Valentine's Day

So, we decided to do a challenge this year for Valentine's day, and all you out there will help determine the winner. Lindsey and I will each get to spend no more than $10 to come up with the most creative gift to one another. On Thursday, we will post what we did and let you guys vote on the best one. The winner gets bragging rights for coming up with the better of the two gifts while the second place (also know as the loser) will have the chance to make up for the loss by planning date nights for the next 3 months. We are looking forward to the outcome!

1 week till Valentines Day!

We took some pictures for our Valentines cards this year...we went with the first one. Aren't they sweet? (Looks can be deceiving you know.)

I'm taking the challenge

This was an e-mail I received & I'm making this a goal, you should too!

As most of you know, our beloved prophet, Gordon B.Hinckley passed away at the age of 97. His funeral will be on Saturday, February 2nd.

I was thinking of how I could honor his legacy and I came up with an idea. My friend and I have created a challenge for those willing to accept it: Read the Book of Mormon in 97 days. We are trying to get everyone to start on the same day. Here are the

details:

Go to www.hinckleychallenge.com and create an account (free, of course).

On Feb 4, 2008 (the Monday following the funeral) have an FHE lesson on the Book of Mormon and begin your reading.

Each day you read, record what page number you are on by going to www.hinckleychallenge.com We would like this challenge to be heard all around the world! Please forward this message to everyone you know. We would love to see over 1 million pages of the Book of Mormon read by the time this challenge has ended.

Do you want to show your support? Do you want to follow the prophet? Do you want to get rid of all of your excuses for not reading and become a warrior?

Then join me in this challenge!!!

We are going to spread this throughout the news media (TV an d radio) and we've already contacted Fox news, KSL, CBS, and ABC. But we cannot get the word out to everyone without your help! Please forward this on to EVERYONE in your address book. Time is of the essence!! This will be the one forwarded message that everyone will be happy to get :).

--Join by going here

www.hinckleychallenge.com/createUser.php

-Jake Andersen

P.S. You can always see an updated list of those who have accepted the challenge by clicking here www.hinckleychallenge.com/warriors.php

WARNING: POSSIBLY BORING

So I haven't posted much because there's not a lot of "new" going on & I don't want to bore you with the same ol' same ol'. Here are some interesting things going on:

• Ava is doing great potty-training. We've just got to conquer the idea of potty-ing when we are at other people's houses. I've also got to be more prepared for an accident. We came home in a princess dress the other day. :) We did have the privilege of going to HEB's bathroom today- oh boy.
  
• Sydnee is making potty-progress as well, but I'm so not pushing it. She loves to do the potty dance, though- which is basically moving your feet fast with your hands in the air while yelling, "Woohoo!"
  
• I love the way Sydnee says Mommy- it makes me glad to be hers, it sounds like "Mom-eh".
• Ava is so silly, she loves to pretend & was pretending funny things last night. She's getting so big...I guess they do have to grow up! I love pinching that little pantie-covered bottom!
• We are going to Dallas on Saturday for Stephanie's endowment- Todd's sisters. She is the youngest, only girl, & the last to get married. Should be fun!
  

So maybe there are a few interesting things going on...but other than that just staying busy with all that I have to balance.

Love to you all!

Tribute to President Hinckley

*Together Again*

President Thomas S. Monson:

“It was my privilege to know and love President Hinckley long before either of us was called to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or the First Presidency. Through the years I have sat next to him, have served with him and have learned from him. I am a witness to his prophetic calling.

“President Hinckley was prodigious in his work ethic and was totally dedicated to the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a friend to one and all and a leader who inspired spirituality. His outreach on an international scale was unprecedented. He was truly a prophet for our time. Like the Master, he devoted his life to doing good, and God was surely with him. His life was a gift to the world.”

President Henry B. Eyring:

“President Hinckley had the gift to make people want to do better and to feel that they could. Last Tuesday I sat in a meeting with him as he considered and then decided matters of great importance, some about individuals and some affecting the entire Church. He was pleasant, incisive, and clearly inspired. For me, he raised the standard of what it is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, giving all.”

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles express our heartfelt love and admiration for President Gordon B. Hinckley and the singular life of service he lived. He was our prophet, our leader, our brother and our friend. We feel a deep, personal loss at his passing. He unfailingly demonstrated his devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, whose witness he was at home and abroad.

“We will miss his wit and his wisdom, his leadership and his love. However, we cannot but rejoice in his reunion with his beloved Marjorie, with his parents and other family members who have gone before, and with the prophets of God, both ancient and modern, among whose eternal ranks he now stands. As the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles we echo the voice of the Master, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant. … Enter into the joy of thy Lord.’ ”

We'll miss you, President Hinckley but echo the words of those who knew you best- thank you.

Those silly girls

So yesterday was a very bad day...basically due to my children misbehaving. :) Anyhow, when I was changing their sheets before bedtime both of them climbed into Sydnee's bed & pretended to be asleep. It was nice to end the day with them with a smile because otherwise I was thinking they might be possessed. :)

Cute cuts!

Both girls got their hair cut yesterday- they did awesome! And they turned out really cute- take a look! I don't have as many pictures of Sydnee because hers took maybe 2 minutes. :) Aren't they DARLING?!! Just want to pinch those cheeks! They got their cut at Kids Kuts, where they got to sit in a chair in the form of a car & watch cartoons- love that!

Because I AM Elayna Enrichment!

Well, since it isn't "homemaking" anymore I took the liberty of changing Susie Homemaker's name. :) Last night I made a fabulouso dinner with some breadsticks I learned how to make at Enrichment last week. It was so exciting to put my new skills to work! These little puppies were delish! And because you love me, I'll share the recipe. Here's a picture of my fine skills.

Breadsticks by Andrea Keller

Yields 12 breadsticks

1 tablespoon yeast

2 tablespoons sugar

1 ½ cups warn water

½ tsp salt

3 cups flour

½ cup butter

garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and/or salad supreme

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix together yeast mixture, sugar, salt, and flour. Knead for about 3 minutes. Add flour as needed. Let stand for 10 minutes, or longer. Melt butter on cookie sheet. Cut dough into fourths, then into thirds. Roll & twist. Roll in butter, sprinkle with garlic salt, parmesan cheese and/or salad supreme. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until lightly browned.

The Prices Strike Again

For Family Fun Night we decided to pick up a pizza and a movie. The Price's were very kind to let us "rent" from their library. We only intended to get a movie for the girls and another for us for our double feature, but we ended up coming home with 6! In fact, they found a couple of un-opened movies they already have, so they gave them to the girls. I don't think we will ever get even with their extreme generosity.

So stinking busy!

So it's 5:46am. I'm up b/c Sydnee wanted to be held- shocker I know. She's asleep now, so maybe in a bit I can get some shut-eye.
This week has been crazy busy trying to catch up with being gone. It's been like 70% Relief Society, 10% Stamping to keep my sanity & blog updated, & 10% everything else. Should be a (keeping my optimism up) great Sunday with my first round of welfare meetings, my lesson, & visiting teaching conference after church!
Today I have to finish everything with little time to do so. Some of our Nacogdoches friends are coming to see us today! Don, Vanessa, & kids plus Joe & Mindy with their baby. We're excited to see them. Yeah! Should be a fun-filled day...so I should go rest. :)
Have a great weekend!
Lindsey

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

I sent out this e-mail New Year's letter today, so I thought I would post it here as well. Here is our family portrait we took at Sears this year as well...it's better in person.

Howdy friends & family!
Despite my best intentions, Christmas cards were not sent this year again! And to curb my guilty feelings, I wanted to send out a little update for us in hopes that you can "feel the love" through the Internet. We do sincerely wish all of you a happy, safe, & prosperous new year. Now if you're craving that yearly Christmas newsletter with all the nitty gritty, read on...but otherwise best wishes to you & your family from us. And don't forget you can get regular updates & see recent pictures right here!
Love,
The Blackhursts


A note from Todd: The year started out moving from a rent check to a mortgage check in February. We instantly started making changes to the kitchen (the night before closing) by replacing wallpaper with paint. It's the perfect house for us right now, especially the large backyard (except when I have to mow). In April I turned 30, which didn't turn out bad at all. We celebrated 1977-style with Afros and disco duds to boot! My big present was a grill, which has been well used throughout the year. I still enjoy working for Mars, and so do Ava and Sydnee because we tend to have quite a bit of chocolate around the house. I am still serving on the house council for the stake, which is a great learning experience that I enjoy. 2008 looks like a significant year for our family so we will be sure to keep you updated.

A note from Lindsey: As usual it has been an insanely busy year for me- all in the best ways. I still stay home with my sweet girls, which is just as fun & even more challenging than when I worked in the "real world." I have had a successful year with my little side business as a scrapbooking professional and even won a contest where I had my winning layout published in a magazine. My blog http://stampwithlinz.blogspot.com/ is also doing well and approaching 40,000 hits from visitors all over the world. Amazing, who knew that many people cared! As far as church is concerned, I experienced a first recently- I was released from my responsibilities as choir director after this year's Christmas program. Todd & I figured out that I had been serving in this capacity since 2000 with a few months off here & there, so I'm grateful for a change. However, I didn't expect the change to be SO drastic! I am presently serving- and have been for a whopping 2 1/2 weeks- as the Relief Society President. For those of you unfamiliar with this organization within the LDS faith, it's the biggest female responsibility within our congregation. It is in 2 words- humbling & overwhelming. There's a lot to learn, so I'm praying my memory can keep up with the tasks before me. I'm excited about 2008 and hope that it will be an amazing year. I will turn 30 in December, so I hope that the last year in my twenties is a rip-roaring good time!

A note from Ava: It's hard to believe that I will be 3 in February, time flies when you're running around the house in dress-up clothes all day. I spend my days playing with Sydnee while watching my favorite cartoons, "cooking" delicious meals for Mommy, and writing songs about my princessness. I am told that I am tall for my age (in the top 75%) and skinny (bottom 25% weight), no doubt my name is Ava Blackhurst. My hair, which has grown a lot this year, is blondish and curly but everyone always talks about my big blue eyes. I love spending time in nursery, singing with Mommy, dancing with Daddy, & spending all waking moments with Sydnee- my best friend. For 2008 I hope to become fully potty-trained, learn how to ride my big wheels I got for Christmas, & to watch all Disney princess movies several times before January 30th. Happy New Year!

A note from Sydnee: No doubt that I am the shyest member of this family, but once we're friends- we're friends for life, just ask my grandmothers- I let them hold me all day long. I am not 100% sold on the whole princess thing, but I am always willing to look through books or feed my babydoll. Since we moved into our new house in March, I have also learned to build sandcastles & swing on the monkey bars. I am quite the climber! And speaking of monkeys, my Daddy made me the coolest Halloween costume this year- a monkey (my favorite animal)! Ava was an elephant, everyone was impressed with Daddy, but he's no secret to me- he's the best. I recently started attending nursery on Sundays during church & think it's very fun- it's even better since Ava's in there with me. This year I am hoping to achieve great feats such as beating my sister to being potty-trained & learning all the words to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Happy New Year!

5-4-3-2-1

Decorating Cookies on Christmas Eve

All the grandkids had a great time decorating cookies!

Sydnee ate off the icing as quickly as Nana put it on.

Ava was so proud of the giant red dot on her elephant.

"You are about to witness the creation of great art!" -- Landry

Big holes = big mess!

Why wait until after dinner?

A group effort.

Didn't I say "grandkids" earlier?

Nice jack-o-latern!

Two-handed!

Ava will audition for Blue Man Group.

A cute letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on
demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor and sold sixty-two
cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school
playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several
Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on
the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when
I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which
I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze, but are
strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the
grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of
my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant
windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a television that doesn't
broadcast any programs containing talking animals, and a refrigerator with a
secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to
boost my parental confidence, along with five kids who don't fight and three
pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the
living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems
to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the
dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time
to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of
eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a
Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the
holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable?
It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could
coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if
they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my feet under
the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip
and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so
you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs
on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my
children young enough to believe in Santa.

*Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the mommies you know