{ Life and Me thinks...}

Another weekendit was a good one friday night we went to the late showing of Avatar 3D oh my gosh awesome. Crazy graphics and technology, beyond anything ever made so far pretty sure. Way different then I thought it would be. It was fun to get out with friends and enjoy a late night out. 

Saturday was a 60th bday party for D's mom all the guys got together and did a work list and got alot done for her! Then we had soup and buns and some birthday cake it was a nice night. Hopefully for her most of all.

It's so hard to believe how fast babies grow up! My friend Ashley {click here to see some of her work} took some pics of K2 earlier this month for his six month photos  

{and M decided he was jumping in too or I would have coordinated them better. But you know M! He has a mind of his own}

Anyway for how tired K2 was by the time we got there she got some awesome shots 

-- I love them! Thanks Ashley!! Here's a few!

" No joys on earth bring greater pleasure, than a little boy to love and treasure" 

{that goes for all my boys and girl!}

 

I love the drool on his chin in this one! I think this one is going on the wall!! 

" We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today." -anon 

I love this one! 

"Childhood is the most beautiful of all seasons -Author unknown 

The perfect shot of M and all his mischievousness!!

{ "If a child is a handful, he's not often enough an armful.-anon}

and one of my favorite quotes a good one to remember

-----

" Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these little ones. 

Now, love them, take care of them...welcome them into your homes and nurture and love them with all of your hearts."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

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ME THINKS

   Why do we blog?

Sometimes people think bloggers are wasting time, bragging or showing off what they can do or what they have. Or how freaking cute their kids are {guilty} j/k! Or what stunning skills and talents they have.
But really it has nothing to do with that.

 I do it for the journal aspect, to record my favorite quotes and thoughts. I print mine all off and put them in a binder and someday when my kids look through them they can see real life what we did, things we made, feelings we have, etc.

I do it to share what I know {as mindless as it may be sometimes but its me} and to hopefully help someone in some way if I can through my own journey of life and experiences.

I've had lots of people ask about my allergies, the church, adoption, whatever...

Its a place where we as moms, women, {some men}

get and share ideas that help us be better moms and better people.

 we craft no not all of us and that's totally fine, we are all different. but for those of us who do we do it to make our homes more homey and welcoming to share what works for us cause it may just work for someone else

we get dinner and recipe ideas that benefit our homes and family and add variety

we get product ideas that make life better, whether big or small

I 've found people that understand what I'm thinking and feeling because we've been through the same things 

people who are going through what we have been through and continue to go through infertility.

I've learned that my thoughts and feelings are normal that the things I've felt over the past 13 years are normal. I don't  have to feel alone or that no one understands what I'm going through because I've found so many going through the same thing or who have been and

I consider them friends some I haven't met yet, some I have.

Some may think we are a different breed but its improved my life, my kids life, my attitude and feelings and its helped me to keep connected to others who I don't normally see.

I enjoy it and I appreciate the feedback and help sometimes with issues.

ITS made me feel more thankful for all that I have, and made me more aware that no matter 

our religion, country, race, weight, height, looks ...we all generally feel and think and hurt in the same ways.

Its made me appreciate the small things and enjoy the big things.

Its made a dull day, brighter. It's given me something to look forward to some days.

Its made me think a lot more than I ever have. I feel like I've become more accepting of not only myself and my flaws {that for the most part happen to be normal after reading all your blogs lol!} and others,  and that feels good to feel like your doing something right and its okay to have a bad day.

and its nice to know we aren't all perfect and its okay to share and learn about it and from it.

 We write what we feel in a place that is all our own to express our feelings, vent if we want and to share thoughts and our journey, and hopefully its a safe place to be free to say what we really feel and think and be respected for it. Because we are all different. and we all have a lot to learn from each other.

I think its good to be reminded that we all have our vices and trials that sometimes nobody knows about. That we don't always share with the world, but are there.

It's the judging, comparing, mocking and assuming that gets us in trouble mostly with ourselves, our thoughts and self confidence and hopefully we have the power to get over it and be ourselves to learn, grow and see each other for who we really are ----on the inside! 
The little bits and pieces that make up life.

.... that's what I get from blogging.

What do you get?

Have a great week. Make it a good one.

{ Thankful Thursday...}

One of my favorite hymns is "Count Your Many Blessings" and today it came to mind a lot.

Because a lot are "tempest tossed" and reading and a hearing about them makes me count 

every. one. of. my. blessings...

Read here -this always puts life into perspective for me. She.is.amazing. AND

Read here - love her she makes me stop and think what is really important and what trivial things we worry about that don't matter in the long run. 

WE ARE SO BLESSED MUCH MORE THEN OVER HALF THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD and we still think we have it so hard....on a good day...

SO

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Refrain

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Refrain

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end. 

 one by one...

Everyday I say my prayers and thank my Heavenly Father for the privilege of living where I do. what made me so lucky to be here where I am at this time? 

I thank Him for a roof over my head and food to eat. 

To be a member of the church.To have direction, guidelines and a way of life that I can't imagine not having in my life. That is a blessing.

For my extended family,

{this picture is like five years old and missing probably about as many as are in this picture now ha ha}

and for the family I was born too.

{these are  like 5 years old too I think we need some updated pics in our families!}

and for Each day that I get to be here. Learning growing and achieving.

For friends that come into our lives and wonder what we ever did without them. They are blessings.

I thank Him for each one of my children who are the biggest miracles and blessings of my life. 

Once upon a time I didn't think we'd ever be so lucky to have any children after watching others over and over again having there little babies, 

and hurting, praying, crying, pleading, waiting

for these long awaited gifts that just needed a big detour to get to where they are now. I feel blessed and can't imagine our lives without each of them. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

I thank my Heavenly Father for my children's birth parents for having the courage, strength and faith to follow their hearts and listen to the spirit. 

Cause without those things these blessings couldn't/wouldn't be ours.

I count my blessings. and I SEE what God has done.

Just by looking around. 

Everyday.in.my.life.

Life is good, find the positive in everyday.

and count your many blessings along the way...

{Me thinks...}

I am so glad this past week is over if  only for the fact that D was gone the whole week to Florida and Utah for business meetings actually the kids were great and did awesome, until Saturday when they decided "No" was the word of the day so I was ready for D to get home! Always good when Dad gets home.

While D was gone the hot water heater stopped working, the furnace went out again {actually it didn't really M just figured out how to hit the button that turns it off and I'm to dense to figure out that's what he did lol!} Oh and then the power was out Saturday morn for over an hour.. and K got food poisoning {school pizza day he had come home and said it was disgusting and had to much cheese so that's all I could think that it would be cause it come up so fast {no pun intended lol} that or something weird and random puked four times went to bed and woke up just fine..not sure....fun times.}

But its all good makes us stronger right and makes me appreciate that I usually have a handy man around to help me with the fix its!

 I also got a new calling too I'm excited to work with the Young Women again this time as the personal progress assistant. I'm excited to get to know the girls and to help them accomplish  their goals! 

So if anybody has some fun ideas or websites they'd like to pass along feel free. 

SO over the week I tried a few fun things this weekend too a new cookie recipe these Lemon Gems are deadly and totally addicting thanks holly.... {for the extra pounds this weekend!!}  

go here for it and lots of other yummy recipes...

Also did a project we have needed Coasters forever in our house and have never found any I liked so I found a tutorial here and whipped up some coasters after a quick trip to Home depot and a few quiet hours

They turned out pretty good  I surprised D with my mad skills project lol! He was proud of me so thats all that matters and now we have coasters yeah!! I did 7 of them because I need the new pics of K2 to do one of him too!! I Love modge podge.... Its fun to try new things!

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ME THINKS

 Holly got me thinking she had a great post last week on this, I thought I'd share a part of the talk she used too given by Patrica T. Holland you can read the rest here 

its so relevant for each and every one of us in this world we live in...

..."Surely there has not been another time in history when women have questioned their self-worth as harshly and critically as in the second half of the twentieth century. Many women are searching, almost frantically, as never before, for a sense of personal purpose and meaning; and many LDS women are searching, too, for eternal insight and meaning.

If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which we have always been known for.

Satan has effectively done that, catching us in the crunch of trying to be superhuman instead of striving to reach our unique, God-given potential within such diversity.

He tauntingly teases us that if we don’t have it all—fame, fortune, families, and fun, and have it all the time—we have been short-changed and are second-class citizens in the race of life.

As a sex we are struggling, our families are struggling, and our society is struggling. Drugs, teenage pregnancies, divorce, family violence, and suicide are some of the ever-increasing side effects of our collective life in the express lane.

Too many of us are struggling and suffering, too many are running faster than they have strength, expecting too much of themselves.

 (Newsweek, Oct. 27, 1986, p. 105.)

We must have the courage to be imperfect while striving for perfection.

We must not allow our own guilt, the feminist books, the talk-show hosts, or the whole media culture to sell us a bill of goods—or rather a bill of no goods. We can become so sidetracked in our compulsive search for identity and self-esteem that we really believe it can be found in having perfect figures or academic degrees or professional status or even absolute motherly success. Yet, in so searching externally, we can be torn from our true internal, eternal selves. We often worry so much about pleasing and performing for others that we lose our uniqueness—that full and relaxed acceptance of one’s self as a person of worth and individuality. We become so frightened and insecure that we cannot be generous toward the diversity and individuality, and yes, problems, of our neighbors. Too many women with these anxieties watch helplessly as their lives unravel from the very core that centers and sustains them. Too many are like a ship at sea without sail or rudder, “tossed to and fro,” as the Apostle Paul said (see Eph. 4:14), until more and more of us are genuinely, rail-grabbingly seasick.

I believe we can find our steady footing and stilling of the soul by turning away from physical preoccupations, superwoman accomplishments, and endless popularity contests, and returning instead to the wholeness of our soul, that unity in our very being that balances the demanding and inevitable diversity of life.".....

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And a song for those that are wondering and struggling with this you won't be disappointed...

Thankful for the Promise..ALL of them.

check it out here...

and have a great week...

Make it count

{ ps. excuse the blog I updated to the newest blogger and it has quite a few different/new  features and I  have to get used to it. 
so how do I get a cute header I am photoshop/picasa illiterate so ...? and how would I do the post divider thing? 
My blog needs a makeover just not sure how to do it!any suggestions??}

{Thankful Thursday favorite things and etc...}

I'm thankful for so much.. everything I use everyday, especially right now with the Haiti crisis I think we all feel a little spoiled for the things we have... because we are spoiled and we have no idea what it would be like without,
that being said some of my favorite things
I'm thankful for this week...

.... ever since I found out all the million things I am allergic too I've found some pretty awesome products sometimes I have to spend a little more money, but I'm finding its totally worth it.. this is one of them K2 gets the best of the best ..this is 98% natural and I love the smell, I love everything about it and its only $6.99 at target and I've only used two in six months so worth it good for baby...... good for me...

I love this jam from Costco blueberry & cherry on 12 grain toast it tastes so good!!

I love when these three munchkins are laughing and playing {and not fighting } my favorite time is when I'm cooking dinner I usually have had my done point for the day by then, so I tell them to get ready for bed, and play together sometimes they watch a movie, sometimes they slide down the stairs and laugh and laugh, then we all feel better and have a nice dinner together !! I'm so thankful for the break and the laughter I hope they always remember these fun times together!

I love this mini mama she loves to help with K2 and he loves it too {when the kids help feed him} he laughs, kicks, pulls their hair,{or he started grabbing her glasses uh oh here we go eh!!} or pinches them I'm thinking he's growing up..I'm also thinking its going by way to fast!!

okay i'm thankful for new recipes that taste so good. We tried this one the other night and its SO GOOD the kids had bowl after bowl of it. Next I'm trying the bread bowls with it! It tastes just like when you get it at the restaurant so many great food recipes on this site...

I'm loving the getting up early routine its working!!, showered, prayers said, scriptures read, music playing, breakfast cooking mornings!! They are going SO much better so much calmer and I know its all me..... Feeling ACCOMPLISHED before 7 am is an awesome feeling~!
My kids' favorite muffins are banana chocolate chip muffins they are so good don't you love having certain foods where your kids are so excited you made it that you feel like such a great mom... I have days like that.... they make me happy!
Here is the recipe:
BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS
1 cup flour
1/2 cup rolled oats {i throw in some wheat germ 2 sometimes}
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup margarine/butter {i just use becel}
1 1/2 cups for mashed bananas
3/4 bag milk chocolate chips

Mix banana sugar and butter in blender till smooth, dump in bowl mix dry ingred, mix together, last drop in egg mix and add chocolate chips.
Bake at 350 for 15 min {we do mini muffins usually so good!}

{i did bran muffins for me at the same time..}

Okay I love these little individual baby food containers they are awesome, with K2 its all natural foods... make my own and freeze I never did that with my other kids not sure why its not hard at all! K2 has had {rice cereal, barley, and oatmeal,} and peas, applesauce, potatoes, beans, carrots, peaches all from what we eat or have for dinner just extras pureed and put into containers its not hard at all. Not sure why I never did it with my other kids!
He loves his food and eats so much.... ....but I may need one of these soon for when he thinks its funny to spit that means done! But sometimes I'm not quick enough! Yuck! feeding and potty training are my least favorite duties!!

thankfulness... contentment
peace and fulfillment
go hand in hand
the simple things
mean the most.
Thankful
is a state of mind.
What state are you in.

Have a great weekend!

{{Me thinks Monday....}}

Another quiet weekend gone but we got alot done. Hard to believe the month is already more than half over... Life gets so crazy busy sometimes its nice to catch up on forgotten projects and organization. I finally got all my photos from over the past year all put away in the right photo albums now if I can keep up we'll be doing good!

I got the kids achievement binders and papers mostly in one place now and I went through the fire safe box too! Got pictures downloaded of my computer finally so I can breath now! I got to town for almost 6 hours all by myself doing whatever I felt like doing that and grocery shopping and all that fun stuff. We even had friends over Saturday night for games it was nice to laugh and relax too. Sunday was good we all had good naps and made a nice dinner and sat around the table then had FHE so it was a good weekend with a lot accomplished.
......and some fun new changes and fun coming up that I'm excited about can't wait !! Gotta have things to look forward to right or we'd all have the January winter blues I think... Not really but its always nice to have things to look forward too!

and for some randomness::::

I love this scripture its the youth theme this year but at this time and every time in life its a good one to have for a reminder..... --------------------------------

and another quote cause I love them

"A home should be clean enough to be healthy, and dirty enough to be happy."

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One thing about disasters is that people come together and help each other out..our neighbour around the corner from us went to Haiti on Saturday. Its nice to see people us their talents and occupations to help others especially those in dire need.

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ME THINKS

I was thinking a lot about relationships this week cause I recently just heard of some people that were/are having troubles in their marriages because of so much blaming and fault finding, it made me really sad.
But also thankful that I have such a great husband and we really get along great for the most part all the time, the same can be said for my sisters and D's sisters with their husbands. I guess that is just some people's trials, but it makes me so sad to watch people sometimes take small things and beat them to death and make them much bigger things. I was reading a book by karen kingsbury and in it, it had a list of
10 steps to a Happy Marriage
so I thought it was fitting...
I'd add another one though and that is... lots of prayer...

1.God has you here to serve one another. Love acted out is serving.

2.Women need respect and nurturing. Love your wife so she knows you’d lay your life down for her. Continue to date her and admire her. Share a hobby – find something you can do to have fun together.

3.Laugh often.

4.Be patient. Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.

5.Spend more time trying to fix ourselves than your spouse.

6.Keep short accounts. The Bible says, “Do not let the sun go down while you are angry.” Make it a habit to forgive. {{Don't go to bed mad!!}}

7.Determine upfront that divorce is not an option.

8.Learn about love languages. Not all people show love or receive it the same way. You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean kitchen. The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation. Learn them. Love is better received when it’s in the language that person speaks.

9.Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.

10.Men are born to be leaders. He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so. If you love your husband, build him up.

Just something to think about in all our relationships.
how do we treat our husbands/wives?
Do we know their love language? Do we built up instead of break down?
Do we forgive easy or hold a grudge?

"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it.

Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it.
Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it."

-Martin Luther King Jr.-

{ Thankful Thursday..}

I am thankful that not everyday is this bad but that even my worst day is nothing compared to the devastation in Haiti. I have running water, a bed to sleep in, food to eat, all my children surrounding me, and my husband. I'm thankful for the things I take for granted EVERYDAY.

Sometimes I don't understand why the impoverished and hurting already-- have such devastating, chaos happen to them. I don't' wish it on anybody but I really think that if it happen to us we wouldn't even know what to do without the things we are blessed with everyday.

I'm grateful to live right where I do and not here right now...

This picture makes me cry for this man holding his dead daughter, I can't even imagine or comprehend the pain they are all going through.. thankful is an understatement that my trials are trival compared to the suffering of just life itself there, of moving forward one step at a time literally in Haiti..horrible and sad..I saw a girl on the news running in the street in Haiti as the earthquake was hitting and she screamed and yelled "the end is here" the world is over ...something to that effect
...and I believe it..look around.
are we prepared for things like this to happen to us ??
Do we have what it would take??
Do we give right now to those that are hurting, suffering, different, sad in our own backyards.
Are we thankful for everything we have cause when I look around these days I see a lot of heartache pain and suffering...
and I wonder how long it will last.
what can we do now?
Donate the next time your at walmart or where ever to the red cross or whoever is taking donations--
donate cause its the least we can do.
And when you do think of
how blessed you are
and be thankful you live where you do.
I sure am. Especially right now.
Thankful that my house is still standing and my children and husband are safe
cause when it comes right down to it
nothing else matters in life
then our families.
Nobody is running around Haiti screaming for their ipods
its their children mothers fathers aunts uncles brothers sisters husbands wives
they are searching for...
I am SO thankful for my family.
what are you thankful for this week...???

Have a great weekend ..make it count..

{Me thinks..}

Something happened yesterday......something I couldn't stop..........something that crept up on me................. something that comes once a year...............
I TURNED 34!!

Seriously I have no idea how I got to this point the years are flying by they really are!!{
I'm kidding -- I don't care how old I am, I feel good and age doesn't really matter anyway..}
It was a good birthday though Saturday night D took me to dinner and a movie ....2012. I loved it the movie and just getting out together its so important to get out just the two of us we always laugh and have fun.
{and of course no date is ever a date without a trip to walmart ha ha!}
sad but true right, I can't be the only one!!}
My children gave me pictures, we went to church, I got a FOUR hour nap that was heaven and while I was sleeping D made brownies and cleaned up! Then we headed to his mom's and she made us an awesome dinner and it was just a good day. Also the fact that I got a wrapped present {usually its a promise of something to get or come which is great but its nice to unwrap something too!} from D and the kids was nice. The phone calls and fb messages made my day too! Overall it was a good day! Thank you all!! a good weekend.
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Today I went to the store with M and K2 and while we were there M found his sisters favorite Movie The Swan Princess she absolutely loves these movies. I couldn't find any around Christmas time to get for her. But M saw it today and grabbed it comes running and says to me "we are getting this, its my sisters favorite movie and I love her and I know she'll love it." I really couldn't' say no to that because 1. it wasn't that expensive and 2. those two have a special relationship and stick up/look out for each for each other fiercely its really actually cute! So I couldn't resist. To say she was excited was an understatement and M got a huge hug!
Moments that matter.... Love it!!
---------------------------------

ME THINKS....
That its a scary world to raise kids. Sometimes just as it was when we were growing up we thought we needed what every one else had those cute colored guess jeans, the windbreakers, mondetta shirts, whatever it was for your time. Seems those things just got bigger and more expensive in this time my five year old comes home and says why can't I have a ds? {I'm not saying they are bad each to there own}
BUT WHAT?
I said do you even know what a DS is? she says you play games on it.
Know what I said "go outside and play some games run around, get a game from the cupboard, play a "real" game or go play hide and seek, whatever.
{Are we getting a more addicted nation to technology at an early age?? I believe some are it makes me sad and I'm not even kidding!! To see kids with their heads down walking, sitting whatever --- talking on a cell phone, texting as they walk, surfing the internet viewing who even knows what at all ages, what 5/6/7/8/9/10 etc needs an ipod and itouch a ds whatever it is...
whatever happened to actually talking to each other, even me I think how much I use facebook to send messages or invites or whatever.
But are we raising a generation of addiction to things other then the obvious things. A time wasting generation and addition?? It is an addiction when kids can't even go to an activity, to school, to church without being on their phones texting or whatever it is.
All I'm saying is every year that goes by I just want to move and be a hermit away from everything I think I might have been born 50 years to late! Its just scary to me how young parents introduce these things to there children and allow some things. Parents need to pay more attention, need to be parents. What happened to family time, are these just things to keep them busy so we don't have to spend real time with them so they are out of our hair for that much longer?? I think its horribly sad... what kind of new generation are we raising what happened to real live games, to quality family time other then with your thumbs and actually talking to each other. Just a thought.

{I'm not saying these things are bad at all just in moderation I just think its sad to see how young some are...}

I love this post by Collin Bearnson {a smart teenager}

Unproductive time management kills true potential. Wasting your time can mess you up just as bad as any transgression that can tamper up your life.

Although I would not call wasting time a sin, it will affect you in your future.

Time management is hard…Video games, facebook, texting, TV… there is so much that we think we need to do, but what will these really accomplish for you?

These all provide convenient ways of fun and communication.

Come to reality though, when we are spending countless hours of our lives solely focused on time wasters,

we are in some trouble.

A couple of weeks ago, I thought that I was above time management.

I felt that I could do all of the time wasters and still pull of getting my homework done, helping around the house, and all the productive things of my life. I was wrong!

I was watching TV shows while doing my homework.

I was playing Computer games while I was doing my chores.

One day I watched 8 hours straight of Smallville.

As I think back on it now I was out of my mind.

All of these things seemed to be no big deal at the time. I was apparently out of my mind. And as of now, it is the last week of the term and my grades are down from what they are supposed to be.

Listen! Nothing deserves 8 hours of your time unless it is hard work. In fact nothing deserves even an hour of your time. Your whole life will see great results if you invest your time into something productive.

Time management will eventually decide your potential in this world.

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Have the best week!....

Be the change you want to see....

{Thankful Thursday...}

"A happy home is but an earlier heaven. President George Albert Smith asked, 'Do we want our homes to be happy? If we do, let them be the abiding place of prayer, thanksgiving and gratitude"

-------------------
I AM Thankful for:

....for quotes that get us through ..things to look forward too... for the newness of Spring...running outside with my new shoes can't wait..for grass hopefully we'll have some in the spring at least started...a trip here this summer for a getaway {for me anyway}work for D....for fun memories...

...for snow tires and not having got stuck this winter
and
..heat we finally got the furnace fixed {hopefully} its been cold! we do have the fireplace upstairs
THANKFUL...
...for school the kids are much calmer this week
...for life. each and every wonderful. horrible. beautiful. hard. successful. disappointing. joyful. trying. moment. of. it.
cause it means I'm here doing what I was sent to be doing.
to.be.tested.
and what a test it is some days!
But I'm thankful to be where I am now.

Have a great weekend!

{Me Thinks...}

A new year, a new day and a time to get things done that need changed or improved.
I've been doing awesome with my new year lol -- getting up at 6 every morning ready, prayers said, scriptures read, breakfast on, soft music playing, the fire started {okay I flipped the switch} but its been so nice and completely changes the mood of the morning and I am loving it! {It used to be this way but maybe it took me six months to get used to 4 kids? or actually probably that everybody is sleeping through the night not k2 but M}? oh well whatever it was its feeling way better now! so far ha ha I guess it is only the 4th day of the year!}
So this is the first Me thinks of 2010....
{if you just started reading or have been reading Me thinks comes from Mary Ellen Edmund's books she is funny and just writes what she thinks love her! So I took it here with my own thoughts}

We had a couple of parties new years eve one with the kids, then an adult one. New years Day we went to my moms and we went sledding for a couple of hours it was so fun even grandpa got in on the action wish I had pictures but didn't bring my camera out!!
M is such a superboy he didn't/wouldn't wear gloves the whole two hours we were out there! He played in the snow every minute so we decided
he has superpowers
he has above normal strength
he defies temperature
he runs on little sleep
but has extra doses of super energy
and
he has the ability to disappear
oh so much fun!!

M also moved from nursery to sunbeams and pretty much hates it, he screamed for Mommy which he has never done in his life! But he survived and it will probably take him a long time to adjust to sitting and having to listen considering we've probably had to take him out every single Sunday of his life from sacrament.! Should be fun lol!!

Other that that the snow is falling, its quiet, the kids are in school and life goes on....another year...another day.

ME Thinks For 2010
some oldies with a new twist...

I realize more as I get older how much influence we have on others our attitude -- determines pretty much everything, our reactions-- change the mood , or willingness to serve-- creates love or friction, and to brush off offense --that's huge... to forgive and forget --is big.
Life is made up of so many trails and trials..... its always what we decide to do that makes all the difference.....

"One of the most important parts of life is realizing that the things you do affect other people. You can't do anything without it impacting someone else, and they impact you too. You're more then just a face in the yearbook or a name on paper.....and so is everyone else"

We all have our stories in life and our decisions greatly affect others especially. We all make an impact on others in some big or small way depending on our choices. We need to be kind to everyone no matter what we look like on the outside we all have our stories, our own feelings and our own life experiences that bring us to who we are today.

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I've also been thinking a lot this week that sometimes we get so caught up in the little things in life the hum drum everyday things , we forget to enjoy the big things to the fullest or try new things its like the same things over and over again.
----

"We have routines and patterns and habits that are almost smothering.
We actually are doing more and more and more of less and less and less. {make sense?}
We keep repeating the same things. We keep doing the same things without thinking about it we get to a point where we sit in the exactly the same place for meetings {yes guilty as we all know} or events.
We drive the same way to school,
or in grocery stores we go down the same isles in the same order
and buy the same kinds of food we always do. -m.e.e-

How boring to come home with the same old things I always buy and I always think we should try something new or something exciting but every time its the same old stuff.

"......Some things can't change, but maybe everyday we should have courage to try new things, to change our routines often enough that we have a fresh view on life, and our surroundings."- M.E.E-

I need to take that advice I get so stuck in routine because I function better like that I guess.... like my kids always nap at a certain time, they are bathed every morning and ready by eight. I'm a big routine girl. i mean some days we let it go its not like I'm nazi routine but....

How often do we do things we thought we couldn't and get so excited that we actually did it when do take the step! Its exciting something as simple as filling your own gas tank instead of going to the full service.... small things.

SO how about you? Are there times when you feel your life is getting rather narrow ?{I do} Are there things you've thought you might enjoy, but your hesitant to try? It could be piano lessons, family history, photography anything that we are scared to start or just put off it takes courage doing things you never done before, or just things you want to do more often.
Try something new.

in 2010

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" The dedicated life is a life worth living."

Find something to love with all your heart.

Discover what inspires your biggest dreams.

Seek out a challenge that will create positive change, speaks of your purpose and makes a difference in the world.

Throw yourself into something to believe in, that asks for your very best.
We are here not only for ourselves, we are here to add to the sum of human goodness.

A good life is not lived by chance by by choice.

We can be wise from goodness, and good from wisdom.

Each person brings into this world a unique contribution, and each day comes full of possibilities.

All we need is time and opportunity; there is no such thing as an unimportant day.
Our possibilities live as we live, and each one of us can bring hope and beauty to the world.
Go out and find where people hold their potential and meet them there.
Be not only good for yourself, but the cause of goodness in others.
Inspiration and contribution go hand in hand.

" All who have meant good work with their whole heart have done good work."

Begin with life as you find it and make it better.... anytime is a good time to do good.
-kobi O-

"Our outlook or attitude can sometimes restrict our ability to enjoy life's greatest opportunities."

So here's to 2010 and some good changes that better us all Have a great week..

{2010 Word for the year...and 6 months}

Believe is the word I picked for this year.
Christmas Eve we were driving to the temple and I was thinking of all the things
I wanted for 2010 and the word
BELIEVE
came to mind, I love the word. I believe in things I can't see. Called faith I suppose.
I feel like everything that has happened with us has happened cause we Believed in hope and faith. Doesn't mean everything we wish, hope and pray for will happen but we believe that things work out the way they are supposed to.
That life is full of believing in things we can't see but we have faith that things will happen, believing that if we do our best HE will bless us.
My word last year was SIMPLIFY and I feel like I did that alot last year. So this year BELIEVE is my word for 2010.

I believe I can do hard things.
I believe that families are forever and I will do all I can to get to where we want to be in the end.

I believe in Miracles. And Healing.
I believe in Jesus Christ.
I believe that my Heavenly Father Loves me very much as he does every one of us.
I believe in forgiving and forgetting.
I believe that life is what we make it.
I believe we go through things to make us stronger inside and make us who we are, and to help others.
I believe that the only reason I have my children is from a lot of prayers, believing and help, prodding from above for us and all those involved -- the right time right place kind of thing--.
I believe that I can be a example to my kids and need to be a good one always. That it is more important than we know or realize most of the time.
I believe that life is short and I need to do what I can now this year to improve and do what I need to do and what hasn't been done yet.
I believe prayer is more important then we could ever know and I want to be more diligent and meaningful in them this year.
I believe it will happen. Whatever it may be.

Believe in others.
Believe in yourself.
Believe in the future.
Believe it will be okay.
Believe people can change.
Believe in faith, hope and prayer.
Believe in each other.
Believe.
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K2 is 6 months old

Some of the things Handsome little K2 is doing:

• he is Sitting up obviously eh and getting straighter everyday
  
• he is eating solids now just rice and oatmeal cereals so far but he loves them!
• he can drink from a sippy cup and cup already
• he has started grabbing things like plates and things off the table
  
• he has the best big Cheeser grins ever!!
• he weighs over 17 lbs already full of chub we all lub ha ha...
  
• he only likes to sleep in his bed and has a hard time sleeping during the day other places as we found out over Christmas so the next day if we are home he sleeps most of the day then the next day he eats most of the day...
  
• he has 2 favorite blankets
• he still loves his soother
• he loves to hold his bottle and both my hands while eating
• he loves the jolly jumper and excersaucer
• he is almost ready to crawl and keeps practicing {I'm alright if he waits a bit lol}
• he loves music and gets a big smile when we sing or dance with him
• he listens to music everyday during nap and nighttime
• he makes this cute noise by drawing in air to his throat and its loud and makes us all laugh
• he is ticklish under his chin, arms and thighs
• he just plays when he wakes up most of the time and is the most patient calm baby I've ever had
• He has the most beautiful eyes, eyes that are always in our prayers.
• he is still so blond
• grandpa calls him his little Norwegian cause he is so blond and blue eyed
• he is so lovable, content peaceful and fun

WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH!

Have a great week back to routine! Yeah!!