I actually like to blog

I actually like to blog even though this past year it has gone by the wayside.  Do I feel like by not editing pictures and writing about them I have so much more time?  No.  If you stop doing one thing, you just fill that time with other things.  I don't remember what all those things even are.  Many of them are probably very good.  The thing I like about blogging is that I do remember when I click on a blog post what I was doing that month.  I tend to forget all the menial tasks and taking time to record  is my memory catcher.  Without stopping to make a record the days fly by and all of the sudden I have a kid that will be 17 this year and how did that happen?  So, here it is almost July...but I am making some Summer Goals.

1.  Take an hour to organize pictures and/or record memories 5x week.  
The hard thing about this is when do I do that?  My days get so busy and I just don't have time.  There are usually never  those ideal  summer afternoon moments you dream of to do such things.  No more "nap/quiet times" with so many age groups.  Nights are just as busy and everyone needs tucking in and I am tired. (Teenagers don't ever go to bed, did you know that?)   I am already committing to exercise in the morning, so when should I do this task?  If I don't make a time it won't happen, right?  I think I will just have to pencil it in day by day the night before depending on what is going on the next day.

2.  Exercise 5x week
This one is also something I like to do, it is not as hard for me because it has become more of a habit.  I usually only hit 4x max, despite my best intentions, and even with Marathon training.  I do Zumba a couple of times and run a few times.  I have starting walking with our Church ladies Monday mornings. As much as I fight it...I have finally surrendered to the Universe... mornings definitely work best! It's either mornings or 5 days just won't happen.   Don't get me wrong, I do love an evening run too...but with kids you just can't depend on it happening so it often gets trumped by other things.  Best to do it BEFORE the chaos of the day hits.  Plus, exercise is my sanity drug.  So I might as well get that boost first thing in the morning when possible.  Let's not fool anyone, I am not a natural early bird...but I am shooting for waking at 630-7ish and heading right out.  I often wake up but get distracted and decide house work is more pressing...I WILL NOT be distracted.

3.  Scriptures
Normally, I listen to a Conference talk every day on my iphone before I allow myself to  read or listen to anything else.  I love this.  I learn something new every time. If I get distracted and the next day I can't remember what I listened to the day before, I re-listen to that talk.  I have already gone through all the April 2015 Sessions.  I decided this summer to focus on the Standard Works.  I am trying to listen to the Book of Mormon as I do my regular tasks or as I am getting ready for the day.  I naturally enjoy Conference more...but I will let you know how my Book of Mormon "listening" goes.  I have never "read" it this way.  I also am committing to Scriptures with the Family Daily.  I am NOT consistent with this one.


4.  Pray out loud, on my knees.  
I have a friend that is so great at saying prayers.  She doesn't rattle the same old things her Heavenly Father.  She is so specific it always amazes me. One small example was just yesterday.  Sophie was having dental surgery and I was texting my friend while I was waiting for Sophie in the waiting room. (Okay, it is Marla, she won't mind me saying so.) Marla didn't know Sophie was having surgery so immediately told me she would pray for her.   I received a text a few minutes later....
       "I prayed that the Dr would know where exactly to look for the teeth they need to extract and that they would be able to do it with minimal damage to Sophie's mouth so her recovery time would be minimal and that you would be inspired to know when to give her pain meds so she wouldn't be in pain." 
       Ok, WHO DOES THAT???  I would have just said, "Please bless so-and-so that all will go well...."  She is ALWAYS very specific with her prayers and she has an amazing connection straight to heaven.  I didn't even think to pray for what she thought of praying for.  After the surgery was over, I went in and Sophie did SO well. The doctor then told me during the surgery he was afraid they were going to have to cut her gum up above her front teeth and pull the gums back to get Sophie's extra tooth out....but "luckily", he ended up being able to get the tooth out without doing all that cutting...and with "minimal damage to her mouth so her recovery time would be minimal".   It was a direct answer to Marla's prayer!  It was no surprise to me that her prayer had been answered.  I can't tell you how many times she has prayed for something very specific, and the Lord hears her and that specific thing is granted.

I am going to be more like Marla...get on my knees, and pray out loud for the things I specifically need. Cause let's be honest, I need some stuff.

So that's it.  Those are my goals.  I would like to add ones in the mothering/wife area.  But, I figure if I am sane and doing well...I will be better in those areas too.

Halloween in March

Well, since it is March now...I thought I better hurry and get blogging about Halloween!  Seeing the leaves and grass from these pictures makes me wish Spring would come.  I don't think I ever mind Winter, until I see pictures and see how pretty it is the other six months of the year!

Halloween at the Elementary School is always so fun.  Pierson and Olive came to join Avery in her first parade at the school.  

We are pretty lucky to have cousins at school with us...here is Isabelle.

Gunnar and Luke

I am Michael's Room Mom this year, but we were able to pop in Annie's class and say hi.  

Olive was pretty sad when she realized she would have to go home after the parade and not stay for the parties.  Who can turn that sad face down?  We talked her mom into letting her stay for the festivities for a little while longer. 

She snapped right out of it. I love Sophie's expression under that hat.  

Michael's teacher is Ms. Anderson and she is AWESOME.  All the 5th grade teachers were characters from the Wizard of Oz.  

The kids did relays, played games, and made

 caramel apples.  Michael's booty got in the way sometimes, but he had fun with it.

Sophie and Pierson taking it all in...

Even Benson came to school! 

After School it is off to trick-or-treat at Grandma's House. She feeds us dinner too.  

Pretty good treat. 

Grandma and all the Grandkids except for the Arizona Crew.  :(  

 Grandma and Baby Benson

It seems every year there is a "hit" character or costume.  This year it was Elsa from Frozen.  In our family alone we had three.  They were pretty cute I must say! 

I guess we really had FOUR, because even our cousin Amelia in Arizona was an Elsa too!  

Annie decided early on that she wanted to be a Cow Girl.  She had exactly what she wanted in her mind and pretty much got her costume together.  Luckily, Sophie went along with the plan. 

Cutest Cowgirls I know! 

Our crew...Luke (Army Guy), Michael (Old Lady) Gunnar (Gandalf) Joshua (Teen Dad Since he is holding Benson.) James (Nerd), Sophie and Annie (Cowgirls)

We did pretty well considering we had been in our new house ONE DAY.  The entire house was in complete disarray and chaos. I had no idea where the real costume bin was even at.  

Luke wore Grandpa's real Army Jacket and Boots. 

This little Cat Lady had some serious junk in the trunk. 

Gunnar is Gandalf.  I love this picture. 

Joshua is really growing up.  He didn't dress up this year, so when he posed for me holding Benson, I told him that could be his costume...Teen Dad.  (That would be a true Halloween Nightmare!)

Abigail and her friends were "Three Blind Mice".  

Loved Emmaline's Costume too!  When I was about this age I was obsessed with Poodle Skirts and would have loved to wear this outfit!

Cutest Pippi Longstocking!  (I think Benson was the hit Halloween Accessory)  

James was a last minute nerd...

Soaking up every minute of her new favorite holiday. 

Carly somehow had a baby in October and also managed to hand make the two Elsa costumes.  Way to go, Mama! 

Luke and Gunnar have been trick-or-treating together since first grade.  They always manage to bring home LOTS of loot! 

My Soldier Boy. 

From Grandma's we headed to the Church for the Trunk-or-Treat.  The fastest Candy Dash you will ever see. 

I love to see neighborhood and ward friends all dressed up.  This little guy was one of my favorites.  I think of him like this now whenever I see him! 

More great costumes...my visiting teaching partner and daughter pulled this look off a little TOO well!  They were awesome. 

I LOVED this Maleficent Costume, and I love the girl wearing it. 

I had a pretty awesome costume too...

 And the last picture of the night...the kids literally asleep in the car.  They were exhausted not only from a day of parties and a night of running the streets in search of the most loot..but a crazy week of moving.  It was another great Halloween to add to the books! 

I don't know what I am waiting for as far as keeping current on my blog!  I keep waiting for the never-ending projects and daily tasks to end and then maybe I will have time to sit down and catch up, to edit photos and  organize them.  Well, NOT HAPPENING.  I guess something is better than nothing.  It's so much better to do a little each day, than to not do anything.  That's the story of life with just about everything...finances, scripture reading, cleaning, exercise, and projects.  Little acts added up each day amount to a lot.  So, here is a picture dump from my iPhone this month, leading up to Valentines.  

Carly's family took a family picture every Sunday growing up.  Michael and Carly have continued the tradition in their own family.  I think it is great to see how the kids and the family changes week to week.  I have not been that great at it...trying to get all my kids to pose for a picture is like herding cattle.  However, this was the ones I did get a few Sunday's back.  

Selfie with Sophie to send to Dad. 

Poor Cousin Pierson, and poor Sophie, I see heartbreak on the horizon.  She talks about Pierson everyday, all day.  She put on this jacket and thought it would look so great for Pierson.  (It actually got her to start dressing herself this month, so It was good motivation.) 

I found her practicing faces in the mirror, and wish I could have snuck in so she would not have seen me! 

Another thing about Sophie, besides a serious cousin crush, is that her most common phrase is, "I hungry."  She is hungry ALL the time.  She doesn't like to eat a lot at once, she is a grazer for sure...but she is always on the look out for what comes next! 

Ryan always wants me to take a picture of myself to send him since he is out of town.  I always feel dumb doing it.  I thought this one was funny, cause Pierson back there was doing the serious posing but I didn't realize it until I looked back at these pictures. 

I think he appreciated this one the most...Pierson and Sophie told me what to do. 

Annie had her first "real" tooth loss.  The one up top she knocked out when she was two.  Now she has a nice big space there and she looks pretty darn cute! 

This furniture came with the house when we moved in.  Since we still had a ton of furniture in the storage unit is was time to move these out!  I sold them on Craigslist to the cutest newlywed couple from BYUI.  

Ryan and his parents arrived here from CA and his parents surprised us with two nights at a hotel.  It was nice to get away and get a good nights rest.  (The second night Ryan worked until 530am, but I got a good rest!)  Joshua was grossed out that we were going to a hotel, the thought that his parents might get busy if they got out of the house was too much to think of.  Ha ha. 

We had our monthly FHE at David and Melissa's this month.  Uncle Michael had an awesome lesson about putting on the Full Armor of God.  Here is the group telling us about the Breast Shield...

The swords were definitely the most popular item.  

This was my group...we had our feet shod with righteousness and peace. 

Nana was a great help to the kids...she always jumps right in to help.  (More to come on their trip here.)

Ryan, James, Michael and I had to leave a few minutes early to get Michael to his Priesthood Preview.  I caught this picture as we were leaving.  It was beautiful! 

I have about 20 pictures just like this on my phone.  They make me smile and crack me up whenever I find them.  It is like having a camera in the mirror.  You gotta love when kids take Selfies with your phone.

We did a lot of moving from the Storage Unit.  Papa put everyone to work and we got a ton done!  Tyson (the Cowboy) came to help out for a bit.  It is so nice having strong boys around to help out.  They found their Air Soft Guns they had lost so that was their reward. 

We took Judy to Costa Vida, but the only picture I got was cute Benson. He is the best baby. He just sits so good and smiles.  Such a sweet boy. 

Making Valentine Boxes was on the "to do" list.  It was so nice having Nana around to help supervise activities like this and keep everyone on task! 

At Zumba we had a Valentine Special Zumba and you better bet Angie and I got all decked out in every shade of pink and red we could get our hands on.  (That is Chelsea and Lacy, Melissa's sisters back there too!)  We had so much fun.  I can tell I have not been working out so much...how is it that you lose your fitness level in a matter of weeks?  Okay, it might be a few months.  I need to step it up! 

 Well, that's my Recap up to Valentine's!  I love pictures.  I have been organizing my really old photos and finally putting them in albums.  It is so fun to see old ones and amazing how they bring back things you had forgotten.  I am so grateful to live in a time that we can take pictures galore even if organizing them stresses me out.  :)  Happy Thursday!