Scattering Sunshine

As of today, these are my top 12 inspirational Christmas thoughts. I have more, but calling it the 12 days forces me to prioritize them. So.... top 12, in no particular order: Christmas Spirit   A Mormon Message

**(Dec. 10th) OK - I lied- it's 8 recipes. Taysa and I made sugar cookies yesterday, and I realized I left those out of this list - so technically it's 9 if you count the recipe for frosting..... I only use 7 recipes. I don't only cook 7 things. It's just that I don't use recipes. For example, I make spaghetti with meat sauce, chilli, different soups, enchiladas, crock pot stuff, etc.  but I just throw things together and shake in the spices. There is rarely a recipe involved.   Baking, on the other hand, does require measuring stuff.  During the first few years of our marriage, I tried lots of different recipes, mostly ones that I got from my mom. I tweaked them a bit early on, but now I pretty much use these 7, and that's just what I bake. All the time. Chocolate Chip Cookies These win everyone over. Every time. 

I Hope They Call Me On a Mission... Oh my goodness what an unexpected opportunity, decision, and blessing this event is becoming for our sweet Rissy girl! Thanks to Josh Neilsen for the video!

Happy 17th Birthday Kix!! He has been down and out with the stomach flu for four days :(  Including having to miss his first official basketball game of the season, which would have been today.

Kix and Ace both had a blast participating in the high school drama production this weekend!  This was Ace's first opportunity, and Kix's .... well probably the 4th one he's been in. They did 2 short plays. One was the "Suess Odyssey" Here are some shots of Ace doing his role of Odysseus's son:

Absolutely perfect ending to this FUN and inspiring series of books and movies. They have been a bonding thing for me and some of my kids, students, sisters, and some brothers even.  :)  LOVE IT!♥

We have officially left the business of supplying our corner of the world with adorable lab mix puppies. I can say officially rather than just joking about it like we have many times because our precious Chloe mamma dog has passed away.  :(  We will also be leaving the buisness of supplying the world with adorable kittens, after the spay and neuter clinic that is being held in Brush in a week or two receives a visit from our Jasmine. I must absolutely say that it is one of the best parts of farm life to be able to raise baby critters though!  ♥

The kids started calling her our "Holiday Dog".  She was born on Halloween. The kids got her from Santa on Christmas.  She became pregnant  for the first time a year later on Valentine's Day. The puppies were born on Easter. And so it went.  She left us this past September, 2 days after giving birth to a litter of 7 puppies. Ace drew this sweet picture the night she died:

 Cade as the Mad Hatter & Miss Taysa as a Pirate Princess. Fun times.  :)

Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel for these two. I truly thank the Lord for sending me to one of His absolute BEST Families!! Love you so much Mom & Dad. Happy Anniversary! ♥ Here's a little video - sharin some love and smiles from kids and grandkids.... It all started when these 2 fell in love... ♥

My boys got to play high school ball together this year!  Yay! Sure did help out the calendar and gas money logistics to not have junior high sports or high school girls sports on there. Larissa's senior year of high school had to have been the most complex family schedule of all time. :) The boys fought a good fight this year. Kix's injury should did take the wind out of his sails at a critical point in the season, but he got to go give it his all for the final game against Akron.  Next year they'll pull it all together and get into the playoffs I'm sure!

Cade is a very talented young athlete. It's always interesting to me to see the dynamics of his role on the team shift every other year, as he goes from being one of the oldest to one of the youngest. This year he was one of the youngest. He really enjoyed playing both offensive end and defensive end, as well as backup QB. They did not escape the season without a dreaded game in the pouring rain/sleet. These boys love the adventure of that for some crazy reason!  ;) We made this little video of their celebration after they trounced a big rival school in the final game of the season.

Homecoming is usually defined by 2 things: football and dancing. Sometimes it also includes fall festival. This year we had snow, so fall festival got crossed off the list. Friday = Football. Kix was in the game and helped the team score 2 touchdowns in the first half. But in the 2nd quarter, he got injured. The second half of the game was spent in the ER, where we awaited texts, hoping to hear that it ended in a victory. Alas, it was not to be. Merino didn't score in the second half and ended up losing by ONE POINT!! :(  Here is a clip of what the newspaper article said about Kix. They did not mention his injury or the fact that he didn't play the second half, but I think that game would have ended differently if he would have been in there!  ♥  

Taysa was SO extremely excited for her first official stake primary activity. Imagine the happy bonus when she found her cousin Halle Jo there! They had such a fun day together. I'm so grateful to the leaders who worked for months to make this wonderful activity a success. Taysa and I put this little video together to share with the other girls in our ward.  ♥     

Larissa's sophomore year on the volleyball team was another great opportunity for her to experience college life as a "scholar athlete." The team went through a lot of growing pains with a new coach and trying to pool their talents together in the most effective way on that court. I'm so proud of this kid for always having the "Ask not what your team can do for you, but what YOU can do for your team" attitude. She was a great asset to them this year, and the life lessons she learned will forever be a blessing. Love this girl!! ♥ ♥ ♥

At the airport, headed back to SVU - August 2012 Larissa started her own blog this year. ♥  I'd be even more happy if she had time to update it every week or so, but hey - I'll take what I can get. Plus... I'm one to talk when it comes to that sort of thing! :/ The link to her blog is: Lucky Larissa

Another school year ... life is going entirely too fast.  It's a serious problem. She doesn't particularly like this picture, but here's Rissy at the beginning of her Sophomore year of college. This was taken in the first couple of weeks for her volleyball roster pic. ♥ Here is the handsome Kix - just shy of his 17th birthday. Junior year! ♥ Ace the stud, 14 years old - Freshman in HIGH School.... Impossible. ♥ This is 11 year old fifth grader, Cade. He has a great smile, and I have no idea why he decided not to show his teeth...  ♥ Our sweet little 8 year old Taysa J in the third grade. ♥  Her dad did a good job with the whole hair thing! (I was out of town on picture day...)

Cade decided to do 4-H this year. Boy did that turn into a lot more than we expected!! But, when it was all said and done, Cade had an incredibly good experience, and even made $1100.00!  Cade started projects in Shooting Sports, and Poultry. Then when Grandpa Hatch gave us a surprise gift of 2 baby goats in February, he decided to add that project as well. We are so glad he did. The whole thing was a great experience that we'll never forget. He and Taysa plan to do it together this year! Goats and Chickens:

This post will be continually updated - because there are many more of these - but this is a start. ♥ I love to be inspired. I am inspired by people around me everyday. Most of the movies, books, TV, & music that I enjoy inspires me in some way. I'm so grateful for all that is good in this world!♥ There IS no tomorrow!!!

Kix had fun participating in the Spring play, which was made up of 3 "shorts". In one of the 3, he played Hamlet, Zombie killer of Denmark. Quite the tale. Here is a compilation of his zombie slaying skills. ♥ I will most likely add some still shots to this post later.... can't find 'em right now!  :/

Cade and Taysa had a lot of fun planning this skit together. They combined moments from Night at the Museum, Despicable Me, and Finding Nemo to tell a fun short story. ♥   

Look out Merino High School - Heaven help you all.... Totally kidding.  :) Can't believe this fine young man will be old enough for that though!

Cade had a cool history project during the last quarter of his 4th grade school year which culminated with a Wax Museum of historical figures from Colorado. He was assigned Chief Ouray. We think he did an outstanding job.  ♥

Riss - 4th grade Kix 11 months old!  Yes he was an early walker!! (More proof that he's the real Batman probably) Cade 2011 

First game of Cade's 4th grade season, and first game of Taysa J's life! Fun times. :)

  It's so hard to believe that our sweet baby girl has already hit the wonderful milestone of her baptism day!! ♥