Christmas Advent Calendar

I made a little advent calendar for Blaine to count down to Christmas. I got the idea off KSL's Studio 5. They have some fun crafts. Here are some pictures. I hope Blaine has fun with it!

Here's the calendar. I used a 24 count muffin tin. You could also use a

12 count muffin tin and do the 12 days of Christmas. I'm thinking about

putting ribbon on it so I can hang it up. But I'm not sure how I

want to do that part so for now it will just sit up on our shelf.

This is the inside of the tin. They each have a piece of

Christmas candy inside. Then some of them also have a little

piece of paper that has a Christmas activity on it.

Here is one of the Christmas activities. There is also color a Christmas picture,

sing Christmas carols...

I used magnet strips to hold the numbers onto the muffin pan.

I also put a ziplock bag on the back to put the numbers in once we used them.

The bag is also held on with magnet strips.

Gratitude: Day 30

I'm grateful for the scriptures. I'm grateful that when I read them they help me to be a better wife and mom. I'm grateful that they bring the Spirit to our home. I love reading the scriptures to Blaine. He has a little book called Heroes of the Book of Mormon that we read to him. It's fun when he sits and listens and looks at the pictures. I hope he and Eli will grow up to have a love for the scriptures. Ü

Gratitude: Day 29

I'm grateful for inspired relief society lessons. I'm also grateful for teachers who are tune with the Spirit and are able to teach what Heavenly Father wants them to teach. Thank you for a wonderful lesson Sister Mickelson! Ü

Gratitude: Day 28

I'm grateful for Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream! YUM! Ü

Gratitude: Day 27

I'm grateful for the Priesthood. I'm grateful that Tyson is worthy of holding the Priesthood. I'm grateful for the many times he has been able to give me and the boys blessings. One of the most special times when Tyson has used the Priesthood was when he and Blaine's birth grandfather were able to give Blaine a blessing when he was 1 day old and in the NICU. I'm also grateful that Tyson will be able to give the boys the Priesthood and teach them about the Priesthood. Ü

Gratitude: Day 26

I'm grateful to be able to spend the day with Tyson and my boys and our families. I'm grateful for yummy turkey and stuffing and pretzel jello and pies!

Gratitude: Day 25

I'm grateful for Turkey Day tomorrow!

Gratitude: Day 24

I'm grateful for a fun date night with my sweetheart! We went Christmas shopping and then to dinner at Red Robin (Whisky River BBQ Chicken Wrap! YUM!!) and then we went to the movies and watched 2012. 2012 was entertaining enough, but I wouldn't buy it. The destruction at the beginning was pretty comical. Tyson and I were laughing. It was realistic looking but it was one of those when you're thinking "Yeah right!"
Anyway, thanks for a great date babe! Love you!

Gratitude: Day 23

I'm grateful for music and the part it has played in my life. I have a testimony of the power of music. When I was giving myself shots during my pregnancy, I would sing "I need Thee every hour" to myself and it would calm me down enough to do the shots. Also, Blaine loves music. When he has a bad dream, that is one of the quickest ways to calm him down. He loves I hope they call me on a mission, I love to see the temple and Popcorn popping on the apricot tree. I'm so grateful to have music in my life!

Gratitude: Day 22

I'm grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful for His life, His example and His sacrifice for me. I love my Savior and I'm grateful that He died so I can repent and return to live with Him and my Father in Heaven. I'm grateful that the Savior understands perfectly the trials we go through and the pains we fill. I'm so grateful to be a member of His true church. Ü

Gratitude: Day 21

I'm grateful for food we have to eat each day. We have never had to go without the food we need. That is such a blessing!

Gratitude: Day 20

I'm grateful for a nice, warm bed. (Which I'm wishing I was in right now. My mom, sisters and I went to New Moon at midnight last night. I got 3 1/2 hours of sleep. YAWN! But it was SO worth it!) There's not much better than curling up in bed after a day of chasing my boys around. Ü

Gratitude: Day 19

I'm grateful for the Ju-Ju-Be Fairy! She likes to send me cute new things to go with my diaper bag. Thank you Ju-Ju-Be Fairy! You are so sweet! I love you! Ü

Gratitude: Day 18

I'm grateful that my parents have such a big back yard for my little guys to play in. Blaine loves being outside. There is a huge yard to run around in, a sand and water table and a swing set with a slide and tetor toter. I love playing outside with my boys!

Shooters! I got behind!

Gratitude: Day 16
I'm grateful for Blaine's birth mom. She is so sweet and so wonderful! I'm so grateful that we get to spend time with her and her sweet, little family. Blaine's birth mom is so good to us and to Blaine and Eli. We love you so much!!

Gratitude: Day 17
I'm grateful for soft sweaters. I love when the weather starts to turn cold because that means I can bust out my sweaters. So nice and cozy! Ü

Gratitude: Day 15

I'm grateful for the Sealing power. I'm grateful I have an Eternal family and NOTHING can change that. I'm grateful Tyson and I chose to get married in the temple. I'm grateful Blaine was sealed to us in the temple and that Eli was born under the covenant. What a great blessing temples are! Ü

We interrupt this program...

... for some cute pictures!!

(Please ignore the pile of laundry on the couch! Ü)

Gratitude: Day 14

I'm grateful for my sewing machine and my limited knowledge of how to sew. I'm making hooded towels for my boys for Christmas. I finished Blaine's! You can't really tell, but the ribbon is green with white polka dots. Doesn't it look cute!! (Good thing you can't see too closely. Ü) Eli's is going to be Green with a ribbon that is brown with white polka dots. Thank you for helping me be crafty sewing machine! Ü

Gratitude: Day 13

I'm gratful for my parents letting us live with them while Tyson is going to school. It is such a help to us! I know it can be difficult at times because of my little wild men, but you are both lifesavers! I really appreciate all you do for us! I love you both!

(Aren't they cute!?)

Gratitude: Day 12

I'm grateful for baby tylenol. Eli cut his first tooth a couple days ago, he has another one coming in and he got shots today. Bless you baby tylenol. Ü

Gratitude: Day 11

I'm grateful for Tyson's job. He is an ER Tech at the Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. He loves it! I don't think I could handle the things he sees but he thinks it's great. One of the great things about his job, aside from a steady paycheck, is Tuition Reimbursement. So helpful!

Gratitude: Day 10

I'm grateful for my job. I'm a loan officer at America First Credit Union. I've been with AFCU for a total of 6 years off and on. I work at the Ogden Main branch. I love the people I work with. They are seriously so much fun. America First has always been so good to me. I'm able to work Friday and Saturday while Tyson is home with the boys. It works out really well!

Gratitude: Day 9

I'm grateful for a yummy pizza recipe! I made pizza for dinner tonight and it was SO GOOD!! I love pizza. Here's the dough recipe so you can be grateful for it too!

Pizza Dough:
2 1/2 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
2 Tbs. sugar
2 tsp. salt
3 1/2 c. flour

Dissolve yeast in water. Mix in sugar and salt. Add flour and mix. Cover and let stand for 10 minutes. Dough is sticky so you will need to use extra flour when rolling out the dough. This recipe makes 2 round pizzas or one pizza on a cookie sheet (with a little dough left over. ) I like to roll it thin because it does puff up a little. Once you've rolled it out and added toppings, bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. YUM!!

Gratitude: Day 8

I'm grateful to live in the United States of America! What a great country we live in. There are many people who don't have that blessing in their lives. I'm grateful for those who fought for our freedom and those who now protect it. I love the USA!

Gratitude: Day 7

I'm grateful for "My Girls". You may have heard me refer to "my girls" before. I'm talking about my girlfriends from high school. Sarah, Holli, Jessica, Rachel and Katie. They are so wonderful! We have been friends since high school and have stayed friends. We try to get together once a month. So much fun! Thanks for all you have done for me girls! I love you!!

(This is kind of an older picture. But I didn't want to dig through my cds of pictures to find a more recent one. Ü)

Gratitude: Day 6

I'm grateful for President Monson. I'm grateful to have a prophet to guide the church. I love his sweet personality. I can feel the love he has for all of us. I love you President Monson!

Gratitude: Day 5

I'm grateful for Tyson's family. I'm grateful that his parents did such a great job of raising Tyson and teaching him the gospel. I love you Swensons! (Sorry, I don't have a picture of the whole family.)

Gratitude: Day 4

I'm thankful for my family. They have always been so supportive of me. They have been there for me through very dark times as well as the happiest times in my life. Thank you for always being there for me and my little family. I love you guys!!

Divine Design

There is an AMAZING adoption blog we follow. http://www.therhouse.blogspot.com/. Check it out! So inspirational!! I usually cry once a week reading this blog. LOVE IT!
ANYWAYS. "Mrs. R" (her name is Lindsey) was preparing for a keynote address she will be giving soon. The topic is "Families By Divine Design". Lindsey asked "Do you believe that there is a divine plan for your family? How was your family created by divine design?" I've thought a lot about those two questions. I have to say: Yes, I KNOW Heavenly Father has a divine plan for my little family. When we were going through our adoption classes there was a quote that really stuck out to us. "Heavenly Father is the designer of Eternal Families." My little family is proof of this.
After several years of fertility tests and medication and Dr visits, we were told it was not possible for us to get pregnant. We started looking into adoption and felt like this was the direction Heavenly Father wanted us to go in. We were very excited about adoption. It took 2 1/2 years for Blaine to join our family. The day Blaine's birth mom told us she wanted to place with us was one of the HAPPIEST days of our lives. I will never forget the love I instantly felt for Blaine's birth mom. I always knew I would love her but I was surprised that I felt like I already knew her. She is our ANGEL! (I'm so grateful that she is still a part of our life and Blaine's life.) When Blaine was born, it was love at first sight. I KNEW he was meant to be in our family.
After Blaine turned one, we decided it was time to apply to adopt again. We went through the paperwork and required classes and finally got approved. Two weeks after we were approved we found out I was pregnant. What a SHOCK! We had closed that door years ago and had planned on it never happening. We were okay with that. Not to say we didn't have occasional rough days, but we were happy with adoption.
When we started telling people we were pregnant we had one person ask "Do you think you should have just been more patient and not adopted?" NO!!! I have NEVER for a second questioned whether Blaine was meant to be in our family. Heavenly Father wanted Blaine in our family every bit as much as He wanted Eli in our family. BOTH our boys are miracles!
I LOVE adoption! Adoption is HARD! In my PERSONAL opinion (others may feel differently), adoption is harder than pregnancy, labor and delivery. (That's saying something since I had to give myself shots twice a day for nine months straight! I hated the shots!) I have no idea whether I will be able to get pregnant again or whether we will get to adopt again. Either way, I KNOW Heavenly Father has a divine plan for our family. Ü

Gratitude: Day 3

I'm grateful for my Eli. I love his smile. It lights up his whole face. I absolutely adore that baby! I know I complian about how grumpy he is, but he can be really sweet too. I love you so much my Baby E!

Gratitude: Day 2

I'm grateful for my Blainer. He is such a little sweetheart. He loves to cuddle with me. Blaine makes me smile with the silly things he says and does. Blaine makes me feel so special. Thank you for being my little guy, Blaine! I love you!

Gratitude: Day 1

I saw this on someone elses blog and decided to do it too. For each day in November, I'm going to try to write a little post about something I'm grateful for. They will be in no particular order. Some will be serious and some kind of random.
I'm grateful for Tyson. He is such a hard worker and takes such good care of our family. I love you so much babe. Thanks for all you do for us!