{ M's Big Day...and a little ME thinks.}

This boy turned 8 on the 14th and made an awesome choice to be baptized a member of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

 {lds.org} this past weekend

 HE was so excited:)  and so Happy:) 

My beautiful talented, & amazing friend Rhonda took some priceless pics of M a few days ago that captured Him precisely .....

real smiles i can't get out of him and the love of life in his eyes captured in a few pictures that very much describe him:) 

and will always be a treasure just like him:)

8  y e a r s o l d

so some winner mom moments for the day :

I got the time wrong it was an hour later than 

i told everyone 4 pm not 5 pm ahhh 

and he forgot his change of underwear and socks oops 

crazy around here getting ready....not good things to forget ha ha

It was an awesome short program..... 

perfect talks tailored especially for him:) he was so good and reverent and thoughtful. We had dinner at our house afterwards did up a fun tablescape which he loved and was so excited about....He felt special & loved and it was so fun to see him drink it all in and be so excited...  

{well contrary to what this pic states:)

I sure love these guys thanks to all those that were able to come:)  These are the moments that matter. The bonds that connect and the most important steps in our journey here . Not much else compares at all...

 

 

 

 

 ......and Sunday he{and about half of us} crashed after church its 

been a long time since he took a nap

 

not much has changed almost looks the same it reminded me of this picture of him at about 7 months old so cute:) 

seems like yesterday he was that old how is he 8 already:(

 

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ME THINKS

its been awhile since I've laid it out and did some me thinks thinking and writing:)

But like everybody its busy around here and 

summer is almost here we have a month left of school and life is crazy and summer is filling up

 and calenders are marked up for everyday....

kids are loving being outside all day,  tired of school and getting all summer bronzed already....

track and field..... father and sons.....

snack days and b-ball, sick kids, a BUSY husband , pool passes and swim lessons, tennis lessons and fun things to fill our summer time with....trips to plan and

good neighbors who help out  

{we have the best neighborhood everyone watches out for everyone the kids roam and play and really play and get dirty from sun up to sun down most summer days... its fun when were all on the same page and know that they are okay ..... and in a sense getting those days we grew up with drinking from the hose... playing cops and robbers, riding bikes, running though the sprinkler, painting, playing and a very few fights and tears:)

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So much is changing around us its insane to watch the kids get older the world get crazier and watch people drop like flies from the things that used to matter there isn't time for sitting on the fence anymore or getting offended at every little thing..... its so sad..

....So many of us make a great fuss of matters of small consequence. We are so easily offended. Happy is the man who can brush aside the offending remarks of another and go on his way.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

Life really is to short 

I love this quote from the last conference in April by bishop stevenson full talk here

""You are an eternal being. Before you were born, you existed as a spirit. In the presence of a loving Heavenly Father, you trained and prepared to come to earth for a brief moment and, well, perform. This life is your four minutes. While you are here, your actions will determine whether you win the prize of eternal life....... In a sense, your four minutes have already begun. The clock is ticking.....

So what are we doing with our 4 minutes?? wasting it? worrying about what others are doing? instead of what we can be doing to improve our own lives and minutes within our own walls around us...

Forget others walls and minutes and improve on our own individual ones because those are the ones that matter for each of us when we pass on. Set the example you hope your kids, family friends will want to follow in there 4 minutes.....

The clock is ticking, the kids are growing, the time is passing... whether we are using our 4 minutes wisely or foolishly...... worrying about the things that don't matter in the long run aren't worth one second of our time and energy. We can't let others ruin our days, years and moments ....we have to do our best and put our best foot forward to set the way and path for those around us to follow and learn from. 

If we constantly wait for others to serve us and cater to us we will never be happy or progress because we are spending so much time wanting others to make us happy and thinking of only ourselves that in return we feel sorry for ourselves and we get nothing but misery. 

If we want change we have to be that change, we have to make things happen and change our 4 minutes back  into something worth watching later on.

"Often the best way to see the needs of others 

is to stop looking at our own"

"A negative mind will never give you a positive life."

4 minutes isn't very long at all.

What are you doing with yours?

Have an awesome Week:))

{ A day in the life of this wife.....}

Got up 5:10am. my throat hurt so bad. couldn't swallow. couldn't breath. didn't run. slept in. ran around. waking up. rushing. hurrying. showering.  making lunches. fixing hair. fixing breakfast. brushing teeth. grabbing shoes. backpacks. folding arms. prayers. kisses. RUNning....kidless. make preschool snack. finish face. hair and dress. pray. dishwasher. clean kitchen. sweep. shut off lights. start laundry. make bed. check email. fb messages. talk to an old friend. late taking in snack. run to clinic. wait. test for strep. run home. stress over my 20th school reunion planning. K2 home. sweetest kid ever. hugs. car pool stay and talk for 2 hours to a friend outside. feel the sun. sprinklers. friends. sun. tramp. wet kids. swimsuits. water flowers. make after school snack. run pick up k. youth temple trip. showered got ready. took him. came home. took another trip drop off M to his first cubs activity. another to soccer. babes playing. all. afternoon.  in a swimsuit. burned:( my poor albino baby. sat down for 5 minutes. watched a soccer game. picked up another. made supper. worked on M's baptism stuff. did a survey. waited for kids. feed em and bed em. prayers. read a story. todays 7-7. 

tired. mom. tired. wife. happy life.

 

I See: kids that love hugs, attention and a listening ear, a husband who works so hard, kids that are growing up to fast for me....

I need: more time to do all the things I want to do with them... 

I wish:  we all understood why were here and what our purpose is. 

I HATE: feeling alone sometimes, amidst the chaos of daily life.
I MISS:  mountains and the ocean and my little babies
I HEAR: silence. a cough here and there calmness after a crazy day.
I WONDER: where we'll be in 10 years from now
I REGRET:  not much because it got me where I am today.
I AM NOT: lazy. I can't slow down at night sometimes.
I DANCE: with my children. with D in the living room at random dance party nights in the kitchen:) 
I SING: in the car.
I CRY: when it hurts.
I AM NOT ALWAYS: as good at following my instincts as I should be. and want to be.
I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: food for my family. jewelry for my future Europe Trip.
I WRITE: notes everyday in my kids' lunches. I hope they remember that forever.
I CONFUSE: my kids sometimes ......trying to be consistent good thing they still love me:) 
I NEED:  a D and ME break.
I SHOULD:  do a lot of things I don't and want to be better at.
I START: today to do the things I want to do better in, better than I did yesterday and improve on today.

 

Few favorite shots this week:

First day of cubs...or future QB? poser

soccer girl 2014

blow em out:) 8 years old:)

real. life. moments. I love.

"Our memories will linger on, 

long after our footprints in the sand are gone".... 

 

 "You'll never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine."

- John C Maxwell

 

Have a great week:)

{10 on Tuesday...}

Things I want to remember:

1. That no matter how crazy some Sundays are.... this is us. K2 has on M's tie ...M has on K2's tie and I didn't even notice till this picture or the fact that M likes to make funny faces and never smile ....what you don't see is K's cast........ my big shoes and the fact that he's taller than me now:(( 
{and good friends on the other side of the camera to take the picture because our husbands were still at church:) 

Thanks Rhonda:)

 its {im}perfectly us.....

So very thankful to be a mother and so very thankful everyday for their beautiful birth mothers who placed them in my arms and heart,
because of them I am a Mother. 

Four beautiful Miracles, four different stories. One home, one heart,

 one eternal family who I love with all my heart.

There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children.. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply.   -Elder Ballard

2. Don't want to forget that K2 loves me more than hot dogs ha ha I love the questionnaire type things on mothers day find out what they really think of you and makes you want to do better if its something you didn't even realize or makes you feel good that the things you do when they recognize WE aren't totally invisible;) 

Love this ....because these are some of his real favorite things:)

cutest little bunny around  

{he went on his first field trip today it was beyond cute how excited he was:)

3. I don't want to ever forget where I came from and my mothers and grandmothers lives and examples before me...history fascinates me. I love to know peoples stories and the lives they lead and the choices they made....

4. K got his cast off yesterday its been a short time he actually had a cast much shorter than most people only 12 days though they were very long days for him he got a little discouraged at all the things he missed out on he now has to wear a boot air cast for a week and slowly work back into things. But I appreciate his gratitude of how happy and thankful he was when he could walk without crutches. can't believe how grown up he is getting...

5. These are super good I didn't have any flaxseed so we used toasted coconut chips from Costco and all my kids and D love them!! I think I've made them 5 times in one week super easy fast and good!

  

6. And this SWIG cookie recipe is pretty much to die for and very close to the original swig sugar cookie warning though don't make them very often;) 

 7. Kinda love this article here

8. I spoke on Sunday for mothers day and used these quotes I keep thinking about them so I'm sharing it here too:)

"....we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others — usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. This drives us to create expectations for ourselves that are impossible to meet. As a result, we never celebrate our good efforts because they seem to be less than what someone else does. . . " 

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

or this  

"A mother has far greater influence on her children than anyone else, and she must realize that every word she speaks, every act, every response, her attitude, even her appearance and manner of dress affect the lives of her children and the whole family. It is while the child is in the home that he gains from his mother the attitudes, hopes, and beliefs that will determine the kind of life he will live and the contribution he will make to society." N. Eldon Tanner

and this

".....even as you try to cut out the extra commitments, sisters, find some time for yourself to cultivate your gifts and interests. Pick one or two things that you would like to learn or do that will enrich your life, and make time for them.  

Water cannot be drawn from an empty well, 

and if you are not setting aside a little time for what replenishes you, you will have less and less to give to others, even to your children. Turn to the Lord in faith, and you will know what to do and how to do it.

 "There will be so many times you feel like you've failed. but in the eyes, heart and mind of your child you are a super mom."

One prayer & One day at a time right:) 

9. M man turns 8 tomorrow  that I can't believe!!

CANNOT imagine life without this little man he keeps us on our toes, he is full of life!! Happy 8th BIRTHDAY M!! We love you!!!

10. Reasons I love this Big BoY:

1|He loves little children and is so good with them

2|He is determined, independent, stubborn, strong willed and feisty but all these things are awesome qualities when he grows up

3| He has the most amazing dark brown eyes that look like chocolate and a 100 watt smile

4| He is a hugger, cuddler for like .2 seconds

5| He is very compassionate towards others with less ie. homeless people

6| He has had a great teacher this year who has taught him a lot and M realized we were on the same page he struggled has learned lots of life lessons this year he is amazing!

7| He loves to sleep on the floor and rarely sleeps in his bed he sleeps on our floor alot

8| He loves to read and loves to find things out for himself no matter what you tell him {good and bad}

9| He has escaped death many times I think he has a lot of guardian angels

10| He has a great laugh, smile & testimony and loves people.  I really, really can't thank my Heavenly Father enough for the blessing of being his mother and for his courageous birth mother who wanted more for him and in turn he has given us so much more depth, love and meaning to life. Each day is an adventure with M he lives life to the fullest and will go so far in this life.

We love our M:))

Enjoy the simple things all the important things that matter:)Time goes by so fast!

"You can never get enough of what you don't need,
because what you don't need won't satisfy you."
~ Dallin H. Oaks

{Thursday Thoughts...}

...on Friday ha ha

1st up Little Lady L's Recital...

 This girl had her first piano recital, first rose from Dad and did an amazing job!! She played doe rae mi from sound of music her favorite movie:) She even memorized it:) So proud of her she did so awesome!

 This poor boy fractured his ankle playing soccer but not really.... nothing really happened that would warrant it he just started limping then couldn't walk on it so the Dr's are sending his x-rays to the specialist because its a weird fracture hoping he won't be out long talk about one bummed boy:(( For this sports boy it will feel like for ever poor kid:((

 

17 YEARS

204 months
887 weeks
6,209 days
149,025 hours.
8,941,536 minutes
536,492,204 seconds............

 With this MAN 17 years today we got married and they've been the best 17 years of my life the ups, downs, tears, fears, excitements all of it because we did it together been through a lot, learned life lessons together. Got a bachelors and masters lots of schooling...... 10 moves...... Bought two houses....... been through 6 vehicles..... got his life dream job....... 4 miracles came along........ We've served in many callings and Through it all we've been there for each other. 

By far the Best decision of my life was the day I got married!! I am so thankful for him everyday he makes me laugh, loves me and puts up with me:) He is the kindest, most selfless do anything for anyone at anytime kind of guy, understanding, honest, caring, hardworking, and this handsome man puts up with this crazy girl;) 

Happy 17th D love you!! 

{my FB repeat;) status..

So a movie, dinner and Walmart ha ha isn't that how all good dates end;)

THOUGHTS.

*M turns 8!! in a week and half! Gets baptized this month too and he is so super excited:)

*I love Sherelle Christensen's blog the life of a farmers wife and would sincerely love a life just like it! ... Fresh clothes off the line, chickens, massive gardens, kids with real chores and long work hours who help in every way from canning to harvest..............vintage in its real life glory the beautiful things I remember about my Apron wearing grandma and my freshly washed line drying clothes hanging mamma......days of my childhood..... I really should just start my own colony with like minded vintage loving county folk ha ha;) but some days I crave it!!
Take some time to explore it its amazing!

 

..... Sometimes I really do feel old fashioned in my thinking...... that sometimes I can't understand how people don't see whats wrong with the picture and blindly accept whatever the people, or media etc tell them...

I have a hard time with change thats a given right;)

For instance I don't see a thing wrong with the way math has always been taught how does adding 3 extra steps make it any easier I would have died learning that! Whats wrong with fingers??

I don't see how learning and sitting in a desk is wrong or outdated either?

 or that eating raw cookie dough is bad for you but hey who am I? oh just maybe the person who's been doing it since I was a kid 
and grew up doing it? 

and drinking from the hose isn't going to kill you......

I think instead of trying to invent new methods we actually should adopt some old ways of doing things putting some of the
"old school" back into society
the Lords prayer, actual discipline, actual parenting,  and on and on

We for sure had a more moral, value driven, respectful, less lazy society back then then we do nowadays.....

Whats wrong with a little discipline? I can think of a few people/adults who need spanked;)  ....or .... A, B's and C's on report cards or

Honor rolls to let those who know they worked hard have the honor they deserve because THEY WORKED FOR IT!!! which instills a work harder mentality instead oh pat on the back every bodies the same crap.....

Or

How about society as a whole quit taking offense to every little thing stop crying discrimination, racism and non tolerance about every little thing because you feel judged or your feelings are hurt or you feel picked on............ GET OVER IT do something with your own life don't try to change the worlds view so you feel better about yourself .......thats life.........a vital part of life pick up move on......

WE HAVE AN OPINION that is our RIGHT
All of our rights whatever you believe.

Freedom of speech isn't freedom of anything anymore. Because were letting it slide were accepting everything we see and are told....

apparently what's on your cell phone can incriminate you all over the media your own PRIVATE isn't even your own anymore..

no matter how raunchy you are in private.....

We {well not me;) embrace the disgusting Miley trash and then try to ban books like the Dr. Suess hop on pop because it promotes violence on dad {for real ?} seriously messed up!

We have rules and by laws we don't even know exist and continue to make up as a society, the need for ridiculous laws that only restrict us more because nobody has common sense anymore...........
is really what it comes down to......

So what I'm saying is its not going to get any better each day finds some new way of crazy working its way into our minds that is acceptable and okay things that never were or should be in society or life and we idly stand by watching it happen or blindly accept everything people tell us all the while thinking all is well in Zion???

.......

.....and another one of the biggest problems in todays society?? ...... take a few minutes to watch it:) Its worth it:)  Were all guilty in some way:(  
Let's get real life back:)
{pause my music at the bottom though}

LOOK UP. LOOK AROUND. WAKE UP.

Be aware:)
thats my rant and I'm sticking to it;)

Happy Thoughts:) Happy Weekend:)