Terrific Kid

Emily Richins is a TERRIFIC KID!!!!!
On Tuesday Feb. 3, 2009 Emily was awarded the Terrific Kid award at her Elementary school. Her teacher Mrs. Eidsvaag nominated her for this award because Emily is a," good role model for all of the other kids. She is always willing to help the other students, and her teacher, and she is thoughtful and kind. She turns in her work on time and it is complete."

I was so excited about this! I knew it would mean a lot for her to be recognized for what a great person she is. The pricipal had the award
ceremony during her lunch period, so all of her peers got to see what their teachers think about her. I could see that it meant a lot to her and she felt really great. Katelynn and her friend Alexis got out of class so they could be there to cheer Emily on. They were so proud of her. My mom (Ginnie-Grandma Gifford) also came and let Emily know how proud she was of her.

This award was given at a really good time for Emily. There is a girl in school who says lots of really mean things to her everyday and the
other day she tried to choke Emily! I knew this was wearing on Emily but she just kept going, and sticking up for herself. Emily is so sweet and such an important part of our family. She is so funny, and a total goof ball, but she is also very kind and loves to play with Bennick. Emily is truly a TERRIFIC KID!!!!

Brennicks maiden voyage

For Christmas Brennick asked Santa for a remote control Air Craft Carrier. He saw one on his favorite website Banana Hobby, they have every kind of remote control vehicle you could imagine! Anyway he was really a good boy and so Santa got it for him. He was so excited he could barely contain himself! So the Monday after Christmas we went over to a neighborhood lake close by and tested it out. It was so fun watching him navigate toward the ducks, and seeing them high tale it out of there. He thought it was pretty funny too!
Kim had a great time too, if you can't tell by the picture. He loved teaching "B" how to work the two engines, how to turn by letting off of one, etc. I really love watching Kim with the kids. He is such a great Dad, I really couldn't have asked for anything better.

So I am sure that in the future we will have more remote control vehicles to try out, but for now the boys are having a blast with this one. Other than that, things are just as crazy as they always are. With 3 children, dance, piano, school, and a business in the house now, there is never a dull moment, especially with all the things going on with the economy. We are so thankful for our blessings and they are many. How blessed we are to have eachother, health and strength a place to sleep and food to eat.


Well, I will try to keep things updated better, now that the holidays are over I think that I will be able to do a lot better. Thats it for now, see Ya!

Emily's Day

The other day I took Emily out to lunch during her lunch hour at school. We went to Paradise Bakery, one of her favorite places. She had the macaroni, fruit and of course the chocolate chip cookie. We had a great time together, and it was nice to have one on one time with her.
After our lunch we got cookies for her whole class so they wouldn't be to upset that she had such a great lunch and they had to eat the school food.
On November 6th the Third grade classes at Weinberg Elementary did a tribute performance to all the military branches of our great country. Emily's class represented the Navy! They sang "Anchors Away" All the classes did great, but of course I think Emily's was best! They were all really proud to do this, and all the veterans that were their were really touched, some even had a tear or two.
I had to take a picture of Brennick the other day because he looked so darn cute! He had his leather jacket on, and was so handsome. He is such a good boy. He is always happy, ready to play some basketball or whatever, he just loves to play with his sisters and he makes friends where ever he goes. Pretty soon he will be 5yrs. old and starting kindergarden in July! I can't believe how fast the years go by.

The Little Things in Life

I am sitting here in my office going through my photographs. I love to do this because I get to remember the feelings of all the places we have been and things we have done together. I also love to edit my pictures it brings me a great deal of satisfaction to make things more beautiful. I love this photo because it reminds me of some very important things. When I look at it I first see a very delicate and beautiful part of the tree. The colors are gorgeous and vibrant! The soft vevlety red and the smooth shinny green, it all comes together to make something very simple but extraordinary at the same time. I think that is very much how we are. We are made up of mostly the same things. We all have bodies that have the same parts with some differences. While one may have long flowing hair another may have beautiful green eyes, some may be short while others long and lanky. We all have talents both obvious and hidden. There are many wonderful gifts we have all been given to enrich our lives while we are here. Most of the time to those around us we look very ordinary like the leaves on the tree look ordinary to the other ones just like them. But, if you look closely enough you will see the majesty in each individual. For like this little collection of life it was designed for a purpose, perhaps more than one. To bring joy? Beauty? To further the life of the tree? Much like the leaves we are meant to bring joy to others as well as ourselves, to share our beauty and rejoice in the individual divinity we all have. We have the ability to look closely and see the talents we have both inside and out. We are blessed with a divine heritage that is forever ours. Like the little leaves we probably don't even know the extent of our reach to others. We affect others every day. We shape and mold our children, we may brighten a strangers day with a "Hello" and a smile. We always have the choice to lift others or hide away. I challenge you to look closely, to see the hidden talents in yourself and others. To see the divinty you have in side and to realize your beauty. You were given this life for a reason, you chose to come to earth and take the challenge. That challenge is not one dimensional, not for only one thing, not to meerly make it through,but for many important things. See what you can do today to "look closely and see". You might be suprised as to what you find!