SIXTEEN

     Yay!  Grateful for hair and sometimes for getting rid of hair.  Jaxon has been growing out his hair for quite awhile.  Alissa has cut it for him once, but I think he decided that keeping it looking good long is harder than just growing your hair out.  :)
     He liked that it was getting curly and really did look pretty cute in the back - not as good in the front, but still not bad.  It drove Jared crazy most of the time and I have to say I like it better when I can see his handsome face. :)

I really do think the curls are cute - who knows where he got them from.
 I guess my bros  have curly hair.

     Here you can see Jared decided to have some fun cutting - Jake and Jainie especially found it entertaining and Jaxon was a good sport to let everyone laugh at him.  We decided to see how he would look with a mohawk.  :)  Not my favorite look.

It definitely got a bit long.

     I didn't get an after picture, but it looks MUCH better.  :)

FIFTEEN

     Good friends.  Jainie and Matt have been good friends since birth - they each go over to the other's houses whenever possible.  In fact, if I can't find Jainie, she is over at Celeste's (Matt's mom).  It is great, I am glad she feels so comfortable with other people.  There was a time, about a year ago, that she would rather be following Celeste around than me, that was a bit rough.  :(  Matt also feels very comfortable here and whenever he shows up, he and Jainie start playing and have a grand time.

One day I found them downstairs watching a movie all happy and snuggled up.

FOURTEEN

Well, I have been waiting for #14.  I thought it was only appropriate that my fourteenth blessing be my eldest child, Jaxon, as he just turned 14 - yep, 14.  I can hardly believe it myself.  It is such a bitter sweet time for me.  I still remember the day he was born - November 12 - 9lbs 3ozs, 20 inches long.  He came out screaming at us all and then promptly whizzed on the doctor.  :)  He loves that story.  He has been full of it ever since then.  

He is growing up so quickly, there have been many days that I have thought, "Oh, if I could just raise him to be a good, decent, happy human being who tries to do the right and helps other people I will be successful."  It has at times been a struggle, I can't tell you how many times he ran away from home - too many to count.  He really likes to tease and cause those around him stress most of the time, well, family anyway.  But, they tell me at school he is great and most people think he is relatively quiet - ha! he really isn't.  He definitely likes to push his limits.  However, he is maturing so much - turning into such a good young man.  He helps me so much whenever he knows I really need it - he is such a blessing to me.  Still, how has he grown so much so quickly?  It baffles me how swiftly the time goes and I wonder, "Have I done enough?  Will he make good choices and be a good example when I am not around?"  He is getting to the point where we really enjoy talking with each other.  He is very logical and if I can give him good reasons for things, then he understands and tries harder.  He is extremely intellectual and thinks about everything - how and why.  And, he can figure out how to fix just about anything.  When he was about 11, he took a computer apart and then reassembled it - making it so only he knew how it worked.  Whenever I can't figure something out, I give it to him and he fixes it for me.  

So, his birthday was on a Saturday and he didn't know quite what to do with himself.  We brought him breakfast in bed, of course.  A new recipe I tried - french toast made with croissants with a banana syrup - it was YUMMY! Plus, bacon, hot chocolate, and a Jamba juice drink.  He loved it.

Then, he just played downstairs on the Wii for a few hours while his dad went to work.  We let him choose if he wanted to invite friends over to watch movies or invite friends over to play basketball but he just wanted to hang out with the family.  He did have a basketball game at 10 - which he played really well in.  He has been playing post this year and is awesome.  Josh had a game at 2:00 so we went to that as well.  After we got home , he was dying to open presents so that came next.  

This is a card Jainie made special for him - you can see she is thrilled.

And, this is a special book that Josie, Jake and Jainie put together for him - with pictures and everything - Josie is a really good sister.

Yep, he loves the Yankees and wanted an official fitted hat.

Jared had a Priesthood Leadership Meeting at 4:30 so while he went to that the rest of us went bowling - Jaxon knocked down 9 pins 6 different times - he dealt with it really well and was still happy at the end.  He did get a spare and a strike later.  

A bunch of crazies.  :)

Then, Jared and I took him out to dinner - Wingers was his choice and he ordered steak, of course, no expense spared on your birthday, I guess.  It was nice to spend time one on one with him - like I have said, he really is getting to be quite a nice young man.  (And, I have to say, I am really glad he is a bit shy so he doesn't want to hang out with girls as much as most of his friends do. :)  That will come soon enough).

All in all, I think he had a nice day.  And, the next day, he was ordained to be a teacher in the priesthood.  It was so special and I am so glad he is making good choices.  Both sides of grandparents got to be there, which was wonderful. 

Afterward, we went over to Gpa and Gma Oldroyd's for dinner for his birthday.  Gpa and Gma Thalman took him out the next weekend for some birthday fun.  He is lucky to have such great grandparents and that we get to live by both of them.

He got tickets to the UofU vs. BYU basketball game - Josh is excited too because he tags along with whatever Jaxon does - they are pretty good friends.

Some other facts about Jaxon:  

1.  He LOVES to read - he reads everything, he hated reading until 5th grade when it   

     finally clicked and off he went.  He is definitely one of the best readers at his school.

2.  He LOVES sports - baseball is his favorite, he loves pitching and 2nd base.  He played

     a bit of 3rd last year as well and did a great job - stopped a couple balls with his shins

     - OUCH!  He also loves basketball - he is a wonderful rebounder.  

3.  He is growing rapidly.  He passed me up a few months ago.  He has grown about an

     inch since his birthday - no kidding - he is now about 5'11".  He wants to be the tallest

     Thalman - right now his dad is at 6'0".  He just might make it.

4.  He likes to act tough but is still just a kid at heart.  He still likes playing with his 

     siblings and loves legos.  He really doesn't like being by himself too much so a sibling 

     is usually with him.

5.  He was so excited when he started growing armpit hair - gross, I know.  It started last

     year - he won't let me take a picture of it.  :)  Yep, I like to embarrass him.

6.  His favorite foods are still venison and shrimp.  And, his favorite color is orange 

     because he learned that orange is the color of flirtation.  :)  Good thing he is too shy to

     flirt much.

7.  He LOVES sweets - he almost always has a hidden stash of candy somewhere - I find

     garbage wrappers everywhere, under couches, behind toys, in his sheets, pockets, etc.

8.  His hands are huge!  I think they are almost as big as his dad's.

9.  He is a sweetheart and really tries to help others even though sometimes it is really 

     hard apparently.

10.  He loves hunting and fishing and wishes he could go more.  Since he can't, he plays

      video games as much as I will let him.  And, he gets very irritable when I make him 

       turn them off, he would play all day and night if I let him.

Happy Birthday Jaxi - we love you more than you will ever know!

THIRTEEN

Talents.  Today I am grateful for my talents and the talents of my children and the talents of others.  Definitely one thing I try to teach  my children is that everyone has talents - no matter who or what circumstances they are in.  Just because one thing comes easy to you and not as easy to someone else, that doesn't mean you are better than they are.  On the other hand, if you have to work hard at something and someone else doesn't have to try at all, that doesn't mean they are better than you.  That is the beauty of people - we all have strengths and weaknesses and if we can appreciate each other for those, then we will live in a better world and we will be better individuals.

Josie, Joshua, and Jacob all take piano and they had their recital this year in November.  It was actually quite refreshing - fun to go when nothing else is planned - it was on the 6th.  They each did a great job, didn't need their music, and were brave to get up in front of so many people.

Jake was up first - actually 4th in the recital - but he was sooo nervous!  It was crazy, he was flipping around, crying, insisting that he didn't want to play or do any piano anymore.  He has usually loved going to piano.  I have decided that he is VERY bashful - he does not like people looking at him.  I had to walk up with him/ drag him and then stand by him for both of his songs, which were: "Two Black Cats" and "Mary had a Little Lamb."  This was Jake's first year of piano so he had only taken for a couple of months.  He liked it when it was all over - that is when this picture was taken.  His piano teacher gave him his own piano bag that she had sewn, which he thought was awesome.  What a kid!

Joshua was quite a few numbers later - this is probably his 4th recital - he played, "Minuet" and "The Medallion Calls" from "Pirates of the Carribbean."  He did a great job!  He was nervous too, but definitely displays it in a different way.  He sat on the front row by his friends and deals with everything internally.  It amazes me how different each of my children is in so many ways when they have all been raised the same way.

Josie was 2nd to last - she played, "Minuet in G" by Beethoven and "Popular" from "Wicked".  It was great!  She practiced really well the last couple weeks before the  recital - she was definitely the most prepared.  It was great.  She just sits and waits her turn and gets really giggly when she is nervous.

We were lucky to have our whole family there and Grandpa and Grandma Oldroyd and Grandpa and Grandma Thalman also came to support us.  I wish I would've snapped a picture, I have been a bit too complacent with picture taking lately.

They all did a wonderful job and I am so proud of them - I remember how hard it is to get up and play in front of so many people.  Jaxon quit playing about a year ago, it was and is sad - he was getting pretty good but I just couldn't handle the fight any longer.  I hope someday he will come back to it.  I love the piano and the accomplishment you feel when you finally get a song down you have been working on.  :)

TWELVE

SHOES!  Yep, very grateful for them.  I love shoes so does Jared, so it is no wonder that the kids do as well.  We were cleaning out the garage (not done yet) and found about 7 bins of shoes!  Crazy - too many shoes.  So we went through them and gave 2 big black garbage bags of shoes to the DI and threw 2 garbage bags of shoes away!  So, now we only have shoes that fit, one bin of boys shoes to grow into, one bin of girls shoes to grow into, and one bin of cleats - yep, full of baseball cleats - what does that tell you?

Anyway, these are shoes I was throwing away because they are shot but they were the girls favorites, so I had to get pictures first.

These are obviously from when Josie was a bit younger - probably Kindergarten/1st grade - they are too little for Jainie already.  She wore pink shoes pretty much EVERY day - and they ALWAYS matched her outfits - yep, she is girly too.  :)  Wouldn't trade her for the world.

You can see these are all "princessy shoes" - first her Cinderella slippers - yep only one left and you can see it is trashed!  The Alice In Wonderland shoes - which have been clasped and unclasped so much the clasps are broken!  And, her favorite, Ruby Red Slippers that Gma O brought her from the Smithsonian when she was about 2 -3 - she wore those constantly - there are hardly any sparkles left.  Oh, sweet memories.

ELEVEN

So grateful that I am pregnant again.  Not that I feel that great, but I am excited to have a new baby, it is about time really.  I am a nervous Nelly this time though - I just found out a friend lost her baby at 25 weeks - yikes!  I am 23 weeks.  So, every time the baby moves I think, "Yes, things are still going well."  Hopefully I don't have a heart attack from stress before this baby comes.  :)

This is the day of the ultrasound - yes, we know what "IT" is.  But, we aren't telling everyone til Thanksgiving so stay tuned for updates. :)

Oh, and I wasn't 23 weeks in this picture, I am a bit bigger now.

TEN

This little girl is such a organizational wonder.  She organizes everything!  When we got home from trick or treating, before she ate any candy, she organized it into piles so she would know exactly what she had.  I thought it was too cute.   

I really cannot say how awesome it has been to have her home with me in the mornings this year, we visit about everything.  In fact, about a month ago she told me when she was at one of her friend's houses playing - a boy.  They decided to get married and then kissed on the lips!  Can you believe that?  I asked her, "Why did you kiss him?  You know you aren't supposed to do that."  And, she said, "Well you and dad kiss all the time."  And, I replied, "Yes, but we are married and love each other."  And, she said, "Well, we were married and we love each other."  And, then she rolled her eyes at me - can you believe that?  Are we in trouble or what?  I think I did finally convince her that she shouldn't be kissing boys - fingers crossed.

She is very girly and was so excited that for Halloween we put her hair in her very first bun - you can see how full and beautiful it is.  :)

What a girly girl!

NINE

So grateful Jake has such a great friend and cousin in his class this year.  Jake and Emma are both in Mrs. Crane's 2nd grade class - they are the best of friends and play together every day - pretty much every recess.  They get together and take notebooks outside and draw pictures - Jake's are usually some sort of army or war pictures - I am not sure about Emma's.  They also liked to look for bugs and worms, when the weather is better.  They are really good at letting other kids play with them as well, which I think is very important, everyone isn't as lucky as they are, to have a great friend in class.  It has been great for Jake and it is making our school days MUCH better.

I also LOVE how Jake doesn't have any front teeth - I keep telling him he needs to sing "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth," he won't do it.  And, now they are coming in!  As of right now, he only has 8 top teeth.  What a fun stage.

EIGHT

     Not necessarily Halloween, but that Halloween is over.  :)  Don't you love my enthusiastic spirit this year?  There are a few things I love about Halloween.  Every year, my mom makes a special Halloween dinner for all the grandkids.  She puts a lot of thought into it and the kids love it - they don't necessarily eat it, but they do think it's lots of fun.  It is always nutritious so they get something good before all that candy.

 So these are obviously the worms - and worm excrement.  :)

 

Grandma hid a skeleton in pieces outside so the kids all had to go searching to put the poor guy back together.  Isn't it a beautiful Halloween day?

Jaxon, who doesn't dress up anymore, actually loves this dinner, although he doesn't look like it in this picture.  You can see we had coffins with RIP on them and bones as well.

She really does do a great job, it is always fun and this year Grandpa participated as well and taught the kids the Monster Mash - he dressed up as a pirate - wish I would've snapped a picture.  As soon as we were done with that, we headed out to trick or treat at aunts & uncles, and great Grandma's before heading to Richfield.

This year the kids didn't really care what they were for Halloween - which is good because I didn't have the energy to put into costumes anyway.  Jainie decided on Belle, as long as she got new "secsessories - shoes, gloves, a crown, and julie (jewelry)."  Josh barely decided to dress up because I made him - so he is once again a Yankees ball player, this year Derek Jeter.  Notice he wouldn't even put eye black on this year.  Josie was a house elf - we thought about ordering ears, but it never happened - her socks/leggings were the best and you can see she decided to wear Luna's necklace.  Jake decided a couple days before to be a viking and he looked pretty sweet - wanted a sword instead of an axe however - whatever makes you happy.  Jaxon was gone to basketball practice or we would have put him in the picture anyway - without a costume.  Sometimes growing up stinks!

After we met back up with Jaxon and dad, Josie went off with friends, Josh and Jake went with friends and I sat there thinking, "What now?"  Jaxon volunteered to hand out candy so Jared, Jainie and I went on our own.  It was like a date - so fun!  I think Jainie loved it - having that one on one time with both parents.  It was great.  We later met up with the Henderson's and Jainie and Matt went together for a block or two and loved it.  It was too dark for a picture at that point, however.  That is the other thing I love about Halloween, I think it is fun to have the whole neighborhood outside enjoying cute kids and visiting a bit with each other.  We should do that part more often - without the teenagers and scantily dressed people out trick or treating.

Around 8:30, we all got back together to head over to Gpa and Gma Thalman's.  The boys used to go out with Garrison and get lots more treats, this year Garrison nor the boys were really too interested in that.  Anyway, here is everyone together.  I think this pic is funny because Allie is screaming and if you look at Josh and Jake they are both looking at her wondering what is going on - Jainie and Josie only want to get a good picture and Jaxon could care less about it all.  It is definitely going to be a change for us all to have a baby in the house again.  :)

All in all, another great Halloween - still I am glad it's over.  

SEVEN

     Grateful my computer is working today!!!  The internet hasn't been working and the wireless part still isn't.  Luckily, Jared knew how to hook it up to the modem, which will do for now.  Whew!  I didn't know I relied on it so much.  What would have I done on Black Friday or Cyber Monday!

SIX

While I'm on the topic of vacations, I love vacations with my sweetheart.  It's been awhile since we got to go on one, but they are awesome.  Not too long, then we miss the kids too much, just a couple days or so.  It is nice to reconnect with nothing else to focus on or drag our attention away.

This is when we went to Seattle - Andy & Brooke were there part of the time as well.  And, Gpa and Gma, of course.  We stayed right on a body of water and went swimming with the seals as well as lots of canoeing - this was relaxing afterward.  Yes, our farmer tans are really that bad! 

FIVE

We had Stake Conference, which was a Regional Conference this weekend.  It was great!  Jared and I went to the adult session Saturday night, which was nice.  The speakers were great and Jared and I had time in a church setting to sit and enjoy each other's company with no kids.  So peaceful.  Anyway, all the talks were on the temple.  It was a great reminder of how we need to love the temples more and attend more regularly.  I do admit I always enjoy it when I go.  

So, this is MY temple :), the Manti temple.  It is where I took out my endowments and where I was sealed to my sweetie.  This is Lindsay, on the day she took out her endowments.  So beautiful and white everywhere!

FOUR

I am so grateful for family vacations - they are very difficult but oh, so worth it!  These are from November 2009 - our trip to CA.  We went to the zoo, the temple, Universal, and Disneyland.  It was great!

THREE

Grateful for strong muscles!  Not mine, unfortunately.  Today, Jared has torn all the boxes apart in the garage, there are a LOT!, to find my maternity clothes.  Wouldn't you know it, they were in the very bottom, very furthest back bins.  He'd already looked for them twice.  Thanks for being persistent sweetie.  :)

     This pic was this past summer, it was his first attempt at wake-boarding - pretty good, eh?  He has only skied a couple of times, he's a quick learner.

TWO

     Grateful for Grandma Leila - today, the 4th, is her birthday.  Unfortunately, she is in the hospital.  I need to do better at going to visit her.  I can't find a picture that I want to post of her, so I guess no pic this time.  :)

ONE

Grateful for these 2 chuckleheads who keep me on my toes at ALL times!

Beautiful Heartbreak - Hilary Weeks - Every Step

Just found this and it is beautiful!!! It has been a rough year for me, good, but challenging and I love this song which reminds me it is all worth it. It always amazes me how so many people can go through so much and still stay so strong. I always look at other people's trials and think, "I am so grateful that is not my trial, I couldn't do it." But, I think the fact is that we deal with what we are dealt the best we can, and somehow we make it and are stronger in the end. I think the biggest trick is to not judge others while they are going through their trials. Anyway, enjoy.

At the Moment - Halloween

     I have been so nostalgic today.  It is so strange not having kids at home.  Jainie went to Kindergarten early today because they combine morning and afternoon K for the Halloween parties - why are we having H parties not on Halloween?  Good question; yes, it is ridiculous.  Anyway,  I was thinking about last year when Jainie and I went to watch Jake walk around the school for the parade then into the tabernacle for the program then went to "Big Bun Bakery" to get a steamed milk - mine butterscotch, hers caramel, cinnamon rolls and a couple treats for later on.  Then, we sat there at one of the bistro tables and enjoyed our breakfast.  It really was so pleasant.  It is the little things that I miss the most.  Afterward, we went to help with Jake's class party and just enjoyed the rest of our day.  This year, I have no one to go get a treat with and Big Bun is closed so that is that.  AND, to boot, I have no class party to help with.  I know it shouldn't seem sad but it is just the tiniest bit.  I sign up to help in each of the elementary kids classes once per year.  Josh was Halloween but his teacher decided to just have the parents send things so I sent 25 cupcakes and I am done.  How are my kids growing up so fast?  I know there are perks, lots of them actually, but there are drawbacks too.  I guess we all just have to enjoy where we are and make the best of every moment.  :)

     On a different note, this pregnancy is killing my memory!  Really, it is.  I can't remember one thing from one second to the next.  Josie had her Halloween variety show last night and I forgot all about it.  In fact, she had Activity Days right after school and Jared, Jaxon, and Jake went hunting.  Josh couldn't go because he went on Tuesday and skipped piano so he had to make that up.  Which made him not only miss hunting but his basketball try-outs - it's all about choices and consequences, that is what we are trying to get across to him.  Anyway, Jaxon also had tryouts but a bit later and Josh also had pack meeting.  With everything else, I totally forgot about Josie dancing.  I was in Gwood waiting for Josh to get done, when Josie called me asking me what she should wear for her costume.  (She was supposed to dress as a scarecrow and we didn't ever get anything ready).  I asked her what in the world she was talking about.  She reminded me for the millionth time about her dance and still I drew a blank.  Then, it clicked and I said, "That is tonight!"  So, we hurried home and threw something together and called it good.  While I was at her thing, Jared was running Jaxon around and trying to find Jake a H costume, because although the one we ordered was promised to be delivered yesterday, it wasn't, so he didn't have anything to wear.  (big sigh)  When Josie and I got home at 9:00, everyone was awake running around trying to figure out what to be for Halloween (Josh hadn't decided and doesn't want to dress up at all).  Jake hadn't decided and I got the tiniest bit frustrated :).  Anyway, it all worked out and Jake is a vampire today, Jainie is Belle and Josh is a boring old baseball player - with not even any eye black.  He is such a stinker sometimes.  Hopefully everyone is happy.

Jezlyn, ?, Kandice, Josie, Kenzie, Alexis, Addie, & Audrey

Ashton, Audrey, Caitlyn, Josie, & Kandice

Jake walking around the school - luckily the fangs are knocking out his loose front tooth

Jainie walked way too fast to get a picture so I went to get her after class to snap a picture -
punch stained mouth and everything! :)

   I did get to go to the pumpkin patch this year with Jainie.  It is actually the only year I have ever gone.  My mom has gone with every other child but was too busy with Sara's wedding this year so I got to go with Jainie.  We had a great time, went to McDonald's afterward and then to the hospital to get my blood work done, she thought it was great.  She keeps telling everyone how I didn't even cry.  :)  (Good thing I didn't).

     After choosing her perfect pumpkin - except it was dirty, so she wouldn't put that side near her.  I am not sure how we will carve it because it is so small but we'll see.  Maybe we won't get pumpkins carved this year (fingers crossed).  :)

    Josie and Jaxon don't dress up until the appropriate day - Halloween!!!  Why do some people just want to make my life more difficult by making us dress up for weeks before Halloween.  The funny thing is that then teachers and others complain that the kids can't settle down because they have had too much candy.  Well, gee, maybe you shouldn't celebrate every single day leading up to Halloween!!!  Wow, can you tell that is a hot point for me?  I keep telling Jared the world would run much smoother if I could be in charge of everything.  :) Haha - mostly we wouldn't have to do as much because I would forget about it all.  But, wouldn't we be happy?

Education Week - Priorities & Motherhood

So, I have been meaning to do this for awhile now.  I try to attend Ed.Week at BYU each year for at least a day or two because it so fills me up and rejuvenates me.  I absolutely LOVE it!  I always try to mix my favorite speakers with new ones & topics that come naturally to me and topics I wouldn't think I would go to, but give them a try.  A little education in each facet of life.  I have my traditions that I love to do or eat, buildings I want to attend a class in because of memories of past years, etc.  Just thinking about it makes me nostalgic.

Anyway, I thought I would come home and immediately blog about the classes I attended so I could remember and implement the lessons I learned into my life.  I haven't gotten around to it yet, so today is the day.  And, I am simply starting at the top.

I went to a class by Connie Sokol - who is amazing - first.  It was a Monday class, which are block type classes, this one was called Tidy Up Your Life - Part 1: Create a Life Plan and Part 2: Effectively Managing Your Time.  I think I went to both of them, then just combined my notes.  Anyway, I figure I shouldn't just write her whole talk, in case anyone gets to hear it for themselves and it really wouldn't be fair to her.  So, I will mention things she said and most importantly the things I learned from them.

First of all, I learned that I need a life plan.  I need to think of what I want my life to be like now, in a year, in 5 years, in 25 years, etc.  The more we plan what our life will be like, the more we will be able to realize our plans.  So, I decided what my life plan would be for the fall - it was basically getting my house in order.  However, being pregnant makes things a bit trickier and it is taking a lot longer than planned.

When thinking of a life plan there are steps we need to take in organizing it.  First, we need to prioritize.  Sister Beck said, "when our priorities are out of order, we lose power."  I know that is true, when I have my priorities down, then my life seems to flow better.  Sister Beck also said,  "A good woman knows that she does not have enough time, energy, or opportunity to take care of all of the people or do all of the worthy things her heart yearns to do."  Isn't that great?  I know it applies to me, I think of doing things for people all the time and then just never get around to doing them.  I just need to do better at getting the things accomplished that are the MOST important.   Then, we need to think, "What does the Lord want ME to do?"  And, it won't be the same thing He may want my neighbor to do?


Then, we categorize the things we are supposed to do.  There are 3 categories: essential, necessary, and nice to do.  (I can't remember if she got these from Sis. Beck or not).  
     Essential:  it is pretty obvious of what these are - fasting and praying in sincerity, making and keeping covenants, going to sacrament meeting, repenting, and renewing our covenants while there, going to the temple, sharing the gospel, and service to others.
     Necessary:  homemaking skills (this part was funny, she told how even if you don't like doing something, like cleaning, you should probably get a better attitude about it because you will be doing it your whole life :), enjoy meals with your family, smile MORE, have FHE and family fun time, my husband - I need to support him more and be happy with him and who he is (this one is pretty easy), become more self-reliant - don't ask for things I know we can't afford, just be happy with what we have, love one another more fully.
     Nice to do:  crafts, hobbies, recreational reading, movies, travel, lunch with friends - doing these things won't save us.  However, the Lord blesses us with these things to help us (help me to cope and be able to deal with some of the things I don't want to do) 
especially if our priorities are in order.


Now, obviously these are the things that resonated with me, some are obvious but some I think will change depending on our season of life and what we need. We each need to make our own list and probably type it up and keep it next to our beds to remind us of the importance of each one.  I have already forgotten about this, so I am glad I am reviewing it today.


Sister Sokol discussed some ways we could vary the essentials in our life's.  I know there are times in my life where I need to work on some more than others.  So, with prayer, we need to take some real time to talk with our Father, let him know what our worries are, what we are stressed about, but also, what we are so grateful for.  We could have a morning devotional where we pray, then be still and write ideas, feelings, inspiration we receive.  We can change the way we study the scriptures, lots of ways to do this.  We could have a personal prompting journal where we write what comes to us and then act on those promptings.  There are so many things we can do, we just need to DO IT!!!


If you feel like reading a great talk, two talks she referenced are: "Daughters of God" by Elder M. Russell Ballard from 2008 & "And Upon the Handmaids in those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit" by Sister Julie B. Beck from May 2010.  


So, this is what I am going to work on this week.  I didn't really go into organizing time but this is long enough.  And, since I like pictures in posts - I am going to put one up of one of my highest priorities - my family.  This is when we went a few weeks ago up to a Marionette Show at BYU.  We decided to eat in the food court - yum, yum.  I do love BYU campus though.  Not the greatest picture, it is from Jared's phone.  :)

Yep, usually there is at least one sad face.

Yay! Here we go!

So, I guess it's time to blog about my big news - I am pregnant!  Yay!  I am so excited about it.  In fact, the whole family is.  The kids have all asked me to have another baby numerous times from Jaxon to Jainie.  Some more persistent than others.  I was surprised when Jaxon asked me on the way to school last year, "Mom, I think we need another baby."  He is almost 14.  I think I was so adamant that I wouldn't have another one, that Heavenly Father was thinking, "She is NOT listening, good thing I gave her so many wonderful helpers to nudge her along."  :)  So, yes, each child, in turn has asked when we are having another baby.  And, it has been going on for about 2 years.  So, I guess it is time.

Of course I did try to have a baby earlier.  My miscarriage was last May and it was dreadful, I have never blogged about it and don't plan on it. Not much I want to remember about that.  The main thing I want to remember is that life is precious and so temporary.  Also, that I have new heros - blood donors.  I have always hated giving blood, makes me feel sick for days, but if it makes the difference in someone's life, then I guess I can handle it.  So, I do plan on donating blood in the future.

Anyway, baby #6 is on the way.  We are due in March and super excited about it.  I think it will be a wonderful time of year - plus, right before crazy baseball season starts so I hopefully will get to go out and watch all the kids play ball.  It does seem like a long time away, but I am almost halfway - a couple more weeks.

I would have to say that Jake and Jainie are the most excited right now.  They have told everyone that they see that I will have a baby.  And, Jake knows that we check the computer weekly to find out how big the baby is and what is developing.  And, he can tell you about it.  For example, I am 17 weeks and the baby is about the size of a turnip.  He/she weighs 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long.  And, he/she can move her joints - however, we had an ultrasound at 11 weeks and boy! he/she was moving a lot then.  Legs and arms were kicking and moving like crazy - it was so cute!  Anyway, we are plenty excited about it, let me tell you!  

 To let everyone know that we were expecting again I made this puzzle at Ed. week.  It is not very professional, Jared could have done a much better job if I would have wanted to wait a year or so - but I only had 9 months!  :)  Anyway, the picture above is when we gave it to the kids to figure out.  You can see their puzzlement :).

This is the puzzle - the numbers under the kids stick figure is the age they will be when the baby is born.

 I love Jake's expression - this is really how excited he still is!

This is right after all the kids figured it out - they are really so happy about it - you can't see Josh, obviously, not sure why he was hiding.

And, the beginning of horrible pictures - this is at 16 weeks.  A few weeks after we told the kids about it.  I hid it pretty well for awhile.

So, there you go - this baby will be almost 6 1/2 years after Jainie - that is quite a gap.  Oh well, we do what we can, right?

At the Moment

     Each morning I allow myself a little time to check my computer.  Well, each morning that I don't have to be out somewhere else until later in the day, that is.  Anyway, I check my email, occasionally check facebook (which is really irritating me lately), and then check up on blogs.  Sometimes, when I am feeling a bit lazy, I will blog hop for a few minutes if no one that I follow has updated their blogs.  And people you really need to work on updating your blogs - this is getting boring!  But, then again, who am I to talk.  On with my point, as I was blog hopping I noticed someone posted an "At the Moment" post - just stating what was going on in life.  I liked it.  I thought it was quite clever.  And, I have decided to give it a go.  :)

So, as I mentioned, it is morning - the four oldest are finally out the door.  Luckily we have Josie who wakes us all up at about 7:15, after she has been up for at least half an hour.  Josh is usually up as well.  By the time I get up, Josh is ready and Josie just needs me to do her hair.  Thank goodness for them.  I still have to wake up Jaxon and Jake, who are both my night owls - little stinkers.  Jainie I don't worry about, she goes to afternoon K so she can sleep in, but usually doesn't.  Anyway,  I take Jaxon and Josie to Middle school every morning which means I have to leave the house, leaving Josh and Jake to finish getting ready by themselves.  Well, Jared is home but he isn't too involved in the morning process.  By the time I get home, Josh is usually riding his scooter to school so I smile and wave, and Jake's carpool is usually waiting for him in the front yard.  He is NEVER ready!!!  So aggravating - if anyone has ideas, I would love to hear them.  He is a putzer - just putzs around doing nothing forever until I tell him to go do certain things.  Since I leave, he usually doesn't have his hair combed, lunch packed, or face washed by the time he walks out the door.  Aaaagghh!  It drives me crazy.  I do make him eat breakfast and get dressed before I leave.  Isn't it so hard to know which battles to fight?  Anyway, they are all out the door and I feel like I have been through a mini-war already.  

Jainie is now sitting in the living room singing songs to her dolls and stuffed animals.  She is so funny.  I am so glad she can entertain herself so well.  And, I am glad she is still with me in the mornings.

The radio is on - Richfield radio - talk radio - which I have found to prefer in the mornings, until Rush comes on, then it is off.  I cannot stand to listen to anyone arguing on TV, radio, etc.  I think I hear too much during my regular day, I don't need any extra.

Jared is sick and has been for weeks - just a cold.  But, those colds can get annoying!!!  He is constantly coughing and has a running nose and now it has gone into his ears so he is really ornery because he can't hear very well.  Anyone know of medicine he can take to help this?

Jaxon has been a stinker lately.  I am not sure what is going on, but he is yelling at his siblings (and his parents), calling them names, using cutting remarks, etc.  Jared and I have both talked to him, trying to figure out what is going on.  Who knows?  Could it just be because he is a hormonal 13 year old middle schooler?  That is what I am hoping.  And then the other day I got an idea.  We should let him stay up til 9:00, with Jared and I watching something on TV.  It has helped.  I think he is starting to feel older and more mature (HA!) and I have decided that Jared and I need to start treating him more as an equal and less as a child.  Weird - he is still such a child.  But, it is helping.

We just had the Primary Program on Sunday.  It has always been my favorite Sunday of the whole year.  Being in charge makes it not quite as fun.  But, I am glad it is over and the kids were AMAZING!  They all did such a great job - I am so proud of all of them.  My kids tried to get their parts all memorized and ready, but not until the day or two before.  Hopefully they learned a valuable lesson.  My cute Joshi had a rather lengthy, kind of tricky scripture and once he got up and started he was fine, but then he lost concentration and it was downhill from there.  I was the one sitting by the kids prompting them and I wasn't wanting to help him much.  I should have.  He went back to his seat and started crying, then hid behind his neighbor the rest of the program.  Broke my heart.  I just had to sit there and try to get him to smile.  He wouldn't look at me.  I have a feeling that that will happen more and more often as my children grow.  It's so hard to watch them fall and be sad.  It stinks!

General Conference is this next weekend and I am so excited.  I love it!  I need to get the house ready so I can just enjoy it.  Yea! 

These pictures are from one year ago.  I have been thinking about that too.  I am so glad my fingers are better - you can still tell something has happened but only if you look close.  This was one of the most painful things I have ever dealt with.  I don't suggest it - I repeat:  Do not grind off your fingernails and top of your fingers!  For that matter, you probably shouldn't grind anything off - it hurts!

Sorry, I know this one is gross - that is why I left it small.

Not sure why I am smiling here, it was about a week
later, must be feeling better.  

 Well, that is all I have time for today.  But, I like this new idea - it is how my life is, crazy and sporadic.  Oh, and not organized.  Yep, that is how things have been lately.