Eggs, Snow and Jesus

Friday night we drove to Brian Head for the Easter weekend.

Josh's brother has a beautiful new, huge cabin up there and we had a blast with part of our family- The Nielson's (Jason and Melissa) and the Sedivey's (Allyse and Patrick).

James always has the greatest time running around with his cousins and playing games with them. 

It's so great, since he is the youngest of all of them that were there, they totally cater to him and always want him to play with them. So he is kind of popular between them. He loves it. 

Easter Saturday was one of the funnest days. 

Josh made french toast for everyone. Then we just hung out and talked.

We went down to the ski lodge and there were a bunch of games and face painting for the kids. 

Can you guess what my DINOSAUR got?

 My little Princess got a little bunny. She would barely even sit still for this.

Then we went back to the cabin and had a big Easter Egg hunt with everyone. Eggs where everywhere.

  

These were the Easter Egg Hunters (young enough to participate)  and they were sure to find every single one.

 We spent the rest of the day in the snow. James went sledding and loved every second. He was Mr. Independent out there, he wanted to walk up the big hill all by himself. But he did want me to ride down with him, it was a bit steep. We went down again and again. Then we went snowmobiling up and down the ski hills and around their cabin. It was a total rush. It was cold, snowing a bit and just sweet. After about 10 minutes of it we look at James and he is completely out. He had zonked out right in the front of the snowmobile. He was so tired from all the excitement that he crashed hard and was out for a while. Josh and I took the four wheelers for a ride too in the snow. That is a little scary, just cause there isn't as much traction, but it was a total blast being with all our nieces and nephews out there. We went home cause we were starting to get cold, had pizza and than roasted marshmallows and made smores out on the patio.

 We ended the night in our PJ's coloring eggs.

James was quite proud of his dinosaur eggs with Long Neck on it and his brown dino baby egg. I made Rachel a zebra print/ bright pink egg. 

Then we did one of James's favorite things when we are up there, hide and seek in the dark with flash lights.
More pictures to come of their cute Easter outfits for Easter Sunday the next day.
I do want to bear my testimony about our Savior, Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.
I know without a doubt that he lives and that was resurrected after he was brutally beaten and put up on the cross. I know that he suffered every sorrow and pain on this earth and did it for each one of us. The thing that I have learned the most this year during this holiday is to be more like him.What kind of person was he? I want to be more like him. What kind of music would he have listened to? Maybe Michael Bublae. What car would he have driven if he was here today? I hope a grey Honda Civic. Who would he have associated with the most? Probably those who are positive, happy or even the ones that need friends the most. All we know is that Christ was the best example and that he had good intentions in all he ever did. I need to live my life more like the Savior would if he was here  today. Since our Father in Heaven gave his son the opportunity to be resurrected, I know he will give each and everyone of us the same opportunity if we live a good life. I am so glad that Heavenly Father has a wonderful plan for us and that I can rely on him through trials and good times. It is because of him that I want to live the best life I can and I am so glad he knows what we need to go through and learn. I am so blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, which is the only true church on earth. It gives me strength and knowledge that I need to get through each day.
I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy Valentines Day

Today is a special day throughout the world, it is a day to look at your whole world and think about all those you love. I tell those I love that I love them, but do I say those words enough? Love is such an amazing action word that can forever be acted upon.

I am in mad love with my husband and thank God that I was good enough to have such a good man granted to me for eternity. I know we have our differences and similarities, I love him more than words can say. I am so glad Josh is the daddy of my children and that he loves them beyond words. He is my everything and I do live for him and hope that I can always be one he is proud to be married to. I will spend the rest of my life falling more in love with him. And I am glad we have Valentines day, the day of love, to be cheesy and extra loving today.

I love love my little son who is my joy. He is my other prince that I have a soft spot in my heart for. He makes me so proud to be a mother and I learn from him all the time. I love his kisses, hugs, cuddles, smiles, words and everything about him.

My sweet Rachel is to die for she reminds me everyday just how much God loves me. He sent this little angel to bring peace and extra love to our family. Her smiles melt my heart and there is no doubt that she loves me in return.

I love my parents , they have always be amazing examples and teachers. They are always there for me and have given me the greatest hope of happiness in my life. They make me proud and happy.

My sisters and brother are the greatest. I am so glad I am so close to them and that we have memories to always go back to. I keep learning from them and some of my greatest times are with them.

Momma Rose (Josh's mom) is an amazing mother too. She loves me no matter what and understands me. I am glad she lives close to me, she is wonderful and a breath of fresh air.

My sister and brother  in laws  are great. I love them for being so warm and for the relationships we develop and for the love they show to my children. I am lucky to have them close to me and that we can get together often.

My girl friends make it so much fun when doing girly things or when I just need some girl time. It is relaxing and always so fun just to talk and craft. I am lucky to have great girl friends who don't expect to much from me, but just listen and talk with me.

I LOVE so many people and here is just a small list saying I love you and thank you for making my life worth it and so much more fun. LOVE is everything!

Hope you all take today to tell those you love that you LOVE THEM!! 

We just never know what tomorrow brings. It may be to late.

Small.........

Yet so Simple....

To Please.

It's so true, that it is the small and simple things that make us happy.

This last week I had a reality check. 

Sometime I find myself making check lists and trying to accomplish this and that, keeping a clean house, taking care of the kiddos and just doing the mommy things we do. 

Well, the other day I thought I had a great day until  Josh came home and asked me how my day was. I totally let go and cried. It had been forever since I have cried and I really think I just needed to cry for a second and be held. 

Yes, I am a girl!

Josh has great knowledge and at the time it wasn't really what I wanted to hear, yet it is what I needed to hear.

The gist was that he has never asked me to be a certain way or to get anything done or to have dinner on the table, the only thing he usually says when he walks out the door is to do him a favor. And his favor is for me to have fun with our kids. 

Now I look at that and really think, wow I never really realized what he was actually saying. He was telling me to take time and make these moments with James and Rachel really count. Create time for these little precious children to feel their mommy's love. I will admit that I don't go a day without reading James a book or singing him a song or holding Rachel, but the thing that I am forgetting to do is to just be happy when Josh comes home. I need to wrap my arms around him and let him know just how grateful I am to have him in my life. I want him to always be excited about coming home. And he even expressed that it was more important for him to come home to a happy wife than to come home to a clean house with dinner on the table. 

I need to stop having so much expectations on myself and really just smile, be happy and show love whenever I can. 

And while I am cleaning the house, folding the laundry or even crafting just doing it without thinking what else needs to be done. 

I am lucky to have a husband that doesn't expect my house to look a certain way when he comes home, all he expects is to come home to a wife who has spent the day loving his children and is ready to love him. 

This teaches me that my man is simple. He really only needs a few things to be happy and I am one of those. 

My favorite days are the ones I spend still in my pajamas, cuddling in bed with my sweeties, reading books, playing with toys, dancing, tickling and doing anything that brings big huge smiles to this little handsome face....

and this  pretty one

(who is super duper cute when she sucks that little thumb).

 They are only this small for the time being and they enjoy the simple things more than we will even realize. 

Just yesterday I spent my day with dishes in the sink until 4:00 pm, but had a fun filled day blowing bubbles, coloring, playing with his cool cars and track, reading book after book and having a tickle war. James even helped me make dinner (this is one of his favorite things to do- help me out in the kitchen and be right up on the counter with me). You have no idea how much this little guy laughed yesterday. He was so hysterical, that he made me laugh. We were singing and dancing and pounding on the floor (sorry neighbors), but really being kids.

I know it is these moments in life that I will look back at and smile. I will never look back and say- I wish I would have had a cleaner house.

A New Year, My New Ways

2011 is here!

Yes, I know it is already February and I should have started my New Years Resolutions a month ago. 

You would be proud of me, I wrote them down, but as I sit here thinking about what I should write, I realized something.....

Each year I list the different topics: Spiritual, Physical, Mental, etc and then a goal. 

But my goals are way to broad and you can't measure it, so when the next year comes around- I always have the same goal listed again (as if I never reached it). I feel I am better today then I was a year ago, but this year I really want to list things that I can measure and know I am accomplishing. 

One of my goals each year is just to become more spiritual and physically fit and all in all to be a better person. 

Well, I still want to do this, just this year I want to do it better and differently. 

So bear with me and my babbling of disorganized thoughts at this very moment.

Here are some new things I want to do or be better at:

• Be a happier person and smile more. When my husband comes home I want to make him feel like he has entered a home where he doesn't question if he is loved. Even when I have unproductive days or frustrating days I want him to know that I am happy he is home. Smile at strangers and make a bigger effort to go out of my way to be happier and upbeat around peers and family. Smile, I hear it is contagious. 
• Realize just how good I have it. My life has everything I really need. Don't get down from small, tedious things that really have no significance.
• Know that I am the one who chooses my attitude and that no one else can change that.
• Remind myself everyday that I am a child of God and think of what he would have me do each day. Even if it be something small, make a difference with a text,a phone call or face to face conversation. 
• Be positive always about those you love. Don't try to change someone or have negative feelings, but try to change my own thinking- Just love them! Even if it is hard because of their past or choices.
• Blog with feeling and reality. Let others know I struggle and go through trials and don't live a perfect little life with no ups and downs. ( So be aware )
• Live in the moment and stop thinking everything has to be clean and perfect all the time. Let it slide and hug my babies, read books, play games and be silly more often. They will remember these moments and will  never look back and remember if my house was clean or not. 
• Make my house a haven from the world. A place where you can feel the spirit and others know they are welcome.
• Attend the temple once a month and go with reason. Really search for the comfort and answers that I need. Remember through out the month how I felt with in the walls of the temple. 
• Provide and make healthy and yummy meals at least 4 times a week. I love having dinner ready for Josh after a long day of school and I can only imagine how hungry he is when he gets home. One of the ways to a mans heart is through food. It is a nurturing thing. 
• Have pillow talk a few times a week and only focus on my babe. Give more of me to him. 
• Do something active everyday.
• Come up with at least one new thing every week for James to experience and try or learn. 
• Spend one on one time with James at least once a day
• Spend one on one time with Rachel at least once a day 
• Hug and kiss Josh, James and Rachel as much as I can. Say "I Love you" a lot.
• Be patient with James, my 2 year old who is Mr. Independent.
• When giving consequences to James, stay calm -yet firm. Don't let my frustration show. Always tell him I love him after the consequence is over. 
• Read more good books that help me feel the spirit.
• Become more educated in the scriptures. Instead of just reading to say I read, read with purpose to learn. Read the New Testament (I have never read it before, I have always read the Book of Mormon time after time) along with a commentary to help me understand hidden meanings and purpose. It doesn't matter how much I have read, but it does matter if I learn anything from it and understand what is being said.
• Say morning prayers. Before I start the day realize that Heavenly Father wants me to say hi to him first, just as James says hi to Josh and I first thing in the morning. Make it a priority to really talk to God just as I would my own parents and thank him for specific things. Never say the same prayer twice. Tell God what is on my mind and ask him what I can do to be an instrument in his hands each day.
• Recognize tender mercies and thank him right when it happens. Never think it was just luck, it is always God who has his hand in things. 
• Be content with my life right now, today. Don't think something will make me happier, it is learning to be happiest today, not tomorrow (or I will always be searching).
• Try something new once a month. 
• Learn about my new camera - Canon 40D- and take tons and tons of pictures.
• Sew more things for Rachel (mostly because shes a girl and we all know there are more things out there for her gender) and James with and without patterns. Make whatever my heart desires. Learn from others who are willing to share their talents. Don't be scared to ask for help.
• Get back into oil painting. Paint something to display in my home this year. 
• Call family more often, be the one making a big effort.
• Have my phone more accessible for those trying to get a hold of me. But don't let it become something I can't live without. 
• Be on time for 9:00 church, and that doesn't mean in time to take the Sacrament. 
• Prepare to teach Young Women's in advance and pray for ways to touch the girls. Make a difference in their lives. Really get to know them, laugh with them and become someone they can lean on. Pray and be aware of their needs.
• Visit Teach 100%, take initiative and get it done sooner than later.
• A Clean house is a Happy house ( less mess=more room for the spirit and less confusion and worry)
• Provide experiences where James feels good and learns about Jesus, good choices, how to be nice, manners, etc.  Persistence is key and so is repetition.
• Go the extra mile for those I may not know.
• Recognize who needs help and jump to the chance.
• Have at least 1 couple over per month that we don't know.
• Create memories (dinners, games, movie nights, activities, hang outs, date nights, play dates, crafting,  FHE, etc)with friends at least a few times a month.
• Have family and friends over for dinner a few times a month.
• Make a new meal once a week.
• Have an organized- no clutter home (it's okay if there are toys and minor things like that, but clean as in not dusty, dirty and messy).
• Keep my teaching certificate current.
• Be better at organizing bills and paying them on time.
• Save money shopping for groceries- learn and use Grocery Smarts. 
• Go to sleep earlier at least 3 times per week. (Josh and I are total night owls and go to sleep way to late almost every night- thus, we dread mornings because we are exhausted. Especially with kids who wake up early.)
• Floss everyday- I brush all the time, but slack at flossing.

So these are things that came to me, that I need to work on and make changes. Changes are good, they make you stronger and a better person. Even if I work on just a few of these each month, I will eventually become well rounded and better than I was  in 2010.
And isn't that all of our goals, to be better then yesterday?
It's worth a try.

Happy New Year!