Ha!

Monday was great...

Then came the rest of the week...

It's been challenging parenting-wise (does that even make sense?). lol :)

Sometimes I just don't understand what is going on in the cute little heads of those children of mine.  Seriously?

But it has just reminded me today as I've thought about the challenges this week that I need to remember they are still children. They are still learning. They are still growing. That will never stop. I need to be patient, loving, tender, and most of all forgiving.

~Taking deep breath...letting it out~

OK. Ready for the rest of the week! Let's do it!!!

Here's a funny picture of Carli at the zoo last week (field trip).

Looking up!

Life is looking up these days...maybe it's just today. I'm feeling good about things. I'm doing what I should be doing--laundry, dishes, planning meals, decluttering...you get the idea. It's spring, the weather is gorgeous, summer vacation is around the corner and we are very much looking forward to our trek up north to Utah! The kids are wrapping up the end of the school year with field trips, band concerts, report cards, and looking forward to next year.

There have been some great things going on! Brandon and Kate both participated in the Solo and Ensemble band contest a couple of weeks ago and both received a 1 on their performance! That's awesome!!! I love watching them grow and learn and enjoy their musical talents. Megan also is excelling in violin. She was set on quitting a few weeks ago. My heart was a little broken at the thought. I wasn't going to let her, but how long was I going to fight with her about it? Fortunately, she had a great lesson and all was well again! Hooray!!!

Ben is very much enjoying his musical talents lately, as well. Maybe he better dust off that trumpte again sometime soon...but, for now he is singing and playing the piano with a lot of passion. His voice has matured and it's beautiful to listen to. He will sit and play primary songs and the girls, especially Kate and sometimes Megan, will come over and sing with him. It's a precious thing for me to listen to. I adore listening to my sweet husband and sweet girls singing songs of the gospel. They all have beautiful voices and I can't wait to see them sing in sacrament meeting together sometime. How neat that will be! I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has blessed me with a musical family. I grew up around music and always dreamed of having a family that would sing and play instruments together.

I have been very thoughtful lately. I've tried to listen to conference talks on my trips down to the stake center for my new calling in the stake primary. I have enjoyed listening to them immensely. I have always know that Heavenly Father is there and watching out for me, but I have really tried lately to let myself feel it more often, feel His love, feel His watchful eye, see His loving hand in my daily life. I have read a lot about people who are struggling and their growing faith because of their trials. I do not know if I could be as strong as they are in the face of such great adversity, but I know that whatever trials I will face will not be faced alone. I have a loving family and a loving Heavenly Father and older brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that they are real. I know that my life has a purpose and right now that purpose is to watch over and nurture my darling precious family. I am striving to do better at this great calling.

I am just feeling very grateful for my life and all that I have been blessed with. It's not all rosy, but I am seeking the good in all of it. :)

Conference Weekend

First of all, a short update on my new mission--to purge the house of stuff! ;) Laundry room is picked up and cleaned. Hooray!!! I did work on our room somewhat as well. We have a long way to go in there. It's the dumping ground for the whole family for some reason... We'll get there. One step at a time. It's going to take a while.

Watching General Conference today was so refreshing. I enjoyed it so much. I love President Eyring. He's always been a huge favorite of mine. I remember when he was called as a member of the Twelve. His talks always get to me and I think it's because of how he presents them. He gets emotional when he speaks of precious things as do I. Kindred spirits... :) I've been watching Anne. lol

Can't wait for tomorrow!

Hmmm...

I'm not sure why I am writing. I think I have a lot on my mind. I don't have pictures to post, which I don't like. I'm a very visual person. I don't know how to begin, which seems to be a trend in my life. Hence, my new motto needs to be: "Just dig in and do it."

This week has been spring break. We've had some fun times! We went Easter dress shopping, met cousins Stephanie and Suzanne and the little ones for shopping, lunch, and playing at the park. We went to Ihop for breakfast as a family and then saw The Lorax. We have had lots of outside play time. There are lots of things we wanted to do, but haven't. We have wanted to kids to clean their rooms. Yeah, right. We bribe them, try to help them, leave it up to them...nada...nothin'. Sick of it. So sick of this mess all the time. I've come to the conclusion that we just have too much stuff. What's the point, seriously? There's stuff everywhere. Literally, everywhere. A lot of it is my stuff. Yes, it is. However, I am not the only offender. My husband and children leave trails around as well. So, we need to come together as a family and purge this house of all this stuff!!! Yeah, well, I will probably be the only one to do it, but it has to start somewhere, right?

Today has been a somewhat gray, tired day. It's the end of spring break. I don't have the energy to get on the kids' cases to get their rooms clean. They won't do it. They can't do it. They don't know where to start. Since this is Spring, a season of new beginnings, this will be a new beginning for our family. I want all the clutter out of the house or organized, fresh coats of paint, everything sparkling clean, and a simplified life.

Well, it's a nice thought...lol.

Halloween 2011

Wow. No, not going to give excuses...

Halloween was great this year! We decorated cookies, carved pumpkins, visited a pumpkin patch, got dressed up and went trick-or-treatin'! Fun was had by all, I'm sure! :)

Kate and her friend, Sam

Megan, the little angel

Brooke and Megan waiting to Trunk-or-Treat!

Carli and her bff were both Tinkerbell--of course, Carli won't look at me when I take her pictureMy friend, Janna, got this shot and shared it with me! Thanks, Janna! :)Carli and her crazy posespose...again...and again ;)ready to go!still waiting...lolKate took Brooke around since I had to man the handing out of the candyThe loot! Kate was Alice in Wonderland (the "real people" version)Megan and her lootBrooke dug right in!Love that face!getting tired :)Brandon was a black ninja guyKate and Brookie both as Alice! Fun!

Kate's is in the middle and I think all the girls helped with the little ones

pumpkins...Carli carved the one of the left all by herself (mostly) and I did the one on the right. Don't remember who carved the middle one...maybe Megan

More Christmas Vacation

Well, I'm still not to the actual Christmas pictures, but these are more from our vacation to Utah over Christmas break.

My Dad loves his new hat he got for Christmas. My adorable nephew, Beck, wasn't so sure about it. I LOVE the look on his face in this shot!Isn't he soooo cute?!
Beck and Grandpa This is our attempt to get a shot with all the grandkids (8 of them, #9 expected to arrive in May from Spencer and Missy, their 1st!) Well, at least you can see them all...mostly. ;)

My Grandma Morris made these adorable bear treats for all the kids. I thought they were so cute!!!

Megan thought they were adorable, too! Btw, yes, she now has braces, too! She got them on in October, just before Halloween so now we have 2 girls with the expander and braces.

I took these shots of Brooke because I thought it was funny and cute that the yogurt was dripping down her chin. The life of an almost 2 yr old!How much cuter can it get?!

Megan

Light from windows is lucious. Megan in her pretty white snow clothes in the window light is even better. What a character Megan is. I love her to death.