7.31.2008

Shapes.

Conversation with Manda:

"Hey Mom, I know why Finnegan's head is flat."

Me, puzzled. Please, enlighten me, dear.

"It's because Jonas laid on his Mommy's tummy and made it all squished." (Gestures the squishing)

Me, "Why do you think Finn's head is flat?"

"You know, Mom, it's an OVAL. It's all flat... and like, skinny..." (Squeezes her cheeks together with her hands) ... "Why is Finn's head all skinny?"

Me, "Because he looks like his Mommy, Sister Malone."

"Oh." Apparently Manda doesn't see the family resemblance like the rest of us do!

7.29.2008

Just can't get enough ...

This kid is amazing, honestly. Perfection, personified.He gets about a thousand kisses and hugs a day. Who could resist this face?His sisters think he's pretty great, too...

7.27.2008

My week.

#1 Wrote copy for a website about electricity and waste oil and generators. Random, huh?

#2 Felt much guilt due to the fact that my kids watched a LOT of TV, due to #1.

#3 Finally started writing my novel. I'm the next Stephenie Meyer, I tell ya.

#4 Went and saw the Dark Knight. Was actually cowering and covering my eyes at one point. I highly recommend it.

#5 Cleaned house, did laundry and packed.

#6 Realized that it would have been much more fun for everyone to travel if kids and I were sleeping while we attempted such travel.

#7 Went and saw the old homestead in Show Low. Sigh - such a pretty house, still.

#8 Attended the St. Johns camporama, where Josh ate an entire bowl of chili himself. This kid's gonna be an eater.

#9 Couldn't find my watch, CTR ring, or wedding ring when we got back to the hotel.

#10 Turned every piece of clothing, furniture and bedding inside out three or four times looking for said jewelry, thinking my 4-year-old had hidden it.

#11 Started to panic, cry and get very, very angry coming to the realization that my jewelry had been stolen out of our hotel room.

#12 Was unable to sleep on rock-hard mattress. Stayed up all night, instead, reading The Memory Keeper's Daughter. Compelling, but wouldn't recommend it. Very sad.

#13 Attended extended family reunion activities. Allison was part of a skit and was a very, very cute shoveler. She made herself a very best friend with one of the cousins, Jacklyn.

#14 Was thanked about 500 times for reunion t-shirt design. Does that mean I can't send a bill to anyone? Ha!

#15 Took naps in the hotel room with Josh, finally able to sleep. Aaaahhh...

#16 Let's just say... our waitress at dinner was "similiar" to one of the worst I've had in a long time. Chant with me: Please don't spit in my food. Please don't spit in my food.

#17 Finally called the police to make a police report about stolen jewelry.

#18 Stayed up half the night playing farkle with family.

#19 Finished that darn book. Now I can get on with my life.

#20 Got up, started packing to come home... and guess what,

#21 Found my watch and rings UNDER the mattress in Josh's play yard. Any guesses as to how they got there?

#22 Had breakfast with family chock full of yummy carbs, then headed for home. Whew.


Now, to re-read Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse before Breaking Dawn comes out on Saturday.

7.23.2008

FHE Idea

I stole this off a random blog, thought it was cute


As family members walk into the room have them take a sticker and write their first name on it. You can write it for those who are too young to do it themselves. (take extra stickers and pens in with you for further use)
Opening Song: When Jesus Christ Was Baptized

Lesson: Welcome everyone to Family Home Evening (be dramatic about reading every one's names off their stickers. It will make the kids laugh if you pretend not to know their names, this allows them to point out their name on the sticker).

Talk a little bit about the importance of their name, who they were named after, why we have names, and how we use our names. Explain how our actions are attached to our names. If you are always honest people begin to say, "That Johnny, there, he is an honest boy. You can be sure that if he says it, it's the truth," or, "Cindy is always a good example to her friends." Point out some bad examples too, like, "Have you ever met Sammy? Well, if Sammy is in the room you can be sure that trouble is soon to follow." Ask the kids what kind of things they want people to associate with their names.

Now, give the children another name sticker (a kid can never have enough stickers) and a pen while saying, "You also have another name. You have a last name. Can you write your last name and stick it to your shirt?" Point out that you all have the same last name (or not, if they are different). Ask them where this second name comes from (daddy, mommy, or their parents, and you could also talk about names changing when you get married or are adopted). Explain that, just like their first name, their actions will have an effect on what people think about that name, but this time it won't just effect their name, it will effect everyone who shares that name with them. So, if you make a bad choice it can reflect badly on the whole family (give some examples). What do you want people to think about the "Smiths?" (insert your own last name here)

Give children another name sticker. "When you get baptized you receive another name. This name is a very, very special name. Do you know what it is?"

Read: 2 Nephi 31:13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism-yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongues of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Or, Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Hold up a name sticker with the name Jesus Christ written on it. Have children write the same name on their 3rd sticker, letting them look at your so they can see how to spell it. After they put this third sticker on discuss with them the importance of having this name. When we take upon us the name of Christ it means we are willing to be responsible for what people think of Him. This means that everything we say and everything we do should be what Christ would say or do. Do you think this would change the way we act? Do you think this will be easy to do? Sometimes it can be hard to remember, even for adults. Sometimes you might make a mistake, or a bad choice, and do something that Jesus wouldn't do. What do you think we should do then? Should we just give up and take his name off of us (act as if you are about to take the Christ sticker off your shirt)? We don't have to if we remember what we learned about last week. Does anyone remember what we learned about last week? (Repentance)

So, remember, you need to take care of the names you've been given.

Closing Song: I'm Trying to be Like Jesus

I think I'm in love


Very, very excited to try these. Jalapenos with cream cheese, a chunk of pineapple, and a chunk of peach, and then wrapped in bacon. Doesn't it look divine?
Pioneer Woman is a bacon-wrapping genius.

7.22.2008

Tag, you're it. Come and Play.

1. Grab the nearest book, preferably without moving from your computer. If you are currently reading something, that will be fine too.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 4 sentences on your Blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet. I know that's what you were thinking!
6. Tag 5 people.


>>Okay the closest book to me happens to be the Book of Mormon Made Easier, part 2 (no I haven't read it yet, but this officially counts as my scripture reading for the day now)


Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins shall not be numbered among my people (you will have to excommunicate them); and this shall be observed from this time forward.
And it came to pass when Alma had heard these words he wrote them down that he might have them, and that he might judge the people of that church according to the commandments of God.
And it came to pass that Alma went and judged those that had been taken in iniquity, according to the word of the Lord.
And whosoever repented of their sins and did confess them, them did he number among the people of the church (they retained their membership in the Church).


Your turn!

Yesterday.

My parents think I've got too much on my plate. Perhaps they're right.

7:30am - wake (after sleeping in - Nonnie and Papa were here!), make bed, get dressed, make & eat breakfast
8am - Get recycling together, break down a box, get it out to the curb, run to Walmart, sans kids, to pick up items needed for dinner group and school supplies/shoes for Allison.
9:15 - Prep meal for dinner group
10:30 - squeeze three casserole dishes into the already-full fridge
10:45 - pack lunches, and a bag for the rest of the day
11am - say goodbye to Nonnie and Papa, get loaded in the car and drive to Gilbert
11:45am to 3pm - Change into painting clothes, help my friend Jen paint some awesome stripes in her girls' bedroom
3pm - get A&A to change into leotards, race to Tempe for gymnastics
3:30 - witness Allison SO CLOSE to being able to do the splits!
4:30 - head home in traffic
5pm - throw dishes in oven to bake, start on spanish rice
5:45pm - Nick gets home, we walk over to deliver meals
6pm - A&A are dying to swim, we jump in Amberly's pool for a bit
6:30pm - head over to another family's house for dinner with the missionaries
8:15pm - finally pull the girls off the Wii and head home
9pm - read books, get girls to bed
9:30pm - start working on daunting website copy project I've got this week
10:30pm - Josh wakes up crying, he lets me actually cuddle and rock him (a rarity!)
11pm - read a few pages in my book. Eyes involuntarily close.