Conference Weekend

I've been ready for General Conference for a couple of weeks. As quickly as daily life passes (can you believe it is APRIL!?) the six months between Conferences seems to have taken a long time to get here. My spiritual bucket is in need of a refill.

We still have a few things yet to do before conference starts at noon. Normal Saturday things like mowing the lawn, buying snake food, laundry, bathrooms, and cleaning bedrooms, but when Conference starts the rest of the world stops. We graze all day and eat yummy snacks. Lots of tailgate party foods. When we wake up tomorrow we get to do it all over again! :D

What will you be doing this weekend?

Atlanta

Over President's Day weekend we decided to get out and go somewhere.

We went to Atlanta and spent the weekend seeing some of the amazing things the city has to offer.

The Coco-Cola Polar Bear (and some random dude)

One of the coolest dudes I know!

We went to the World of Coca Cola where we tasted sodas from around the world.
Best Soda... each member of the family liked something different.
Worst Soda... something we all agreed on, Beverly from Italy (VERY Bitter Achk!)

We toured the Georgia Aquarium and saw some amazing fish.

We saw Peter Pan... The show was FANTASTIC and an added plus...

after the show we got a backstage tour! Too Cool.

Garrett with the Crocodile backstage


Bryant feeding birds in the Parakeet House

We became members of the Atlanta Zoo and saw some pretty funny things.



The best part was feeding time at the Gorilla House. Those Gorillas sure like their citrus fruits!


We are going back to Atlanta in a few weeks for the Atlanta Temple Open House

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I posted... sorry about that. I have been a little busy.

There was Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, and right after that there was New Year's Eve.

And between the BIG things I filled my time with laundry, homework, reading, PTA, dishes, cooking, watching Cam, shopping, church responsibilities (like Cub Scouts, and Stake Primary), attending Eli's Holiday concert, cleaning, decorating for Christmas, wrapping, planning, and sleeping (a little).

We had a great time over the Holidays. The boys were out of school for only a week and a half but we filled it with family. Christmas morning we had brunch with my 4 NC siblings their spouses (3) and kids (3), my parents (2), my grandmother (1), and missionaries (4) for a grand total of 23 people.

It snowed Christmas night and we woke up to about 4 inches. It was perfect!

THEN my sister and her family (6) came from Alabama, and my Uncle and his family (4) came from NYC and we played games (Scrabble, Spaids, Kings Corner, Laser Tag, Scattergories, Kick Ball, Qwelf) and went to dinner (party of 12), had a family photo shoot, had sleepovers, went to lunch at 5 Guys (thanks Mom and Dad!), and then had 30 people for dinner on New Year's Eve.

Just part of the crew waiting for lunch.
As we all walked in the guy in the background (brown coat) asked "Where's the bus?".

Number of times people confused me for my sister's mother... at least 7!
Number of fights between the cousins... maybe 4. (surprisingly few!)
Number of hugs, kisses, laughs and all around good times... countless.

What a great way to transition from one year to the next. I can't wait to do it all again next year!
(although it is nice to have my house back!)

Answered Prayers

I LOVE how prayers are answered.

As of late we have been in a financial bind. For those of you who know me finance's make me CRAZY. I recall a time early in my marriage (college students with a baby to feed and clothe) when I curled up in the fetal position, sobbing while my sister brushed my hair back from my face and shoosh'd me. (BTW, thanks Jess!)

Anyway, I had been praying to find the way to keep a budget and make a dent in our debt. I thought about how next year (after I finish my year as PTA President) instead of going to school I would have to get a job. But what job could I get with my minimal education that wouldn't require working on Sundays (Chick-Fil-A), and that would still let me be here after school with the kids (substitute teacher, oh, but the school system isn't taking applications anymore)?
AS I mulled my dilemma over in my mind I continued to pray.

I went about my daily routine ignoring the money mess in order to keep the shred of sanity I had left. Laundry, PTA, pick up my son from Driver's Ed, make dinner, check my email... you get the idea, no?
I read thru the email from my son's teacher.... her son is sick (again, poor guy) and she won't be in today... math facts test postponed... looking for an alternative for daycare...
I was in automatic pilot when I shot off an email offering to watch him. After I hit send I started thinking "yeah, sure, like she'll want me watching her kid... she taught one of mine two years ago and is currently teaching a second...".

She and her husband had been praying for a solution to their problem of finding an alternative to daycare as he has been sick constantly since school started and Mom went back to work.
And so, the Lord in all of His goodness heard and answered our prayers.

I will have a job that meets my needs and they will have a place to send their son where he won't be sick or on antibiotics every other week. And as a bonus I will have a little buddy again. :D
Eli is very excited. He said to me that he is glad we'll have Camden around because he hasn't had a little brother to play with. Awwww, what a sweet boy. He gets to be a big brother to Cam.

Now... what about PTA? Thankfully, I have a fully capable and dedicated board. I will still be involved and will take Cam to the meetings I have to attend, it can be done.

I start "work" on Monday!

Spring Break 2010

Our usual Spring Break vacation includes camping. One year we went camping over Easter weekend and the Easter bunny was able to find us. The kids still remember that the Easter bunny used REAL grass instead of the yucky plastic kind.
A couple of years ago we treated our family and went on a cruise for Spring Break. SO FUN!

This week we aren't camping. We aren't cruising. We are staying.

HERE

We made a list of fun local things we could do. The list included a trip to Brattonsville, SC, Discovery Place Museum, Carowinds, Uptown Charlotte to have lunch with Dad, and/or The Raptor Center.

The first to be checked off the list was "lunch with Dad". Friday we rode the train into uptown Charlotte and met Dad for lunch at Brixx Pizza. It was fun and a nice change of scenery.

Since then we have been working on things around the house. Mostly to avoid the unseasonably HOT weather. (I caved and turned the a/c on yesterday) Things like...

early morning prepping the garden for planting

Getting contacts and then being frustrated when we have a hard time getting them in. (no photo for fear of increasing frustration)

Reading books on Pirates,

assembling a ship,

and then pretending to be pirates.

Finishing school projects that are due next week. (again no photos due to frustration levels)

photo coming soon
we are currently without faces

Rocking our faces off with our amazing ROCK BAND skilz!

We are ready for the rain forcasted for tomorrow. We want the 65 degree weather so we can enjoy a day at Carowinds.

My Faith

I'll admit that I am happiest when I am helping, serving, and lifting others. That is not the reason I do it though, just a benefit. I serve others for many reasons but the most important is because Jesus Christ served His whole life. He gave His life for others and by doing so He set the perfect example for all of mankind. I made a covenant at baptism to be more like Him and so I serve to make others' burdens light.
I realize that many people don't understand or have been misinformed about my religion. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Members of my church are often referred to as Mormons. I hope that while I am serving in the community I can help others understand who I am and what I believe.

I just watched this video and was amazed at how little the people interviewed knew about us, one of the largest religions in the world.

Will you please watch it and let me know if there is something I should be doing to help others better understand my faith?

The Tenth Day of Christmas

On the Tenth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

*Ten Favorite Scriptures

1. Isaiah 9:6
2. Jeremiah 1:4-5
3. Matthew 17:20
4. John 10:16 (Correlates to 3 Nephi 18:21)
5. Philippians 4:13
6. 1 Nephi 20:18
7. Mosiah 2:17
8. Alma 32:16
9. Moroni 7:45-48
   
10. Doctrine & Covenants 98:12

If you don't have a copy of the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine & Covenants (standard works for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) you can find the scriptures online here!
(* These are just a few of the many highlighted scriptures!)

recap:

• 9 Things To Do,
  
• 4 New Traditions,
  
• The Christmas Spirit,
• Six Silly Faces,
• Five Simple Words!
• Four Christmas Tips,
• Three French Hens,
• Two Lame excuses,
• and a new Video replacing the one requesting some room!

The Ninth Day of Christmas

On the Ninth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

Nine things for your family to do!

1. Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” together
2. Go Ice Skating
   
3. Play BananaGrams or Scrabble using only Christmas words
4. Work on a puzzle together while singing Christmas Carols
5. Go Caroling
6. Drive around your neighborhood to look at Christmas lights
7. Watch "The Nutcracker" together
8. Read about the birth of Jesus in Jerusalem (Luke 2)
9. Read in the Book of Mormon how the birth of Christ was witnessed in the Americas (3 Nephi 1)

recap:

• 9 Things To Do,
  
• 4 New Traditions,
  
• The Christmas Spirit,
• Six Silly Faces,
• Five Simple Words!
• Four Christmas Tips,
• Three French Hens,
• Two Lame excuses,
• and a new Video replacing the one requesting some room!

The Eighth Day of Christmas

On the Eighth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

k, this one won't fit within the song but it's a good one (if I do say so myself)

Watch this video and then decide on 4 things (one each night) you can do for others to share the Spirit of Christmas. Try to do something (at least one thing) that is outside of your comfort zone. THEN decide which one(s) you'll do again next year!

Don't forget to tell us what you did in the comments section!

Here are some ideas to get you started...

• deliver a Christmas Jar,
• Ding-Dong Ditch some groceries to someone in need,
• Write down your testimony of Jesus Christ and give it to a friend (if your friend is not a member include a copy of the Book of Mormon or a framed picture of Christ!)
• Christmas Caroling!
  

recap:

• 4 New Traditions
  
• The Christmas Spirit,
• Six Silly Faces,
• Five Simple Words!
• Four Christmas Tips,
• Three French Hens,
• Two Lame excuses,
• and a new Video replacing the one requesting some room!
  

The Sixth Day of Christmas

On the Sixth Day of Christmas our family gives to you...

Six silly faces

If anyone out there knows how to make a mosaic with photos (erin?) will you please let me in on the secret. This post looked SO much better in my head!

Slowing Down

Is it just me or does time seem to speed up between Thanksgiving and Christmas? I don't mean "my watch is fast", fast I am talking about "Warp Speed", fast!

This year I was able to get the advent calendar slips planned and printed before December 1st. (WooHoo) Friday, Dec 4th our task was to decorate for Christmas. We didn't start until yesterday. (Dec. 8th) I think I'll be able to finish this weekend.

As for Christmas shopping... I am almost done. I have one online shopping cart still full, but it should be on it's way on Friday. I also have a few odds and ends to pick up but nothing that can't wait. My hubby and I have said for years that we were going to scale our Christmas budget (and amount of gifts) back considerably. We were never successful. THIS year we told the boys not to expect much... 3 gifts and a stocking. They seemed put out at first, but the more often we talked about it the better their outlook became.

I made a decision earlier this year to focus on needs and not wants. I have told myself "we can't afford it" when I see something shiny and distracting at the store. It didn't seem so at first, but it is really quite freeing. To add to that I made the commitment not to purchase anything but gifts this Christmas. I have passed by candles (I have so many already) and tinsel and though I am sometimes tempted by those darn end caps at the store, I know that I will not make the purchase.

At this time of year it is easy to fall into the "gimme" trap. We have been better this year about shifting our focus to what we can give others. With the Spirit of Christmas (giving, not getting) in our hearts and home we are more likely to focus on the really meaning of Christmas and feel HIS love for us and others.

My point with all of this? Time is still going by quickly, but I am better able to roll with it. :)

Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato souffle, green beans, carrots, whole wheat rolls, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. Sound familiar?

We had a great dinner with my youngest brother Andrew and his girlfriend Celeste. The rest of our family (with the exception of Kate at college) was in Alabama at our other sister's house. It was the quietest and slowest paced Thanksgiving we've had in a LONG time. That is a good thing and a bad thing. We had a great easy day, but we missed the rest of the family. :(

We are thankful for: (in random order)
Hopey Dog
our amazing family
health
food and shelter
God and His plan for us
employment
opportunities to serve
good friends
happy moments

Hard Hats Anyone?

Life is busy on a normal day with 4 boys a dog and a snake. We have our mad dash each morning between 6am and 7am for breakfast, shoes, backpacks, lunch, sweatshirts, library books, and then for the bus. Then our afternon routine of snack, homework, reading, more snacks, outside time, and chores (ha, right!) We have our umpteen (yes, that IS a real number) loads of laundry per week. We have an assortment of scout, YM, PTA, HOA, and Primary meetings. There are groceries to buy and put away, dinners to prepare, dishes to wash, trash to collect, bills to pay.

These things make our home a mess. Add to it our recent construction project and hoo-boy, there really aren't words.

I haven't vacuumed in weeks. Why should I, the floors will be replaced any day now. They are covered in saw dust, sheet rock dust, and who knows what else. My sister in law swept my kitchen floor the other night and by the next morning you couldn't tell. (sorry Jen) The doors are off the hinges (except for the bathroom). Most of living room furniture is pushed into the center of the room. What there isn't room for in the house has been moved to the garage... a dust storm waiting to happen. The walls are painted but the majority of the trim is not.

We are blessed to be able to do this now. I am not complaining about the constuction, just the mess it has created. I will be happy to get back to our normal mess. In the meantime here are some photos of the project.




My construction workers taking down the half wall between the family room and breakfast nook. If you look through the mess in the background you can see the new built in shelves and cabinets Bryant made.

The soffit above the left cupboard is gone...the others are going soon. Tomorrow maybe?

Catching up!

It has been awhile since I have blogged. I have quite a bit to tell you all. No life changing news....just a lot going on. Garrett (our oldest) celebrated his 13th birthday in May, shortly after my last post. I certainly don't feel old enough to have a teenager. It helps that he doesn't act any older than 2 most of the time!

Here is the one okay photo of him with his cake.
(notice the tealight....I didn't have birthday candles. Classy huh?)

Scripture Olympics

The following weekend we had a Primary activity at church for the kids age 3-12. I was in charge of this one (we have 4 a year) and we picked "Scripture Olympics" as the theme.

The kids had a blast shooting "Goliath" with marshmallows

and "Samuel the Lamanite" with water balloons.

We had a "Nephi's boat race"

and "Noah's Ark" challenge.

The kids had ice pops and water afterwards. We had concerns having an activity on Memorial Day weekend, but all but 9 kids showed up!

Easter Sunday

Yesterday was Easter Sunday.

The morning was crazy as usual. We share our bulding with 2 other wards so we rotate church times each year. This year our Ward starts at 1pm. I like it because I can sleep in, still have time to add the finishing touches to a lesson, do a last minute load of church clothes (if needed) or like this day clean my house so those coming over for Easter dinner could find their way from the front door to the table (at least!). It started out well intentioned and then the closer we got to 1pm the louder I spoke and the more irritated at myself and others I got. Irritated at myself for waiting until Sunday morning to clean and others because they weren't helping or if they were helping they weren't moving quick enough. BUT, the house got clean (clean enough) and we made it to church in time to hear some (not much) prelude music.

Needless to say my "sabbath morning" wasn't a peaceful time to reflect upon my week and feel of the spirit in preparation for taking the sacrament.

However, the spirit hit me like a brick during sacrament meeting. It was fabulous. I usually don't feel the spirit quite that strong (anti-depressants tend to level out the emotions). We heard about miracles today and how they can help us understand what a miracle the Resurection is in our lives.

Bryant wrote the following piece. It just came to him Saturday.

The Easter Stone

Throughout the life of the Savior here on Earth, and in all the time before and after His life, the very elements of the Earth have obeyed the word of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said the dust of the Earth was obedient to him - more so even than we are.

The very seas obeyed his calming voice when He commanded them to "Be still."

And yet, immediately after our Savior gave up His life to be crucified for our sins, a certain stone agreed to be rolled up to cover the tomb of our slain Lord.

Hewn from a larger stone by workers hired by a righteous follower of Christ and rolled forth to cover the tomb by a few Roman soldiers, the stone hid the pierced and lifeless body of Christ from a sinful world. I wonder if that stone resisted as it sealed the tomb shut. Or did the elements that Christ formed already know there mission
coming just three days later?

I imagine that stone accepting its call to hide the body of the Creator of Earth from the world that had forsaken Him. I imagine more that the stone had to struggle within itself to retain its shape as it anxiously awaited the moment when the glorified and resurrected God of all righteousness spoke the command to roll aside.

That Easter stone and the elements of every grain that held it fast must have been so wonderfully delighted that it was blessed with the opportunity to reveal to the world and to the eternities the glorified Son of God and the Father of Righteousness as it rolled aside. That Easter stone was blessed to have opened the door and cleared the path as it beyed the Lord Jesus when He waved his hand in glory, commanding or even bidding it to roll back.

Indeed, that stone must have gloried in the light that shined around Him as he approached the opening of the tomb.

We do not know the fullness of the light and might of the miracle that occurred
inside that tomb as the Lord took up His body again, but I pray that I can be a
fraction as obedient as the Easter stone; that I can partake of a part of the light of the Christ; that I can partake in the miracle of the atonement and resurrection of Christ in my own life. I pray that we can all feel the warmth and mercy and love of Him, as the Easter stone must have witnessed as it sealed the tomb of the Lord and then revealed Him to the eternities in all His glory.
May the love and light and mercy of Him who is mighty to save find place in your
heart and life on the blessed Easter Sunday, and may we all be like the Easter
stone in our own way.

While we were at church my parents had arrived at our house to make preparations for dinner. I liked coming home to dinner cooking. Maybe I should think about some hired help. Unfortunatley "think about" is all I am able to afford. Oh well, it was nice for the day. Almost all of my family came to my place for dinner this afternoon. It was great! I know that for some people family gatherings can be a dreaded thing, but I like my family. We all get along well.
We play, laugh and tell stories. The best stories are the funny ones my Dad tells. Even if we've heard them (he's told them) a million times, which inevitably we have, he laughs so hard he can barely breathe (Uncle Andy laugh). This happened at the dinner table. I was away from the table so I have no idea which story he was re-telling, but I heard his laugh. It's hard not to smile
just thinking about it.
We have had the pleasure of Jen's Dad, Perry, at a few of our gatherings. I hope he finds our company as much of a pleasure as we find his. Well actually, I don't care. We'll keep inviting him anyway. I figure if he doesn't like us he won't accept the invite. That's the way we roll around here. (but I really think he likes us!) My point was that Perry joined us for our little get together.



Here are some pics from the day.

Sutton finding a surprise in an egg

Who knew the adults had that much energy?!



Even the adults love surprises!

Tae Kwon Do

Tonight was our first family Tae Kwon Do class. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art. It uses the legs much more than Japanese Karate. We learned some kicks and punches and even did a few sit-ups and push-ups. I am already feeling sore, tomorrow I'll be referring to it as Tae Kwon DoOohhh! We are all glad that we were the only students attending tonight. None of us had any style and one of us fell during a kick. We all looked a little dorky, but we'll get better!