Ive been tagged!

I was tagged today. I don't normally respond to those but since the person who tagged me is pretty much the coolest person ever, I thought id respond!

4 shows I like to watch:
1. Lost
2. Lost
3. Lost
4. Lost

(maybe I should explain a little.) I had never even seen the show that has been airing since 2004 until 2 weeks ago. Last week when Cyrus took a week off of work just to hang out with me we discovered this terribly addicting show! Neither of us watch any TV but we have put in our fair share these past two weeks. We are now on Season 2 Episode 22... that's alot of Lost in the past two weeks. I am very tempted today to watch a few while Cy's at work... Should I?

4 things I am passionate about:
1. Cyrus
2. My 6 kids
3. Making the perfect Chocolate Chip cookies (I must say, Im way too good at that one... I make them way too often)
4. Photography

4 phrases I say alot:
1. "Just ONE more episode."
2. "Are you serious?"
3. "Go clean your room!"
4. "What do you mean by PROBABLY?"

4 things I have learned, or am learning:
1. How to be a mom... (Some day I'd like to become one of those PERFECT moms! You all know that ones I'm talking about right? Is it possible?)
2. How to capture moments with my camera (someday ALL my captures will be perfect! ;)
3. I am trying to learn how to say 'NO"... i'm not so good at that.
4. I am NOT always right!

4 places I would like to go:
1. Idaho
2. Utah
3. Oregon
4. East coast... mostly Maine and DC
(Not a very exciting list but Its where my family lives!)

4 things I did yesterday:
1. Church
2. Choir practice
3. Made Cookies
4. Watched 2 episodes of Lost

4 things I am looking forward to:
1. Cyrus finishing school
2. July... I get to go visit family and celebrate my parents 50th anniversary
3. Girls camp with Marci this year
4. Do you have to do laundry in heaven?

4 things on my wish list:
1. A maid
2. A finished backyard
3. Cyrus having free weekends.
4. to lose 15 pounds

4 people I tag:
1. Janet
2. Brigett
3. Sandy
4. At least a few of you from Mickelsen Moments!

Don't you love it when your sisters come to visit!

I'm kind of going backwards but I wanted to blog a little about one of the fun things I got to do over Christmas Break... As I mentioned below we were privileged to have Aunt Jean come and stay with us for Christmas! We all love her so much because she shares her love with us so freely. Well, on Saturday after Christmas Jean and I went to Lowes to pick up some sheetrock for the project we were doing in Garrett's room. Cyrus is building him a closet and need a few more sheets to finish the job. We thought we'd go and be home in a few minutes... well, cyrus will probably never send us again... two hours later we returned home with a few more things that 2 sheets of sheetrock. I had mentioned to Jean that I wanted her help decorating the very empty, large walls in my house... she has a great eye for things like that, so we thought we'd stop by Ross and see what we could find. Well... one wall turned into MOST of my walls. She was in heaven as she kept adding to the cart and discovering some great treasures Ross has hidden in those jam packed shelves of theirs. Well, after a while my cart was full and I had to say... "no more!"
We returned home and spent the day with a hammer, a level, a broom, a piano (this acted as our ladder at times), and a wonderful mind (of course Jeans) to put all of that STUFF together in my house. I thought i'd share some of the pictures of how it turned out! Thanks again Jean...
Also, Janet... she showed up a few days after Jean and she helped finish up even a few more walls.... I love it when my sisters show up and visit, now only if it could happen more often!



Here is a picture of the MICKELSEN 7- Ranch that I love! I have also had these pictures of my grandpa that were never framed. I was so happy to find a place for them together.
Here is a 110 year old oil painting that Cyrus recieved from his parents a few years ago... Janet and I had to tweek this old frame I had to make it fit but I think it looks really nice in it. This is above my fireplace... I still need something else on this wall... but I guess it will have to wait until another sister comes again!


Here are some pictures of Cyrus and his little helper Charly working on Garrett's closet!

My sweet Chloe!

My little Chloe had a hard night last night. She had been punished for making a wrong choice and was still feeling really bad after we had sent her to bed. We hadn't sent her to bed with out hugs from both mom and dad reassuring her that everything was okay and that she could start over and try not to make a wrong choice again. My last words were "don't forget to say your prayers" Well, a few minutes later I came to my bed and I could still hear tears of sorrow coming from her bedroom directly above ours. Of course my warm bed felt really good and I was tempted to think... "oh, she'll get over it" but then I thought it would be better for me to go up and see what was the matter. So I sat on her bed and she was so upset. I asked her why. And through her tears she explained that when she tried to say her prayers... "it just wouldn't work". She said she couldn't get the words out. So we talked a little about that and how I knew she would feel better after she prayed. So she would try again to get enough courage to say "Dear Heavenly Father..." but again, nothing. I went onto explain that our Heavenly Father wanted nothing more than to hear from her. I told her that she would feel His love as she talked to Him and that she would feel forgiven for her mistake. She was still pretty upset... So I thought I'd try and change the mood and asked her to think of something that made her really happy. I glanced over at her end table and saw her cute new pink ipod she had received for Christmas.... I thought, that will do it! I went on to say... "So, try and remember Christmas morning... what made you REALLY happy that day?" I knew the answer was going to be either the ipod or the new Hannah Montana tent... but I was very wrong! She brought tears to my eyes as she said, with no hesitation "I was the happiest when I gave Aunt Jean the card I made for her." Wow! In December she brought home a green and red Christmas card from school. She was very proud of it. She said she had made it for her Aunt Jean who was going to spend Christmas with us. On the inside it had sweet words only an 8 year old could write. I remember one line said "I hope your Christmas with us is Special!"
Anyway, I hugged my little girl and told her what a sweet heart she had and that we ALL make mistakes but only Heavenly Father can take them away if we let Him. I asked again if she was ready to pray.... she was now calm enough and together we said a sweet prayer. I could tell she was much happier and had felt our Heavenly Father's love. We hugged super tight for a long time after that. I believe she was able to peacefully fall asleep instead of falling asleep to tears.
Our children can teach us so much if we let them. I worry sometimes as a mom if I don't allow them to express their love and feelings as much as I should. But I know I will never forget the sweet moment Chloe and I had last night... and I hope she doesn't forget it either!

New Years Day!

January 1, 2010 was spent trying something new.

Jeremy Price had invited us many times to go rock climbing but we had never been able to go... but finally we were able to accept the invitation and it was well worth it. None of us had ever been rock climbing before so we really had no idea what to expect. I had no idea there were designated rocks that already had pins that we could hook on to.

While Jeremy accomplished the hardest task of the day (climbing up and hooking the rope 100 feet up the rock) the rest of us watched and played around. John Ranes took all the little boys and one girl up through the rocks.... I think Grant made him a little nervous. Grant has no idea that the ground really would hurt after a 20 foot fall. Those little boys climbed and climbed.... they didn't realized you needed a safty rope. Its so fun to see them out playing and getting dirty.

The rope was finally ready and Chloe was very anxious to be the first one up. Dad said that if she made it to the top he would give her $5! That bribe ALWAYS works with Chloe. With no fears she headed up the steep rock and made it look so easy. I was very proud of my little girl.... especially after my climb. Marci was the next to get harnessed up... she made it look a little more difficult, yet still managed to reached the top of the rope. I was next and was excited to head up the rock. It was a lot harder than it looked. There were times where I didn't think I could put me feet anywhere... I was amazed when the special rock climbing shoes would grip to even the slightest ridge. It was hard and a little scary but it was so much fun! Cyrus was next and he cruised right up to the top. Sandy wondered if a one legged man was going to be able to climb such a steep rock... but Cyrus made it look pretty easy as well. He also really enjoyed it and hopes he'll get invited again soon! Then little Eli (7 years old) climbed up and again made it look easy! Garrett even got all harnessed up and tried it a bit. I'm hoping that next month I can take the Laurels out and see if they can do it.... it will be fun!

Anyway, I'm hoping to blog a little more this year... one of my resolutions... but that's a whole other blog entry.

More from Grant

Just a normal conversation in the car...

Grant:
"Mom, I don't want to die."
Mom:
"Its okay if you die because you'll get to go live with Jesus"
Grant:
"But mom, Jesus doesn't like to play xbox"
Mom:
"so, you don't think there is xbox in heaven? I bet there is."
Grant:
"no mom, Jesus just likes to do church stuff."

I had to record this one before I forgot it.... So, don't you think Jesus would play xbox with Grant? I think he would.

I would like to blog BUT....

why is there always a big huge BUT? I really have missed blogging and I have missed recording some of the events that have happened in our lives! Mostly its a time issue. With me being Young Womems President and Cyrus being Elders Quorum President... it dosen't leave us a whole lot of time for extra things. I wouldn't change a thing... I do love my busy life and the busy lives of my children.

Just a quick catch up:

Marci: Just finished a season of Volleyball... She loved it! AND so did I. I happened to be her coach. It was a city league but the team consisted of the Beehive class! (with the exception of one girl who the girls say they will convert sooner or later!) We had such a great time. The girls came into this not knowing how to play at all! They left some great volleyball players. They really pulled together and had FUN! We didn't win a ton of games but we did with some... so that always adds to the excitement.
Marci also turned 12 in October. She is loving Young Womens and all the great friends that come with that. It's nice to see her testimony growing of the Savior as she makes good choices. She tries hard to include those who may not have as many friends as she does... though had times she may feel like she's the one without friends... she has many who will do the same for her. Don't we all remember those days! She's a happy girl that is growing up way too quickly!


Garrett: Continues to be my little genious. It's amazing the things that boy retains. He still has straight A's in school and seems to do that with out much effort! He is so much like his father in that sense! I love it... I see it so much in the church. He loves to learn and he listens to those things that are taught. He understands the importance it is to live the principles taught. This past General Conference he really enjoyed Elder Bednars talk about the need for Family Home Evening. Out of the blue he will bring things up that he learned 6 months ago! I'm amazed at what he gets out of conference as he builds with his legos. THAT... has become one of our traditions... whenever with get to sit and watch conference we get to dump the legos out in the middle of the floor and listen as we build... the kids usually try building beautiful temples.... its a good time! (yes, that is a 60 pound python wrapped around my child!)


Chloe: She too played Volleyball and loved it. She knows how to overhand serve and is often found serving 10 serves in a row! Her team made it into the championship game witch will be played this Saturday.... hope they win! She has some great friends as well... she is most often found either singing, dancing or creating things our of our craft bucket. The other day they were making some sort of Christmas decoration and they had some really nice looking berries on them... the berries looked way to familiar as if they had come from the new wreath I had just purchased for my front door... sure enough that is where they came from... but it's all good... the decorations in my home are never fancy and I'm sure never will be... but I hope my kids can remember the fun they have at home!


Liam: He turned 6 last month! He's also really smart... he loves reading and learning. He wants legos and more legos for Christmas... hopefully Santa will find some for him! I think they are all over my house! He's a good boy and is growing up quickly... he and Grant are still BFFs... I sure hope it stays that way!


Grant: He recently went to the ER for anohter 8 stiches. That boy can not keep two feet on the ground! He ran into a sharp corner at the beach the other day and had blood all over his face! It's a good thing he's tough b/c I don't think I could handle it if he weren't! THe other day he told me about a dream he had.
"Mom, I had a great dream last night."
"tell me about it grant."
"It was about Jesus this time, not the xbox"
"That's good."
"He was hugging me and tell me that he loves me."
Oh... to be a child again... the faith and closeness they have with the Savior!


Charly: She thinks she's the funniest and most popular thing to have hit Menifee. She has many friends who ask for her daily and also many siblings that will laugh at just about anything she does! She loves that attentions. Recently we have all been sick (the awful stomach bug) and the other night at 4:30 I heard a knock on my bedroom door... so I said... come in... and nothing.... so I assumed it was a little person... I opened the door and there stood Charly (a very stinky Charly). She had had a rough night... she was covered in throw-up and other stuff that added to the stinky baby... She was standing at my door calm as could be with three pairs of underwear! The poor thing. She was ready for a clean pair! We got her all cleaned up and back to bed but it was not a pretty sight. We've only had a few more nights like that.... the sickness seemed to just jump from kid to kid! Thank goodness the bug only lasted 24 hours! (well... in my house... that equals out to be a full week!)



Just a quick catch up for my own sake... I have been busy with pictures... but not of my own children... next year I hope to be better at getting my own infront of the camera!

Marci and her M&M buddies!

We've had a fun Halloween! The kids are about ready to go out... they aren't really that excited b/c our ward always puts on a fabulous party and they did that last night! So i'm pretty much done with Halloween... but Marci did have fun yesterday at the party. A bunch of her friends decided to be M&Ms... so all the mom's sewed up these costumes! I think they turned out really cute... so we had to have a quick Photo shoot.... I did a REAL QUICK edit of these... they were so cute! THey even won the costume contest last night!
I love that she has a great group of friends!