Red Noses

Thanks to my wonderful Sister-in-Law, Kollen, my kids went sledding. Kollen was here for the Christmas holiday and since I still had to work she took my kids to have some fun. Thanks Kollen!

A visit from the Prophet Joseph Smith

This year in Sunday School we are studying the Doctrine & Covenants. A friend of mine refers to them as "Love Letters from Christ" because they are direct revelations from Jesus to Joseph Smith. So today we talked about the first vision and my Mother in law, Jacque was giving the lesson. She asked Derick to roll play as if he were Joseph. Joseph was 14 when he went into the Sacred Grove to pray and ask Heavenly Father which church he should join.

Jacque asked Derick, or Joseph Smith, questions leading up to the first vision.

• Who are you?
• Tell us about the time you had that severe infection in your leg.
• Tell us what happened when Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to you in the Sacred Grove.

Derick then answered each question as though he were Joseph Smith. What a neat spirit he brought into the class. I see alot of similarities between Derick and Joseph Smith.

I am so greatful for Joseph Smith and for having the faith to ask the question, "Which church should I join?" I know that he was instrumental in restoring the true chruch to the earth. I am so thankful for his perserverance with all of the persecution that he went through so that we could have the gospel. I know that I am blessed beyond words because my Mom was a member of the church but more importantly that my Dad joined the church after they were married. We were all raised by such wonderful parents who instilled in us to love being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.

One More Week

One more week until my Mom & Dad have their mission farewell. They were set apart today as Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I am so proud of them for their decision to serve a mission, what a wonderful example they are to us kids but also to their grandkids.

Christmas Continued...

Off we went to Leamington to enjoy Christmas with my side of the family. This was a special Christmas because of my parents getting ready to leave for their mission. This next year it will be just us kids, I don't know how will do without Mom's good cooking but it will be for just one Christmas and I'm sure we'll survive. I know that Mom and Dad's wishes while they are gone is that all of us kids stay in contact with each other. I think that this will be a year of getting closer to each other. I am excited for my parents and I want them to not worry about us.

Anyways back to Christmas in Leamington. All of the family came and we had a big dinner and then Mom & Dad told us how greatful they are to serve a mission, Travis and Sean played the guitar. Travis is learning to be a great guitarist, he got a new guitar for Christmas. Tyler and Kaitlin sang their "Hot cup of Cocoa" song. Mom and I made T-shirts for everyone with "Git-R-Done" on all of them. That is becoming a family theme since Dad had his brain surgery.

Christmas is always fun when you have Family.

Christmas Morning

I know it's January and I'm still stuck on Christmas. My computer is as slow as molasses so you'll just have to be patient with me because if I don't get these pages done now, who knows when I'll get back to them.

I absolutely love Christmas Morning and all of the fun feelings involved with it. We always check on NORAD to see where Santa is and then the kids are all anxious to get to bed. After the kids go to bed we put all of the presents out. I think it's fun this way because when the kids get up in the morning they are used to seeing the tree without anything but maybe a few neighbor gifts and then they see all of the presents on Christmas Morning.

So when the kids woke up they came into our room and we had family prayer. We skipped breakfast this year because it was a failure. Usually we have juice and cinnamon rolls but the rolls didn't rise so we ended up just with juice and cereal later.

Tyler was "Santa" this year an passed out the presents to everyone. We had a great Christmas and as always were very blessed.

To Shave or not To Shave? Part II

This is the continuing saga of whether Derick is ready to shave or not. For Christmas this year, Kaitlin had Derick, so she decided that he would like a shaver. So we found a little kit with a REAL razor that is battery operated and vibrates, it also contained shaving cream. Kaitlin added a package of balloons so that Derick could practice on before he attempted shaving his own flesh. We also found an old picture of him and Kirk "Shaving", that Kaitlin gave him to show him that Dad trained him years ago for this task. Derick thought it was a great gift.

Christmas Eve at Steph & Dave's

We celebrated Christmas Eve at Steph and Dave's this year. What an enjoyable evening it was. We started with a wonderful dinner of ham, potatoes, salad, veggies and Hot homemade rolls. In the first picture you will notice a picture of the boys eating dinner in the LAUNDRY room they still haven't graduated to the big people table, some day! We had a little program where the kids sang us Christmas songs . We did the nativity which is always such fun. Derick was the donkey which Morgan got to ride on his back. We even got a visit from Santa, Uncle Adam, who delivered handmade p.j's from Grandma.
One of our favorite memories is having GGpa Marchant read the Christmas story. We sure miss him and GGma.

Tis the Season to be Jolly!

This is one of our traditions that we do every year for Christmas. We put out our shoes the night before St Nicholas Eve for a treat if we a doing good or a lump of coal for a warning to be better before Christmas.
For an Elders Quorum party we went caroling to the widows in our ward. What a fun time we had. They always appreciate being remembered this time of year. We then went back to our house and had hot chocolate and cookies and watched Mr. Krugers Christmas.
The CBS Christmas Buffet is always a highlight every year. This year was the 30th year they have done it.

Sock Monkey

Tyler made Jaron a Sock Monkey for Christmas this year. I helped him cut the socks into the right pieces and sewed them with the sewing machine. Tyler helped stuff everything and then sew the pieces onto the Monkey. It turned out great!

Ashdon Marchant

I know this is late, but better late than never. This is the newest addition to the Marchant Family. We were able to go down to Las Vegas for Ashdon's baby blessing and meet this little one. It is so fun to have a new baby to hold and love. We were able to see Adam, Kollen and their family over the Christmas Holiday and spend a little more time with them.

Shepherd's Pie

One of our traditions we do in our family every year before Christmas is we have Shepherd's pie for dinner and we think of the Shepherd's that went and saw Baby Jesus. This recipe is one of our favorites. I'm not very good at writing recipes because I do this one so often I just kind of dump everything together and it always works, but I'll try my best.

2lbs Ground beef
2 cans Tomato soup
2 cans Green beans
1 T. Dried onions
Salt and pepper to taste
4 cups instant potatoes (We think potato pearls are the best)
Grated cheddar cheese

• Brown and drain your groundbeef
• add tomatoe soup, beans and onion and stir together
• Pour in a 9x13 pan
• Prepare your potatoes as per instructions and smooth over the hamburger mixture.
• Sprinkle with grated cheese
• Bake or put in microwave until the cheese is melted
• ENJOY!
  

Gingerbread houses

This year for one of our Family Home Evenings in December we made gingerbread houses. What a fun time we had. When I grew up we always made them for our school teacher for Christmas. After I married Kirk we did it several times with his family also. We haven't done it for quite a while until this year, and what a great time we had. We invited Grandma & Grandpa Marchant over to join in our fun.

Family!

During Thanksgiving this year with my family we took the opportunity to have Family Pictures taken. Lori has a good camara with a time so we were able to do it ourselves. It has been a couple years since our last pictures together and since we have Jaron, our new little addition to the family it was good to get them updated.This is my Sister, Lori, her husband Sean, and their boys, Travis, Tyrel, & Trevin

This is my Brother, Brett and Sister-in-Law, Andrea, and Jaron.

I hope they call me on a mission...

Today my Mom and Dad received their mission call. This is how the plan was to let all of us know where they are going. Mom and Dad were of course going to open their call when they got it and then at 5:30 p.m when everyone was out of work and home we had a conference call number to call so that we would all find out at the same time. This is how it really went; Dad calls me a work and said they received their papers, I said " You're not going to tell me are you?" He said "Don't you want to know?" and then without any time for me to give him an answer, he blurts out..........Cleveland, Ohio.

I am so excited for them, this will be a first for both of them. They will be doing a 12 month Records Preservation mission, where they will go and take pictures and record genealogy records. They will leave for the MTC on January 19th.

Mom and Dad, I love you so much! You will be wonderful missionaries.

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Derick is being quite the snuggly, cuddly, lovable boy lately with me. I quite enjoy it. It seems that the older they get the less they want to do with their parents, so I will enjoy this while it lasts. His new thing with me is when he leaves he'll say "I Love You", I say "I Love you back" and he says no, you have to say it more obnoxiously, so I come up with a silly way to say I love You. FUN.

Go SUU!

We had a great time at the Men's SUU basketball game. We have season tickets this year through CBS so it will be some fun family time going to the games. Derick and Tyler are both playing Basketball this season maybe they'll get some pointers.

To Shave or not To Shave?

Derick thinks that since he is now 14 that it's time to SHAVE. What do you think? He thinks he's lookin mighty hairy.

Who Made Santa's Nice List

http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/5555-heidiscreations/ KAITLIN
http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/5541-heidiscreations/ TYLER

Service with a SMILE!

The Elders Quorum in our ward have been going up the canyon to get wood for families in our ward to help them through the winter. They load the logs on the trailers, and then drop them off at the houses that need it. We went and helped a single sister in our ward for Family Home Evening the other night and helped her cut, split and stack her wood. What a good time we all had and it makes you feel so good inside to help others who are in need. We have such a wonder Family Oriented Ward, I love being a member of our Ward.

Happy Fall Ya'll

I just love this time of year, I wish it would last a bit longer. I has been just beautiful here in Cedar City. This is a card that I made for a card swap.

Sleepless in Cedar City

Tyler has been going through some anxiety lately. I was hoping my kids wouldn't inherit that flaw from me, but two of the three so far have problems with it. I have vowed that I won't let them go through it like I did for so long, without help. Tyler, bless his heart has been having quite a struggle with it, mainly at bed time, needless to say he hasn't been able to sleep in his room very well at all. We have tried everything, music, lighting, prayers, relaxation techniques, etc. The whole "Bloody Mary" thing is going on in the schools, which makes me so MAD! Tyler avoids listening to the stories because he doesn't like being scared, but what can he do when he's in the bathroom stall and the kids come in and turn off the lights and do it while he's in there and he can't leave. This picture is of him and Kaitlin who offered to sleep with him, a week or so ago, it lasted for three nights and we're back to upstairs on the couch. We'll keep trying!

One year older and wiser too!

Happy Birthday to you!

I just want my Mom to know how much I love and appreciate her.

Mom, you are such a giving person, I have learned so much from you and hope to be as giving as you are. Thank you so much for loving my children the way you do. They will always have such fond memories of their times with you. I am so excited for you and Dad to go on a mission what a wonderful and growing experience you will have. You are being an example to all of us.

I Love You!

Love,
Heidi

Happy Birthday Derick!

14 things about Derick

1. Derick is a great teenager. You hear all of the horror stories about teenagers, but if this is what it is like raising a teenager I'll enjoy every minute of it.
2. He honors his priesthood
3. He loves music
4. He is a great friend
5. He is smart
6. He never complains when asked to do something
   
7. He isn't afraid to tell me he loves me
8. He gives me hugs
9. He's taller than me
10. He doesn't like cleaning his room
11. He likes being in plays (right now he is in the play Christmas Carol)
12. He like to longboard with his friends
13. He's a good brother
14. He doesn't like steak.
    

Going Private

We have decided to go private, If you would like to be invited to view my blog, please email me at heidiscreations@gmail.com. We will be going private on Monday, November 17.

I'm it!

I got tagged by my Sister Lori, so here goes......Tagged Lucky 7's and Crazy 8's

7 Things I Can Do...

1. Draw, I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil.
2. Digital Scrapbooking, I have been digital scrapbooking for probably 5 years. It's the only way that I can afford to do scrapbooking.
3. Interior Design, I like to decorate and make my house look nice
4. Be Spontanious, I like to be spontanious, I don't do it as often as I would like but I love it.
5. Read, I didn't like reading until I was in High School but I love a good book now, I just wish that I had more time to read whenever I wanted, usually it is saved for traveling or just before bed.
6. I can curl my tounge
7. Cook, I may not be as good as my Mom, but I learned from the best. My kids and their friends think I'm amazing and that's all that matters.

Things I Cannot Do...

1. I can't play a musical instrument
2. I can't ever have all the laundry caught up on.
3. I can't ride on scary rides at theme parks without paniking
4. I can't make fried chicken like my Mom
5. I can't do a summersault
6. I can't remember my cell phone number
7. I can't give a talk in church without boobing

7 Things That Attracted me to Kirk

1. His Smile
2. His Eyes
3. That he was big
4. He is a hard worker
5. He was worthy to take me to the Temple
6. He was a strong member of the church
7. He respected me

7Things I say Most Often...

1. I Love you
2. Make good choices
3. You're a Dork
4. Brush you teeth and comb your hair
5. Do I have to check and see if it's done?
6. How was your day
7. Do you have any homework?

7 Favorite Foods...

1. Mexican Food
2. Fresh chips and Salsa
3. Hamburgers and Fries
4. Chocolate with nuts
5. Pringles
6. Cucumbers
7. Home grown tomatoes

CRAZY 8'S

8 TV Shows I Like To Watch...

1. Survivor
2. Amazing Race
3. Extreme Home Make-over
4. Criminal Minds
5. Eleventh Hour
6. House

8Things That Happened Yesterday...

1. Had homecooked breakfast at my Mom's
2. Got to hold my nephew Jaron
3. Went to Delta w/ my sister-in-law
4. Started a Blog for my Mom and Dad so that they could keep up with everyong when they go on their mission
5. Planned what were going to do for our Family Chistmas Party a little
6. Had a birthday dinner for Derick
7. Watched some of Journey to the center of the Earth
8. Made fresh Salsa

8 Favorite Places To Eat...

1. Panda Express
2. Johny Corino's
3. Olive Garden
4. Golden Corral

8Things I'm Looking Forward To...

1. Not being in debt
2. Not worrying about money
3. Finishing all of our house projects
4. Some day taking the kids to California, and all of the fun things you can do there
5. Christmas morning
6. Having a weekend that I don't have to do anything
7. Seeing all my kids get married in the temple
8. Going on a mission with Kirk

8 Things On My Wish List...

1. to get my house paid off
2. Go to Disneyland
3. Go on a trip out of the United States
4. To be my perfect size, whatever I decide that may be
5. To be the best Mom and wife
6. To be fun and to do all of the things that I wish I would do with my family
7. to like excercising
8. that my kids are all happy and safe.

Crazy Hair!

Trick or Treat!

Kaitlin was a pretty Witch.
Tyler was Joe Dirt, check out his chest hair.
Derick, as a Rubic Cube, won most educational at our Ward Party.
I had to dress up for my job so this is what I came up with! I even had crows on my shoulder and hat.
What a scary looking bunch!

BOO!

For Family Home Evening we did the traditional "Carving Pumpkins" I did though, try a couple new things.

• Instead of cutting off the top of the pumpkin and having to reach your hand in to light the candles, we cut a hole in the bottom so that you just have to put the candles on the ground, light them, and then cover them with the pumpkin. Worked great!
• I also heard that if you put Vaseline on the cut parts of the pumpkin that it won't dry out as quickly and therefore not mold or shrivel up. Worked great!
• This is the first year that I roasted the seeds! I didn't use any recipe, I just washed them and then soaked them overnight in water and salt. I then drained them off and sprayed them with olive oil and roasted them in the oven. They turned out pretty good for the first time, next time I won't put as much salt, and also might try flavoring them.

It was a fun evening, and the kids did a great job carving their pumpkins.

Grandma BB's Spudnuts

The other night we made my Great Grandma Bebensee's Spudnuts. They were delicious!

The picture above is of my Great Grandma Evers and Great Grandma Bebensee, I never did know my Great Grandma Evers, but I remember my Great Grandma Bebensee, she was a soft and cuddly grandma.
This is a picture of Kaitlin and my Mom making Grandma BB's doughnuts when Kaitlin was three.

Kaitlin's Fall Concert

Kaitlin is in a singing group at school this year, she meets every Wednesday on short day, after school to practice. They all did such a great job! We look forward to more of her concerts this year.

Volcano Erupts in Cedar City

Fall Photos

I love fall and everything about it! The colors, sweaters, smells, soups, pumpkins, etc. The kids and I drove up the canyon the other day (and that is where I got my very first ever in my whole life, ticket) and took pictures with all of the fall colors. Anyway, it was beautiful! It's always quite the adventure trying to get good pictures, between funny faces, sibling doing silly things behind your back, and getting impatient, it's a wonder that you get any good ones.

Don't blink or you might miss Derick on his long board.