Tuesday, January 27, 2009

The Three Families and the Big Bad Storm!

O.k. I don't normally write books but as per request from many people I decided to type up the Sharing Time our Primary class did this past Sunday. I was very proud of our class at how well they did and I am so excited to have been called as one of their Primary teachers. If you might have a Sharing time Lesson coming up this year, please feel free to use any or all of this. I'm sure you could even expand more on this idea. Have fun with it. We sure did!

The following night was our night to have all the family over for dinner and FHE, so Sierra and Robbie wanted use our Sharing time Lesson for FHE. Here are a few pics from our FHE version.
Contractor Bridger for our Brick house
Our Three Contractors on Duty
Bob the Builder
Our Faithful Family
I walked into the room wearing a construction hat and tool belt, and told the Primary that my name was Sister Builder and I was in the neighborhood to build three houses. Set up previously, in the front of the room, I had three tables each one with the supplies to build a particular house. Straw House(flexible kind), Stick house(Popsicle sticks), and the Brick house(large Lego's). Each house was to be built on a foundation. I used a plain 8x11 sheet of paper as the foundation for each house to be built upon except for the Brick house, I taped a picture of Christ under the sheet of paper not allowing anyone to see the differences of the foundations. I also made "blue prints" for each house. These were mainly instructions for the leaders that would be helping to build the houses. For example: the Lego's need to be built more flat than towered(a ranch home instead of a 3 story home), both the straws and sticks need to be built in a criss cross pattern(you can draw a picture to illustrate this for them). I chose 3 children from my class to be my contractors to overlook the job and then chose 1 kid and leader from the Primary to help build for each house. My 3 contractors also wore construction hats. While I gave them a few minutes to build, the rest of the Primary spoke about how to build a house, what kind of tools you might use, when it's done what might go inside of your house etc. etc.
When the houses were built we talked about the families that were now living in these homes. In the straw house we had a family that never chose the right, never held FHE, never prayed, etc. I asked the Primary to continue to give me ideas of how this family never chose the right and then would write their responses down on a sheet of paper. The child was to hold on to this paper until later on in the lesson. Next we spoke of the family who lived in the stick house and how sometimes they did what was expected of them but mainly when it was just convenient for them. Finally I introduced the family that lived in the Brick house. My class dressed up as the Faithful family(I had costumes for a dad, mom, brothers and sisters) and showed items that represented how they choose the right and stay faithful to there Father in Heaven. Brother Faithful held a rake and said they enjoy serving others, Sister Faithful held a can of food and explained they follow the counsel of the prophet and have food storage, son Faithful held tithing envelope, daughter Faithful held scriptures.
After meeting the families I explained how the Lord tests us to see if we will be faithful and that Satan is always trying to tempt us to do wrong. Then I told them there would be a big bad storm! All the children that had papers, I told them to crumble them up and come to the front of the room to throw them at the houses. The straw and stick house fall over immediately, and the Brick house of course stays strong and intact. They really try to knock that Brick house down, so make some ground rules. Next, I explained the importance of building on a good foundation, and how both the straw and stick house were built on virtually nothing but sheets of blank paper but the Brick house was built upon the foundation of Christ. I read the scripture from Helaman 5:12 and then closed with my testimony. My friend that I teach with and I, made a handout for all the primary children. I bought some 5x7 pictures of Christ and then affixed a toy tool on each one so that each child could remember to build their foundation upon Christ!

A Giving Heart

Our kids were given a trash bag and asked to go through there toys and donate items to give to the DI. Normally they fuss and moan about this task, but this time they really took it seriously. On other occasions when I inspect the bag to see what they have decided to donate, I usually find broken parts of toys, dollar store items, and books with torn pages. This particular time they really wanted to give from there heart, for the most part.
This book was chosen cause the "kids" don't know about Jesus yet. Every member a missionary, even if they are only in Primary.

These dance costumes were chosen because I was told, "they are just too itchy!"

My special personalized blanket given to me by my sister, was going to be donated so that the "kids" won't get cold.
How sweet and tender hearted children can be! On a side note, we replaced all the above items with a Book of Mormon, clothes the kids have outgrown, a coat, and a few blankets that weren't so sentimental.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Blankets wrap you in warmth, quilts wrap you in love!

Now hold on, take a deep breath, don't pass out, yes, that's me SEWING!


The final project! Isn't it just beautiful!


Sierra says she loves her new quilt and that it is so beautiful! She says it's the warmest quilt ever and she wants to keep it forever to share with her kids one day.


I managed to FINALLY complete this quilt for Sierra. With lots of help and prodding from my friend Amy it only took me 9 months. I still need to complete a pillow sham and would like to make a couple valances for Sierra's room as well. That should only take 3-6 months to finish! I actually enjoyed this project and feel quite crafty now!

Wok or Sled?

We just purchased a Texas sized Wok! It's an Eastman Outdoors 22" Stainless Steel Wok, and it's HUGE. Across from handle to handle it is the length of my entire arm. Rob has been wanting to buy this for months and finally it went on sale at Sportsmans and he couldn't pass it up!
Sierra can literrally fit her entire body underneath it!


Sled?

We are convinced this could make a great sled!

Our Chef!

Rob and Uncle Kendall


Our delious stir fry! Only one batch of 3. We made 3 different batches with three degrees of spicyness. We invited Uncle Kendall and his whole family over for a stir fry pig out complete with Sticky Rice and cheesecake.

Dino Sauria Puzzle

The kids got a lot of games, puzzles and books for Christmas this year, which we were thrilled about! We love them cause it gives them something else to do besides wanting to watch t.v. Plus, it teaches them to take turns, think strategically, and how to act when you lose and win. Our family of course doesn't ever lose so, we could probably use help with that since we've never been there before! A few of there favorite games have been Connect 4, Sequence for Kids, and Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. I thought they would love Operation but they won't touch it with a 10ft. pole. Freaks them out and they think they are shocking and hurting the guy under operation. Quite funny actually. I bet they wouldn't be any good with opening a can of Grands Biscuts!
The approximate size of this T-Rex puzzle is 17X25.

The kids were so proud they finished this 50 piece large T-Rex puzzle all on there own!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

You can be a Hero, Just like me!

I am currently in my 17th week of pregnancy and am beginning to develop a noticeable bump. So, after getting ready for church today, my 5 year old Sierra, told me I looked just like a Higglytown Hero, because of the baby. Do you see the resemblance? Kids sure have a way with words don't they!

(I'm a Higglytown Hero, brave and true, I help the town with the things I do. So work real hard and you will see, That you can be a hero, just like me! A hero, just like me!)
song by Mark Harrison


Thursday, January 1, 2009

2008 Year in Review

For those of you that are interested about everything, I mean everything, that went down or up, in the year 2008 here is a massive list I found online you can search anything from politics, food, music, celebs, miscellaneous and sports! The list goes on and on. Something to meet everyones interest. Enjoy looking back at another year!
We pray that everyone has a very happy and prosperous 2009! Good Luck with all the New Years Resolutions that you've made to yourselves and loved ones. A few years ago I promised to write in my journal everyday that entire year. I thankfully was able to accomplish that goal and have been blessed to have that particular year be one of the most memorable in my mind. It was a struggle to do this daily but I learned a lot about myself by doing this, and it's been recorded for my prosperity. I plan on making this another goal of mine for 2009. Losing weight will have to be saved for 2010 considering we are expecting a baby in June! Maybe that will be my year to win the Gold's Gym 12 week challenge!

Christmas 2008 at a Glance