Things I like

There are a lot of things that make me smile as I go through my day. I am hoping some of them will help you smile too.

• Reading "Hand, Hand, Finger, Thumb" and "Happy Hippo, Angry Duck" to my 2 year old, over and over again. Those books are fun to read and make me smile. I love when she tries to read along with me.
• Caleb telling me " I know my teacher's phone number. Only I can't remember the numbers."
• Naomi is taking hockey lessons right now. Her prayer the other day had me grinning. "..... Grateful that sometimes we don't know everything. Like I didn't know that I was going to love hockey as much as I do. Thank you that I  get to go to practice tonight because it is so fun...." It as a dinner prayer. So what if we get a bit off subject.
• Victor thinks it is fun to hang out in the kitchen with me while I listen to the "Lightning Thief" series on CD. I have gotten him to do things like unload the dishwasher and help clean up since he just wants to hang out in there.
• Phebe standing there wearing boots about 10 sizes too big trying to get me to read a book to her during scripture study. No, it isn't the interruption I enjoy, it is that she doesn't realise how goofy she looks in the boots and just wants to be a big kid.
• My husband told me I was a good cook.
• Phebe walking around looking for my cousin who babysat her earlier in the day. "Kaaaatttte.... Where are you? Kaaaaaaaaaattttttttte!"

I love my family and I love being a mom. I love that I am now the one with magic kisses to heal everything. I am the one whose attention is desired above all else. I love how funny my family is. So often I feel like I have this fantastic secret in my house. You have to come over and then I will share it with you. The secret of my awesome family.

Um... wow

Ok, so I have seen this video in two different places. But since I think it is really amazing and cool I wanted to make sure you had had your chance to be amazed. Since it has 36 million views, odds are pretty good you may have seen it, but just in case... Yes, those are 5 people playing 1 guitar.

Though I admit, I really feel like that lady should be wearing bright red lipstick. Or at least something darker than she is or is not wearing.

Hope you enjoyed it.

You're Fired.

This morning Victor informed me," I hired Naomi to help build an army ( with Legos), as you can see she hasn't done anything. So I fired her."

Oh, emotions

For Christmas I got "Ramona the Brave", by Beverly Cleary, for Naomi. I have been reading it out loud to my children at bedtime.

One reason I grabbed that book was because of a woman at church who frequently tells me that Naomi reminds her of Ramona. It had been a very long time since I had read anything about that character.

She was right. Naomi is very much like Ramona. Beverly Cleary really nailed that personality and her world. As I read this book people kept telling this six year old to " grow up." but poor Ramona is left standing there saying" can't you see that is what I Am trying to do?"

Tonight while reading we hit the climax. She is terrified of sleeping in her new room alone, her teacher dislikes her, her parents don't take her seriously, her older sister seems to be more loved and Ramona doesn't understand how she gets into trouble so often. As I am reading the conversation between she and her parents I have tears running down my face. Ridiculous, I know. My kids catch on and start getting upset that mom is crying. Truth is, I understand. Oh, I have been there and felt like that. I can also see my kids feeling like that.

I cant say I a proud I was crying over a children's book, it isn't the first time though. I am really grateful for the reminder of what it is like to not be taken seriously. I am going to try to be a bit better at seeing the world through others lenses.

So true

I love this video so much. It makes me feel comforted  about my flaws while making me laugh.

A murderer in our midst

We were invited to participate in a "How to Host a Murder" party. This was my first time. Very cool. I highly recommend it.  Here is the general idea. You buy the game, there are a bunch of different scenarios. Each has a different setting and different characters. You invite friends who are willing to play parts in your play. You tell them a bit about their character and some costume suggestions. They show up get their info and then you sit around accusing each other of being the murderer. Crazy, but fun. In the end you do get to find out who it was.

 Ethan and I participated in the "Chicago Caper." Late 20's was our setting. I had lots of fun dressing for the part. Here are the pictures of how our costumes worked out.-

 My friends daughter had a head band that matched perfectly. It was awesome.

I just wish I had as much hair to style as the lady who did the tutorial on line.

May I present "Silky"...

Silky and Harrow-

That is what we did for New Years Eve. From 4-9. We were in bed long before midnight. We're cool like that.

If you ever get the change to participate in one of these games- do it. There is much fun to be had.

Reading with my echo

Our local church leadership has challenged us to read the 2 pages of the Book of Mormon every day this year. They have been building this up for the last few months. Getting everybody set to do it. Our stake primary presidency (Stake= churches of the same religion in this area, Primary= children's organization) decided this was a challenge that should not be left only to adults.

So each of my children has been given their own copy of the book along with a book mark. Only eldest child can read. I can not tell you how it warmed my heart the day those books were given to them. After church Victor and Naomi sat down side by side and he read out loud to her as she pretended she was following along.

The next day Victor came home from school telling me about his list of important things he needed to get done. Snack, homework, his 2 pages. And he did it.

Now, I won't let you believe that he has continued to be quite that dedicated. He is still reading but he needs a reminder. Now Naomi... I have decided we will sit down after kindergarten and read her pages. She is less than thrilled, but likes being able to mark her progress on the chart so she cooperates. 

Then there is Caleb. He is 3. He just graduated to primary. He certainly in no way is near reading. But to feel like he belonged in primary he has his book too. I couldn't see a reason why we can't work on reading with him. I can't say I expect him to sit through it all. But today he made me so very happy.

I was going to sit down and read to him. I gave him his own chart so he could see his progress. As we sat down he declared that he was going to do the reading. He wasn't going to sit and listen to me read to him. So he repeated every word that I said. We went through verse after verse with me reading a line and his echo. Did we complete 2 pages? No. We didn't. But I don't think that matters in this situation. What matters is that my 3 year old wants to read scriptures. That child came to me while I prepared dinner and asked if we could sit down and read more.

Are my kids always begging for scripture study? No. But can I revel in moments when they are excited and love them. Why do I spend so much time worrying about how clean the house is when there are so many more important things to do?

Tomorrow I will make more time for my little echo.

An End to My Silence

I am not a confrontational person. I do not seek conflict. I fear that some may see my silence as affirmation of their opinions. This is not always so.

Today I wish to send a clear message. You may or may not agree with me. You are under no obligation to do so. I want you to understand I do not share with you in hopes of inciting an argument. Feel free to express your sentiment in the comment section; please do so with the respect with which I write this post.

Gay marriage.

Logically I can see the arguments in its favor. Two consenting adults making a choice. "They love each other. Why can't they have the same rights as others to marry? They aren't hurting anybody." I get it.

When I say I don't agree, don't bother sending me your angry rants. Honestly, I really can see how it is a compelling case. That is why it has taken me so long with my response. I have been thinking about this for a significant period of time.

Each of us are here on earth. Each of us are different.  I am sure you know this. How many children's songs and books have we been exposed to celebrating our differences? It is blatantly obvious.

With all those differences come a variety of weaknesses. We all have them. Some are more obvious than others. Some of us struggle with drug addictions. Others with aggression problems. Most of us know people who deal with depression. There are people who are lazy, alcoholics or just plain judgemental.

There are people who are attracted to their same sex. 

Here we are on earth. All of us having the mortal experience. Have you ever wondered why? Have you ever questioned why you are here?

You are here, now, in this body, in this cirumstance to learn.

You lived before you came here. You had likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. And you brought them with you.

You are here to learn. One of those many things you must learn in this mortal state is to overcome. You must learn to overcome those weaknesses you carried over. It isn't OK to say " I have a bad temper" and just live the rest of your life like that. You are to learn to master that temper.

-The drug addict must master the addiction.

-The lazy must learn to work hard.

-The judgemental must learn to let go of their personal condemnations.

-The gay must learn to control the desires they have.

-The depressed must work to see the good in the world.


Have you ever desired to do something inappropriate? I have.

Have you ever wanted to just hit someone when you know you shouldn't? Maybe you wanted to take what didn't belong to you. Maybe you wanted to simply run away from all your problems and abandon those who rely on you. Possibly you wanted to run that awful SUV that cut you off into the ditch. Ever cheated? Ever gossiped? Ever flipped out and said some truly hurtful things?

We all have impulses. An impulse by itself does not make someone good or bad. You are not evil because that obnoxious brat was just screaming to have this face slapped. You have made a good choice when you resisited, for finding a different course of action; for finding a way to curb that impulse.

Some impulses are stronger than others. I have great admiration for those that have over come strong incorrect  impulses and learned to live on a higher ground.

Here is my point- There may be those in this world who have the desire to be married to one of their own sex. I do not support this action. I do not support giving in and embracing a tendancy that is incorrect. I suppose you may be sitting there thinking "Who are you to say it is incorrect or unacceptable?" Nobody, I am nobody to decide what is right and wrong. There are in this world rights and wrongs declared  by God, creator and ruler of this world not by man.

The drug addict should not announce that he was "made like this" and waste his life away high.

He who has an anger problem can not go through life hurting everyone around him because he was "born that way."

I wish you to also see that I do not wish to condemn gay people to a life of misery, of never being able to be with a loved one. I can not even imagine how hard for some it will be to work through this challenge, I hope they are able to find the love and acceptance they desire and deserve in an appropriate relationships.

We all need love. We all are loved, even if it is hard to tell during some moments. By becoming masters of our emotions and desires we can achieve the  potential we each divinely inherited.

Remember-"You are destined for more than you can possibly imagine."

-President Uchtdorf.