Thankful Thursday - My Cakes in July

As much as I sometimes just really don't want to decorate another cake again, I am so thankful that I have a way to bring in some extra income. AND now I get to show them off on my blog. You can see more at Cakes by Melissa

Wordless Wednesday - Our Rachel

Top Ten Tuesday-Why I Love My Children Helping in the Kitchen

1. I love it when I open my tupperware cupboard and something always falls out.
2. I love that my silverware drawer is always in perfect order.
3. I love having to look for something in two or three different places.
4. I love it when I get a cup out of the cupboard and there is still water in it.
5. I love it when I go to use a clean bowl and find oatmeal still stuck to it.
6. I love that I am having to buy new dishes more often due to more breakage.
7. I love it when my cake decorating tips fall victim to the garbage disposal.
8. I love having to ask my children over and over and over to come and set or clear the table and/or load and unload the dishwasher.
9. I love finding water all over the kitchen counter and floor near the sink.
10. I love being able to teach my children how to be responsible and how to work.

Memory Lane Monday

Here is a little game...leave a comment on my blog of a memory you have of any one of us. It doesn't matter what it is or how long you have known us. Just anything you can remember. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It is fun to see the responses. If you leave a memory of me, I will return and leave one about you. Ready, Set, Go!

Family Swim Time

We went to our neighborhood pool on Saturday and we had it all to ourselves for a good hour and a half. It was only Ethan, Lauren and I for the first little while and then Steve brought Matthew and Rachel after they finished their jobs without complaining. We had fun together trying to find new tricks to do without diving from the side of the pool since that was against the pool rules. Steve and I both tried doing summersalts in the water and WOOOAAAA, talk about getting way dizzy - The joys of getting old. Matthew told us to watch him do his "under water disco." I thought that was so cute. Steve and Ethan were having "hold your breath under water" contests. Lauren got tired and just wanted to relax on Mommy, while Rachel went around taking pictures of everyone. She is becoming quite the photographer. Hope you enjoy the pics!

Spiritual Thought Sunday-Missionaries

Today in church we heard from yet another young man leaving for his mission. It has been great to hear from all the returned missionaries and those young men getting ready to serve missions from our ward over the past few months. My favorite part is when I look over at my future missionaries and see them actually paying attention and listening to what these guys are saying. I am thankful for the great example and strong testimonies these young men have shared with my children.

Summer Evening in Houston/Katy

Here are some pictures of us enjoying a beautiful summer evening outside in our backyard. It was only 89 degrees outside. Ethan was testing out his new football gear. Matthew was just having fun like always. Rachel was actually being really sneaky for a good 15 minutes trying to catch a beautiful dragonfly, but was disappointed when it got away after she had trapped it in a cup up against the fence. Lauren was avoiding me while I was trying to take her picture. Fun Times!

Self-Portrait Saturday-Celebrity Collage

How is this for a Self-Portrait? I totally see the resemblence, don't you? I tried a couple different pictures of myself and had a few laughs. I have had people tell me that I look like Amy Irving and Nancy Kerrigan, but never Kate Hudson or Julia Roberts. Try it out, this was fun.<

Just For Fun Friday-MaMa Mia!!

I just loved this movie. You have to see it with a bunch of girls, it wouldn't have been the same with my husband, who has actually seen the real musical in Chicago, I love you, sweetie. It makes you want to get up and dance, sing out loud, laugh out loud, go home and jump on your bed and just loosen up a little bit about life. Even if James Bond is singing and Meryl Streep is dancing like she is 21 again.

Another thing I love about this movie is that I only paid $6 instead of $9. I told the guy at the ticket window that I needed one senior ticket, while I was totally laughing, and assumed he charged me the full price. Well, I was just checking my bank statement and he charged me the senior ticket price. Thanks Dude!

And who doesn't love ABBA. It reminded me of a great night I had on the Royal Caribbean, Majesty of the Seas ship on our cruise to the Bahamas with the ladies in the family. There was a "cruise ship show" dedicated to ABBA and as much as I just wanted to laugh at them, mostly at what they were wearing, I really loved every minute of it. So, thumbs up for MaMa Mia.

Thanks Ladies or shall I say, "Darlin's" for a great GNO. And who is up for an ABBA karaoke night?
Check out my MaMa Mia Playlist below!

Thankful Thursday-PIONEERS

Having just recently been a part of our youth Pioneer Trek, my gratitude for the pioneers is still fresh and deep in my heart. This "Thankful Thursday" lands on a perfect day as it is Pioneer Day, July 24. And I want to say thanks to the first pioneers of my family. I have had to do a little bit of research to find out exactly who all the first are.

George Q. Cannon
My Dad's Great Great Grandfather, George Q. Cannon, at the age of 13 and his family joined the church in 1840 in Liverpool. Soon thereafter took the journey overseas to join the saints in Nauvoo.

John Beutler and Anna Vollenweider both were baptized in Switzerland in the early 1900's and took the trek overseas to be with the saints in Nauvoo, Anna having been disowned by her family. They are my Great Grandparents.

George Isaac White Miles & Martha Elizabeth Obray Miles
My Grandma's family,(my mom's mom, Ruth Miles Morris) Miles and Obray, all immigrated from Wales in 1854. I am not sure exactly when they joined the church, but my guess is before 1854. They spent alot of time in Canada.

My Mom's Great Great Grandparents on the Morris side came from England, Salt Lake City, Switzerland & Australia; but, mostly settled in Newhouse, Beaver & Milford Utah where they were baptized in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Isaac Morley
Steve's Great Great Great Grandfather, Isaac Morley, was converted to the church by Oliver Cowdery and his missionary companions in Ohio in 1830.

Hurricane Pioneers
I think it goes as far back as Steve's Father's Grandparents,George & Lilly (Petty) Spendlove; Great Grandparents, Lorenzo & Ellen (Isom) Spendlove and Frank & Sarah (Brown) Petty; and his Great Great Grandparents, John & Mary (Davies) Spendlove who were some of the first pioneers of Hurricane, Utah. The Spendloves all came from England.

So what I am trying to say is that I have alot to be thankful for on this Pioneer Day. For as George Q. Cannon said, "All that I am Mormonism has made me!"
Our great heritage is full of strength, conviction and a love of our Savior that has blessed my life and the lives of my children and for that I am so grateful.
HAPPY PIONEER DAY!

Wordless Wednesday-Our Matthew

Good-bye Courtney

One of Rachel's friends is moving to Utah. So we had Courtney over to play for a while and I was able to take "just the girls" to McDonalds. They have had lots of fun together, laughing, giggling, screaming, playing, watching Rapunzel, eating french fries and drinking sprite and licking their ice cream before it melted away. Courtney would always have fun little "just get together" parties and invite Rachel. She also gave Rachel a special matching necklace with her name on it and Rachel hasn't taken it off yet. Thank You Courtney. Rachel is going to miss her and wishes her all the best in her new home.

Pet Sitting

So our poor children who are pet deprived, got so excited to pet sit. A family from church was going out of town for about a month and needed someone to watch their 2 fish, cockatiel(Liberty) and hamster (Snowball) and someone to mow their lawn. I thought it would be a great opportunity for kids to work and earn a little bit of summer money. Rachel and Matthew got the job of taking care of the animals and Ethan's job was mowing.

We had a great time with the pets. We lost the hamster only 2 times. The first time Ethan found it right away and the second time we had to go to sleep not knowing where it was, but Rachel found it in the morning in Matthew's closet. And they loved walking around with the bird on their shoulders and the bird loved being petted. The only problem was every once in a while he would leave his mark, thank goodness it wasn't my job.

They all returned home yesterday and we had to take some pictures before they left our home, so here you go.








And just a little plug for Ethan, he has been mowing our lawns for about 2 years now and loves the idea of having a real lawn mowing job.

Top Ten Tuesday- What I Love About Summer

What I Love About Summer, besides vacations!

1. Not having to make school lunches.
2. Not having to wake my kids up in the morning and not having a bed time if we don't want one.
3. Having my chauffeur duties lightened.
4. No homework struggles and less paper clutter.
5. Smiling when I see my kids in outfit #5 for the day & not caring what they wear, if it is ironed or even clean.
6. Playing Referee when my children have spent way too much bonding time together.
7. $1 Summer Movies, Popsicles, Bahama Mama Slushies.
8. Hanging out at the pool in the hot days of Houston.
9. Greeting each child in the mornings as they wake up and come downstairs.
10.Creating great summer memories together with my children.

Memory Lane Monday-TWINS

MATTHEW & RACHEL





We have recently had twin boys born into our family, boy/girl twins born into our ward and new twin girls move in our ward. Having talked recently with a couple of the mom's has caused me to really try hard to remember life with my newborn twins, Matthew & Rachel. I don't remember much. I feel like I am no help at all when asked for advice. I do know that after the first 3 months the fog did start to thin out and I could remember a little more. It also doesn't help that the first 4 months of the twins life on video was recorded over with their first Easter. I try not to think about that too much. But I do love to look at their sweet pictures and that is my trip down Memory Lane for this Monday.

Spiritual Thought Sunday-HOPE

My first "Spiritual Thought Sunday" is from a wonderful Relief Society Lesson that we had today. The lesson was on "Words of Hope and Consolation at the Time of Death."

Grandma & Grandpa Morris

My Mom's parents, Claude and Ruth Morris died when I was about 13, I think. I have fond memories of them and love and miss them. My dear Grandfather, John Geroge Cannon died while I was pregnant with my twins in 2000. I love and miss him. He was always smiles. He was known for his great missionary work and he always had a story to tell. I think what hurts the most is that he left my wonderful Grandma, Rachel Cannon, (I would be put on her bad list if I mentioned her middle name)behind. She misses him so much and often feels lonely.

Grandma & Grandpa Cannon

Being 1500 miles away, it is a little hard to help. But we do try to talk to her on the phone as much as we can. She is 88 years old, 50 years older than me, (yeah, go do the math)and I feel like I need to cherish the time we still have together in preparation for her leaving this mortal life.

I love knowing that through the plan of salvation there is hope. The spiritual thought I loved from the lesson was from Joseph Smith, who endured many losses in his lifetime.

"Those who have died in Jesus Christ may expect to enter into all that fruition of joy when they come forth, which they possessed or anticipated here... And when the voice calls for the dead to arise, suppose I am laid by the side of my father, what would be the first joy of my heart? To meet my father, my mother, my brother, my sister; and when they are by my side, I embrace them and they me..."

AND

"The only difference between the old and young dying is one lives longer in heaven and eternal light and glory than the other and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Notwithstandy all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope."

To all my friends and family who have lost a love one, I am sorry for your loss and hope that you are feeling the peace and love you need for strength.

Days of the Week

I am going to try something new, for me. We will see how long I can keep it up or how often I actually do this, a little is better than none. But, to help me learn to express my thoughts and share my feelings better, to think more and about others, to better keep a journal and to make our blog more interesting; I am going to start posting a special blog for each day.

1. Spiritual Thought Sunday
2. Memory Lane Monday
3. Top Ten Tuesday
4. Wordless Wednesday
5. Thankful Thursday
6. Just For Fun Friday
7. Self-Portrait Saturday

Please feel free to join in and share or comment whatever and whenever you want.

Oh My Gosh, I Won AGAIN!

Can you believe this? I woke up this morning after having a great date night out with my husband and found out that I won these Adorable flip flops. I just let Rachel pick the ones she wanted and she picked these. Heaven Sent makes them and A Savy Baby had the giveaway. But I just have to tell you that I check out the Tip Junkie daily, my good friend Laurie is the Tip Junkie, her blog is so fun, and she has been celebrating her year anniversary with a 20 Day Giveaway. However, I have yet to win one of her giveaways, her blog leads me to some great Mom-Prenuers blogs with some wonderful ideas, products and giveaways. So there is my plug for my amazing friend/superwoman Laurie. And Thank You Savvy Baby and Heaven Sent for the cute flip flops.

I Won! I Won!

Okay so after about 2 weeks of being totally addicted to this whole wonderful blogging thing and trying to win some of these "Oh So Cute" items some talented women have been giving away, I finally won. I can't believe it. I am so excited, this made my whole week and after today I think I deserve it.

Today was a summer day of not enough exciting things for my children to do to be entertained or to entertain themselves and we had a FEW meltdowns. But I just won a fabulous prize from Handmade by Annabelle via SuperMom Central, I have finished my cake for this weekend, I am going out on a date with my wonderful husband tonight (after calling 15 girls, looking for a babysitter - my least favorite thing to do) and tomorrow night I get to go out with the girls. WooHoo! Thanks to you all for your generosity and kindness.