A Father's Day

Happy Meal

All

beef patty
special sauce
lettuce
cheese
pickles
onions
on a

sesame seed

bun.

If you're looking for something extra special to fix for Father's Day dessert, this is sure to bring a smile to any father's face. Muffins, brownies & sugar cookies make up this Happy Meal. Want to know how to duplicate it? Go here. I just made up a bunch for our Father's Day celebration. They are adorable and so easy!!

May I have the envelope please...

Drumroll...

The results of the first

Carver Crew Blog Giveaway

are in.

Results have been certified by the Carver Crew of public counters.

And the winners of the100th Blog Post Giveaway are:

Mitchell Maddness (Itunes Gift Card)
Mary Mortensen (Baskin Robins Gift Certificate)

Thanks to all those that entered. Odds of winning were not dependent on how creative your comments were (but I appreciated your thoughtful answers) and no purchase was necessary.

Winners: Please send me a message via FB, including your name & address (if I don't already have it).

Congratulations!

Because giving feels so good...

The BIG 100th Post
Blog Give Away

One hundred is HUGE in my book. In honor of my 100th blog post, I'm giving away, not one, but two prizes FREE! That's right folks...my favorite four letter word: FREE! You can be the proud new owner of either a $10 ITunes giftcard or a gift certificate to one of my favorite ice cream parlors, simply by entering my blog give away. Why am I doing this? Because it's fun!

Here's the nitty gritty:

Simply leave a comment on this blog post with your name & something fun you are looking forward to doing this summer. I will use a random number generator to determine 2 lucky winners. Contest ends Tuesday, June 16th @ 9 p.m. PST. The winner will be announced sometime on Wednesday.

And, to kick off the summer...here are some of the summer things I'm most looking forward to:

1. sleeping in

2. flip flops

3. capris

4. slip 'n slides

5. popsicles

6. smoothies

7. summer salads

8. bbq-ing

9. late summer nights

10. eating outside

11. park days

12. sunscreen

13. fireworks

14. beach days

15. outings to the zoo

16. water skiing

17. boating

18. camping

19. road trips

20. relaxing schedule

Welcome to summer! Woohoo!

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER

The title of this post is somewhat misleading. School is out for summer, but only for Kaylee. Today was her last day of preschool. Can you believe that we are in the middle of June and Jacob still has one week of school left to go? We can thank an unusually heavy snowfall in winter for 3 school make up days.

Kaylee grew leaps and bounds this year. Our family loves Mrs. Spencer & Our World 2 Discover Preschool. In fact, she is such a popular teacher that I already have Landon (18 months) on the waiting list for her 3 year old class. She provides such a wonderful environment which encourages autonomy & discovery while promoting high expectations and fun. Each of my children has adored Margaret & can hardly stand the summer break without her.

After preschool today, Mimi and her adorable daughter Ellie hosted an end-of-the-year summer splash. The kids from the preschool had an absolute blast playing in the backyard in the kiddie pool and on the water slide. There were great snacks and refreshing treats. It was the perfect way to end a great school year & kick off the summer.

I Love to See the Temple

A week ago Saturday, our children were invited to attend a special Primary (the organization for children in our church) activity at the grounds of the Seattle Temple. It was a gorgeous day. The kids were invited to walk around the grounds and learn about why temples are sacred and important in our faith. At the conclusion of their tour, they were able to sit quietly in the waiting area just inside the temple doors and hear some special words from one of the temple workers who explained to the children that the temple, is the "House of the Lord". I was reminded of how important the temple is to us as members of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints, & that the work that is done inside allows us to be sealed as families, not just for time, but for all eternity. I reflected on my own marriage in the Salt Lake City, UT temple and how grateful I am that my marriage is eternal & my family relationships can be forever.

*If you are not of our faith, but are interested in learning about why temples are such an important part of our religion, click HERE .

Here are some answers to some frequently asked questions about the temple:

What is the purpose of the temple? To members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the temple is the "House of the Lord." It is a sacred building, and after its dedication only faithful members of the Church may enter. Inside, members learn more about the purpose of life and make covenants to serve Jesus Christ and their fellow man. In addition, they participate in religious ceremonies that reach beyond mortality, such as baptisms on behalf of deceased ancestors and eternal marriage.

What is it like inside the temple? Many people are under the impression that the interior of a Latter-day Saint temple is like a great hall or cathedral. Actually, temples are made up of a number of rooms designed to accommodate certain functions such as marriages, baptisms and instructional sessions. Inside the temple, Church members change into simple, modest white clothing previous to performing their temple labors. The white temple clothing is symbolic of purity and reverence.

Will members of the public ever see the inside of the temple? Yes. After the temple is completed, there will be an organized open house (typically multiday) for the general public. During the open house, information will be provided to explain the different functions and ceremonies performed in the temple and answer questions. After the open house, the temple will be dedicated to the Lord and open only to worthy Church members.

What is the difference between a temple and a meetinghouse? Regular Sunday worship, instruction and other social and recreational activities occur in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, or chapels. In temples, on the other hand, faithful members receive specific instruction about the purpose of life and their relationship to God. There they take part in family-oriented ordinances, both for themselves and in behalf of deceased ancestors. Sacred ordinances available only in temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

What will happen to the value of the property around the temple? As visible symbols of honor and reverence to God, Latter-day Saint temples are built using the finest craftsmanship and materials available. Further, they are beautifully landscaped and maintained. In all, they are designed to complement the community and enhance the environment.

If Women Ruled the World...

Thanks to Mrs. Princess Pookie for these funny pictures. Hopefully, you all got a great laugh out of these photos like I did.

HApPy BiRtHdAy MoM!

June 2, 1953

Today is my mom's 56th birthday. This post is dedicated to her.

In my life, I've been told I look like a lot of different people (usually famous), but more often than anyone, I've been told I look like my mom. What a compliment! I hope I look as young and beautiful as she does, when I'm 56.

But more than resembling her physically, I hope when life finds me older (and hopefully wiser), I will resemble her in other, more important ways. May it be said of me, that I am an incredible mother like she has been to us; that I always put my children's needs first, sacrificing every earthly need to be sure they were taken care of, nurtured, & taught in truth. May my patience increase to match hers. How she raised 5 energetic children with a calm, kind demeanor without allowing an angry loud voice ever to creep in makes her all the more angelic. She has always made each of us feel like we were the most important thing in her life and if asked, each of us would say that we were her favorite child, because she has treated us so.

I hope that when I reach her age, I will have gained some of her spiritual gifts. Her ability to serve everyone, refrain from judging & accept all men "as they are" is so admirable and impressive. Her gift of speaking and teaching, especially on spiritual matters has blessed thousands. And, she is always willing to share her love of the Savior.

Her creativity astounds me! She transforms the drab into fab, whether it be a wedding reception or a Sunday School lesson. With a wave of her magic wand, everything is exciting and fun.

She is organized & clean. There is a place for everything and everything in its place...(except for a few undisclosed "junk" locations...but we won't talk about those). But, with this organization comes a freedom to feel comfortable in her home. She has never made things, or cleanliness more important than people.

What an entertainer! You want gourmet food, gorgeous centerpieces, beautiful party favors? She's your girl. When I was younger, I kind of thought those skills would just "come" to me. Now, as an adult, I realize that although there can be some natural talent, it's mostly just working at it. And, that leads me to my next topic.

My mom is a work horse. Literally. You'd think with 5 kids out of the house that life would have slowed down for her. Not so. She spends from sun up to sun up (notice I didn't say sun down), working. And no, she isn't being paid to work, nor is she usually working for something that benefits her. She is usually putting together some care package, or lesson, or meal or gift that will bless someone else's life. Thank you for teaching us to wear ourselves out in the service of others!

My mom is my very best friend. I am so grateful to have you as my mom. Here's to many more "happy birthdays!"

In Memory...

"The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example." --Benjamin Disraeli

Patriotism has become even more important to me as I've grown from a small child who loved attending 4th of July parades into an adult old enough to appreciate the tremendous sacrifice that allows me to be free. On Memorial Day we had the opportunity to attend a special ceremony honoring the courageous men and women, living and gone who have put themselves in harms way to protect our freedoms. I am so grateful to those who have answered the call to serve our country, whether it be through our armed forces serving at home & abroad or the police and fire fighters who sacrifice much to protect us at home. Thank you for your selfless acts. May God continue to bless thee and America always!

"The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it." --Thucydides

This Memorial Day, we also had the opportunity to remember our angel grandparents who have both passed away, but whose wonderful legacy lives on. We love you Grandma and Grandpa Kay for the righteous examples you set for us, for your unwavering faith in God & your lifetime of service to him. May God be with you 'til we meet again.

"True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."
--Arthur Ashe

Following our visit at Greenwood Memorial Cemetery, we spent the afternoon as a family at Gene Coulon Beach/Park, enjoying the beautiful weather. The kids were in heaven being able to get dirty, wet and play in the sand.