A look at everyday . . .

This is Aysen.  Aysen has one word to describe comfort.  Onesie.  He likes them.  He actually may prefer his birthday suit only but as his mother I have to draw the line.  No.

Three good reasons as to why:  1 -- It is illegal.  2 -- The clean-up of the potential contamination.  3 -- It is COLD outside.  (Even though our home thermostat is set at 70, the view through the window adds a chill factor.  The weatherperson may need to begin taking this into account.  Instead of just a wind chill factor, we can have a 'mental perception' factor added in as well).

He is smiling.  For a normally happy kid he has been sick bunches as of late.  I'm sick of sick.  Glad today smiles were in the air.

And to prove I am pampered by my daughter . . .  Taylei is getting to be really good at nail art.  I get to sit comfortably on the couch using my favorite tool (may or may not be a mac, for those of you that have one, you understand).

Not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon if I must say so myself.

Meeting with the Big Dogs

This week the school board was meeting.  I should attend all school board meetings.  I do not.  No excuse even, I just never go.  I'm not alone.  Why is this?

For the first few minutes of their meeting they take the time to honor achievement and it was Mona Elementary's turn to brag.  The spelling bee winners were invited to be recognized for their spelling achievements.

I'm thinking if there was a spell off between these students and the board members the students would have won.  Power to the little people.

I'm glad the district takes the time for this.  They become real people to the students.  As soon as the awards were divvied out the room emptied.  I left as well.  I should have stayed.  Maybe next time . . .

Valentine's Date as FHE

For our Valentine's Day date, Andy and I went with our children to the bowling alley in Payson.  We had been given a gift certificate a few years back and had never gotten it used.

When bowling, taking the kids is an extra good excuse to have the bumpers up.  I took a bowling class in college and can admit my skills are lacking.

I started off the night with a strike and so did Andy.  This was the only frame where I was competitive with him.  I almost delighted in the fact his shoes were sticking funny making his release a little hard.  I am carnal, sensual and devilish.  To this I do admit guilt.  Not that it mattered, I stood no chance.

Aysen was a handful.  He seems to always be a handful.  I commented to Andy that I was afraid of when he hits the terrible two's.  Andy thinks it can't get worse.  I remember having those same thoughts with Taylei.  On the day she turned two, I swear she bumped it up a level.

Aysen had a great time hanging out at the ball return.  He was clever enough to get a ball out -- so grateful it didn't land on his toes or my toes for that matter.

Taylei worried for a few minutes about staying ahead of her little sister.

She is not lacking in the competitiveness department.  

Keanna is always concerned with style.

She likes to look good.

I'm constantly being told she needs to be in dancing.

The other night she was reading a story with such inflection

I thought I needed to find a way to get her on a stage.  

A family showed up next to ours with little children and when they began to bowl they had the aid of this contraption.  Kyler was doing fine without but as soon as he saw there was a "tool" to aid him he couldn't resist.  He would get a giant running start and hit the ball with all the force he could muster.  I laughed.  Andy tried to correct him.

We had dinner at IHOP and used more gift cards.  The date was quite inexpensive.  I love being around my children.  I love being with my husband.  I love to save a little money.  I love freeways (except for those under construction which is creating a gigantic hindrance to our relationship as of late). I love being back at home snug in my bed.

It was an awesome Valentine's day.  The sugar cookies were once again delicious and I'm still saving my children from the extra cal's.  A giant sacrifice that I'm way to willing to make.

Happy Valentine's Day

Andy climbed out of bed bright and early this morning.  I heard a little commotion but it seems to almost take a natural disaster to get me out of bed one minute earlier than necessary.

During the morning hustle I found a note from Andy.

The note read:  "To find your valentine,  you must follow your instincts, hopefully they are sharp this day, to solve all these clues!!!!  Here is your first clue:  A portal into the past, a reminder of the present."  The family took a break from routine to help me.

Too bad my instincts were anything but sharp.  I looked in the scrapbook sitting next to me.  Nothing.  Andy is smarter than me.  I will admit it any day of the week.  We think on different wave lengths.  His seems to function at a higher, more productive, slow to react, analyze the situation, solve the problem kind of level.

Answer to clue #1:  The kitchen window where I can see the barn but be reminded there are still dishes to be done.  Higher level I tell you.

Clue #2:  "NEWS FLASH, Andy loves Tina"  I once again was stumped.  We only get the newspaper Friday through Sunday and it had been disposed of.  I went in to check my computer, ksl.com, ktvx.com, msn.com and todayshow.com are my links to the world.  Andy shook his head at me and said we needed to watch more television at our house.

Clue #3:  01001001 001000000 0111011111 0111011001100101 0 . . .  the only clue I figured out on my own - the computer.

Clue #4:  "my safety champion"  The only idea that came to my mind was the gate to block the stairs from Aysen.  Taylei figured out the clue immediately but before I had an idea, Andy left for work and the girls headed to school.  Taylei tried to hint as she was walking out the door but no lights came on.  At this point, I quit.  Clueless.  The word describes me in so many ways.  Andy called and said Champion is a brand for this item but ours was a Yukon Gold.  The only thing I could think of now were potatoes.  Andy basically had to spell it out - our gun safe.

Clue #5:  "ready, get set, eat!" lead me to the fridge.  I found a clue carefully taped to the ceiling.  I was so proud of myself until Andy told me I was wrong and had just skipped a bunch of clues.   The real answer: the kitchen table.

Clue #6:  "whirly twirly, you mesmerize me"  By this point Andy decided to just stay on the phone with me and help me through.  Answer:  Our bedroom fan.

Clue #7:  "clothing not recommended"  Not my first guess but the shower was my second.  I found the clue above the shower door, secured in a ziploc bag.  (Maybe Andy presumed it might take me a few days to complete this hunt and he wanted it preserved).

Clue #8:  "ray, ray, where art though?"  The sun!  Which I have missed for the last four months.  The clue was taped to the side of the plant.  I had watered the plant earlier in the morning and didn't even see it.

Clue #9:  "too much black delight will make you sweat"  Once again my instinct was wrong but in honor of the need for heat I found the clue taped to the wood-burning stove.

Clue #10:  "magic light, i only come one when you need to see what you eat"  Luckily I had already found this clue inside the fridge.

Clue #11:  "no leftover keys here"  After looking in our spare key box, Andy reminded me it said "no leftover."  The piano.

Clue #12:  (My favorite clue) "I Love You!"

Taped to each clue was a red puzzle piece.  On the back of the completed puzzle was a love note from my sweetie.  A love note is my favorite kind of present.  I love him!  I will be forever in pursuit of becoming his equal.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!  The day to remind those you love that you love them.  This can never happen to frequently.

Serving Others . . .

Today I was lucky enough to be asked to speak in sacrament meeting with the relief society presidency.  I do use the word lucky in the loosest sense.  We were asked to speak on service . . . I won't add the whole talk but I'll leave a few of the thoughts I shared . . . (thanks to lds.org for making it so easy to research and use the messages given by His apostles).  

JOHN 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Alone in the upper room with the eleven, Jesus uses the last teaching moments of His mortal life to teach this commandment.

Jesus’ unconditional love for us motivated His atoning sacrifice for our sins. Without His love, we would be unable to return to our Heavenly Father. How He lived His life is the example we should follow.  He showed us that we must go about doing good, that the spiritual and physical welfare of our fellowmen is as important as our own, that we should show genuine concern and compassion for all of our Heavenly Father’s children.

Moroni defines Christlike love as charity. “And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.” It’s not enough to say we believe and that we love Him; we must be found possessed with His kind of love for others at that last day.  Like the Savior, we should bless the lives of others by giving of what our life is made up of—our time, our talents, our means, and ourselves.

President Kimball taught that “God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another mortal that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom.” 

What are ways we can serve?  Serving our family, Kindness for our Neighbors, Visiting Teaching/Home Teaching, Missionary Work, Senior Missionary Work, Church Callings, Temple Attendance, Serving in the Temple.

When we seek to serve others, we are motivated not by selfishness but by charity. Throughout His life, the Savior must have often felt tired and pressed upon, with scarcely a moment to Himself; yet He always made time for the sick, the sorrowful, and the overlooked.

When we stand before the Lord to be judged, will He look upon the positions we have held in the world or even in the Church?  Do you think He will care how packed our schedule was or how many important meetings we attended? Do you suppose that our success in filling our days with appointments will serve as an excuse for failure to spend time with our family or serving others?

Mosiah 2:17  And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

"We almost lost Keanna"

These are words you hope to never hear.  Before Andy explained further my mind flashed with different scenarios as to what they may have meant.

Andy took the girls to Brighton to spend some time on the slopes.  They had a late start to their day . . . Andy had duties to attend to at the Klondike.  When he made it home I had a migraine hit with a vengeance.  I went to bed for an hour while he fed everyone lunch.  

They couldn't have chosen a prettier day . . . the sun was shining and it was warm . . . too bad there wasn't any fresh powder.  

Andy took pictures from his phone and sent them to me.  They will NOT load into this post.  I've tried and tried and tried and tried.  

The story behind almost losing Keanna goes something like this:  They were going down the slope (Andy and Taylei were both strapped into snowboards and Keanna was on skis) when Keanna noticed a hill she wanted to ski down.  Andy explained to her how this was NOT a good idea.  They were not able to see over the hill and the yellow caution sign was a pretty good indication injury was imminent if you followed this path.  A few runs later they went to the same area.  Keanna got off the lift and pointed.  She did turn a little as she went down the run but was basically trying to gain maximum speed and distance from the voice of her father.  By the time Andy realized her intentions, it was too late.  She was out of the reach of his ability to stop her. 

The people on the lift started to shout at Andy.  There was a cliff on the other side of the hill and Keanna had launched off of it.  The lift riders told Andy where she had landed and if their words were true she caught more air than Andy or any of her uncles have ever mustered.  

Keanna was walking back up the hill unharmed to retrieve her ski's when Andy reached her.  The snow in this area was still powdery since you were NOT suppose to be there.  Keanna was fine.  The age of miracles exists.  We have been blessed with one right after another.  

Keanna is fine.  I'm hoping she has learned to heed the voice of her father and realize yellow caution signs are put in place for our protection.

The rest of the day went without incident, only a few minor crashes which just means you are testing your limits and becoming better.

The Celebration of Love

Little Miss Kaci has a favorite holiday.  The day of love.  She has been asking for a girl party to celebrate and this is how we spent our Friday evening.

The menu of Kaci's choice: Hawaiian Haystacks.  She let everyone know the best possible recipe.  Kaci only likes to top her rice and sauce with peas, cheese and chinese noodles.

Lisa made Oreo balls for dessert.  I believe I will refrain to comment on the number I ate.  I loved them.  I love everything sweet at this moment.  Andy has nicknamed me JFJ at the moment.  Not quite nice but all too true.  I will gain control of this mortal body one of these days.

Taylei and Keanna were the oldest friends invited.

None of us followed Kaci's recipe for the most delicious meal.  We all seemed to have our own ideas for the best blend of foods.

Grandma Lou brought a gift of truffles for the hostess'.  I'm once again going to refrain from comment.  I did eat more than one but less than five.  Who is counting anyways?

While the food and dishes were being taken care of Miss Kaci and friends decided to help Taylei and Keanna get a little more fancy (we came straight from Taylei's basketball practice and didn't have time to accessorize our outfits). 

Kaci chose for us to make crafts instead of play games.  We made the cutest hair bows with the fabric of our choice.  Taylei gave me instructions of what fabrics to cut for her.  True to form, Keanna wasted no time taking care of business herself.  She folded her own fabric, drew her own circles and did her own cutting.  We had a little discussion for next time.  I'm hoping she caught on to maybe cut all of her circles out of one area instead of random holes everywhere.

The evening was super nice.  Lisa and Kaci were awesome hosts.  Dinner was delicious and my girls can't wait to model their new accessories.