That's my boy...

This story is about John. John is my three year old boy, he is a very literal and precise person. The facts have to be just right (It's a Dopp thing). I heard about this from my friend Laurie. I was at the school for my girls Christmas sing a long and class parties when my friend stopped me to tell me this story. This winter Clarissa played on a basketball team at the rec-center. Well, my friend was out with her little boy playing on the indoor slide while John was sliding also. While John walked by this little boy he said, "Look at the baby" John turned around and yelled, "I AM NOT A BABY, I AM A BOY". My friend Laurie said she hurried and said to John, "you're a big boy not a baby". I laughed and said, "that's John he takes things very literal".

Christmas stockings

I finished it!! This idea came when I was at Annette & David's house. I didn't have a place to hang our stockings this year. When I saw her sign I decided that I would make me one. I think they are so cute. I painted it with the help from ladies in my ward. They helped me figure out how to do the stripes. Mike helped me put the hooks on. I thought I would be able to do it but it was hard placing the screws in. I had help from some good people. Anyway, as you can see I chose to put 'Twas the night before Christmas... Our stockings are truly hung with care and in hopes that St. Nick will truly be here. Have a Merry Christmas and I love all of you that looks at my blog.

Thrift shopping treasures

It started out a snowy day last week in December. My three children needed winter snow boots, so I headed out to town. The thought came to me to stop at the DI, a local thrift store, (I have learned to listen to those thoughts). I went straight to the boots and what do you think I found? Yep, two pair of beautiful snow boots for my girls. They were perfect and together would cost me $7.50. I wanted to cry right on the spot. I had only $60 to spend for boots. Once I was there I had to look around for other good deals (now I had extra cash). I had fun and to me I found three fun items that have added a cuteness to my little house (trailer). You can see my treasures and how cute they are. That day I was truly blessed by the Lord. I was able to get boots for my children, gloves and a hat for John. I also had enough money left over to fill up my van with a tank of gas. The Lord truly does bless us and gives us what we need if we follow Him each day!!

Come and Eat...

Last week we had a fun night having a fancy restaurant night. I wanted to have a nice meal with candle light to learn about table manners. So, I had the girls help me set the table with a formal setting. We all dressed up and went out to eat. I pretended to be the owner of the restaurant welcoming everyone and having them wait in the lobby. I called everyone in and sat them down at their spot. I told the girls that their parents would be joining them shortly. I placed a card on each plate with different table manners. We took turns reading them and did our best to follow the manners. On our menu that night was italian creamy chicken with noodles, rolls, corn, and a sparking juice. Everyone enjoyed the night having a fun memory to remember. Here are some pictures of the night and as you can see it couldn't go completely smooth because of a fun 3 year old boy. We will have to do it again later when John is older.

Let's Sing!!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful (if I had a fire), but since there's no place to go, Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!! Music is a big part of my life. It is interesting how a song can change how we feel about life or a situation we are in. I am so happy that my Mom found it important to have music become apart of my life. Five out of six children took piano and I would say are very talented in singing and piano. I don't remember ever singing together as a family but I grew up listening to my sister, Sandra, singing at the piano. I remember sitting on the stairs and would listen. I never went in but I always listened. I always loved it when all my sisters would sing together. My mom was always playing the piano. She later told me that she would play when she would feel anxious or stressed. I guess she was always stressed and anxious. I hope to keep the legacy of music in my little family. We like to dance and sing together to music on the radio. "Life's a dance you learn as you go Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow Don't worry about what you don't know Life's a dance you learn as you go"

Fun outside with the dogs

The favorite thing for Clarissa, Kayci and now John is to jump on the trampoline. The girls love to put wally and Baq on trampoline. The dogs love it. They run around and go crazy. Thanks Dave & Annette for giving us back our trampoline. If we didn't have that then Clarissa & Kayci wouldn't play outside as much. They can jump and play on that for hours and they have.

November project

Last weekend I found an end table at the DI. I debated all weekend if I wanted to get it for my bedroom. I started cleaning my room Monday morning and I figured out that I wanted to buy it so I could have a spot to put my books and things that I would use at night. So, I went to the DI bought it and decided I wanted to paint the end table to make it what I wanted. I sanded the table and painted it yesterday. I had a lot of fun and hope to do more projects at home. I even put a new knob on the drawer all by myself. If I can do it anyone can.

Summer Fun

One great thing about living in Utah is that we don't have to vacation in Utah anymore. This 2008 summer we took our first big trip out of Utah. We went to the Oregon coast. We met my good friend, Cristy, and her family in Oregon. We rented a beach house together and had a very cold, rainy, fun time. We would do it again.

Halloween Fun

Each of the kids enjoyed halloween this year. This was John's first year that he understood what was going on. John was a good Darth Vador, he wasn't a bad one. Our local library had trick or treat for the little kids. They got to go to the county offices and get candy from the workers around the building. John had fun but took it very seriously. Kayci was a cowgirl at school and for the night. She thought that she was stylish. Clarissa was electricity at school and a wizard at night. I didn't get a picture of her with her night costume. Clarissa was nervous to be electricity at school but when she walked into class all the kids said, "cool costume, I love your hair" she then felt pretty cool.