Is it COOL or CRAZY?

We had our first real snow. Dallin couldn't wait to play in it. He was dreaming of fluffy white snowmen, snow ball fights and snow angels. But Mommy was dreaming of VERY WET snowpants, gloves, hats, coats and boots. You see, this snow came after a big rainstorm and then was followed by a little more rain. This is not my Favorite dream. I was fighting ..... trying not to give into the nightmare. All of that wet stuff = cold kids = lots of crying. Me and them.

Suddenly I got an idea. I got a wonderful, awful idea. Hee, hee, hee.

Why not bring the snow playtime indoors? Hold on, I know what you are thinking. I am Crazy! Cuckoo! Loony Bird!!! Yeah, I know. My sister who was here thought so too.


But my boys thought I was Super Cool when I scooped snow into bowls and let them play with it at the table.


They made miniature snowmen. One looked like Gonzo.



They used their inside toys to play with the snow. Another advantage of indoor snow playtime. Their trusty trucks got to haul snow.


The trucks were so quick. First you see it, now you don't.



There weren't any snowball fights, but being indoors didn't mean we couldn't put snow down someone's shirt.



We thought Luke wouldn't like it, but he LOVED it! He started putting snow down his own shirt. We got a kick out of it. Such a funny kid!



They did the Mash, They did the Snow Ball Mash. The Snow Ball Mash. It was a Playtime Smash! They did the Mash. It caught on in a flash. (I know you all are going to do this now ;) They did the Snow Ball Mash.



And yes, I really AM CRAZY! I let my kids even eat some of the snow.



Gasp!

This may become the best way for my little ones to play in the snow, especially if it is wet and cold outside. My sister told me "I think your experiment worked!" Maybe I am not that crazy!

It snowed again last night. Hmmm, I wonder what we will do today.

So Close to Heaven

We were close to Heaven, but we weren't able to get in. We could only take a glimpse. But how wondrous it was.




We found Heaven on Earth when we traveled to Zions National Park & Bryce Canyon. When in Nature, you feel closer to Heaven. It is like taking a peak into the glorious realm where our Father dwells. I am thankful that he shares some of it with us.


It is peaceful as you walk along a river. The beauty that surrounds the water is stunning, the air is cooler, it's easier to breathe, but the sound of the water rushing over the rocks soothes my soul. I imagine these soothing sounds when I think of Heaven. Zions has several places where water cascades right out of the pores of the sandstone. It creates lovely hanging gardens. Doesn't that sound just like the kind of Garden you would find in our Heavenly Home?


Around every turn through Zions there are stunning Mountain vistas. Each peak has a name that was inspired by something that reminds you of God. You can't help but feel awe at the sight of the Magnificence you find in nature.




There are three peaks named Abraham, Issac & Jacob. They are also called the Court of the Patriarchs. Abraham is on the left, Issac in the middle, then Moroni, and that white thing behind it is Jacob. If you have been to Zions, have you ever wondered why the peak that is hidden is called Jacob? I always think they must have mixed up Moroni & Jacob.


Well we went on a hike where we found Jacob. This must have been the view the men had when they named these peaks. Now I get it! Issac is on the left, Jacob is on the right. Sorry, Abraham is on the left, out of the picture. He is shy. This is the best picture I could get (Oh how I wish for a panoramic lens) Too bad everyone can't see Jacob the way we did. Well they can, if they are up for a hike in the sand away from water. Yes we really were in the desert. I think you also can see it if you schedule a horseback ride.


There are so many wonderful things to see in this world. I hope you can go and find yourself a bit of heaven on earth. It is all around us. I feel blessed to be in Utah where we have so many of the world's treasures. Sorry, I don't mean to hog it all. Maybe you should visit and we will take you on a trip that is close to Heaven.





Maybe these pictures will inspire me to do better, so we can really make it to Heaven someday. The vacation didn't qualify us for entrance. We had to come home to learn how to get along better. OK, so the vacation wasn't perfect, but it will be something we will always remember.

I am a Craft Starter

There are so many ideas for the cutest crafts. I want to do them all. I get a great idea and buy the things to make a wonderful craft. Then something happens. Somehow this wonderful, perfect idea turns into clutter to fill my craft closet. Sometimes I start the craft, but not nearly as often do I finish it.

I have to fess up. I have a problem. I don't know if there is a meeting for Craft Starters, but I think I need help. How do I pass up the Amazing deals in a store that I know will make the perfect gift for my kids or craft for my living room or my Mom or friend? Or better yet, how do I get myself to finish the crafts? I made a To Do list of all the projects I want to complete. This included Home Improvements. I couldn't believe all of the crafts I had started or planned on doing that made this list. I have checked off other things, but so far no crafts yet.

My sister & I have been working on the Cutest Most Wonderful Craft Ever. Or so it seems to us. But somehow it still hasn't moved to the next level. We work on it often, but we haven't finished one yet. These are gifts for Christmas for many loved ones. (Women of course) They are stunning. I can envision the finished product, but I am scared to take the next step, so I just start more, because we need MORE. I want to have one of every one that we create, they are so great! I know selfish me. So then we have to make MORE because obviously others will love the same one. I will laugh heartedly if my sister & I end up with a ton of these and we give 5 away. Oh well, no one will know. I am sure you won't tell.

Because my hope is that they won't end up sitting in my craft closet with the rest of the unfinished projects. If only I had a craft room, maybe they would get done. But really that is just an excuse. I will fess up, I am chicken. I am not that crafty and I have a stinking perfectionist streak that makes me afraid I won't love the end product. My Mom wasn't really much of a Crafter, so I didn't learn how to do it at home. At YWs I always hated my crafts bcuz I didn't know how to do them well. Super Saturdays make me itch to start a craft, but those are many of my unfinished, wish I would have done them crafts.

I am hoping that next week after a much needed vacation I will get up the nerve to finish these beauties and make something Absolutely Fantastic for lots of Lovely Ladies.

If not you will find me at the CSA meeting. I will be starting Craft Starters Anonymous if I can't find one anywhere. We will have cute crafty party favors each week and learn how to finish a craft even if it kills us. I am sure it will be a good thing. Because this is probably the thing that drives some people to join AA. I know my husband gets this wild look in his eye every time I open my craft closet. I think he is on the brink. ;)

Modest is Hottest

Modest clothing is really the most flattering and beautiful clothing you can buy. I love being covered where I should be, so bending over is the least of my worries.

You learn better if you are taught while you are young. So that is when I began to teach my kids about modesty. This is a personal decision, but I chose not to buy Faith sundresses with cute thin straps. I want her to look back and see that she always dressed the way I expect her to when she is older. If we find a sundress or a dress with straps that we love, we add a T-shirt beneath. She always looks wonderful! It makes me feel good when I hear her say she doesn't like something because it isn't modest. Hopefully this will save us a few arguments when she is a teenager. :-D

It is easy to teach modesty in the home, but the world is always giving them a different message. It starts so young with the movies they watch and the dolls they play with. Faith just found a cute Barbie she wanted to buy with birthday money. She came with two dogs. Faith wanted a doll or a toy pet. We found this and she could get both. What is there not to like?

Well that dress is definitely shorter than I would want Faith to wear. Poor Barbie, when she bends those knees to sit down she must get a terrible draft. I thought we could make some improvements to make her more comfortable.

Add some ribbon for about 30 cents and I felt like we had a winner. This dress looks so cute, you would have no idea I made any adjustments. Except it looks a lot better than their version. She looks sophisticated, smart, fun and sexy. Instead of cheap.

Faith loves what I have done. She patiently waited while I made the adjustments. Then she really started the praise "Wow Mom, that is Gorgeous! Oh Mom, you are Awesome! I love you!" What better pay is there for a Mom? I hope she learned some valuable lessons from this. Don't be afraid to be different. All of the other barbies may wear the same dress, but you don't have to. That Modest is Hottest. And that you can solve many problems if you put in some effort & creativity.

Look how great it looks in the packaging. Maybe I should contact Mattel with these pictures. Wouldn't it be great if they would put some clothing on that portrays good values instead of teaching girls that life is really just about our body and how we show it off?

Peace fills my soul

Peace is such a gift. The storm may rage on around you and the Savior can still help you feel peace. Things are improving so much with Spencer's leg. Reason tells me I should still be cautious, it came back before. But I feel peace. I do not know if this means it is over or if it means we will be OK no matter what. That is good because the trials keep coming.

Faith hurt her neck this week at school. It continued to bother her, so I had her wear my soft neck brace for a few days. Christian hurt his jaw when someone slammed into him during tag and his head hit his knees. Luke got out his stitches. Dallin's tonsils are still huge. He has complained of a lot of body aches lately. You would think we are in warfare. But Still, I cannot deny the peace.

This feeling of peace helped me when Aaron told me yesterday his company was bought out and they were all let go. Imagine the CEO telling you he is breaking off into a new company, the original company is being bought and the name of your company no longer exists. Then with a smile he says "You are all fired ..... Some of you, might, be hired by the new company." I imagine peace was not the feeling in the room.

I know some would say "OH CARINA, you guys just got back on your feet from the last unemployment! You have so much going on."

I know. But the Lord gave me peace. Aaron was worried how I would react. We have been through this many times before and a calm reaction is not always my first response. But quickly after Aaron started in August we realized something was going on at the company and have been trying to be prepared. Aaron has been talking to other companies and doing contract work on the side. So we are not without options, but it can be hard to continue to face an uncertain future. I wouldn't even talk about this, but Aaron posted it on Facebook. So I figured I could record my own feelings.

Like I said, I feel peace. The Lord has been aware that the burdens were piling high. I didn't mention our van was convulsing on the way to the Dr appt on Monday. Spencer said he could see Shock Waves running through my arms. He wasn't being mean. He was just observing the reactions to vibration. Still, remind me to do my arm exercises ;) We took our van in on Tuesday and paid $1800 in repairs. Another reason to feel stress, it is eating into our savings. But I feel peace.

Is it because I have lost it? Have I just gone numb and can't feel anymore? No, because I can certainly feel the peace. It is like liquid running through my soul. It is warm and feels so good.

I was thinking about this peace and suddenly music came into my head. "Peace fills my soul. The Lord is on my side." I realized the words did not match the song I was thinking of. The tune was "Be Still My Soul." I laughed a little and then realized how beautiful the words felt to that tune. It gives it a different meaning. He has already stilled my soul. He has filled it with peace. He is definitely on my side. The song is already so beautiful. I cannot even begin to improve upon it. Be Still My Soul's lyrics are a perfect lesson for my life. But the words that came to my mind help me see something extra. That even though the world is throwing things at me, PEACE FILLS MY SOUL, THE LORD IS ON MY SIDE.

Aaron wanted to go to the temple first thing this morning. He quickly checked a few things before he went. A sweet reassuring answer came when Aaron found an e-mail from his company & received a call on his cell phone to let him know they are very interested in keeping him. They are putting together some kind of offer. See no need for me to allow the worry to tear up my soul. The Lord filled it with peace and I will treasure that feeling for now.

Going on an Adventure

Dallin has been complaining about how bored he is. There is nothing to do around here. I admit life hasn't been as fun since the kids started back to school, but there are LOTS of things to do around here. He didn't believe me, so I showed him.

We went on an adventure to the Jungle. There were so many beautiful animals to find. Luke especially loved it. He said "See the frog Momom." It is his version of Momma & Mom in one. "See the bird Momom." He says each of these phrases about 5 times even after I say "Yes, Luke." "Yes, that is a cute frog."


"I like the bird Momom." He bends down to kiss the bird. "Nigh-Nigh Birdie."



Dallin liked the winter trip to VeggieTale land. He even added music to the adventure. "Veggie-tarian. Veggie-tarian. Veggie-tarian. Veggie. Tarian. LoL If you are familiar with VeggieTales you know just what tune that went to. We aren't vegetarians, so it was very funny.


Then we went on a prehistoric trip to see animals that were Vegetarians. We wanted to avoid the Meat eaters if we could. SCARY!


After that trip it was time for a relaxing ride. Luke really loves trains right now, so I wanted to get a picture of him with it.


This was the best I could get. Luke had just been wrestling Dallin & then he blew a raspberry on his tummy. I am glad they enjoyed their adventure today. It wasn't too boring, was it Dallin?

Oh and yes, I do love puzzles. I can't wait for them to open up their Christmas presents. It is a tradition to add to our books, games & puzzles every year. We are going to run out of room. Especially after my trip to Kid to Kid a few weeks ago. We buy these wonderful puzzles at Thrift Stores after some other child got too many presents to enjoy their puzzles. I LOVE getting good deals on great presents.

But I love having adventures with my boys even more.

IT MEANS SO MUCH

We are grateful for the support we have received from friends and family. It lifts my spirits to know someone else would ask God to look after my family. With all of the trials combined lately, it has been a heavy load to carry. But then, I feel the Lord's tender mercies lift me up. It is then, that I think those prayers have sustained me. The Lord came along and lightened my load as the scriptures say he will. Mosiah 24:14-15, 21 Reading this scripture made me weep with gratitude. He carried my burdens when I couldn't and now he has taken a lot of it away. I am no longer babysitting. I can't begin to express the gratitude I feel for this.

We are also extremely grateful for the kindness we have received from Doctors and nurses. The first Dr. who diagnosed Spencer was too rushed to take the time he needed to. At first he told me it was an allergic reaction to a bug bite. Two of our children swell up huge from bug bites and this WAS NOT the same. I made him look again. I had to point out the major difference was the heat surrounding the wound, which indicated an infection. Thankfully he looked again and realized it was cellulitis (an infection of the skin). The wound took a turn for the worse so rapidly that I know I would have went back demanding a Dr. look again. Nurses answered my questions & were compassionate when I called. The medicine finally was working and then 2 weeks later it took a scary turn.

The Dr. & nurse on shift the night it abscessed were nice, but should have taken more time to make sure Spencer was comfortable. They immediately began the incision after they finished administering the numbing agent. It takes me a while to get numb and I think Spencer inherited it. He felt everything. He screamed and screamed some more. I held him down and tried to comfort him. It was terrible. Every time we go back to a Dr. he remembers the pain. He has been so afraid. When I took care of the wound, he cried tears of gratitude & hugged me tight thanking me again & again . He knew I loved him and wouldn't hurt him if I could help it.

I couldn't believe it when I found another abscess while Aaron was at Priesthood Conference. This was going to be hard. Spencer received a priesthood blessing before we went (not his first). Our neighbor, Rich, came over to help. Both he and Aaron spoke with Spencer before & after the blessing to try to comfort him. His faith was being tried. He had been praying. He was trying to show faith, but he was afraid. After the blessing he told me "I feel the best I have ever felt after a blessing. Next to when I was baptized I mean." Thank you Father in Heaven for giving him the comfort he needed.

Thankfully the staff that helped on his second abscess took all of the time they could to make sure he was comfortable. We got to the clinic around 8:40 Saturday night, but we didn't see anyone until 10:10. Even though their clinic closed at 10:00, the staff listened to our concerns. Because of the wait & fatigue we were both about spent. They took extra time and showed him so much compassion. I again held him and this time we both cried. I wanted to protect him and couldn't. I couldn't keep bad things from happening to him, but I would hold him no matter what. We needed the Lord to lift us both up. We both left feeling grateful for the angels that attended him that night.

Spencer was afraid when we went to the Dr again today, but our pediatrician helped ease his fears. It was painful because they don't numb the area for this procedure, but they took such good care of him. His nerves relaxed and he was extremely brave through the last part. Our Dr even gave him a hug. Our faith has been restored in those who show compassion and help lift others burdens. The Lord can't always be there, so he sends his angels. I am thankful we have had angels there to hold us up when we need it.

Spencer's leg is not all better, but it is showing signs of improvement. We appreciate your prayers. They do make a difference.

We have the weirdest tradition for Conference

My friend has a tradition to make a yummy breakfast for the YW and have them watch Conference with her family. I love her and loved doing it when I served in YWs with her. But it wasn't the right fit for us.

Instead of enjoying the thought provoking, soul searching and deeply meaningful experience Conference is supposed to be. Conference comes as an adrenaline rush.

Towards the end of April Conference Dallin added several bobby pins to the plug for our lamp. It was new and beautiful, but he wanted to make it more beautiful. ;) Then he plugged it into the wall. The power surged in the house as our son took the brunt of the electrical charge. We all came running. His hand was black. I rushed him to the bathroom where I filled the sink with cold water. We put his hand in the water and he kept it there for at least 5 minutes (he wanted to keep it there because it felt so good) Finally we got to look at it. Each finger had a different kind of burn. There were blisters, black charred skin and another finger split open where the electricity escaped his body. Thank heavens he kept his hand in the water, it helped the burns to not be worse than they already were. The bobby pins didn't fair so well, they were melted to the lamp plug.

Really it was more exciting than I wanted my Conference experience to be.

Then, these last two weeks when we normally try to gear up for the uplifting messages from our beloved prophet and leaders. We have been dealing with a serious infection in Spencer's leg. We are waiting to hear the exact results from the culture, but they strongly feel it is MRSA. It has been a scary ride. Seriously, not a fun way to start Conference. But at least it was before Conference, so now we can refill our drained reserves.




































Well apparently we weren't done with the tradition yet.

We went on a family walk between Conference Sessions. I am doing a 5K next week so I wanted to see how fast I could go. Spencer couldn't go quite as fast even though he was doing really good. His leg is feeling a lot better, but it is not back up to full strength yet. His medicine also makes him sensitive to the sun, so he has to really hydrate. Aaron held back with him, even though Aaron wanted to go fast because he is doing a 10K in 3 weeks. Suddenly they decided to try to catch up. Aaron started running while pushing the stroller. A wheel hit an unexpected bump and took a nosedive with Luke intact. He is now at InstaCare getting stitches. ~Sigh~ The tradition continues.


Conference is about to start. I hope the rest of the weekend doesn't follow this weird tradition. I hope it is quiet, safe and peaceful. I could use that.

What are your traditions for Conference? I think we need a new one.

***Addendum*** read my comment below. The tradition continued.