It's a ?????

I was pretty certain we were having baby boy, but today our ultrasound showed that we are having a GIRL!! We are very excited for our 3rd addition. Mackenzie has decided that she will call her Emily. Dan and I have a few other names picked out so hopefully Kenzie won't be too upset with the name change when she is born.
Little missy is set to arrive March 8th, 2011. Hopefully she comes on time!!!!

Crazy Cakes!

Within a 2 week period, I've got Dan's, Mackenzie's, and Connor's birthday. Talk about timing, I think our next child needs a different birthday month. During this month baking, decorating, and eating cake rules our life. I can't stand the thought of cake after the 2 weeks. Every year I swear I won't make another time consuming crazy cake, but every year I can't resist! Don't look too closely (I'm still perfecting my frosting skills), this was Kenzie's Mini Mouse cake. It took me 4 hours to decorate it. And that doesn't include the baking time to make the cake.

Originally I made her bow out of a "fruit by the foot", but as time past the black die discolored the bow, and so I was forced to place a real bow over the top of it.

I made Connor his own personal Mickey Mouse cake, which he loved not just eating it, but squishing the frosting and cake between his fingers and throwing it on my Kitchen floor. Not to mention he loved tossing the cake plate on the floor and watching it shatter. (NOTE: Cake eating for small children should take place outside).

His poor face was stained black for a day.

At LAST, pics of our house!

This blog post is for you Michelle and for the rest of the Hunt's. Plus Glen!

So it's been 6 months since we moved into our house, and after all the endless calls, I've decided to finally get pictures up of our house.

Sorry, we don't live in the castle, although it would be fun... These are updated pics of our family for Afton!

Our little Princesses not wanting to take a pic. at the happiest place on earth

Our HAPPY HAPPY boy 10 months




Easter family picture


Kenzie's room (not set up yet)

A view from the family room, looking at our front room/door


Master Bath

The Kitchen

Our room (a work in progress)

Guest bath

Front door

Family room

Front room

Our front tree blew over the day we moved in. Nothing like being welcomed to home ownership

My Testimony

This year has gone by so fast!!! So much has happened, and I've been horrible about documenting it. I hope to bring you all up to speed with my next blog post.

As the Christmas season passes, I can't help but think of Jesus Christ, and how much he has done for me. How grateful I am to him and his sacrifice for me so I can return to live with God again.

This year I was given a new church calling to serve the members of my ward (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). I have the opportunity to teach new members of our church, and those who are learning more about us...the basic gospel principles of the church. It has been a wonderful calling and I have learned so much. A few weeks ago, we discussed the life of Christ; as I was preparing for my lesson, my thoughts went back to my testimony of the Savior and how it all began.

As I child I had always believed in God, but it wasn't until I was 13 years old that my testimony of Christ really took flight. I attribute that to my church leader Carol Clubb.
When she taught us young crazy girls, she always taught with the love of the Savior and his spirit. One Sunday she gave a lesson on Christ and his life that I will never forget. The spirit of God was so strong that I couldn't deny that there was a God, and that he loved me. I don't remember all that was discussed that day, but I do remember how I felt,and the slide show of Christ's life that she had made for us. For the first time in my life, I began to understand what Christ had done for me, and the role that he played in my life. That lesson was the starting point for me to try and follow Christ and be more like him.

So as I thought about my lesson, I thought I would share with the class a similar slide show in hopes they would have the same desire to be more like Christ.
...Thanks Carol!

Connor and our Family

Connor turned 5 months yesterday, I can't believe how quickly time has passed. He is a happy baby boy and we love being with him! Dan says his default is a smile...we can't wipe the smile off his face, even when he's crying, that boy will crack a smile at us.

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog, so I thought I would post Connor's 1 month pictures and our family pictures. Emily Heizer our favorite photographer took these for us...you can check her out at...www.eheizerphotography.blogspot.com.

The Curse!

I still remember our 1997 blue SL2 Saturn sedan (May she rest in peace!). She was a beauty...We traveled far and wide with her, and she never let us down. She was a bit rusty, but we blame the winter salt for that, and she had an interesting smell of vinegar (which spilled in the trunk of the car on our honeymoon because Dan insisted that we get vinegar to put on our homemade sandwich..."just like subway, right") and vanilla air freshener (we tried to cover up the vinegar smell...it didn't work). However, the gas mileage was awesome and my husband took pride in keeping her nice and clean. Dan and I had many talks about our children driving her in their teen years. Until that tragic day in August 2007 when I got a phone call from Dan,..."Janay, someone hit me on the freeway, and I think the Saturn is TOTALED!" Our hopes and dreams of our car where shattered. It was a sad day, and to make matters worse, we had just finished paying off the car (The curse of getting your debts paid off).

Luckily, I was a used car sales-women and had sold myself a nice VW, Passat. So at least we still had that going for us.
After the Saturn was taken from us, we turned our hopes and dreams to our little Passat.
Much to our joy, we made our last payment on our Passat this past Friday, July 24, 2009. As I was driving to the bank to pay off our debt a large rock came flying at my windshield and busted the glass, so yes, we will be spending a couple hundred dollars to get that fixed. (The curse has hit yet again, but you got to laugh about it. At least if was just the windshield and not the whole car...cross your fingers).
It seems to me every time we get a little ahead in paying off our debts we are hit with something else, I think someone is trying to keep us humble, and believe it or not I'm happy to accept it.

I LOVE to see the Temple!

On June 18th, 2003 I returned home from serving a full time mission at Temple Square for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I can't believe this month marks the 6th year since returning home. I often look back to that short period of my life and think about all the people I met and taught; my AWESOME companions and friendships, and all the wonderful experiences I had (too many to count). That small period of 18 months was the greatest crash course in life lessons that I could have ever had. I owe so much to my mission and the blessings it has brought me...

First and foremost a greater testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ, the power and beauty of the Atonement, and the joy of the resurrection.

Second, employment as a teacher at the MTC... the place were I met my husband (no he wasn't a missionary, he was a teacher too). Which has also lead to 2 wonderful children.

Thirdly, a better understanding of the spirit, its ability to change lives and convert people to the gospel.

I've learned the importance of the Book of Mormon and its testimony of our Savior. One of my favorite passages of the Book of Mormon comes from the introduction of the book, it says...

"We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10: 3-5.)
Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is his revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the second coming of the Messiah. "
This was one of my favorite passages to read, it brings such power and conviction to me of the truthfulness of the gospel. Not only does it extend an amazing invitation, but it gives the steps to gain a testimony, and then once gained, what kind of testimony you will have.

I've developed a greater love for Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, and the need to have living Prophets on the earth.

Because of my mission I've learned the need to develop Christ like attributes and become more like him.

I now see the importance of service, the Lord needs everyone to do his/her part, where one slacks it becomes harder for the Lords church to function, no matter what the calling or need may be.

I've seen the amazing love of the church demonstrated through humanitarian and welfare relief. A small portion of my mission was spent at Welfare Square...though I enjoyed the spirit of all the tours I gave, the one that I enjoyed the most was Welfare Square.

There is something special about welfare square. Anyone who takes a trip to Utah, needs to take a tour at Welfare Square and the Humanitarian center.

Finally my LOVE for the Temple has grown so much. It's so important to attend the temple regularly. To feel the peace that exists their and grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

...I LOVE to see the Temple!!!!