My first attempt at painting a mountain. I took a picture of this scene and just finished painting it. How does it look? It actually looks good in a photograph and far away but up close you can see that I need lots of work to make it look real.

All of my brothers love airplanes! My dad was a navigator at one time. A picture of David's Roadtreck that has a small kitchen, shower, beds, pretty cool. More pictures at the museum.

Here is some pictures from my trip to Phoenix, Arizona. We also went to a airplane muesum that we enjoyed. The picture of my parents was taken on their 49th wedding anniversary!

Today I was late for church but I'm so glad I made it to Sunday School and Relief Society the lessons were amazing. In Sunday School they talked about the past year and the Doctrine and Covenants and how some lessons brought you closer to Christ. This next year we will be studying the Old Testament. At the end of the lesson the teacher showed a film on the saviors mission in life and his atonement. Why he came to earth and how much he loves each of us and he died for us so that we can repent and change. He suffered so much in the garden of gethsemane and on the cross. I want to live the best I can and be closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus. In Relief Society the lesson was on the same thing how the Savior's mission can help us and we can turn to him in our trials and he knows exactly how we feel because he experienced it all. After church I came home and made a breakfast lunch/dinner for the family. I also took a short nap.

It's Christmas eve! I cooked some pies this morning and rasberry jello and rolls. I went to Walmart and Costco also. I took some more pictures of the lake and mountain views where we live. A family was ice skating on the lake when I took the pictures. This is my first attempt at making sour cream apple pie, it was falling apart in the oven. Tonight we are going to see the Christmas lights on all the houses around here. Merry Christmas everyone.

Today is the Prophet Joseph Smith's birthday. He restored the gospel on the earth. He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus when he was a young boy and was able to translate the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I love him and our prophet today Thomas S. Monson. This is a sculpture of him and his beloved brother Hyrum on the way to Carthage Jail where he died a martyr. "Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anoited that Prophet and Seer. Blessed to open the last dispensation Kings shall extol him, and nations revere. Hail to the Prophet ascended to heaven! Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain. Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren; Death cannot conquer the hero again."(from a hymn)

Today I stayed inside pretty much all day. It's snowing outside today so I'm sure the roads are slippery. Trey and Heather went to school, Lauren stayed home complaining of a stomach ache. A pipe was leaking water in our front yard so I called The property management and they came out and turned off the water. One of the pipes broke to the sprinkler system. We are renting this house for a year. I did some laundry and cleaned up a bit. I don't think I'll start the baking until it gets closer to Christmas. I will pick up Jeff at the airport tomorrow evening. I might go to my sister's choir concert at 6:00 tomorrow also.

Today is Sunday. I went to church this morning and the choir sang. I just recently joined the choir and they had early morning practice so I didn't sing in the choir today. I came home and made spaghetti and meatballs for lunch/dinner for the family. We typically like to eat a Sunday meal (roast, mash potatoes, etc. ) but today I wanted something simple. I will be cooking the Christmas dinner so I'm trying to think of what to make for that day. I took a long nap this afternoon. I talked to my husband on the phone, the kids were acting up really bad and I called him to help when the kids are fighting. My children need to work on not quarreling so much. I'm looking forward to this week of fun.

Today is Saturday. I went to the beautiful Timpanogoes Temple this morning. I need to clean my house really well so that it's clean for Christmas and when Jeff gets home on the 23rd. It is pretty cold outside but the sun is shinning. My parents are in Arizona staying in their motor home for winter. I called and talked to Jeff on the phone for a little while. I also need to pick up Heather from her friends house in a little while. I went by, but she wasen't ready to come home yet. I sing in the church choir tomorrow, so I need to be a the church early tomorrow to practice the song.

Took the kids to the dentist this morning. Made some white bread. Cleaning up a little bit. Went to Walmart to get a few things I needed. I substitute tomorrow and the next day for a second grade class at my kids school. Snow is everywhere on the ground still but the sun is shining today. My husband hasen't got his plane ticket to fly home yet so hopefully they will have a flight home before Christmas. My kids stayed home from school today since it was a short day and they all went to the dentist.

Lauren made this cute snowman with a dog on a leash. I thought it was very creative and cute.

My kids went sledding this afternoon. Heather is with her friend that she spent the night with. The park is close to her friend's house. It's a perfect sledding park with great hills and no trees. (perfect for sledding) The view from here is great too overseeing the Utah Lake. The kids are having a fun time.

I went to a Christmas breakfast this morning at the church. Heather is spending the night with a friend. Lauren wanted to stay home and clean the house. Here is Trey visiting Santa Claus at the church. The breakfast was really good with lots of food to choose from. Jeff is in Alabama and will be flying back here before Christmas. It's Saturday and it snowed last night so lots of snow to shovel off my driveway.

Pictures of our dog "Teddy" near the Utah Lake. It's pretty snowy here.

Had fun with a first grade class today. The kids were very energentic! The snow was slippery on the roads this morning, especially near our home where there are some hills. Jeff is still away, he is working on our new home but it has been raining and snowing there so not much is getting done right now. He wants to fly home for Christmas but I'm not sure when that will be. It's not too fun being like a single mom it's a lot of work. The kids fight a lot and I don't like when they do that. I am driving to Logan, Ut tomorrow to go to Lauren's orthodontist appointment. Hopefully the drive will be o.k. (To get to Logan you have to drive through some mountains) I hope everyone has a great day today. I got some little ceasar pizza for dinner tonight.

Went to the First Presidency's Christmas special with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The music was heavenly and the messages were wonderful. I loved being in the confrence center. It's kind of overwhelming to be in such a big place with so many people. When the first presidency spoke it was wonderful. I loved seeing the lights, the temple and the conference center. My kids went with me. The kids were a little hyper on the way home and were really loud so it was nice to finally get home. A great Sunday.

Went to church this morning. The view from here is so pretty with the lake and the mountains in the background. I'm so thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm going to the Christmas Devotional at Temple Square tonight so that should be fun. I'll try to take pictures of the lights at temple square to share.

Had a good day today, better than yesterday. I think I broke my little toe yesterday and I went to the doctor about that and some other issues. Today I took a walk in the mall this morning. I got some exercise while I window shopped plus it's not sooo cold inside. I might do this more often. I need lots of exercise! I came home and helped Lauren clean my house. Heather was still at her friends house. I baked hot chocolate chip cookies and watched some t.v. I put some lights on my wreath outside, it kind of looks silly with the string going down but it works. I wanted to show the snowflakes that Trey made and hung around our living room area.

Today I went to a second grade class. I got a pretty bad headache at the end of school so that wasen't any fun. As soon as I got home I took some tylenol and went to bed. Trey stayed home sick today as well.. I took a picture of our Christmas tree this year that the kids put up and decorated. Lauren is Christmas caroling tonight with the young women from church. The oil paintings are done by my mom. I love them and enjoy looking at them in my home. I really like the winter scene at Christmas time.