Scott and Alisha's Family

Youth Standards Night

2009-12-29T21:00:00.000-08:00

A friend asked about this, so I thought I would post what we did for Standards Night with our Young Men and Young Women this last year. We were thrilled to have record numbers for the event! 27!!!! It was so great!!

Scott found the idea for the cruise and then I worked on tweeking it to match the current For Strength of Youth manual. We did a 30 minute "cruise" and then we "hit a storm" and had to abandon ship (the building). The youth needed survival items and went on a scavenger hunt to find them. (30 min). The we all abandoned ship and went to the "desert island' ( the land behind the church building). The Captain aka the Bishop talked to the youth about what each item represented and how their standards compared to the item and to their lives.

Overall a fabulous evening!! Huge Success!! So thankful that Heavenly Father guided all the ideas!!!

Here's our scavenger hunt clues, how they related to the items, and what item matched up to each standard and what room they were hidden in.

Standards from the For Strength of Youth pamphlet - the items the youth need to collect - Where they will be

*Why the standard matches the item

**The Scavenger hunt clue

Agency and Accountability - tools - Scout room

*Choose the right tools and be accountable for how you use them.

**Building a new life on an island takes skill. Be prepared!

Gratitude - Journal - RS room

*By recording our thoughts we are better able to see our blessings and be grateful for them.

**The Captain records all his thoughts about his voyage in a captains log You’ll find something similar in the place where women gather.

Education - scriptures- library

*Seek ye learning....even by study and prayer.

**The Lord sent Nephi and his brothers to get these. They are just as important to us today. You’ll improve your education when you find these with other tools of learning.

Family - comforters/blankets- mothers lounge

*A family can support and comfort you through life.

**Babies love to be wrapped up. You might, too.

Friends - compass - foyer (with a large compass taped on the floor)

*Good friends help us stay on course.

**North, south, east or west, you’ll need a Liahona to guide you best. The center is the place to start. Don’t forget X marks the spot.

Dress and Appearance - clothing - classroom 114

*Are you dressed to survive?

**Castaways always look ragged when they are rescued. Take extra of these from stateroom 101, 114, or 119.

Entertainment and Media - games - primary room

*Is your entertainment virtuous, lovely, of good report or praiseworthy?

**Avoid Cabin Fever, take these from the children’s room.

Music and Dancing - hymnbooks - YW room

*D&C 136:28 Praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing.

**Sailors songs are horrible. Help them change their tune in the beautiful young ladies room.

Language - whistle - classroom 109

*Blow the whistle on bad language.

**You’ll need a way to signal others on the island. You’ll find this in stateroom 102, 109, or 115.

Dating - matches - classroom 116

*choosing the right person to match up with can keep you from getting burned.

**Warmth, light and signals are all started with these. You’ll find them in stateroom 105, 113, or 116.

Sexual purity - water bottles- drinking fountains

*stay pure before you get married

**You never know what there is to drink on an island. Stock up before you go!

Repentance - soap - baptismal font

*get clean - repent!

**If your going to have to live and survive together, you’ll definitely want some of this. Find it at the ships pool.

Honesty - seeds - classroom 103

*Are you sowing the seeds of truth or lies?

**Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime. You’ll need these to help you grow on the island. Look for them in state room 118, 111, or 103.

Sabbath Day observance - tent - gym closet

*protect yourself from the storms of life by keeping the sabbath day holy.

**Protect yourself from storms. The biggest room is the place to go (Stay out of the Chapel).

Tithes and offerings - backpack - bishop’s office

*The windows of Heaven are pouring out blessings. Do you have room to receive them?

**The captains cabin has something to help ease your burden.

Physical health - granola bars - kitchen

*find treasures of health and knowledge as you keep the word of wisdom.

**You’ll need nourishment for the trip. Time to raid the fridge.

Service to others - candle - coat rack ( in a coat pocket)

*Jesus said, When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.” He is a light in the darkness. You can be, too.

**Don’t leave the ship without something to light your way. You’ll find it by the exit.

Holiday Travels

2009-12-20T17:23:00.000-08:00

We are now back in Texas (for the holidays). And we left before the snow storm hit in Indiana. Yea!

Wait, Wait......We live in Indiana? Since when? Oh, yea....It's been a year now! A whole year and we are officially Hoosiers!! We each have a very ugly driver licenses, Indiana plates on the cars and a "permanent" address!

However, we are in Texas for 2 weeks for the holidays (yea for paid vacations!). So far we've driven 20 hours (which includes a 2 hour stop at a rest area at 4am). Oh and btw, the reasons the hotels are empty is because everyone is was asleep at the rest areas. What recession!!??

We've had Christmas with my brother Walter and his wife Lynsi (Walty & Lula), had AWESOME BBQ (THANKS Dad!!!), and a huge turkey dinner with all the sides. Plus all the deserts you can eat. We're going to be so fat when this is done with. Hurray for New Years Resolutions. :)

We'll head to San Angelo tomorrow and go to war, ie paintball with ALL the Clayson siblings. BRING IT ON!

Hopefully, I'll have some great pictures of the event. Until then, enjoy these others.

Josh - Age 7

Aaron - Age 5 1/2

Celeste - Age 10

Eli - Age 3 1/2

Summer Time ...... Fun?!

2009-06-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

Summer started for us one week ago. It's been a rather eventful week and I thought I would expound on all the ....fun?

Celeste and Josh had school on Monday and Tuesday.

Monday was a regular normal day. We FINALLY figured out how to get the pool up and running and got an extensive run down from Jenny at the pool store. We also found out that the heater for the pool is shot. Since we don't have $3000 laying around, the heater will have to wait. We've spent the week vacuuming, skimming, scrubbing, repeat. Eli and Aaron have been helping me.

Tuesday, Aaron and Eli were helping me. I'm sitting on the diving board reading about how to do stuff and I hear something and look up and Eli is under the water....fully dressed. When they say that you see life threatening events in slow motion, it's true. I can minutely see every detail of me running around the corner of the pool and realizing he was too far out to reach and me jumping in fully dressed to drag him back out. He was probably in the water a total of 30 seconds, but time really does stand still. That and I learned that denim pants and denim overalls are Really Heavy when they are wet! :) We were both shaken and other than a really big bruise on my knee from dragging him out, we're injure free. Yea! AND the day gets even better......

Late Tuesday.....I made soup for dinner and it was boiling hot and Celeste spilled some on her hand and got 4 blisters from it. Then Eli spilled a whole bowl on his tummy and legs. I'm glad my mom gave me silvidine (a silver based burn cream) and both of those wounds were healed my the morning. (Eli didn't have a very good Tues.)

Wed. I was cleaning the pool and stepped off the end of the diving board to the ground and twisted my ankle. Didn't think much of it, but by Wed. night and Thursday morning, I really thought it was broken. It hurt so bad.

Thurs afternoon I went in for Xrays. It's not broken, but I tore the ligaments. I'm doing better now, but it's still sore.

Friday, Scott calls me early morning to tell me he'd been in a car wreck. A semi missed it's turn and slammed on it's brakes. So did Scott and everyone else on this major road (at 7:45 am). The semi decided that it would back up a few feet to make the turn instead of going around the block. It saw the line of cars behind it, but not the little 1990 Saab convertible directly behind it. Scott held his brakes to keep from hitting the car behind him and layed on the horn. The truck stopped after the front end of his car looked a little squished in. We're waiting for the insurance money to pay. At least he was honest about it and admitted to backing up, instead of Scott running into him (which is what the Police officer thought when he first got there). Other than a sore back, Scott is doing well.

Saturday we officially swam in the pool. It took me 30 minutes to get in as far as my waist. (Think upper Rocky Mountain stream cold). Eli only got his feet wet, Aaron and Josh only got to their chests. And then there's Celeste and Scott. Both enjoyed jumping off the board and gasping for air as they came up. Definitely like father like daughter moments! We'll get a pool cover soon and that should help keep the heat.

Sunday, today, has been a beautiful day. Church was wonderful and the afternoon has been great. I'm glad Heavenly Father has blessed us with such a beautiful day, after such an eventful week! Hopefully, this week will be a little less crazy. I'm leaving for San Angelo on Wed. (all by myself!!!!) to paint the house we have for sale and Scott will have the kids for 5 days!! So the next blog could be just as eventful! hahaha We'll see. :)

Playing around with IMovie

2009-04-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Here are a few clips of movies I took around Christmas. Grandpa Denison is saying his famous poem that he say's every Christmas "But just before Christmas, I'm as good as I can be." The plane is my brother Walter taking us up. Josh is TERRIFIED! Eli was having the time of his life! All the other clips are pretty self explanatory. Aaron really wanted to only ride a little horse at Christmas at Old Fort Concho. At the end, Scott was asking the kids what Graceland was as we drove through Memphis on our way to Indiana. I hope you enjoy!!

On the Road Again

2008-10-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

Scott has been offered a full time position at Zimmer (the plant that he works at in Indiana).....SO we are moving by January! Again!! Yes, we just bought a house in April and yes we are selling it and buying a new one in Warsaw and yes I am going a little crazy. haha Actually I'm doing pretty good. I was going really crazy for a while and then Scott got the official offer and my stress levels really dropped. I guess making it official gave me a definite time line. We're working like crazy to strip wallpaper in the bathrooms and paint them, the living room and finish up the kitchen. Nothing like a good days work. I'll get pictures posted as soon as I can. And I'll let everyone know what our new address is when we know. Looks like another holiday move. The plan is to spend new years in Indiana. :) Good times!

2008-09-15T06:17:00.000-07:00

Eli looking cute as ever. We call him "Sir Destructo".

Aaron having a blast at Chucky Cheese.

Celeste is getting so big. She loved being a part of the reception and wearing her cowgirl shirt!

Dog pile Dad!!

"Life is like a box of Chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." - Forrest Gump

The shrimp at Bubba Gump Shrimp company was so good! Almost better than a box of chocolate!

2008-09-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

Joshua in his cast. Of course the cast HAD to be blue! Cutie- he's getting so big.

Demaree helping with the Dinning room.

There's nothing more beautiful than covered wagon loaded with mouth watering BBQ.

Hungry yet?

The plates are of the Texas Flag. It is, after all, a Texas themed BBQ Reception.

Come on over ya'll!

The wedding planner (Alisha), the Bride (Lisa) and Groom (Denis).

Yea, I just like this! :)

Denis and Lisa's cake at Texas Reception. There's a cowboy hat on the top and the flowers are bluebonnets (the Texas state flower). I had fun making it!

Good times in Chicago at Wicked!

Broken Bones

2008-09-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well we finally had our first broken bone. At my brother in law's wedding reception(Denis & Lisa), Joshua fell off the monkey bars at Grandpa Greats (Denison's) and landed on his arm. *Ouch* Scott took him to the ER and sure enough he had broken his arm just above the elbow. The doctors said it's the 2nd most common break in kids (collar bone is the first). We actually handled it better than I thought. I was sure that I would totally freak out when anyone of my kids got injured like that, but survival instincts kicked in and we did pretty good with it. Plus it really helped that Joshua was a trooper through the whole thing. So far he's been our most injured kid, but our bravest. Who would have thought that the little toddler who was scared of the slide & the swings and totally wigged at Rainforest Cafe, would turn out to be our toughest! After watching the Olympics this summer (so cool!), Josh wanted to sign up from gymnastics so he could "go to the Olympics some day." Well those plans were put on halt when he fell. I thought he would be upset and we would have to spend tons of time consoling him. He was a little upset at first, but he just informed me tonight that he is practicing his splits! Go Josh!

Celeste and Josh are in school. Celeste swings moods like the tides coming in. You know there there and can plan on it. When she's happy, she's great. When she's not, just move out of the way. She's still mega helpful. It's great to have her home in the afternoons. She's in twirling (I have to show her the baton boy on America's Got Talent-he's so good) and loves it. She's also taking art lessons from my mom and piano lessons from me. I've been trying to teach her piano lessons for the past 3 YEARS!!! We are still in the FIRST BOOK!!! UGH!!! I told her that she would have to take piano lessons until she could play the hymns. Then she could stop lessons or keep going. It would be her choice. After many heated debates she walked in the room, sat down at the piano and has almost finished the first book on her own (no help from mom). She comes in daily to tell me about a new song she just learned how to play. I'm so excited that she is taking off with this on her own and really doing well with it! Finally! :) Joshua is also taking piano lessons and art lessons. He loves them both. We've even figured out a way to have him practice the left hand parts with out hurting his arm or bending it weird. With Celeste's help (who of course is now "all knowing" since she's almost finished level 1A), Josh is really plugging right along.

Aaron started Joy School again. He was so excited to see his new friends. Plus we have some new ones. He loves it. Everynight he'll ask, "Is Joy School tomorrow." It's really cute. He's really excellerating with mom time and friend time.

Eli is finally learning how to clean up after himself. It's been a crazy 2 1/2 years. I can't believe he'll be 3 in January. Where did the time go!? He's wanted to potty train himself for months, but with summer travel and busy lives, I didn't want to. We are going for it now. We'll see how he does. His cousin Rebekah is also potty training, so Rachael and I have great stories to swap. It's fun to compare how many messes we each have to clean up in a day. Good times.

My life is slowing down a litte and I'm really enjoying it. I'm going to start more painting projects around the house. The dining room was finished about a month ago. I really love the color. Thanks Demaree for all your help! And Dad, I couldn't have done most of the work without your help and advice. I've been wanting to paint the Living room a suede color, but the room is massive. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to take it on. Then Eli *sigh* took a red crayon to the white flat paint walls. I've tried Magic Eraser, 409, straight Clorox, and more and that stuff with not come off. SO, the room get's painted. It'll look really good when I'm done with it.

Scott gets to look forward to painting and cleaning each weekend when he comes home. Fun. He's still going back and forth from Indiana. We should get to be together in January. More to come on that when we actually know something. He stay busy working 4 10-12 hour days and then flying home for 2 days and then flying back. It's a busy schedule, but he seems to manage. It's not ideal, but we are learning alot from it.

We've been very blessed in all of are goings and doings. I love teaching my 11 yr old primary class. They're a riot. And FALL is finally here!! After all the rains from the hurrican's, the weather has gone from hot and sticky to wonderful. I get so motivated when it's cool outside!!

Faithful Friends!

2008-08-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a 3 day trip to Indiana (without the kids!). Scott and I toured and Amish community (what great people!) and then spent a full day in Chicago. We say Wicked. It was awesome.

I was then pinning the loss of summer, the fact that the kids are going back to school (I'm so used to having them around), the absence of Scott adn having to face the approaching school year along, and then wondering what on earth I was going to do to take up time during the days. (Not that Eli and Aaron aren't work) Ok, do you feel sorry for me yet!?! :) hahaha Then I got on a friends blog and saw how well she was doing with it. I went to mine to see what I hadn't done and I saw some great comments from friends. I then realised that EVERY time I have gotten into a funk and needed a project to work on, that it's been me FRIENDS!! that have helped me through.

I'm setting a goal to work better on the blog. I'll get pictures in here and updates on projects and the kids.

Thank you to my friends for keeping me going, for helping me when I'm down, and for lifting me up and helping me see my potential. I LOVE YOU ALL!!

alisha

PS The picture is of all of us moms that did Joy School together last spring. Almost time for that again.

Long Time, No See

2008-06-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I have put anything on this website. I know I'm a terrible blogger. In November we found out we were moving back to Texas. We left NY 2 1/2 days before Christmas. We made it home at 11pm on Christmas Eve.

We moved back into our old house (that we stilled owned). My (Alisha's) parents were also living there. So we had 8 people in a 1300 sq ft. 3 BR/2Ba home. Needless to say....crowded. Scott and I decided to buy a home thus commencing several months of house hunting, offers, reoffers, financing, inspections, appraisals and finally closing. We moved into our new home at the beggining of April. It's twice as big as the old house and we love it!

Scott has been working in Indiana since February. He flies home every other weekend. In July he'll start flying home everyweekend. It's been REALLY hard on us. But the Bishop gave us wonderful advise and we are actually drawing closer together. I'd still rather have him home.

Since the majority of the household responsibilities fall on me, we prayed about putting the kids back in public school. Celeste passed her placement tests with flying colors and will be starting the 4th grade next year. Joshua has decided that reading and playing the piano are great! He'll be in 1st grade. I'm looking forward to going to the store with just Aaron and Eli. It'll be easier to run errands that way.

We're staying busy with summer activities. I'm currently removing popcorn ceilings in my kitchen and riping down wallpaper and painting the walls. It's a work in progress.

We are all trying to survive and keep the faith.

2007-11-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

This is Lake George (as seen from the top of Prospect Mountain.) The little white dots are boats. Lake George is the 2nd cleanest lake in the US. You can see the bottom at 20 feet down. Clearly. Its really cool. The Lake flows North and the residents at the tip of it use the water for drinking. So there are very strick guidelines on who and what uses the lake. It's also 35 miles long. Big, Beautiful, Clean: who could ask for more. Well...

Imagine the cliche summer. Warm sunny days followed by cool nights. Laughter of children playing in the water, board games, lazy days, fireflies that light up the night better than Christmas. Does a place like this actually exist? Is there a place where you can ride your bike down bike paths, explore cool trails, eat great local cuisine that you conviently walk down the street for? Can you come with your family and meet friends that you can only see in the summer when they travel there, too? YES! In Lake George! Lake George fits all those summer cliche's. They were written about here! So, plan your trips and pack your bags for Destination upstate NY...Lake George!

2007-11-02T05:48:00.000-07:00

Prospect Mountain is a mt here that on a clear day you can see into Vermont, all around NY, Lake Champlain, and sometimes into Canada (with Binoculars...good ones). We went on one of the last days of the season. It's closed in the winter. But the views are beatiful! Here we are as a family (some more happy than others.)

It's Autumn time, It's Autumn time......

2007-11-02T05:47:00.000-07:00

Halloween has come and gone. The leaves have turned BEATIFUL colors and now they are brown and on the ground. The wonderful weather is now chilly and below freezing some nights and we are in NY until Christmas. BRING ON THE FOOD!!

It's time for the food network to start airing all their yummy holiday foods. Who ever thought sweet potatoes could look so good. Oh, by the way......we have places here that serve sweet potatoe fries with raspberry sauce instead of ketchup.....WOW! It's true: everything tastes better Fried! (i.e. bean burritos, dill pickle slices, snickers, cookie dough and last but not least twinkies!) On that notes, kudos to my sis-in-law Rachael for wanting to bake bread for everyone this year instead of sweets. I'm going for the sweets option. :) Happy baking everyone!

A Work in Progress

2007-10-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

After much fasting and prayer, we made the jump into homeschooling this year. So far, so good. The hardest part thus far is realising that there are no set guidelines, no set curriculum and no educational rules. THATS THE GREAT PART!! I'm still working on what works for my kids, but we are learning lots. Plus the kids LOVE sugar cubes....the ancient egyptian pyramid tastes good. :)