MORE winter pictures

Charlie asks me every morning if it's summer yet. All of the snow accumulation makes summer feel forever far away. But there are a few things that we've enjoyed this winter.

The boys have spent hours playing in the back yard on their snow mountain with all of their sand toys.

We've been sledding a dozen times and even had a snow day with our playgroup friends. And of course tons of hot chocolate. That's my favorite part.

I also got the chance to go skiing for my 3rd time last Friday. Amber and I taught Hillary how to ski. She was a natural - in the picture I'm trying to teach her how to stop... but turning and getting her skis perpendicular to the mountain ended up working the best for her. As promised, I didn't let her die - highlight of night skiing (next to all of the fantastic powder).

kazooing carolers

Last night we, as the Young Women's presidency and teachers, decided to go deliver a little Christmas gift to each of our Young Women. We also wanted to carol... but to make it even more fun... we caroled with kazoos (really, we can't sing)! Nothing says Christmas like a caroling kazooer.

Girls' Camp--- Pa-chaaaaaaw!

Girl's camp was so fun! Nothing like hanging out with a bunch of cute, fun girls. We were at a beautiful campsite with amazing cabins. We hiked, canoed, ATE, and talked tons. It was really, really, really fun... really!!!

Pa-chaaaaaw!

General Conference Jeopardy

General Conference weekend was great! The boys are old enough this year that during the times they weren't able to sit quietly and listen (or when Jack wasn't napping), we could send them upstairs to play or out in the back yard.. so I heard most of it for the first time in years. It was a great conference & I'm looking forward to reading the transcripts of the talks next month. In the meantime, the talks can be listened to at www.lds.org or more specifically here.

For our Young Women's activity tomorrow evening we'll be playing General Conference Jeopardy. My category to write questions for is "The Holy Ghost". Here are my answer/questions:

Category - THE HOLY GHOST

QUESTION: “Once you have felt it, you can never forget it.” Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy also said we have “A spiritual ‘sixth sense’ that cannot be misled” and that “This spiritual sense vibrates only when activated upon by…” this.

ANSWER: What is the Holy Ghost?


QUESTION: During the Sunday morning session, he told a story about when he was an eleven-year-old boy. His favorite activity was to collect all of the free stuff at Temple Square (he even would act disappointed if he was told a pamphlet cost 5 cents & would say “Oh, I always wanted to read that pamphlet but I don’t have any money!”). One day while waiting in his parent’s 1948 Chevrolet he became inescapably bored and read a pamphlet from his collection entitled “Joseph Smith tells his own story”. He was “riveted & his heart was filled with joy”. He felt “a witness of the spirit”.

ANSWER: Who is Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy?


QUESTION: During the Saturday afternoon session, Sister Bonnie D. Parkin, former president in the General Relief Society Presidency, said that THIS “…is a spirit filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonders of the smallest things, which gladdens our hearts with the messages of God’s love. This… awareness heightens our sensitivity to the divine direction. When we communicate with THIS we can be filled with the spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord.”

ANSWER: What is gratitude?


QUESTION: He said this during the Saturday morning session, “He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer. However, his answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, he will prompt you in quiet moments when the spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. This pattern causes you to grow.”

ANSWER: Who is Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles?


QUESTION: During the Saturday afternoon session he said this about general conference talks and other worthy performances that take place in the Tabernacle: “It is not so much what is heard in the sermons, but what is felt. The Holy Ghost can confirm to all who come within its influence that the messages are true, that this is the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.”

ANSWER: Who is President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles?

Weekend Update

Charlie, Jack, & I kicked off Friday by successfully completing a HUGE trip to Wal-Mart & then to the grocery store-- no small fete with those crazy monkeys. Granted, I did have to start throwing fruit snacks at them half way though Wal-Mart but there was no waiting in line (generally where the toddler-torturing of mommy takes place) - and they accepted all of my coupons (Saved $7.90!). I rewarded their good behavior with their favorite lunch stop - Wendy's & they blissfully dipped their french fries in their Chocolate "Melty" (that's what Charlie calls Frosties, since they melt so quickly). Jack even dipped his chicken nuggets & cheese burger in his, but hey.. at least he ate all of his food. While I was eating and putting the groceries away at the same time, I accidentally spilled my entire Dr. Pepper all over the kitchen floor to which Charlie told me I was going to be in big, big trouble for making a huge mess & Daddy was going to come home and tell me to get in the corner. I explained that it was an accident & I was going to clean it up & this seemed to be a good solution to him (besides eating my double jr. bacon cheese burger without my Dr. Pepper was punishment enough). At least he's not telling me to get in the corner like he was a few weeks ago, but I guess he thinks Daddy can put Mommy in time out if she's naughty.

Uncle Al came over for dinner & to do his laundry & play with his nephews while Greg & I took some time to finally go watch Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest in the movie theater of our club house. I love that Captain Jack Sparrow.. loved the chirography of the sword fights.. was horrified by the sea creature people.. but it definitely felt like a 'middle' to me & I can't wait to see the next one - I think it comes out on May 25th!

When we got back I put Charlie to bed. Alan had successfully changed his first poopy diaper & had gotten Jack to go to sleep successfully. The boys had a great time with him & when Charlie woke up this morning he said "Hey! Why did Uncle Al go home? I wanted him to stay here!" Greg and I vegged in front of the Discovery Channel and watched Lobster Men & contemplated a move and a career change. The crew members made $7800 for 5 days of lobstering!

Greg jumped on an opportunity to work at Scuba Ted's on Saturdays to get a sweet discount on gear & classes. So that's where he's been today. The boys and I went to hang out with him for awhile before their naps. This morning we got all the bedrooms cleaned, the kitchen & living room cleaned & dusted & vacuumed, the upstairs bathroom done & the laundry done. My random-Saturday-project was to straighten out the computer cords and dust/vacuum behind the desk - it it looks awesome. My living room feels so much less cluttered now.

Tonight I'm going to finish my young women's lesson for tomorrow. I'm teaching the combined lesson - so with all of the young women & the leaders. I have too much material & I'm trying to narrow it down. The lesson is called Loving Ourselves & Others and everything I read seems to totally apply & I want to share everything I've learned with them. I know that it's probably the hardest time for these girls, being in Jr. High & High School & dealing with mean girls who are supposedly their friends but hurt them continuously & peer pressure & clicks & wanting to be accepted and trying to figure out who they are and who they want to become---- I just want them to really feel their own value and worth and know that they can ignore those outside pressures and be who they want to be & make the choices they know to be right. We have the cutest, funniest & most accepting group of girls. I'm really loving my calling as the Young Women's secretary & I'm glad I get the chance to teach every few months.

Here are some pictures I uploaded of the boys looking at a caterpillar in the backyard (2-22-07).

Charlie was afraid of it at first, he kept saying it was going to sting him & stayed in the safety of the wagon. Jack was initially intrigued by our little caterpillar.

After following it for awhile, and even holding it while it was on a stick & petting it, Jack decided it was funny to be afraid of it like Charlie was. So this is his 'feigned fear of a fuzzy little caterpillar'. The kid can really act!