Good things...

This is such an incredible movie and I don't think I had a dry eye through the whole thing. What an amazing and incredibly strong woman Emma was and she is such an inspiration to me. This movie used the same Emma and Joseph actors who are in the Joseph movie playing at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and I am so glad because I think they play the part so well, with such feeling and emotion. If I ever feel like I am having it hard, I can think of Emma, who had such a hard life with so many hardships and trials, and be so grateful for what I have. I don't think there are many of us who could go through what Emma did. I am so glad the movie puts her in such a good light because there are so many critics out there of Emma. My dad always says that anyone who is critical of Emma, is criticizing Joseph. I couldn't agree more.

Capture, oh capture!!

Whenever I walk around my house, I will run into Barbie dolls and Ninja Turtles tied up and hanging from bed posts or door knobs. Honestly, it looks like toy torture. My kids are into tying up their toys and having them "rescued" by the other Ninja Turtles who haven't been captured. I must admit it looks a little odd and disturbing seeing a Barbie tied up and hanging from a door knob when I am walking around the house. If anyone walked through the house and didn't know the type of play that was going on, who knows what they would think! I bought them a jumprope to play with outside, but guess how it is being used? As a rope to capture their characters. The best part is hearing Hannah play the "Damsel in distress" by saying "Oh Turtles, save me, save me!" in her husky little voice.

Communal nightly sleepovers!

When my mom was here 2 months ago, she slept in Hannah's room and Hannah slept on a mattress in Joseph and Joshua's room. Well, after my mom left, Hannah did not want to sleep in her room anymore. I guess they all have too much fun all sleeping in the same room. Until we can find a solution, thy have been alternating sleeping in each other's rooms every night! This is a picture of Josh and Joseph sleeping in Hannah's room. Looks like we are going to try to move Hannah into the boys room and turn her room into Daniel's room. It's fun to see that they enjoy each other's company so much that they would, by their choice, rather sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag than in their own bed!

Nothing a good nap won't cure!

My previous post sounded pretty depressing, and really things aren't that bad. I woke up tired and exhausted and have been dealing with a crabby baby and a cranky daughter. I luckily was able to take a little rest this afternoon and feel so much better! Kind of like recharging my batteries and now I am able to deal with the crabby baby and cranky daughter with me not being tired. Nothing a good little nap! Works wonders. If only I could slip them in a little more often.

Entertainment committee burnout!

Mt kids truly are my GREATEST joy and happiness. I love being a full time mom and would never trade it for the world, but there are times where I want to just escape for a little while where no one can find me!! My kids are at that stage where I am the full on entertainment committee trying to keep them happy and entertained throughout the day, along with keeping the house somewhat organized and keeping a newborn happy. My lack of sleep isn't helping the situation, either, along with the constant anxiety and stress that comes with starting a new business. Joseph and Hannah are great buddies and really do play great together, but sometimes bicker like an old married couple. Then there's Josh, my constant buddy who is FULL of energy and sometimes mischief if he feels neglected. At this time I am sorely missing my wonderful next door neighbor at my old house where we would visit in our yards and the kids would go back and forth and play at each of our houses everyday, which we all loved. We miss you Scalley's!! I LOVED Elder Ballard's talk on mothers. So nice to feel appreciated and validated by an apostle of the Lord. I really appreciated his comment on how if a mother's well is dry, she has nothing more to give. Meaning that we need to take a little time for ourselves, which then fills our well so have more to give to our family. This is so true!! James will come home and say, "OK, I'm here, you can go." Then, my time of freedom comes, and I don't know where I can even go! But I do appreciate a good husband who is so "hands on" with the kids and plays so well with them.

20 truths to live by...

I love this...

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so God can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle -- it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Clown day - or not?

This is too funny. Hannah was so excited all weekend about their upcoming "Clown Party" at preschool on Tuesday. She said they needed to wear a clown costume and paint their face (if they wanted to). So, we found a jester hat in our box of hats and painted a red nose and red cheeks on her and I dropped her off at school. Well, when I picked her up, she was no longer wearing the jester hat and her face was wiped off. When her teacher put her in the car, she looked at me and said, "Thank you so much for dressing Hannah up like a clown, but our clown day isn't until April 24th". I looked at Hannah who had the most serious expression on her face. (She is the type of personality where you do not joke or make fun of her because she is so tender with her feelings.) So, I just smiled at her teacher and said thanks and mentioned that we are all prepared for what to wear on April 24th! Well, I came home and had a good laugh (without Hannah seeing me laughing) about what the teacher and other kids thought when Hannah walked in the room! I should have wondered that this wasn't the day seeing that there hadn't been any note home for the parents yet on dressing up their kids.