Valentines about my one true love. So, I am hoping to post something wonderful about my love each day leading up to Valentines Day. Wish me luck.

Day 1

I love that I can trust Bj with my deepest, darkest, silliest, and embarrassing secrets. I know he will never throw me under the bus. I know he will never make fun of me in public. I know he won't make fun of me at home when we are alone. What will he do? Ease my worries, tell me I am perfectly normal, and then try to kiss and hug away my worries. This is a very good quality indeed!

Babies

2010-01-27T10:18:00.001-07:00

Heavenly Father really knows what He is doing, these babies are impossible to resist.

Each time I look at my sweet baby, my heart fills to the brim with love. There is so much to do in this fine home of mine, but all I really want to do is hug, cuddle, tickle, and make him laugh.

The questions I have asked myself in the past few years, of the purpose of certain trials, seem to be answered. This is my answer. I now know how precious life is. I understand better to appreciate the moments of life. I now understand that creating life and keeping it, isn't as easy as I once thought.

Frustration comes much slower these days, and joy stays longer.

Life is beautiful.
Love is precious.
Babies Rock!

Classic Pics 1

2010-01-19T09:58:00.004-07:00

This picture caught my eye yesterday while it was scrolling through our screen saver. Take a look at Liz (top right). I love it!!!! This is Liz with her soccer team last year. I only took 25 million pictures of the team. And, as I scroll through them, I see a story emerge. I wish I could show the 20+ picture progression to this moment. You would see this little boy, continually trying to hold her hand, and Liz continually trying to pull her cute little hand away. By this moment, she'd had it!

LOVE IT!

Aging Tutorial

2010-01-07T15:16:00.006-07:00

I have had more than one request for a tutorial on how I made the temple pictures. It was not too complicated, if you have a general idea of how photoshop works.

Step 1. Download actions from thepioneerwoman.com and find textures to use. You can download some from here.

Step 2. Use the vintage action from the pioneer woman. Now, play with the opacity, I used about 77% opacity. Each picture is different, each project different....so choose what you like best.

Step 3. Evaluate the picture. Do you like it as it is now? Does it need to be more defined, softer, etc.... Play with the different actions. I used the boost action on some of the photos, and other actions on other photos. Play around until you like your photo as it is. We will be adding textures, but they will just enhance the photo, not MAKE it.

Step 4. Here's some fun info. Do you see the little eye on the side of each layer? This is the show/hide function. Turning it on and off let's you see the difference the layer makes for the photo. Play with this one!

Step 5. Start adding layers. Open up the textures you would like to use. Drag them onto your photo, and stretch or shrink them as needed, to fill the photo.

Step 6. Use the blending modes feature (as shown in the circle below), and pick the soft light blending mode.

Step 7. From here, just add new textures (continue to use the soft light blending mode), and keeping playing until you find the composition you like. Play with the opacity of each layer, adjust to see the difference it makes.

Step 8. Add text . Use the text button, and add the text. I used three different layers so I could have the most control of how it "flowed." I also used the font, Hannibal Lecter.

Step 9. Save as a JPG to have it printed.

Hopefully this helped, have a happy photoshop day.

Today

2010-01-07T15:04:00.002-07:00

Today started out looking like this.....

piles and piles of clean laundry. We all love clean laundry, but I showed you just one corner of my couch. The whole blessed couch was filled with kids clothes today. Now, they are safely nestled in the kids laundry baskets waiting for the kiddos to put them away.

Then I got this in the mail.....

My spirits soared. Here it is. What I have been waiting for. The slightly finished product. My book. Is this real? This is the proofing stage, but lo....can you see all the illustrations, photos, etc.? How fun. The layout is done, the photos taken, and I love it. I was slightly nervous to see how a third party would view my style of work. They got it! It is bright, cheerful, and modern. I am loving Martingale. The only thing I would change is some fonts....but really, that doesn't matter. What a happy addition to a perfectly normal and chore riddled day.

How to add text to a photo

2010-01-04T16:40:00.002-07:00

Adding text to a photo is pretty darn easy, but if you have never used photoshop or photoshop elements before, it might be something new, and thus, confusing. So, for those of you who would like to customize your temple photos (or really any photos) please follow this link, and it will give you directions for adding text to a photo.

Tips for text

I used the font, hannibal found here, for the the title.

I also used a brown type color, and played with the opacity of the font to let some of the distressed stuff come through. How to use opacity? Go here.

Temples

2010-01-02T20:42:00.005-07:00

Some years ago I was slowly decorating our new home. I wanted to have a picture of the temple to display in my home. The only problem....many of the pictures of temples were (how to say this kindly)...corny. Eventually, I found a beautiful picture of the SLC temple, and I paid dearly for it. And, I still love it.

I have often looked at this picture, and known I could do something in Photoshop that would be (to me) just as good, and sooooooo much cheaper. This year for Christmas, I decided to do a temple theme, and give large framed photos of temples to family members. I have really enjoyed seeing how a simple picture of the temple has transformed into something I love. As neighbor gifts loomed before me, I realized I could do the same thing for them, just on a smaller scale (of course, my neighbors who aren't LDS got something a little different).

Being the cheapskate, I mean thrifty person I am, I wanted to share these with you. I have the Mesa, Seattle, SLC, Albuquerque, and Columbia River temples done. I have a group set up on Costco.com which has all the photos of temples I have altered, ready to order. If you would like to be invited to the group, let me know your email, and I'll invite you. The only catch is you must only use these for personal use.

Happy New Year!