He filled the bathroom with all the balloons, burying himself. He got unburied when I opened the door and they started spilling out. Oh, to be a child :)
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Where'd they all go?
My house was FILLED was balloons this morning for the party, and when I came out of my room a little bit ago, they were ALL GONE. And I didn't hear any popping. This is what I found.
He filled the bathroom with all the balloons, burying himself. He got unburied when I opened the door and they started spilling out. Oh, to be a child :)
He filled the bathroom with all the balloons, burying himself. He got unburied when I opened the door and they started spilling out. Oh, to be a child :)
Grace's artist birthday party
Today was Grace's 7th birthday party and we decided to go with an artist theme, since she's been an artist since she first wrote on herself with a sharpie as a toddler. She's been drawing on herself and other inappropriate things ever since, so we encouraged drawing and painting on paper only, and she's turned into quite an artist!
The party didn't start out quite how I planned it on Friday when I was getting ready. I was going to make a cake that looked like this:
I was going to cut a 9x13 cake into this shape, I had all the colors of frosting ready and a pretzel stick to make the paintbrush, and then this happened:
It broke into chunks coming out of the pan. I was devastated. I was already stressed out because my health has been bad, the house wasn't clean, I had tons of unfinished homework since I've decided to go back to school, decorating and cookie baking still needed to be done, so I did what any normal woman would do. I cried. Then I went to Walmart, and found this.
It's not an artist's palette, but it's got an art theme, and that's good enough. A seven year old isn't going to know the difference, or even care. It's cake with frosting, that's all that matters to them. *whew* Then we got to work on decorating in rainbow colors, because artists use every color of the rainbow. Ben and Ember helped blow up balloons and Ben says we have somewhere close to 50, he kept counting and re-counting them but the balloons wouldn't hold still.
The room looks very festive. Today's activities included painting palette shaped sugar cookies and decorating them with M&M's and pretzel sticks to look like paint and a brush, playing "Draw Something" with the girls (if you don't have this app on your phone, please get it and play with me, my username is Jillx3), painting white fold up accordion fans that I found on a wedding party favors website, opening presents, eating cake and ice cream and pizza, and generally having a blast. Grace doesn't even know how difficult putting this party together was for me, but Ember does. She kept hugging me and told me that everything I did, messed up or not, was perfect because it came from me. Then she helped me decorate and solve every problem that came my way. Ember was my hero yesterday.
So happy birthday to my sweet little baby girl who isn't a baby anymore! She's a 7 year old, going into 2nd grade, taking piano and ballet lessons, awesome reader, talented artist, creative, helpful, beautiful, amazing daughter that I get to call mine for eternity! Love you Grace-face!
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The party didn't start out quite how I planned it on Friday when I was getting ready. I was going to make a cake that looked like this:
palette sugar cookies
painting accordion fans
balloon fun!
Kids version of "Draw Something"
Opening presents!
Mom & Dad got Gracie her first easel, with the accessories kit.
Our house really will be wallpapered now
with Grace's masterpieces!
So happy birthday to my sweet little baby girl who isn't a baby anymore! She's a 7 year old, going into 2nd grade, taking piano and ballet lessons, awesome reader, talented artist, creative, helpful, beautiful, amazing daughter that I get to call mine for eternity! Love you Grace-face!
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Saturday, May 19, 2012
I throw my hands up in the air sometimes, singing Ayyyyyyo, I'm a LEGO!!!!
The party today was a huge success, and I am so grateful that it's almost my naptime!
First we had the kids make their video... some came late and some were camera shy, so this isn't everyone, but they sure had fun watching themselves on the internet :)
Then we raced to build the tallest tower.
Ben won both times.
Then we built race cars and played on our homemade track.
I don't think I got any pictures of the actual track.
Bummer, it was made of a yoga mat and painters tape.
It was epic.
Ben opened his presents and got a lot of great stuff from his friends & family. Lots of LEGO stuff, which isn't surprising :) His favorite thing was his "new" (used from eBay) iPod Nano.
We sang happy birthday and cut into the LEGO cake, which was a big hit. Yay!
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Friday, May 18, 2012
Party Planning
I started decorating today for Ben's LEGO birthday party tomorrow, and I AM SO EXCITED!!!! This is the most fun birthday party I've ever organized, and I still have two more to go!
Ben's theme is Lego's, Grace's theme is artists and painting, and Ember's theme is Young Women and growing up. They all have summer birthdays and we're having their parties a little early this year, to catch all their friends before they go on summer vacations. Next year we're not doing big parties with themes, they're going to get a store bought cake, and pizza while Mom takes a nap. :)
Games:
1. Race to put together a LEGO race car, which they get to keep. Winner gets a LEGO jar.
2. Use the race cars to do a Pinewood Derby style race using a made up track fashioned out of Mom's yoga mat (we've practiced, it works awesome). Race as many times as you want. Winner gets a LEGO jar.
3. Guess the # of Lego's in the vase
4. Who can build the tallest tower (that doesn't tip over) using LEGO bricks in 90 seconds. Winner gets a LEGO jar.
We're having pizza, ice cream, and the cutest LEGO cakes that aren't finished yet (my house smells like chocolate right now... yum!) Wanna know how to make LEGO cakes? Cut a 9x13 cake into thirds, it's the perfect LEGO brick size. Frost with bright colors. Get jumbo marshmallows, spray some scissors with Pam and cut them in half, carefully frost them, and put them on the cake! Voila, LEGO brick cake!
I'll have pictures of the games and presents and chaos tomorrow, but I was too excited about how my little jars turned out so I'm blogging a little early.
Happy early birthday to the best 9 (almost 10) year old I know!!!
Ben's theme is Lego's, Grace's theme is artists and painting, and Ember's theme is Young Women and growing up. They all have summer birthdays and we're having their parties a little early this year, to catch all their friends before they go on summer vacations. Next year we're not doing big parties with themes, they're going to get a store bought cake, and pizza while Mom takes a nap. :)
Here's some pictures of what I have so far:
To start, spray paint baby food jars
Next, use a sharpie and draw on LEGO faces
Fill with candy (I used Skittles, but jelly beans are good too)
Use these cute little jars as the prizes for all the awesome games!
Before they're prizes, they're decorations
Have your son use his LEGO's to build a special message.
BEN...
...IS...
...10!!!
Fill a glass vase with LEGO's and have the kids guess how many there are. The closest guess wins one of the Skittle-filled jars!
Games:
1. Race to put together a LEGO race car, which they get to keep. Winner gets a LEGO jar.
2. Use the race cars to do a Pinewood Derby style race using a made up track fashioned out of Mom's yoga mat (we've practiced, it works awesome). Race as many times as you want. Winner gets a LEGO jar.
3. Guess the # of Lego's in the vase
4. Who can build the tallest tower (that doesn't tip over) using LEGO bricks in 90 seconds. Winner gets a LEGO jar.
We're having pizza, ice cream, and the cutest LEGO cakes that aren't finished yet (my house smells like chocolate right now... yum!) Wanna know how to make LEGO cakes? Cut a 9x13 cake into thirds, it's the perfect LEGO brick size. Frost with bright colors. Get jumbo marshmallows, spray some scissors with Pam and cut them in half, carefully frost them, and put them on the cake! Voila, LEGO brick cake!
I'll have pictures of the games and presents and chaos tomorrow, but I was too excited about how my little jars turned out so I'm blogging a little early.
Happy early birthday to the best 9 (almost 10) year old I know!!!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
BYU Women's Conference
I tried to go back and figure out how long I've been attending this conference, and I think the first year I attended was 2003, so almost 10 years, minus one or two when I couldn't make it because of life, babies, money, or something else. It's a great tradition I have with my Mother and her side of the family with my Aunts and Cousins and Grandma Shipley. About 5 years ago we started staying in the dorms on campus, rather than with family that lives in the area. Being on campus has made the experience richer, more memorable, and so much more fun. It's like a slumber party, and it's great to be in the thick of things on campus at all times.
Here are a few photos and experiences from this year's conference:
The classes I attended were fantastic. I didn't take very many notes, I was listening while I worked on crocheting a baby blanket for my collection. I also don't have the best memory so I'll try and share a few things I learned.
My favorite class was one I took called "Meaningful Prayer." I don't know about you, but prayer is often difficult for me. I'm not eloquent, I'm afraid I'm praying for the wrong things, I don't ever really hear or recognize the answers, and I've often wondered if anyone was even listening. Sound familiar to anyone else?
In this class I learned that the Book of Mormon teaches us to pray with a sincere heart and real intent, and that those are two different things. Being sincere is one thing, but real intent is the key... I intend to act upon the promptings and answers I receive, no matter what they are. Maybe my prayers aren't answered in my timetable because I don't really intend on doing what I'm supposed to do in order to receive what the Lord wants me to receive.
I also learned that the Lord will teach me what to pray for, so I can get the right answers. Now I just need to work on the sincerity and intent, and then figure out how the Lord speaks to me so I can hear the answers. The speaker said once that she got nothing that she prayed for, but God gave her everything she needed. Maybe the communication with our Father is more important than the questions and answers.
I also learned an important lesson as a mother raising children, you can't pray away someone's agency. You can pray all you want for your kids to make certain choices, but the Lord can't make that happen... he gave them the gift of agency, it's precious, and he will never take it away. As I approach the teenager years with my kids, that will be a good lesson for me to remember.
Back to a few photos: my sister-in-law Jenna brought her mother Suzanne with us this year, and this trip is typically a tradition for the Shipley side of our family (my Mom's side). My Grandma, Aunts, and Cousins welcomed her with open arms like she was one of us and I had such an enjoyable time getting to know Suzanne better, I am soooo glad she came! I hope this becomes a tradition for her and her daughter now too!
The other classes I attended were entitled "Trust in the Lord's Timetable", "The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope", "I Can Do Hard Things", and "Lay Aside the Things of the World and Seek for the Things of a Better." All good topics, right? And I wrote maybe one or two sentences in my notebook.
I did learn that sadness and dissatisfaction brings the loss of the spirit. I am often sad and depressed, and I often feel that the spirit doesn't speak to me or abide with me. It's frustrating because the sadness is frequently not my fault, it's a symptom of a disease. That was frustrating to hear, but at the same time necessary for me to understand. I need to make an extra effort, above and beyond those who just need to cheer up a little, if I want the spirit in my life. The same instructor also counseled us not to refuse to be comforted. I do that too. The Lord's timing is perfect, I just need to seek his guidance, accept his counsel, and allow the spirit to comfort me in the process. Such necessary and vital information for my current circumstances.
One class talked about the stones we carry around in our hearts, stones of anger, sorrow, or resentment. Sometimes those stones have a specific person's name written on them. I am currently carrying around two stones with two people's names on them that are filled with bitterness, anger and resentment. I can't be uplifted or healed until I throw away those stones, and finally forgive. Those stones, the circumstances that created them, aren't hurting anyone but me. This is going to be difficult, but I'm willing to try... baby steps. But the Savior judges perfectly, he knows our hearts (including the hearts of the offenders) and I need to let the Atonement work for me, and for them.
Almost every single teacher in every class, no matter the topic, counseled us to be grateful. Being thankful of my blessings and opportunities is a gateway to spiritual experiences that I desire to have, and it applies to almost every subject matter and situation.
One of the primary reasons I attend this conference every year is to be able to spend 3 days with my Mom. She is my hero, she sets an example for me and I want to be just like her when I grow up. Her testimony and faith sustain me when mine is weak. Her love and service lift me up, often times when I feel like no one else in the world cares about my struggles and weaknesses. Sharing such powerful spiritual experiences with someone that I love so much provides such tender and precious memories that are difficult to share, because there aren't adequate words. I love you Mom... thanks for talking me into that first conference experiences almost 10 years ago!
While in Provo we had the chance to drive past the old Provo Tabernacle that was destroyed by a fire, and is now being rebuilt as a Temple. The progress is coming along, and some of the original structure was able to be saved to be a part of the new building. I thought I'd throw in a couple pictures of that as well.
So that's was Women's Conference this year! A couple fun highlights, I ran into my husband's Aunt Joy and four of her daughters, some of the funnest cousins that Austin has, I really admire these girls. I also ran into my sister-in-law Sarah's oldest sister Lisa (say that five times fast!), Carla Meyers an old friend from Junior High, Linda Crandall my Stake YW President when I was growing up, and I got to meet one of my personal heroes, Kris Belcher. She spoke at the Time Out For Women in Phoenix last year, and I bought her book after that conference. She is blind so I had to approach her carefully so as not to startle her, but I got to talk with her for a few minutes and tell her what an impact she's had on my life and how I admire her humor, courage, and faith. That can be checked off my bucket list! It's fun to leave town and THEN run into people you know from home, especially at such an incredible event as this conference.
Here are a few photos and experiences from this year's conference:
Jenna, her mom Suzanne and I at the airport on our way from the desert to the mountains of Utah. We were giddy with excitement! :)
The beautiful campus of BYU, and my favorite, Tulips!
The classes I attended were fantastic. I didn't take very many notes, I was listening while I worked on crocheting a baby blanket for my collection. I also don't have the best memory so I'll try and share a few things I learned.
My favorite class was one I took called "Meaningful Prayer." I don't know about you, but prayer is often difficult for me. I'm not eloquent, I'm afraid I'm praying for the wrong things, I don't ever really hear or recognize the answers, and I've often wondered if anyone was even listening. Sound familiar to anyone else?
In this class I learned that the Book of Mormon teaches us to pray with a sincere heart and real intent, and that those are two different things. Being sincere is one thing, but real intent is the key... I intend to act upon the promptings and answers I receive, no matter what they are. Maybe my prayers aren't answered in my timetable because I don't really intend on doing what I'm supposed to do in order to receive what the Lord wants me to receive.
I also learned that the Lord will teach me what to pray for, so I can get the right answers. Now I just need to work on the sincerity and intent, and then figure out how the Lord speaks to me so I can hear the answers. The speaker said once that she got nothing that she prayed for, but God gave her everything she needed. Maybe the communication with our Father is more important than the questions and answers.
I also learned an important lesson as a mother raising children, you can't pray away someone's agency. You can pray all you want for your kids to make certain choices, but the Lord can't make that happen... he gave them the gift of agency, it's precious, and he will never take it away. As I approach the teenager years with my kids, that will be a good lesson for me to remember.
Back to a few photos: my sister-in-law Jenna brought her mother Suzanne with us this year, and this trip is typically a tradition for the Shipley side of our family (my Mom's side). My Grandma, Aunts, and Cousins welcomed her with open arms like she was one of us and I had such an enjoyable time getting to know Suzanne better, I am soooo glad she came! I hope this becomes a tradition for her and her daughter now too!
Three generations of Shipley women.
Jenna & Suzanne... aren't they adorable?
The other classes I attended were entitled "Trust in the Lord's Timetable", "The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope", "I Can Do Hard Things", and "Lay Aside the Things of the World and Seek for the Things of a Better." All good topics, right? And I wrote maybe one or two sentences in my notebook.
I did learn that sadness and dissatisfaction brings the loss of the spirit. I am often sad and depressed, and I often feel that the spirit doesn't speak to me or abide with me. It's frustrating because the sadness is frequently not my fault, it's a symptom of a disease. That was frustrating to hear, but at the same time necessary for me to understand. I need to make an extra effort, above and beyond those who just need to cheer up a little, if I want the spirit in my life. The same instructor also counseled us not to refuse to be comforted. I do that too. The Lord's timing is perfect, I just need to seek his guidance, accept his counsel, and allow the spirit to comfort me in the process. Such necessary and vital information for my current circumstances.
One class talked about the stones we carry around in our hearts, stones of anger, sorrow, or resentment. Sometimes those stones have a specific person's name written on them. I am currently carrying around two stones with two people's names on them that are filled with bitterness, anger and resentment. I can't be uplifted or healed until I throw away those stones, and finally forgive. Those stones, the circumstances that created them, aren't hurting anyone but me. This is going to be difficult, but I'm willing to try... baby steps. But the Savior judges perfectly, he knows our hearts (including the hearts of the offenders) and I need to let the Atonement work for me, and for them.
Almost every single teacher in every class, no matter the topic, counseled us to be grateful. Being thankful of my blessings and opportunities is a gateway to spiritual experiences that I desire to have, and it applies to almost every subject matter and situation.
My Mom
One of the primary reasons I attend this conference every year is to be able to spend 3 days with my Mom. She is my hero, she sets an example for me and I want to be just like her when I grow up. Her testimony and faith sustain me when mine is weak. Her love and service lift me up, often times when I feel like no one else in the world cares about my struggles and weaknesses. Sharing such powerful spiritual experiences with someone that I love so much provides such tender and precious memories that are difficult to share, because there aren't adequate words. I love you Mom... thanks for talking me into that first conference experiences almost 10 years ago!
While in Provo we had the chance to drive past the old Provo Tabernacle that was destroyed by a fire, and is now being rebuilt as a Temple. The progress is coming along, and some of the original structure was able to be saved to be a part of the new building. I thought I'd throw in a couple pictures of that as well.
So that's was Women's Conference this year! A couple fun highlights, I ran into my husband's Aunt Joy and four of her daughters, some of the funnest cousins that Austin has, I really admire these girls. I also ran into my sister-in-law Sarah's oldest sister Lisa (say that five times fast!), Carla Meyers an old friend from Junior High, Linda Crandall my Stake YW President when I was growing up, and I got to meet one of my personal heroes, Kris Belcher. She spoke at the Time Out For Women in Phoenix last year, and I bought her book after that conference. She is blind so I had to approach her carefully so as not to startle her, but I got to talk with her for a few minutes and tell her what an impact she's had on my life and how I admire her humor, courage, and faith. That can be checked off my bucket list! It's fun to leave town and THEN run into people you know from home, especially at such an incredible event as this conference.
I can't wait until next year so we can do this all over again!!!
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