Random Pictures

This is the cute sign the kids all made for Nate and I when they did their little rest stations.  I can't remember if I already posted it, so if so, here it is again :)  I love it.  I'm so glad we have cameras and can capture these things and keep them in their smaller form.



My boys have a crazy addiction to video games.  I'm glad that we have only a couple of days a week that they can play, but as you can see, they take FULL advantage of those days.... even at Grandma's house, they're glued!  I can't wait til Summer!!!  I know that once it's nice out they will choose to do that instead. 





Grandma shared her chicken nuggets and Erika was all over that!  I think Erika ate at least 10 of the 20 she bought.  She kind of worries me with her eating habits!

Thankgoodnessit'sfridayosis

We had a really great Spring Break and I completely spaced posting about all the fun we had and all the pictures.  We must have actually been having fun :).  I will get to that in a minute, I mostly wanted to post about some of the talks I've been watching during my workout.  I feel like Heavenly Father is totally guiding me lately.  It's been really fun actually, to feel the Spirit prompt me to make a different choice than the one I have been and then to see how much it benefits me and my family and realize that that was what Heavenly Father wanted.  I LOVE knowing what he wants me to do.  I think I'm adicted to the feeling in fact.  If that's possible.  So anyway, I know I've talked enough about the whole waking up early and working out thing, but it really has transformed my life.  And more than just adding a little tiredness.  I feel like a different person.  It's been awesome.  When I first started I thought it was pretty cool that one of my all-time favorite shows Law and Order SVU was on at the time that I was working out and I was able to watch an episode while I worked out.  Mainly it was a good way to get my attention off working out and it made the time go faster.  Once that was over I would switch over to the BYU channel and catch a short talk before changing to the news.  It was a pretty good system I had going on :).  So I think it was a week or so ago, as I was watching Law and Order I got the feeling that maybe it wasn't the best show for me to start my morning out with.  If you've seen it, I'm sure you could imagine what I"m talking about.  And I thought about it.... justified it.... and continued watching it.  Then during conference I had the same feeling again (random right?) and I of course acknowledged it, wrote it down, and then went right on watching it. So a few days later, I caught a glimpse of someone else's tv as I was watching SVU, and saw that they were watching a conference talk and I saw that it was Elder Bednar.  I really like to listen to him.  Then the Spirit whispered to me that I should change the channel and watch it.  I was sold.  I totally changed the channel and wouldn't ya know, he was talking about Parenting.  The perfect talk for me to listen to.  He talked a lot about setting examples and the whole time I just kept feeling like I wouldn't want my kids to watch Law and Order every morning, and that if they had the choice to watch talks from General Authorities, that I hoped they would choose that instead.  And I decided right then, to start watching the talks every morning instead.  It wasn't a hard choice, believe me, I love to listen to those talks, but it for some reason took me a long time to settle on this decision.  I know that this isn't for everyone, and frankly I feel a little nerdy when I turn it on, but it's been SUCH A HUGE BLESSING!!!!  Even just in the few days that I have done it.  I can't believe how much the talks feel like they were made especially for me. Every single one strikes a chord with me and really resonates in my heart.  It's made such a huge difference in how my day goes as well.  One thing I heard today from Sister Samuelson (Elder Samuelson's wife), in a talk given a few years ago, was to cherish everyday.  She talked about how when they first got married, she was teaching, he was going to medical school, and they hardly ever saw each other except on the weekends and she mentioned that she would just live for the weekends.  She was constantly wishing the rest of the week away.  She said that she learned to focus on each day and make each day count and what a difference that made.  I TOTALLY do that.  Where I just wish everything away.  And I do live for my weekends.  I decided I"m going to stop doing that.  Nate and I have talked a lot about how this time in our life, where things seem a little bit drab, nothing big and exciting happening, just kind of waiting for that day when we can finally buy a house, is a time that we can either wish away, and hate, or a time that we can prepare, and make the most of it.  Prepare is a big word that Nate has used and I really like it.  We need to use this time to prepare.  Prepare for the next thing.  Just like childhood was a time to prepare for adolescense, and adolescense was a time to prepare for adulthood.  We are really at what feels like a standstill.  May or may not be as much as we think it is, and with a family of 8 a standstill still feels a little busy, but it's just so mundane and so not where we pictured ourselves to be at this point.  We're not planning any big moves, not planning for any new baby, not really looking forward to whole lot in the very near future besides our trip to Yellowstone :).  So anyway, we're thinking that we have this down time to help us become better people.  A time to focus on others, a time to build up some new strengths, get rid of some weaknesses, a time to create new and lasting habits, and develop some new talents and accomplish some of the goals that have been on the back burner for us during the last few years.  It's really very exciting actually.  It turns this waiting period into a really useful and productive one.  I'm sure I've blabbed on about this enough, it's just so awesome.  I love the feeling I have when I think about it, and I love the motivation it fills me with.  It's fun to feel the Spirit through it all and feel like we are pointing ourselves in the right direction.  I know Satan knows what I plan to do and I have felt his presence a lot too.  Hopefully we can overcome him and his temptations though and carry on as if he didn't exist.  I know it's easier said than done, but I'm feeling very optimistic tonight :).

One more thing I heard the other day, from Elder Bednar that I wanted to get down was bearing unscripted testimony to my children at times other than organized meetings.  He spoke about sharing your love for a principle of the Gospel at random times during the day. When appropriate and making it a simple, upbeat, testimony that could be heard and felt by the children.  He said that this will stick with them better even than the testimonies born at Family Home Evening or any other organized setting.  And it will teach them that they can feel the Spirit and look for it in their everyday lives.  Pretty cool and something I wanted to focus on.  Thought I'd share that.

Oh, sorry, ONE MORE.  Someone quoted Harold B. Lee saying that those who seek after easy things will become weak.  Those who seek after hard things will become strong.  (Or something to that effect, it was very straightforward)  I love that.  I love that it can be spelled out so simply too.  I have thought about this concept a lot in my own life and Nate and I always say, "just because it's hard doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't do it" and I think it's been the backbone to a lot of the decisions we have made for our family, and I just loved hearing it from one of our beloved Prophets.  Makes it ring even more true in my heart.  I like when Heavenly Father sends in reinforcements. 

I'm sure I"ll keep you all updated on every little thing I hear and think about while I'm enjoying these talks.  Helps me to solidify them in my mind.

Future Memories

- General Conference was awesome!  Words can't express how much I loved conference this weekend.  We are usually prepared with the little packets for the kids to draw and work on during conference to keep them reverant, but we weren't this time.... I think I was more focused on what I wanted to get from Conference this time.... but it turned out to not really matter.  I think in the past we have tried to prepare the kids and explain that they have to watch at least one session per day, made all these rules and regulations about what they can do during it and how much noise they can make etc., but we didn't this time.  We really just didn't do much preparation for the kids.  And can I just say- it wasn't necessary at all!!!  I feel like I'm going to make some of you hate me when I say this (simply because of how my kids have been in the past, I know it's not real likely that anyone else was so lucky), but our kids were INCREDIBLE!!!!  They actually watched and listened!!  Charity took notes the ENTIRE time, writing down some of the most awesome things in her journal, things she felt inspired by, I was so impressed.  She said she was enjoying it and felt like it helped to pay attention and take notes.  Wow.  Kelly took notes most of Saturday, and then just listened intently to it on Sunday.  I know this sounds redundant, but they were right there the entire time!  Not sleeping!!  Bradley watched most of it, slept through a little of it, but he was not up running around making it hard to hear.  Luke sat there the whole time as well, and as long as he had a bag of chex mix nearby, he was fine.  Honestly he was an angel.  Noah was not into conference and didn't exactly sit and watch the whole thing, but he sure did good!  He fell asleep on Nate during the first session and slept through the second both days.  He actually did sit for quite a while considering his age.  And he wasn't noisy (that's all I was hoping for!).  Erika took her nap almost ALL day Saturday (talk about a miracle!) and then slept through the second session on Sunday.  She wandered around and got into things during that first session on Sunday, but hey, I'll take it.  Anyway- I had to get down every detail just so that I could remember what a perfect time it was for our family!  We all felt the Spirit so strongly.  I love it when Charity tells me that she can feel the Spirit.  And I love it when everyone's so captivated by the Prophets that they will just sit and listen.  I can't help but think it was Heavenly Father's way of helping me listen.  He has been preparing me for conference for the past few weeks. It was the perfect way to lead up to such a perfect two days of uplifting counsel.  There are SO many things that I felt we need to change and work on in our home.  And for me personally.  What a great thing.  I just loved it.

April Fools!

I can't believe I haven't posted about April Fools yet!  One of my favorite holidays.  Either way, I wanted to post about it.  I think my favorite thing this year was Brad's prayer the night before that we would "have a nice April Fools day" :)  I love how my kids think ahead in their prayers.  And this meant he was already planning for it.  So the morning of Bradley began the day with outrageous lies topped off with a friendly "April Fools!"  I think that my kids are a little fixated on the part that you can tell a lie and then get away with it by saying "April Fools".  Oh well, we'll work on teaching them how to pull pranks later.  I did give Brad the idea to switch the cereal bags so that everyone would be surprised when the poured the cereal into their bowls.  That was a lot of fun.  Everyone thought it was so clever an Brad felt really cool.  They're still at the age that they will make each other feel good about the pranks they've pulled on them.  Kinda funny.  Charity was racking her brain to think of something to do to her teacher or classmates, so we googled it and still didn't find anything she liked.  I told her she should switch seats with someone in class to see if her teacher noticed.  She ended up not doing it, but Kelly said she did it and her teacher didn't even notice!  That made me laugh.  I wonder if teachers just get sick of the jokes.  At least none of my kids tried to tell their teachers that we were moving this year.  That always brings up some talk.  Brad was FULL of ideas of things to do to his class.  I can't remember all that he did, I'll have to ask him.  He was so gungho about it all, I didn't have he heart to tell him not to do it.  Hopefully his teacher understood.  Nate and I did a lot of the little fibs as well.  Luke kind of got the hang of it as the day went on.  There were lots of tornadoes, pink cows, and trips to Disneyland that were April Foolsed.  Fun stuff.  I had wanted to one of those fun dinners that look like real food, but they're actually candy, but of course, no one is eating candy right now, so I thought that would end up being a mean thing rather than a cute thing.  So I just dumped some blue food coloring in the alfredo sauce and some purple in the corn.  They were all very weirded out by it and it totally killed our appetites.  I made some cupcakes for dessert and put some little notes in them for the kids to find with little prizes like "go out for ice cream with Mom and Dad" and "Extra wii day".... something I thought of because I wanted them to be able to do some fun things for Spring Break (which I learned about that day.... I had no idea this week was Spring Break).  So anyway- that was our April Fools!  Next year we will work on the pranking aspect.....  I always say that.

Future Memories

- On Sunday, while I was taking a nap, the girls set up another one of their cute little rest stations for Nate and I this time (Nate had taken the day off).  When I woke up they excitedly ushered us up into the Living room where they had put up a big, homemade sign that said, "We love you Mom and Dad!" in beautiful cursive.  They surprised us with a little snack (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, orange juice and a couple pieces of chocolate).  There were some surprise skittles hidden in our juice.  Then we were moved to the chairs which had already been reclined for our relaxing pleasure.  The girls did my nails and gave me a massage while I sat there and rested (some more :) ).  Nate got the reading station, so he was brought out books and stuff.  Then they made me lay on the couch for some MORE rest (I use the term "made me" very loosely).  It was really nice!!  I must say that I don't think I will ever tire of this form of entertainment on their part.  When Nate asked them what made them want to do that, they said, "We were just bored!"  I think it's sweet that they would use their time to make something so thoughtful for us.  Makes me proud of them and thankful that we get to be their parents.

- Since Nate took Sunday and Monday off we felt the need to do something really exciting Monday night.  Nate had these Jazz tickets he got from my Dad for Christmas just burning a hole in his pocket and we didn't feel getting a babysitter and going together was the best thing for our famly, so we decided he would take the boys and the girls and I would have a little girl night. As far as I know the boys had the time of their lives.  Out for pizza, walking through the set of a Disney movie, and then a Jazz game complete with cotton candy, frozen yogurt, and kettle popcorn.  Plus Luke got a new Jazz hat, since his hat was getting a little small.  Nate sure knows how to make a good time.  And what a cool Dad, he took 3 little boys to a Jazz game! 
The girls and I had fun, but we're requesting a redo night since things were a little rocky.  We were going to get dinner, go get some stuff at the craft store, come home and do our craft.  Well, then we remembered Kelly's dance class.  So we took her to dance, picked up some take out, picked up Kelly then to the craft store, with very little time left to eat AND craft, and then after we ate, Grandpa popped in to give us a new box to play with!  We love his visits and the girls really wouldn't trade the chance to see him for anything, so we did have fun, but it definitely cut our craft time short.  Plus the girls all didn't seem to be feeling that great.  Charity and Kelly were grumping and irritable.  Erika was a stinker too.  So we ended a little early (We'll have to finish those crafts later, set them in the pile of unfinished crafts of course) and cuddled in front of the tv.  It's nice to cuddle.  But anyway, it was just a little weak, so we want a redo.  It was fun to watch the girls do so much with Erika though.  They sure don't see her enough.  They are the perfect big sisters.  They almost got her to let her balloon go up in the sky, but they were able to entertain her with theirs.  Fun stuff.  3-28-11

- The other day, when it was finally warm, I made the kids go outside.  It wasn't til a few minutes later that it occurred to me that I hadn't put Erika's shoes on.  Oops.  So I looked outside to see how things were going and to check if she was going to need a jacket too (great mom.), and I caught a glimpse of one of the cutest pictures ever!  Bradley was sitting there next to her trying to put her little socks and shoes on!  I couldn't believe he had thought of socks too!  My kids think they're optional.  But aw, what a sweet sight that was.  He was totally taking care of her.  What 6 year old boy thinks of those things for his little sister.  I loved it.  He got a big thank you. 

-  Tuesday for Family Night it was my lesson.  I had wanted to address the issue of poop stains on the underwear (sorry for tmi), so I decided a lesson on the Word of Wisdom and personal hygiene would cover this nicely.  The kids seemed to enjoy my boring lesson.  I did throw in a game or two to try to make it entertaining.... I'm not very good at that usually.  I forgot to prepare the egg for the object lesson though.  But anyway- it turned out good and we ended up deciding that 1/12 of yor life is too long to spend in front of a screen and decided we were going to limit our tv time just as we have our wii time.  This means there are only two days a week that we will watch tv.  It's really ambitious in my opinion, but I think it will definitely help.  Plus with Summer coming and having this huge yard, I'm sure we'll have plenty else to do.  I'm excited for Spring and Summer and the outside things we can do!!!

- This week has been kicking my bumb with the whole waking up at 5:00 and working out thing.  I LOVE it though!!!  It feels so much better to feel like I am accomplishing something like that.  And I love creating a habit that I've NEVER been able to create!  I keep praying that I will be able to keep it up.  Heavenly Father has pretty much carried me through it all.  Hopefully the tiredness will subside as time goes on.  I don't know how much more tiredness I can take.... feels like pregnancy.... not that I am.... but that's why I don't like feeling it!!  3-31-11