LDS Home Executive Day Planner AVAILABLE

For the last year I have been designing my 2011-2012 LDS Home Executive Day Planner selling for $11.99. Here are some of the great features of my planner:

1. Full color throughout entire planner
2. Spiral Bound for easy to turn to pages
3. Inside pockets on both front and back covers to keep receipts, bills, coupons, etc.
4. New recipes every month
5. "Her To-Do's," "His To-Do's," and "Kid's To-Do's"
6. Weekly menu
7. Weekly grocery lists - divided into categories
8. Daily Highlights - a mini journal area
9. Dotted lines in the top corners to keep your place.
10. Address pages for Family Favorites, Mom's contacts, and Kid's contacts
11. Eight pages of notes
12. Four pages of LDS stickers (temple, date night, FHE, etc.)
13. Perfect size to fit in most purses (6x9)

The LDS Home Executive Day planner is the perfect gift for your mom, sister, friend, or any woman in your life (including yourself). It is a planner that will organize, motivate, and inspire her as she cares for her home and family. The LDS Home Executive Day Planner is a gift that she will want year after year.

This is a TWO month sample.

Summer Update #1

It's been forever since we updated you all about our lives. I get on our blog just about daily to see if any of you have updated your blogs and I am so thrilled when you have. I figured I had better update you all as well. We have had a wonderful summer, I cannot believe it's almost August and Braden goes back to work in about a month! Where has our summer gone? Here are some pictures...more will follow...of what we've been up to (not in any order - sorry)

For our ward's Youth Conference we were in Salt Lake City.
Braden and Arrie stayed with my parents for a night, so since
they were so close, they came up one night for our hike up
Ensign Peak and Swimming at the hotel.

Getting ready to hike Ensign Peak

Overlooking the Salt Lake Valley from Ensign Peak

Arrie with some (extended) cousins at Crispy Creams.

She LOVED watching the donuts being made


We went to Oregon for a week to Braden's Grandparent's cabin at Wallowa Lake.

Arrie sitting around the campfire waiting for s'mores

Arrie had long exhausting days at the cabin. She napped so well we were
able to go in her room and take a picture of her sleeping without her waking up.

Arrie LOVED the deew (deer) at the cabin. Here she is looking out the window for more

Arrie is obsessed with glasses. Here is a pair she found

Her is another pair - of Grandpa's - that she found in the desk! :)

We went on a hike. Here are a few pictures from that

That's all for now, I will post more pictures later

Springville High School Lip Dub - Yeah 3x

I know it's Jen that usually updates the blog, but I just wanted to post and share the latest lip dub music video my students made. We had about 300 people and it's the first ever lip dub to be done in the dark. Be sure to let me know what you think! Enjoy

Toilet Paper Art

I love this! I have to do it! HERE is the link how.

American Flag banner

I want to make this for this summer! Check it out HERE.

Felt flower pillows

I want to make one of these for Arrie and one for my niece! Check it out HERE.

My new adventure

Some of you may have received a facebook message from me the other day. I hope you didn't mind the little pitch for my new product. I'm really excited about this new little business I am starting. Some of you may know that I worked as a graphic designer and then, when we had Arrie I came home to be a mom, but continued to do free-lance graphic design. I had an idea about a year ago for an LDS planner. Well, since that idea hit, we have had a lot of learning take place.

I started designing my planner and approached BYU for education week. Come to find out, they do their ordering for education week in February (Education week is in August) so I was too late, but they said to come back and they would order for "next year" (now this year).

I am having them printed in China, so that has been a huge learning experience - luckily my contact Ida, understands me and I can understand her English too.

I met with an accountant and had to learn a lot of other lingo. I had to find a company to help me ship internationally and all those port fees and cargo info.

I have learned how to and how not to approach businesses that might sell my product. And some internet stuff for advertising.

It is neat what can come from just an idea. There is a lot of learning that takes place and I am so glad that I have ran with my idea and gotten this far. I love my planner, I hope others will love it just as much. It's the planner I've always wanted but could never find. AND the cool thing is it's going to change every year with suggestions from all the women who use it.

If you're reading this and have an idea - do it!!! It's great! We're encouraged to find ways to continue our education and the only way to do that is try new things - read a new book, try a new project, in my case - start a new business! :) Well, if you want to see the planner, you can go to my blog Picket Fence Publications. Thanks for reading.

Amazing video about the Ukraine Temple

I miss my mission! What can I say? My brother is researching videographers for his upcoming wedding and he stumbled on this that one of them had done. He sent it to me and I loved listening to the youth testify and talk. Sadly to say, I am loosing my Russian...

This is wonderful, ENJOY! Especially you missionaries that served there!

I believe in Eternal Families

I happened to turn the TV on yesterday when this woman, Rahna Reiko Rizzuto, was being interviewed on the Today Show. I absolutely COULD NOT BELIEVE what I was hearing!

This woman had an opportunity to go to Japan for six months and her husband encouraged her to take advantage of that. He would come out to visit with their two boys and then they would come home and resume their lifestyle.

That isn't what happened. Instead she came home and divorced her husband and left their two children. She said something that made me gasp out loud. If she hadn't gone to Japan and had "opened her eyes" and hadn't left her family, she said, "It might have taken me many years to say, woe, I did that thing that I didn't want to do which was give up my life for someone else."

WOW! That is the epitome of selfishness. Watch the video below, it is unbelievable people are justifying her actions and that her book is up for awards.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I teach the Mia Maids at church (the 14 - 15 year old girls) and our lesson on Sunday was about Eternal Families. Below is another video with the right perspective that I showed in class. Elder Eyring says, "The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others before our own, that is what love is."




I know without any doubt that families are essential in our Heavenly Father's plan. I know that we can be together for ever and that in order to do so we need to give our marriages and our children our very best, our all, and ourselves.

Is it hard? - yes, it's hard. I have had long days when I don't think Arrie's bed time will ever come, but it does and I get to rest. But I am a wife and a mother first and foremost. I love Braden and Arrie more than I can comprehend and I wouldn't give them up for the world. I know that our Heavenly Father won't give us any challenge in life that we cannot bare. He is always there to help us.

I hope that there is not a single women out there that will allow what this woman has said to stand as a positive example to them.

Arrie Singing

Arrie loves to dance and play on her piano and she recently discovered she loves singing. On Sunday we were watching Music and the Spoken Word and Arrie started singing along - so I grabbed my camera. :)

Arrie's tricks on camera

So I was talking to my dad and he asked if I had some of the cute things on camera that Arrie does. He said that I might think that I'll always remember what she did as a baby or how she did things but that it would surprise me the things I will forget. I don't want to forget, so I got off the phone and grabbed my camera. Here are some of the cute things about our baby (that isn't really a baby anymore.)

We Believe 2011 YM/YW Theme

I am the Mia Maids teacher in our ward and I love my calling and the girls. This year the theme for the youth is the 13th Article of Faith:

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.

Last week for our combined activity we watched the DVD introducing the theme. I wanted to share my favorite story we watched. It is about "when Junior, a young man in a small Florida branch, decided he didn’t want to be alone in his belief in Christ, he invited a friend. One friend joined, then another, and another…."

Funny Arrie

So, here are a few funny things about our baby!

1. She LOVES toothpaste and brushing her teeth. Toothpaste and a toothbrush will keep her happy forever.

2. She loves to say prayers (we say probably 10 prayers at lunch)

3. The other day Braden came home from work and was in the bathroom. Arrie grabbed the car keys he left on the coffee table and took them to the bathroom door and tried to reach the knob to put the key in to open it. Smarty pants!

4. The last few days when I go in her room to wake her up, I find her like the picture above. I don't know when she figured out how to unzip her jammies. She obviously can't figure out how to take them off though. I know one day she will, and I will post a picture.

Bathtub Love

Today I found Arrie in the bathroom. She had parted the shower curtain and was looking in the tub. When she noticed I was there, she pointed in the tub and when, "uh? uh?" (our little Seagull). I asked, "Do you want to take a bath?" She then dropped what was in her hands and tried to unbutton her sweater! I helped her and took off her sweater. Then she proceeded to take off her top by pulling it up as high as she could. Anyways, it was so cute that she new she needed to take her clothes off to get in the tub. Arrie loves to take baths.

Babooshki

I saw this on someone's blog the other day, it made me smile!
(Babooski are Grandmas)

Arrie is One Year Old

Today is Arrie's official birthday! I can't believe it has been a year. Last night we went to bed and I said to Braden, "A year ago tonight I'd be waking up in a couple of hours wetting my pants! I'm so glad it's not a year ago!" :) I did too - I woke up at 1:00 a.m. last year when my water broke. All day today I have been thinking about all that happened a year ago and the crazy and painful ordeal labor is. However, as the day is almost over now, I can remember the absolutely WONDERFUL parts.

I remember holding Arrie, I couldn't believe she was mine. I remember my parents and Braden's parents and all of our family being so proud and in complete awe of the new addition to our family. I mostly remember the AMAZING impact it had on me and Braden (our little family). We were so happy. I don't think either of us had ever experienced joy like we did then. I remember Braden had to work and film an event that first night with Arrie but he was going to be coming up to the hospital that night to stay the night with us. I went to sleep and Arrie did too :) and I remember Braden coming in. I wish I had that on video, but I can see it in my mind as if it was a video. He was so happy, so excited to be with us, so happy to see his little girl. It was so cool to have our family turn from 2 to 3.

We are still so very happy. We love Arrie so much. She amazes us every day - it is so wonderful to watch her grow. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for Arrie and for Braden. It is truly a miracle that we can participate in the Godly power of creation. We have the opportunity to feel a little of the love for our children that Heavenly Father has for us His children.

Happy Birthday Arrie!!! :)

Arrie's First Birthday

I can't believe it has been a whole year! One year ago today I was HUGE and waiting for our little princess to come. I am glad that experience is behind me but what a miracle came from it all. We love having Arrie in our lives. She is so fun to watch growing and learning. Today for example, she got a tea set with plastic cakes from for her birthday, and I sat down with her to have our first tea party. She was picking up the cakes and pretending she was eating them and then she would swallow and make an "ahhh" sound! It was SO cute - I didn't know she had developed a little imagination already! We had a lot of fun.

She was so fun yesterday at her birthday party. She had her own little cake and we got her down to just her diaper and panties and sat her down with her cake. We thought she'd go to town on it - she loves sweets. But she didn't! She would put her fingers in and then show everybody and then lick her fingers off! What a little lady! :)

She loved opening her presents and finding what was inside the bag or the wrapping paper. She had fun with all the attention too. I think she was a little confused with all the attention but she liked it. She didn't like the hat or the tiara we tried to put on her - but we expected that.

So, with one year spent getting to know my little girl here are things about Arrie that I love.

1. Her laugh - I love how she lets out a little scream and it's usually when she sees people (or a dog - Pogi) that she loves. I love it when "Daddy" comes home - she really screams when she sees him. Also, if you tickle her in the right place she goes CRAZY! :)

2. Dancing - Arrie gets a beat and she shakes her upper body and bounces a little.

3. Reading stories - Arrie will go and get one of her books and bring it to me. Even though she doesn't like me "reading" the story, she loves sitting on my lap and turning the pages.

4. Waking up in the morning - As long as it is on time (and not before 7:00) I love going in her room when she's awake and she is so happy when we come in to get her.

5. Walking - Arrie is a great walker and she loves to go everywhere. With that is coming more independence which I'm not sure how to handle sometimes - but she's a "Big Girl" now and it's so fun.

6. Grandmas - it's been so fun to watch my mom become a Grandma. Arrie loves both of her grandmas so much and its so fun to see her interact with them.

7. "Loves" - Arrie gives "loves" by leaning into the person (or the dog - Pogi) sideways with her mouth open until her face touches them. That is her giving "loves."

8. Learning - I already mentioned this a little, but she loves to learn. I try and be creative to help her learn. I will hide things under her crib, or in a box and she will find them. Or she has learned how to put the tiny tubs of play dough back into the tube they go in. Or teaching her where her socks go, where a hat goes, where shoes go - and then asking her where they go and she tries to put them on.

9. Being "Mommy" - I love being her mommy. I love knowing she is my little girl and that she loves me so much. I get intimidated sometimes knowing all I need to teach her and knowing how much she will need me as she grows up - and also knowing how at times she won't need me and I'll want her to. But it is truly a holy and the best calling in life. I am so grateful to have Braden as her "Daddy" and my husband to help raise her. I LOVE being "Mommy".

Well, here are pictures from her birthday.

And then Braden's parents went to a concert the other night and got all the grand kids
these fun tie-die shirts!

Grandma Andersen's 90th Birthday

Last Sunday was Grandma Andersen's 90th Birthday! We all went to see her with her all time favorite Wacky Cake! (You can get the recipe below if you want to try it). She is doing so great. We got there just as they were serving dinner so all of the residents and nurses that could have cake got a piece too! Everyone sang Happy Birthday and mom helped Grandma blow out her candle. Grandma had balloons on her wheelchair from Pat and Denny and also us. I don't think anyone didn't know it was her birthday! :) Arrie LOVED the balloons and gave Grandma "loves" - she is very good at that. I have gone to see Grandma once this week since then and she laughs when you give her hugs and I gave her lots of kisses all at once and she said, "Gosh..." and then laughed - it was like I had my Grandma back for a second. Well, enjoy the pics.

Arrie is a walking machine!

Here is Arrie walking today!!! She goes everywhere!!!

Our Sappy Shows

A new season has started with TV! We are sad not to have our "LOST" and "Jack Bower 24" but we have two new favorites and they are completely opposite from last year. We LOVE Extreme Hose Makeover and Undercover Boss.


These show make us cry! It's pathetic but so awesome!! We love the story behind all the houses that they build. And the impact it has on the families/people that they build them for. We both would love to be a part of the show or something like it. Last night they did a house for "Girl's Hope" in Baltimore Maryland. It was so touching. They sent the girls on a vacation to LA (I bet the girls had never been on a vacation anywhere) and they built a house for them while they were gone. This house is where they will live away from their families so they can focus on their education and not live in the projects with the violence and drugs. It gives them an opportunity for life.



With Undercover Boss, it is so neat that these CEO's want to really find out what is going on in their companies. The best part though is the sappy part at the end. These CEO's get to work with and really get to know some of the employees that work for their companies. They get to know their stories and their needs and their dreams for the future. Usually they are your run of the mill jobs (like hotel maintenance or hospitality, waitresses, factory workers, street cleaners, delivery jobs, etc.) so the workers usually are more blue collar and have had a rough start. The best part is at the end when the CEO reveals himself and then compliments the people he met on their performance, their hard work, their ambition and promises them things, such as a postion in the company that is better pay, a vacation with their families, paying for their education so they can do better in life, etc. It is just great!

So check these shows out if you want to see that there is still a lot of good in this world.