{Me Thinks...}

We got blue skies ...{.this picture is from today.}..it looked so pretty and bright out today for most of the day...

.....the playground is almost done for the kids....

.......K2 is growing up to fast ....climbing, laughing, standing, AND took 2 steps already
  i love my view of my back deck...i love the green grass....

.....i love this boys cheesy eye squint smile reminds me so much of K when he was a baby!
.....i love that the kids have grown so much this year and learned so much hard to believe the school year is almost over another month wow..
.....i love that I have such a hard working husband who can do anything jack of all trades and does it to perfection
.....i love to hear my 8 year old practice the piano cause he really is good and I hope he just hangs on
......i love that my 5 year old gets so excited about school and riding her bike and told me the other day she doesn't want to be in ballet anymore she wants to clog ...so clogging we will try next year...
......i love that my 4 year old is so observant and smart he picks up on things I barely notice or that I would never think a four old would notice.
.....i love that my 10 month old decided to pull some feisty yesterday and swatted a book out of my hand and laughed, then decided he was going to climb on the couch and over the couch just before I caught him and he thought it was so funny!
....i love it when  k2 is wearing pj's that all three of  the boys wore sometimes I even remember things they did while wearing them like a memory attached to the clothes is that weird?
...i love early morning runs its so peaceful, calming and a great start to the day....
i love the temple I was able to go on Saturday and see a friend Lynn,  who I met through blogging as her son went through for the first time. It was great to see her again and met some more of her family. Beautiful people inside and out. Examples to so many.
i love the clean feelings of peace within the walls of the temple.
i love my families. i love summer.
--------------------------------------

Me Thinks

by Annette Lyon

"When kids are little, the stress is mostly physical. they ask so much of you between nighttime feedings and diaper changes and naps and baths. Its physically draining keeping up with them and cleaning their messes and all that. When they're older, they can dress themselves, and sleep all night. 

A lot of the physical stress goes away.

But All that physical stuff is black and white.
Either the baby has a full tummy or she's hungry.
Either she's got a clean diaper or a stinky one. Either she's bathed or she's filthy.  

The mom  is on a hamster wheel to get it all done, but there's a pretty clear to do list." And that's when the stress comes in when they are older. You have all kinds of new problems, with school and peer pressure an spiritual things-but there isn't a to do list on how to deal with any of it. 

Nothings clear cut anymore.

Suddenly your kid is old enough to make mistakes that can hurt other people, influence their own futures, and here you are, expected to guide them through this labyrinth when you don't even know which direction they should go sometimes. And the few times you do know which way to turn, your kid doesn't want to go that way-and you can't make them. You can't send them to time-out anymore. You can't do their homework for them. You can't  be there when they're faced with friends trying to get them to do something totally stupid and life-changing.
You can't implant a testimony into there hearts. 

You teach them the best you can then sit back, biting your nails, 

hoping that when all is said and done, they turn out right......"

 ---------------

Those of us that are mothers in whatever stages wanting to be, are, and have been through it or are going through one of these stages right now.

We are experiencing very different things, but in the end, we all are on the same team, 

striving for the same things- 
bright and happy futures for all our children.

Sometimes when the kids are little there are times it feels like it will never end, but looking around at those who have teenagers and grown children i realize they have been where we are now and we will be where they are too, sooner than we think.
i just hope all my children always know how much they are loved ....
life is good.
-------------------------------------
Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many things that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever...

-- Isak Dinesen

HAVE A GREAT WEEK! 
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.-- Abraham Lincoln

{Thankful.....}

........for friends who came to help in our SOD laying today....

Before...

 

During

and From this when we moved in almost 2 years ago to.....

This AFTER...a few things more to do but love it...

our lovely new maple....

We had so much help it flew by!! Thanks to all who came and helped, especially too, to those that came at 5 when we were planning to start our SOD party and we were all but done by then! It came early so we got started! It was a windy kind of cool day despite what it looks like.  I'm so thankful for friends that showed up throughout the day to help transform our yard its taken so much work on D's part as well as help from us occasionally when we could a family project I guess... to get it to where we want it and it is finally getting there everything takes time.

----------------------------

.....So Thankful and proud of little miss Summer who is determined and stubborn sometimes, but  uses it to her advantage. She decided she didn't want training wheels anymore and within a few days ride's like a pro!! She loves being outside and we sure love her!! Hard to believe how big she is getting!

Why a dirty bathtub picture with sand in it?? 

BECAUSE it means my kids had a fun, long day full of playing, riding bikes and working along side of us in the yard........enjoying life....the best kind of day..

and nothing better than crazy haired freshly bathed kids all clean and smelling good and a little sunkissed..

blessed.

-------------------

Why should the simple act of thinking about who and what we are grateful for make such a big difference in Our lives?

Just a few reasons:

• Because it reminds you of the positive things in your life. It makes you happy about the people in your life, whether they’re loved ones or just a stranger you met who was kind to you in some ways.
• Because it turns bad things into good things. Having problems at work? Be grateful you have work. Be grateful you have challenges, and that life isn’t boring. Be grateful that you can learn from these challenges. Be thankful they make you a stronger person.
•  
• Because it reminds you of what’s important. It’s hard to complain about the little things when you give thanks that your children are alive and healthy. It’s hard to get stressed out over paying bills when you are grateful there is a roof over your head.
•  
• Because it reminds you to thank others. the simple act of saying “thank you” to someone can make a big difference in that person’s life. Calling them, emailing them, stopping by to say thank you … just taking that minute out of your life to tell them why you are grateful toward them is important to them. People like being appreciated for who they are and what they do. It costs you little, but makes someone else happy. And making someone else happy will make you happy.  by-zen habits

---------------------------------

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.
~ Author Unknown ~

Have a great weekend....

{Me Thinks...}

pretty much sums it up! 

birthdays.park.hot dog roasts. baseball. water.freckles.heat.swings.

hugs and lots of love!

excitement.  

SMILES.

FUN.

Summer. almost. 

I can feel it.

{K2 has a huge goose egg cause he is starting to try to walk and falls on the hardwood in the same spot on his head poor baby!}

---------------------------------------

ME THINKS

random deep thoughts by moi.

- There is a pedophile in my town and its not common knowledge -- should it not be!!???

-how can people wonder what is wrong with the youth and children these days

when 

a}we watch things on tv popular shows that we find nothing wrong with it they are primarily about sex and loving whoever you want whenever you want as long as it makes you happy, among so much else?

granted I love the the songs in glee too in the channel switching I do between biggest loser commercials.

I do see some of them but every other time it is about clearly the opposite of everything we want to teach our children....... seriously if my children were watching it
I can't blame them for their choices and actions, thoughts and disrespect when
its blatantly okay to 90% of the world!!!! What do we expect??

and we wonder whats wrong these days??

When did it become the norm??? when did we become immune to it? when did it become okay??

when girls in high school and jr high are going to the Dr. and getting morning after pills...or are getting pregnant or are talking about abortions....

like its a new fad of jeans..... there is clearly something wrong...

when did it become such an okay thing to do and become such a rapid and causal thing among our youth...???

where do we think the rape tag games comes from when the movies the language, the tv, the things they/we are watching or letting them watch are all about one thing.....

b}music that 15 year olds are singing or whoever about love and relationships and his favorite girl....

...... he has 8 year old girls that love him

its disturbing to me to watch these young girls singing the words to songs that only those who are older or married should understand..... baby baby...... come on what 8 year old needs to be hearing lyrics or singing them at such a young age.

and we wonder...

I'm  sorry but the more time spent on the movies, the music, the tv, the video games all of it 

is the reason for decline in society, our quaint little communities and in schools, church 

 the lack of manners and

the lack of respect is despicable

the increase of sexual activity in jr/high schools,

the dirty little games played here and there,

the general desensitized moral decline of society where things become the norm...

little by little

we all need to take a stand 

and quit being your child's best bud and be a parent 

talk to your kids 

find out where they are at all times, who they play with, actually TALK to them about what they are feeling, thinking and discipline is so important.  Check up on them follow through with them.

Don't lose them.

We can't afford to spoil our children and let them do what they want they need firmness, they need rules, they need curfews, they need LOVE and they need 

proper examples and guidance.

Starting with us.

Our children are the future and some days looking around that future isn't so bright!

Take a stand there are so many good kids, good things out there we just need to be more aware of what they are doing and watching and listening too and what our children and ourselves are participating in!

If we are ever going to make it through.

Its been quite the week. Lots of meetings I've been too make me aware of so much more of what is going on.

------------------------------------

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

{Thankful...}

 

.......For this boy who turns 4 today

Love this boy

he has kept me  running since the day he was born!

He is  full of life and spunk! He calls it like it is! He’s got ambition, determination, fight, exploring abilities that take him far, he is a thinker, a doer and an escape artist, and can vanish in the blink of an eye! 

He is very determined and loud in all he does. He gets feisty and loves to do whatever he wants to do no matter what anyone has told him, he HAS to find out himself. 

He loves to be outside more than anything. He is often found outside in no shoes or socks sometimes, he is kind of like a tom sawyer or Huck Finn! 

He has broken the screens in the basement and crawled out windows, he has scaled our back deck that has no way down yet. 

He has figured out things in seconds that none of us figured out or questioned. He is a doer and he loves a good challenge no matter what. 

And don't bother hiding anything he will find it 

hammers axes gas matches yeah just to name a few

He has some serious guardian angles watching over him

He loves dogs and all animals the other day he asked for a black horse and told us his name will be Alex. It was pretty funny.

He makes us laugh every day with all the things he comes up with. 

he says “belly jeans” for jelly beans and trismas for Christmas, tiss for kiss and tolten and tarsen for kolt and kars, 

He can't wait to go to school.

He loves to ride his bike

wear sunglasses

and Loves toy Story

BUZZ WOODY yeah all of em.

He loves primary now and actually sits with in his class

and my saving grace is that he still naps every afternoon from 1-3 and goes to bed at 8!

He has THE most beautiful brown eyes ever! 

He is funny.

Spunky

 wild

and a little CRAZY 

but we are crazy about him.{or was that because of him ha ha}

Life would be so dull without MASEN in our lives!!

We love you little M!!

----------------------------------------

So funny thing is today is his birthday but he doesn't know it

and since D couldn't be here today because one of his boss' from SLC is here

We decided we'd celebrate it tomorrow!!

He doesn't know the difference this young

So we are going to the lake and roasting some hot dogs 

eatin cake and doing the presents tomorrow! Fun times!

{I do feel a little bad but really technically 4 years ago tomorrow is when I first held my little babe and met him for the first time so its kind of fitting right!??

We did let him have his special cereal this morning {he decides if he wants to share or not they all so far have been kind and shared}  We do cereal in the  birthday morning that they always want that I don't buy -- all the surgary ones! That makes it special then right ? I always picked fruit loops growing up!

-------------------------------------------------------

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mase!! WE LOVE YOU!!

And his smile does us all in and has saved him many times lol!!

here's a cute poem a friend had on her blog today that I thought would be good here!

Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day
With little time to stop and pray
For life's been anything but calm
Since You called on me to be a {his} mom
Running errands, matching socks
Building dreams with building blocks
Cooking, cleaning, and finding shoes
And other stuff that children lose
Getting lids on bottled bugs
Wiping tears and giving hugs
A stack of last week's mail to read
So where's the quiet time I need?
Yet when I steal a minute, Lord
Just at the sink or ironing board
To ask the blessings of Your grace
I see then, in my small one's face
That you have blessed me
All the while
And I stop to kiss
That precious smile.

Have a beautiful day!!

{ Me Thinks...}

You do not find the happy life.

You make it. 

-Camilla Erying Kimball

K made this for me for mothers day its a magnet, and a cute necklace that I wore most of the day. I love being a mom and getting the cute homemade gifts. I love my K L M K2 and D.

L made me a card and a star picture she was so excited to give it to me! SO cute. She only loves to color right now and won't even look at the camera.

my crazy family

we have fun 

....and yes that is K2 on the potty {{TMI i know...but he has a serious potty face when its number 2 so we run to the toilet}and he uses it this kid ROCKS seriously its awesome!!! He is so good to me.

....I love my kids, my family, the Gospel, my testimony and this weekend full of fun and family. I have a great husband and great kids who love me and I love them. None of us are perfect but we sure have fun working on forever 

and workin on 

HAPPY...

-----------------------------------

 ME THINKS

----------------------------------------

People to often take things and make them what they aren't or think we are something other then what we really are. Or take our intentions which are good and make them into something else.

Sometimes there is so much judging going on that do we ever stop and consider that we are all individuals all trying our best and sometimes really getting to know someone opens up a world of knowledge and there are so many things to learn from others. Just assuming we know all the answers won't solve anything.

Life affects people differently. For many reasons.

We are all different  we all handle what life hands us differently.  

But only we know what is inside each of us. 

the past. the present. the hurt. the longing. the loneliness. the forgotten. whatever it is.

its in the learning how to deal with it that makes all the difference.

If we only knew our full potential our divine worth and lived up to it.

If we only really knew that the most important things in this life aren't things,

Who are we to judge we have no idea where people have been, where they are going and what they are going through.

------------------------------------------------------------

I love this quote by Mother Teresa:

People are often unreasonable and self centered. Forgive them anyway

If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway

If you are honest, people may cheat you.Be honest anyway

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God

It never was between you and them anyway.

 ------------------------------------

....guess I just needed this today. 

Have a great week...maybe the sun will shine this week!