Memorial Weekend

We had a great weekend.  We spend it with Seth's sister Stephanie and the family in Yakima.  The drive was a bit long (Ella screamed the last 1.5 hours) but well worth it.     We went to visit Seth's Mom's grave.  She died 3.5 years ago and it has been along time since we visited the cemetery.  Here are the pictures of our Memorial Day.

While the flowers were being prepared we gathered around and told a few stories of Grandma.

We washed off the headstone and put fresh flowers next to it.  For those who don't know my Seth's brother Russ carved her headstone.  He did a great job.

Flowers for Grandma King.  The kids all said "We love you Grandma!"

The cemetery was filled with flags.  It was an awesome sight to see.  I thought I would get a picture with the kids standing in front of some.  They wouldn't hold still long enough though so this was the best I got.

Aubrey saw the older kids saluting she started doing it also.  So cute!

We stopped to visit my Grandma on the way home!  Ella wasn't too excited about it all.

What a fun weekend.  Thanks Steph and Wade!

Dipping my feet...and getting deeper and deeper!

I am not talking about swimming, that, I love.  No I am talking about couponing.  

My good friend, Monica, has been couponing for a while and has put together an awesome website for the rest of us who don't know what we are doing. 

 With Seth's birthday last week (I'll post pictures later),  we wanted to eat out.  Well thanks to FabuLESSlyFrugal.com, we were able to find a great deal at Restaruant.com.  We got a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant for only $3 - that's 70% off.  The one stipulation was we had to spend at least $50 (most restaruants are $35 minimum).  We went with my brother and his wife and put it all on one ticket.  Then we split the rest between the two of us.  We got drinks (which are not included in the $50 minimum) so with tip we each paid about $22.  The cool part was we spent about as much as we would have if we didn't have the certificate but we ate what we wanted too and did't have to worry about how much it was going to cost.  It was great.  Usually when we go out we buy something big enough we can share to save some money.  It was so nice to order what I wanted and still know I was saving money.

So check out FabuLesslyFrugal.com for other deals like this one and for 4 DAYS ONLY at Restaurant.com you can get a $25 gift certificate for only $2- that's 80% off.  Key word: LUCKY.  Offer ends Thursday, April 30, 2009.  And the best part is you can purchase the certificate for a restaurant in YOUR city, it's not just the Boise area.  Also, you can buy it today and you have a year to use it.  For a walk through of how to do this go HERE.

Ready or not, here we go!

Well I didn't think this day would ever get here.  I was trying to get to this point a year ago and when I was working all alone it didn't work.  So when Seth finally said, "I think we should get our house ready to sell", I jumped all over that.  That was just before Christmas.  We set a goal to get it on the "market" in the spring.  So after some major cleaning, de-cluttering, and lots of practice and talks with the kids about how this is going to work, I think we are there.  We still have a few places to "fix" but ready or not here we go!

As of now, we have no idea where we will be.  We have some plans though, assuming these plans coincide with the Lord's plans.

1. We don't want to leave Boise.  Seth still has a great job and he has no plans on leaving that job.  So we will stay here for now.

2.  We love our Stake and we want to stay in the Stake boundaries.

3.  My kids are finally in the school I want them to be in.  At the beginning of the school year Kyah was accepted into the Magnet School in our boundaries.  They only take kids by lottery so it's hard to get into.  Once one child gets in, they start the next school year draw with sibling preferences drawn first. (So if you have a child already in the school and you want to put your other children in to say 4th grade and Kindergarten, they fill the classes with those who are already in the school.  Then if there are any open seats they put the kids who have siblings already in the school into a hat and draw out the names).  If all those are drawn then they take those who have applied (without siblings already in the school) and draw from those names.  Last year we were put on a waiting list by number.  I don't know if they are doing it that way this year or not.  Anyway, long story I know, I got a letter on Friday saying both Porter and Naomi had been accepted to attend that school for next year.  The amazing part is we knew of 3 kids (with siblings who got in this year) who were all trying to get into the 4th grade classes.  From what I have heard Porter was the only one who got in, of the three.  The other thing about this school is it is very small.  They only have 2 teachers per grade. (The school they are leaving, though not a bad school at all, had 4-6 teachers per grade.  In kindergarten alone there were 8 different classes; 4 A.M. and 4 P.M.)  The magnet school offers extra classes as well; art, dance, music, instruments, martial arts, etc.  Kyah has a keyboard class as one of her daily classes.  She has picked up on some little songs on the keyboard and loves it.  Anyway, I finally just got my kids into the school I want so we will be staying in those boundaries as well.

4.  We love our ward.  We both feel like we need to stay in our callings.  This is a little more challenging and narrows our options quite a bit.  There are not many places to build (with a private builder and not a cookie-cutter home) in the ward boundaries.  And the older homes are not quite big enough for what we are looking for.  

For now we have said we are not going to even look until we know weather we can sell our house right now anyway.  So if you know of anyone who wants to buy a great 3 BR 2.5 Bath home in a great neighborhood for a great price, send them my way!  (When it is actually listed and on the market I'll add a link to the listing.)

We know that whatever works out is what is supposed to be and if it doesn't then that's what is supposed to be too. (I just have to keep reminding myself of that.)

Kickin It Old School

Our ward had an 80's dance.  I borrowed an awesome outfit from my friend Amber.  I'm sure I will forever regret posting these pictures but I figure I already embarrassed myself by going out in public this way so what the heck.

We took second place for the best couple costume and our good friends Jenn & Drostan  stole the crown from us.  I'm not bitter at all, they won two sets of movie tickets that night.  No fair!

I thought these two should have won the best.  You can't see just how big Nancy's hair is in this picture and Burt's hair, well it speaks for itself.  They looked awesome!

Jen and Jason also looked cool with her in neon and the bandanna and sports jacket for him.

Brenda and Andrew were also pretty snazzy with his skinny tie and her tied up button down.  And you cannot forget the pegged pants!

There's always fun to be had when you can dress up and look like a fool.  Aren't we glad the 80's are over.....or are they?

http://budgetstyle.about.com/od/trendsforless/ss/springfashion_7.htm

Food Storage Without Storage!

We live in a small house but are trying our best to get our food storage together.  With hardly any room for ourselves, we have become creative with where we are putting our food storage.  It may not be very fashionable but it is functional.  Here is where we have put some.  I'm not sure if I'll continue putting more up there but we will see.

What Beats Us Down Only Makes Us Stronger!

My good friend Anna put this together and I wanted to share it.

The LDS Church issued a press release yesterday regarding an upcoming issue of HBO's Big Love that will "depict what they understand to be sacred temple ceremonies." 

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/the-publicity-dilemma 

The Church's official stance on individual members taking action is this:

"Last week some Church members began e-mail chains calling for cancellations of subscriptions to AOL, which, like HBO, is owned by Time Warner. Certainly such a boycott by hundreds of thousands of computer-savvy Latter-day Saints could have an economic impact on the company. Individual Latter-day Saints have the right to take such actions if they choose.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an institution does not call for boycotts. Such a step would simply generate the kind of controversy that the media loves and in the end would increase audiences for the series."

When I read this, I coupled it with a previous statement from Elder M. Russell Ballard in the Oct 2003 General Conference where he stated:

"We need to remember Edmund Burke’s statement: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” 6 We need to raise our voices with other concer ned citizens throughout the world in opposition to current trends. We need to tell the sponsors of offensive media that we have had enough. We need to support programs an d products that are positive and uplifting. Joining together with neighbors and friends who share our concerns, we can send a clear message to those responsible. The Internet Web sites and their local affiliates will have their addresses. Letters and e-mails have more effect than most people realize, especially those like one sent by a Relief Society sister that stated, “I represent a group of over a hundred women that meets every week and often talks about the harm your program is doing to our children.”

Of course the most basic way to protest negative-impact media is simply not to watch it, see it, read it, or play it."

With this in mind, you can contact HBO through the following contact information:

HBO is owned by Time Warner:
Time Warner Inc.
One Time Warner Center
New York, NY10019-8016
212.484.8000

http://www.hbo.com/apps/submitinfo/contactus/submit.do?title=GeneralInformation&questiontype=generalInf ormation&questiontype=general

A couple sample ideas from other friends include these:

EXAMPLE A

I understand that you're planning to show an especially controversial episode of Big Love on March 15th containing things are deeply sacred to members of the Mormon church.  I hope that you will seriously reconsider this, as I and many of my associates believe that it is simply inexcusable to disrespect the proper wishes of any religion.  The ceremonies of the temple are highly sacred to members of the Mormon faith, and to have them broadcast on television is among the most offensive acts that could be done against them.  What saddens me most is that with all the research that goes into this show, I'm sure its producers are well aware of this great offense against members of this religion.  Because of this I cannot support a station that would air an episode of this nature and will encourage my friends and family to follow my lead.  Please do not air the March 15th episode!

EXAMPLE B

So I know that however many emails ya'll are going to receive you will still most likely air your program Big Love on March 15th depicting something so sacred, not secret, to viewers who have no idea what you are talking about.  
What is sad is that instead of using your imaginations and creating something out of your own brains you would try to tear down a religion and a people who no matter what you do will still go forward with faith.  You cannot tear us down.  You can't harm us or make us feel that we are wrong.  If you are trying to separate some from their chosen path, then again sad that instead of creating something uplifting and noteworthy, you are not in the business of entertainment, but of attempted demolition.
So to the intern that will most likely read all these emails, examine yourself.  Is this really the business you want to be a part of?  If so, it is your choice, just as it is mine to write this email. 

I'm sure most of you have heard about this but I wanted to post it anyway.  When I first heard about this I was really angry and mad.  I wanted to reply with attack but then realized that this is exactly what it is intended to do.  To cause anger and contention.  So I said I will not be a part of that.  Instead I replied with this:

I hope by now you have received many emails regarding this episode. But I wouldn't have done my part if I did not voice my disapproval. I too am appalled that you are choosing to air sacred, not secret, temple ceremonies within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I will not support a company who chooses to tear down other religions and I will encourage all family and friends to follow my example. The Mormon faith will not be stopped no matter how much you disrespect our teachings. Instead it will roll forth throughout the world, stronger than before. Please respect us and our religion as our FREEDOM OF RELIGION and do not air the March 15th episode.

I would encourage you to reply to HBO and let them know how you feel. I would again emphasize this quote: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” 6

Girl Scout cookies!

This year we decided to let Kyah be in girl scouts. She has been wanting to do something just for her so we said okay. The best part about it for me is the girl scout cookies. Though I have eaten (and will continue to eat) way too many.

She did really well though, her goal was to sell 100 boxes of cookies. I thought that would be a hard goal but with work she could reach it. Well after a week of selling to friends and neighbors she had sold 85 cookies. Seth had also taken the tear off portion with him to work. In the week he had it there there were 99 orders on that sheet. Kyah was so excited to have reached her goal and almost doubled it. Her total order of boxes was 184.

Seth's only complaint was that now we have to deliver all those cookies. I think that's part of the fun. Here is a look of just how many cookies she sold.  Way to go Kyah!