...our little reader...

The other day I was sitting on the floor talking to Mike about his day, when all of a sudden Xo grabbed a blanket and a book, sat on my lap, and proceeded to open the book and pretended to read it. It was almost time for bed and our routine is to read a book then go to bed. So either she really wants to learn how to read, or she was just letting me know she was ready to go to bed.

What a great book to learn how to read w/ right?

poor poor Xo!

...our big helper...

I LoVe the stage of life that Payton is in right now. He is out if the terrible 2's and is becoming a big help.
I was making frosting the other day and he came in the kitchen w/ a chair and asked if he could help me. He had to do it on his own. I could barley even hold the bowl! He is one independent person. He loves to help w/ Xo and if she is crying or sad, he is usually the first one to her side to see if she is ok. He is a GrEaT big brother.
We love you Payton!

Angels among us!

Be patient with me as this is the first time I have "blogged". I thought I would take this opportunity to introduce and thank a special young man. An Apostle of the Lord put it best this last conference when Jeffrey R. Holland said, "not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods......Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind". Those of us who know Trent Duval know that the only word that can describe him is angelic. He has been fighting AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia) for the past 15 months. He has fought the good fight and has received his call from Heavenly Father to report home soon. The Lord challenged us in 3 Nephi 12:14-16; "I give unto you to be the light of this people.....Behold do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; Therefore let your light so shine before this people that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven" During this trial for Trent and his family, he truly has let his light so shine. As I read his blog and the comments left by various people around the country, I could not help but feel the spirit as people bore testimony of how his story has drawn them closer to our Heavenly Father. Trents life while short in the eyes of the world has drawn many closer to our Savior. My family has been in Utah the past few days, celebrating his life with those who love him most (thank you Paulette and Gary and Kent and Aceneth for the Airfare), and I can't help but feel like a piece of my heart needs to be expressed to him and the Duval family. Thank you for your lasting example of true Christ-like love and patience as you have traveled this tough road. Thank you for sharing Trent with us for this precious time you have had him. Thank you for your testimony of the Plan of Salvation and for showing us how is possible to be dealt the toughest trials of life and maintain the true faith in the Lord. Thank you. I love you all, Trent, thank you for your positive example to me and my family, especially Payton and Xoie. You will never be forgotten. The Lord truly awaits you with open arms and will soon say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant". Until we meet again.

All my thoughts and Love
Uncle Biscuit

TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

All of you who are in the Salt Lake Area PLEASE READ!

A Day for TrentFund Raiser on Monday, October 13thFor the last 15 months, 8-year-old Trent has been bravely battling AML Leukemia.To help Trent’s family with the tremendous financial burden from medical expenses, Chick-fil-A of South Jordan will be donating 20% of the day’s revenue on Monday, October 13th to Trent’s family.Cash donations will also be accepted, and anyone making a donation of $10 or more will receive a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich to be used on their next visit.In addition, Chick-fil-A of South Jordan will hold a silent auction from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Auctioned items have been donated by local businesses and community members. All proceeds will go to Trent’s family.Please help us in supporting Trent and his family! Call Chick-fil-A of South Jordan with any questions at (801) 727-2697 ******Southtown, Ogden & Layton will be giving a % of sales as well, but only the District Location will have an auction and coupons for donations.

If any of you don't know who Trent is, just click on his name on my side bar and you can see his story. Thanks for your support!

...Conference weekend... (a little late)

I love conference weekend. There is nothing better than listening to the Apostles of God speak. Well, this year we had some friends come over to watch it w/ us. We ate breakfast before the Sunday session, got comfortable on the couches and started to watch. Well, as most of you know, when you sit down to watch conference this is what usually happens to you...

A & J claim that they were awake and still listening, but I will let you make the call. I can't talk to big, because in the afternoon session I looked a lot like they do there, but I put the camera away so there is no evidence.

A & J and there son G brought over G's train set so he would be content through conference, and it worked like a charm. Payton and G sat in the front room w/ us the whole time conference was on. They were quiet and content for the sessions. I know they probably didn't get much out of it, but they heard what was being said and they perked up when the songs were being sung. You can't ask much more out of a 2 and 3 year old during conference right?

Fun & easy Halloween decor!

First of all, I have to dedicate this post to the one person who got my creative brain started. The OnE and OnLy Teri T. If it wasn't for her, I never would have thought about making these...

These Halloween ornaments are so much fun to make. All you need is a styrofoam ball (whatever size you want), ribbon, a hot glue gun, and feather's if you would like and allow your mind to do the rest. It's a good project to do on a rainy day. If you have kids they will love playing w/ the feather's that DO get all over the place.

So Teri, thank you for getting me started w/ the wooden letters, and the blankets. If it wasn't for you, my house would be bare!

...what underwear is really for...

Since Payton doesn't want to use the toilet, he has decided to become the underwear monster!

I put this on him thinking he would totally freak out, but he fooled me. He loved it and wouldn't take it off. I think he loved seeing Xoie run away from him. So much for getting him to wear it on the other end.

Apple picking anyone?

So the kids and I had the opportunity to spend a day w/ Megan, and Matt picking apples at Simmons farm. We all had a blast! Payton would pick 2 apples at a time and bang them together like symbols. Let's just say that we left those ones there.

Payton picked this apple and said "This is my most favorite of all!" He wouldn't put it down. That is until he found another favorite.

The confused look on her face, I don't know what that is, but she wouldn't let this bag out of her site. She loved helping me carry it.

These two have become such good friends. They play all of the time and don't like when the other goes down for a nap. They are constantly worried about one another and if one of them are crying the other is there trying to console them. Xo copies whatever Payton does. If he has to go in time out, she is right by his side. She loves her brother and wants to be just like him. Payton loves watching out for her and showing her new things. In the car he is constantly asking her if she saw the big truck or bus that just passed.

I love that they are so close and care so much for each other. I just hope it will last.