My New Sites

Friends and sisters

   


Sadly, I think I have lost most of my friends to facebook. Lol
You won't find me there, but I do have two other sites, if you want to be my friend there. ;)  


Since I do some work for 3 Bugs In A Rug, and I also am working on redecorating and reorganizing my little house, I started a craft blog to hopefully inspire me and give me a place separate from this blog to work and play.  


I thought I would have posted more since the kids are back in school, but poor Chase has had a hard time in first grade.  This was totally unexpected, since Chase typically LOVES school.  The begging, tears, and anxiety have been all consuming.  (Both of us).
Hopefully this next week will bring some resolution.  He's such a sweet boy and I just want to see him happy every day.  :)  We're surviving!


So, please check out my project blog, follow me too if you will. :)
I think it will be good for me to invest in some creative time.  Its cathartic for sure.  Its still in construction phase.  Most days I'm the tortoise, not the hare. :)  But, there will be more posted very soon!


I also finally got a pinterest account.  I have been a huge fan and follower for the last year.  Since I am not on FB or Twitter, I could never sign up.  However,  I couldn't wait any longer!  Pinterest is brilliant.  I knew it when I first saw it!  Maybe now I can discard all my binders with torn out magazine ideas.  


Here are the links:

                                                         click on the box to go to new blog

                                 www.Pinterest.com/Mcottage/



                                         Happy Friday Y'all!

Just us...

But, some pictures of ALL of us. :)

This was following Braydon's ordination to the priesthood yesterday.  He's 12 and officially in the young men and Deacon's quorum- with the smile to prove it.  
It was a beautiful ending to a hard and hectic week.  
What a beautiful beginning to a new week! :)

The Long Awaited Day...

Has Finally Come!

Livvy could hardly wait until she could dance.  Last year she would cry every time we took Sommer to dance because she wanted to go to "her" class.  She would even go into an empty classroom and sit and wait for her teacher.  It was so sad that she had to wait all year, but I'm so excited that she can go to dance now and not have to wait anymore!!! She is thrilled!! It is so fun watching my

tiny dancer.

And it makes me laugh cause I keep thinking of this favorite Friends clip:

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission...

Braydon gave his last talk (as a youth) in Primary (at church) today.  He is heading to Young Men's in two weeks.  He was asked to speak on missionary work.  He gave a wonderful talk. He was well prepared and spoke like such a confident young man. I couldn't hold back the tears.

His.Last.Primary.Talk? 

And it sounded like a mission farewell.

I guess I need lots of preparation for that day. 

Some highlights from his talk:

He quoted President Monson,

“Young men, I admonish you to prepare for service as a missionary. Keep yourselves clean and pure and worthy to represent the Lord.”

 He also shared this funny story.  Elder Theodore Tuttle said,

"When the prophet of God declares that now is the time to lengthen our stride and to increase our missionary force, now is the time!"

Elder Tuttle talked with a young man about a mission. The young man said, “I don’t want to go.”

Elder Tuttle asked, “What has that got to do with it? We need you.”

(I hope Braydon will always remember this!)

He shared a story from Wade's mission and said how he was excited for the privelege to be the first person to serve a full-time mission in his mom's side of the family. 

Indeed, what an honor!  I wasn't the only person crying at his talk. Other ladies looked at me with tear-filled eyes (which only made me lose it more!)

I am so proud of Braydon. He is such a wonderful boy. He has such a strong spirit!

I told him when we got home how proud I am to be his mom. His words,

"It's the other way around. I am lucky to be your son."

I sooo love this boy!
I hope he will always have the desire to serve a full time mission when he turns 19.

It was a day to remember for sure.  My heart is so full. I am so blessed. And I'm so grateful!

Braydon's Award

Braydon was presented with this award in May.  He received the President's Education Award for his A+ GPA, for testing high in reading and comprehension, and for receiving high scores on his math and science end of year tests. 

It is signed by President Obama.

We are really proud of Braydon and for doing so great in school! :)

We are happy that he received such neat recognition!

Eyes So Pretty, They Needed to be Framed

 Sommer got her Daddy's eyes and they are beautiful, but (recently) not the best on vision.

(A small price to pay, if I do say so myself!)

Aint she cute?!?

Her frames have cute purple and blue stars on the side.  The color is perfect for her - I think!