WOW... what a amazing Womens' Conference

tonight. I was such a pleasure to go to the Semi Annual General Relief Society Conference with my mother. We sat there snuggling (trying to keep warm since the a/c was pumping) intently listening to the conference. It was just what my spirit needed.

Life has been difficult lately. I have been struggling with moving and with home life. Sometimes is has been so hard that I felt like I was wondering without direction. Things just didn't feel right. I was missing something. Despite trying to keep up with regular scripture study, attending all much church meetings, volunteering whenever I could and praying more intently, I just continued to feel lost. Deep within me I knew that I must attend the temple. It sounds so simple -- just take 2 hours out of your day and go. But each time I tried to go something happened. I either missed the session or couldn't find child care or Ian had an emergency surgery or maybe I was just full of too many excuses. But today I woke up around 5 am and was unable to go back to sleep. I kept toying with the idea of getting up and going to the Mesa Temple (since I was staying at my parent's home) but I kept fighting myself -- making excuses. When 5:45 came I knew I must go; I just HAD to make it to the 6:30 session. With the quickest shower, help from mom and lots of prayers for green traffic lights I made it to the temple by 6:20 -- Just enough time to make it to the session.

As I sat reverently listen to the words of the endowment my mind was opened. I learned so much more than I have ever learned before. Then an amazing feeling came over me and I felt peace. I knew that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who has created me to fulfill specific roles in life and that one of these roles is to be happy.

Then tonight, my impressions from the temple sunk deep into my heart when I heard President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (BTW -- isn't he good looking?) said that "Happiness is our Heritage" and that we are sent here to CREATE! Even if it is to simply make a little place in my house more beautiful or to take up painting again or to have this little furniture store or to sing or to play with my kids more -- this is what I need to do to fulfill my creative role.

I am now at peace! I know what I need to do and I am happy to have the Heavenly right to be HAPPY!

Fun Commerical...

this one made me giggle. I am not sure how to save a YouTube video (if anyone can help me with at I would love it) and then save the uplinks but here is the link to click on to view this cute video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2Ap3DyvLg

So, I am finally going to do it...

Annie (one of my younger more style savvy sisters) and I are starting our own furniture and accessory business. Our goal is to sale high quality items at a reasonable price. I am totally excited -- overwhelmed but excited. I keep dreaming of all the possibilities. So far we only have started on the paperwork to form an LLC along with gaining a wholesale licence number, have the name chosen and reserved the websites for 5 years. So, are you dieing to know the name? (probably not, but you can humor me on this one). The main store is called Comfort, Inc. and the children and tween store is called A Little Comfort, Inc. I will keep you all posted on all our news. And if you have any special fun items, websites, designers, etc. that you know about, please feel free to pass it on.

Addy said such a cute thing...

the other day. I was washing my bedroom sheets and was waiting for them to dry before I put them back on. Right before bed, Addy went into my room. A second later she came out giggling, "Mom, your bed is...naked." How silly!

"I demand a recount..."

Kadan came home from school yesterday and was completely frustrated with the score that he got on his spelling test. He made a 87% -- just not good enough for him. When reviewing the test with him he got all the spelling words correct and 2 out of the 3 challenge words correct. Then we saw the reason for his score -- in writing his sentences, he thought the teacher said "in" instead of "on." These were the only errors on his page. He grabbed his paper and lifted it in the air and said "Mom, I demand a recount!" I just laughed. He is such a funny kid.

I have always been a Southern Belle...

at heart. Being born and raised in South Carolina to a mother whom was truly a southern debutant has been deeply inbred the southern spirit in me. I have always loved grits, azaleas, southern accents, saying "ya'll" and much of the formality of southern living and their amazing hospitality. This last weekend, when I heard that my Aunt Sherri (my mom's twin sister), Uncle Bobby, cousin Hamp, and Nanny (my grandmother) were coming into town to visit, I just HAD to make the trip to the valley even if we could only see each other for a short time.

Let me share little more about all these wonderful people.

First my Aunt Sherri. She is a woman of great strength. She smiles despite her pain (she has been suffering from abdominal and cervical pain for years with numerous failed surgeries). She has the sweetest voice you ever heard. I do not recall her ever speaking poorly of anyone and if she is around others that may be saying something a little sour she will say "now, let's be nice." She is creative -- I always remember her over-the-top primary lessons and primary programs. She always goes the extra mile. She calls me her little Southern Belle and I LOVE it.

Now my Uncle Bobby. He is the funnest and funniest man ever. He is such a kid at heart. At breakfast he had all the kids occupied sharing stories, showing magic tricks (my favorite is the one where he acts like he is pulling off his finger), whistling and then asking "where's the birdy," asking you "are you as sorry as you look?" and then last but definitely not least, trying to get you to say "peas and corn" so he can give you a horsey bite on your knee. And let me tell you -- no matter how old you are (even my dad can get it) if you accidentally say those two words together even if you are talking to him on the phone he WILL remember and you will be in trouble the next time you see him.Watch out Spencer -- the horse bite is comin'! Here he is acting like he is breaking his nose -- always a crowd pleaser.

My Nanny -- what a posed princess. She is always put together and always smells amazing. She also has a quirky side and says some shockers. For example, I told her to "be good" in jest as I was leaving and she said, "Well, Jenny (she still calls me Jenny), that wouldn't be any fun." She is always ready to party and go to any new adventures (even though she is over 80). She also is the most amazing cook -- you cannot beat her baked mac-n-cheese and her Thanksgiving dinners.My cousin Hamp is such a handsome man. He has always been so kind and epitomizes southern hospitality. Talk about his southern charm. I have always heard him address women as "yes, Ma'am" and men as "sir." Hamp is the 2nd one from the right.

Last is my Aunt Mimi -- the youngest of the group -- she is such a pretty woman. She has been living in Arizona for years now and is so fun to have around. She has a way to make anyone laugh and feel comfortable.

As a mom I have always hoped for this day...

a day that my children would be reverent during an entire sacrament meeting and would all be singing beautifully to all the music. Well yesterday was that day. I just sat there relishing in the moment and was so proud of them . As a matter of fact, I was so busy smiling and sneaking peaks at them reverently sitting that I barely even heard many of the talks. Kadan kept leaning over to kiss me, Hunter was rubbing my arm, Bo was quietly coloring and Addy was sitting reverently in Ian's lap. As a side note, when Bo would ask me a question I would tell her to "whisper." One time she tried to whistle (thinking I said whistle instead of whisper) and said quietly "mommy, I can't" -- too funny. And the most glorious moment for me was when my boys sang loudly, following along in their church books and the girls singing as best the could without knowing the words. Ahhh Heaven. I have waited 9 years, 7 months and 28 days for just one reverent Sunday and it was AWESOME. I just hope I don't have to wait another 9 years for the next one :-)

Another fun TAG...

thank goodness it is not as exhausting as real tag -- I am totally out of shape. Thanks Stacie -- this will be fun.

I am: totally sick today -- yucky stomach flu
I think: I need a vacation. Hey, as a matter of fact, I am going down to the valley to see Tia next weekend (yeah).
I know: I would not make it without the Lord.
I want: to live until I am really old and gray and have lots of grand babies.
I have: some pretty awesome kids.
I dislike: tomatoes -- YUCK!!!
I miss: being in Michigan and my dear friends that live there.
I fear: that I will ruin my kids -- I hope that I am teaching them right
I feel: lonely -- it's hard to move so far away.
I hear: quiet -- my kids are just winding down to read scriptures and then go to bed.
I smell: new furniture smell -- I am sitting at Ian's new desk that was delivered yesterday.
I crave: anything chocolate and unconditional love.
I cry: when I'm overwhelmed and overtired (I stole this one from Stacie).
I usually: late -- it's a terrible habit that I am trying to break.
I search: the scriptures -- esp. when I am planning my Sunday school lessons (yippee -- I am 12-13 year-old Sunday School teacher).
I wonder: if I am doing enough.
I regret: not going on a mission.
I love: my family, sunshine, lazy summer days, laughter, girls nights out and singing.
I care: about all the children that do not have a safe home to live in and wish I could do more than just donating a little money each month to Mothers Without Boarders.
I always: get to bed too late.
I worry: about my children.
I am not: very organized -- I have great plans but just lack follow through.
I remember: when I thought marriage would solve all my problems (yeah, right!).
I believe: in the power of redemption.
I dance: with my kids in the kitchen -- I love twirling them round and round.
I sing: and love it. Wish I wasn't so afraid to sing solos.
I don't always: spend enough time with my kids.
I argue: when someone is being mean.
I write: thank you notes and NEVER mail them.
I win: if I try really hard -- I must say that against other adults, I am very competitive.
I lose: on purpose when I play with my kids.
I wish: Hunter had an easier time with school.
I listen: to my kids chatter and love to hear the funny things they are saying.
I don't understand: why people can be intentionally mean.
I can usually be found: working on the computer now but in the past I could aways be found at TARGET.
I am scared: of my kids getting hurt and being alone in the dark.
I need: to start working out -- I feel like a lazy bum.
I forget: so many things these days -- I think I need to get more sleep.
I am happy: when I'm hanging with my kids, family and friends just doing nothing but enjoying each other.

I tag...
Tia M
Michelle B
Ann K
Hil T

Kadan is home sick today...

because he had a fever. But, after a little Motrin and lots of TV he is feeling back up to speed. He was running around the house kicking the soccer ball (a definite no-no) and making tons of noise so I told him that it was time to go back to school. Here is what he said:

K: "Mom, but my leg hurts. Remember I got kicked in the knee by Dusty at soccer."

M: "Well son, you look pretty good to me right now. You are running around the house and kicking the ball."

K: "Oh, well.... I think that the school is closed."

M: "Really?"

K: "Yep, they close down the school sometimes and won't let anyone else in. I guess I am going to just have to stay home today."

Well, he got lucky. Since Ian's car broke down last week, we have been without a 2nd car so I can't take him to school anyway. It's going to be a fun hooky day.

There is NO such things as terrible 2's...

there are only TERRIBLE 3's!!!!! Honesty, I have never had a problem with my kids when they were 2 -- this is a terrific age for me. They are walking and starting to have real conversations with you. They are jewels during this time (one of my favorite ages). But when they hit 3, just watch OUT! It cannot get any worse than this. Temper tantrums, "mine" and rebellions are out of control.

My perfect little angel Bo is no different. She has become the worst one out of the bunch. But she started off so mellow. As a baby she rarely cried and if she did it was just a whimper. She was happy and giggly and content. She would just look around and if she was cuddled she just melted in your arms. I was even able to sit through all my church meetings without having to take her out. She was my easiest baby. Now, oh boy! She cries if her stickers don't go on the page just right or if she is put to bed or if she can't put on her clothes easily or if I am fixing her hair or if I leave the room or if she does not get everything that she wants right now!!!!! I must admit that I am going crazy. I find myself daydreaming during her fits just to get through them without freaking out.

I was going through my camera and found the pictures of her on her 3rd birthday -- can I just say what a little sweet thing? Smiling so cute -- she looked like a perfect princess.

Now, just 3 weeks later HOLY COW! Anyone want to trade? (this is not a permanent trade, just a trade 'til she hits say 3 1/2). I even had to take a picture of her just for memory sake. This is when she was finally settling down after crying for over 15 minutes because she wants a puppy and I told her "not yet."

For the first time ever...

I have been tagged. Thanks Michelle. This will be fun.

THE FIVE
10 years ago I:
1. I graduated from U of U (GO UTES!) with my Master's in PT
2. Was big, fat and prego with Hunter (funny thing is I was only 4 months along)
3. Started my first PT job at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale
4. Bought my first car
5. Discovered email

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. Eat – I’m hungry (fast Sunday you know)
2. Play games with the kids
3. Take a nap (I just love Sundays)
4. Call my mom just for fun
5. Make brownies (I NEED chocolate)

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Anything chocolate (esp. peanut M&M’s)
2. Cheese sticks
3. Peaches – just love peaches
4. Tia’s cookies and a glass of cold milk
5. Mom mom’s homemade bread

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Start a school for the underprivileged (I would have to be a multimillionaire for this one)
2. Travel to Africa with Mothers without Boarders
3. Build a nice big house so everyone could come and visit
4. Buy my parents a new car
5. Hire a housekeeper

5 places I have lived:
1. Myrtle Beach, SC (heaven on earth)
2. Salt Lake City, UT (paradise found)
3. Mesa, AZ (Hot yet heavenly)
4. Detroit, MI (diamond in the rough yet my favorite place so far)
5. Lakeside, AZ (peaceful serenity)

5 jobs I have had:
1. KG Men’s Store (are they even around still?)
2. Pizza Hut server (I know – I am an overachiever)
3. Garden Restaurant at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (AWESOME)
4. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Outpatient Women’s Health Specialist
5. MOM – the toughest but most rewarding of the bunch

I tag...Whomever was inspired by this and
1. Dana E.
2. Stacy W.
3. Hilary T.
4. Courtney B.
5. Chel P.

Rules:Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

"Mom, why did you name me...

Hunter?" Hunter asked me one morning while waiting for the bus. "Is is because dad wanted me to be a hunter? But I don't want to hunt, I love everyone and everything and I don't want to hurt animals. Why don't you call me Caretaker, you know, because I like to take care of the animals? Maybe this can this be my new nickname."

Caretaker definitely suits Hunter well -- he won't even let us swat flies in the house. He thinks we should shew them out instead. I hope he keeps this sweetness with him always.

Looky what I found...

After reading all your valuable opinions and Dana's comment on earth tones, I went back to JcPenny.com and found a "custom" settee (same design but you can pick the different fabrics). What about these 2 options? Paisley or Plaid? or the Black and White?

Yeah! Hunter finally was able to start...

Violin lessons. He has been talking about it for months and last night we finally received the okay from the teacher for him to join the school group. So immediately after school, off to the music store we went to rent the violin. He is so cute with it -- he played it most of the day yesterday, learned how to use rosin, and slept with it last night.

When he met his teacher, Mrs. Chadwick, he gave her a big hug and said, "I have always wanted to play the violin. My mom did too, but they did not have violins back then." The teacher and I looked at each other and laughed -- I guess 35 years-old is ancient in child years.

My toothless duo...

Kadan and Addy. Addy lost her first tooth on Saturday and then lost another last night. After wiggling his tooth for days, Kadan lost another tooth at school (this was his plan since you get to go to the nurses office and get a cool tooth-bag necklace). They look so cute together with their toothless grins.

We have just a little bit of paradise...

here in The Shores as Rainbow Lake. Just a little 5 minute walk from our house is a fishing dock at one of the only natural lakes in the area. Kadan has been asking everyday if he could "please go fishin'" and yesterday I promised him if he read a book, got all his homework done and did some chores that I would take him fishing. Well, after he worked real hard and ate dinner it was time to go -- only trouble was it was getting dark and there are no street lights in the area. But, since I promised we went anyway. Just one cast and his line got so tangled up that we had to come home -- this was definitely a mess for Dad to fix. So, what did I do as I looked at my poor son, devastated that his fishing trip lasted less than 1 minute at the lake? I promised him that we would go fishing in the morning. "Okay," he said totally excited, "As long as we can take Addy this time. She really wants to come fishing with us."

5:45 came too early this morning for me but not for happy Kadan. He was dressed lickety split and woke up Addy. By 6:00 we were making our way to the lake. As soon as we got to the dock the scene was amazing -- the sun was just beginning to peak over the treetops making golden reflections in the lake, in unison a flock of ducks took off from the water to land a few hundred feet away, a light fog was coming from the lake blowing across the water, and you could see little fish boils all around. It was definitely a little bit of paradise. We caught TONS of moss but had a blast anyway. Now the kids are planning their afternoon fishing trip after school. Oh, what fun!

More furniture opinions

With rearranging the furniture we (my mom, sis and I) were able to come up with some valuable sitting space. We have a little bay window area that I am going to put a round pedestal table and 2 wood chairs (a great find at a store that was going out of business) but am in need of more seating. I thought I would put an upholstered settee in the area to make it a comfy place for me to work on my computer. I think I have narrowed it down to 2 options:

Option 1 -- a cheaper settee that is 49" long with this print. This may be too wild for my taste but I could add some neutral white pillows or something. There is one other color option (a light tan) but I am concerned that it may get stained.

Option 2: A more expensive white slipcovered (easy removable and washer safe) which is a little bigger 56" and would sit perfectly in the space. I like the little ruffles around the edges and the wheels on the legs. I would totally pick this one but it is almost twice as much so I am not sure if I love it enough to pay more for it. So, what do you all think? Option 1 or option 2.

Yee Haw...

We had a fabulous White Mountain Labor Day this weekend. From horseback riding, to playing flag football in the rain to eating our hearts out to biking all around to hiking at the beautiful reserve -- we had a BLAST. My parents, Annie and Harrison, and Shannon and her kids all came up for Labor Day weekend. Dave, Annelise, Karen and Gabby were going to come but at the last minute could not make it -- they were totally missed.

What a wonderful weekend -- I just love being with my family. We have fun even if we are doing nothing. Ian -- Mr. Tease -- would love to pick on my mom and Annie just to hear them squeal. Shannon, Annie, Mom and I spent hours looking through house books, reorganizing my furniture to make my living room and dining area ROCK (I love it now) and chatting about nothing. Grandpa kept the kids occupied by throwing the football spiral after spiral. The kids were having so much fun together just playing outside. We had more grandiose plans -- fishing, 4-wheeling, canoeing, etc. but time just got away from from us. I must admit, it was nice to just relax most of the time.

We topped off their last night with the best thing ever -- watching Sound of Music, singing at the top of our lungs, drinking Ian's favorite secret recipe smoothies and munching on brownies.

Harrison and Spencer (spencer's the oldest grandchild). Look how handsome these boys are.Dad, bringing up the rear on Snowflake.Yeller was a sweet yet subborn horse -- he took good care of me but did not want me to tell him where to go or what to do -- just like my other man back home.The cowboy that took us on the ride gave Kadan his hat -- Kadan was estatic and even tried to wear it to church on Sunday.Grandma and Bo singing "Wheels on the Bus" until they were singing and walking and panting.And the GRAND FINALE event was Kadan accidentally disturbing a wasp nest and getting stung several times. Then Grandpa, Hunter, Ian, and I got stung. We probably looked like crazy people running out of the trail crying and screaming flailing our arms.

Cute side-note story -- on the trail ride we had to cross a fast running creek. Harrison's horse stopped dead in his tracks and not matter what encouraging was done -- it kept backing up. All the horses started to get a little anxious. Finally, after the cowboy got the horse going, it went crazy bucking and galloping away. Harrison was saved by his shirt getting stuck on the horn. After that Harrison was nicknamed "4 seconds" since he rode the bucking bronco like a champ. We later found out that there was a snake that spooked the horse. HOLY COW -- scary!

Hunter then asked the cowgirl what would his nickname be. She thought and thought, giving him tons of suggestions. At the end of the ride, she came up with the name "Burger Slinger" since he was tough enough to whack the snot out of the horse. If she only knew that little Hunter wouldn't even hurt a fly -- but it stuck and that is what made the nickname so funny. My little Burger Slinger!