The Brighton Ward Nursery Nativity:)

Mallory's nursery did the cutest thing today. Their teacher sister Stoffer's (who is amazing!) had costumes for the kids and they all dressed up and did the nativity for the primary kids. It was really cute!!

Mallory's Doll Obsession

Mallory LOVES her dolls! She walks around all day saying "wrap baby" (wanting me to wrap her baby in a blanket)..."shhh, baby's sleeping", "hug baby"....

She rocks her baby on the rocking chair for like 15 minutes at a time just singing(babbling) to her. She puts her on the piano bench and plays her baby music. Her dolls have assigned blankets and names...it's really cute. I love having a daughter. Mallory will make a very good mother someday...she is very kind, loving, patient, and nurturing. I could learn from her:)

Tanner and Logan's Christmas Program

The boys had their Christmas program today...it was seriously the cutest thing...saying their little lines, and singing all their songs, doing the sign language...just adorable:)

WWDRD (What Would Dave Ramsey Do?)

I read this on a friends blog and thought it was good...it's a letter written by financial guru Dave Ramsey...


I subscribe to a couple of online newsletters. One of them is from Dave Ramsey. He is a voice of reason in the very materialistic world we live in. He puts things into perspective and helps me exercise financial control. When I am tempted to buy something I don't "need," I think WWDRD?
(What would Dave Ramsey do?)

I am including a letter he wrote in his December newsletter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

"No matter what your budget is this Christmas, remember to be thankful. Take a deep breath in the middle of all this craziness.

You might have a lot. You might have a little. If you are driving a beater, be thankful for that beater. You would rather drive that than walk, wouldn't you? There is always something to be thankful for.

That's what contentment is all about. When you understand and really grasp contentment, it becomes easier to save money and invest. Stress slowly disappears. Budgeting is easier. Relationships improve.

Be happy with what you have. More than three billion people, almost half the world, live on $2.50 a day. Sometimes we need a little perspective to become content with our current situation.

Without contentment, it's easy to be bitter and apathetic. Happiness is sold to us, especially during this time of year. We think if we can just get one more piece of stuff that "true" happiness will be right around the corner.

We say things like, "I'll be happy when I get that house!" or "I'll be happy when I get that new car!" But happiness cannot be bought. Sure fun—in the form of a house, a car, a new LCD television—can be bought, but fun is temporary. True happiness, or contentment, is lasting.

You can get out of debt, save money, and get on a budget, but until you realize that stuff doesn’t bring contentment, you will always feel stressed and unhappy. Contentment brings peace. And isn’t this time of year about bringing "peace on earth and good will toward men"?

Remember what this deal is all about. It's not about trees, lights, gifts, baked hams, and shopping malls. It’s about a little child who was born in a manger and grew up to die on a cross. It’s about peace on earth and good will toward men.

So if the Christmas frenzy is wearing you out, you've missed the point of Christmas. Make a plan with your money, and make a plan to get back in touch with the true meaning of this special day."

Negotiations:)

How's this for negotiations? Last night Tanner didn't want to take a bath (strange cuz usually he does). I told him too bad, so sad...that he would indeed have to take a bath. While I was bathing Logan, this note that Tanner had written me appeared under the bathroom door. In case you can't read it, it says, "Dear Mom, If you would let me go to sleep I would be happy to wake up happy, and if you would let me not go in the bath tub I would be happy to go to bed".....basically he was trying to negotiate not having to take a bath by saying he would go to bed right then and wake up happy:)...nice try...it didn't work:)

Great News!!

My little brother Brian and his wife Kelsey are expecting a BABY!!!! Kesley is due in August...we are so excited for them!!!

I agree!!

I saw this on my sister's blog and really liked it


If you see injustice, STAND UP
If something needs to be said, SPEAK UP
If you make an appointment, SHOW UP
If you make a mistake, FESS UP
If you’re overstepping, BACK UP
If you get behind, CATCH UP
If they knock you down, GET UP
If you’re out of line, STRAIGHTEN UP
When your boss instructs, KEEP UP
When your elders speak, LISTEN UP
When your teachers teach, SIT UP
When your preachers preach, WAKE UP
When your country calls, MAN UP
Ladies too... WOMAN UP
When the fight is over, MAKE UP
If you’re being hard, EASE UP
If your heart is closed, OPEN UP
If you want to buy something, SAVE UP--
If you make a mess, CLEAN IT UP
If you drop trash, PICK IT UP
If a car is waiting for you to walk across the street, SPEED IT UP
If you’re cold busted, GIVE IT UP
If people fall down, HELP THEM UP--
If people start fighting, BREAK IT UP
If the music is wholesome, TURN IT UP
If the message is poisonous, THROW IT UP
If your words are vulgar, CLAM IT UP
If your words encourage, KEEP IT UP
If your pants are baggy, PULL THEM UP
If the belt’s too loose, CINCH IT UP
If you’re dressed half naked, COVER IT UP
If you can’t afford stuff, PASS IT UP--
If you made a promise, you BACK IT UP
And you can take your whining and PACK IT UP
It’s called personal responsibility, so TAKE IT UP
When life gets boring, you SHAKE IT UP
When life is good, you SOAK IT UP
When life’s unfair, you SUCK IT UP
When life is funny, you can YUCK IT UP
When life is sad, just LOOK STRAIGHT UP

Tanner's Testimony

Here is a video of Tanner sharing his testimony during Family Home Evening tonight. It was his turn to bear his testimony in Primary this last Sunday and he wanted to have it written out so he could do it all by himself without help. Scott and I were so proud of him as he confidently went to the podium and read his testimony. He looked so cute in his white shirt and tie reading his testimony...so we wanted to have him do it on video during FHE tonight. Sorry, it's a bit of a dark video...I should have turned on more lights:) Julie

MSU Museum of Natural History

Logan and Tanner have had the last two days off of school for parent-teacher conferences...so I wanted to do some fun things for them for their days off. Yesterday we went to the mall and saw Santa and played at the mall playland, went out to lunch, got Christmas pictures, etc. Today we headed to the MSU campus in Lansing to visit the MSU museum of natural history. We'd never been there before and we really enjoyed it. Here are some pics from our days adventure.

A Visit with Santa

I'm taking a vote....which picture is worse?...the one with the screaming two-year olds on Santa's lap....or the one where only 1 out of 4 kids are smiling??? Tried twice yesterday to get a cute Christmas picture of the kids....and as you can see...that was not successful!! Oh well, at least they had fun playing at the mall playland afterwards:)

I heart coupons

12 boxes of wipes for $3.50.....gotta love coupons!! I'm hooked:)

Women's Resource Center

I was recently asked by Polly Mallory, a lady in my ward, to join the Women's Resource Center Board of Directors. At first, I wasn't quite sure what I was agreeing to, but decided to go ahead and commit to be on the board, and I am really glad I did. The Women's Resource Center is a wonderful non-profit organization in the county that offers many types of counseling services (individual, career, couples, financial, pregnancy, legal, eating disorders, etc.), support groups, workshops and classes, resources and referrals, career boutique for women to get free professional clothing, cinderella's closet (for teenage girls to get free or low-cost dresses for prom and homecoming), lending library, etc. It's just a wonderful resource for women and families in the county. So, part of being on the board of directors is planning fundraisers, publicity and advertising, making decisions, etc. I am really enjoying this opportunity. I feel like I am able to use some professional skills that often go by the wayside as a stay-at-home-mom:) and I also feel like I am volunteering and helping contribute to society. When I went to BYU...the tag line on the signs said..."Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve". I feel like I am serving:)

So, I am the "Social Media" person on the board of directors (a.k.a. website, blog, facebook, twitter, etc.)...which is a big part of the advertising/publicity aspect. I just started a blog for the WRC. Please go visit it... www.wrc-livingston.blogspot.com and visit the website at www.wrc-livingston.org
Please follow the blog and add it to your google reader. I'm trying to start getting publicity through my own blog and facebook...so please help me out!!:)

We have an upcoming event that you are all invited to. It's called the "Fantasy of Trees". It is Friday, November 27th...the day after Thanksgiving from 10-10 at 108 W. Grand River in downtown Howell. You can come in and buy decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces, baked goods, candy, hot chocolate, and other things for the holidays. All proceeds go to the Women's Resource Center. The Fantasy of Lights Parade is that night...so if you and your family are there at the parade, please stop in!...I'll be working the bake sale from 4-6:) If any of you are interested in volunteering or helping out with this event...even just working as a greeter, let me know!

Lastly, the Board of Directors is looking to recruit a few more board members. If any of you in the area might be interested in serving a non-profit organization, consider joining the Board of Directors for the Women's Resource Center. It is a great volunteer opportunity!!

Julie

Sibling Rivalry

There's really no story with this picture...I just thought it was funny...caught red handed!!!:)

Mini-reunion

Last night I had a mini-reunion with some of my former teacher friends and grad school buddies:) I used to teach in Hartland with Theresia and Lisa and the three of us went to grad school at Marygrove College to get our Master's. We made some really great friends there! There were 35 of us that were a "cohort" and we took all the Masters classes together. Because we were together for every class, we became VERY close. We spent every weekend together, stayed overnight, studied together, stayed up late talking about everything under the sun. It was just a magical connection between many of us that you don't find too often...we all just clicked. So....I stopped teaching 5 years ago, and although we've sent Christmas cards, and are friends on facebook, we haven't gotten together too much. So last night a few of us met up...and it was so fun...like we never left each other. I've missed these girls.

Michigan Historical Museum and State Capitol

Last Friday we took a Field Trip to the Michigan Historical Museum and the State Capitol. The boys didn't have school, so it was a perfect opportunity to take them. We had gone this summer, but part of the museum was closed because of renovating, so we went back to see the part we missed. It's a great museum that walks you through time from the Native American's to present day. We toured the state Capitol too, which is such a beautiful building. We went with our friends the Cheney's and the Aeschliman's...we always have fun with them!:) Here are a few pictures of the day...

Sisterhood of the Traveling Gift Bag!!

Ok, you've all heard of "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" right?....Well, my friend Angie and I have the "Sisterhood of the Traveling gift bag":) It all started before Tanner and Logan were born. Angie helped throw me a baby shower and had given me a gift in this bag with three angel babies on it. I saved the bag like I always do. Well, a little later Angie adopted her second child...her son Max. I was looking for a gift bag to give her an engraved photo album for his adoption and came across the bag she had given me. I kind of thought to myself that the three babies on it looked like Tanner, Logan, and Max...they even had the right skin tone....so I wrote their names on it and wrote "Our Angel Babies" on it...and gave her the gift bag back. Then it started to become like this little tradition...when one of our kids had a birthday, we'd use the bag to put the gift in and pass it back and forth...then Mallory and Preston were born...I got the bag back...and added their picture, India's picture....then Sidney was adopted...so he was added to the bag and it was given back at his adoption......then today I got the bag back at Mallory and Preston's birthday party...and so it continues:) It may be a silly little thing...but everytime I see that bag, it makes me smile:)...because whenever we exchange that bag, it's because of a new addition to one of our families, a birth, an adoption....or a birthday or milestone. Angie and I have been friends now for a LONG time...and it's so fun to watch each of our families grow...we now have 7 kids between us. Quite a few years ago, we both wanted kids and it was a challenge for both of us to get these sweet spirits to come to our homes...so it's fulfilling to see each of our families full now:) So anyways, kind of funny to be sentimental about a giftbag...but every time I see it...I truly do smile inside at what it symbolizes:)

Mallory and Preston turn TWO!

Today Mallory and Preston celebrated their second birthday with a party at McDonalds with some of their friends! Below are some pictures from the party today....and a few are of this evening...we sang to them again, and had cake and opened all the presents from their party today (we ran out of time earlier).... Tomorrow we plan to go to Chuck-e-Cheese for a family party for them:) Happy Birthday Mallory and Preston!...I can't believe it's already been two years!