Best Cousin Buds

They needed some more pictures uploaded of them. I am so excited for my kid hopefully they will stay best buds for a long time, I don't have cousins close to my age, so I think I'm more excited for my kid than I should be.

We went out for his cousin's birthday, ever since then my kid has been planning a birthday for himself when his cousins comes over. We made cake last night, we left out the raisins and we didn't make raisin cookies. I don't like raisins so they got cut. He told his grammy he was going to make raisin cake and raisin cookies for his party. If you are lucky I'll update you on the unbirthday/half birthday my kid planned. All they are getting is cake, maybe if I can find some balloons, I'll blow up two. No presents.

Cousin fun

We are the Utah cousins and I love that. We see my kid's paternal cousins all the time (sort of) and I love that, but at the same time, my family is a novelty for me since we don't see them all the time. My sibling's and their families stretch from sea to shining sea. Literally, LA, to Long Island, to Atlanta and about everywhere inbetween, ok not really everywhere in between. Anyway one of my five brothers mentioned to my one sister that he sees me every year whether he needs to or not. That is what is great about being the Utah cousins, almost everyone in my family married someone from this state (its a popular option being mormon) and so they all come to see the other grandparents and stop by to see ME. Its fabulous, I'm not ready to move for that very reason, when would I see my siblings?!

Anyway, my kids have enjoyed seeing some of their maternal cousins. N babe is in seventh heaven with attention.

I love this picture, well I loved the last one too. But this one N babe just seems so happy to be with the "big girls".

While J man is so happy to play with a boy cousin within a year of his age (his cousin is 8 months older). He has LOTS of girl cousins his age on his dad's side, and while enjoys playing with them and playing with their older brothers, there is something to say about having a cousin that wants to play preschool boy games. What those games are I don't know I'm not a three/four year old boy. They seem to be best buds. J is always talking about going to see him or having him come to our house. He is going to be very sad at the end of the summer, especially if we tell him his cousins is going to be moving near grammy.

Here is me with some of my siblings. My sister came out to visit for a week, my brother's family he is here for the summer, and my little brother goes to school out here. And me, while I think I've finally graduated from looking like a teenager. Disagree if you must, just don't tell me. When I picked up my sister from the airport she said I didn't recognize you at first, you looked like an adult. Paraphrased of course, let me assure you this is a compliment.

We have radishes!

My husband grew them in the garden.

The Plan of Salvation by a three year old

Friday morning my son told that Michael Jackson died, he was repeating what he had heard. Then he told me one day he will live again (he was referring to the resurrection). Then he told me about how Jesus had died but now lives again. He retold to me the whole Easter story, how the bad guys killed him, and they covered him with a rock, but now he lives again. It was a little bizarre at first to hear my son relate Michael Jackson to Easter. But yet everything he told me was correct. He is right, one day Michael Jackson will be resurrected, according to our beliefs.

Turns out..

It turns out I'm sexist. I told my husband that and he asked toward men. I said no traditionally sexist, not reverse sexism. I don't think I would be ok with my husband making less than me in our chosen career fields. I could handle jobs that pay the bills, but not career fields. Judge me if you must, you may disagree. I wanted to post but didn't feel like uploading pictures on to my computer. This was the only thing I could think to post. That I could careless if my husband had a low salary for his life, but I probably would judge his "manhood" if he made less than me. Luckily right now I do not get paid, so if one day I made more than him, he would have years of accumulation to win. Although I could careless about other people financial earning abilities, and their relationships. "To each their own", is my motto.
In less judgmental information, my husband and I went water skiing today. Well no one actually water skied, my husband wake boarded, and I kneed boarded and about 8 other people did other water sports, water skiing not included. This is only my second time doing anything like this other than tubing. It was fun, I would like to go more, eventually move to wake boarding. I doubt we will ever own a boat, also jet skis would be fun.
Post Script I think my husband is super extra cute when he wake boards.
In more ramblings that make this post never end. My husband is very tired, while I am just sort of tired. The first time he took me boating was super super cold, and I have never been so cold in water before, so this time is no where near as tiring. Not to mention I didn't go on the lake as much as him this time. I blame it on my lack of inshapeness from my last pregnancy.
But back to the first time boating, five years ago. I spent most of the morning shivering, and all of the afternoon exhausted from all the shivering. I ended up wearing Brent's old wrestling sweats from high school all day because I was so cold. I washed the pants and kept them for awhile, until I decided I didn't really want to be the type of girl who wears her boyfriends sweats/pajamas, so I gave them back.
Now when I'm pregnant I do wear his clothes when I need loungy/work/exercise clothes.
Although maybe only his shirts.
I know interesting anecdote. (Yes, that is sarcasm.)
The end, truly!

Lots of Books

Its been a while since I put my book reviews on my blog so here is a lot. I will admit these reviews leave something to be desired, lets just blame it on the fact that I am no longer a student, instead I care for two other human beings 24 hours a day.
The Sorceress by Michael Scott
rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoy this book, and I'm really enjoying the series. There is really no point in writing a long review, because it is book three, so you shouldn't read it unless you've read book 1 and 2, it will make no sense alone. I am enjoying this series just as much if not more than Harry Potter. But then again I'm 10 years older than when I started reading Harry Potter.


A Mother's Book of Secrets by Linda Eyre
rating: 3 of 5 stars
Had some good advice, and some advice for a wife married to a drastically different man than me. But it was an enjoyable quick read for baby feeding time, and some cute stories to make me think how cute my kids are.

Piratica: Being a Daring Tale of a Singular Girl's Adventure Upon the High Seas by Tanith Lee
rating: 3 of 5 stars
This was an alright teen fiction. The first half was quite slow, but I became rather intrigued by the last quarter. But some of the side pirate characters were hard to keep remember who was who. The book was clean, it didn't have any YA smut. Clearly from the title you can tell it is about a girl who becomes a Pirate, she is trying to follow her mom's path.

Mary Poppins by Pamela L. Travers
rating: 2 of 5 stars
Once I found out this was a book before the Disney movie I went to my library to pick it up. I should have waited a few years until my son was old enough to read it with me. It was a good children's book, but it doesn't have much in the way of adult interest. Winne the Pooh by A A Milne can be enjoy on many different levels what you see with book Mary Poppins is what you get, unlike the character's relationship with other characters in the plot.

Mary Poppins personality is slight different in the book, sometimes it was a relief to read that she was in a bad mood. Currently America likes to believe anyone that takes care of a child should be happy all the time for the betterment of the child. While other times it was just right annoying that Mary seemed to always be a little snippy.

My favorite character was Mr. Banks and he was really only in the first chapter, he reminded me of my husband.

My favorite line was on the first page, "But Mr. Banks, who owns it, said to Mrs. Banks that she could have either a nice, clean, comfortable house or four children. But not both, for he couldn't afford it." Truer words have never been spoken.

The Children's Story by James Clavell
rating: 4 of 5 stars
I would put this book in the genre of Anti-communist lit, with that said it is one of of my favorite books in that genre. I thought I see the point of anti-communist lit, I don't normally like this genre, and only read it when I'm assigned. I thought this book was excellent at making me think. I would recommend this book to everyone. I like the book because it doesn't give you specifics of a closed society, it just presented a way that the apathy of our Nation could give way quickly and easily to communism. It really made me think about my own patriotism, and what I pledge to believe and support. Hopefully I'll remember this book, and teach my children more than just lip service.

3 Willows: The Sisterhood Grows by Ann Brashares
rating: 2 of 5 stars
I liked three out of the four traveling pant books, so I thought I would give Brashares another try. This book was ok, just like the two stars suggests. YA authors seem to be too set on continuing on with the story even when the story is dead. It would have been better if it was its own book. It was about some 14 year old girls, and maybe I'm just getting too old. I was a lot closer to the age of the girls in the first Pant book, when I read it, than I am to 14 now. The book just seem to try too hard. But by the middle I wanted to know the specifics to how it would end, but the general plot was predictable.


View all my reviews.

Happy Father's Day

Our daddy got three things, because there is three of us other than him. A tie, the DVD The Gods Must Be Crazy I and II, and the book Patroits. And the ugliest cake anyone ever did see, I was still exhausted from being sick, so it didn't turn out well. Our son loved it anyway. By the way no I didn't have the swine flu.

Turns out

Last night I woke up at midnight quite ill. Apparently that is the reason all I could do yesterday was sit on the couch and obsess. I still feel sick, but I now can see the world is not tumbling down around me. I knew a crappy doctors visit, and an upending move should not shake me like it had, but yet emotional I could not snap out of it.
Unfortunately I have chosen to blog even when it is not always rainbows and butterflies, so you can see all my unbalanced thoughts.
Although I still don't feel like uploading pictures, I don't know why?

I told you I had a bad day yesterday.

I didn't get dressed until 10:30 today. I didn't feel like it, the only reason I got dressed was I was embarrassed when someone knocked on the door, plus play group was in an hour.
Anyway, I told my husband I didn't feel like going but my son need to get out. He said whatever you always come home happy as lark from play group. (That is a direct quote, I think.) He is right I need human interaction with my peer group as much as my children. When it was over, I said, well I should get home so I can get back to feeling sorry for myself. I said it was a complete joke, but I think it was appreciated, another mom was so relieved that other people have bad days. Although its not quite a joke, its always easiest to feel sorry for myself when nothing is actually wrong, and I'm alone. Anyway, today when I came home, I don't know if happy as lark described me, but at least I got some fresh air and perspective.
1. I have been thinking for weeks, even though I have a stupid rental washer and dryer (its not unusual to have to dry my clothes for 4 hours) at least I have a washer and dryer. I can't imagine living a 100 years ago and hand washing clothes. That would have been by far the worst part of no technology. Thank goodness I live in modern society. I love having a washer and dryer, I am so blessed
2. A month or so ago, for Stake Relief Society meeting, former General Relief Society President Bonnie D. Parkins came in spoke. She showed us pictures of women all over the world and told their stories. One set a pictures was from a hospital in an underdeveloped nation, which one I have no idea, she and some other leaders had brought infant resuscitation kits for the nurses there. As I listened to what she said, I didn't really listen, I just thought how blessed I was, that my daughter was born in a country that has hospitals that have the ability to resuscitate newborns. If you only read my blog you probably didn't know she was born with the cord around her neck twice not breathing. Luckily the hospital staff was very capable, and 10 minutes later she was in our arms healthy. But the staff spent the first few minutes shoving tubes to get her to the healthy adjective. It was pretty much the scariest 5 minutes of my life, I can't tell you exactly what time it happened, but I remember when all of sudden she was fine, the entire mood of the room changed, lightened. Until I saw those pictures of women in the hospital 3 women to every two beds recovering, I don't think I understood how blessed I was to have a healthy 5 month old daughter sleeping her crib while her daddy babysat.
Life is good. Life is blessed. What else matters. No matter what the doctor says my daughter is healthy. I know it, my husband knows it. And I will still be extremely blessed even after I move to a much smaller place, if anything much more blessed.
I will try to stop complaining, but no promises.

Some more cute pictures

Unhealthy?

You be the judge... does this girl look sick? I already know my parents answer. Sure she is a skinny mini, but she is getting some nice thigh rolls, and has a good double chin. Sure her cheeks are no where near her brother's standard but they are plump enough. I just love the thigh rolls.

Here are my kids in the bath together. They love taking baths together. My daughter splashes with joy the whole time.

Here is my son around the same time the pediatrician freaked out that he had dropped growth percentiles. I sure he think he looks unhealthy, with his fat cheeks, his double chin, sausage link fingers, and fat round feet.

Personally I think she looks happy and heathly. But what do I know I'm sure her mom, I just the one who takes care of her needs every second of the day.

Nothing like looking at pictures of my children to put me in a better mood.

emo

No I'm not emo, but I'm feeling a little emotional so maybe I should get some emo CDs. I know this blog is in dire need of some pictures but I'm really just not feeling up to it.
Yesterday when I woke up tired I figured the day would be like any other. And yes well I guess it was. I took my daughter to her 6 month well child visit. If I remember correctly, she is 14 lbs and 25.5 inches. Which means she has dropped weight percentiles. I am not concerned, she fits my father's guidelines for a healthy child, she smiles, has bright eyes, fat cheeks, and is active. Not to mention have you seen pictures of my husband growing up? He was small for his age to say the least. Not to mention my son drop weight percentiles too. My doctor doesn't necessarily agree. Luckily she is not doing anything hasty like the doctor I had for my son, who did all sorts of blood work, and traumatized a young mother, to find out that my son was perfectly healthy. I'm also not concerned about my daughter because she is very active, and army crawls EVERYwhere. I have to start feeding her cereal three times a day, and come back in a month for a weight check. There is pretty much nothing worse for my self esteem than to take my child to the doctor, not even high school or middle school. (The dentist on the other hand is a differently story.) To top it all off my daughter vomited all over my husband last night after getting immunized.
In the afternoon we went to go look at apartments. I was all aboard on moving to a smaller, cheaper place. I still am, I just underestimated the amount of humble pie I would have to swallow. Eighteen hours later, I'm getting use to the fact that life goes on, lots of people make sacrifices for education and financial security. But when I first got in the car after looking at an apartment I wanted to cry. I didn't, I acted like a big girl and moved on. Not really, but at least no tears fell. Not to mention the real reason the day sucked was the doctor implied if my daughter doesn't gain weight she needs to be put on formula. While I mentally made a note to ask people for new doctor referrals. I'm entitled to a second opinion, and often wonder if its worth driving to springville for the only doctor I've liked. My son actually dropped growth percentiles before. The doctor and nurse were unconcerned they mentioned it, but said I wouldn't worry about unless something else happens. You are teeny so of course you'll have small kids. I added plus my husband is barely larger than me. Ahh, to have a doctor I like.....
As my husband said last night, the only time my daughter is ever sick is when the doctors pokes her full of dead strains of deadly diseases. But yet we still immunized because you never know when my husband will come home with the opportunity to move to a foreign country in less than a month.

Tweeting

I joined twitter, for a few reasons:

1. It was the cover story for TIME last week.
   
2. I don't really like facebook.
   
3. My husband and I were talking previous generations who like their digital cameras bulky like 35 mms. I asked if we would be like that when we were 50+, he said probably. I said but my parents aren't like that, they have ipods, iphones, small cameras, etc He said yeah, but I don't care about staying up on latest technologies.

Long story short, I joined twitter in hopes I won't be the equivalent of the 50 year old with a large digital camera that has less capabilities.

post script I really want a blu ray player

Living Arragements

So as always our plans have changed, and they could continue to change until our signatures are on paper in some legal way.
House shopping didn't work out yet again. This is the third time we have looked into buy a house, maybe more depending on how you count. This is the farthest we have made it so far. Previous times we decided we either did not really have enough money for it, or we decided that prices were too high. I'm glad that previous times we didn't buy because we would now be belly up.
This is time the only houses we wanted either foreclosed before we could do a short sale, or the Realtor/bank (not sure which party) sat on our offer for months waiting for a higher one. They have recently changed the law so now the bank has to look at the first offer given on a short sale. (the only houses for sale are short sales) If I think about it, it makes me sad, if that law would have been in an effect in January, I would be living in my own home right now, with animal rights on the property, with the most awesome patio out there, and a large backyard. But I don't so I don't dwell on it. I had a very clear impression months ago while I was chopping vegetables for dinner that whatever happened with that house would work for our good. I'm hoping that putting my sad thoughts out on the blogsphere will be liberating, and I'll get over it. (I know you aren't suppose to get emotionally attached, but apparently I did. But not enough to over pay on a house that needed work. We could have made another higher offer but we said no.)
We wanted to move out of the city, but we aren't. We will be renting for at least another year, hopefully two, but not in this house. We are looking for an apartment in the city, because if I'm going to rent I want to be close to everything. We are hoping to drop our rent payments about $300-400, in order to pay for school. Right now we are looking at moving into a complex with a pool and a playground. There are down falls to apartment complexes, but there are also pluses, especially since my husband will never be home between being a full time student and having a full time job, I want neighbors. I have no neighbors here, I live by a single man who is never home and travels a lot, an elderly woman who is gone all day, and deafer than a doorknob, an elderly couple who although I've met are kind of like hermits that don't get along, and a half way house. If something was to happen while my husband was gone, I would have to call someone who doesn't live by me. That was one of the nice things about my previous 4-plex, I knew exactly who was home when.
So yes, we will be moving. Yes, it will be smaller than this place. Yes, it takes effort to move, so why did we move here if we wouldn't be here for long?! Sometimes I wonder that, but I definitely wouldn't have wanted to live in a small place this past year, when there was no need to pay tuition. Plus, we got to host christmas for part of my family this year, it was nice to have a place to house those who came. Good news, we tighten our belts when the rest of the country did because of the recession. We didn't really feel the recession, but we knew we needed to pay tuition, and as of what my husband told me yesterday, we have money to pay our upcoming bill for August tuition.
Long story short, we move a lot. I can't afford to not pay my tithing. I need those blessings. I wish food storage wasn't a commandment, it takes up a lot of space. I need to dejunk my possessions.

Musings of a three year old

This morning, my son woke up and told me, "we have the best family." I agree. Then he went on, "Sometimes we have hard days and hard nights." "We also have the best days and nights." "Let's have a best day." Ok.

A few Thoughts

1. I learned a lesson: On Friday I told my mom, my husband, kids and I were going to help clean the church on Saturday morning. I said you may wonder why? Honestly its one of the last things I want to do. My mother said, I don't wonder, its because you've made covenants. I said OH REALLY? So now I know why my parents taught us to always give your all in the church, so we would know how to live up to the covenant we made to sacrifice our time, talents, etc. Honestly I never knew why I just knew it was what I was suppose to be doing.
2. How could young mother be bored? Between cooking, cleaning, reading, teaching, laundry, I don't know how I would have time to be bored. But you add it, date night (or whatever to keep a marriage strong), seeing extended family, grocery shopping, visiting teaching, other church calling, supporting husband's church calling, going to the temple, yard work, etc ... seriously I do not have time to be bored. Which I'm grateful for, I'm glad to be busy even if its extremely wearing.
3. We got a new stake president today (the leader of, stake--A group of congregations or wards, generally about three thousand to five thousand members in five to ten congregations.). It was sobering, he has two small children, a two year old and a seven month old, his wife is the activity day leader in their ward. Ahh! How could some so similar to me become the stake president?! Although I'm sure he still extremely young, he has owned his house in the stake longer than I've been married. I never really thought a stake president's wife would have the same calling as me, and the same number as kids as me. She will definitely have my prayers, oh yeah and her husband too. Although she might have the hard job.
4. I will miss our previous stake President's wife, she gives amazing talks. I guess that is what 15ish years of sitting without your husband while he is leading will do to a woman. He first got called to be a bishop when she had three small children, now the children are married.
   
5. I feel like church is a parade of my family. First my son needs to go out to the bathroom. Then the baby needs to be fed, then my son needs to go to the bathroom again. Then my daughter needs a new diaper, then my daughter decides she can't handle the pew anymore. (My son decided that too, unfortunately for him that's not an option.) How many times can my family walk up and down the three flights of stairs in the period of two hours?
6. I love my family, especially my husband, and that he is willing to holds my screaming daughter outside.
   

Happy Half Birthday to Me!

This little one is already six months old. Today. Six months ago, she began her life as a living breathing human. Today.

Thinking about this for a while now

I realize I have no real trials at this point in my life. All the things I complain about are really blessings. Loud children, laundry, dishes, dinner, cleaning, paying for my husband's MBA, paying bills, staying within my budget, crying, too much stuff. But yet at the same time life sometimes suffocating. I have so say no matter what happens in the day, no matter how overwhelmed I get, I'm glad I going through all of this with my husband at my side. Its such a relief when I'm so stressed out to know my husband is passed out a sleep next to me. (Not literally passed out, it takes great effort on my part, to calm down, relax and go to sleep. My husband's head it the pillow and he is out.) I was extremely stressed a month or so ago, with budgets, income, up coming tuition, rent, buying a house?, staying, moving. But at night when I would lay down next to my husband it was nice to know, if I have to endure to the end I'm glad I get to do it with him. And in fact it makes me happy to know I get to endure with him. Some days by the time I get the kids to bed I feel so bogged down I want to scream, but to know that I'm living and doing all of this with Brent makes me happy.
Plus he was the one to point out to me a few months ago, all my trials are blessings.

No control

In a recent Time Magazine, there was a characterture of Obama, Bird Bird and Elmo. My three year old son was flipping through the pages and said, mom, why is Obama with Bird Bird and Elmo?
Right then and there I realized, my son's learning is not controlled by me. Not that I have a problem with him recognizing our President of the United States, I just don't remember teaching him that. Although I could chalk it up to being such a fantastic political scientist mother, but like I just said I can't take credit for what my son learns. Although now that I think about it, I'm sure my son has heard his father and me talk about Obama a million and half times.

Reason # nine hundred and ....

One reason I love my husband is when we leave the house in the afternoon while it is still light and we won't be home until after its dark, he always remembers to turn the porch light on. I never ever remember to turn the porch light on if it is light.

Internetting

While my parents were in town, I listen to my mom and uncle talk. Long story short, I ended up looking up Elder Bednar's May CES Fireside, Things as They Really Are. It was a very fascinating talk, but not really in a good way. It brought a lot of points that have caused me to think. The talk impressed me so much, we listen to it for Family Home Evening. Normally we try to have lessons geared toward my son, but instead we listened to this. Near the end when Elder Bednar was bearing testimony, my son did look up from his blocks and say, "Mom, he said Jesus" Yes, he did, he knows Jesus and talks to him for us-- so see we all got something from it.

Back to the talk. I don't think I ever realized just how important my moral body was until I listened to this talk. Yes, I always knew it was needed for eternity, but I learned a lot from the talk. The first thing that stood out to me was,

When any of Heavenly Father’s children misuse their physical tabernacles by .... worshiping the false idol of body image, whether their own or that of others, Satan is delighted.

This is a slight stretch from that, but when he said that, I thought wow, every time I think a degrading thought about my body, I'm denying the supreme gift of Heavenly Father's ultimate creation. Then he goes on to say,

Today I raise an apostolic voice of warning about the potentially stifling, suffocating, suppressing, and constraining impact of some kinds of cyberspace interactions and experiences upon our souls. [...] I plead with you to beware of the sense-dulling and spiritually destructive influence of cyberspace technologies...

My mom taught me to always pay close attention, when they say "apostolic" where its an apostolic blessing or warning.

If the adversary cannot entice us to misuse our physical bodies, then one of his most potent tactics is to beguile you and me as embodied spirits to disconnect gradually and physically from things as they really are. In essence, he encourages us to think and act as if we were in our premortal, unembodied state. And, if we let him, he can cunningly employ some aspects of modern technology to accomplish his purposes. Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, ear buds, twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication. Beware of digital displays and data in many forms of computer-mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience.

Consider again the example I mentioned earlier of a young couple recently married in the house of the Lord. An immature or misguided spouse may devote an inordinate amount of time to playing video games, chatting online, or in other ways allowing the digital to dominate things as they really are. Initially the investment of time may seem relatively harmless, rationalized as a few minutes of needed relief from the demands of a hectic daily schedule. But important opportunities are missed for developing and improving interpersonal skills, for laughing and crying together, and for creating a rich and enduring bond of emotional intimacy. Progressively, seemingly innocent entertainment can become a form of pernicious enslavement.

To feel the warmth of a tender hug from an eternal companion or to see the sincerity in the eyes of another person as testimony is shared—all of these things experienced as they really are through the instrument of our physical body—could be sacrificed for a high fidelity fantasy that has no lasting value. If you and I are not vigilant, we can become “past feeling” (1 Nephi 17:45), as did Laman and Lemuel long ago. (the bold is my own emphasis added)

I found that part extremely interesting, my husband and I spent a lot of time chatting online when we were first friends, so I often still find it exciting when we chat, although we have nothing exciting to chat about anymore. So it really stood out in my mind when he said, "for laughing and crying together," and "To feel the warmth of a tender hug from an eternal companion or to see the sincerity in the eyes of another person as testimony is shared" As I thought about it, I thought how true, it is way more exciting to be in the same room as Brent than be in the same instant message conversation. Not to mention as I've thought about this, I've realize lately I've found chatting with him frustrating, just because it limits the amount the depth of communication.

For your happiness and protection, I invite you to study more diligently the doctrine of the plan of salvation—and to prayerfully ponder the truths we have reviewed. I offer two questions for consideration in your personal pondering and prayerful studying:

1. Does the use of various technologies and media invite or impede the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost in your life?

2. Does the time you spend using various technologies and media enlarge or restrict your capacity to live, to love, and to serve in meaningful ways?

You will receive answers, inspiration, and instruction from the Holy Ghost suited to your individual circumstances and needs.

Ever since I've graduated from college, and become a stay at home mom, and could potentially stay on the computer all day, I've often pondered those questions. I've noticed the less I want to the use the computer, the less my son notices the computer and turns it on. At the same time, I love that I can easily stay in constant with some many friends and family that I know longer live by. He ends by say,

I testify that God lives and is our Heavenly Father. He is the Author of the plan of salvation. Jesus is the Christ, the Redeemer, whose body was bruised, broken, and torn for us as He offered the atoning sacrifice. He is resurrected; He lives; and He stands at the head of His Church in these latter days. To be “encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15) will be a real and not a virtual experience. (emphasis added)

Cute Kids

I'm pretty fond my children. So here are some cute things they are up to.
J man often surprises us with what he says. His dad was out of town this weekend, and he often gets very sad in the evenings without his dad. Saturday night, he looks at me and says I'm having a hard night. When every things seems to be falling apart and everything turns into a tragedy I ask are you having a hard day? he has broaden the phrase just a bit. In church he couldn't figure out why dad wasn't there, and in the middle, he looks at me on the verge of tears and says, I'm having a hard church day. But normally life is good, and he will look outside and say, this is the best day, or this is the best night.
He also loves to exercise (if I'd only do it more). When ever he has to reach or stretch for something he tells me, I'm doing a chair exercise, or I'm doing a where ever he is exercise.
I have a friend who had a little boy just a few weeks after I had my daughter. We were talk yesterday in church, when N babe started talking to her son. She talked and talked to him, and he just stared in rapture, waiting until there was a pause in N's speech where he would just add one coo, and then let Nan continue. The real cute thing was N reached out and held his hand the whole time. She loves to hold hands, and overall be very cuddly.
N babe is getting better and better at moving each day. She can now move rooms in search of us. Today I was vacuuming, in the other room, and as I turned the corner there she was crawling toward me screaming. It was pretty much the saddest thing I've seen in a long time. We repeated it later on, when I put her on the floor in my room to play, and I went to vacuum the stairs. When I finished and went to save her, but I didn't need to go far, she had (army) crawled all the way to the stairwell. To repeat the words of her dad, when he found her eating magnets today, nothing is safe anymore. Needless to say all the magnets are now hidden. She spends most of her awake time rocking on her hands and knees trying to figure out how to move like that until, she falls forward and reverts to army crawling.

After Breakfast

I have only thought about this post since the talk was given. A few years ago I happened to see one of my brother's right after conference. I never knew to come to conference with questions until he said he expected a talk to answer What should he do with M.H.'s ministry? which is code for his rental house. This was a completely new and foreign concept at the time. This year as I thought what answers do I need, the only thing I could thing that was pressing me was how to arrange my finances to comfortably pay for my husband's MBA.
I expected a vague answer, I have had a hard time understand this principle that my brother taught. Boy was I surprised when the first thing I heard gave me my answer. You see we slept in, and although I heard President Monson's opening address, I wasn't really paying attention because I was eating breakfast. I am sure I can't relate the feelings of shocked when I heard Elder Hales give me a much more complete answer than I ever expected. I think this talk was overwhelming for some, for me it was liberating to hear "just stop". He lays out everything I want to accomplish with my money.

To provide providently, we must practice the principles of provident living: joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.

Then he said,

Being provident providers, we must keep that most basic commandment, “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. Some of us feel embarrassed, ashamed, less worthwhile if our family does not have everything the neighbors have. As a result, we go into debt to buy things we can’t afford...

Until he said this I never realized looking at my neighbor's new car longingly was coveting. Luckily for me I few months ago I stopped looking at new Outbacks thinking why I don't I have one of those. Oh because I can't afford one without a car payment, and I have a perfectly good outback that is paid off. Ok, seriously when he said we can not covet, I realized in all things I covet. Growing up as a kid this seemed like a far off sin, like murder, but seriously I've started to realize how this effects the majority of people every day. I've sincerely tried very hard to stop looking at other people's things. I think its helped in my family finances. No longer am I thinking what is wrong with us that I don't have money to go buy all the latest summer clothes. Or how come I'm not getting a master bathroom in my next house. I'm rambling, so moving on. Just know I found it liberating to hear someone tell me stop coveting, sometimes we need reminders of what we already know.
He goes on to teach two questions we should ask.
1. Can I afford?
2. Do I really need it even if I can afford it? Does it provide any spiritual benefit to my family?
I've started to apply this all the time. Not just in big purchases, because not only can you be pennywise and pound foolish, but you can be penny foolish.
I have an example of both since I've heard this talk.
I realized how much stuff my family has, and have been able to get my house in better order. But its really helping. I've realized although it keeps my son happy temporally, my son does not need something everytime we go to the store. Not only does he not need it, but am I hindering him because of it? If he gets something even if its only a buck or less am I teaching him to be self entitled? Then upon thinking, I took it one step farther. Do I get myself something that is not needed by the family everytime I go to the store? Is my child just a child, or is he learning from me? I don't really know the answer to this question, but I have definitely started to delay some seemly cheap little purchase.

Now pound foolish. Elder Hales said,

Whenever we want to experience or possess something that will impact us and our resources, we may want to ask ourselves, “Is the benefit temporary, or will it have eternal value and significance?” Truthfully answering these questions may help us avoid excessive debt and other addictive behavior.

First of, I truly believe teaching your children, and yourself, in short family, myself, to live with in our means is an eternal principle. So I recently read about this family and all the fun they have had over the years at the vacation property. They started small, originally it had no dwelling, then they (the parents and children) lphysically built a little log cabin, they have slowly upgraded over the years. So when I came across some vacation property, I was sorely tempted to buy. I thought that it has eternal value, and significance, think of all the years we will use it. Houses will come and go, but vacation property you can use for your entire life. I can take my children, and then their children. I was really selling myself on the idea. Then a thought popped in my head, everything in its needed time. I'm trying to put my husband through grad school, not shopping for vacation property. In a few years shopping around for vacation property wouldn't be a bad idea, I do think it has eternal value and significance, but not at this season of my life.
So this may sound weird but this was my favorite talk from conference.

Anniversary

It has been a year. My son has been wearing underwear for a year now. In case anyone wants to relive the joy, here are my frustrations. As a side note, betsy wetsy no longer has a lazy eye. It was a miracle as it potty training. A miracle on so many levels.
1. That the majority of the people in the world are potty trained
2. That people decided to have more than one child after potty training
3. That I survived
4. That my son survived
5. That I decided to have a second child, oh wait I was pregnant before I potty trained
There really is an end, I can't remember the last time my son had a wet accident, and that is really a good thing.

Naked

A week ago I put my baby down for her nap. She started fussing, and I hoped to ignore her, she continued to the point it bother her brother so I went to check on her. I came and found this. My baby was naked, she had wiggled out of her clothes and blanket. Of course she couldn't take a nap. I got her dressed and put her back down 15 minutes later. I'm happy to report it was a happy ending. By the way, I'm extremely untimely in my posts lately.

A silly post

Yesterday my husband and I ran to the store to get hamburger buns, while other fully capable adults were at my house with my children. My husband opened my door when we walked out to the car. Then we held hands as we walked into the store, until the point that our hands were too full of groceries. As we walked in the store, I was full of giddy. It was so exciting that I got to hold Brent's hand. Holding hands is not a rare of an occurrence, I just find it sometimes unbelievable that I got to married him, and he wants to hold my hand.

Busy

We have been quite busy this past week. My parents came into town for the weekend, to see my grandparents, so we spent most of the weekend at my grandparents.

Then my mom came back to my house for a few days. We have been busy play, shopping, and beading.

Then my brother and his family moved here for the summer. (Not here as in my house, as in 20 minutes away.) I had never met my niece Mary before. But as you can tell she and my daughter became best of friends. Even though my baby tried to suck her thumb with her cousin's hair, her cousin did not try to poke her eyes out.

Tender Mercies

Eight days ago, I struggled through the weekend. Nothing bad happen, my life is still very blessed, I just had a hard time with the amount of noise. Sometimes I wonder how I can be a mother of more than two children, because the noise level is already so high in my opinion. I'm not too good with noise unless I'm making it. I was rather stressed, plus I think I was making my husband feel unappreciated since it hadn't even been a week since he took me on vacation. Then I went to close my blinds, it was dusk, and I didn't need everyone staring at me. When I noticed this...

Two roses, I went outside and found a huge rose bush full of happiness.

Look at all these lovely long stem pink roses. It gave me the will power to be a better mom and wife, and to snap out of my bad mood.

So now I have roses in my house everyday. When they start wilting I just go get more. Its wonderful.