Ahh "me"

Yesterday I spent the entire day just being "me". The "me" that is fun, confident, a bit clumsy, silly and happy. My best friend Alice visited from California and we spent the entire day together.
I love being with her because she knows "me" better then anyone else. No false pretenses, trying not to hurt feelings, being worried about what she thinks, being careful about what I say and absolutely no worry or regrets after she left.
We have been friends since the eighth grade. We have been through so much together. It was fun to remember funny stories and memories.
Before she came I was straightening my house and I started to think about how unbelievable it is that we have homes and families to take care of now. How far we have come from our silly running around years.

We are grown ups now Alice! Not only are we grown up but we are darn good at it.

Thanks for the GREAT day and being such a GREAT friend.

Oh Saturday

Do you love Saturday? We love Saturday!

Right now MY LB and I have Scouting callings and many of our Saturdays are dedicated to serving, teaching and spending time with great boys. So when we have a Saturday all to ourselves we don't hold back. We get busy!

• Maggie and I started Saturday off with some yard sales.
• Off to Spencer's first T-ball game. It was a beautiful day for a baseball game.

• Lunch and naps. All of the girls napped while all of the boys did some gaming.
• Ran some errands. New shoes for Matthew and yard supplies for daddy.
• Dinner at the park. Kendal with her yard sale three wheeler and Maggie with her yard sale skates. So cute how Matthew is helping her. A little park action and a walk/run for mom and dad. A perfect visit to the park.

• Back yard work and play. Daddy puts up posts to hold up our trees and Maggie plays with Toby.

• Playing with neighbors. Matthew and Spencer love spending time outside with their neighborhood friends.

• There is nothing better then family movie night. A good movie with popcorn, treats and cuddles. Nothing better!

Oh Saturday! I love you Saturday!

Time to speak up

I guess it is about time that I speak up. Share a little bit of history with the future generation. I guess I would like to start with the historical moment of our first African American President, Barack Obama. I was sitting on my couch with MY LB filling out Matthew's homework (shh his teacher would be very disappointed) after Matthew went to bed it was to much fun to stop keeping track of electoral votes. Of course we all know that got boring fast because we knew who our new president would be pretty early on. No, we did not vote for Barack Obama. We voted for John McCain. Of course that is water under the bridge and we must move forward. Pray for hope and guidance for our new president and for our country.

Next I would like to put down on our history book the current economic state and how it is affecting our family. I do not claim to know much about politics or even the current approach the government is taking in resolving matters. I also do not claim to have any resolve over why we are in this economic state. Sure I have read theories and talked amongst friends and family regarding the issue but still I have no resolve. I have read reference to our current state as being severe recession, near stock market bottom, housing crisis, rising jobless rates, banking crisis and a suffering economy. Still I do not claim to know or understand why it has happened or when and how it will be resolved.

However I do know what I see. I see empty buildings where once were shoppers. Empty homes where once lived families. Jobless friends and neighbors trying to endure. Church leaders asking us to reach out and help one another. So how do we sustain ourselves through this suffering economy?

MY LB and I have made changes but mostly in behavior and gratitude. Besides owing more on our home then it is actually worth we have been very blessed during this time. However our financial mistakes seem to become magnified and past choices become more then a learning experience. We learn the value of money, the discomfort of debt and the integrity in keeping our financial obligations. We also learn to be grateful for the things that we take for granted. Shelter, food, vehicles, schools and teachers, income and many other things that seem so easy to come by. In a moment of economic insecurity these things seem so much more important then they were before. We are blessed!

"Fear not, for I am with thee". These are the words that give our family comfort in this time of economic insecurity . So through it all we will look to our Savior for peace. We will follow the guidance of our church leaders. We will pray for inspiration and most of all we will continue to build and strengthen our family unit upon the teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World : The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. "Children are an heritage of the Lord" (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.

Weird don't you think?

Lately I have been listening to Family Life radio, WEIRDY, yeah I know. Today they posed a very interesting theory.
Who do you share your dreams and goals with?
Your family and friends?
Who do you share your success with?
Your family and friends?
Very interesting.... Did you know that family and friends are less likely to support you in your dreams and goals because of a lack of achieving their own? Or that your friends and family are less likely to show joy in your success because of jealousy and their own lack of success?
Do you think this is true?
It certainly made me think. Am I this friend or family member? Do I lack support and joy because of my own failures?
It also made me look back and recognize when friends or family have or have not supported me and the reasons why they might have or might not have. Or when friends and family have shown joy in my success and when they didn't. Why or why not?
So who do you talk to? Do you choose a family member or friend to talk to that has achieved more then you in the area of your goals? Or a family member or friend that has seen greater success then yours to share your success with?
Maybe you just keep them quiet or share them only with the Lord.
I wonder what it is that a person is lacking (not excluding myself) to not be able to give support or feel happy for someone.
It's all so weird don't you think?

Funny of the day

The Evolution Of The Fake Burp

Kendal was able to acquire this characteristic through extensive study of preschool students. As she observed the behavior of one sweet child burping and all of the others laughing she began to laugh as well. After also observing the rudeness of fake burping exhibited by her sibling and the laughing that occurred as a result she began to catch on. This made her capable of changing her behavior and characteristics of a reserved toddler and change into one that fake burps and laughs.

This behavior continued to gather laughs from mom, dad, brothers and other supportive on lookers. As this conduct is one to be looked upon poorly she began to hear the word "NO" in order to try to correct the behavior.

Further evolution occurred when she observed her mother making the noise of burping. Kendal observed and laughed. Her mother shocked covered her mouth and said "excuse me". This caused the child's brain to once again gather information and make changes. Now after she faked burp she would cover her mouth and say "Scooze-me". This transformation also gathered many laughs but was still a frowned upon conduct and she continued to hear the word "NO".

The child being effected by the ever evolving fake burp was being probed and prompted by her siblings to continue the behavior. When ever the siblings would fake burp or real burp and laugh their mom and dad would also tell them "NO". Upon receiving this "NO" the young siblings would say "Oh sorry, sorry".

Kendal observing the characteristic of being "Oh sorry, sorry" began to think upon their behavior and the result is the final evolution of the fake burp....

Now and finally after the child fake burps she smiles and says "Oh sorry, sorry".

And the winner is?

Last week our school had a book fair and story book character costume contest. It was a crazy night of teacher conferences, dressing up, walking the red carpet and buying books. We all had a great time and MY LB and I were so amazed with how at ease are kiddos are when they are front and center (excluding Kendal, she crumbled under the pressure of the red carpet making mom have to walk the carpet too).

Maggie went as Princess Odette, AKA the Swan Princess. She did spins for the judges and was very excited for the attention.

Spencer went as Captain Hook and brought little Peter Pan along as part of his costume. They were so cute and the Judge said he was the nicest Captain Hook she had ever seen.
Matthew went as Harry Potter. Before he walked the carpet I looked at him with pleading eyes and said "Please be normal". Why on Earth would anyone say that to their kid. Thank goodness he didn't listen to me. Instead of normal he was extraordinary. He did a spell on the judges (a killing one I think, Spencer said he thinks he did pick-me-amos) and totally played the part.

Of course there were more kids participating and the judges needed time to think. When they were done thinking they explained that they judged on more then just appearance but also on how well the child played the part.
And the winner was .................... HARRY POTTER, I mean MATTHEW
He was so excited! I wish I had my video camera. He just could not believe that he had won. He told me that after he hadn't won second or third he thought for sure that he wasn't going to win.
After the shock of winning the $75.00 book fair certificate wore off he did what all 9 year old boys dressed as Harry Potter would do (right?) and started posing for pictures. He was truly Harry Potter.

Just Living

Wow two weeks goes by so fast. I can't really say that I have been doing anything in particular that has been keeping me from my love of blogging. I guess I was "Just Living".

Let's play catch up....

We visited our friend The Cat In The Hat for our fourth year running. A fun night at the school filled with crafts, games, movies, reading and prizes.




I got an itch to stitch that I scratched a little to hard. The after math is two adorable skirts for Maggie, two lengthened sun dresses for mom, a skirt for mom that is to short (I will fix it) and a big pile of outdoor fabric along with our outdoor chair cushions that need recovered laying on the floor next to the sewing machine. The pile talks to me daily but I ignore it. I wish that itch would come back.

I am missing a baby! I don't know what happened to her. I just woke up one morning and she was gone and in her place a little girl that talks (mostly NO), throws fits, sings her ABC's, counts to three, fake burps and covers her mouth saying "scooze me" and actually sits down to listen to her mommy read.
Kendal turned 18 months a couple weeks ago. I can't believe all of the grown up things that come with this age. One of the biggest is Nursery at church. Her first week despite our church times she did great. However last week I dropped her off and upon returning down the hall to use the restroom heard her pounding and kicking the door and screaming. She may be my last but she is also my first. My first baby to cry during nursery. What now? I am not equipped for this.

Spring break happened, I think. Why do weeks fly by so quickly? Our house had a Harry Potter themed week. This went along with our Afterschooling Creative Writing Unit. We made journals, posters, played Chess, Went for a White Tanks Hike to find our wand and practice our spells, made potions for eating and some for NOT eating and played Scene It. I can't believe how much my kids know about Harry Potter.... or Star Wars.... or Pokemon.... whats with that?

The end of our Spring Break week we went on a day adventure with MY LB's family. We went to the lake with the BIG boat. It was a beautiful day, except for the 20 minutes when it wasn't. The weather was a bit crazy. We fished, explored, rode in Grandpa's boat, looked for Geo Cash and of course had a picnic. It was a great day!

Some exciting happenings in the last two weeks.... 1. We finished the boys room (pictures to come) 2. Jeremiah received a bonus and Step 2's butt is on its way to being kicked (Dave Ramsey) 3. I am down 20lbs and MY LB is close behind with 18lbs. 4. Our back yard is looking good and is ready for Spring. 5. I picked up Maggie's kindergarten paperwork. 6. Spencer started T-ball

The voice of a child

We had a sick baby today. She was throwing up and very lethargic. It was actually very scary she would lay down and before we knew it she would be sound asleep. Only waking up to cry , throw up, lay down and go back to sleep. (She is back to her normal spirits now)
Since today we had Stake Conference MY LB and I decided to split up and go to different sessions. Spencer and I went to the morning session together and Matthew and dad went to the afternoon session.
There is something magical about one on one time with your child even if it is the two of you sitting amongst a congregation. We sang together, I watched him draw, he asked me questions about pictures from the Friend magazine, we watched the youth choir and I told him how I can't wait to see him standing up there in his white shirt and tie some day. I whispered thoughts that came to me as the speakers spoke "Won't it be great when we have a Temple close by" and "Someday you will be a missionary just like all of the Elders standing now".
Even though I was listening intently, jotting notes and taking in the Spirit of the meeting my little boys presence next me was extremely apparent. I could feel him near and my sweet boy represented everything dear to me. I love my children so much they are my sheep. As the speakers continued to speak about blessings we are in need of, mediocrity, temple work, helping take care of our missionaries and eternal families the only thing I could think over and over again is "Oh please let my little sheep make it".
I had a tough life as a youth and experienced so much disappointment and loneliness that tears sting my eyes and my heart hurts when I think about my children as youth and the trials they will face. This makes me want to be better. A better daughter of God, better wife and a better mother.
As life continues daily and patience grows thin I loose sight of these desires and I fall back into the category of mediocre and complacent. Willing to settle for less then I am. I have to fight back every Sunday during my church meetings, at Time Out For Women Conferences, enrichment nights and Women's Conferences. Reminding myself who I am and what I stand for and most of all that I am not alone.
Yet through it all my little ones stay true to the Gospel and bear testimony of this through their actions and words. Sometimes I think they already have more knowledge and understanding that I have ever had and definitely more desire for good. And this is how I know......

The Voice of A Child

The speaker was speaking of a day where the great dawn would be breaking and the world will be a new.

Mom: What day do you think he is talking about Spencer?

Spencer: I don't know Monday or Tuesday.

Mom: The Second Coming. Do you think we will be alive when Jesus comes again?

Spencer: Yeah, but we will probably be living in Heaven.

I testify that there is life after death and my family sealed in a Temple of the Lord will live with our Savior Jesus Christ again and it will be a great and marvelous day.