Activity Days

So, really, I have a fun calling. I get to spend every other Wednesday afternoon with a group of 8-11 year old girls doing various things like taking cookies to widows, going and doing a library tour, making scripture bags and just being amazed by all the excitement and energy that 12 elementary girls can possess! And I work with two ladies that are really quite honestly, some of the most amazing women & personal heroes of mine.

Yesterday we had a discussion about the sacrament and then taught the girls how to make homemade bread. It was a really great activity--all spread out around the counter, kneading dough and remembering exactly what we are covenanting to do when we take the sacrament each Sunday. We made some loaves to be used for the sacrament on Sunday and each girl got to take home a small loaf to share with their families.

So, if you visit the CR 4th ward this week, I'm sure you'll see some girls inspecting the trays for their contribution to the meeting! I really love these girls!

Spiderwick, Sharks and Earthquakes, Oh My!

Ash has just recently gotten really into reading the Spiderwick Chronicles. Isn't she too young for this? The librarian at her school suggested it to her and she devoured the first book in one night, insisting that it wasn't scary. I've seen the commercials for the new movie and she is BEGGING to see it. Well, I'M too scared to see it. So, a date with dad was in order. Can we say obsessed?!?

Tyler has also been obsessed lately with sharks and earthquakes. He read some books from the library about them and every question lately is "So, when is an earthquake going to come anyway?" or "Did you know that sharks eat surfers because they look like they are seals, not because they want to eat us?" I'll be sure to store that one away in the old brain, considering we live in a land-locked state! I guess I forget that there is something so intriguing about the unknown, mysterious and sometimes a little bit scary things in life. I constantly struggle between overprotecting and allowing my kids to explore things in all facets of life. I guess this is a tight-rope walk that all mothers walk, finding the fine line that they want to venture on.

Tink is teetering everyday on that fine little line--the curiosity of a 17-month old! She's fascinated with the dishwasher, anything with buttons, with STANDING on every chair, rather than sitting, and just wants to be in the middle of everything! Oh boy...

Are you sad you won't have a brother?

Ash was talking with Ty about how we're having another sister join the family. She was feeling bad for Ty, since he'd be the only boy and asked, "Are you sad you won't have a brother?"

Ty, lifting his arms up and shrugging replied matter-of-factly, "Well, Jesus is our brother. So I already have a brother!"

Of Course!

I {heart} Valentine's Day

Thanks to some savy ideas that I was able to lift, Valentine's Day was very sweet! We had the usual heart pancakes (which hallelujiah! is a treat for the kids. Could you ask for an easier breakfast?!?) I got to volunteer at Ash's class party, which was a blast. First graders are just such a fun age group! After school we played Valentine's bingo, that a sweet friend shared the template to so I taught myself how to digitally scrap! Thanks to her generosity, it turned out great. I just may be hooked!

Dinner, a video and smoothies topped off the night! I made some coupon books for Casey as well as the kids and they got some new Sunday clothes. I was surprised how excited they were about the gifts--maybe because they weren't really expecting it, like Christmas or a Birthday. Ty has come upstairs wanting to redeem a coupon every day we've been home. Today the request is Chuck E Cheese. We'll see if it can work!

A few days ago I asked Casey if there was anything he wanted, and he couldn't think of anything. So, I got him something very unromantic that he had mentioned that he needed a couple of weeks ago--and he still loves me despite the boring gift! He got me something sentimental from when we were dating and some beautiful flowers and a dinner date for later this week. A simple, sweet Valentine's Day with people I love the most. How lucky...

St George photos!

Much needed break...

The kiddos & I got back from a terrific weekend in St George. Swimming, shopping, hiking and sand dunes were some of the highlights. We even lucked out with playing with some of my cousins while down there, whom my kids ADORE!! I snuck away for a few hours to see a few of the mansions in the Parade of Homes down there. Pretty amazing! We also discovered Ty's new love of Uno, and pretty much any board game for that matter. Ash loved the pool, collecting rocks and being Olivia's shadow and Ali loved the sand dunes. We sure missed our hard-working dad, though!

Just the recharge we were looking for...Now I can face the next storm!!!!

That's it. We're headed to St. George and there's no stopping us.

As is often the case, when I should finish the packing, I got sucked into the blogging world and decided to change my template again. I'm trying to teach myself how to do more digital stuff, so forgive all the busy-ness and multiple-personalities that my blog has been experiencing. It's sure fun though! Maybe next time I'll actually sit down and write what's actually HAPPENING in our family's life! Ha ha! Happy weekend everyone!

Wow, what a day. I apologize for the travel-log, but this is a day I don't want to forget, and more importantly feelings I don't want to fade.

This morning I had the news on to see what the weather was going to be like and the reporter was talking about President Hinckley's viewing. Ash told me that she wanted to go and I'm embarrassed to say that I was thinking of a million other things that we needed to do today and mulled it around my head throughout much of the morning. Have I mentioned before how much I learn from my kids--will I ever learn this lesson?!?

So, I decided that I was just going to make it happen. The 3 kids and I went down to the conference center and the spirit was so very sweet. I realized that because they are still under 8 it was their first time being IN the conference center and so we got to explore a little bit. Music was playing in the background and there was such a reverence and peace there today.

We've been having an ongoing dialogue, particularly with Ty, about how we leave our bodies behind for a time when we die and our spirits go to heaven & we are reunited with loved ones, Jesus and Heavenly Father. At one particular point, we were waiting to go up the escalator and Ty asked why we had stopped. I told him that we were going up to see President Hinckley. He got this big, wide-eyed look and asked sincerely, "Is Jesus up there too?" I think he thought we were on our way up to heaven ourselves!

The kids were very reverent and it was very uplifting to be there. We had a really great discussion about how the kids felt in there, how THAT was indeed the spirit and to remember how it feels and they were saying some very sweet things about some very spiritual matters. I was so very grateful that we had the oportunity to experience this as a family.

As if that weren't enough, I was lucky enough to go to a fireside tonight where the speakers were two of my personal favorite women and examples--Wendy Nelson and Sheri Dew. My bucket is filled to overflowing tonight with gratitude and reminders of how to improve, as we truly do not know the scope and influence we as mothers and latter-day saint women have. It really is days like this that I wonder why I let myself live in mediocrity, that motivate me to work harder and to say to the world--put up your dukes and bring it on! ha ha

Be Grateful

At President Hinckley's passing, I've been reflecting on the lasting impact that he's made. I realize that he's made an indelible imprint on society as a whole through his messages and example of kindness, acceptance and inclusiveness; as well as for the Latter-Day Saints from accessibility of temples, the Conference Center, programs like the Perpetual Education Fund and great messages from the "6 Be's", "The Living Christ", and The Family Proclamation amongst a miriad of other significant accomplishments as our prophet.

I know it's a selfish slant, but mostly I've reflected on how President Hinckley has deeply affected me and my life. His words of encouragement, to stand a little taller and be a little better have always been delivered with such a strong spirit that I can't help but WANT to try to live my life more in accordance with the Savior's teachings.

Watching how he & his wife lived their lives--hard-working, always positive with a sense of humor, seeking to live by the spirit, being a good neighbor, serving all those around them, a willingness to be an avid learner--have taught me more of how to pattern my life than any amount of sermons preached over the pulpit. His passing reminds me to recommit to these values and way of life, as this is the best way I can personally honor him.

Four & a HALF and Six & a HALF, officially!

Remember what a big deal it was to distinguish your age as "x & a HALF", emphasis always placed on the half, because you've made it way beyond just your numerical age? We embrace that milestone in our family and celebrated both Ty & Ash's half birthdays this past week. Ty chose half of a blue cake with sprinkles on it and Ash opted for a mini-cheesecake. A girl after her parents heart! Then they each got to choose what we did as a family that night.




























The next 1/2 birthday that we're REALLY looking forward to is Tink's, because it means the blessed utopia called NURSERY is introduced. Not that we're wishing the next 2 months away, but church is sure feeling like a marathon. Considering I've been doing it for a couple of months alone, and have 4-5 more weeks with a hubby that will continue being on rotations that keep him at the hospital on Sunday, I will happily enjoy Sunday School and Relief Society without a toddler on my lap or quiet time in the halls!

Degrees of blogging

Ever heard of the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon? Where every actor can be linked through their career to Kevin Bacon? I'm convinced that this phenomenon also applies to the blogging world. Take any random persons blog and after clicking on a few links of family and friends, you'll find someone that you've known in your past.

The bad thing about this is it feels very stalk-ish. Though I feel vulnerable doing this, I'm exposing some of my blogging faux pas anyway! For example, I've happened to click on someone I know off of my sisters blog, which lead to someone else (I didn't know very well, I'm embarrassed to say) and found my back door neighbor's blog. Seriously.

Do I make a comment and admit how I found them? Check in once in a while and not say anything? Anonymously complain that their weeds are creeping to our side of the fence:) Joking.

Once I happened to comment to my husband about a really funny post I'd read that day. He asked me who it was and I had to admit that it was a kid I went to high school with that was a few years younger than me. I got that stare--the "What are you really doing at 6:30 in the morning when I think you're just checking your emails" look. Or, it could have been the "Wow, I married a stalker" look. Which ever look it was, I was a little embarrassed. In fact one of my resolutions this year is to limit my time on the computer and only be on with specific purposes, but I digress...

But, I've had people that I really enjoy catching up with that have posted a comment to let me know they ran across my blog randomly and I'm so glad they did! So, I guess I should just swallow my pride and not be ashamed of my blogging habits. Blogs are like getting Christmas Cards, not once a year, but every day. Plus, I love the real day-to-day happenings that make life so interesting that don't always make the annual letter. So, stalk away, I say!

Ty-Guy--True blue, through and through

One of the down-sides to residency is that Casey's schedule isn't always predictable. So when he scored some great tickets to a Jazz game, he asked Ty if he'd like to have a night out with him, to which Ty replied "Oh, sure!" Well, as luck would have it, he got more work piled on him than he could handle in time to take Ty to the game.

One of the up-sides to living in Utah is such great family that helps create great memories and pitches in when they are needed. This was a call to duty that Grandpa I. took by the horns. Ty was really excited to find out that he'd get a special night with Grandpa! He called to make sure that Ty came hungry, picked him up and away they went to the game.

He came home so excited and really had the best time. He made an odd comment about how he told Grandpa that he didn't like Good Things Utah. Okay, a little random, but I think most males his age would concur with this observation.

Come to find out that while he was at the game, he kept talking about the BYU basketball game that Case had taken him to earlier in the month. Finally Grandpa, a crimson club member, asked Ty if he ever thought that maybe he'd root for the University of Utah because that's Grandpa's favorite team, to which this 4-year-old replied, "Mmm, probably not."

Thanks, dad for a great memory for our boy. I don't care what team he's cheering for when he has someone as great as you to look up to.

New Years Resolution...

Driving home from the dentist with the bad news that I had 2 cavities, my little seven-year-old self piped up from the back seat with an innocent question that made a small impact on my childhood.

"Mom--if I went a whole year without eating candy, would you pay me $200?"

I'm sure my mom thought this was a safe bet and had no idea that I would acutally follow through when she said sure. Well--aside from a pesky bag of skittles that was calling my name, I succeeded going a whole year without candy. My parents made a big deal about my accomplishment and had a little award ceremony the night I was awarded the money. And like Forrestt Gump, I just kept on going.

Ten years later, I decided that I needed candy back in my life. In hindsight, I gained so much from this experience. Not only healthier eating, and hopefully less cavities, but I learned that I really could do anything I put my mind to, the value of working towards a goal and even learned money management. With my parents guidance, I would save 40% of my earnings each year and would keep 50% to be spent however I chose. Tithing seemed more of a willing sacrifice--for some reason, it seemed more of a big deal to give $20 for tithing, verses 10 cents on the dollar that I would earn here and there as a kid.

Unfortunately, candy is still a mindless companion that I pop in my mouth without even thinking about it. I'm ashamed to say that I have LESS will-power than I had at 7 years old. But this will change in 2008. I'm professing to the world wide web that I am going back on the candy deal.

When I told Casey about this particular resolution, he said "I'd be happy to give you $100." To which I kindly reminded him that my parents gave me $200, and he upped the ante due to inflation and told me that he'd reserve $500 if I did it. Not that our bank account isn't joint or anything or that I'd even have to ask for money. But the fact that it would be earned by determination towards self mastery and a healthier pregnancy makes it that much more exciting. So, cross your fingers and wish me luck. Any one want to join my crusade?

Christmas Season

We've loved the snow...

Christmas Morning!
Ash & a favorite toy

Ty--so excited he can't even open his eyes...

Tink and her new baby doll

So sweet!

What a great Christmas! We were really able to make special memories this season, be with family throughout the month and just loved being together. I'm grateful for the example of the Savior in my life.

The Christmas Cutting Room Floor

Anyone else's photo shoots anything like this?!?!?!

And finally...it's not a fun family shoot without some tears!

So we'll just enjoy the best shot we've got and call it good!

Christmas E-Card 2007

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Happy Birthday Casey!

I sure love this guy! From undergrad, med school, & residency, 4 moves, 3 kiddos and one on the way, I couldn't have asked for a better husband, dad, and best friend. And you're as handsome as ever to boot! Happy Birthday cutie!

A Season of Gratitude

We were fortunate to spend the week of Thanksgiving with the Irion family in Cancun. Snorkeling, sight-seeing, swimming in the ocean and the awesome pool. It was as relaxing and blissful a trip as I can remember--and to think we had almost every single person in our family (we missed you, cute Rachele!!) Quite a crew! Thanks Mom and Dad for such a WONDERFUL memory--for keeping us connected and just being able to ENJOY each member of our family. Truly, family is at the top of my list of things I am most grateful for.

The boys were all grateful for the internet so they could keep tabs on the Utah/BYU score. Aren't they cute, all huddled around the computer while their kids are probably drowning in the pool somewhere?!?!? I love this photo--boys will always be boys!!

Tender Mercies

We had an experience in our family that if not written down, will be forgotten by this foggy-brained mom--and though seemingly insignificant, it was filled with lessons that I wanted to remember...
The closest thing my kids have to a pet is Molly, my parents Golden Retriever. Ash particularly loves this sweet, old soul. A few weeks ago, Molly was let out of the house without her collar on and didn't return. My parents did everything they could think of to get word out to keep a look out for the family dog, but no word came.

After 2 days with no luck, I decided that it was time to break the news to the kids that Molly was gone. Ty-guy was pretty sad, but Ash instantly burst into tears. She decided that she wanted to say a prayer to Heavenly Father that Molly would come back to us. Fearing the worst, I suggested that maybe she ask Heavenly Father to make sure Molly is happy, safe and where He thinks is best. Ashlyn obliged and said my suggestion, but ended the prayer with her own, heartfelt plea that the best place for Molly was back with our family.

You know how this ends, right?

10 minutes later, my mom called to let us know that they happened to stop by the Humane Society to check & see if she was being held there, and who had just been brought in--all dirty and excited to see her mom & dad?!? None other than Molly-dog herself.

My tears welled up with gratitude for a Heavenly Father who listens to a pleading child, who humbles a mom that tried to manipulate that personal relationship that her daughter was developing with her Father in Heaven, and gently reminds us all how much he loves each and every one of us. Shame on me for doubting her faith & God's ability to answer prayers how He sees fit. I am a firm believer that if something is important to you, it's important to our Heavenly Father--no matter how trivial it may seem. That was re-affirmed through my 6 year old daughter who is one my greatest teachers.

Ali Tinkerbelle is One!!

How on earth this year has already whizzed by is truly beyond me. All I know is that our lives are so much more full, sweeter and brighter because this little pixie joined us. Here's to conquering the nights, enduring 4 teeth and learning to stand on your own two feet Ali Tink! The world is truly yours...