What Christmas means to me. By Sarah Burnes Heiner

Christmas is the pine tree Scent - you can smell throughout my house, And tending the neighbor’s hamster - that my 4 yr old calls a mouse. Christmas is our first nativity scene - I bought for a small amount. A porcelain set I fixed with super glue - too many times to count. Christmas is the sound of music - echoing throughout my home with delight. Jingle bells, Rudolph...

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Oakland Temple - A Breathtaking sight to See.

When I was 12, I had the opportunity to go the Oakland temple for the first time, and i'll never forget the peace I felt that day. The location was absolutely breathtaking especially during sunset!! It overlooked the entire Bay Area with a panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge and the peninsula. The Visitor's Center was also amazing. I remember the giant...

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I am thankful for music~Maddy

I never knew how much good music could bless my life! just a couple of days ago I had the wonderful opportunity to be in my schools seventh grade choir concert, and I realized that I absolutely love being on stage and singing such beautiful songs! Music has blessed me in so many ways. I noticed that every time I do my homework I get stressed and feel like I can't...

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Maddy the Track Star!!

This year Maddy decided to participate in her Junior High School track team. She has enjoyed running and getting better and faster with every practice and track meet. I managed to capture this video while she ran the 400 meter run (1 complete lap around the track). It's awesome to see how far ahead she get's in first place, and close to the end she get's a competitor. Watch the vide...

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Princess William

Anamarie has done it again, but this time there's a new victim; little William. Anamarie has been known to dress up Brett (on many occassions), but she has now discovered that two is better than one. I sure hope my little boys grow into manly men, and not the contrary. Here's her masterpiece; Princess Willi...

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Meet "THOMAS THE MONSON"

One of Brett's favorite books is "Thomas The Monson", as he calls it. Every time we talk about Thomas S. Monson, he tells me what a good train he is. In his prayers, he says "...and thank you for our Prophet, Thomas The Monson". I hope one day soon he will figure out that The Prophet is not a train, and I hope he's not too disappointed ...

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We Are ALL Children of God!

We are all Children of God; no matter what Religion we practice!! In God's eyes we all have EQUAL & INFINITE worth. Growing up in California made me "thick skinned" when it came to my LDS/Mormon Religion. I even had a High School Teacher keep me after class to lecture me about my beliefs. My religion is very personal to me. It has given me more direction than anything...

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The yummiest girl.

Brett just informed me of this... "Mom, you're the yummiest girl, I eber see...

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My gift from Brett

Brett came running in from outside with a big surprise for me. He told me to close my eyes then he presented me with something so beautiful and said "look mom, I picked you some bootiful flowers" What a sweetie pie ...

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Funny question of the day?

Brett: "Mom, does Heavenly Father spank butts?" Me: "No". Brett: "oh ya only daddy spanks butts, huh?" Me: "yep, only daddy does ...

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Anamaries super awesome hair!!

Last night after bath time, we rolled foam curlers into Anamarie's hair and, voila, perfect hair today! Isn't she adorabl...

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Thousand of melty beads everywhere!!

Anamarie loves to make her melty bead creations almost daily, but after about 30 minutes, boredom started creeping in, and she abandoned her half way done fishy and the entire container of melty beads. Yep, you guessed it; William and Brett saw the fun and dumped thousand of beads all over the kitchen floor and did a little "happy danc...

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My creative wand.

I was so surprised when Anamarie gave me this "wand" present that she had created. I was impressed that she thought to put these 3 random items together to create one single masterpiece. Notice the ruler, the (taped on) hair flower clip, and a (taped on) cuticle pusher. Right in the middle is my "Sarah" Pizza Hut name badge from 15 years ago. So creative!! ...

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"Mom, I just love my new Marriott"

Last night Anamarie found lots of fun "treasures" in my office closet. Some she liked more than others, but her favorite was a black zipped case with writing on the front. She brought it over to me and asked "mom what does this say?" I said, "It says Marriott". About 2 minutes later, she asked again, "what's that say?", I repeated "Marriott". We repeated this about 5 more...

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How William eats with a spoon.

The other day I caught William eating Brett's leftover cheerios with a spoon. So I thought he was totally ready for this next big step in his simple life. So, this morning, I presented to him his first bowl of Cheerios (in a suction bottom bowl, so it wouldn't spill) and a SPOON. As you can see, he didn't like the spoon too much, but loved the hand fulls of Chee...

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I know what Kangaroos smell like :)

Anamarie informed me today that she knows what Kangaroos smell like. I was quite humored by this comment, but I always give her the benefit of the doubt. I happened to be curling her hair and spraying hairspray when she told me this. So, I asked her, "Anamarie, tell me what Kangaroos smell like?", she said, "it smell like that" (pointing to the bottle of Aussie hairspray)....

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"Our Value is set and cannot be Diminished"

Maddy received this present from her Grandparent's Kim & Janise for her 13th birthday. She unwrapped her present and found an Egyptian pound on a chain with an "M" charm for her name. She loved this present so much that she wore it for her birthday during her night out with mom & dad. It wasn't until today, that I discovered an even deeper meaning to this this necklace....

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She almost caught a Leprechaun :(

This morning, Anamarie could not contain herself, she just had find out if  there was a trapped leprechaun. She ran downstairs and noticed the gold was missing, and hoping it had fallen inside with the green guy. However, as she got a little closer she saw something inside the box...a letter. She didn't cry, she didn't laugh, she was incredibly "ticked off" to say the...

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I am thankful for Family~Maddy

I am so happy that I could come to this earth into such a wonderful family! We may be crazy sometimes, (or a lot) but overall we are just dandy! ;) My parents are so amazing and thoughtful of me and others, I am so glad that I can have such wonderful parents, brothers and sisters, and Grandparents that support me and encourage me to do things I never thought I could! My...

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"Watch Mom, I can Karate!!"

We all know Brett is Mr. Tough guy, but he has just learned that he can threaten his older sister (Anamarie) with his sweet karate moves, just to be tough. She believes that he is some overnight Karate Master, and he uses his "arm cross", then his "karate chop", with a "kick" and a keeee-aaaahh, to scare her away; thanks to Jaden Smith. Of course he's not hitting her, but...

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---> We're Gonna Catch a Leprechaun!!

After I picked up Anamarie from school today, she kept telling me how she wanted to make a leprechaun trap. So, with a little imagination, and lots of crafts, we made the perfect trap. Anamarie and I decided to get real gold dollars so that we would surely catch him. Anamarie made the glitter walkway, the green ladder, and the "FREE GOLD" sign, and I just helped her put it...

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I am thankful for Personal Progress! ~Maddy

From the Day I turned 12 I have been working on this wonderful book! It is for the young youth girls to grow closer and become more Christ like, and I must say It takes a long time! But every time i finish each value experience, or project I feel so great inside! I am so grateful for my leaders and parents for supporting me in everything! If it weren't for them I wouldn't have...

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Brett Can Make His Bed!

It's fascinating how quickly Brett learns how to do something. I showed him how to make his bed, and the next morning he jumped out of bed and made it all my his little self, and then came to show me how smart he was. Here he is sitting on his "made by Brett" bed saying "ta-daaa" now he's saying "oh ya, I'm awesome!" I hear these words about 20 times a day. His confidence...

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LEAP YEAR 2012 Happenings!!

Leap year only comes once every four years, and it seems like leap year 2012 wanted to be a memorable one because many many exciting things happened in the Heiner home; here they are: Anamarie loses tooth #5, and wakes up to $2 plus the "Leap Year Tooth". That's right, little miss Tooth Fairy told me to tell Anamarie that she gets to keep her tooth because it was...

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Madison's 13th Birthday Invitation!!

I just finished designing Madison's 13th Birthday invitation for this Saturday, March 10, 2012. This will be her first birthday in many years, that she is not in Florida for her Nationals Cheer Competition. She wanted me to do something totally different with her invitations, but after I started my design work, she began to change her mind. Lots of pictures are coming soo...

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I am thankful for Forgivness!~Maddy

I am so thankful that even If I make a horrible sin Heavenly Father will still forgive me!!! What would life be like If every time we did a sin and we wanted to forgive, but we couldn't. I would be in so much trouble at the judgment seat If Heavenly Father held me accountable for every little sin I have done! God promises us that every time we deeply forgive of our sins, He...

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I am thankful for Temples! ~Maddy

Temples are such an amazing thing, for me they are just more proof that god lives and protects us, and wants us to live back with him in Heaven! It says that Temples are a tiny-tiny glimpse of what Heaven will be like. Whenever I see a picture of the temple I feel so relieved and comforted, and at that very moment I feel no need to think about the world around me, I just think...

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