Age of Accountability

I have to share this at the end of May; Rianne was talking to me about this birthday. This is kind of how the conversation went:

Rianne: Is everybody tempted when they turn 8?

Mom: that is when Satan can tempt us and we are accountable for the choices we make, He will try to put bad thoughts in our heads.

Rianne: We get the Holy Ghost when we get baptized right?

Mom: Yes and he helps us know things are wrong and gives us good things to do.

Rianne: I hope I get baptized on my birthday I don't want to go too many days without him (Holy Ghost)!

She was also very concerned for all those people who aren't baptized (especially a particular friend). We had a pretty good talk about everybody being able to make good choices. Taking on the name of Christ gives us more to do so we need more help so we get the Holy Ghost. It was pretty sweet! Her Baptism will be November 28th in Kanab!

Well she has reached magic # 8! I cannot believe my little girl turned 8 on Monday. Rianne loves horses. I had an idea for a cake with an 8 and it turned out how I pictured it!


I asked her what she wanted for her birthday dinner and she said she wanted to go to dinner with a friend. Okay, where would you like to go? She is only 8 so she is either ready to retire or a little more white trash than her mother.

Village Inn was her choice, what 8 year old picks that? We had a great dinner with her friend Hailey.

After dinner we had a little FHE party with a few families. Gifts, cake & ice cream,

and of course her birthday spot light, (a slide show of pictures done by Brant).

After the Party we gave her the gifts from us a camera (Remember to live so your memories bring you happiness) CTR ring (Remember to make good choices.) We also let her open Grandma & Grandpa Brown's present (her own set of scriptures)

This little girl has brought more joy to my life than I thought possible from one kid. She is so thoughtful and helpful she reminds me so much of her Grandma Brown. She is always looking to do good things and serve. She is a wonderful care taker. I'm so glad she came first; she is just what I needed to help me enjoy motherhood, when I was so scared to take it on. She has taught me so much! I love you Rianne, I love being your Mom! Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Christmas Camp

I love holidays and traditions. We had our Silent Night & Christmas Camp out on Sunday!

I usually do PJ's for Christmas Eve but thought it would be fun for our camp out. We let the kids get out their sleeping bags and sleep under the tree with the lights on! We do S'mores and look through our Christmas scrapbook. Our Silent Night is usually just a quiet night with as few distractions as possible with no TV. We just read Christmas stories until they fall asleep.

As you can see Silent can still be busy and falling asleep doesn't just happen! There was no school on Monday so it was fun! This is normally the position Heath prefers, as I'm typing this he is on the couch downstairs in the same position and spends most of Sacrament meeting this way as well!

A Higley Thankgiving

Yes we are a little slow getting these photos posted, but like they say "better late than never." Jana was the pie woman for Thanksgiving again this year. She is pictured here with just some of the many pies she made. They were all delicious. The fact that they were all gone by the next day is a testament to that.

The kids all enjoyed playing Zooreka together. Of course the big kid in the middle is Dan. He was really good to help all the kids be able to play. Even Heath had a fun time with this game and he can't read which is kind of important for this game. It is not really designed for little kids. Thanks Dan!!
We had a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving and it was over way too fast. One of the highlights not pictured was a trip to the Idaho Falls temple with Jana's parents and Chad and Audrey. That was very cool, we even had lunch in the temple cafeteria, some pretty good food! Gratitude fills are hearts! We are so grateful for healthy, active & happy kids, grateful for our employment, our family and of course our testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Heath Performs at WWCC Children's Center Christmas Program

Heath did a great job being a snowflake during this song. He was very fun to watch and he did a great job! He knew all the words to the songs they sang but when he got up there he was too focused on all the actions to remember to sing.

After the program he got to have some cookies which he promptly got all over his face.



And finally he got to see Santa!

Fun at Discovery Park

Recently we got to visit southern Utah. While in Cedar City we took the kids to one of the parks we used to enjoy when we lived there. The photo is kind of blurry but the look on Heath's face is so funny.



And here they are just being so cute together.

Even Dad got in on the fun at the park!