Girl Time

There was a time when the Father and Sons outing would come along that I would bide my time alone. I never really thought it would be different, but fantasized having a couple girls to enjoy the night with. I just couldn't see the future. I wouldn't have been able to wait had I known that these two darlings would be a part of my life, making my girls' night alone so much more special.

We started out the night with a trip to the store and picked up this fun and princess girly tea set.

Then we went to the dollar store and picked up the girls' favorite treats:

And had a fun night including a tea party, nail painting and Barbie movie watching {not pictured, we were having to much fun to remember to take pix ;)}. 

It was the BEST "girl time" I've EVER HAD.

I look forward to more in the future!

July 4th- with 7 camping guidelines

There are certain traditions we just can't (or don't want to) get away from. We have a few of those on the 4th of July. Every year we decorate the children's bikes and head out to the flag raising and ward breakfast. 

In the past, Bryon has been the one to decorate the bikes with the children. I was worried this year and new we would miss his help and enthusiasm. As it turns out, though, Alyssa pulled through. I didn't have to worry about a thing! She decorated she and Amy's bikes and paraded that parking lot in 

 STYLE!

 I thought she had Amy looking like Ms. Liberty.

 Michael enthusiastically helped Amy around that parade. 

 Justin took off so quickly, I never could get a still shot of him. It was a lot of fun to watch the children enjoy their traditional ritual. 

We left a little after the breakfast to Newport, which we had done a couple years ago. We decided this time to camp at South Beach and watch the fireworks from the pier again. I told Steve that if we are to camp, we are to do it my way. Anyone that knows me well, knows that I'm no happy camper. The majority of my experiences have been poor, to say the least. Steve was willing to do just about anything to help me have a positive experience. I really appreciate that, because this time I truly walked away wanting to do it again! 

Here are the steps to a good camping experience:

1. Have somebody willing to go ahead, set up camp before you arrive-The boys came up ahead of us, so by the time we got to the campsite they had the tent almost up. Steve helped them finish the job. 

2. Only take food that is easy to prepare- Steve and the children roasted hot dogs and had them in buns with ketchup and mustard. My feeling is, if you can't cook it over the fire with ease, why are you taking it camping? 

I couldn't eat hot dogs without a penalty on my feel great in 8 challenge, so I prepared chicken shish-kabobs before hand. They were all wrapped in foil and ready to go on site. They were OH, SO GOOD!

3. Have fun-We enjoyed some time together and roasted s'mores after we ate dinner. 

Amy is Tyler's little shadow when we go places. She loves her big brother!

4. Enjoy the scenery-While we were sitting on the dock, Tyler told me to look at the boat. We were amazed to see a boat named the same EXACT name as our cute daughter Alyssa. Isn't that cool?! We wouldn't have noticed this had we not been enjoying our surroundings. 

5. Have fun- While waiting for the fireworks, the children made goofy faces and goofed around with each other.

Notice the guy in the background, he even got involved!

 6. Have activities prepared- When the children got wrestless, we always had an activity to capture their interest, first it pictures, then pop-its, then it was mini snickers (after clean up), glow sticks came after dark, potty trips

                                                      after which the fireworks began.

 7. Do things you all enjoy- Nothing like a good smooch with your honey...

eating candy...

 and taking your own fun photos. 

 Follow these guidelines and you are sure to have a wonderful camping experience!

Que valle bien!;)

Learning through illness

I have had a great deal of learning in the last two weeks. With all the busy going on and all the desire to get things done, I fell sick two weeks ago today. You'd think that by now I would be well, but I'm not. The symptoms have only been added upon, making it difficult to do much more than to rest and do the minimum required, and I don't mean a load of laundry and dishes. I mean getting a child dressed and then doing their hair after a 15 min. break. 

 It all started with a cough and congestion, two days flat in bed. Feeling like I was on the mend by one week's time, I figured it ran it's course. Amy and Steve had it as well and I had taken Amy in for an ear infection she ended up having in both ears. She woke up today announcing she felt good.

 I see this as a positive thing. Steve had two days where he was weak, so he went to bed early. He never takes time off, so that wasn't so unusual. He has to cough and spit a lot. It's become the norm around here for all of us. The chorus grows in voices each day. It's nice to have someone that has overcome it and left it behind (Amy). I felt good enough on Mon. to think I could go on my regular walk.

 It left me drained, so I took it easy the rest of the day. Tues. I started vomiting and diarrhea together with a migraine (which thankfully my neighbor gave me medicine for that kicked it). As of three days ago, I was down 7 lbs. The symptoms let up a little here and there, making me think it would go away, only to realize I was wrong. It's disappointing and often difficult to get through a day. I decided one day that I was weak due to undernourishment, although I've been able to keep down plenty of water. Standing for 3-5 min. is the max for me, so I started trying to eat more and regularly after a blessing Steve gave me told me I'd know what to eat. Turns out, I do. Problem is, my stomach hurts for at least an hour afterwords and it's everything I can do to make it stay down. 

The reason I'm telling you all of this is that I'm learning to enjoy the little things. I'm learning that when I look into my children's faces when they speak, and enjoy what they have to say, I find true joy. Complete, true, joy is something that isn't experienced all too often in this life. I don't believe we will really know it until we reach the other side, having completed our work here on this earth. But it is found in the quiet moments that are not rushed. Although this has been a challenge, I'm grateful to be reminded that it is the smaller things that bring us true happiness.

 I'm so caught up in the big things so much of the time, that I tend to forget to take time out and just enjoy each and every treasure the Lord has set before me each and every day. 

Hydrangea picking (left to right: Amy, Alyssa, Jalihya)

What a gift.

Dance in the Rain

I never posted about my trip to Portland with my long time friend and former V.T. Companion Marilee Stewart. 

We have been friends for 8 years now and really enjoy each others company. Clear back in May or June of last year (2012), she asked me if I would come with her to Time Out For Women. 

Those of you who know me well, know it is a hard thing for me to leave my family for very long, much less for an over-nighter. This time away, however, proved to be of great value for me and the things I learned from it.

Friday night was spent listening to motivational talks and music from President Oak's daughter, Jenny Baker. She is a superb concert violinist and played so beautifully. The following day was enjoyed with a talk from Sheri Dew, as well as a few other amazing speakers, with music by Hilary Weeks.
The talks were full of so much inspiration, but what touched me the most, was a song Hilary Weeks sang. It was the thing I needed to be reminded of the most. It actually caught me by surprise, the way it made me feel. The tears just came...

It reminded me that we need to just enjoy life. Not to let things get to us so much that we forget to recognize the joy.

Isn't this why they have "Time out for Women"? 

Monday Mornings

Often I'm so wiped out on Sunday evening after waking up at 5:30 or 6 in the morning after a Sat. of working hard in the yard, preparing for church and Sunday dinner by making homemade roll dough, preparing a lesson, getting children ready and peeling potatoes for the pot, going to church and fulfilling those responsibilities then making dinner and serving it, that I go to bed with the kitchen looking like this:

So what do I wake up to? That's right, the kitchen looking just like I left it. There are no magic fairies for me that come and miraculously take it upon themselves to clean up the messes left from the week before. It simply looks just like I left it when I fell into bed.
(The above picture is the morning of July 8th, after coming back from our 4th of July camping and getaway week.)
The wonderful thing is though, when the family wakes up, their magic fairy proves to have made her way having taken two hours to get the kitchen looking like this:

(Now that's more like it. *sigh*)

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE!!

Notable Firsts!

In the last year, Justin has reached a few milestones! These are so exciting to us, I thought we'd share. His brothers taught him how to blow bubbles with bubble gum. Here is the bubble he blew today:

 Last week he lost his first tooth. Wow, what a cutie! He enjoyed the money from the tooth fairy. :)

 And just a couple months ago, Jeremy taught him how to ride his bike without training wheels...yes he's wearing his pajama bottoms. (I'll give you a reward if you can get him to get dressed every day-I'm mean, other than PJs!)

                      And now, he is learning to tie is shoe. Is there anything stopping this boy?!

I hope not ;)