Five Minus Three

Took Megan and Matt out for pizza and bowling Friday night. Good times. Took me a minute to reprogram my brain to only having two. Walked into the restaurant and automatically starting looking around for the BIG table that we could all fit at, and then turned around to make sure my little ones were right behind me. When they weren't there I was a little puzzled as to how three of them could disappear so fast. And then my reality readjusted and I was like, "Wow, look at all the table options we have!"

Child Psychology

There's an art to outsmarting your kids. You know the game of getting them to do what you want them to do, all the while making it seem like they are the ones ultimately in control. It's a talent worth developing. For example, when you have a six year old who insists on Monday morning that there is no school today because his teacher told him so on Friday. And you try to convince him that the holiday was last week, NOT this week. And there's no convincing him. So you tell him to go to school and "make sure" there is no school today, and if he's right, then he can call you and you'll come and get him. Just wish I could be that brilliant with every point of dispute in this house.

Kid After Her Daddy's heart

Megan googled a recipe and decided she wanted to make it. Most definitely did not get that from me. The end result was very impressive. Not only were they yummy to our tummies, but the culinary presentation was extaordinary as well. Critics corner gives you two thumbs up (well actually 12 thumbs up). Great job sis!

Day in the Life of a Sleep Deprived Child

Saturday she missed a nap and fell asleep late. Sunday she was woken up early by big brother, Andrew. Fell back asleep, oblivious to the morning madness of showers and squeals and "Get your shoes on!" Woken up again by big brother, Andrew. Fell back asleep while in the shower with daddy. Nestled in the cozy covers of mom and dad's bed....

Woke up long enough to attend sacrament meeting. A little later at home, never quite made it off the barstool after lunch...

Down for an afternoon nap. A few hours later awake again, when Brent brought her upstairs to our bed where she promptly fell asleep, again.
Now that everyone else is ready to sleep, my little hamster is ready to play:)

What is LOVE anyway?

"Love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness. All other characteristics of love are extensions of these two attributes....
"Love will inspire you to become a patient person. When you choose to be patient, you respond in a positive way to a negative situation. You are slow to anger...Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps you settle down and begin extending mercy to those around you. Patience brings an internal calm during an external storm....

Patience helps you give [another] permission to be human. It understands that everyone fails. When a mistake is made, it chooses to give them more time than they deserve to correct it. It gives you the ability to hold on during the tough times in your relationship rather than bailing out under pressure..."Kindness is love in action. If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance. Patience avoids a problem; kindness creates a blessing. One is preventative, the other proactive."
-Stephen & Alex Kendrick

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind..." (Corinthians 13:4)

Reverence Please

It's dinner time and Andrew announces he wants to say the blessing, which he does every night. Jeremy decides he wants a turn. And so the argument ensues. My boys are "fighting" over who gets to pray. I suggest that Jeremy help Andrew say the prayer. Compromise accepted.
Jeremy: Please bless the food.
Andrew repeats.
Jeremy: Please bless we'll have a nice night.
Andrew repeats.
Jeremy: Please bless that Matthew won't hide my Nintendo DS game from me.
(Whole family trying to contain their laughter)
Andrew: Please bless Matthew....(pauses, turns to Jeremy) What did you want me to say?
And then....we all lost it.

The Promise of Enough

Just read this book this past weekend. I was so amazed by the power of the Spirit between the pages of this book.  Much to be gained from reading it, but these words still settle most deeply:
"When we find ourselves trying to refill our buckets...there are two priorities that should never be set aside.  The first is to make scripture study a daily event. The second is to increase the frequency of prayers. Our greatest desire should be to receive direction from the One who knows us best.  When these two priorities become a consistent part of our life, we will find that we are building a relaitonship with the Lord that will allow Him to communicate with us on a regular basis.  This will enable Him to give us the needed course corrections and insights as we strive to keep our buckets filled during our quest to reach our highest potential.  Giving ourselves to the Lord by utilizing the power of frequent prayer and consistent scripture study will lead us to discover the spark of greatness heaven sees in each of us."

My Girls

Photo and embellishments created by Megan

What I love about boys

7:55 a.m.

8:10 a.m.

Say What You Need to Say

It's been a year now since we've moved. It's taken me a whole year to feel settled again, to get my rhythm back, to figure out what I really want to be saying here. Glad to be back. Happier than I've ever been. So blessed for the family I have. And ever grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.

Love this song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=409XJZpLtAU

P.S. And so glad I have a man that let's me say what I need to say (and loves me for it).