"Arise and Shine"

In our church, the youth have a scripture theme each year and the theme for this year is D&C115: 5 "Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations."

As most of you know, I get to work with the young women and I absolutely love it.  I just wanted to share a song with you that I got to sing with our young women today in Sacrament Meeting.  Just hearing it makes me tear up.  I am so impressed with the youth.  I loved being able to sing with them and look down at their mothers and fathers and others in the ward and see their eyes water as well.  And to me that represents hope.  We have hope for the future because we have these wonderful young women to lead it.  The world is in good hands.

Here is a link to the song we sang.  It was originally sung at the most recent General Young Women Meeting.  I love the words and I love hearing the girls bear their testimonies through it.  Words can't describe how much I love the youth of the church.  They are truly amazing and a light to the nations.

Our Happenings

This is what's been happenin' here at the Ricks.  Some happenings took place a couple of weeks ago but I didn't want to blog about just one thing so now that I have multiple random things to blog about, here you go.

First, Jocey loves her phones.  She has a couple of toy phones and she loves to talk on them.  But she especially loves when we let her talk to family on our real phones.  She talks/yells at them forever.  And it's so funny to see how animated she gets and how much she jibber jabbers.  I posted a video a few weeks back of her talking to Dave on the phone so you can go here to watch it.

She was apparently being generous with her phone time.

Next, I've posted pictures in the past of Jocey and her messy eating but let's be honest, we love those kind of pics.  So here's another.  She loves pastas and really goes to town.

A couple of weekends ago, Matt, Dave's youngest brother, had an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament at a park in our neck of the woods so Jocey and I decided to go watch.  It was such a hot day but we were able to stay in the shade and watch a game.   They were the only high school team there and the rest were all college groups.  They didn't win but they had fun.  I realized that Ultimate Frisbee has their own culture.  After a game, the give a spirit award to the other team and they have cheers etc.  It was fun but totally different.

Matt is right in the middle with the blue shirt, blue shorts, and white shoes.  This is the best action shot I got.

Next, every once in a while Jocey gets to play with her friend Elise.  She came over to our house and sometimes they don't always get along very well but this last time they did so well together and I got some cute pictures of them playing together.

Leg exercises?

I told you Jocey loves her phone.  I love how they look like they are talking to each other on the phone.

This past Friday night, my friend Christine and I, had a small girls getaway.  Dave and Jocey went over to play with Tyler and Grant and us girls went and got pedicures.  It was so nice.  This is only the second time I've gotten a pedicure.  And they had massage chairs to sit in.  Woot woot!  We definitely want to do these kinds of things more often.  We picked up dinner on the way back to the husbands and kids and ate.  Then we put the kids to bed and we played games into the wee hours of the night.  I am a night person but I was so grumpy the next day.  I guess I'm just not as young as I once was.  Sorry Dave.

 I splurged and got flowers on my toes.

Last is Jocelyn's nursery experience.  Her first attempt wasn't perfect but she did okay.  She lasted until almost the end of the second hour of church.  They brought her into me and said that she was crying and knocking on the door saying "dada."  So I went back into nursery with her and sat in there for a little bit.  I snuck out but they brought her to me again maybe 15 or 20 minutes later.  I just kept her this time because I had to teach and couldn't go sit with her and Dave was gone that day.  Well today was her second attempt and she did it!  They said they had to make several trips to the water fountain to keep her happy but she stayed.  And below is her first nursery picture.  I'm such a proud mama right now.  We have a big girl in the house.



"DAD" Pictures

As mentioned in the previous post, for Father's Day I took pictures of Jocelyn holding letters that spell out "DAD," to give to Dave as a gift.  I just wanted to share some of my favorites.  Enjoy!

This is the finished product and now here are some more pictures.

Jocey was getting tired of saying cheese.



Daddy's Day

So if you know me well, you know that I really get into holidays. I usually plan months in advance the things I want to do, decorate, and eat. This Father's Day was no different. So here is the day in pictures.

I made a sign for the day.

All this was in a little gift bag but you can see it better all laid out.  Dave got pictures of Jocelyn holding letters that spell out "DAD", Settlers of Catan Expansion, Reeses, a new dress shirt and tie, a coupon book, and awesome cards.

I made Dave a special breakfast.  This was my attempt at making pancakes shaped like ties.  I also made a special lunch but nothing too fancy.

After we all took naps, we went to El Dorado Hills to be with Dave's family.  We had dinner at the McCaffree's and I made dessert.  This was my attmept at making tie decorations with frosting.  They aren't the purdiest cupcakes but they still tasted good.

Dave said he had a good Father's Day and that's all that matters.  It was also nice to spend time with my father-in-law, Dave's uncle, and his grandpa.  It's nice to live close and celebrate holidays together.  I got to talk to my dad on the phone which I guess will have to do.  I do get to see my family next month and I can't hardly wait!  Anyway,  Happy Father's Day to the wonderful fathers in my life.  I love you and you truly are the best there is!

Busy Days

Well we have been up to a lot the last few weeks so here's a recap. 

Matt, Dave's youngest brother, graduated from high school.  We went and found out just a couple hours before, that Matt was going to sing with a small group of kids and that he had a solo part.  He did a great job and we're so proud of the newest graduate!  Go Matt!  He is carrying on the tradition of his brothers and going to BYU in the fall.

The following Monday, we had a Memorial Day picnic with the family and our friends, the Oakes.  We ate and then played Ping Pong, Badminton, and another game with golf balls on strings that you throw and try to get them to wrap around poles.  It was a fun day and we just played and hung out all day.  I love holidays.

My special Memorial Day treats.

Jocelyn met her second cousin, Emily for the first time.  They loved each other.

And last was family time this past week.  Josh and Tara were here the whole week so Jocey and I went up to El Dorado Hills most every day to play.  Then on Thursday night Dan and Jacob and his girlfriend, Alissa came.  On Friday, we went to Sunsplash.  We played miniature golf and then ate.  Jocelyn and I left and went home to take a nap.  The others stayed and rode go-carts and played lazer tag.  Then on Saturday, we went bowling and then to lunch.  Jocelyn took a nap with Tara, who wasn't feeling well, and the rest of us saw the movie, Snow White and the Huntsman.  It was good.  Then that evening we went to the Harrisons, family friends, for a BBQ and also stopped at Dave's friend Mitch's surprise birthday party.  We spent the remainder of our family time playing games.  It was so fun to see everyone again.  They should all move to California.

Jocelyn loves to get in on the action.

The Ricks boys have a unique and weird talent.  They can extend their bellies out really far to look like they are pregnant.  Oh boy!