My Grandma ~ Mellie Maxine Winder

Today is my grandma Winder's birthday. I was so blessed to have my grandparents live next door to me. They were big influences in my life; and I miss them every day. I have so many memories of my grandma Winder...amazing wife and mother, incredible homemaker, cook, gardener, seamstress. She lived her life close to the Spirit and loved to see her children and grandchildren doing their various activities and talents and served those around her. She loved her family and loved to support them in anything they were doing. She loved flowers and dishes...she had a ton of dishes which she liked to use during meal times. She loved to look pretty, had her hair and make-up done, nails painted, her pretty jewelry on, perfume. Loved to be going somewhere with my grandpa and visit with her loved ones and friends. She lived the gospel and was a great example. She could get many things accomplished all in one day. She supported and encouraged my piano practice, would sit and listen to me play, taught me through example. I was blessed to live with her for sometime during my teenage years, it taught me a lot about being a wife and a mother and being a good person period. She was the only one that would call me by my real name..Amanda. She enriched my life; and continues to do so even though she is at rest now. I love her and miss her; miss being around her, and look forward to the day where I can see her again.

Cameo Heights Mansion

Toby and I stayed at this wonderful B & B in Touchet, WA - about 22 miles from Pasco. It was by far the best experience we have had as far as B & B's and food goes. We had a wonderful time with 5 other couples. We got there and hiked up to the cherry trees; viewed the beautiful landscape around the mansion that was surrounded by apple & cherry trees. There was a beautiful outdoor pool and hot tub!! We enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the fire pit, sipped on fresh fruit smoothies, had the best fish and veggies, soup and salad ever. Enjoyed a candle-lit dinner complete with singing and a baby grand piano...which I did play for the dinner guests dining with us. Sampled yummy desserts -blackberry cobbler, lemon cheesecake, mint chocolate ice cream cake. We played ping-pong, watched a movie in their home theatre. In the morning we woke up to fresh homemade strawberry danishes with fruit smoothies and later we enjoyed a yummy breakfast of cinnamon french toast, sausage and potatoes with orange juice. We saw beavers building along the river and lots of different birds. The Mansion over looks the Walla Walla river and sits on a 400 acre orchard and vineyard. Highly recommend to anyone needing a get away!!! Check our their website at http://www.cameoheights.com/ -you won't be disappointed!!

Tired.....

This pretty much sums up how I have been feeling lately! Tired!!! Don't get me wrong; it's a good tired...tired from being a mom to three beautiful kids and a wife to my best friend. Also starting up a pretty strict exercise and diet routine has put my body in some shock too! I really needed a break from the every day...thank goodness Toby and I had a weekend get-away planned at the Cameo Heights Mansion this past weekend! I was able to unwind and relax...I barely remembered my name after so much pampering and relaxation! Wow! I realized how hard Toby and I work and how stressful life can be with 3 kids and activities and school, making ends meet, etc. etc. I am sure everyone knows how that feels. It's been awhile since we have actually had time for a date together let alone a get-away. Being able to finish a conversation with one another was wonderful in and of itself! Uninterrupted extended lengths of time together are rare -and boy did it feel great to be able to do that with my husband!!
Thank you mom and dad for watching my kids while we went away to recharge our batteries!

Black Eye & Missing Front Teeth!!!

Mikenna has had quite the last couple days. She lost her second front tooth this week at school..I guess she has gotten over her fear of losing her teeth. She said she was working on getting her tooth out during recess; and out it came! She came home with it in a tooth holder necklace that the school nurse gave her...with a huge toothless grin on her face; she came running to the van after school was out. The way she pronounces certain words sounds really different to her; and she keeps asking how to pronounce certain words now without sounding like she has no front teeth...I told her to just do her best; soon her new teeth will be showing up; and it won't be so hard to pronounce certain words right. The same day that she lost her tooth at school; she got hit in the face/eye with the soccer ball at practice at close range and really hard. I was really proud of her for jumping right back into practice after a break to compose herself. I told her soccer can be a rough sport; and you have to expect you are going to get hurt sometimes; but you have to be tough and get back out there and keep working hard for you and your team. True to Mikenna's personality; she smiled at me and ran back out there and worked even harder...she makes me so proud! She has no quit in her; works so hard at everything she does; and she usually does it with a big smile on her face and helping others along the way.

An Apostle's Easter Thoughts on Christ

I watched a YouTube video on the atonement of Jesus Christ.
This brought me to tears....I felt the spirit so strong.
I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ; for his atonement and resurrection; for his perfect example.
I am grateful for my Heavenly Father and his unconditional love. I am grateful for my family and for the gospel that brings me the knowledge of knowing I can be with my loved ones forever someday. Striving every day to be more like my Savior; and become a better person, wife, mother, sister, friend and daughter of God. I pray I will fulfill all he has in store for my life and accomplish my life's mission in a way that he will say to me someday..."Well done, thou good and faithful daughter of God."

Family Home Evening Board

I usually have some project going on...it is one of the things I do to release stress and also create; which fulfills my creative side. I decided to make my own version of a family home evening board. It was a lot of fun to put together and I think it turned out pretty cute. I love picking things out to create something with; and then putting it all together to make something unique. It's easy for the kids to use; which I love. The picture holders are actually travel bag identification holders -they hang on a nail; and are very easy to move around to the various assignments. Since we have 5 in our family -the scripture goes along with the Lesson -and whoever has prayer -says opening and closing prayers. I love the visual reminder in my home to have a family home evening where everyone contributes. Next on my list is to paint both the bathrooms and to plant some flowers in my backyard.

Mikenna's Easter Cake Creation

Mikenna loves to bake. She and I went to the store this past week after soccer practice and she came up with this idea for an Easter cake to share with her cousin's this Sunday after Easter dinner. We found some candy grass the tastes like apple..it's actually pretty good. She used Robin Egg malt balls for the eggs; pink peeps for the birds; and since she loves sprinkles; we found some Easter sprinkles to put on the top. She made a cherry chip cake with vanilla frosting. It turned out pretty cute. I think she has the love of baking gene in her from my mom. We will see if her cousins like it today! Happy Easter everyone!

Birdhouses 2009

Here are the birdhouses that the kids made. They turned out pretty cute I think. They turned out too cute for me to put outside; so I have found a place in the house to put them during Spring. I think I will save them and put them in their keepsakes bins. I think the three chicks in the picture are even cuter then the birdhouses!

Easter Fun!!

The kids had fun celebrating Easter. They each got a bag from Toby and I with fun things to do...among them; silly string. Which we let the kids play with on the trampoline; along with bubbles, silly putty, sidewalk chalk, how fast can you eat your candy -which I am happy to say we didn't have anybody lose their cookies! They got some much needed spring and summer clothes and shoes. We enjoyed being outside with one another, had dinner together, and watched the Tale of Despereaux....cute movie! We also played with our new shop vacuum -we let the kids suction up the silly string mess; and then they started suctioning each other; and blowing it in their faces -which was pretty funny looking; we used it to blow bubbles around the yard too -worked pretty good. We then went to the garage to paint bird houses -which was a really fun activity to do with them. We also baked a bird peep cake for Easter dessert on Sunday at grandma's house. It was a fun day with our kids!!!

One brave girl; who has one front tooth!!!

Mikenna lost her first front tooth! She was anxious about losing it; she was so happy and proud of herself for finally working at it to get it to come out. It was literally hanging there by a string. I had to be patient with her; and let her do it in her own time...she finally went into the bathroom after weeks of encouragement and twisted it out after about 2 minutes. She came out and had a huge smile on her face with her tooth in her hand. The tooth fairy left her a toy and some money for such a big feat of getting over her fears. I think the next teeth will be a little easier now she knows it isn't that bad. She asked how she was going to say her "s's"-and she was for some reason worried she was going to look like a hobo??? I told her she is a beautiful girl inside and out; and shouldn't worry about looking like a hobo. Kinda funny :) She took her tooth fairy loot and her cute one tooth smile to school the next day to show her class and teacher what she accomplished. Too cute! I love her so much! She makes me smile every day; and for that I am grateful!!

Happy 11th Birthday Jaron!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, handsome, fun, active, young man!! Jaron Lyle Rasmussen

My first born is officially 11 years old!! He was born on April 4th, 1998. He was 7lbs. 10 oz. and born in Longmont, Colorado; was 21 inches long and was born during General Conference weekend on a Saturday at 1:29pm. He was born with a lot of blond hair and big blues eyes with long eyelashes. He has been a blessing to our family. I can't believe he is already 11 years old! He is a talented artist -loves to draw. Loves to play drums, work on computer programs, play basketball, and is also a Boyscout now! He is an excellent student, loves to read, write and loves history. He is a friend to everybody, and is a wonderful big brother to his sisters; Mikenna and Brielle. He has a huge heart and is passionate about life -loves to have fun and be active. We love you so much buddy! Don't grow anymore! Deal???