The frame I made for our Service Auction at church this year.



Cute dress and cute girl!
Strawberry Whipped Sensation. SO YUMMY! Made it for a get together and it was really easy and tasty! Here's the recipe...
4 C fresh strawberries, divided
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 c lemon juice
4 C cool whip, divided
approx. 16 Oreo cookies
2 Tbs butter, melted

Line 8x4 in loaf pan with foil. Mash 2 cups of strawberries in large bowl. Stir in sweetened condensed milk, juice and 2 C of cool whip, beat for about 2 minutes. Pour into pan. Crush the oreos (I usually put them in a large zip loc bag and use the bottom of a cup to smash it to smitherenes. But if you had a food processor that would work great, but it might not be as fun :), combine with melted butter then press on top of the mixture in the pan. Cover with tin foil and freeze at least 6 hours. to serve, invert onto plate, remove foil and frost with remaining Cool Whip. Slice remaining strawberries and garnish on top.

My sweet girl with the flowers she made me for Mother's Day. I love them and I'll be able to keep them forever! :)

I Love to See the Temple!

We had a primary Temple trip last weekend. The kids learned a lot and especially loved the cookie at the end. haha. We're so grateful for the Temple in Albuquerque and glad that Jocelyn is already gaining a testimony that is the House of the Lord.

We're still here!

We have been so busy lately, so I haven't been posting anything! Maybe I'll find some time later, but for now, here's a pic of Jocelyn and friends at a bday party. Yes, I let her jump in the bouncy house even with my anxiety about another broken elbow. Of course, towards the end of the party, a boy landed on her and she twisted her ankle.....oh goodness.

Can you find her? She in the front, third from the right.

Making Grandpa laugh!

Grandpa: "Jocelyn Davis, I love you!!"

Jocelyn: "DON'T call me Jocelyn Davis. You can call me Jocelyn OR you can call me FRED!"

Easter weekend

We had a wonderful Easter! We spent Saturday morning having an Easter egg hunt and getting ready for our Easter dinner with Graham's parents. Graham made an awesome brisket and we had a nice evening visiting with family. Thanks for coming over Grammie and Pops!

Today, Jocelyn sang with the primary in sacrament meeting and she gave a talk in primary! We have been practicing the song a lot and had a funny conversation last night. There's a line in the song that says "conquering evil and death through His glorious name". After we sung it a few times, Jocelyn said, "Mom, stop. I have a question. What does conquering evil and death mean?" I tried to explain that in a way a four year could understand. We continued to practice and once again, she said, "Okay, one more question. Is conquering evil like a witch or something?" hahaha. I don't know where she got that, but I tried to explain it again. Then a third time, she stopped me around the same part and said, "So is it like black or red or green? Hmmm." So funny. That is such a hard sentence to understand at four! I love that she was trying to understand it though! Here is a video of Jocelyn singing most of the song. The third verse is the hardest and I didn't feel like singing along on the video, so we stopped. (She's holding part of a flower in her hand)

The words to the song are...
I lived in Heaven a long time ago, it is true.
Lived there and loved there with people I know, so did you.
Then Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan
All about earth and eternal salvation for man.

Father said He needed someone who had enough love
To give their life so we all could return there above.
There was another who sought for the honor divine
Jesus said, "Father, send me and the glory be Thine"

Jesus was chosen and as the Messiah He came
Conquering evil and death through His glorious name
Giving us hope of a wonderful life yet to be
Home in that heaven where Father is waiting for me.

Of course, here are some pics from Easter Sunday and of Jocelyn's very curly hair! We experimented with some sponge rollers and it turned out so much curlier than I thought it would, but I think it's so cute. Another thing that made me laugh so hard. A sweet friend of mine at church was complementing Jocelyn on her dress, her hair, her purse, etc. She was saying "Oh Jocelyn! You look like a princess!" After talking to her, we walked down the hall to find Graham. Jocelyn stopped right in the middle of the hall saying, "Mom, wait!" Then she decided to pull up her panty hose right in the middle of the hall. The waist was still in the right spot, but stretched out all the way down to her knees. If you are a girl, you know what I'm talking about...very annoying. It was hilarious. Someone had just said she looked like a princess and ten steps later, she is hiking her panty hose up in the middle of the hall. Made me laugh!!!!! Cute girl.

General Conference

We had a wonderful weekend watching General Conference. I feel so uplifted after listening to so many wonderful talks and I feel a renewed desire to focus my energy on the things that truly matter. Conference always gives me the desire to be better and to do the things that I know are important to my spiritual growth and to better my family.

One of the things I always look forward to is the music! I feel the Spirit so strongly when I listen to the beautiful music, especially from the Tabernacle choir. I feel a difference in my mood and in our home when I have music playing. One of my favorite things is when my house is clean, the windows are open on a nice day and I have uplifting music on.

As we approach Easter and I reflect on the last week of Christ's life, I was so humbled by the things Elder Holland spoke of. The love I have for my Savior has grown as I more fully understand the sacrifices He made for each one of us, especially during His last moments on earth. I have never thought about His sacrifice in this way before and I have a new understanding of the comfort He is able to provide for us.
Here is the link. Go to Sunday AM session and scroll over to Jeffrey R. Holland. It really is a wonderful talk.

I am so grateful for General Conference and the chance we have to listen to our Prophet and the Apostles. I feel blessed to know that we have a living Prophet on the earth and that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to guide us, just as He loved and guided His children long ago.

The price girls pay...

for beauty!!! At first, Jocelyn thought it would be SO fun to have rollers in her hair. After five minutes, she was pretty much done with them! I didn't take a picture after, but it turned out cute. It added lots of body to her hair, but now I want to go get smaller ones and see how it turns out. Hopefully she'll let me!

Temples

Albuquerque skies, hockey girl and a new friend...

I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I'd share a few recent pictures! Albuquerque is definitely not green like Virginia, but the sunsets and the rainbows are beautiful! We've had gorgeous weather, so we've seen a lot of hot air balloons out our backyard lately!




Graham and I became Washington Capitals fans while we lived in Virginia. Graham ordered a new jersey and Jocelyn had to try it on! :) Isn't she so cute?!?!
Jocelyn couldn't talk us into getting her a puppy, but one morning she said, "I have a GREAT IDEA! I know what pet doesn't need GRASS...A FISH!" So, for some crazy reason, Graham and I gave in and now we have added "Apollo" to our family. I'm afraid to see what else she can talk us into!!!! :)

Lesson learned

We went to lunch with one of our friends today. The kids meal comes with a sucker, so as we were leaving Jocelyn opened hers. We got into the car and she said, "Mom! That lady has a sucker too!" I look over and saw this older lady who had just lit a cigarrette. "No, honey. That's not a sucker. She is smoking, which is very bad for your body. It makes you very sick." Jocelyn said, "Oh, well why is she doing that smoking thing and not being healthy? Does she not know about Jesus? He wants us to be healthy!"

Ahhh, I love little minds. It's as simple as that to her. If you know it's not good for you, why in the world would you do it? Especially because Jesus wants us to be healthy. She is so sweet. :) I am proud of her for going through that thought process on her own. I hope she will always make good choices and be a wonderful example to those around her!

I'm firing myself...

from trail guide!!! Graham, Jocelyn and I went up to the Jemez mountains yesterday. We had a great time together. Stopped for lunch at a little restaurant and then went to check out Soda Dam. Before we stopped there, we pulled off at a little spot to do a little hiking. I walked over to a ledge and saw part of the river and decided we should hike straight DOWN. Graham said, "I was thinking we could go around the bend and walk down" but no, I had to do it the hard way. We all made it and it was fun, but I laugh at myself because I think I should have listened to my husband!! (Don't mention that to him though!) I should have taken a picture, but once I saw how steep it was, I knew I wouldn't have free hands to take the camera with us. Anyway, I'm glad I have a loving husband who lets me have my way sometimes...even when he knows he might have a better idea. So I am now officially retiring from trail guide...until the next time I think I have a good idea!! :)

New Haircut!

Showing off her haircut! She LOVES that they wash her hair, cut it and style it. She is always asking me if she can get a haircut because she loves going so much and she is the perfect little client!

Random pics...

The guys and their bikes. (And Little Miss Jocelyn, who decided not to ride her motorcycle that day! Yes, she really has one!)
We had a fun afternoon on Valentine's Day taking a little trip out of town. Mom, Jocelyn and I followed in the car while Graham and Dean rode their motorcycles. We went to a little restaurant and had some great food.


I thought Jocelyn looked especially cute in her outfit.

As we were walking outside, I found Jocelyn's princesses hanging out in the doll house. Looks like there was a party and I wasn't invited! I love that the dog is in the crib. That's probably what Jocelyn would really do if we had a dog...put him in a crib!

The George Washington collage the kids made for President's Day!

I Should Have Known!!

Jocelyn cracks me up. She has always been good about staying in her room after we put her to bed...until recently. She will find any excuse to open her door and yell down to the living room. She will say, "Mommy, I have a question for you." Or "What time is it when we wake up?" Or "I just need one more hug." Etc, etc.

This week she has opened her door to tell me something and then she lets our cat, Boomer, in her room! I didn't catch on at first until I hear "meow" late at night when he decides he wants out! So last night she opens her door and says she wants to hug Boomer and I tell her she really needs to go to bed. She opens it again and I tell her again that she needs to go to bed. Then she gets mad at me and says I'm mean. She shuts her door, opens it and asks for a hug. I tell her to come get a hug and then all of a sudden, she says "Nevermind!! I'm going to bed!!" She's all happy, so I am guessing Boomer ran in her room.

Me: "Jocelyn, did you let Boomer in your room?"
Joc: "No, Mom!"
Me: "Is Boomer in your room now?"
Joc: "No, Mom!"
Me: "Okay, goodnight."

Midnight..."MEOW, MEOW" and I'm up to let the cat out of her room. Good thing she's so cute. She's four and already not telling the truth?!?! We're in trouble.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

JOCELYN SAYS "HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I LOVE YOU!"


Look at that cheesy smile! Cute girl!

Staying busy!!

I had a WONDERFUL birthday!! Jocelyn spent the night with my Mom on Friday night, while Graham and I headed up to Santa Fe. We went to dinner and then off to the...

OH I love this place!!!! For any of my ABQ friends who haven't been, you should really check it out! Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe. It's a Japenese Spa and it is so relaxing. Both times we have been, we reserved the Kabuto tub. Next time I think we'll add massages and stay the night at the resort instead of at another hotel. The next day, Graham and I went to see "Taken". A really good movie, but also very intense! Then we met Mom and Jocelyn for dinner! Jocelyn had painted these adorable "diva puppies" and she gave me one for my birthday, along with a yummy candle and a really cute book. My mom also surprised me with beautiful flowers in the cutest milkshake vase, which Jocelyn tried to drink! haha. It was a great weekend! THANK YOU SO MUCH, MOM for watching Jocelyn!!!!! We played play doh all day today with her new set! :)



Preschool has been so much fun! I have really enjoyed the kids and the lesson plans have kept us busy! The preschool room looks really cute with our new table and chairs, which FINALLY came!! They actually ended up sending me TWO tables and the manufacturer wouldn't come pick up the extra one! So frustrating. It's wonderful for the kids to have so much room at the table and I love not having to use my dining room table for art projects! :) Here are some pictures of the room now and some of the kids having fun!

After their "snowball fight!" Which was a blast!
Practicing writing letters and numbers.



Gathering up her snowballs.
They love the hand pointer!
Groundhog Day project. We cut a slit in the green paper so the groundhog could peek through! :)
(Now I need to update my preschool blog!!)