Crayola at it's best

Themed costumes have become an obsession with me the last couple of years. I ran out of time to paint the wagon like a crayola box... Thanks Heather for the great idea of the birthday hats wrapped in fabric!!

Still holding tight in first place in my love of costumes is the patriotism we had last year...

Oh Crap.

A quote I love and recently ran across...

Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders and says 'Oh crap, she's awake'

Words to live by

"Better a nudge now, than a wedge later"

Spoken by my insightful husband today after I thanked him for a 'nudge' in reminding me that something I was thinking of doing was unnecessary.

Just be happy

"Cultivate a cheerful attitude and the ability to laugh, even at yourself. A sour face and grumpy disposition are truly a gruesome burden to impose on others. Get a handle on your moods. Learn how to act better than you feel. Some might ask, 'Isn't that hypocritical?' Certainly not. You might not be able to choose how you feel, but you can choose how you act." - Elder Eric B. Shumway

Thank you Mom and Georgette. Two women in my life who live with this kind of attitude and are a great example to me.

Normalcy

I think many of us have heard Lainy's 'accent' by now.

(cracker=crackow stairs=stows car=cow)

People notice it more these days as she gets older, and Lainy is beginning to catch on. Just this morning she was saying 'apple juice' over and over, which happens to be a phrase she does say well. But then she said "Yup, I speak nowmally"

I am woman, hear me roar.

I have been putting off blogging my camping trip and if I don't do it now I will never document it. Here's the bulleted version.

Camping in payson with 2 amazing women and 12 children

Wood. Chopped at endlessly, sword fighting, timber!, and balanced on

2, yes TWO taranchulas

2 trailers (thank you!!)

only having to pack food and clothing (again, thank you!)

walking sticks (check out Jayce's walking log)


being able to bundle up

And the reason we left a day early.... BEES! The kids had a great time even in the campers avoiding the bees.

And the best thing about camping? My super happy kids!

Every night when we sit down for dinner, each person at the table takes turns telling what the best part of their day was. Tonight:

• Mom- I got to watch the entire movie Kate and Leopold (love!) while sewing costumes.
• Jayce- Seeing mom after school
• Lainy- Eating

Before dad could say what the best part of his day was Jayce blurted out, 'Please don't say kissing' He has a newfound annoyance with us kissing.

Cinderella

I was sweeping the floor this morning when Cinderella taught me a valuable lesson. Aside from the obvious following orders from a grumpy stepmother without ripping her own hair out, and trying to find something nice to say about lucifer the cat, and making little clothes for mice, I learned I have a long way to go in learning to be unselfish.

First, when her fairy godmother was bibbity bobity booing, she was so humble about not having a dress to wear and kept quiet about it until her fairy noticed. That would have been the first thing I asked for. Then as she realizes it's midnight, and after the dream come true evening and meeting the man of her dreams, she apologizes to all her little animal friends for making them run and stress because she lost track of the time. I would have been whining it was all over too fast, not worrying about my friends and their sore feet. And as if that isn't enough to make her your daughters role model, after she calms down, she sits and talks about how wonderful the evening was and how she was grateful for even just one night. Then her friends point out to her that she still has the glass slipper. She sighs and thanks her fairy godmother for the gift to remember the evening by! Seriously, I would have been sobbing, begging my fairy godmother to give me another chance! Who wants a stupid shoe made out of glass when you know this lady has the ability to make all your dreams come true??

Still still still

There is nothing like a morning filled with the stress of life and chaos, being replaced by the quiet moments spent with a child. My morning was one such as this. The never ending list of cleaning chores, children playing, fighting, yelling, and running, bills to be paid, finances to stess over and more cleaning. Jared wanted in on half of my earphones so we sat down on the bed to listen together. "still, still, still" was the song being played by Jon Schmidt. The peace quickly overtook the chaos and all was well again. Blessings of the highest quality.

Leading and guiding

2 days can be long

I am sure that you all feel the same as I by now, that my posts are getting a bit repetitive... But for the sake of teaching my children later in life what monsters they had the ability to be, I will post another...

2 days. What can you fit into 2 days and still keep the sanity of a mother?

• Poppy diaper removed and strewn about the house.
• New diaper removed and pee on the floor.
• 10 DVDs removed from their case and placed into pee on floor.
• cushions removed form couch and chocolate milk squeezed out of box onto couch.
• Water dispenser on fridge pushed until large lake is located on kitchen floor.
• Water filled in cup and dumped while running through kitchen and living room.
• A 6 year old requiring an enema
• Finally loading children in van to take 6 year old to school....

The van was dead.

As I drove the kids packed like sardines into Jason's school commuter car I asked for silence.

Lainy began to sing... Onward ever onward as we glory in his name, onward ever onward as we glory in his name, forward pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing, God our strength will be press forward ever called to serve our King!

Jelly Bean Chronicles

We knew where she hid them. 3rd shelf up in the cupboard by the fridge. She just never gave us enough it seemed. I can't remember who decided it was a good idea to start sneaking a few extra jelly beans that day, but I can imagine I deserve the brunt of the blame. I'm sure mom knew from the beginning, mom's just seem to see everything. When she called Julie and I into the kitchen we knew we were had. But what came next was pure genius, and seemed a delightful solution to us. She took us to the nice dining room table, sat us down, plopped the entire bag of jelly beans, (which was if I remember correctly, huge) and instructed us to eat them all.

I am sure we must have looked at one another in silence not wanting to disturb the momentary insanity of my mother's choice of discipline. And we began to eat them. I remember requiring, no allowing Julie to eat all of the black ones, since they were the best ones. And somewhere between shoving as many as we could into our mouths, and trying to pass off as many to the other as possible, we realized the brilliance of my mother's plan.

I don't know about Julie, but I couldn't eat jelly beans for years after that day. I learned a valuable lesson. "Don't steal. You'll get way more than you bargained for." And of course, that a mother is all knowing.

Floor flying

Classroom chatter

When your small and in grade school you tend to have (at least I did) a lot of anxiety. Spending 2 hours the night before setting out everything you will wear the next day, right down to your socks, fretting whether or not the teacher will call on me the one time I don't know the answer, praying they don't play dodge ball for P.E. that day, or ever. I got a chance to work in Jayce's class last week and as soon as I walked in, I actually felt those familiar feelings returning. But this time I was feeling them for someone else. As I was stapling papers, I got to take in the classroom setting and watch the kids in action. It was mathematics, and they were learning a new concept. She showed how to do it on the chalkboard a few times, and then picked a stick out of a can with a child's name on it to come up and solve the problem for the class. I felt myself stiffen. Of course, I quickly reminded myself there was no chance of me being called up there and went back to stapling. Then I heard it. "Jayce, come show the class how to solve this at the board." I heard a choking noise escape from my throat. I looked behind me to see an enormous smile plastered on the front of Jayce's face. I have a feeling that even if he had messed the problem up, he wouldn't have cared! How cool it must be to know at such an early age, that it's perfectly acceptable to make a mistake. Some of life's biggest lessons can be learned from a child.

Our Primary program

I found my self waiting too long to get to where the stage is to set up chairs. We were supposed to perform in the chapel, but somehow ended up on the stage in the cultural hall. I am alone, unfolding chairs as fast as I can, and look behind me to realize the congregation has already been seated, and are patiently waiting and watching as I frantically set up chairs for the children to sit in. Heather, the primary president arrives! She is smiling and not at all stressed. She has forgotten the poster prompts. It begins, I am in the wrong seat. Someone hands me a beautifully iced double layered chocolate cake and a large spoon. They begin with a prayer, I look down to realize I am sliding the spoon across the side of the cake and then into my mouth and repeating the process. Shelli, the pianist is behind me and disrupts the prayer with her giggles making fun of the person in the congregation eating cake and has it all over their face. I suddenly remember I am eating cake too. And I'm in the wrong seat. As I get up to walk across the stage, cake in hand, Shelli has not finished what she began to tell me. I find my self swatting her away reminding her she is pianist and she is on. I find my seat only to find a highly attractive man whom I have never met, sitting there. He strikes up a conversation. They skipped my part in the program! The program is over. We never sang any songs! The kids never said their parts! I look at Heather and the unstressed smile previously plastered on her face has vanished. I woke up at this point, grateful for once it was morning.

Out running the storm

First, thank you to Meg, and ultimately my mom for inspiring this line of thought. I hope Meg doesn't mind me repeating this little smidge of info on here as an intro...

"Being the great Grammy that she is, my mother had taken Andrew out on a walk to the park. She apparently didn't see the storm coming because it came from a different direction in the sky than it usually does. They were at the park playing when the wind picked up. Shelley got a little worried when they weren't home yet so she went out to look for them. There she saw Grammy holding Andrew running down the street as the wind was blowing with the lovely dust pelting their skin. Shelley then says Mom stopped, pointed to something, and then kept running Andrew home.

What, you may ask, possessed her to stop in the dust storm, point, and then proceed.......it was a cat! At first I found this very funny and it must have looked quite entertaining watching my mom running down the street carrying Andrew through the dust trying to get home. But today I talked with Shannon about parenting and this story came up. Mom is one to not let the little things pass by. To me I would have seen the cat and ran right by, not mentioning the kitty to Andrew since it was so dusty and stormy even though I know he loves animals, but my wonderful mother took those two seconds to show Andrew the cat. I need to remember to stop and show him the kitty's, flowers, planes, etc...not just when we have time and life is sunny, but when things are crazy, a little hurried, and maybe a little stressful. I need to just take a little more time...time to appreciate life and remember to look at things through a child's eyes. Thank you Mom! "

This has been rolling around in my head since I read it last night and and as the original thought was dissected and sifted through, I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to start looking for these things my mom has stopped in a storm to show her grandson, and realize them for what they are. Answers to prayers. If you are a regular pray-er you know that prayers get a little repetitive some days "thank you for... and please bless us that we may find financial freedom in some form, and bless my children to do whatever it is you aspire them to do, and as a mother bless me with not so much to do so I don't go crazy." Generally speaking. From Meg's post I realized that the Lord IS answering those sometimes frivolous and ungrateful prayers. I just have been to selfish and self indulged to recognise them.

• -Children sleeping just long enough for you to finish paying your bills in peace
  
• -Finding the sock stuffed in the toilet before I flushed it.
  
• -A 6 year olds freckles to soften the scolding
• -A word popping out of a book that reminds you of something very important that would otherwise be forgotten
  
• -crayons left in a pocket found before thrown into the dryer
  
• -uninterrupted sleep

You will be surprised at the blessings that pass by unnoticed.

Coloring in the carpool lane

I have been blessed with a fantastic carpool taking Jayce to and from school. I drive to school every morning and I am done for the day! There are two high functioning autistic boys and since one of them has a muscular disorder I get the pleasure of chatting with him each morning as he can only get in and out of the front seat. This 10 year old boy has the most interesting brain. Most days I need a translator and often ask for a simpler version of his most recent invention. He has constructed whole buildings in his mind alone, and never a detail is missed. His current brain storm is the 'Calvinator' it (from what I can tell) is a car and has a motor to match it's title. I always try and ask questions to keep the conversation going and today asked

Me: So, what color will the Calvinator be?

C: Color?? Why would the color matter?

Me: I just wondered

C: Motor's don't care what color they are.

Oh. Of course they don't. Silly me. Just one more thing that is a natural difference between male and female. Color matters to us.

How do I love thee... let me count the locks...

Routine when I have to do something that requires my eyes to be off my children for more than 10 seconds (i.e. take a shower, do someones hair)

• lock front door and flip top latch
• lock master bedroom door
• lock both laundry room doors
• lock both kids jack & jill bathroom doors
• flip lock pantry door
• remove handle from back door

There is but living space and one bathroom left accessible to my two smallest children. The bar handles are removed from bottom drawers in the kitchen to prevent from using them as a ladder to move about the kitchen countertop at their leisure.



After a record breaking 5 minute shower this morning I encountered the one bathroom left unlocked flooded (again) this time the water reached the ceiling in some places. They each had a soccer sock presoaked in the toilet and like a sling flung it wildly around their heads.

They were of course, soaked. I thought I had made myself quite clear about not playing in the toilet after this nose in the corner session, followed by a swat on a bare butt each. But soon after it was quite forgotten. I am in the market for a new camera. Jared thought it appropriate to dip my camera in the toilet.

The 5 year old in me...

It was my month to conduct primary and senior primary is working on memorizing the 10th article of faith.

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

After it was read, I thought I would give the kids a little lesson in pronunciation. I had been practicing this article of faith all week since I was a little shaky on it. "does anyone know how this word is pronounced?" As I pointed to paradisiacal. The response was para-dice-ical. I tried to tell them it was incorrect, but was quickly overrun by every adult in the room. Julia, you know like the word paradise? Just add ical to it! There was no arguing it. I was clearly outnumbered. Well, outnumbered no more!!

1 result for: paradisiacal
par·a·di·si·a·cal /ˌpærədɪˈsaɪəkəl, -ˈzaɪ-/
[par-uh-di-sahy-uh-kuhl, -zahy-]
–adjective
of, like, or befitting paradise.

and my inner child shouts victoriously 'ha ha, I told you so!'

Amen.

Click here

Root beer flop

Ahhh the all american classic root beer float. I thought it would be fun to surprise the kids last night with them. They had never had them, or even heard of them. I very dramatically hoisted everything out of the grocery bag as I explained how it went together, what it was called, and how wonderful they tasted. There were squeals of delight. As they sat around the table, taking first bites, I heard a splash followed by 'uh oh'. Lainy had spilled hers. No biggie. Refill, and we are enjoying our floats again, I felt like Leave it to Beaver intro music would be appropriate. As I went to try again at eating my own, I heard yet another 'splash'. Jared's was over the edge. My temper was of course being tried and my mood started to be less and less like that of the June Cleaver I began as...

So I cleaned up and as I was wiping the last of the stickiness off the floor Jayce approaches with his still full cup and says "Mom, I don't really like this, do I have to drink it?"

A glance forward

Potty training week means lots of candy rewards, but it also means having to put the candy bowl out of reach. There is no such place in Jared's world. He was after the glass dishes on the top shelf which usually house all kinds of candy, and this was how I found him.

Flash forward??

Happy Birthday Jared

So I tried my hand at the fish cake. Seemed simple enough. It was.

Something was wrong with my camera setting for this one- officially this is Jared's first year blowing out candles or even having a cake! I can't remember exactly (since I didn't have a blog back then) but I think he was sick.

Grammy's toys were by far the favorites. This little bat is cut off in the picture, but really it's only a smidge longer than you see. My favorite part of this pic is Jayce in the background. He was delighted with all the new toys. Mom also bought him a toddler remote control car- it's got a big remote with one giant button on it. It's genius. Thanks mom!

Happy birthday Jared!

"Don't wonder why people go insane. Wonder why they don't."

I played this over and over again my head when I heard it last night on a TV show and thought all day today about it. We, as mortals go through trials that seem unconquerable. Yet, somehow we come though it, most times stronger than when we began. And there are times when I wonder why it is that we are still sane. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge of the Gospel and understand (to a small degree) the process of the refiners fire, and why we have to under go such tribulation. They are truly our 'hard blessings.'

Simplicity at it's best

Again with the Christlike Parenting book (by Dr Glenn Latham), if you haven't read it yet after all my plugs for it, it's time. Although if you read my blog regularly, eventually I am sure you will get all the info. I have decided this is a book I will read over and over in my lifetime. Today I was reading about prayer in parenting. He says "Prayerless Christlike parenting is an oxymoron." Makes sense right? It seemed to me as well, until I realized how little of my prayers seemed to be directed at becoming a better parent.

"You need more than your own wisdom in rearing your children. You need the help of the Lord. Pray for that help and follow the inspiration which you recieve."

-Pres. Hinckley

Again with simplicity of that statement. I have read this page several times this week and each time I read this comment by President Hinckley, I'm struck that he didn't say 'follow the inspiration if it comes, or pray and do what you think is best.' He said follow the inspiration which you receive. Though they seem the simplest lessons that we are taught repeatedly, they are often times the most important.

Yellow plus Blue

Mom's favorite color: Yellow
Jayce's favorite color: Blue

Kissing Jayce good night:

J: Mom, do you know what I do with my crayon box at school?

M: What?

J: I put yellow and blue together because I love you.

I melted.

Could it be??

I am quite possibly reaping the benefits of this all too busy child. He turns 2 next week and has decided it is due time that he be potty trained. I tried to stifle it, knowing he was entirely too young to accomplish this feat, but alas, he is doing it!! I am sure there are many messes to come (hopefully no toothbrush incidents!) but they are worth the pampers freedom so I am willing to give it a try. Potty trained at 2!!! Only a child like Jared...

Fickle fickle me.

There I was, ranting and raving to all who would listen to my ramblings about how awful Jayce's school was, and how much trouble he got in for such small things, and how much I hate (still do) their undefined uniform policy. Should I switch schools? Do you like public school? Is there another charter school in the area that is better? I fed off all of the negative information, although it was interlaced with the posative, I chose to focus on the bad. 3:30pm and in walks my foot in my mouth. Jayce came in excited he had not recieved a warning that day, and as I went through his folder there was a new colored note from his teacher:



'Just a quick note to tell you how pleased I am that Jayce, sat tall and was an active listener during class today. Jayce had a great day! Signed his teacher. '



Ok, so he is staying put. And I am yet again, a fickle fickle mother.

We love Pergo.

Yet another reason I am grateful that we opted NOT to put any carpet in this house. Two joyful faces came flying into the room with what appeared to be water dripping from thier heads... it looked as if they has just showered in the oil for my hair clippers. I am sure that they will think twice before entering the salon room for the rest of thier childhood days.

Revenge

Looks good doesn't it? You know when you wake up in the morning and you think of exactly what you want for breakfast and once you arrive in th kitchen there is someone eating the very last of the very thing you came to eat? Ok, so that isn't what happened, but when I looked over Jason's shoulder this morning and realized he was eating two enormous chocolate- chocolate chip muffins from costco, I was a little irritated. They were the last two. So I asked him later...

Me: So when you ate those last two muffins, was that so I couldn't have one?

Him: No. (a grin pulling at the corners of his mouth)

Me: You ate them both so I couldn't have one??

Him: No, I ate them both because I knew if I only ate one, when I came back later to eat the other, it would be gone.

NICE!!

Yoga

Shell and I took a yoga class yesterday. I think this was the first time in my life I have used some of those muscles. I actually didn't know some of those muscles existed. But today I feel each and every one of them because they all HURT. I have to say it was the most relaxing workout I have ever experienced. Very quiet and calm. But when shelley busted out with a move like this one

I started laughing. Surely this was a joke. There is no humanly way for my body to do that.

Queen B

I am the Queen of the B word. ha ha, not that B word. I mean Budgeting! As much as most people have a bad taste in their mouth after even saying this word, I love it! I love the organization behind it, and I love the challenge it sometimes presents. Ok, ok. I don't love that I have to budget out of necessity, but there are good things to speak of. Like a grocery store high! I know some of you have experienced this. I am an avid couponer and have just recently delved back into it full force (This is the coupon site I use)

So this month we had to pay for Jason's classes and books for next semester. I decided instead of transfering the money over from my savings account I would try and 'squeeze budget'. A chance to live off my food storage! Some of it at least. I think because it was a 'let's see if I can actually do this' situation, I saw it as a challenge, and was a little bit excited to try! We drank Gossner milk all week, (which my children actually prefer to regular milk) made cookies for snacks, and I had such a huge stock of pretty much everything I needed, that we didn't have a lot of want for anything. Each time the account got down into the single digits (yes, like under $10 scary!) I had a haircut call to schedule, or a color client that would boost us back up into safe mode.

There are a lot of things I fall short of in the gospel, but the one thing I have never struggled to understand or obey, is the law of tithing. Truly it has been a blessing and I have been part of countless times when things work out in a way that seemed humanly impossible. We have been given blessings that would otherwise not have been ours had we not been diligent in this commandment. And this week is no exception. Small and simple things became evident as I watched closely. Hair clients popping at the right time, that spice I needed happened to be on clearance and I had a coupon, my grocery bill being $4 under what I had in the account, hitting every green light on the way home... Ok, so the green lights is pushing it, but I was on a grocery store high, I took it as a little extra gift.

Someday when I am rich and famous, probably not famous, or even rich for that matter, but someday when money isn't as tight and I don't have to 'squeeze budget' I think I will still enjoy getting the best deals, going to get that grocery store high, coming home with a cartful of groceries that I paid pennies for, yard 'sailing', and repainting something cuz sometimes it just needs a fresh start.

'Everybody dance now'

by C&C music factory

Some of you wondered what the song was that caused me to bust a move.

I was so mad

Jayce is learning to read and learning to recognize small words so he doesn't have to sound each one out. This book is one of my favorites and we read it often enough that Jayce knows that at the end of every page it says " I was so mad." A few pages in, we were reading along and we got to our third 'I was so mad' and I asked Jayce to look at it a bit more carefully and it said 'I was just so mad'. He read it again and leaned in to get a closer look, his head popped back up and he said " Hey! How'd that get in there!" He's so funny.

Detachment Bliss

Yesterday was my Lainybugs first day of preschool. What a difference having a child that jumps out of the car, waves good bye and heads in the door with out a glance back. (I would prefer a little glance, and maybe an extra hug) but the kid has been like this since the day she was born. I actually tried to see if there was someone she wouldn't go to as a baby and toddler. I never found one. She readily jumped into any waiting arms. She has become more hesitant in the last year, but has kept her confident attitude. Love you Lainy!

Bathtime

M: Lainy, dry off and go in your room and get dressed.

L: Mom, I don't have any underwear in my drawer, but don't look ok?

Apparently she doesn't like wearing them.

Spontaneous Delight

After dinner was finished and the dishes were being cleared, on popped the radio as it does some days. A squeal flew from my mouth as one of my favorite 80's dancing songs came on. Everyone came to inspect the reason behind the sudden noise. Mom was dancing! (Mom's always dancing, this was nothing new) but tonight it was a family affair. We laughed easily and had smiles all around. Jayce showed a natural talent in taking Lainy as his partner and swinging her from side to side and then surprised us (and her!) with a swift spin and dip! 5 or 6 songs later mom and dad peetered out, but the kids are still dancing away! A simple and spontaneous family home evening! I love the laughter of happy children.

Fresh in my head

I have a lot of thoughts concerning of most recent stake confrence that was held this weekend. Pres Richardson came to our ward last week and gave a form of a pep talk to remind us of the importance of the meeting the following week.

Don't miss the opportunity to pray about the most important things in your life and have them matched by the prayers of those who will be speaking and praying about what to speak on.

It stuck. I suddenly felt that stressful feeling creep in and felt the urge to get on my knees and pray so I didn't miss out on the opportunity.

Jason went to the Priestood session saturday and Laurie, Heather and I met the men afterward for a quick meal and then the adult session that night. Yes, No children. It was a needed night of spiritual boosting. I will touch on a few subjects that hung onto my thoughts more than others.

Stake Relief Societ Pres, Sis Winters:

I felt when she was speaking that she was just teaching me. She began by relaying a story of harships that her daughter had faced, and man she was dealt a hard playing hand. But what she said next was nothing short of inspired.

You must decide how you will deal with the trials you are given. Since we are all given trials. They are necessary to grow stronger. Christlike qualities won't be gained another way.

She then said that her family decided that they wouldn't refer to trials as hardships any longer, but hard blessings. How appropriate!

Pray always. Identify blessings everyday. Teach your children to identify blessings everyday. She told a short story of picking up her grandson from school one day and asked how his day was. He proceeded to tell her each good thing that had happened to him that day and nothing more. She in turn, asked her daughter why he never mentioned anything negative about his day and her daughter said that when she picks up her children she always asks 'what good thing happened today' for the first few days it took a little thinking, but after that, her children leanred to be prepared and think of those things so they would be ready when she asked. What a simple thing we can do for our children and ourselves and it's repercussions will be generationally astounding!

Learn from the past, live in the present, and prepare for the future. It is never necessary to place blame. Grief turns to anger, anger to resentment. When you talk of we/us as a couple or a family unit and what is happening in your life, we/us needs to include Heavenly Father. Look at your hard blessings in a celestial perspective.

President Richardson (Sunday session)

First, I LOVE our stake presidency. They are inspired, intelligent, funny and have something most all other presidencies do not have. A binding friendship. Comradery. They seem to be the best of friends. And you can feel it.

He spoke on doing a million things at once and feeling guilty for not being about to do it all simultaneously. He read off a list of things on any given day a woman/wife/mother would need to do. He asked 'How do you balance these things?' Guilt creeps in. After everything cannot possibly get done. He said so much more, but what I remember is that he specifially talked about the Holy Ghost and that he would never use guilt once the Atonement is enveloped. The Holy Ghost does not use guilt as a tool, Satan does. (If I could underline this next part I would) "Guilt is reserved for sin. NOT as a motivator." It hit me like a ton of bricks.

He then began talking about behavior and attitude. He said there is no excuse for bad behavior and bad attitude. You cannot place blame for your own bad behavior and attitude. The Iron rod is covered with hard blessings. But you know it's the path that is watched over by our Heavenly Father.

When Pres Richardson first came to our ward the week before confrence, he said that an added blessing of the meeting would be that we may change what we prayed about after hearing the words spoken there. I have.

I got it at Jared's

This kid can bring a smile to your face even in his most miserable hour. I can't help but run for my camera when he goes into pouty mode. There are very few moments when it gets past this stage. If you couldn't see him (which is dangerous. See Jared), you would most times not notice his presence. So quiet. So sweet. He loves to snuggle and though it takes a while for him to warm up to a new person, once he is warmed, you are a forever friend.

He is not a people pleaser. You will not usually get a smile, kiss, hug or high five unless he feels it necessary. But when he chooses to smile, is lights up his whole little face.

Spot the wild one

My little doggie 'Flapjack' is never without a toy to chew on or bat around. Some days I wonder is he isn't just a hybrid in dog species, but possibly part kitty. His favorite sleeping grounds are on the top of the couch cushions, much like a cat would perch. He brought me a bird and so carefully left it on the mat on the porch.

Last weekend I was doing hair and the kids ran in breathless and excited and could hardly get the words from thier mouths without bursting at the seams. Each took turns filling in words where the other had missed. "Mom! Flapjack... outside... dad... bucket... And dad said we can keep it!!" I soon found out the dog was caught playing patty cake with a terrified gopher. I am not sure how he caught or kept it within his playing field, but Jason managed to get it into a bucket. Of course the kids were thrilled when dad said they could keep it. For an hour, I said. I later found Jason in his closet twidling with his paintball gun.

No target practice, I said.

Of course he was only making sure it was working. He would never do that (his words). A few minutes later, it was gone from the bucket.

Jayce casually mentioned later that 'Did I see what dad did with the bucket?'

He made a motion much like you would of you were throwing water from a bucket onto a fire.

Tell your friends Gopher.

Does he not look like a coyote?

Baby fever anyone?

This is my little nephew Carter, and if any baby was going to give me baby fever, it would be this one! Of course, I am not infected with this fever of love, but thought I would share some of the beautiful pictures he was included in!

Messy Toys

Keep pile.

Pack up and save for later pile.

Give away pile.

And finally trash pile.

This foam mat popped up in line. It went into the pack for later pile. ( I pack up about half of my kids toys in boxes until a day comes when I need them quiet and viola! New toys.) Jared kept pulling this horrible toy from the stack and running off with it. Of course I chased him and pryed it from his little hands, knowing I would be finding pieces strewn throughout my house that night. This happened 4-5 times before I realized the insanity of it. HELLO!? He is a kid and it's only 10 pieces!!!! It was a parenting moment for me. Sometimes I need to just let it go.

First day of first grade

And a peaceful one at that! I geared myself up for an emotional morning, such as the one I experienced last year. He is growing up. My Jayce is learning to control his temper and keep his flying limbs inside the cart at all times. He is joyful and happy in the morning and even has a hop in his step when he walks in the door after school!!

We had family pictures done last weekend and Jayce had a hard time being natural leaning against the rock like his cousins did so comfortably, so when I told him we were taking pictures for the first day of school he wanted to find a good spot to 'lean' on.

This was his first year getting to eat lunch at school and is learning by trial and error. He has always been a bit pokey about eating and mentioned that he has a 'fast' lunch time. Today he didn't get a chance to finish his pudding and wanted to save it for later... in AZ that makes for some very messy chocolate soup.

Will I ever learn?

Things Jared has dumped out this week...

• Every toy bin in the toy room (more than once)


• full container of cinnamon


• full container of pumpkin pie spice


• half a canister of seasoned bread crumbs


• a box of noodles


• a cupful of bath water into my lap


• the dog food from the food bowl into the water bowl


• each day at least one meal a day is deliberatly dumped onto the floor

In the process of writing this post, wouldn't you know it, he dumped out the bag of dog food.

Inny or outy?

Cousins came to town last week and the kids did a lot of swimming. Rylee and Lainy were connected at the hip. So, I wasn't surprised when Lainy joined Rylee while they suited up for the pool. As Rylee was getting her suit on Lainy squealed with delight "Oh! I like your belly button!" Lainy has an inny, Rylee has an outy, which apparently Lainy has never seen and likes!

Car freshener? Nope, just Jared.

We should all be so lucky as my 3rd child. As long as I can remember (which is questionable these days) Jared has always had a unique scent. I should preface this with the knowledge that I have an uncanny sense of smell. I can smell things most cannot. Quite possibly this superhuman quality I possess is all in my mind, but just go with it.

A few months ago after smelling him for quite some time, I finally pinned down the scent. Pine. Or a tree of some sort. Mostly it's his breath, but sometimes it is his skin. I know, weird. Thats's what I said when I first started smelling it. I am fairly sure that he isn't supplementing his diet with any household plants or outdoor vegetation. I couldn't grow something if my life depended on it. And we have no landscaping.

I think the kid just got lucky to have piney fresh breath naturally!