The coldest day - and we went....

This year is the first year we attempted the water park here. I had a few coupons that got us in at a reasonable rate so we went- on a day that we thought no one would be there - and no one was. It was freeezing all morning....we shivered and wondered if the food stands served hot chocolate.....but as the afternoon rolled around and we walked out to the parking lot to eat lunch in our car with the HEAT blaring full blast....the sun came out and the afternoon was perfect! I only had a couple of pictures because my phone died, but the kids had a blast!

A few randoms...(Hunter & Dallin)

Dallin fell in the pool yesterday while we were swimming. He lost his footing and was caught off guard. I pulled him up and after he wiped his face his response - several times- was "That was not awesome!" It was so funny!

Hunter had a lemonade stand today with his friend Carson. They were outside selling the rest of the crystal light that I had with the only 6 plastic cups we had, and some bags of hard candy. They worked for a little over an hour...and made $18.85. They split it down the middle, and I made them each pay me $0.50 for supplies...CRAZY!

We put a lock on our pantry and now any time it's open and Dallin sees - he runs for it yelling "THE PANTRY'S OPEN...." Hilarious.

Dallin goes to bed at night and comes into our room at least 487 times asking if we can tuck him in "one more time....I promise...." it's super funny the first 234 times...."mom, i can't sleep very good...I need you tuck me in, one more time, I promise...." "mom - dad never tucked me in....I need dad to tuck me in."

Yesterday I worked out at the park....I was taking a friend home with me afterwards and Hunter had gotten out of the car to find a ball and I didn't realize it....I started to drive away and he waved at my friend, Melanie....she waved back and off we went. I took her home and got into the garage at my house and realized I had no Hunter....I went back to get him and he had started walking home....such a cute kid. It was so funny. He said "mom, I waved at Melanie and she waved back...but then you drove away...."

When are you too old to....

When are you to old to lean on your parent's and your friend's testimonies? I have come to the conclusion after a discussion with my Hunter a few weeks ago that growing up you MUST depend on your parent's testimonies to learn and to develop your own. It is one of the divine designs of being put into families during our duration here in mortality. Hunter had a friend over who was Catholic. We are not biased to what religion our children's friends are....we feel that there are good people all over and we can't judge or restrict contact because of religion. Anyway, Hunter was asking all kinds of comparison questions after his friend left" "...how do you know that our church is true?" "What makes our church different from Catholics?" I did my best and hopefully followed the spirit to the best of my ability to teach in that moment. He's a great kid and wants to do what's right, but still has to lean on parent's, grandparent's, and other examples for his knowledge.

I don't think you can ever be too old to need your parents. In fact, I know you can never be too old to need them. Even in adulthood when I have my own testimony and I know what is true and what I should be doing....sometimes it is refreshing (and I know Travis feels this way too) to draw strength from our parents. It's not that we don't know what we need to know - but it's helpful during times of trial that we draw strength from the source from which we started our own testimonies. Somehow it's all better when you see or hear what the "plan" is from your parents...even if you already know that if you are patient and just keep enduring you will come through on top - the Lord will bless you, and He won't ever forsake you. I'm sure God designed families for that purpose - to draw strength from one another. Hearing what a parent has to say about the "big picture" reminds me that the little minute amount of time we are here on earth is so significant - yet it is so short....

It's the adversary that kicks us when we are down....even if we feel we are being faithful in times of turmoil and stress - there are thoughts that enter our minds (I am speaking from personal experience) that make us feel like we are in that turmoil because we deserve it...because there is something we did wrong to inflict it upon ourselves and if we were just more righteous we wouldn't be in the situation in the first place. God doesn't put those thoughts in our heads - He is a God of love and encouragement, why on earth would he make us feel less than He Knows we are? This was brought to my attention this week....and I've had to put little red flags on my thoughts that disable my attitude and progress in trying to live happily through the Gospel.

In short, you are never to old to hear your dad say "keep doing what you are doing, be patient, the Lord sees what good you are doing and you will be blessed....I know it." That determination from the outsider gives renewed strength to continue on. I am so glad for friends and family who continually let me lean on their testimony when I feel weak - and maybe lost....I know mine is there but in the midst of adversity sometimes I need reminded. This has been the case during this week for Travis and for me. What a wise Lord to place us (or me) in the midst of such inspiring family and friends.

You are never too old.....so never lose that testimony of hope and brightness....I hope I never will - because I need to be that rock for not only my children, but my siblings, my parents, my friends, my neighbors....that's one thing I can do for the Lord while I am here- be His hands to lift another when I am up and they might be down.

The Scooter Club

For the last 2 days I have gone on a scooter ride where me and my kids all ride scooters to a friends house. can I just say - it was sooooo fun! I got some strange looks, but I love riding a scooter and I love riding with my kids!

Backyard Update

We finally got a concrete pad poured in the backyard for the dogs - so now we can have the basketball pad back. :) Wahoo! We had fun talking with Junior and Eve (a couple of Mexican Subs we have) trying to use our little bit of Spanish while they were here helping us. Now, we just need to get everything finalized and move the kennel over and wallah! it will be finis'!

The things a cup can break....

A toilet can indeed be broken by a little tupperware play cup such as this...but even if you snake it 458 times, plunge it 923 times and pour as many drain uncloggers in it as you can think of, you will never get it out because it will wedge in there and never ever move until you break the porcelin open with a hammer and see it jammed so tightly in there that there was no way it would come out without breaking the toilet into pieces....and so we did, and now we have a functioning toilet again. Thanks to Shawn Boer who stopped by I'm sure to talk "hunting" with Travis and I asked his opinion on the broken toilet...3 hours later he finally got to go home and one trip to home depot it is fixed......We were going to just lock the door and wait for my dad to get home in January to fix it....but now we don't have to. I'm sure it was a little Dallie boy that put it in there....

Scooter Doodle!

Dallin is 2...he'll be 3 in August. He has amazing balance and loves to ride his (well he doesn't have one, but he'll borrow anybody's) scooter every day.

3rd Grade Field Day!!!!

I got to go help with Hunter's Field Day this year! super fun and I'm glad my phone takes pictures because otherwise I wouldn't have any.

An infection among us....

Since I had the camera from Gwendalin's kindergarten program - we snapped a few shots while we waited at the doctor's office. Tyler didn't feel well at all and whimpered (literally) all day ....I got him in to see the dr. just after Gwennie's program. He's got an ear infection and possibly strep throat - he didn't do a strep test because he was treating the ear infection and would therefore kill the strep too. I am in the process of learning how to use som essential oils....I put some in his ear last night and it did wonders for his pain....We'll see how it progresses.

Gwennie the Grad!

School is almost out and Gwendalin's Kindergarten class had a little program to celebrate all that they have learned. What I LOVE is that Gwendalin for a week before this program walked around the house completely nervous. She was so scared she was going to mess up. She's so cute who would care if she messed up?! :) Anyway, she did fantastic and won an award for being kind to everyone. I'm a little sad that she won't be in kindergarten anymore....they get big far too quickly!