New Beginnings

We have an idea for our New Beginnings this year that I am quite excited about. I will give details in case anyone else is interested in using it.


The theme for the new year is "Be Strong and of Good Courage", so we figured that since the Winter Olympics are almost here, we could do something with the Olympic theme. Our invitations will be something along the lines of, "Join us for the 2010 YW Opening Ceremonies".... I made the following graphic to use (the rings are the value colors). I will probably try to make a bigger version of this to decorate, as well as maybe some international flags, streamers, colorful paper snowflakes, winter sports equipment, etc......

Here is the full program outline:

 
Program pdf

Program in Word 

Additional details 2/4/10:

Here is a picture of the medals that my advisor made. I think they turned out really cute! She used 3" wood circles from a craft store, spray painted them gold, and ordered a page or two of vinyl lettering for the theme. She glued thin ribbons of the value colors onto the back and covered the back with a circle of felt material. She said the vinyl was kind of a pain, so you could do something with paper, or just write it with a marker perhaps....
Some have asked about further details on our torch. I just took yellow and orange tissue paper (like the $1.00 kind you put in gift bags, I got it from Walmart) and just cut it out so that it looked like flames, stuck the two colors together at the bottom with glue dots, and then used glue dots (you can get these in the scrapbook section of Walmart) to attach it, orange side out, around the top of a long gold metal flashlight that I had. I made it wide enough that it wrapped around a couple times, and I had some orange ribbon, so I put that around the bottom edge of the tissue paper (also using glue dots) so that the edge looked more finished. I should have taken a picture, we used it last night and then I took everything apart afterward. Here is a rough sketch.For dessert we used an idea from the comments on Sugardoodle and did fruit pizzas. We used an easy recipe and we did them in sheet cake pans, cut them in individual squares and then put a few small pieces of fruit in the middle of each individual piece. They turned out really colorful and pretty, and delicious too.

I thought the whole night went really well and the girls really had fun with it. The only thing I would have done differently is to maybe rehearse the torch procession more beforehand. The girls were a little confused on where to stand for their parts.

**We forgot to get pictures but here's some fun ideas from others who have used this idea and sent me their blog posts:

http://www.kinamartin.blogspot.com/2010/06/new-beginnings.html

http://presbury.blogspot.com/2010/02/pictures-from-new-beginnings.html 

http://tkjonosbiggsfamily.blogspot.com/2010/02/olympics-and-yws.html

http://dipmakesmehappy.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-beginnings-olympic-cupcakes.html

 
 

Halloween!

The boys insisted on being pirates this year. I thought they looked pretty cute even though neither the hooks nor the eye patches stayed on for more than 5 minutes.

And here's Tom/Abe Lincoln/Mose Schrute and I hanging out at the Elem. school carnival.
Which do you think is a better likeness?

and Jace just enjoyin' the ride....


Here's a fun pic of me and my boys. I tried about 20 times and never got one of them all facing the camera, oh well.

Vegas Pictures

Over UEA break we took the kids to Las Vegas for a short, cheap vacation. We had a good time, we mostly stayed right in our hotel (Circus Circus) and the kids played all day at the Adventure Dome indoor theme park, which was basically void of any other people--so nice!! Anyway, although we had a great time, I was a little shocked how much more trashy Las Vegas is than when I was there the last time. I know I shouldn't be shocked, it is "sin city", but man....the mom in me was just wanting to get my little innocent little boys out of there as soon as possible. Too bad it has to be that way (and too bad Disneyland costs four times as much!!) But here are some fun pics.

My baby can smile!

So I know all of my posts are usually pictures of my kids, but right now, that's about all I have going on. And seriously, can you blame me, look how cute they are!! :o)

July Fun

Ok, as you can tell the new little guy has kept me pretty busy and I haven't kept up with the blog. This baby loves to be held, thank goodness Tom is home a lot!

Here's a few of the things going on lately. We had Jace's blessing last weekend and also celebrated the 4th of July with family. It was a lot of fun. It was also my little brother Brock's 14th birthday, I can't believe he's that old!
I have started giving Derek piano lessons and so far he is still liking it. After two whole lessons! He is doing really well and it is really fun to listen to him play.
Dallan is constantly making us smile. Whether he's talking about his best friend, Leeman Clock (don't tell Dallan he's imaginary), or making a bed for Fred the toy dog, he is great at finding things to keep busy.
And while I was putting together a baby book for Jace I realized I hadn't taken a single picture of Jace and I together (probably because these days I hide from the camera), but I broke down and had Dallan take one.

Newer pictures of Jace

Here's a few newer pictures of Jace. He is getting so fun and smiling and making cute little sounds already. So fun!

Introducing Jace Laurence Davidson

He's finally here! Jace was born last Tuesday and was 9 lbs. 4 oz. and 20.5 inches long. Baby is doing great and we all adore him! Just wish he would open his eyes more for us. This kid LOVES his sleep!! No I am not complaining about it :o)

Less than a Month!

While I am busy counting down the days until baby comes, I'll update you on some of the other things going on.

Derek has started playing soccer and he really likes it. I am not a very good soccer mom, especially when he showed up the first day without shin guards, a jersey, or soccer shoes like every other kid had on. That's what I get for signing up late! By the second game, though, he looked much better.

Last weekend we took a quick trip to Roosevelt for a delayed family Easter egg hunt and a Laurence Welk Party to celebrate my grandma and grandpa's birthdays. Although it was "sweltering" (as Dallan would say) in the church gym, but it was really fun anyway. Ace made a great Laurence Welk and Mom and Lindsey threw a great party. Thanks guys!

Kudos to Bruce and Deanne's Family for the best costumes

And here's a link that I found on a friend's site, I thought it was cool. Of course I have always enjoyed BORING instrumental music, especially when it involves a piano and a cello. I also love both of these songs and I think they sound awesome together. If you get bored with the 8 minute video, at least skip to 2:45 minutes, it really starts to pick up there....

JON SCHMIDT - Love Story (Taylor Swift) meets Viva La Vida (Coldplay)

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Good Reads - At least for me

So once I took up reading again last fall, I have gotten back into the habit of picking up a novel at night. It's a nice excuse to unwind and put up my now elephant-looking feet, while Tom is absorbed with Mad Money or whatever riveting documentary he can find to watch. (Love you honey!) I've been trying out different books at the library and have found an author that I quite like - Lynn Austin. I got tired of the old books that you have to wade through all the complicated language to figure out what's really going on, and a lot of the modern books are filled with language and topics that are a little distasteful, so I really liked this author's approach. Her books are mostly historical, with some romance, some mystery, and even some nice all-around Christian morals included. If any of you are interested, some of my favorites are:

Candle in the Darkness

Fire by Night

A Light to my Path

Hidden Places

If any of you have other suggestions for good books you want to pass on, let me know. Of course, I think my reading days will be over in a few weeks, but you can pass them on just in case. :o)

Some fun pictures....

The Belly

OK Darla, this is for you. :o) I posed for some nice prego belly pictures and Derek made a pretty good little photographer. Yes, I am only 7 months.... and no I am not having twins (the two questions I get asked most frequently).


















And here's a cute picture of Derek's "fauxhawk" that he wanted me to try before he got his haircut. We used professional gel and a blow-dryer and everything and we were so proud that it stayed until the next morning.

Dallan on the other hand has been trying his own beauty makeovers. He got ahold of the markers and I found him with a mirror behind the chair in the living room, he was making his fingernails and toenails "just like mine" and his face "just like the grinch".

The boys

We took this cute picture of the boys in their matching ties a couple weeks ago and I just thought I would share.