Activity Days Christmas

For the activity days Christmas party, I wanted to emphasize Christ as much as possible. We started out watching this video, A baby changes everything.

We then made glass ornaments, that were filled with raffia and a picture of Christ. The girls loved making them. Note to self: use plastic bulbs next time, two girls ended up shattering theirs on the hardwood floor.

We then wrapped up the party eating cookies, while I read a Christmas Bell for Anya. Each girl received a bell to take home. They made a promise to ring the bell on Christmas Morn, before they opened any presents, in remembrance of Christ and his sacrifice.

Gingerbread House

We have never done a gingerbread house before. Aiden caught sight of one, and I didn't hear the end of it till I gave in and bought a kit.

This made Aiden's day. I could see the excitment of Christmas in his eyes. I hope these are the moments he remembers as he gets older.

Christmas Program

As you took your place on the stage, I felt the emotions building up. I fought back the tears, thinking this is silly. Then I heard you sing. Tears of joy streamed down my face.

I am so proud of you.

Silly boy

You bring so much joy and love to my life. I am grateful that you chose me to be your mother. I love how you can make me laugh, infact I love everything about you.

Simple, Beautiful, Sacred

The Magnificent, Brooklyn Bridge

You are one of the oldest suspended bridges in the United States.

I visit you every time I go to New York, and you are always the high light of my trip.

If the boots fit

Aiden loves the snow like he loves water. As soon as the snow fell, he was eager to get outside and play. Little did we know, when I was getting him all bundled up, he grew out of his boots. It was a struggle to get them on, but it looks like he doesn't mind.

Our first Christmas tree

I must admit. I have never put up a Christmas tree, prior to Thanksgiving. I am filled with the Christmas spirit early this year, and It all started when we went shopping to pick out the perfect tree.


Aiden, Grandma, Dog-Dog, and I took a break from the action at Starbucks for a hot cocoa.

There was a lot of 'hostility' on what type of tree to purchase. Dallas insisted on colored lights. He also insisted that we don't get a pre-lit tree. I went in search of a non pre-lit tree, and do you think I could find one...NO. We then came to the conclusion that we are going to end up getting a pre-lit, whether we liked it or not. Then we had to decide on gettign a tree with white lights, or colored lights. I am not a fan of the colored lights, and I thought if one year we wanted colored lights, we could just add them to the tree.....maybe.

I spent hours tying ribbons onto all 150 ornament balls. I also spent a lot of time at Ti-Pan Trading, where I purchased most of our Christmas decorations. Then it came to finishing up the tree with a tree skirt. I could not find a store bought one that I loved, so I decided to make my own. I am a fanatic of matching. As you can tell from the picture, the tree decor matches our living room decor, and the tree skirt matches the curtains. Pictures don't do this tree justice. I must say it is beautiful.

Crochet booties

Made with love.

Enjoy Lily Mae.

Tired of being tired. Sick of being sick.

On top of working terrible hours. My body has been telling me something is wrong. Something has been wrong for a while now. I have been tested for everything, I have even had my heart tested. The results.....normal. One doctor claimed I was sleep deprived and stressed. I do believe that I am sleep deprived, but I am not stressed.

My symptoms include: nausea, weight gain, hair loss/tender scalp, acne, and heart palpitations. Sounds like I could be pregnant, right.....wrong!

One day I came across this blog. It dawned on me....this little convenient device is making me sick.

Today was the day I said buh bye to Mirena.

Halloween

Since we were rained out of Lagoon, we started the Halloween season off by going to Pirate Island in Orem. This was our first time there. Aiden loved it. It was like the Myan, except for it was all about pirates. Aiden adored our server who dressed and talked just like a pirate. The food was a bit pricey, but it was a fun experience for Aiden. They had an arcade, which we all had fun at. For Halloween, Aiden wanted to be Indiana Jones. He insisted on it, since he got lego Indiana Jones for the Wii. Dallas also introduced him to the movies which he seems to enjoy. The costume was easy. I already had the hat, he already had the pants and shirt. My mother helped me sew the jacket. All I had to purchase was the satchel and the whip.

Every year Draper City produces a Haunted Hallow fair. They did an excellent job. There was free games, Music, and food. It was a bit cold, but it didn't damper Aiden's fun.

We also had a Halloween themed birthday party for my baby sister. It was a lot of fun, and it was nice to have the entire family together. My Mom did an excellent job with the food. We all dressed up. The house was fully decorated. We played games. Needless to say we partied.

Four eyes. Just like his momma.

It was inevitable that Aiden would need glasses eventually.

He is growing up so fast.

Halloween invites

This is my version, taken from the Martha Stewart Halloween magazine. I turned them into invitations for the Activity day Halloween party. I used Bisquick, instead of making them from scratch to save on time.

Yield to Life

I am not sure how other cyclist in Utah feel. It seems as if there has been an overwhelming amount of tragic accidents involving negligent motorist.

Now more than ever fear has overwhelmed me. I count all my close calls, and it scares me. Going to the gym seems safer, and I find myself skipping out on the bike periodically.

I have taken a few actions to try and protect myself. This year I have stopped using an iPod all together-Riding alone has never felt more lonely. I make sure I never leave the house without my cell phone. Best of all, I have purchased a Road I.D. This I.D. contains all of my contact and medical information, that I wear conveniently around my wrist for all to see.

Education is also a key to prevention. I strongly urge motorists and cyclist to check out and support Yield to Life. This is an organization founded by World Class cyclist David Zabriskie. All donations go to the education and prevention of future senseless tragedies. On this site, it gives great safety tips and road rules for both cyclists and motorists.

My challenge is to stop letting fear take over me. I do not want to be kept from doing what I love most. Please remember that any cyclist on the road, is not just a bike. It's a life.

I have found the one whom my soul loves

Potty Party

The things he learns from his Dad.....

Family Photos

Sneak peek......

By Tara Roark from Eternal Moments Photography.

A special Thanks to Tara for her talent and for her patience. I can't wait to see the rest.

P.s. Tara, you are gorgeous.

What matters most

During conference Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave an amazing talk Of Things that Matter Most. Love is T-I-M-E. Time I feel I never have enough of. I am balancing working full time, being a mother, a new wife, and an athlete. All I can say is I am exhausted. I need to stop feeling like I need to sacrifice, in order to balance.

After reading and hearing this talk, I know what I need to do. I need to return to the basics. I need to refocus my life and simplify it. I need to improve my relationship with my Family, my God, and Myself. That is what matters most.

Funny Aiden

"Mom can I have a screw driver"
My reply "Why"
"I want to open my piggy bank"
My reply "Why do you need money"
"I want to buy toys and throw my money in the wishing well"

-I think he was referring to the water fountain at the mall.

Aiden always finds a way to delight me with his sense of humor, and wit. I love him to the moon and back again.

Family Traditions

For as long as I can remember. Once a year the Potter family makes a trek up to Bringham City, Utah. We look forward to this day all year long. It is not just because we get to eat awesome prime rib, or we get to pick pumpkins to carve for Halloween, It is one of the few days a year we get to be together as a family.

The first stop on our traditional trek was Smith and Edward's ' The Country Boy Story.' We always find things we don't need. We find things that are extremely unusual. We find things that can bring the family to the floor rolling with laughter.
Who knew there was a pot big enough to cook a six year old in?


After we got our kicks from exploring Smith and Edwards. We made our way down Highway 89 to Paul's Pumkin Patch. This is were we go every year to pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve for halloween.


As soon as we finished gathering our pumpkins, and getting various fruits and veggies. We went accross the street to Maddox's Steakhouse. This is a resturant that our family has been going to since we were all little kids, when they served kid meals in paper cars. Maddox is famous for their beef and buffalo. Infact they keep their grazing buffalos behind the resturant in an open field.


It was a great dinner. The food was good. The company was great. Best of all, we were together as a family. Our Dinner ended with a surprise. Baby Lydia was the bearer of the good news. My Brother Jeffrey and Kathryn announced they were expecting a baby.


Until next year........