Spring Break?

I must say it has not been a break, but it has been a fun week.

We started celebrating last Saturday when it was such a nice day outside we couldn't resist ordering a pizza and picnicking at the park for lunch. Dustin tried to sneak in a little bus nap in the sunshine. The girls had a great time burning some energy and soaking in some vitamin D!

That evening we headed to another park and met my brother to try to take some pictures of all the girls for my parent's wall.

Kourtney 14 months

Molly 20 months

Alissa 3

Kaitlynn 4

Ella 6

Kailey 7

The girls were impossible. This is about the most descent shot we got out of probably 50.

Monday we headed to the town to get groceries and run a few other errands including a stop at the public library so Ella could pick up another stock pile of books. We picked Dustin up from work and headed to Red Robin where my sister in law Lisa was celebrating her birthday.

Tuesday we hosted a baby shower at our house for Dustin's niece Ashley who is having a baby boy in June. So we spent the day preparing for our guests. Ella and Alissa have been hosting many tea parties at our coffee table or copy table as Ella calls it.

Wednesday morning we managed to sneak in some real fun. Ella has been asking me to make her a spy course like the girls from Barbie Charm School so we taped and wrapped string all over the bedroom so they could climb through like they were lasers. The rest of the day my mom and I spent doing each other's hair. We needed some spring time highlights. :)

Wednesday night Dustin's brother and family came into town from Nampa and brought 3 of their kids by to stay at our house. It's always fun to have cousins come from out of town. We just love them! Noah and Bekah were determined to help Ella learn to ride her bike. She did pretty well with the peer pressure and then caved. :)

Thursday we spent 3 1/2 hours at Leo's place with cousins and then the rest of the night at my house with 11 kids, 3 moms and my good Dustin. A few of Dustin's brothers went fishing for the weekend so most of my sister in laws were single this weekend.

Friday a few hours at Blast Off, dinner at Chuck A Rama and coloring Easter eggs at my house with thankfully only 6 kids.

Saturday we enjoyed a relaxing few hours of conference and then had all the kids and mamas back over to let the kids play and then attempted to take them all (YIKES) to the movies. I ended up leaving about 3/4 of the way through with Alissa and Molly because they were ready for bed and having a hard time sitting still.

Needless to say I am ready for the Sabbath - the day of rest! I am anxious to listen to another couple sessions of conference and soak in some motivation to get up and be better. We sure are blessed to have modern day prophets to helps us through this mortal life. So grateful for the gospel.. so grateful for my family.. so grateful for so many things!

I feel my Savior's Love

One of the speakers at Time Out for Women used this quote by President Eyring from the 2000 Ensign. 

"The Savior will let you feel the love

He feels for those you serve."

It reminded me of a story that happened about 5 or so years ago while living in Logan.  I was serving as a ward missionary at the time along with my good friend Heidi and we were so sincerely trying to help a couple of super troubled sisters in our ward.

This one in particular was single and had just one child if I remember correctly.  I remember making so many efforts to invite her to every event the Relief Society put on and often trying to visit her to just see how she was doing.  We looked for any opportunity we could to serve her.  One day - her birthday I had a strong impression to go mow her lawn.   Her lawn was EXTREMELY long and her lawn mower was broken!  We had an old beat up lawn mower that didn't have a self drive and had me sweating just mowing short grass. 

Thankfully I listened to the prompting and put the lawn mower in the back of my white explorer and headed over to her house.  I didn't go talk to her, just unloaded the lawn mower and started my job.  Adrenalin kept me from feeling tired for the first couple swipes down her lawn but soon I was feeling so hot and tired!  I wondered if I would be able to finish and if I was even making any difference.  I found myself praying, "Heavenly Father, please let this act of service show this sister how much we love her and to feel the Savior's love for her too!"  Immediatly I felt an overwhelming sense of love that the Savior had for this sister.  It made the job easier.  I knew if he were here this is what he would be doing.  Serving her.  She was not making good choices in her life and never ended up coming to church.  In fact soon after she joined another church but that experience taught me SO much!  Heavenly Father is aware of her and although she was not an active member of the church he loved her so deeply. 

I am grateful for that experience and the many lessons that service teaches.  I am thankful for a testimony of a Father in Heaven and Savior who love me and are aware of me and that although we may stray the Lord will forever love us.

Fingers

Last week I got a new toy.  I have been looking on and off for a year or so for a used treadmill and when I heard a neighbor was selling hers for $100 I was excited and jumped right on it.

Immediatly the kids wanted to play on it and so I turned it on the lowest setting and watched them sit and ride down to the bottom as long as I was there with them.  Dustin saw them doing it and warned me that it wasn't a good idea.  So Monday morning after using it I sat down to stretch next to it and again let the kids play on the first setting.  Within a few minute I hear Molly screaming at the bottom of the treadmill.  I jumped and pulled the key out, grabbed her little hand as it was going under the back of the track and pulled it out.  Here is what it looked like the 2nd day:

and the 3rd day.

So sad!  I was a bad mom.  I felt bad calling Dustin and telling him what happened especially after he had warned me that they shouldn't be on there.  I am grateful that some skinned fingers is all we got.  It could have been a lot worse.  Her little hand is healing well and she has been a real trooper through this whole thing.  Poor kid! 

Time out for Women

My mom, sister and I had the opportunity to attend Time out for Women put on by Deseret Book this past weekend.  I had a week of not leaving the house so it was a much anticipated break.  I love being with my mom and sister too - they are 2 of my favorite people.  I wish I had better prepared myself mentally/spiritually for this event though.  It's amazing what that will do for you.  I still got a lot out of it and came home feeling ready to try harder which is always a good thing.

Here were the speakers:  John Bytheway,  Macy Robison,Virginia Pearce, Jericho Road, Mary Ellen Edmunds, D. Kelly Ogden, Merrilee Boyack,  Emily Freeman,  Emily Watts

I was reminded through this seminar of a few experiences I don't think I've journaled about so I'm going to try to do that this week.

My Big Reader

Back in the beginning of the school year Ella's teacher encouraged us to start reading chapter books but Ella just had no desire to read them.  She liked the pictures way too much in the other books.  A good friend of ours let us borrow a few of her books that her girl was interested in during 1st grade and Ella read a few of them with me but still didn't spark much interest for it.

Last summer I had picked up these little Rainbow Fairy books from a garage sale for $1 and she started to read those and loved them.  In January we got a little note sent home that she was reading at a 2.7 reading level so I knew she could handle them plenty well.  We only had 6 books though so one Sunday afternoon inspiration hit!  I looked up the public library and showed her all the Rainbow Fairy books available there (there are a LOT) and we reserved a few for her.  When we went to the library and found the section where they were she was in heaven!  She chose 5 books along with about 20 other picture books and we checked them out.  Within the week she was done and had taken AR tests on her chapter books. 

This week we headed to the library for another dose of Rainbow Fairies and she picked out 7 books and within a day she is starting her 3 book.  You will find her in the living room... on the couch...

 in the car..  sitting on a table..

sitting in the swing,

and most often in her bed READING!

I'm grateful she has found a love for reading and hope the desire continues to be strong because I know it will benefit her greatly.  She is our little smartie pants girl!  Just love her!  Thank you Daisy Meadows for writing such interesting girly books.

Ella's school had a "Eat with your Parents Day" at school today.  Mom kindly volunteered to watch the girls while I went and ate lunch with Ella.  She loves it when I come which is fun.  I ate lunch with her and then played recess with the kids.  This is Ella's BFF this year Brennady Jensen.

And while I'm posting about school I figured I'd add this in because I wanted it in our scrapbook somewhere.  This is Ella's principal duct taped to the wall in the lunch room.  The school had a Read A Thon back at the beginning of the year and if the school met a reading goal he agreed to let them tape him to the wall.  The student in each grade that read the most got to add a piece of tape.  The students were so pumped about it.  What a good principal and a great school.  I'm sure it is something Ella will always remember. 

Weekend in Utah

This weekend we took a little trip down to Utah as a family.  On our way we stopped in Pocatello to play at the park with Dustin's niece, Julie and her kids.  This is Alissa & Emree in the swing.

We stayed in West Valley City at the Staybridge Suites which ended up being a really nice hotel.  One of our motivations for staying there was that they have a mini water park inside with a water slide that goes outside of the hotel and back inside, all enclosed.  With a lot of cheering we even got Ella to go down the slide and she loved it!

All the kids had a blast! 

Saturday morning we got up and headed to Salt Lake where we took a small tour of the conference center and walked around the temple for a few minutes.  I couldn't help but notice my cute husband with his 3 little girls.  I know he never imagined a family of girls, but what a lucky guy to have them!  They admire and love their daddy so much.

This is one of my new favorite pictures!  It's so perfect in every way!  The LOVES of my life!

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The kids had fun at the conference center.  Ella especially loved learning about all the things they were teaching us about President Hinckley's pulpit and seeing all the paintings of the apostles and the busts of the Prophets.  It's really an amazing building to tour.  Here is a picture of the girls standing in front of the pulpit.

We saw the Book of Mormon paintings and Ella immediately picked out her favorite.

The much anticipated finale was on the roof of the conference center where the girls got to play in more water and have a perfect view of the temple.

This ranks with my top favorite photos.  Look at these girls standing back watching the bride.  Ella couldn't even walk she was so distracted by watching them.  She is a dreamer!

We ate lunch at Crown Burger and headed to the Energy Solutions Arena for Toy Story 3 with Disney on Ice.  It was a great time!  Molly slept through the first half and only got woke because I had to take Alissa out.  For the most part the girls sat pretty well and Ella was glued.  It's such a fun experience!  Alissa even got to see Minnie which was the highlight for her no doubt.  Ella did some chores before we left so she got to pick out this unicorn stuffed animal before we went into the show.

Dustin was bursting with sunshine!  He loved every minute. (he he)  He went out and came back with hats and the Buzz mug for the kids to share. 

I love my family.  I love when we go on the road somewhere.  Everybody is stuck in the car together and we get to visit and have fun.  Dustin and I get to talk and it's just all good.  We made some fun memories and had a great time together!