Women's Conference 2012

Women's Conference this year was a little different than years past. They invited all girls from the age of 8 up to attend! So this year Brianne was able to come! They also put together a choir to participate in the event and they wanted Primary children as well as young women and adults. Since Brianne and I both enjoy singing we decided to join the choir! The speaker for the event was Janice Kapp Perry and we were soooo excited to go! She is an amazing woman and was such an incredible speaker. It was an absolute delight to hear her stories and share her life experiences with us. Singing her songs for her was a little intimidating but I think we did well! One of the songs we sang was a favorite of mine from my Young Women days. It's the song called "I Walk By Faith". It's a fantastic song with beautiful lyrics. All her songs though have beautiful lyrics! Brianne was able to sing her favorite as well which is "I Love to See the Temple." However, I think the best part of the evening was that Brianne was able to meet her and get a picture! You can tell that she was SO excited to meet her! She is like a rock star to Brianne! It was an amazing night and truly the BEST Women's conference I have attended in a long while!

Thoughtful Kids

I have always known my kids are sweet and thoughtful but let me just show you two quick examples! Brianne insisted helping me make my lunch a few weeks ago and when I opened it later I found these cheese "hearts" in my lunch bag! It brought a smile to my face!
There was also this very cute note! It reads, "Dear Mommy I love you a lot I hope you enjoy your cheesy hearts!" How cute is THAT!! It was so sweet! Made my day!
This is a picture of Will back in December that I took after he brought up graham crackers and frosting for Chan and I. When he discovered it was our anniversary he wanted to bring us up a treat and since baking was out of the question, he raided our pantry and threw this together! I have to admit it's a favorite treat of mine too! It was so cute of him to want to do something nice for us! Loved it! It's fun to see them growing up and wonderful to see them becoming such sweet people! Thanks guys! :)

Time

Time

Noun: The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present and future regarded as a whole.

Verb: Plan, schedule, or arrange when (something) should happen or be done.

Time has been a major subject for me over the past week or so. I have found myself talking about it a lot with my family, friends and especially my husband. It seems (and frankly has always seemed) to be going quickly. I have found myself in past years stretching myself too thin to try and fit my time around all the things that have been thrust on my plate. Whether it be the Valentines parties in schools to church activities on the calendar. Well lately after hearing talks by General Authorities in the church to heartfelt discussions with my husband I have decided that my time is too precious to spend it on things that are unimportant. Example #1: School activites. I am currently the PTA Treasurer at my kids elementary school, however, that does NOT mean I have to be at EVERY activity. I will pick and choose the ones I FEEL are important for MY FAMILY. I am no longer going to go overboard on class parties and if I don't contribute something to the class on every holiday I guess I don't.... no harm done. Example #2: Considering all the changes our family has been going through I felt the need to get a job outside the home to help with income. I work around 17 hours a week, doesn't seem like much right? WRONG! After careful consideration with my husband we've decided that to raise a family in the way we want and to be the kind of Mother I want to be, I don't get paid enough to be away from my family for that amount of time. Over the last few months I have had to get rides home for my kids, rush home to get kids to activities and have not been able to do my usual "snack time" after school with my kids. I had always looked forward to that time with them, and I miss it. So this year I set a new goal: I will use my time as I see fit to be a better person, wife, Mother, friend and servant to my Heavenly Father. If it means I let my house go to pot so I can serve in the temple that day- then I guess it will! (which I have done the last 2 weeks BTW!) If it means I will no longer hold a job outside the home after this year- I guess it does! If it means that I decide to keep my kids home one night from mutual so we can have FHE on a Wednesday instead of a Monday when their Dad is home- then I guess it will! I have to tell you that since I have made this decision I feel at peace! I'm not letting anyone else's schedule or time table effect me and my family anymore! It's freeing!! I look forward to the peace it continues to bring me and my family!

Music to my ears

Brianne stared taking piano a while ago, but it hasn't been until recently that she has really taken to it. It used to be that she would sit down to practice a song and give up on the actual "song" and opt to just messing around. But I started noticing her playing around Christmastime. She just sat down and started to play a Christmas song she found in a book. Granted it wasn't in tempo and some notes were wrong, but I could really hear the song!
And recently she has gotten out the Primary songbook and has attempted some of the songs in there and I am proud to say that she can read it! She just got 3 new piano books from her teacher and is starting to finally play songs with both hands at the same time and I am so proud! I KNOW she is going to do well because she is finally able to see for herself that she is learning! It's music to my ears!

Brianne is also singing with me in the Ward choir! I just love that she wants to be a part of the choir and I have to say she fits right in! :)

Brothers

The other day in church I looked over to see the boys huddling together like this. I realized soon after that Carter was playing a game on his ipod and Will was watching, (naughty) but just the sight of them together like that made me happy. They are such great brothers! They have their moments, but truly for the most part they are friends and I'm so glad! I've seen anything from Carter giving Will tips on passing sacrament to Will showing Carter the right form to do S turns on a snowboard. Whatever it is they are there for each other. My favorite is watching them bond over football related things- like Carter leaning into Will and giving him advice- I just love it! I'm thankful for my boys, they are just awesome!

Klondike and snowboarding 2012

This was Will's first year for going on the Klondike camp out! I am still in awe that they even DO this camp out! They literally go up into the mountains during winter to survive a night in the freezing cold and snow! They also compete the morning before they leave pulling a sled and other things. Carter has been twice and opted out on this trip (and I can't blame him at all!) But Will was VERY excited and a friend of ours who went with the troop was kind enough to text us this photo of Will! He survived the night and was warming up a bit by the camp fire since it was a bit chilly at 2 degrees! YIKES!! I am so excited for him to get home so I can hear first hand how it all went! :)

I am also very proud that Will participated in the snow blitz again this year! He went up on the mountain via charter bus to Brighton ski resort every Thursday after school in January to snowboard! He's our ONLY family member that can take advantage of the wonderful snow our state offers! He's done this before, but this was the first time he's done it without anyone he knows, but he really enjoyed himself and learned a lot. It's unfortunate that I can't get any pictures of him up there shredding with his board, but I am proud of him! He wants to get up there a few more times this season and we'll have to make that happen! Then maybe I can get a photo op! Way to go Will!!

Cone of shame

I had to take the dogs in last week to get neutered and was surprised to find out that they must wear this "cone" for 10 days! The poor guys are just hating these things! When we first brought them home they "acted" like they couldn't walk etc to try and get us to take them off! (Which the vet totally warned us they would do!) But now we are almost 7 days with them and they are acting pretty normal. But I have to admit I think that after today I am ripping them off! I can't stand it anymore! Look at those cute faces! :)