Grandma's Visit

Grandma/Mom Ras flew up to Reno to be with us over Benjamin's Birthday. It was so kind of her. Having her company was such a nice refresher for me and such a treat for the kids and Stewart. I'm not going to lie, residency is taking it's toll and its sort of wearing Stewart and I out so to have her sweetness in our home and all her help just made us feel so loved and supported. That means the world to us. I think she had a good time too. :) Mom Ras, Thanks for coming. We love you and miss you!

ROAR!

Dinosaurs have taken over our house! :O) Well, just for a day. Benjamin is THREE and to celebrate we threw him a big old Dinosaur Party. Oh, I felt so blessed that everything came together as well as it did. Throwing indoor parties in a tiny house is tricky. But I had special help this year. Mom Ras flew up to celebrate with us and help me out since the Mr. of the house wasn't able to get any time off and we had a ticket we needed to use up before it expired. I didn't realize how much I needed her help until the day of and then I was soooooooo grateful she was there. I felt that the Lord was helping me a lot with this party. I had a week to pull it together and I just felt guided....making the cake I was inspired, how to make the birthday banner, what food to serve, like "oh, how nice that the carrots and chips and ketchup all match the theme",....just a million little things he helped me with. Makes me feel so loved by my Father in Heaven cares enough about my stressing about my son's third birthday party to help me out a bunch. So happy.

I think the party was a great success and I hope Ben felt really special on his big day. This was his first friends birthday party and I think he was a little shy that it was all about him...poor middle child isn't used to that. But I think he could get used to it. :O) I hope he has more opportunities to get spoiled with the spot light. Enjoy the pictures I got of the party.


The kids first came in and used super cute foam dinosaur stickers to make their own dinosaur picture, then we ate lunch, after that they went on a hunt to find the dinosaur eggs that needed help hatching. They followed the dinosaur foot prints to the nest and then each got their own eggs to break open and keep their very own dinosaur.

We had a great turn out. All but one kid I invited was able to come and even two showed up who weren't invited. LOL! The neighbor kids across the street saw we were having a party and invited themselves over. Too funny. I sort of went crazy on Oriental Trading Company website and ordered a ton of inflatable dinosaurs. They turned out to be super fun and the kids have enjoyed playing with them for days. The huge T-REx was their favorite. :O)

She Walks!

Just before Genevieve turned 10 months she started to walk. Oh, she is delighted with herself and loves walking. She is as cute as ever and spreads cuteness wherever she goes. She loves her mommy but isn't too shy of strangers. She likes trying to make silly sounds. She says "mama" and "dada" but I am not sure if she uses them as words or not but nonetheless I love hearing her say "mama". I am adjusting to having her walking around the house and mourning that her baby days are fading away. But I am hopeful that my throbbing hands and wrists will have more of a chance to recover now that she can walk and wants to be held a little less. O q1h, pain or not I still love holding her. I want to hold on to her baby days as much as possible. And as a perk she is my instant pick-me-up. Whenever I am glum she makes me feel all bright and cheery again. We adore her and are so grateful she is our little baby girl.

Thanksgiving In Burbank

I went back and forth so many times about if I was going to go to my parents for Thanksgiving. I felt bad because I would be leaving Stew all by himself but in the end I needed to go back home and get some hugs and yummy cooking from my mom. So I loaded us up and off we went. The drive was so smooth it felt like nothing at all even with four kids, one a baby, and a new puppy in tow - I was blessed!

It was so trippy to be with so many of my siblings again. We were all acting like kids again with a few more tiffs then I would have preferred but it was like "home". LOL! There were six of us kids there plus our families so we had quite the bunch...weird to think that it was still only half of us. We also had Five generations there to celebrate and that was pretty cool.

It is so beautiful there in California. Man, I wish we could live there. The weather was the best thing ever. And my moms the best medicine for me. She is a lot like Stewart in that way. She is calm and kind and not overly emotional and makes me instantly feel relaxed and good. My dad makes me laugh with his quirks and I marvel at how well his planned "retirement" is going....he is so not retired at all. Working as hard as ever at the age of 83. It was great to see my niece and her beautiful little family and my nephew. They lived with us so much while I was growing up they are like my own siblings. love them like crazy. It was likewise great to meet my sister's almost fiance and start seeing him join the family and see how happy he makes her. And then there is the cousin fun. Oh, life would be pretty awesome if we lived close to lots of cousins. There is just something so magical about the relationship kids have with their cousins. So fun!

And the FOOD, nothing beats my mom's cooking.....well, I do adore my mother-in-laws ham and ham gravy. But the assortment my family throws together when we party is ridiculous! We all like cooking too much and so when we bring all our finest together it is a ton of food. I mean we had 14 different desserts at thanksgiving, out of control I tell you! :O)

It was a good change of scenery for me. I think Stewart was able to enjoy his time to himself reading Eragon, doing his wood cutting, and watching movies instead of doing dishes, picking up toys, and putting the kids down each night like normal.

So that was our thanksgiving in a nutshell.

Getting ready to eat....

12 of my parents 42 grandchildren, plus 1 great grandchild...The silly girls...
Half of the buffet of food...

Friday night the girls went to Aunt Anj's house for a girls slumber party and the boys stayed at grandma's for a boys slumber party, I helped them build a major fort out of packaging paper. They loved it. Picture of girl's slumber party coming soon...

Living the Life: week 4 results

Okay its a miracle. I lost weight this week! Serious shock for me. But I am not complaining. :O)

I lost 1/2 around my waist
I didn't lose anything around my hips
I lost 3.2 lbs.

YAY! So glad for the progress. :O)

Ha.

I was searching for something on my computer today and I came across the book I started to write two/three years ago. I was board, lonely, and extremely poor. And so instead of starting expensive projects or going out to do fun things with my friends I started to write a book. I reread my grand 30 pages of cliche fiction and found I liked it. I would be deathly embarrassed if anyone I knew read it besides me but I like it. Maybe I'll finish it someday. Maybe I will submit it to a publisher and they will reject me soundly and then I'll be happy to know I actually followed through with it and had a go at my childhood dream of being a writer. Ha.....and at the very least my kids will get a good laugh reading it after I am dead. :O)

Living the Life: week 3 results

This week was okay. I did my cardio really well but I only did my strength training twice. I am trying out and baking cookies for this thing I have coming up and so I "HAD" to eat cookies. :) So that threw off my week some. Plus now I am really sick.

I lost 1 inch across my waist

I lost 3/4 inch around my hips

I only lost .6 pounds but I think it has to do with me being kind of bloated and retaining water.

I hope next week I can knock it out of the park...but seeing how Thanksgiving is coming and I am traveling out of town....I will try to be happy if I lose anything at all.

Our Family has Grown Again!

Last night while I was at Young Womens Stewart and the kiddos drove out to the breeder's and picked up our newest little family member, Tinkerbell! (Yes, that is the sort of name you get when the mean age of your four children is 2.9! :O)

Oh, she is such a pretty little thing! We picked out another pup Choco but they realized that he had some intestinal problems and the breeder wanted to hold on to him to make sure he was well before she sold him so then we picked out little "sweet pea" now known as Tink. I have been so nervous about getting a puppy. I have never ever had a puppy. I have been reading books and watching the complete Cesar Millan's "Mastering Leadership Series" to get ready - Cesar is the Bomb! and I am proud of myself for coping. :O) You'd think I just gave birth. I am texting Stewart to tell him a play by play of how she is doing..... Her first walk, her first pee, her first poop,.....So it hasn't even been 24 hours but I am smitten and I think we are going to raise one heck of a dog. (Well, crossing my fingers that I can handle everything on my plate)

So the question I get when we tell people we are getting a puppy is, "Why?!?!?! Are you sure this is the right time to get a dog?" and I totally understand. I mean we are selling our house, have a 9 month old who is the busiest baby on the face of the earth and have some other traumatic issues going on that are seriously driving me a little crazy BUT about three months ago I had this spiritual experience where I was basically told that Angeli needed a dog. So that was that. Stewart felt he same way and honestly I am so glad we made that decision three months ago because I am not sure we would have made the decision if we had waited any longer. :)

Tink is really Angie's dog. And is she ecstatic. I couldn't be happier for Angeli. Because of our living situation and that we will be renting until FOREVER (I hope to never buy again!) :O) we opted for a tiny little fluffy thing to be a little companion Dog for Angie. And she is sure tiny and fluffy. She is a designer hybrid. A Chineranian (Japanese Chin + Pomeranian). I think Poms are super cute but a bit snobby and yappy and the Chins are very mellow and smart but a bit funny looking so when we found this breeder close by we were really excited about the Chineranian hybrid.

So without further ado here is Tink!

trying to get her collar off :O)

Live the Life Results: Week 2

Ok this week I was so lame at “Living the Life”. My life killed it. I was wreck this week. I didn’t have my meals ready until Tuesday so Halloween I didn’t have my “diet” food which was a bad day to take off. :O) then I had to feed the missionaries so I ate dinner with them, then I had to bake cookies for something and brilliant me wanted to try a new recipe so then that meant trying them to make sure they were good, they were a little too good, :) then there was fast Sunday so I had an off day on Sunday, and then I started my period which sort of just killed things even more. My days were so busy I kept missing meals and then picking in my kids’ food and I didn’t do things nearly as well as the week before. BUT hopefully that is all behind me. I am really hopeful that this next week will go better. I am just going to go and cook my food for this next week and get it all stocked in my fridge.

So this morning I did my measurements and weighed in. Here are results, then are humble but I am very grateful for any negative at this point.
I lost ½ inch around my waist
I lost ½ inch around my hips
And I lost 1 pound. By next week I will be at my lowest I have been since I had Genevieve. That is really exciting for me. :O)

If...

If I survive this week I will be so grateful. sigh.

HApPy HaLloWeEn!!!

YeeHaw! Grab your lasso and guns we've gone western this year! Oh, the kids were too cute all dressed up as cowboys and cowgirls. I thought this would be super cheap...but um, not so much. I ended up making their little vests and buying them play guns and the girls wanted pink bandanas not the red ones we already had.... The kids had a ton of fun playing in the costumes and they are now a great addition to our dress-up box! This year was our busiest halloween yet. With the kids 3 different Halloween parties, the trunk or treat, the real holiday, and my little traditions I insisted we do like the pumpkin carving, making a haunted house, and sugar cookie making/decorating it was busy and SWEET! To my surprise my favorite thing ended up being the trick or treating...in years past its been a bust, but not this year. :O)


Here we are at the Trunk or Treat. I ran the photo booth so I didn't spend much time going to the different booths with the kids but we had a great time getting lots of candy and being with our friends all dressed-up for Halloween.

This is us heading out for Trick or Treating. This was the best trick or treating we have ever done. We had a lot of fun! We went in our little neighborhood and since so many little families have moved in recently the streets were filled with kids. I felt like a kid again going door to door getting candy. The kids loved being able to go with their friends. LOVED!

Their loot! They got a lot! Ben could hardly hold his by the end of the night. :O) He was our lazy boy he rode in the stroller between door steps....and the houses are close around here! LOL

And Angeli wanted me to include what she wore to her class party...all the other girls were being princess' so we last minute got her bell dress out of her closet and dolled her up. She loved it and insists that next year she will be a princess. I think next year I'll let them do whatever they want ...Ben wants to be green lantern, Angeli a princess, and Bridger a scary monster....we'll see.

This may seem odd...

But lately I have felt that it is so important to let people know my convictions about the things that matter most. To me that means the Gospel of Jesus Christ and all that it entails: Family, morality, and the reality of a loving Father in Heaven and His plan of Salvation.

Working with the youth in my church the past 7 months has reminded me what it was like when I was a teenager. EVERYDAY of my life I was attacked, mocked, and demeaned because of my beliefs. I had to stand alone so many times and just rely on the Lord to be my friend when I had none. I know the youth today are dealing with the same thing as they navigate through their lives. Lately I have felt that way a bit as I meet and make friends with more and more people who are not of my faith. I have been having more and more interactions like I did in high school. Here are a few from the other night, "Oh, seriously you can a have drink. I wont tell anyone!" and "Well, when your husband has an affair with a cute nurse then you wont be such a happy little family." and most of all "Wow, how can you stand having so many kids!". I realized as these comments were hurled at me that I am a bit out of practice with having to respond to negative comments about my life and values. I again feel those twinges of embarrassment and awkwardness when I am put on the spot to defend myself and morality.

This week as I have been pondering how I feel in a world where my perspective is now scoffed at as being trite, expired, completely backward, and to some they are even seen as threatening I have found such wise counsel in the talks our church leaders gave during our last general conference. In addition reading the New Testament in the book of Acts has been really a learning experience. Being mocked for being a follower of Christ is not new. And I feel a sense of resolve and also very encouraged.

I think the world is polarizing more and more to the degree that you can no longer sit on the side lines and procrastinate picking sides or even try to play for both teams. That is something I have never done but its a bit new for me as adult to defend myself so much. I think we all have to chose and then be ready to claim and defend our choices.

These are my favorite conference talks so far from this past session. I highly recommend listening to them! :O)

Niel L. Anderson - Children

Jeffery R. Holland- We are all enlisted

Thomas S. Monson - Dare to Stand Alone

Henry B. Eyring - Preparation in the Priesthood

David A. Bednar - Counsel to the Youth

Robert D. Hales - Waiting upon the Lord: They will be done

Boyd K. Packer - Counsel to Youth

So this is what I would say to the world if they asked... :) I believe that children are the crowning achievement of a couples life and that they are the entire purpose of mankind....the Family with its ancestors, and posterity link the ages of time together in meaning and purpose. And that the Temple of Jesus Christ makes it so we can make covenants with our Heavenly Father to ensure our family bonds will continue through all generations of time and be sealed together on into eternity. I know that there is a God who is our Spirit's father and that he provided us a Savior so we can repent of the mistakes we make so that we can progress to become like Him just as children here on earth aspire to grow to be like their parents. I Know that sin is real. That there is evil and that the great deceiver is real and that he strives to lead the hearts of men into darkness and misery so that we will be like him and so he can try and thwart the Plan of God which is that we progress to be like Him, God the Father. I know that if we pray and seek help that our prayers will be answered, that God hears us and will guide us into righteous paths that bring unmeasured joy in this life. I know that the family is a eternal unit, I know that we matter and our choices matter and that there is great purpose in this life and it isn't about gaining temporary pleasure. I know that good honest and faithful people are all around us who respect and love God and try to be good people. I know that God and Goodness will prevail and that it is only up to us to choice what side will we be on. I chose My Father in Heaven's side, I chose to testify of Christ and to defend light and truth all my life. I am on the Lord's side.

So to those who ask how I can I stand all my children I'd say, "I love them and consider it a great honor to be their mother and I will have as many as Gods wants me to have. It is the greatest work a women can do to be a mother." To those that mock my efforts to have a happy marriage and family I'd say, "My husband is not a man of the world and he never has been, there are good men in the world that cherish their wives and family and my sweet husband is one of them. We are committed to our goal of having a happy family and it will not only last our entire lives it will last for all eternity." And last but not least to those who can not understand why a grown adult would chose not to drink I'd say, "I do not drink. I never have and I never will. I promised God I would take care of my body and so I will and do."

The End! :O)