Back on Track

Last year on my 29th birthday the end of my twenties completely clouded my vision. All I could see, all I could focus on was that I only had one year left. One year in which my youth would disappear and the soul searching questions of aging would appear. The one that was foremost on my mind, "What have you accomplished in 30 years?"

And thus began the frenzied race to "do something" with my life. To check off some things on my life-long-dream-list. I have accomplished running a half marathon, learning to play the violin and scuba diving.

This weekend was a spiritual feast. Friday night Kurt and I went to the temple fasting, Saturday morning I went back to the temple to do baptisms with the youth (and due to the small numbers I actually did baptisms), came home for the adult session of stake conference and then Stake Conference on Sunday. It was wonderful. I have been doing a lot of pondering since then and I have been humbled.

Amongst other things I realized that I have been completely asking the wrong questions as my 30th birthday looms closer and closer. I should have been asking myself, "What kind of person have I become?"

I'm grateful for the things I achieved in my near-30-frenzy. I believe there is greatness in setting and accomplishing a goal. But at the same time I am sadden that I missed the mark for so long.

In the 3 months I have remaining {and most importantly for the rest of my life} the measure of greatness will be within.

{{ Heart }}

Valentines is ranking up there with my favorite holidays. I love all the fun and cute ways to say I love you. So much fun! Plus my heart is so full.

We gave the first clue to the annual valentine hunt before breakfast so the kids could use it at church (a new coloring book for each.)

We had Stake Conference today. A new Stake President was put in, and our bishop is now the First Counselor in the Stake Presidency. Change is coming. I have really enjoyed working with Bishop Jacobs. He is a great man.

After church we finished up the hunt for the valentines. Kurt wrote the clues this year:

~ The first clue you will find where you wipe your little behind.



~ Find the next clue by using the first letter of every word in the riddle on the back. [Funny Rabbits Itch Dead Giraffe's Ears = FRIDGE]



~ The next clue is to be found where a hand goes round and round.
~ The next clue is in a place where Emma likes to draw and erase. It rhymes with diesel.
~ The last clue is down the stairs , to the right and then in sight.


Reading one of the new Valentine gifts, our favorite, "Where the Wild Things Are."

We made preparations for our dinner at Bill and Cindy's and then I delivered a few more Valentines to young women I hadn't seen yet. While I was gone the kids decorated the dinning room wall with hearts each with reasons why they love me. aaaww, thanks guys!



It was my turn for dinner this week and since it was Valentine's Day I gave everyone a theme: pink or red food. We dyed the potatoes pink, the rolls pink, pink Shasta, pink fruit salad, pink jello, cherry cheesecake and beets. As Marti said, "It tasted a lot better than it looked."





I {{ heart }} this amazing man. He is so good to me.


Yes, I'm showing off my fabulous red heels. I {{ heart }} them, too!

I {{ heart }} these fantastic kids that make me laugh and smile and dance and sing (sometimes want to blow off some steam!) I have learned so much about life from you - please don't ever stop teaching me.




Rooster loves the red heels too! :D

And I {{ heart }} all those who have touched my life and my family. Happy {{ heart }} day!

Ridiculousness

Remember that living room set that we got that "great deal" on from Ashley's furniture? Well the deal came with a flat screen TV from Best Buy. We picked it up yesterday on our way home from the temple.

We now own a 42" flat screen TV.

I think this is the most ridiculous thing in the world.

We don't even have TV. We only watch movies and even that is limited. TV isn't important to us. So the fact that we have this monster of a TV is indeed very ridiculous and sadly ironic.

And now I would be the bad guy if I gave away the kid's "movie screen" as they call it. Kurt bought cords to hook up our internet to it so at least we can watch General Conference in High Definition.

Party Week

The week of a holiday equals major ParTay at our house. With the arrival of Valentine's we had 3 preschool parties, Austin class party and a intense etiquette dinner for the youth of both wards. I am feeling partied out.

Spencer and Emma Lynn had to decorate their own valentine boxes for their preschool party. We had a lot of fun creating them.



Spencer and I made a space ship, "US Valentine Voyager." It was complete with a self portrait of himself as astronaut (with a bubble around his head so he could breathe in space.) He was beyond proud of this creation. It slept in his room, he played with it for 2 days straight before the party and showed everyone that came to the house. I wasn't sure if it would still be intact for the party. His excitement was so adorable.

Wednesday night when I was at Mutual Emma Lynn and Kurt created an easel for Emma's box. It could even hold a piece of paper for actual painting. Kurt engineered it good, it was very sturdy.



Thursday Austin had his class party. Like all the other valentine parties there was an overload of sugar and sweets.



I enjoy making valentine's for others and taking the time to say I love you.

Madison's a Blessing

Last Friday we headed over to Shelley, Idaho for the weekend for Madison's baby blessing. We drove straight to IF (Kurt had to stop there and get parts) without ANY stops. I love that they are such good little travelers.

We had a few hours with Traci, Elliot and Madison before the rest of the family arrived. I enjoyed having them to myself for a little bit cause we never get to see them enough!

Madison is such a sweet and beautiful baby. This face is irresistible!




They are living in Elliot's grandparents house since Grandpa died. We were overdosed in orange and brown but it is a nice house. It had lots of space for all 18 of us which made it a fun weekend that we could all be together (minus Jeff, Julie, & Mollie - missed you!) My family + Braxton had had a big sleepover in the family room. Naturally bed time was pushed back later than normal but I definitely can't resist a sleepover!



There was an impressive selection of games in the house. We played a lot of them! Saturday night Elliot, Dan, Kurt and I played "5 Crowns." I learned a few things about Elliot that night! (and myself I must add! And Elliot, I really do love you.) Bill joined in the second game. It's lots of fun, you should play it!



Saturday the girls went shopping (Cindy, Marti, Brooke, Kelli, Traci, Emma Lynn and I) in IF. We went to Victoria's Secret. I bought a new bra that has pretty much changed my life. Karen met us at the mall and it was fun to visit, just way too short!


Brooke's first pigtails








Austin wanted to check out Elliot's nursing book about the human body. Kurt gave all of them an in depth preschool anatomy lesson.


Braxton's somersault skills


The kids ran miles of laps in the family room. Kenzie was SO excited to join in the fun!


The girls love grandma!

And of course Sunday morning was Madison's blessing (the reason we went to Shelley!) She was so beautiful and so was the blessing. They are such a cute little family.


She made so many different faces that were so cute that I had to show them all!
Thanks for a wonderful weekend, we you love!

iSCUBA

I bought a underwater disposable camera for the Cancun trip. I was so excited to get the pictures back but alas it was quite the let down. The quality is not even close to spectacular scenes I witnessed. But then again what you do expect from a disposable camera?

Here is a peak into the underwater world I experienced.

FHE

"The only fight that starts and ends with a prayer." I love that quote and more often than not so true. But we keep on doing it. The promised blessing are too great not to.

Last week Kurt was in Omaha all week so he missed out. Spencer comes out of the bathroom just as it's time to start FHE. He has just had a revelation. His index finger is in the air as he says, "when you have a stomach ache it means you have to poop."

Lots of Laughing, out loud.

So we get started with FHE. When it comes time for Spencer's turn to share a time he felt the spirit he pauses for a second, you can really see the wheels turning, "The spirit told me that when you have a stomach ache you have to poop."

Trying to contain the LOL this time (since it's suppose to be serious and spiritual.) Life is certainly not dull.

Austin said to me, "Mom I kinda like you."

Me: "Thanks. I LOVE you!"

Austin: "Ya, ya I love you too. But I LIKE you."

Very cool compliment. I hope it'll last!

Tonight as we finished FHE I looked around. We were all sitting on the floor. It might take a while for us to get use to the whole sitting on couches thing! :D