All About the Argyles

Today I was caught off gaurd.  Jensen has been prepping to leave for school the last few weeks and it has been fun.  We went to Ericka last week and she got a new haircut and color.  It turned out so cute.  Ericka is the best.  I have been so excited for Jen that I really didn't think I would cry.  But then after she left with Brent for the airport, I walked in her room and saw this.  and this... and this...  and I sobbed.  It hit me.  She really is gone. Oh how we will miss her! But I felt the warm embrace of so many sweet friends who texted me and offered words of encouragement and concern.  Several of them having been through this themselves and knowing how hard the first few days are after you send your first born off to college. One sweet gal even dropped off a little care package so I could drown my sorrows in Diet Coke and chocolate. Grateful today for a daughter who is independent and ready to...

I taught a class in relief society last week and here are my notes from the class. Recognizing that all family dynamics are different and that what works for some might need to be tailored a little different for others, this has been a great system for us for the last 16 years.     These are not just temporal principles, many are spiritual in nature so listen with your spiritual ears. Why set up a chore and money system in your home? Well the reasons are SOOO much more than just a cleaner house…. 1. you’ll teach them a good work ethic 2. it will build unity in your family as your work side by side 3. it will instill feelings of self reliance and boost self esteem when they can complete tasks and provide their own “wants” with their earnings. 4.they will learn the difference between NEEDS and WANTS 5. they will learn how to manage money and make mistakes with their money when it is not painful (versus as an adult) 6.they will learn that there is ...

Read this story today and had to include it.  Such a great story of compassion and not judging.  You just never know when a small act can make all the difference to someone else. President Spencer W. Kimball once said,   " God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. " The heartfelt gesture of a stranger toward a North Carolina family has gone viral. Ashley England and her family went out to eat when her oldest son, eight-year-old Riley, started to get frustrated.  England told CNN  her son was hungry and couldn't get the Netflix on her phone to work.   Riley has epilepsy and is non-verbal, which England says makes it hard for him to communicate. He often screams and acts out when he gets frustrated. That frustration, which included screaming, beating on the table and throwing the phone, caught the attention of some nearby customers. But the kindness of one of those customers ...

 Apparently the kids are starting to get bored and are ready to get back to school as evidenced by this pic I found on my ipad of Kiki.  We were unable to attend the Swim team banquet as it was on a Sunday but this arrived in our mailbox and let me tell you there was a certain 8 year old that was pleased as punch that he earned the backstroke record for his age group since the inception of Prosper Summer swim.  These cute little beehives went to the temple, many of them for the first time.  That cute one on the end in the striped dress (I really like her!)  went and did temple work for my grandmother.  Tanner was able to go do work for my grandfather.  It was a special day.  Sheri and I took nine kids back to school shopping one day.  It was...an adventure.  Brady got a back to school haircut and they threw in a free "hot towel" treatment for kicks.  He loved every minute of it.  Took my Dad out ...

As soon as Sheri and I heard about the ONE DIRECTION movie that was coming out, we knew we had to organize a fun girls night out with our daughters.  Two years ago, before 1D was HUGE, we took them to concert in Frisco and they have all been in love with Nial, Liam, Louie, Harry, and Zane ever since.  Sheri and I are big fans too. We invited anyone who wanted to come and before we knew it we had about 18 girls and 9 moms on board.  We gathered at Sheri's house two nights before the premier and made these cute tshirts for each of the girls. The finished product.  The moms. a fabulous group of girls  and a great group of ladies.  It was so much fun. And Reagan was the lucky winner of this 1D tshirt.  The winning slip of paper was under her chair.

No first day jitters here.  This crew was ready and excited to go back, except for maybe Tanner because of PreCal and College algebra.  I'm the mean mom who signed him up for two math classes each semester.  But hey!  In my defense, He's REALLY good at math. This cute gal is going to rock 6th grade.  And this one is going to love 7th grade at her new campus.  He is starting 3rd grade.  How the time flies! And this big boy is a Senior. I think McKinley likes that her big brother will be taking her to school every morning. Maybe his truck is a little cooler than my mom mobile.    Reagan got a pic with Kylie and Marrin. (and her awesome principal!) We will carpool with them every day. Dang!  Those are some cute girls! And on my first day back to a little free time and normalcy I made these cute little Rx for "Smart Pills" for the families that Brent and Tanner home teach (an...

I already mentioned that I am ready for everyone to go back to school.   Well this week after schedule pick up and locker decorating for this 6th grader at one campus...  and schedule pick up and locker decorating for this 7th grader at another campus...  and meet the teacher for this new 3rd grader... (This is his cute teacher, Mrs. Cobb)   and this SENIOR boy got his shipment of all of his crazy tshirts that he ordered. (That is all he wanted for back to school shopping, 10 funny tees and a new pair of Sperrys to complete his collection.  (Teenage boys are WAY easier to get ready for going back to school than girls, just sayin'.)   And finally today we made the crazy huge Costco run for back to school lunches. i I think I'm officially ready. Except now I need to help that college gal get ready for her departure date that is coming up in two weeks.  We bought the tix to fly her and Brent out  but there...