Spring Conference

We spent spring conference this year in Bear Lake. When you look at the pictures you won't believe it because of all the snow, but it's true! It was a cold weekend, but that didn't mean that we didn't have fun! We do the hat picture for Grandma and I think it turned out pretty cute!

 

12:52

Our Primary does a fun thing we call "Scripture Hero". We got the idea on Sugardoodle a really great site full of ideas for primary, young women's, and relief society. There is probably more things you can get ideas for, but I generally go straight to the primary section. Anyhoo... the kids eat this up! We have a member of the ward come in at the beginning of sharing time wearing a cape and mask. The kids sing Scripture Power and the ward member flies around the room. After the song they share their favorite scripture or a scripture, or one that is special to them. It has been so fun for the kids to see the scriptures alive in the lives of those in our ward. Too fun.

My two selves...

Sometimes I feel like I am two different people. I am a mother and caretaker of my family. I cherish this role and feel the weight of the responsibility of being a mother weighing on my shoulders each and every day. I feel like I am trying so hard to make my children always act a certain way, or do just the right things. I want them to only use the most polite, kind and reverent tones when they speak. I want them to always think of others before themselves, to give what they have to those who don't. Basically I want them to be perfect. Obviously they are not perfect. Far from it, really. They are learning and growing and testing the water. They push and pull and play and yell. They are children and they act as such. I find myself trying so hard to make them who I want them to be and I'm failing, getting frustrated and angry. I am mad and sad and worried.

Then there is this other person. A girl who doesn't show her face very often. I got a glimpse of her yesterday and it was so nice to see her. My mom had the kids as I had a photo session. I was doing something I love that is just for me and it felt good. After the session I drove around town, music blasting, singing at the top of my lungs, thinking this feels really good! I went home and cleaned up the house to more good music then sat in my favorite chair and read a few chapters of a good book, the house more quiet than I can remember. It felt so good! I felt so good! This part of me seems hide far away when the other part comes out to run the house. I thought to myself as I drove back to get my kids from my moms house, why can't I be this person more often with my kids? I decided I really want to be the me that feels good, has fun and sings out loud with my kids. I still want them to be their very best selves. I want them to be kind and thoughtful. But I also want me to have a happier experience with them while they are young and still mine.

So, this is for you, self that hides away unless I am alone. COME OUT AND PLAY! I want you here, and I really think my kids do too!

11:52

My Princess. My Race Car Driver. My Cuddle Bug.

None of them can wait to get outside!

A little taste...

I thought I would give you a little sneak of what is happening in my life right now.

I have to wear this for a couple of hours each day along with a very heavy, very purple, very old fashioned gown, or dress? I'm not sure exactly what to call it. But it is fabulous.

My life is being swallowed, consumed, devoured by the Music Man. A name I had heard before... was it a movie? Or a play? I wasn't quite sure. Didn't know much else about it. 4 months later, I can sing you every word to every song in this musical, recite to you most every line, and maybe even through in a bit of choreography. My dreams are serenaded by 76 Trombones. Whew. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. 

Who knew something so simple could cause such chaos in our house? Admittedly, my days have mostly stayed the same. It is my nights that are now non-existent. And Steve? Who is that? OH! He's the guy who twirls me around and dances with me during that one scene, right? At least that seems to be all I have known of him for way too long.

But on the other hand... I am a part of this amazing show. This creation that has more blood, sweat and tears poured into it that it can't be anything less that amazing, and believe me it is. Not because of me (heavens, no). But because there are some incredibly talented people combining all of their knowledge to make this really awesome production. Walking into the conference center last week as we began our first rehearsals on the actual stage I was a little nervous. Were we ready for this? How is this even going to come together? But then everyone put on the costumes, did their hair and make up and stepped out onto the stage and something magical happened. I really is starting to feel like I am a part of this little town in the middle of Iowa surrounded by ornery people who let a traveling salesman come into their town and change their hearts. I felt my heart change and we haven't even done it for a real audience yet!

Starting tomorrow I have to be at the conference center with my hair and makeup done and costume on at 6:00. I will likely be there until 10:00. I will drag myself home, kiss my sleeping children on the forehead and crawl into bed. Exhausted. And I will do it all with a smile on my face. If you are coming to one of the shows, sweet! I can't wait to see you! I hope you enjoy the show as much as I know I, and everyone else involved, will putting it on for you. Come ready for a really fun time! It's going to be GREAT!

10:52

My battered and bruised little boys. How will they ever survive? How will they not? They are a bag of contradictions and I can't get enough of them.

Love my boys.

9:52

This is a normal scene at my house during the day. My kids love books. I mean love. We have a lot of books and I wish we had more. Steve thinks I'm crazy as we don't have room for the books, but can you ever have enough books? Especially children's books? I really don't think so.

After a morning of running, playing, imagining and trouble making, we settle down for quiet time. At this point I'm usually very ready for nap time but the clock tells me to hold off just a little bit. So we pull out the books and have ourselves some quiet time. I love this time of day. My kids pour through the books, they show each other the ones they love the most and Reagan will tell stories to Cache. It is so fun to watch. For some reason we don't have fights during quiet time. Some days I let them stay up way too long because they are being so good and I love watching them. So here is my picture for the week. An every day occurance that I treasure.

Crew's Thomas the Train Birthday Party

We started asking Crew what kind of a birthday party he wanted way back in the beginning of January and every time, without fail, he would say "Thomas". He loves Thomas the Train and that is what he wanted.

So I started looking around trying to find ideas for a cute Thomas party and I did find a few things. One thing I loved was having a ticket as the invitation. So glad I saw that idea. So, here is Crew's invitation...

There were a ton of cake pictures for a Thomas cake on Google. So many fun ideas. People are creative! It's fun to see what is out there. I decided to have a two layer cake. I went with butter cream frosting because my kids will eat it and they don't really eat the fondant and if they won't eat it then its not worth the effort. Although, I must say, it sure looks fabulous on a cake. So I kinda went back and forth about it, but ended up with butter cream.

So what do you think? I really need to take a class for cake decorating considering the amount of cakes I will inevitably be making over the course of my life. I need some help, but it turned out ok, right? I especially loved my clouds. Talk about talent.

I really hit the jackpot when I found the official Thomas Website. Talk about gold mine. They had color pages and game ideas, they also had free download. I took one of the downloads and blew it up for a decoration. I blew another one up and we played pin the nose on Thomas.

For refreshments I had a variety of snacks. It was a small spread, and we had a small crowd, so it worked out great. You can't see this, but I created new labels for the water bottles... Choo Choo Chug

It was so fun watching Crew open his presents. He is at a great age for it.

He still needs a little bit of help getting the wrapping paper off so his sister and friends can be there to help out and everyone is happy. Here is Crew and Luke. Little buddies.

I love the look on Crews face. So happy to have Luke there. And Luke is so ready to show Crew what he got for him.

We blew out candles. I love these pictures. This is what it is like (most of the time) at our house. Reagan and Crew are always together. They are little buddies and I love that. They do everything together. They play, dance, and cause mischief together. I love that they have each other. I hope they stay this way.

Reagan is telling Crew how to blow out the candles in this one. Classic.

This is my favorite one of all...

I stopped taking pictures after this. But the party was a lot of fun. Crew felt special and was so happy that he got his Thomas Party. We played "Pin the Nose on Thomas" and "Thomas Says". Each of the kids received a little goodie bag with a Thomas whistle, Thomas color pages, Thomas cut-outs, a CD full of train songs, and a little Thomas maze game. We had a lot of fun and I'm so glad everyone came. Thank you for making it such a special time for Crew! Happy Birthday kid! Love ya!