My Miracle Hair Working Cousin...

My cousin Tammy, the family hair guru is living back here in Utah and I insisted all of us girls go in for a little pick-me-up! She is amazing! I love my hair! I'm sure my Mom and Aunt will not be all that happy with me posting their HOT pictures but I just had to! The transformation is amazing and the cool thing about it, is the color is so amazingly natural looking! I have to put in a plug for my amazing cousin Tammy, because she is going to be opening her own place soon. So Tammy if your reading this....THANK YOU!

Teresa After (Smokin!)

Mom After (holy Hannah!!)

Tammy hard at work! We all had so much fun!

Teresa's Before

Mom's Before

My new Do...no before pix, just after (the red is way more noticable in the sun and the camera just didn't pick it up...but I love it!)

All Sorts of Creative!

Tonight for FHE, we got really creative! Dan's Dad came over and he brought with him all kinds of pumpkin art (LOL). We had a lot of fun (Dan and I) carving almost all of these. Actually Abby and Hailey did great on theirs with little help from us. I hope you can tell what all of these are. Dad did Frankenstein...it rocks!

A Mindless Waste of Time...

So, some of you may know that I'm a gaming freak. Well, here's a fun little game called The World's Hardest Game. Just something for you to do in your free time (lol)! Good Luck!

What Would You Say to Jesus?

I had the BEST Sunday School lesson this last Sunday. Well, I've had 2 of them in a row! My mom taught a couple of weeks ago and we went to hear her great lesson (Christs teaching, similar to that of the Sermon on the Mount)! It was a wonderful prep to the lesson taught this last week by a neighbor of ours...Dave. I've told him one too many times that I think his lessons are the best and he probably thinks I say that too much and that I'm stalking him or something but really...he is the best! He opened his lesson by giving a hypothetical. He told us to imagine that we know when Jesus is coming. He told us it would be soon, within the next month. He then asked (once I was nearly in tears already), How do you feel about that? What would you do differently this next month? Why would you do things differently? He then asked us what we would say to Him? My first thoughts were joyous! I know that I am far from perfect or even ready to meet my Savior but I was so excited I could hardly sit still and this was just a hypothetical! Yes! I thought I would do things differently this next month and that got me pondering and still pondering about what I would do differently and why? Why not do them differently now?! What would I say to Him? That took me longer and as others shared their thoughts...things like "Thank you" and " I love You" and "I'm sorry", I thought to myself, I would say "I can't believe you would suffer for me...and think I'm important enough to spend any of your valuable time on". Now I'm sure this isn't viewing myself very well, but really...isn't it quite amazing that he would be able to know all of his children so well? I mean all of us, there are so many that we number the 'sands of the sea'...'worlds without number have I created'. That is quite amazing! I'm not sure why no one else wasn't teary eyed. Maybe it was what I needed to hear. I don't ponder the scriptures enough. I feel as though the "end" is so far from now. Is it though? We really don't know but I'm still so excited at that thought that I will meet my Maker and how wonderful that will be!

A Trip to the ER and a little too much TMI

Yesterday, around 4 p.m. my little Rachel started to get a tummy ache. Now, to me this is nothing new, sadly. If this girl eats too much sugar or not enough veggies, she loses her appetite and sad but true gets so backed up. We had been with my mom for most of the day, so I brought her home and we fixed some yummy dinner...whole grain spaghetti w/ salad. Well, Ray didn't eat a ton and then had a cookie (duh) that the kiddo's decorated all Halloween like. She seemed to be feeling better and the kids went downstairs to watch a movie on their computer. Dan and I were so tired from being up at 5 a.m. that we were ready for bed at 8:00 p.m. (yes, this is early, we're so old!) We had just shut our eyes when Hailey came up to tell me Ray wasn't feeling well. We brought Ray upstairs and gave her a bucket and her tummy pain intensified. We knew she had to sit on the potty for a little while...well after having success (TMI, I know!), her pain still got worse, instead of better. She finally fell asleep around 9:30 and we had just fallen asleep when she woke up with the pain again about 15 minutes later. It just got worse. So, as the pain began to localize we thought we ought to take her in just to be safe. WHAT A NIGHTMARE! Can I just say the taking anyone to the ER is just the most grueling experience ever! We waited for 1 hour to get a room....1 hour and 15 minutes to see and doctor...1 hour for xrays, 1 hour for blood work, 1 more hour to get the doctor back in the room to tell us her white blood cell count was high and even though she was still backed up with junk, that it could be an appendicitis. He told us there wasn't much they could do for her and to take her to primarys. Well, most of this time, Ray was quite calm. The pain would come and go but she was in relatively good spirits and Dan and I just looked at each other thinking, I hope this isn't just a bad case of gas or something (LOL). Well, after drawing blood, they put an i.v. in her. She took that like a champ! We then took her to Primarys getting up there at 4:30 a.m. Poor D was so tired he just fell asleep the second he sat down. I wish I could do that. I have to be just perfectly comfy to fall asleep. So Ray colored at Primarys while we waited to see a doc there. Long story short. The jury was still out on an appendicitis. The doc said we needed to move things through for her and so of course she had some not so pleasant treatments for the next hour which helped her considerably. Around 6:30 a.m. he told us to go home and watch for intensified localized pain and if it worsened or she developed a higher fever (she had a low fever), then to return. Word of advice people...take your children to Primarys anytime you have to go to the ER for your children, it's so worth the extra few minutes it takes to get up there, because they will send you there anyway. I love that place! What a difference compared to the ER at that new Intermountain hospital on State and 53rd...ugh.

What a night! I am so grateful for my mom! She was over here quick and my wonderfully responsible 10 year old helped me so much today! D and I went to sleep almost as soon as we got home, my mom left and the kids just took care of everything! Hailey bathed and dressed Joe, cleaned the kitchen, did all my laundry and kept the kids quiet! Can you believe it?! She is only 10 people, where the heck did she come from?! I ask myself this all the time, because it certainly isn't anything I do ;) I wanted to cry when I woke today to find a clean house and happy kids!

Well, now that it's almost 4 p.m., it's time to start my day and biggest bummer of all, I missed our family picnic with my mom's side of the family. I was looking so forward to that! But, I am grateful Ray is doing well.

Star Wars on a Beautiful Fall Day

Joe and I are the only ones at home in the afternoons when Rachel goes to school. He gets pretty bored sometimes. Today we decided to walk down the street to our neighborhood park. He really wanted to bring his light saber. So, with light saber in tow we headed to the park. Today was a beautiful Fall day! It was the perfect temp outside! Joe pulled out the light saber and I grabbed a few pix of him playing. He loves Star Wars right now! He had a light saber from last Christmas and then for his birthday, he wanted another. Well, grandma Jeanie took him shopping for his birthday and guess what he packed home? You guessed her Chester...another light saber. He and his neighborhood friends bring all of the light sabers over to our house and out on the trampoline in the back and play Star Wars for hours. Dan's brother Dave would be so proud!

The girls got out of school while we were playing at the park and they came to play as well. It was so nice and we had so much fun! Why is it I don't do this more often?! I guess I think I have more important things to do, what that is I don't know...

Wanna be a Follower?

So, I'm learning about this really cool feature in which you can follow other peoples blogs. It will notify you when they post something new and let the person you are following know you like their blog and read it even if you don't comment on a regular basis. So, I have added this to my blog. If you read my blog and want to follow us, then click on the follow link on the bottom right had side of my blog! If you are interested in having others follow you, add this feature on your blog and join the party ;)

Do You Ever Read Our Blog? Seriously?!

Okay, here I am blogging at 11:00 p.m. and I show my husband our blog and he asks "who is that?" and I say "Elaine Dalton, she spoke at conference. Do you ever read our blog? I mean really read it?" He says "I was at conference, why would I need to read the blog?"

What a boy...

The Mailbox

It's pretty rare when I absolutely lose it during a book. This was one of those books. This is not a sad book per say but just incredibly touching! My oldest Hailey is a big time book worm. This girl reads stacks of books weekly. I have to remind her when I go to bed at 10:00 p.m. that it is time to turn her light off and get some sleep. She told me in no uncertain terms that this book is a book I have to read! Well, I began reading it last night and it gripped me right away.

It is a story of a 12 year old boy named Gabe. He has been in foster homes most of his young life. He has lived with his uncle Vernon for a few short years and comes home from school to find him dead. (Don't get worried) He doesn't know what to do about it and feels a sense of loss and is afraid. He goes to school the next day, not sure what to do and afraid if he tells the authorities they will wonder why he didn't tell them when he found his uncle the day before. Gabe returns home from school that day to find a green envelope in the mailbox and a note inside. The note reads I have a secret. Do not be afraid. He find his uncle's body gone and a sandwich inside waiting for him...

I will not tell you what happens in this book. It is an incredible story of what this young boy faces and how he deals with the loss of this incredible man in his life. A few times during this book I thought to myself, "I can't believe my 10 year old daughter read this, what did she think of it?" It was a glimpse into how much these kids soak in. She loved the book. She is one of those kids who has always needed the story as it is, no fluff. She is too mature for her age as was I. She asks questions that are things a teenager would ask. I find that I have to be real and honest with her, that's how she deals with things. Abby on the other hand still believes in Peter Pan so I have to keep things light and happy with her, that's how she digests them.

Hailey and I were talking the other day and she told me she would like to have a book blog. I told her that was a great idea. So, in the next week or so, I will help her start a blog. I will, of course, keep her name and identity concealed and will e-mail you directly the blog address. As a mom of an avid reader, I am always looking for age appropriate books for her to read. She does a good job of sifting through these herself and hands me books many times that she feels are inappropriate for her, and I appreciate her honesty. This is a good opportunity for you to share with her books you think she would like and to take the book reviews she shares in hopes it will provide something for you and your children to read.

Checks and Pluses

For those of you who remembered my little trial period with checks and pluses. We talked to the kids about what they thought was fair for allowance and decided on an amount for the older kids and a lower amount for the younger kids. If they get a plus, it cancels out the check. If they have more checks than pluses then they are docked 25 cents for each plus. I was so frustrated with my kids behavior, whining, leaving backpacks everywhere, fighting them on practicing piano, that this was thrown together one night. I can't believe how well it has worked! We've done it for two weeks. We talk about the week and figure out allowance after family night while we eat our treats. It has been so nice to talk to each child about their behavior good and bad. It has turned into sort of a family counsel and is a chance for them to voice concerns and for us to voice issues as well. We are going to try to pay them every two weeks. Today they got paid and then I helped each of them figure out how much tithing to pay. They were so excited! I was excited and I'm beginning to see a change in them. They are making an effort to please us and we are noticing more positive things because we looking for them. I know that sounds terrible but in the grind of the day sometimes it's so easy to focus on the negative! Joe just cracks me up. He gets so excited when he gets a plus! Any time there is tattling, both parties get a check. This has helped the kids to work their problems out together. Anyway, I'm happy about how it's turning out and just thought I'd share ;)

The Comfort of Conference

Every 6 months in April and October we listen to our Prophet and Apostles, who are the mouthpiece of our Heavenly Father. We are counseled and taught, uplifted and edified and I couldn't think of a better time of year to do this than in the fall, when the leaves are changing and the weather is cool and inviting and in the Spring when the flowers are blooming and the world is waking from a long winter. These two weekends of the year D and I love to just put on our pjs and reminisce, talk of those things our leaders teach us and how they strike change in us. We enjoy yummy food and snuggle with the kids. I love it! At this time of year I know many of you as well as myself are concerned with our economy, who will lead our country and how to better protect our children and families from this big bad world. I don't normally follow politics. I do try to support important issues that I feel strongly about but this year has been different. I have followed things closely. D and I have been out of work 2 times in our 11 years together. We were out of work for about 6 months each time. It was very scary for us, but we were blessed to have just enough to meet our needs and the help of family. My faith and testimony grew during those times. I wondered during those times how we would get through, what would happen, if my prayers were being heard and when D finally found work, we were blessed far and above what we thought possible. It just happened in His timing, not ours and we learned to have great faith. I know from those experiences that my Father in Heaven will not leave us without and destitute if we would do our part and trust in him. This conference reaffirmed this in me. There were so many talks that spoke of being prepared, living within our means, being tolerant, kind, compassionate and of service to others, enjoying the here and now, sharing the gospel and the list goes on. What struck me most were the words of laying aside the things of the world, to be less selfish and to realize our true worth. Elaine Dalton (General Young Womens President) was amazing and I love her talk best! She spoke of the temple of how it is central to all we do in the church. She spoke of Virtue.

Virtue means strength... President Monson has counseled You be the one to stand for right, even if you stand alone....

...What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence...

...Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly, cleave to your covenants, stand in holy places, lay aside things of the world, believe that ye must repent, always remember him and keep his commandments, and if there is anything lovely, of good report or praiseworthy, seek after these things...

...Today, there can be no more powerful force for virtue in the world, you must never underestimate the power of your righteous influence...

I think I would be lying if I didn't admit to really struggling with those things in my life, and I don't think I would be alone in this.

Thomas S. Monson

...We should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future. If your still in the process of raising children, beware that the tiny finger prints that show up on almost every newly clean surface, toys spread about the house, the piles and piles of laundry spread about the house, will disappear almost all too soon, and you will, to your surprise, miss them profoundly. Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances, we must deal with them best we can, but we should not let them get in the way of what is most important and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume they must know how much we love them. We must never assume, we must let them know...

I love meeting people who make me feel as though I'm the most important person in their life. What I love most about these people is that they make everyone feel this way.

Well, not to go on a long tangent I just had these thoughts jumbling around in my head and had to share them. It is who I am, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is mine and it is very much a part of me and my family and I have to share these things. I told my kids that if they took good notes or drew pictures about what conference was about that I would give them 25 cents. Yes, I know this is probably a pathetic bribe, but it works. Hailey, of course wrote pages on each person. Abby listened with lots of reminding and coaxing from me ;) and Rachel and Joe drew pictures as well. I don't know how much they soaked in but at least getting in the habit of know what happens twice a year is important and that we stop all things to listen is what I hope they will learn and when they are old enough to understand like Hailey is, they will take more from it. I was sad to see the weekend end but was so excited about what I learned and how much more validated and important what I do as a mom everyday is and how I can do better. I hope you all will share your thoughts a feelings about conference, I look forward to reading them!

I'm So Proud

Joe got this cool Star Wars lego set from his grandma Jeanie yesterday and wanted me to put it together. Well, I did and I'm so proud of myself!