{ St. George Spring Break}

  Heaven. is what it was. Awesome family time. fun memories together. Dad all to ourselves. relaxed and HOT. 

and then We came back to SNOW! 

So I wonder why I live here;)

{Also to those of you who are here For KINSEY's Mother's Day Giveaway SO excited for new readers and for being apart of her amazing giveaway:) 

Spring Break St. George Fun

Day 1: Thursday the 17th we left and drove to Riverton where D's sister lives and the kids got some cousin time and girls night and we all just had fun with our Utah families:)...

 

We found where spring actually exists..... I went on a beautiful early morning warm run it was heavenly smelt that way too;) 

Day 2 Girls night and a shopping day:)

 BBQ fun....

Day 3: We Headed to St. George and watched the temps soar as we drove....... it WAS SO nice! We just stay in a hotel that has 3 queens and a good breakfast and pool for under a 90 a night.....The kids were dying to swim so we did that first and then headed to Snow Canyon and let em lose they were in Heaven seriously its the best place on earth for letting them run, discover and find lizards and caves and see forever its beautiful...

The kids loved having all of dads attention....I did too:)

Day 4 was Easter Sunday so we headed to church and then went to the visitors center and Temple grounds, checked out sand hallow and cottonwood parks, had a picnic ..... kinda kept it low key since it was Sunday and it became the longest day e v e r ;) But still fun...

{k forgot church shoes a couple forgot belts so we were lookin good;)

We ended the day with a hike up the dixie bluff overlooking St George 

 

Day 4 we headed to Zion National park for a day of hiking it was so awesome having the kids bigger and able to do harder hikes:)

......and started our addiction to SWIG which we went to everyday ....if you see one go and eat a sugar cookie for me {I know shocker to those that know me that I even ate one;) ha ha  figured it was worth the upset stomach and plus all the extra hiking and running made it worth it too:)

there are three in the st George area, one in Provo and one just opened in Bountiful:) So go:)

Day 5: D and K did the angels landing hike at Zions { I wish I could have gone but with the littles that was a little to much} SO  I took the kids to the children's museum it was SUPER windy that day so we made it a low key shopping and playing day  after D and K got back...

ITs an intense hike all the pics are on d's camera but I have one just to get an idea of how major of a hike it is... um those are chains he is holding onto D said he had no fear he was kinda wishing he had a little more cause he was scaring his dad:)....

meanwhile we went here and the kids loved it

..........then I made them walk 10 blocks in the wind to go to swig ha ha;) best mom ever:)

 Day 6: we went back to Zion and did the river walk to the narrows and then went back to Snow Canyon later that evening and let them run again:) SO fun watching the kids play and run and be nice to each other and help each other running to explore something or whatever it was made my heart happy:)

Day 7: we headed back to SLC hit some outlets again and showed the kids BYU and the MTC then headed to Temple Square with some tired kids ... who were tired of traveling tired of eating out and ready for home and mom's cooking:) Sign of a great trip right:)

{we even hit the right night to watch the Mo Tab rehearse with a live symphony it was pretty amazing:) }

and some of my favorite shots of the week:)

That's relaxation:) 

Love this bunch of Crazies

Day 8:  Was driving home day which took extra long because we showed the kids Utah State and where we lived and worked when we went there:) Then D decided it would be funny to get the kids HUGE amounts of pop {they love dad} and then stop 6 times in the next 4 hours for potty breaks so we didn't get home for 16 hours ha ha D;) 

Lessons Learned:

I'm glad there is school.

Bring Ziplocks and wipes they come in handy.

Don't buy your kids huge things of pop for so many reasons;)

Coconut Oil works for pretty much everything ... this time sunburns rashes and shoe rub burns amazingly.

M has a very small bladder.

K2 can only handle so long in his booster.

and a certain 12 year is becoming a bit moody...

& Since becoming Bishop D is a lot more patient with all of us;) especially being with us 24/7 for 8 days straight ha ha;)  

Now I just need to work on mine:)

 I loved watching the times the kids were kind to each other 

played with each other and helped each other

Where they actually talked and listened:) 

Thats what its all about.

M Story.

M is the most compassionate child ever he found $10 on the ground it burned a hole in his pocket until the kids talked him into buying the family a mcdonalds cone for each to which he got $3 back and some change which continued to burn a whole in his pocket...

Fast forward to a wendy's where a homeless man in SLC was with his Cart of all the things he owns M decides to go interview him because his curious mind works like that..... and asked him why he doesn't have a home,  how he gets his money, how many brothers he has etc......{ While mom who just recently read the Elizabeth Smart books wants him to get back to our table....} Fast forward to Temple Square a homeless person with a sign and his life belongings beside him.....M walks up to him and and gives his final $3 to this homeless man... and says to D...... "I have money and he doesn't have anything"....  it brought tears to my eyes.

Masenism: Last sunday: in ST George: Were sitting in Church {and Masen had grabbed a taxi business card from the hotel at breakfast } HE says to D "Dad can I borrow your phone, card in hand says I gotta get outta here." -crazy boy!!

He is one of a kind that boy.

 

Have a great weekend:)

{10 for Today...}

Moments that matter.

1. Can't wait to feel the sun. Spend time together as a family. 

& Have D all to ourselves {selfish aren't we;)

2. Family moments this weekend.

My niece got baptized, I spoke on baptism at it, my sisters came from  north and south and we got to spend a short couple of days together,

and Sunday night I spoke at another wards youth fireside so it was a busy weekend

 3. Okay so this picture was on face book last week and I thought holy that looks like K2! Then my sister sent it to me and said the same thing! Like uncanny resemblance eh! But I don't know who its by and i would LOVE a big copy for K2's room I mean I showed it to K2 and he said thats me. So I'd really love to find out who the Artist is if anybody knows please share:)

4. Its feeling like spring well the past couple of days anyway:) Then snow this morning true spring never get used to the weather tomorrow it will be completely different but while we get the good beautiful days I really enjoy them....and

Early mornings are the best... to me;)

5. I shared this next quote on face book but I love it and have to share it here too..... our children have so much to teach us.....

"Ask God what He has to teach you through this child. God has chosen our families. He has given us exactly the right children in the right birth order with the unique personalities not merely so that we can raise them but also in order that He might use them in our life to grow us up into the women He has created us to be. He will use that strong willed child, that one we just don’t “get,” the one so much like us that we naturally clash, that one with disabilities. 

Every single child is a gift. 

God has not made a mistake. 

Our children are His precious tools in our life to help us become more dependent upon Him and to experience His power and love in deeper ways."

 -Susan Yates 

-love this!

6. Loving all the Easter Inspiration out there

  

7. But Most of all this EASTER INSPIRATION

*Don't forget to pause my music first:)

8. Moments like this I never want to forget..... K2 on the phone laughing hysterically with his friend .... 

9.  Excited this week I was asked to sell my jewelry at a new local pharmacy so stay tuned for details on that once I get displays and such worked out:) Excited to take  

"Simply Me Accessories"

one step farther and soon to be part of 

an amazing giveaway coming up:)

10. Choose Happy. Choose the things that matter most:)

 

Life is Good.

 “Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness.
Because our individual load needs to generate spiritual traction we should be careful to not haul around in our lives so many nice but unnecessary things that we are distracted and diverted from the things that matter most.
~ David A. Bednar,

HAPPY EASTER.

{ Me thinks }

Wow guess what I think SPRING might just have arrived:)

Its feeling good, its bright, its getting lighter in the mornings, and I can feel the sun on my face today!

THAT IS EXCITING:)

And that means 2 weeks to spring break and FAMILY TIME:))

 

This past weekend was one of two of the most uplifting and renewing weekends General Conference Loved it Some of my favorite quotes were:

"We can choose to be grateful no matter what." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 "Just be the same person you are in the dark that you are in the light." ~ Pres. Monson

 "How much of life do we miss waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God for the rain." -Dieter F Uchtdorf

 "Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet." Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

 "Defend your beliefs with compassion, but defend them." Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

"One should not roam through garbage." love that!

 "Even if everyone is doing it, wrong is never right. Evil, error and darkness will never be truth, even if popular." ~Elder Russell M. Nelson

and the one that gave me greater resolve to do what matters most was this:

  

Sometimes we get so busy doing "rush" &"stuff"  that we put the important life molding, life shaping things on the back burner when they are the front runner to all things that matter  our home and children.

SO we are making a bigger & better effort around here to do what matters most.

Some of our RUSH & STUFF around here lately:

Lots of Basketball & my own personal #23

 hanging with K2 and having the flu for a week all of us but D:( oh how I'm going to miss him everyday next year:((

Important Firsts: First priesthood session father and son style 

Goof Balls;) How did I get so lucky:)

Had New Beginnings it turned out great {Thanks to pinterest}

{well except for my talk and my nose running and still weak from the flu considering that it went good, love when things come off like we picture them we have a great group of leaders and girls:)

 Apparently everybody was feeling the strips one morning when we all come out in stripes:) My enthused children;)

 A little April Fools fun stumping L with "juice" {jello}

that's about as April Fooly as I get;)

 And finally got my hair did:)

Thankful for sweet friends random flowers and favorite treats I have the best friends and family:) Love them all! 

Its the little unexpected things that mean the most and are remembered for a long time to come.

M e  T h i n k s

Just cause its been awhile

Take a look.

If you looked into my home

You'd see that family means a lot, random pictures scattered throughout, you'd see the kids' unmade beds, a random wrapper dropped at someones back.....books lying on the floor in almost every room from being read to or looked at, you'd hear a dishwasher running from the days dishes, the lingering smell of cinnamon buns from yesterday and the washer running, cartoons playing fun times, a pile of laundry calling my name, you'd see lots of projects finally getting done around here or in the works, you'd see children's art work, lego pieces and laughter, you'd see a mother trying her best to make a difference, surrounded by easter decor and scriptures on the table.

If you looked into my office

you'd see where I spend a lot of time. You'd see a board full of places to be and places to go, you'd see backpacks and coats laying on the floor,  piano books from practice and the attempt I made to declutter the space

you'd see papers to be filed, homework to finish...... projects to be done and cabinets that need cleaned.

you'd see YW stuff scattered over the desk and past projects waiting to be cleaned up from the rush of the weekend, you'd see a plaque that reads count your blessings that I read everyday I'm in here and I do just that.. You'd see books and discarded clothes and water bottles and toys dropped at childrens backs...

you'd see its lived in and far from clean and perfect....

If you looked into my e-mail 

you'd see questions to be answered, lots of pinterest junk emails, you'd see pictures of my kids sent from my i phone, you'd see thoughtful notes from random people that came at the exact time I needed them and there they stay, you'd see that I keep it pretty cleaned out...

If you looked into my phone   
 

You'd see beautiful pictures of places I wish to go someday as my lock screen and home screen..... you'd see organized with pictures a contact list, you'd see my calendar filling out, my to-do lists......my recent photos

You'd see weather apps and bill apps to keep organized....running apps and health apps.. you'd see texts from some of my favorite people ones that make you laugh, ones that make you cry and ones that just make you smile:) 

You'd see something{the phone itself lol} I said I didn't need or want but I do kind of like it, you'd see it isn't attached to me but I do a lot on it.....

If you looked into my head 

you'd wonder how I function with so many thoughts running around , you'd see my desires past and present.... and the pain that is still there some days especially with each passing year wondering why somethings are and when the answers you've been promised will come, but you'd also see a mind becoming more at peace at the way things are and the things I can't change.
you'd see a crazy girl who has an obsession with helping the kids to understand that when you choose the right you are happier, if you listen and obey good things come, 

You'd see how frustrated I get with myself to do things right to understand things and not worry to much about the future and more about now.
You'd see a girl who has an obsessive fears of certain things I shouldn't put so much thought into how it dictates my day sometimes.....
you'd see how much I appreciate my family and friends and how well they know me and you'd see how much their phone calls, notes and  texts mean to me....

you'd see a girl who tries so hard to be patient, loving and understanding, you'd see a mother who just wants good things to happen for her kids, for them to be happy make right choices .......
you'd see a girl who wants to make a difference in my calling, with the girls I work with................ with my own daughter..

You'd see a girl who dreams of cobblestone streets everyday and can't get it out of my head ...you'd see someone who has a huge desire to travel the world and see things and cultures...
you'd see a mom who needs to be a mom first and those other  things will come in time.......
you'd see the questions and wonderment at why do people do the things they do the choices they make that affect so many around them you'd see how sad it makes me that people get so far off track,  who ruin so much for a fleeting moment of bad decisions....

you'd see a girl who can't imagine what life would be like with no kids if we hadn't gone to a lot of work, prayer and guidance and miracles with everyone associated with each of our children... to get these little people here you'd see a girl who feels blessed everyday. You'd see the memories in the making and the moments I want to cherish forever...

If you look into my heart.  

You'd see what matters most to me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and My family above all, you'd see my testimony and faith, you'd see my desire to do what I'm supposed to do to get to where I want to be and to have a lot of my questions answered, you'd see my dreams ....desires. for myself, my children, for us..... for the future.  you'd see the aches and pains mostly for the kids and all they have before them.... you'd see that its full of love..... full of faith ....full of peace, 

full of aching and yearning at the same time too for all that isn't...yet...
you'd see Peace. Peace in the things to come. Peace in promises and peace in what I need to do to get to where I need to be.
You'd see a wife who prays for her husband and children constantly. You'd see a wife who supports and understands her husbands calling and desire to help others and to be here for him so he can be there for them. 
You'd see a wife who tries hard to keep things running smoothly at home so he doesn't have to worry or have extra stress.
You'd see a wife who loves her husband and is so proud of him and all he does, you'd see a wife who feels blessed to have her husband as her best friend and eternal companion.

You'd see a mom who feels unappreciated some days and over worked yet who knows that some day I will miss everything about these days when its quiet and there are no smudges on my walls and windows and muddy footprints on my floor.

you'd see an understanding that to every season there is a time and don't wish it away, you'd see that I can hardly believe how fast time goes by, you'd see it aches for those that don't get it...... you'd see its full...

Life is good.

"Instead of being grateful for things, focus on being thankful in our circumstances, whatever they may be." - Elder Uctdorf

"The most important thing to do is

K E E P   T R Y I N G." 

and thats what were doing around here:)

thoughts? questions? Take a look ..... What's inside?