A Craftaholics Christmas Exchange!

 Madison Picked Pink

 I love the Red Ring

 Joshlyn grabbed this one right away!

 Mommy picked this one out for Sutton

 Jacquelynn wanted to match in Navy Blue

 I just had to have a headband match my ring

We loved the home made advent.  I think I am gonna start collecting cute advents.

I joined in on the Cragtaholics Anonymous homemade gift exchange and I had a blast.  My new craftaholic friend is Jenn and she sent me a bunch of fun and frilly headbands, rings and homemade hair flowers.  She also made this cutie advent calender.  I loved being a part of this. 

A Senior In Red and Blue.....

 Very Proud Dad

 Very Proud Mom

 Jossy doing her thing

 Friendship

 Show that Patriot Spirit You Big Senior

 Go Beckman Go

 One Seriously Cute Teenager

Two Very Proud Parents

Joshlyn had her Senior recognition night at the Beckman High School Football Game.  We were so very proud of her.  To be honest, I never thought I would see this day.  Joss is a star and we are so very proud of her.  Who knew that I would be walking onto a football field with my own Senior.  

Go Joshlyn!

7 is a BIG number!

 Ready to take over Disneyland

 Patiently waiting....and waiting.....and waiting.

 Custom made shirts by Big SIS

 Madison's 7th Birthday

 More Waiting

 Silly Band exchange and Lunch

 The cheapest way to eat with a BIG group @ Disneyland

 O what a fun filled day.

 This just makes me laugh

Yep.....the calender says November 22 nd, but at Disneyland.....it is Christmas all the time.


Madison celebrated her 7th Birthday at the Happiest Place on Earth.  She brought along a few of her most favorite people.  We spent the day standing in lines, singing, laughing, conquering the "scary" rides, chatting, trading silly bands, taking pictures, eating, smiling and just having a great time.  Although it was PACKED, the girls had a great time.  I for one loved the fact that I did not have to plan a big party, nor did I have to clean it up.  So yay me.

Happy Birthday My BIG kid. 

WHy I'm Mormon - Guest Post

Why I'm a Mormon

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

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I should not be Mormon. I was raised in a very troubled home where religion was twisted and distorted. I should have run away from the LDS church, screaming! Everything from my early life pointed me towards being non-religious. What happened? I picked up and read the Book of Mormon. The book spoke directly to my heart and soul, like no other book could. And I have read many wonderful, poignant books to compare it to. And even now, decades later, I cannot outgrow that book. It always stays a few paces ahead of me, opening my eyes, filling my heart with new concepts and light.

That book taught me that Jesus is the Christ, He is a personal Savior, who in every sense of the phrase, is the "true and living" God. "True and living" means "here and now". It means He is actively seeking us in our troubles right this very now. We can have as much conscious contact with Him as we strive for and allow.

I know the Savior loves me, loves all of me. My strengths, my weaknesses, my struggles, my yearnings, my strivings. These are things I have come to know through my membership in the Mormon Church. I am Mormon because it is a huge blessing to be one. My membership in the church brings peace, confidence and brightness of hope. Rare commodities in today's world!

I have heard a lot of people put down and contort the LDS faith. Mostly through false information, through quotes taken out of context and with the blinding emotions of hate and anger. Satan fights our church very hard. I would invite anyone who has been duped by such tactics to take a simpler, more peaceful path. Read the Book of Mormon and decide for yourself what it really is. I would plead with you to not absorb your opinion from someone else who has an agenda.

There is peace, there is hope and there is direction. Finding it and grabbing a hold of it has been the best journey of my life.

Why are you Mormon?

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guest post by Shawnie of Classic Moms Corner

Super Girls to the Rescue!

The Villa girlie's stole the show on Friday night at the Irvine Stake Trunk-or-Treat.  I had a gaggle of Super Girls in tow.  What a fun night for everyone.  I could not believe how HUGE this Trunk-or-Treat was this year.  Unbelievable.  Car after car after car after car off yummy treats.  The Supers were in trick-or-Treat heaven.

Just Keep Packing, Packing, Packing

It is hard to keep up with the blog when you are in the middle of another move.  YEP!  The Villas are moving........again.  This will mark our 11th move in 8 years of marriage.  It is not easy to move so much, but when opportunities present themselves, you know they are blessings you can't pass up on.  At least that is what I believe.  So today is the last day in the SOLANA Apartment.  Tomorrow we move to Eddie's new property, Park West.  It is not much of an upgrade.  I guess it is not an upgrade at all, it is more of a down grade really, but it is big and the property has lots of kids stuff to do. Best of all, Eddie works right on the property.  So our one car issues is really not an issue at all.  Anyway, Jossy will stay at Beckman and we will work the commute out somehow.  Madison will stay at Hicks Canyon until the end of October.  Maybe November until after her birthday.  After that I am hoping we can put her back into Culverdale.  That is the school she went to kindergarten  and part of 1st grade at.  I really hope they let us put her there.  It is not our zoned school, but it is super close.  

That is all for now.

Gotta get back to packing before I have to pick up the UHAUL Truck.

No more Dr. Visits PLEASE!!!!

I don't think I can take any more Urgent Care visits with Sutton.  My nerves are fried.  The latest diagnosis is Bronchitis.  So we begin antibiotics today.  I hope this is it.  Prayers for good health and many thanks to our Heavenly Father for the blessing of Bronchitis and not Pneumonia or Pertussis.

Picture #1 - Crazy contraption you have to use when x-raying an infant.  It keeps them from moving.

Picture #2 - X-ray picture of Suttons chest.  Apparently she is VERY gassy. 

Picture #3 - Mom comforting little Sutton.  Actually I was just comforting myself.  Sutton was a trooper.  Mom on the other hand is about to lose it.