Call home

My nephew is just over a quarter through his mission. I was blessed to be apart of a small portion of his call home. 

It is a weird feeling getting advice from your little nephew, specifically about avoiding the perfection depression. 

The world is full of good people trying the best they can. Unfortunately, it can be difficult if we aren't always perfect and meet our own personal goals. 

Stay positive. Move forward. Tomorrow is a new day. 

Christmas

[not pictured- Ethan who was too excited about his video game]

Grateful for all this time off with my little family and of course all the extended family who came into town because it's just more fun to go to do all those activities with over thirty people. 

Merry go round

We took Annie on her first merry-go-round, and the others kids were slightly dragged along. 

On a side note, the baby loved it. The giggles were priceless. 

Life saver

Yesterday Larissa told me that Ethan saved her life. 

Curious, I needed details. 

I had the blessing of having two kids very close in age and only one grade apart. Every other year, they have lunch and recess together

Larissa had nothing to do and no one to play with at recess.  For Larissa (and I back in the day), this is a big deal.

"Mom, he gave me a hug at school and played with me the whole time!"

This morning Larissa reminded me, "Ethan saved my life one day ago."

Wax Museum

Tonight was Raea's wax museum.  They aren't allowed to talk.  It took a lot of effort to try to break my little Jane Goodall. 

Last week, Raea ditched school to try to get her cousin to break character at her wax museum. When her cousin's "light" was on, she was spot on. 

Sometimes they beg me to take their picture

This weekend was membership swap, and we were able to take our science museum membership to the Arizona Museum of Natural History.

All family time. No shopping.

Let the Christmas Season Begin

First Thanksgiving

Kindergarten acting debut. 

Good Saturday morning

-The kids are sleeping in. (All games were cancelled.)

-Alone time with the baby. 

-In my favorite sweatshirt. 

-Cat Stevens in the background. ("Ripon mix" on my Pandora.)

-The weight of the world off my shoulders. (Only three more working days.)

-World's best neighbor took my trash cans to the curb. (I don't know when they come, and Mr. Skinner is out of town.)

-Solo temple date tonight. 

EPIC

Center of Attention

This girl is going to have a jaded sense of reality when she finally goes to school, and she is not the center of attention. 

In the meantime, she revels in the popularity. 

The end of selfie Tuesdays

I don't take much selfies, but if I do, it's always on Tuesdays. 

The day I dress up for work. 

For some reason, if you only work one day a week, it inevitably is the day the kids have field trips or classroom parties. 

After 11 days, I took my band off. I finished my courage challenge. 

Only three more selfie days. 

Isaiah 55:9 So are my ways higher than your ways. 

Think higher. Believe higher. Live higher. 

My garden

It turns out Champ likes carrots, but not beans or broccoli.

So sad. 

And yes, my garden is alphabetized. I'm quirky line that. 

Not pictured: A-Basil and Corn-Z. 

Status updates

When the kids were cleaning over the weekend, they found a little white board. 

Every time they walk by it, they add their new status update. 

I love these guys.

From our giving tree

Change

I am not feeling brave right now, but I am seeking the peace that comes after the change. 

I have this little notebook. A little snippet of my last pages is very indicative of what I have been "hearing" lately: 

Hope is a powerful antidote for fear. 

The Lord will fight for you. 

-Laurel Christensen Day

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind. 

Gavin's Law

Live to start; start to live

Why won't you let me bless you?

Don't be afraid of looking stupid. 

-Richie Norton

Never make decisions from fear. 

If you aren't going to follow my counsel, don't ask. 

-S. Michael Willcox

Mighty change of heart=Mighty change of mind

-Mary Edmundson

Change is difficult. It is not about WILL POWER; it is about HIS POWER.

-Brad Wilcox

Everyday is a decision. 

-Russell M. Nelson 

Don't forget to look up. 

-Adrian Ochoa

Good timber does not grow with ease: the stronger wind, the stronger trees...

-Douglas Malloch (via Thomas S. Monson)

The Lord sees weakness different than rebellion. 

-Richard G. Scott

Never delay a prompting. 

-David F. Evans

Ok. Get ready. I'm about to get brave. 

Mother's tear

God loves a lullaby in a mother's tear in the dead of night better than a Hallelujah sometimes...

We pour out our miseries; God just hears a melody. 

Being a mom is the hardest and scariest thing I have ever done. 

In a cacophonous and sinful world, how do we protect our children?  

You put the armor of God on your children every morning, the same way you put a jacket on them on a cold day. You pray for your child everyday. 

They were God's children before they were your children. 

-Elder Holland

I am so grateful to refill my bucket at Time Out For Women this weekend. My recommitment to myself, my husband, and my children. 

I am grateful for a husband who sees the value in taking care of myself and supports me while I do. 

I am grateful to go with family. 

And I am already excited for next year, so I can bring Raea to Timeout For Girls. 

It is a mistake not to learn everything our Heavenly Father has given us. 

-Sheri Dew

New Kids Photos

It is time to retire my old header. 

School Pictures

Halloween Night

School parade

This is my favorite time of year. 

It's crazy I had three in the parade this year, sadly it's Ethan's last year. 

Happy Halloween.