BLACK.FRIDAY.

Well, today was black friday, but I stayed home and was not even tempted to go out. Okay, I really wanted to buy every cricut cartridge that was in sale, but other than that...not tempted. We went south to my mother's side of the family's get-to-gether. I was fun, but I felt very rushed and very frazzled the whole day. It is 8:30 and I am not feeling like I can make it through the day. We got to see U Dirk and A Kristy and their kids. We haven't seen them for a while. They are growing sooo fast! I also got to see my "grown-up" cousins. It was great to see them and their families, too! We definately have grown apart in the last few years, so it is always fun to see them and mingle. We also had a very special visitor at our Turkey day feast...Santa! Daeson asked for a Bakugan movie and a Bakugan game for the Wii. Tevan, of course, asked for Ninja Turtles! As if he can carry more than two! But they were both very excited and did very well on his knee. They each got a little treat bag and I, being the mean mom, made them wait until tomorrow to eat it. My great-aunt Ginner came with her husband and daughter, too. We live so close, yet we see each other next to never. Thanks everyone for the yummy food and the HARD work that went in to it! We love all of you and hope that we will see eachother more in the coming year!

Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I have so much to be thankful for this year. I am thankful today for my husband's family. We had dinner at his Grandma's house, and I know it is so much work for her. She didn't even really want to have it, but she did and I am grateful for that. Dani and Todd and fam came up and that was a blast. It is always good to see them. I was told I had too much time on my hands because I made Thanksgiving chocolates that were individually "painted' and I was also told my yams should not have had marshmallows on them, but what are candied yams without marshmallows!? We had wonderful food and wonderful company! THank you to everyone who participated in the meal prep and for the fun times we had BSing. We missed Brad and Heidi, but we know that we will see them soon for Christmas!

THANKSGIVING:

T Troy. He is my wonderful husband and I love him.
H Hugs and loves from my boys.
A Always having what I NEED.
N Naptime...rare, but worth every minute!
K Knowing where I came from and the potential I have.
S Singing time in Primary. I love to hear the kids belt it out without a care!!
G Grandparents. I knew all of mine and I am very lucky to have their influence in my life.
I In-laws. I have the best.
V Vacations to my mom and dad's. It is nice to see them and get away.
I In God we trust.
N Night-time with my family around me.
G Grateful to be alive and healthy!

Pause to think what we all have to be grateful for: Our Freedom and for those who fight so we can have it! I am so thankful for the men and women who fight for us...we would not be free without you! Thank you so much!!!

Christmas music...already!?

Yes, it is the season that I love to hear Christmas music. I absolutely love the feeling it brings! Also, it is snowing right now and that makes me want Christmas even more. In one of my past posts I complained that Thanksgiving is ignored and the commercial Christmas takes over. I hope that I don't appear to be hypocritical listing my Christmas music early. I will still celebrate Thanksgiving and enjoy this particular time of year. However, I have the feeling of thankfulness and that excites me to give to others for Christmas.

I have decided that our little family is going to pick a needy family and give Christmas to them. I have felt very strongly about giving to others this year. Troy and I do not have a lot of extra, but there are families who have nothing. I want to teach my kids how important it is to serve and how fortunate we are to have a roof over our heads and more than enough to eat. I often complain about wanting to fix this or that up, and how I hate the way my entry way and living room looks with our dingy carpet, but I am thankful for that carpet. I am thankful that I can turn my heat up as high as I want. I am thankful for the ample food I have to cook with and prepare my family three home-cooked meals every day. I am extremely grateful Troy has a job and can provide for us. I am blessed more than I deserve. I am grateful that we have favorable circumstances. It would be nice to have a little extra at the end of the month to "blow" on whatever we felt like, and it would certainly be nice to live in a big, beautiful brand-new home, but I am happy where I am. I am happy with things I have. And I am grateful for the means in which I attain all things.

Christmas Shopping Anxiety

If you know me, you know that once I set my mind to doing something I don't stop until it is done. Well, I started Christmas shopping the last couple of weeks. I cannot reveal what I bought because my family would know what they are going to open on Christmas. I am almost finished and I am very glad that I will be able to enjoy the holiday season. I need to purchase one more gift for my mother, I need to get Gma Sarah and Gma and Gpa Lish's made. I have my dad's to finish and I have one more item to purchase for Brad and Heidi. Troy and I decided that we would not purchase any presents for each other this year because of the shed and the other projects we have done this year. We also decided that our boys would receive one present from us and one from SC. Every year I do the 12 days of Christmas for them and that goes along with their Christmas. So I guess technically I do 13 presents for them. This year I have the following 12 days for the boys: Day 1: Homemade aprons, Day 2: Two large coloring books, Day 3: Three snowmen on a bowl (they have the cutest snowmen bowls with "floating" snowflakes at walmart), Day 4: Four finger paints, Day 5: $5.00 GC to McD's, Day 6: Six books and tapes, Day 7: Seven piece coloring set, Day 8: 8 oz floaty soap, Day 9: Nine cracker jacks (my kids LOVE cracker jacks for snacks on long trips), Day 10: Ten Holiday Cakes (I bought little Debbie holiday cakes), Day 11: Eleven sugar cookies (we will make and decorate sugar cookies and deliver to our friends and neighbors), Day 12: Twelve month calendar (Daeson's is Spongebob and Tevan's is Blue's Clues). It is harder and harder every year to think of things to give the boys. I might have to start sneaking ideas from my mom's lists that she did for us. :) I have no idea what to get the boys from SC. We have not made our lists yet, nor will we until AFTER Thanksgiving! I am all over shopping BEFORE Thanksgiving, but I feel like Thanksgiving always gets the shaft! I feel like it is a time we need to be Thankful for what we have so that we are not so thirsty for Christmas gifts. Just a thought. I am thankful that the bulk of my shopping is DONE and that I will be able to enjoy the reason for the season!

Mixed Emotions

Today my heart is mixed with many emotions. I will no longer be teaching Relief Society every second Sunday. I have enjoyed studying the lessons and relaying them to the sisters. It has been refreshing to go to my meetings. I thouroughly enjoy Sunday School and I feel like I have taken so much from these meetings. I feel it was an honor and privlege to teach RS. I will truly miss the wonderful sisters and the Spirit I have felt there.



However, the Lord has a different calling in mind. I will now be serving with Barbara as a second councelor in the Primary presidency. I am nervous and excited about this calling. I know the primary is involved with the scouts and that absolutely terrifies me. I know, having two little boys, I will eventually have to embrace Cub Scouts, but I thought I had another 3 1/2 years! :) However, I am very suprised to have this calling extended to me and I know working with Barbara will be very fun. She is a remarkable person and I have admired her since she has moved into the ward. The other councelor, Becky, is very fun and has wonderful ideas. She is definatley someone to look up to, also. So, as I go forward with this calling, I will do it with a happy attitude...no more mumblings or complaints from this mouth. It is time to step up to the bar and just do it!!!

McD's

Okay, so McD's has an eggnog shake, but it is NOT as good as I had hoped. Sad.

Eggnog Shake?

Yeah right! Arctic Circle nor Sonic have them right now!!! What does a girl haffta do???

XBox original and games

If you know of anyone looking for a used XBox, games, controllers, dance pad, extentions, remote, ect...send them our way. We decided to sell the games system that never gets played. Heck, our Wii never gets played either, but it is too new for Troy to let go of. We have a variety of games: Road Rage Simpsons, Yourself fitness, Dance Dance Revolution, Halo, Tiger Woods Golf, ATV, Beyond Good and Evil, Quantum Rdeshift, Otogi 1 & 2, Robotech, and a lot more. I have it listed on Craigs list for EIdaho. I have it all listed for 150 I think, but I am so willing to work with someone. Everything works great and there are no problems with any of it. Let me know if you or anyone you know is interested!!!! Thanks! oh, and a brand new Monopoly game stillin the packaging for $3.00. Troy absolutely HATES monopoly and I bought it for him for Christmas last year...who doesn't like Monopoly?!?!!?

I love to see the Temple

My Grandma and my cousin, Katie, and I went to the temple yesterday. I have not been to do a session since I was prego with Tevan and I had forgotten how wonderful it is. My cousin just received her mission call a couple of weeks ago and has been to more temples than I have! She is such a good girl and I am proud of her! It was a neat experience to go through a session with my Gram! I was just beaming!
I have to teach RS tomorrow and the lesson is on the Restoration and the Fullness of times and the temple. In one of the questions it talks about how we feel about our callings in the church and I thought about that long and hard. I know sometimes we get a calling that we are not excited about, and sometimes we know someone who we think could do a far better job. And, I know sometimes someone we know gets a calling and we wonder why on earth they were called to that position. And there are times that some people are turned away from the church because of someone holding an authoritative position "wronged" them. But the fact of the matter is this: the gospel is true. We are able to worship how we want in this country. We are ABLE to attend church for three hours each and every week. We are able to attend the TEMPLE for a two-hour session. We have the ability to watch/read/hear a living PROPHET and our other leaders talk to us and give us modern day revelation twice a year in general conference. I have been that person who knows a more fitting person for a calling. I have murmured about someone I didn't feel was living up to their calling. I have been offended by someone in an authoritative position before. But the gospel has never changed. The truths are there. I know that if the gospel were not true, if it were a hoax, it would have faltered long ago. I will truly try more diligently to be an apostle of Christ. I will try to be an example to all around me. I will try to not murmur and I will try to be more like Him. I have so many faults, and I am sure some people have thought that I am inadequate for the callings I have been asked to serve in. I am sure that I have offended more than one person, but never intentionally.
As we go through this live, striving to be the best we can, trying to make it once again to our Heavenly Father, I hope we can all try harder to be like Him. I hope we can overlook the wrong-doings. I hope we can forgive one another. I hope that we can find the time in our busy schedules to serve Him, to attend our meetings, and to attend the wonderful and glorious temples that we have all over this earth. I hope that we realize what a blessing it is to live in this dispensation. I hope we can all live up to what is expected of us. I know that when I die, I hope that I will be able to teturn to my Father and have my loved ones with me. I know He wants us to be happy and I know that He has shown us the way.

Returned Missionary

So I married a returned Missionary: my punishment???? Piles and piles and PILES of letters, pictures, posters, flyers, and souveniers. And guess what I get to do with them??? Organize and compile scrapbooks. Am I excited about this venture....not really. Will I take this opportunity to get to know my husband before he was my husband...yes sir! The nosy part of me really wants to dive in and read everything. The conservative side of me tells me it is not my business to read, but to organize so Troy can reflect on his missionary experience. Hmm, what part of me do you think I will listen to??? :) Though I am not excited to take on a project of this size, I am excited that Troy will be able to share his experiences with my boys. I just wish the pictures were written on and/or dated. Atleast the letters are in the envelope still with the dated postage stamped on them. Every missionary needs someone to do this while they are on their missions so it doesn't automatically get turned over to the wife! Remind me when my boys are on their missions that I said that, okay?

Trick or Treating

This was our 5th annual
Halloween party. It was a
lot of fun throwing together
and we hope that everyone
who came had a great time!





This was our witch pinata.
I actually bought it for last
year's party but forgot about it!!










Tevan was happy as long
as he was hitting the witch.












Adam was a "Cruiser"













This was the cake walk.
Thanks Adam and Kayla
for donating
the Litte Debbie cakes!








Daeson was Dan
from Bakugan











Peggy was a wizardress













I was a hot dog and
Troy was a Chinese Monk













Richard...AKA
Paul Bunyon









Melissa, Bryce, Carter and
their new baby...I forgot his name









Adalyn the Snow Princess











Jaedyn the fairy
she looks meaner than
she is :)













Mieley the candy corn was
very excited when she got to do
the candy corn bean bag toss.
Guess what the prize was???
Candy Corn!!







Kayla was the Benchmark
Brown Noser and the
recipient of the GRAND PRIZE.
And her cute Tora
was a little chick












And last but not least:
Kaden was a runway show.
Very creative Kade, KUDOS!






We had a lot of great food (chicken wings, pizza, meatballs and rice, frozen grapes, carmel corn, cinnamon rolls, regular rolls, veggie tray, chocolate pretzels, color changing cheetos, and I am sure I missed something), thank you everyone!!!! The trunk or treat was a lot of fun, too! I will have to get pics from Kayla of that. I have lost my camera (Don't tell Troy) but I am hoping to find it soon!!! Thanks to all who came: Gma Grover, Jaedyn, Adam's family, Hoopes family, Bryce and Melissa & fam, Lords family (we missed you, Barb), Richard and Peggy and Kaden. We missed those who didn't come...maybe next year!

Now that Halloween is over, I can get ready for fall. I really hope to get some scrapping done and some more quilts made. I was given a box of tomatoes and now I get to bottle them...she also gave me a recipe for mandarin sauce (I think it originated from a lady at the temple) and so I will attempt it. I bought 24 more jars today: YUCK! But, I think this is the LAST thing I am going to bottle, maybe. Definately probably not. Okay, I tell you, I have an addiction!!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

We love Halloween at our house. We gear up for it every year and throw a huge family Halloween Par-tay!!! It is the best time of the year; the leaves are falling and the weather is cooler and hot cider is so yummy!!!! This year I opened my mouth and volunteered for the Trunk-or-Treat. I hope we have a great turn out and I hope I printed sufficient invitations...I printed over 150. I am excited to dress-up and the boys are excited to get candy! You'll have to see what my costume is...tomorrow!!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Cake class catastrophe

I learned one thing in cake class tonight over all: always tie your hair back while standing over an electric mixer. Our teacher, Amy, (note: very rarely is her hair unbraided) was whipping up a batch of meringue powder when her two-foot-long-hair got wrapped around the beaters. One lady unplugged the mixer and we quickly released the beaters. Her hand got caught in the beaters while it was still going and got banged up really badly. Fortunately she was okay and did not get hurt as badly as she could have. Unfortunately, she lost the diamonds out of her wedding ring when her hand got caught. She is a trooper. We still had class, but it started an hour and a half later than scheduled. Poor girl!! I have always heard of things like that happening, but I have never seen someone actually experience it!!!! So, next time you are making something with your electric mixer/Kitchen Aid, remember: Scrunchies are wonderful things!!!!

Super Saturday: Success

Today was our Super Saturday. It went really well, and I think we all had a great time. I was up til midnight last night cutting letters and up again at 6 this morning finishing, but I can now say that it is pretty much over. I have one sister who is coming over later to do her birthday boards, but I can now hang my signs and start using them. It was a lot of fun. We had great food, and fun times. There were several things to choose: marshmallow guns, birthday/fhe boards, holiday plaques, hair bows, vinyl picture frames, JOY blocks, and we had a few great humanitarian projects on board. Thank you to everyone who contributed. It was well worth everyone's time and efforts!!! Until next year...

Beginners cake class: Graduated

I finished the beginning cake class
Monday night. I have taken them
the last six weeks. It has been a lot
fun, and Troy has been so good to
help with dinner and the kids.
Thank you!!!




Each week we learned a new skill.

We learned flowers, writing, borders,
frosting techniques, sugar molds and
egg white painting, and many more things.





I just signed up for the next class...so for
the next 6 weeks, I will be doing more classes!!


Here is one of the two butterflies
I made out of royal frosting.






The top view
I used a lot of my flowers, some of them melted
because I didn't know they could not
be frozen. So, this is what made it.




The side view...basket weave is SOO
easy! Who would have thought???

I loved taking this class, and I know I will
love the next 6. Then the next 6 we learn
fondant. Maybe one day I really can open
my catering business!!!

Canning: Done!

I finished late Friday night with the canning. I have one jar that didn't get used. I got 13 quarts of beef stew...I was hoping for 14. But it is all done and I now have to find room in the storage room for it. I am still dehydrating apples and that will be done tomorrow. I have a few apples left. Thanks, Becky for the yummy pineapple juice/lemon juice mixture recipe!!! They are sooo tasty!

I am not sure why I have had such an urgency to get my food storage together, but I am grateful for the urge. I still have milk, rice, pancake mix, and some freeze-dried fruits and veggies to purchase, but I am getting there. I could also use some more canned meats, but that can wait until I find a great deal. Or, if one of my brothers sells me some of their deer they just got!!! :) I am thankful that Troy lets me have my way with food storage. I think he might think I am off my rocker, but he supports me and for that I love him. I know that if and when times get tough, I will be able to provide meals for my family. Not just ramen noodles, but real meals. For years and years we have been admonished to have a food supply and I am grateful for a mom who taught me that. She has been a great example to me. Thanks, Mom!! I love ya bunches!!! Troy didn't want me to post our storage...something about people wanting to rob us...but I am so excited about it. Like I said, it might not be complete yet, but I am working fervently on it!!!

More canning...sigh

I am so tired right now...I have been in the kitchen since 10:30 this morning CANNING!!! What else is there left to can????? Yesterday I did 9 quarts spaghetti meat sauce and today I am dehydrating bananas and apples and canning apple pie filling. I have 14 bottles left, and I am going to can them with beef stew. Then I will be finished for a while. Or atleast until I have emptied a few jars, then I will find soemthing else to do. I am really hoping everything turns out. I have really enjoyed canning this year...I have tried more things this year than I ever have. I am no longer scared of my pressure cooker!!! I love that thing! Who knows what else I will decide to do!

Missionary Daeson

This conversation is going on right now:
Daeson is teaching Tevan about Jesus while holding the Book of Mormon. Please remember this is not Gospel Doctrine and Daeson is only FOUR...if you don't know about the LDS curch, please do not take all of this to heart!!!

Number one: He wants you to obey and be nice
Nuber two: He wants you to obey your mom
Number three: He wants you to be nice to your brothers and sisters and cousins and aunts
Number four: This is really good and Jesus really wants you to do this: He wants you to obedient Him rules.
Nuber five: He wants you to listen to His commandments and to your mom and dad.
Number six: He wants you to come to Him again and He love you berry much and Him love you way too good!
Number seven: He wants you to follow His rules and Him commandments.
Number eight: This is a berry good one you know: It is all about Jesus. When I was alive He told me all the things to remember about Him. He gave ME the scriptures.
Number nine: He want you to obedient and be good to everyone.
Number ten: We have all of those and now we will look at the pictures. Jesus told me about Joseph Smith. He was the very first prophet. Nuber two: He wants us to obey Jesus rules. He really wants me to be a good boy. And Joseph he went outside and met Jesus. He was the very first Prophet. And that is all I can remember about him.
Are you ready for this page? This is really good. Number one about these people: They all...He is grumpy I think. (this is referring to the picture of Laman). They went far far away. That is all I can tell about he.
Now I will tell you about a really good page. Oh, yeah. I will tell you about Lehi on the boat. He is looking really tough. And now it is time for the last one. It has a song. Never forget this song. But first I am going to teach you about him. (Moroni). He hidded them in a very very special mountain. And Jesus never said it to anyone. He was very obedient and he prays when ever he needs Jesus' help. Now for the song:

The golden plates was hidden in the deep mountain
They were far ago They have said
The lord want him to be good at last
He wanted to obedient Jesus said to him
Jesus said to hide the Golden Plates at once
And he prayed And he was so obedient
And he was a good He prayed a long time ago
And he was good enough and he was the Prophet and he was strong and tough
Just look at him. He could need Jesus help sometime
That is why he prayed yeah, that is why he prayed a long time ago.
And he was the very first one that knew that Jesus wanted him to do ...see Tevan,
you have to be like that guy. He is very good and never bites but he has a sword and the Golden Plates.

Pledge of Allegiance

This was our conversation when Troy got home from work, about 2 minutes ago:

Mom: Daeson, Did you tell Dad you know the Pleadge of Allegiance?
Dad: You know the Pledge of Allegiance!?
Daeson: What's the Pleadge of Allegiance?
Mom: I pleadge allegiance to the...
Daeson: (Making the little motions he learned in Preschool) I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG, OF THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA!

?????
I guess we live in Africa!

Craft boards: DONE

This is a bad pic, but I don't want to
hang them up until after they have
been displayed at the church for
sign ups. I decided to do an FHE board, too
I think they turned out okay for not knowing
what I was doing!!! I need to work on the spacing
of the letters, but it will do.

Here is the BIRTHDAYS board. I put our parents and

their fam on the board, but the cousin's would not fit.

With Troy's cousins and mine, we have over 150!!! So,

I limited the board names. Our nieces and nephews are

on it and bro and sis, grandparent, and parent and

their bro and sis bdays and anniversaries are also on it.

Once they are hung, I will trade the pics out.

Soccer game #3

This is soccer game #3. he was pooped!

Tevan kept us all up the night before. I don't

have pics of game #2...my batteries were dead.

Thanks for coming Papa and Gramma Blue! And Kaden,

Adalyn and Mieley!!! It was sure nice of you!!!

Yummy That! and Priorities

I know I need to be better at recording the cute things my kids say. Tevan has started saying, "Yummy That!" when he thinks something is good. It is the cutest thing ever! I love how many new things he is learning and how much he knows. Troy and I just look at both the boys and are amazed at what sweet boys they are. Don't get me wrong...they have their moments of terror, but at the end of the day, they are sleeping quietly and are the sweetest boys ever. I love both these boys so much and I am saddened by how quickly they are growing up. Soon Daeson will be to embarrassed to give me kisses in public and Tevan will be too sassy to tell me 100 times a day that he loves me.

In General Conference, it was mentioned that we need to tell those that we love that we do in fact love them. We need to let our priorities be very straight and put our families first. I think of how many times I shove my kids aside to do the things I want to do...not the things that I need to do. I loved how much focus was on love and family. I loved that we were able to listen to the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was so refreshing and uplifting. We are so lucky to have a living Prophet on the Earth today who walks and talks with God. It is amazing how much direction we have in our lives. I am so grateful for the gospel and the wonderful ideas and knowledge it brings into my life. I know that without a shadow of a doubt that this church is true. I know that we go through trials so that we can become more perfect and return to live with God. I also know that our families can be together forever because of the very selfless act of Jesus Christ.

I have friends who struggle with the concept of returning to Heavenly Father and someone once told me that is was selfish of us to believe that we can. Why wouldn't God want His children to return to Him? Why would He watch us suffer and go through all that we do on earth just for the sake of watching us? I know He wants us back. He wants us back like we want the best for our children. I love the hope I have for the future. I am not prepared the way I should be. I lack in so many areas, but I know that I get to repent and keep trying. That is the beauty of it!!! I know of some people who ask about the gospel and do not fully understand it. And I have no idea how many people read my blog who don't know about the gospel, so for you I am posting what I believe. I am posting what our church believes.

These are the Articles of Faith given to Joseph Smith by revelation.

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, fourth, laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely apostles, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healings, interpretations of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the new Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the Earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Our New Addition

This is our newest addition to our house. Troy and Cal spent 4 days building this "from scratch" shed. I am very proud of Troy for fnishing it and for doing it from ground level with no instructions. It is 10x10 and it almost fits everything!!! Good Job, Troy!!! Now we can use the garage for cars :). LOVE YOU!

I NEED HELP FROM ALL YOU CRAFTY PEOPLE!!!!

Okay, so I got myself into a pickle! Last night I was trying to help the Relief Society member who is in charge of the activities not on Sunday (formerly known as Enrichment) try to come up with one more craft for Super Saturday. I told her that I have seen some very cute birthday boards...you know the big board that has the months and you hang the stars/hearts on them with dates and names? Well, I got put in charge of teaching and making one...by Sunday next. The only problem is that I have never actually SEEN on up close and I have NO IDEA how to do this. She brought me over a 1x4 and some modge podge? I have never modge podged anything. I went tonight and bought some vinyl for the Cricut to make the letters for the months. But I have no idea what to do next. I also have no idea where to get the hooks for the little wooden pieces. Soooooo.....I need some help. If anyone has this type of board, please email me. Also, please give me any ideas that you may have. If I can do ribbons instead of the hooks and figure out how to attach them, I think it would lessen the cost. We have to keep this resonable cheap so that people will sign up for it. THanks in advance for the help!!!!! Wish me luck!

Happy Day

Right this very second, my children are getting along famously! It might only last for a minute...but I will take it!!! They are sitting with each other with some "magnetix" and having fun all the while!!!! Happy Day!