VT: July 2010

4 to a page.

HERE IS THE VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE>>>

Happy Visiting!

Father's Day: Candy Ties

BIG SHOUT OUT to LittleLDSIdeas.blogspot.com for this wonderful idea for Father's Day- THANK YOU! CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VISIT THE INSPIRATIONAL SITE...

Little LDS Ideas- Father's Day Tie

Here's what WE DID at my house:

VT: June 2010

Click here for the VISITING TEACHING MESSAGE for June

Here is your JUNE VISITING TEACHING PICTURE!  Above will print in a 5x7 for your sister's frames you got them. Just Right Click and Save to your computer.. then upload to have printed where you get your pictures done.. like Walmart.com or Sams.com.

Below, by request, is the handout 4 to a page to print out at home!

Explaining Death to Your Children

We had brought to our attention by a Facebook Follower, Megan, that she had recently had a death in the family and needed help explaining it to her 2 year old. Another great follower answered her before we got to her and I think that she had a wonderful idea. We will share her idea and Megan's story to hopefully help YOU if you find yourself in this same situation. We have also included some other ideas we've found. We hope this helps!

Father's Day: What to do?

FAMILY FUN-Father's Day Crafts

I love this website from Disney. It's my GO TO for ideas. As you can see they have a lot of ideas for gifts, treats, cards, and MORE! Check it out! You'll love it!!

VT: May 2010

May is "use the talk you want out from conference" Visiting Teaching message... right? :) And hopefully, you are more punctual than me and have already been out for your visits, but if you haven't here is a little help.. well, maybe :)
If you want to use Sister Julie Beck's talk for your message here is the 5x7 photo you can print for your sisters frames!
If you need help making one with a quote from a different talk.. I'd be happy to switch the quote for you! Email me sundaesecrets@hotmail.com
Happy Visiting!

Loozy Lou

CHECK IT OUT! Our good friend, Joni, has opened an ETSY SHOP and the stuff she is making is adorable! Visit her blog NOW for your chance to WIN!!!

Do it yourself: MOTHER'S DAY GIFTS

We have been slacking lately! Sorry friends ;)

Here are a few ideas for Mother's Day to get you started. Hopefully we will add more easy ideas before the week is through. Please feel free to share any ideas or links that you have!

I found this idea on Better Home and Garden website. Use a soup can and decorate it to make a cute little flower vase. Can be used every year on Mother's Day or as a pencil holder! So cute, cheap, and easy!

Scriptures 4 Kids

Thought I would share this really COOL website. Scriptures stories ONLINE and for different reading levels. Also, they have games, print outs, FHE  ideas, videos, music, etc.. It's really great!!!!! CHECK IT OUT!! www.scriptures4kids.com

CLICK HERE to

VISIT THEIR WEBSITE HERE!!!

VT: April 2010

Here is April's Visiting Teaching Handout for your sisters to put in their frames. Again, this is a 5x7 jpeg file. Right click to save on your computer! For the original post, if you missed what the "plan" is CLICK HERE.

FHE: How to Pray

Hi! Remember me?? Yeah.. I know, I know I've been slacking in the FHE department.. BIG TIME! However, there is never a better time to try again then TODAY :) Right? I've found A TON of info for PRAYER LESSONS AND ACTIVITES. I've linked quite a few below and then also did a download for you! Hope your FHE PACKETS/BOX is coming along! Please feel free to share any FHE you are adding.. just email us sundaesecrets@hotmail.com and then we can feature your FHE here on our blog!!! Thanks for your help and support!!!

Laying on of Hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost

This week's handout is way simple. This goes to Primary 2 Lesson 13. In the middle area, have the kids trace their hand, then the other on top of the first, representing the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Enjoy!

Click below to download this handout:

Talk by Julie Beck

This was one of my favorite talks during conference. Sometimes I really struggle to prioritize my time. This talk focuses on the importance of seeking spiritual revelation as mothers and women in order to lead our lives with confidence, knowing we are doing the best and MOST IMPORTANT things!



Click here to watch conference via the official Church website.

Conference activites for kids!

I know Saturday conference is over, but we still have Sunday to look forward to!
This is from the Church website...awesome stuff to get your little ones involved during conference!

Here is an article if you want to read about the activities first!

The Woo: March

This month has been a CRAZY one! Megan and Sarah are super busy.. and me, well, I don't have that great of an excuse. However, we wanted to sqeeze in THE WOO for MARCH. There won't be any comments or suggestions from us this month, just a talk that you can read. AN AWESOME TALK. Just something to think about.

CLICK HERE TO READ TALK!

"Agency in LOVE AND MARRIAGE"

By Elder Lynn G Robbins

It really is a wonderful talk and he makes a LOT of great point! Here are a few highlights of the talk.. however, if you get the chance GO READ IT!!!!

Something to "TALK" about

HOW DOES SHE does this amazing post once a month with FAMILY DINNER QUESTIONS! She says, "They are in a simple form to represent how simple getting to know your family can bring you closer together.

My family and I have been doing this for a year and I have learned and laughed as we answered some of the questions. You don’t have to have kids to do this…how well do you think you know your spouse? your parents? your friends?

Some of the questions are silly some are serious. It spurs on ideas and thoughts to make you and your family think."

Grocery List & Recipes

Grocery Shopping.. one of my favorite but most unfavorite things to do.. UNLESS I have a LIST! And a list is no good without a PLAN! So, I've been doing good at MENU planning. I decided that I was bored with the same menu items that I always use, so I went searching for some new recipes. I got excited about all of it and decided to share!!
Start Searching! These are MY requirements for a recipe:
1) easy
2) no too much prep work
3) ingredients that are familiar, like what I would find in my shopping basket on a regular basis (1 or 2 different/un "normal" ingredients is fine. (Plays into not going WAY over budget!)
4) tastes amazing- liked by whole family! (maybe ONE brand new/different/going to try something new recipe for the week.)

Conference: Everything you'll need.

Here is a BIG list of things for GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!(From Sugardoodle.net) I picked a few that I really thought were great from this list and other places around the web!

CUTE idea for Conference Reverence Tent with a STORY that would be PERFECT to go in your GENERAL CONFERENCE FHE.. To download ALL ideas for this FHE kit click picture at bottom of post! :)

VT: March 2010

Right Click to save to your computer.. print as a 5x7!
Give to the ladies you Visit Teach to put in their frames you gave them :)
See original post for details!

I can tell others about Jesus Christ

This handout goes with Primary 2 Choose the Right A Lesson 11. I got the little 'missionary guy' from BookOfMormonPosters.com. You can also use this handout for your "I want to be a missionary" FHE!

To download, click this:

I also used this image to make my little students missionary tags. (Just save this as an image to your computer.)

Aim High

This is the theme we chose for our young women this year. "Aim High" and to go along with "aim" we will be using this target, that I made, arrows and things like that. Our goal with this theme is to get them to realize that Personal Progress, the values, helps them create a lifestyle that will get them to their "target", the temple. (Feel free to click the picture and save it to your computer for printing. This works great for a 4x6. Or download it with a b.o.m. chart below)

As you may know, the Young Women Theme has recently added a value, VIRTUE. Here is what it says on lds.org about it


A Return to Virtue
"Now is the time for a return to virtue!"
The attribute and value of Virtue has been added to the Young Women theme. "Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It encompasses chastity and moral purity."


The time has come for the young women of the Church to lead the world in a return to virtue. This is the time to be pure and to qualify for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. In the coming year, it is our desire that all young women and their leaders focus on the meaning of virtue, what young women can do to accept and act upon this value, and how this attribute can strengthen young women as they prepare to be worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive temple ordinances.


We will distribute through local priesthood leaders and also post online the Personal Progress value experiences and projects associated with this value. We desire all young women to complete and be recognized for completing this value, in addition to the seven values listed in the Personal Progress book. You may want to study the following scriptural references as you contemplate a return to virtue.


"I believe one virtuous young woman led by the Spirit can change the world."

We have also challenged our girls to read the BOOK OF MORMON. Here is a link for Seminary Book of Mormon Resorces. The download button is below. It is a zip file with the book of mormon chart we gave our girls and the "Aim High" .jpeg file also. Click below to download. We wanted a chart that was easy to mark off chapters at a time. With Personal Progress, the girls are reading their scriptures all the time. We want to encourage them to count that as reading the scriptures. We wanted them to know that they don't have to read the Book of Mormon from start to finish, but can mark off chapters as the skip around for Personal Progress, Seminary, Family Study, etc..

There is a wonderful WEBSITE just for the YOUTH now.. CHECK IT OUT!

For the mom's out there. Please encourage your young women to "Aim High" and help them get their medalion! You are now able to do it with your daughter and get YOURS too! They have a beautiful new one with the temple and a ruby on it. It comes in silver or gold. What a great accomplishment it will be!!
I never got mine as a young girl, I missed out. However, I'm going to start working on mine this year!
I believe in the YOUNG WOMEN PROGRAM and know that it is an inspired program! I love my young women!!!

"We truly believe in this generation of young women. They can be a force for good in the world as they come to accept and act on the values found in the Young Women Theme." -General YW Pres.

Dinner last night....it was really good.

Here is where I found the recipe and HERE is a tutorial so you don't mess up!

Sweet Pork Burritos(or salad) Cafe Rio Style...

These are possibly one of the best things I have ever made.  My family and I LOVE Cafe Rio, they have the yummiest Mexican food.  If you haven't had it before go HERE, find one by you and go eat to much and love every bite of it.  You haven't lived til you have eaten there I think :)

The other day I was doing my usual cooking blog stalking and came to this FABULOUS little cooking blog: http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/ They have a whole ton of yummy recipes Im excited to try. But when I saw a homemade copycat recipe for Cafe Rio's sweet pork...I almost died, and instantly started drooling. I was so excited to try it since this is what my husband orders EVERY TIME we eat there.  I knew I had to share it with you, and I am excited for you to try it too. :)

I'm in heart with this...

So, you can't tell from my house right now, but I love to be organized. And I'm really good at it. However, I don't know why my house isn't up to "Devyn" par. I'm working on it. We are trying to finish the basement at the moment, so I guess I feel like I should wait until THAT is done.. or any progress I make NOW will just have to be reevaluated LATER. However, it's in my blood to be organized. I'm a list maker and a planner girl. I like to have a purpose (even if that purpose for the day doesn't get accomplished) Anyways, without devulging too much MORE about my failures in this department.. I wanted to share THIS---------->

I'm an Organizing Junkie!!!

www.orgjunkie.com

Oh my goodness! A website that follows my heart! I have been enjoying looking around and thought "Hey, this is a GREAT tool to help organize my life, and keep things simple.. THIS WOULD BE PERFECT for Sundae Secret Friends!"

THIS is the post that made me fall in heart with this website! Check it out.. grocery list print out that is organized into categories. I'm way excited to use it. It will be a lot better then how I do it now. Which is I mentally walk through the store and think of what I need so that my list is in order of where I will find things... So yeah.. this will be better. And then a weekly menu print out... AND MORE!

HERE is where she does product reviews and giveaways! Love this section and can't wait to explore more!

Anywho.. I hope you check it out and I hope that we can all become a little more organized this year so that MORE of our time can be focused on the IMPORTANT things!!

Music and our families...

I LOOOVE music.  I can not carry a tune to save my life, however I think I sound awesome in the shower and Hayden and I are really really good singers in the car.  I can kinda sorta play the piano, and I admire anyone who can really play it or any other instrument.  Even though I really have no musical talent myself, I adore it... I listen to it almost all day and all the time.  While Im cooking, while Im driving, while Im cleaning or getting ready.   It always brightens my day and often puts a little extra bounce in my step to get things done or help me have a better day when I am seriously dragging.

Ok, now a little funny story time...
I was 7 or 8 months pregnant, so I was obviously VERY pregnant.  So pregnant you are at the point that EVERYONE decides you need advice.  For some reason I got lots of pregnant/baby advice in the line at the grocery store from cute little grandma ladies.  One particular lady, while we were waiting in line to check out grabs my belly on each side and is asking me about my baby... I am in shock that she is so. so. close and that my belly is no longer my own personal space.  We are talking and I am trying to be nice but back away but she gets closer and then starts SINGING! LOUDLY!!! to my belly... while intermittently telling me how important it is to make sure my baby hears music and I sing and read to him while he is still "cooking" in there and that he has good music after while hes growing.  When it was FINALLY time to for her to check out, and we parted ways.  I was so confused by what happened.  I finished checking out, loaded my groceries(which were probably mostly cravings food) and got in the car.  The radio came on and I started my regular car dancing(you know you do it too!) and all the sudden am absolutely HORRIFIED by what they are singing about.  I quickly turn the radio off and start bawling(darn hormones.)  I couldn't stop thinking about what that lady had said about how it effects my baby and how he will learn and grow up blah blah blah... when I finally calmed down and took it all into perspective that my baby really probably didnt hear anything that whoever was singing about and wasn't going to be hurt or anything I did think about how I probably did need to adjust my music a little.  For myself and my little growing family...

"Music has boundless powers for moving families toward greater spirituality and devotion to the gospel. Latter-day Saints should fill their homes with the sound of worthy music." -- "First Presidency Preface," Hymns, 1985, x

So I adjusted my music a little, I wasn't ever listening to anything outrageous, but now I make more of an effort to actually KNOW what I'm listening to on the radio and I have some kid's music for Hayden that I actually really like.  Some kid's music is sooo annoying.  Like pull your hair out annoying.  But I found some I really like.  I still listen to some music that I can rock out too though :) I still love Beyonce, Death Cab, and 80s music etc :) (I could go on and on who I love to listen to)

"Teach your children to love the hymns. Sing them on the Sabbath, in home evening, during scripture study, at prayer time. Sing as you work, as you play, and as you travel together. Sing hymns as lullabies to build faith and testimony in your young ones." -- "First Presidency Preface," Hymns, 1985, x

I have been singing and playing more hymns around the house.  "The Wheels of the Bus" is now followed by "Im a Child of God," or "Families Can be Together Forever," and of course the classic "Popcorn Popping :)  I love the hymns.  They give such a peaceful feeling to my home.  I hope I can teach all of my kids to love the hymns and music as much as I do.

"I wonder sometimes if we realize the importance of music. I wonder if we know that the Lord himself is concerned about it. He has given us the information that the song of praise is a prayer unto him. . . . It [is] our privilege, yea, our blessing, to sing and . . . our songs should be sung in righteousness." -- President George Albert Smith, Church News, Feb. 16, 1946, 6

So...for your listening pleasure here are some of my favorite church Cd's for me and for my family:

This was one of the very first CD's I ever bought Hayden, we have the traditional Children Songs that I love and he loves but this is just a fun spin on it.  I LOVE it and so does Hayden.

This is another CD by the same band that I really like.  The "Once There was a Snowman" songs are HILARIOUS!  They have spiced up some of the Children's songs and they are so cute.  I also really like the song "The Primary Jamboree" and "Peanut Butter and Jelly"

 

I love love love my Reflection's of Christ CD and Another Testament of Christ CD 

 

I also love Hillary Weeks, Katherine Nelson, Jenny Jordan Frogley and Kenneth Cope(I love EVERYTHING he sings, check out all his cds.)They are great for when I don't really want to listen to some MoTab but Im in a church music, uplifting music mood.

Enjoy!  What do you like to listen to with your kids and by yourself, church music or other wise.... I need more kids cds in the mix. :)

Have you heard....

............of LDSLiving?

Am I the only one on the face of the planet that has never heard of it... Probably.  But just in case I'm not, I'm going to introduce you :)

LDSLiving is an email magazine through Deseret book....

If you go to there main page.  https://www.ldsliving.com/ and then up at the top where it says, "FREE LDS Events Calendar" enter your email and you will receive all sorts of cool stuff.  Like fabulous uplifting articles, helpful hints, as well as special deals on great books, music and more!  Who doesn't love special coupons?!  I think I could spend a gazillion dollars at Deseret Book and walk around and just look at their books and music and art everyday....AND... every Monday LDSLiving sends you an FHE idea!  This week it was on prayer. With the lesson idea there is also a FHE night treat and FHE dinner idea. 

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day. :)  Now its time to get ready for St. Patricks Day! And Spring time!!! YAY!  I am so excited for bright spring colors and clothes and flowers...and the SUN! ahhhh... I can feel it now.

What St. Patrick's Day Traditions do you have?

Do you do anything to help bring in Spring with your kids?

What would you like to see on Sundae Secrets?

Send us all of your brilliant ideas to sundaesecrets@hotmail.com we know you have some :)

More Valentine's Sugar Cookies!

I too made some festive Valentine sugar cookies! (Click here for Devyn's recipe that she already posted.) Ah, they were so fun. I used store bought frosting...sorry to disappoint. They still tasted YUMMY!!!

Valentine's!!

This year I wanted to help Hayden send out Valentine's to his cousins, other family and close friends.  I wanted to make it as easy as possible, make something and print it out from the computer, have him color it, add a picture of him, send and done!

HOWEVER!  The day I'm going to start the Valentine's, my week old printer DIES!!  I was so mad.... its a week old!  So now Im waiting for our new one to come...and I had to do the cards the old fashion way.  I still think they turned out super cute though!!! 

The beginning stages....

I traced and cut out his hands, cut some hearts and folding the paper in thirds...

after I glued everything, and having Hayden stick on some of the hearts, he colored and colored and colored... :)

 

and drum roll please..... the finished product... :)

it says:

(front)I LOVE YOU.....

(inside)THIS MUCH! Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Hayden

 We just got our family pictures done a little while ago, so we sent a picture of Hayden and one of our family with the card.(at Walgreen's right now if you buy 25 4x6 prints you get 25 free!)  (HERE is the photographer that did our pictures. She is AMAZING!)

THIS and THIS was another idea I was thinking about doing for Valentine's... maybe next year! :)  Martha and Family Fun has all sorts of brilliant ideas!

Hi! It's Devyn again :) Isn't it nice that Megan let's me crash all here posts! LOL... we made our Valentine's this year too. Well, I made the outsides and the kids colored on the inside where we put a nice little note! They turned out really cute! (I wish I would have seen Megan's first though, because they are super super cute!)

We also sent a picture. But I made them into Valentine's.. I printed this on a 5x7 and cut them apart. The insides had cute scribbles in them. I think they turned out really cute!
HAVE FUN  and make your own VALENTINE's! Show the people that mean the most to you how much you LOVE THEM!!!! -Devyn

February 2010 Visiting Teaching Message

I know Devyn made a visiting teaching message already for February, which is WAY cuter, but I didn't have time to get it printed, and my printer is out of color, so I threw this one together last minute! That's me these days, always doing things last minute. :)

Just click the image and save to your computer if you want it!