Go, go, go Joseph!

On Saturday night, Chansey and I went to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". It was a production at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center. It is a funny musical based on the story of Joseph in the Bible. We absolutely loved it!! My brother-in-law played Simeon (one of Joseph's brothers) and he did an excellent job! We knew several other people performing in the musical so it made it even more enjoyable.

Several years ago, I was the roadshow director in my ward and we created a roadshow that was a spin-off of this musical. But, believe it or not, I had never actually seen it live until now. I didn't know what I was missing! It is so entertaining! I was glad to see how excited and fired up Chansey got about the whole thing... she is definitely a product of her mother! We were both hyped at the end... all of the excitement took me back to my musical theater days and how much fun it was being on stage.

Chansey is sure that she wants to be in a musical now! I can't wait to see her fulfill that dream. I told her it is a lot of hard work and you don't always get cast when you try out, but I think she understands and she is up for the challenge. So, she wants to try out for the next musical "Willy Wonka". Tryouts are next month. So, we will try it and see how it goes... I will keep you posted!

Tag... You're it!

It has been a long time since I have been tagged, but my old friend Becki tagged me, so I thought I would oblige. Plus, I am always up for a little bit of fun, so here goes...


8 things I did yesterday...

1. Woke up late (8:22 am... sweet!)
2. Went to Stake Conference (today was the first day Spencer was supposed to go to nursery, but since we had Stake Conference, he didn't get to and we had to wrestle with him for 2 hours... we were robbed! :)
3. Made homemade garlic butter rolls (YUM!)
4. Played with my kids
5. Watched a movie with my kids
6. Had FHE/dinner with my family
7. Finished planning Kristie's baby shower
8. Ate two pieces of pie right before dinner (oops!)



8 things I look forward to...

1. Kristie's baby shower (I love Kristie and I love having parties!)
2. Finishing unpacking (I will be done today... I promise!)
3. The rest of the summer (It's been a little lame since we have been moving... time for the relaxing fun to begin!)
4. Quiet evenings when Todd is home and the kids are calm
5. Going to see my brother-in-law in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"
6. Smiles on my kids' faces
7. Eathan's baptism
8. Having this baby!!!! (only a couple of months left!)



8 things I wish I could do...

1. Sew
2. Play the Piano (I know... "practice makes perfect")
3. Run a marathon (someday I will)
4. Be a good mom all of the time
5. Blog more (since I don't scrapbook, it's my best journaling alternative)
6. Study the scriptures EVERY night without getting tired
7. Go on vacation... just me and Todd... to Hawaii... for a week!
8. Go to the Temple every week (I used to and hopefully I will be able to again soon)

8 shows I watch on tv...

Since we don't even have eight channels on our tv, this one is a little tricky. I don't really have a list. Our family was really into 1."Biggest Loser" last season, so we sat down and watched it every Tuesday night. But that is about it... I don't watch anything else regularly. I do like watching the auditions for 2."So You Think You Can Dance" and 3."American Idol". But by the time the real competition starts, I am bored. Plus, maybe I am non-committal and I can't make myself sit down and watch anything at the same time every week. My other tv interests include 4. cooking shows and 5. game shows, but I don't really find time to watch those much either. Lastly, if we had cable, you could catch me watching 6. Sports Center on ESPN with Todd. I really do enjoy that.

While I am on this subject, I do have one other funny confession to make... when I was first married, I used to watch "Young and the Restless" and "Bold and the Beautiful". Seriously, I never missed an episode. I planned my day to make sure I was home when it was on or I taped it... how crazy is that?! I haven't watched either show for the last 8 years though. I had to repent and give it up. All in all, though a mindless activity is really nice sometimes, isn't t.v. just a big waste of time?!

8 people I tag...

1. Amy 2. Melissa 3. Lindsey 4. Deanne 5. Jessica 6. Cedar 7. Chelsea 8. Lana

Can't wait to read all of your secrets! :)

Memorial Day Weekend

Here I am again... no pictures and a week late with this post... but I thought I better jot this down so I can remember this 'vacation' for years to come.

Like normal, we went camping this year over Memorial Day weekend. We left town the day school got out (Thursday) looking forward to what was supposed to be a relaxing, beautiful weekend. As we arrived to our spot, we were greeted by my family that was already there and also rain and cold weather. It rained for the rest of the day, most of the night and most of Friday too. So, the kids were a little stir crazy and muddy. The big kids managed ok, but it was pretty hard keeping the little ones dry and with something to do. Did I mention it was really cold?! Friday night it cleared up and stayed clear most of Saturday. Until dinner... here's where it gets fun... my awesome husband planned a big meal of dutch oven pizza, breadsticks, salad, and wings. My sister helped us get it all together and we were just starting to have fun... cooking and eating (all 50 of us) Until the clouds rolled in... you guessed it... it started pouring rain... AGAIN!! Right in the middle of our awesome dinner! AGH! Well, the good news is that Todd (being the genius that he is) brought our Easy-Up awning just incase this turn of events were to occur. So, at the first sight of clouds, they set it up over their cooking area and got everything covered just before the down-pour. So, we were able to finish dinner, just a little wet. Followed by a couple hours of cleaning up and doing dishes (the rain stopped by then). FUN TIMES!! (Can anyone sense the sarcasm?!)

Well, Sunday was a new day! Sunny and beatiful. The clouds cleared out and the kids had a day full of playing, wandering, and fort building. We also tie-dyed and the boys went shooting. They were having a ton of fun. And frankly, as a parent, this is what makes my life fun as well. The bad news was, we ended up having to leave on Sunday night. We always stay until Monday, but this year was different and here's why...

Before we left to go camping, we knew we had to find a house to move into. We needed to move to a bigger house before the baby was born and we found someone to take over our lease. So, we had to be out by June 1. (One week after returning home from camping) Finding a new house was torture, but we finally got one nailed down just a couple days before we left, so we felt relieved and ready for a va-cay before a crazy moving week. Well, much to our dismay, that house fell through and we couldn't move there afterall! We found out while were in the mountains, 120 miles away from home and with approximately 9 days left before we had to be out of our house!! That made our weekend a little more stressful and we ended up coming home Sunday night so we could spend Monday looking for a house.

The good news is... we found a house when we got home and moved without a hitch! (more to come on that later)
The really good news is, even though this camping trip was far less relaxing and wonderful than most, our kids still had a blast. And that is all that matters. I am so glad they are not burdened by the worries that we are... they can just be carefree and play and enjoy their cousins and friends. No matter how muddy they are :). By the way, our clothes were so dirty that I had to wash most of them twice... oh the joys of being a mother! We will hope for a dryer camping trip next time!

A Dream Come True

Mother's Day this year really made me reflect...

Anyone who knew me when I was little will remember that I wanted to be a mom from a very young age. It was always a dream of mine. If I was ever asked... "What do you want to be when you grow up?"... I would say "a mom" or "a kindergarten teacher" (the closest job to being a mom) However, being a mom is something you can't always plan or control. You have to follow certain steps... meet the right guy, get married, etc. So, since I couldn't plan those things, I spent my early adult life doing other good things. I got a job just a few days after I turned 16 and was never without a job until a few days before I had Chansey. I got good grades in school with the hopes of getting into college and being 'smart' and 'professional'. I went to college right out of high school and almost finished my degree. The only thing that stopped me was... you guessed it... becoming a mom! So, here's how the dream has come true...

Instead of helping random strangers solve their financial woes all day, I help my precious children solve their woes. Some of which include... dirty diapers, dirty clothes, scratches, bruises, broken toys, homework, new piano songs, fevers, coughs, sad days... the list goes on and on. Though frustrating at times, all of these situations give me practice at being a mom. When the woes are solved, even though temporarily at times, the fulfillment I get from my four happy faces by far surpasses that of all the random strangers!

As far as being 'smart' ... now this is where it gets tricky. When I had Chansey (my first) I thought I knew everything! Being a mom was so easy and having one baby was so busy. But, I sure thought I was 'smart'. Needless to say, over the last nine years I have realized that being 'smart' as a mother means you eventually realize that you don't really know anything at all! My four kids have taught me more than the thousands of hours of homework I have done over the years. And other inspiring people in my life including my own mother and lots of great sisters and friends have filled in some of the blanks. The gospel has also had a vital role in my learning to be a good mom. All in all, I am truly lying to my kids when I tell them "moms know everything". Maybe we are just 'smart' because we know where to look for the answers.

Being 'professional' has also taken on new meaning since I have been a mom. Some of my new definitions include... having my insurance card & shot records every time I go to the doctor, taking extra snacks, diapers, and a change of clothes when we run errands, having a clean kitchen, having a clean car, getting the kids to school on time, not getting angry at my kids in the grocery store, visiting teaching with well-behaved children, dressing and grooming my children well, teaching my kids how to be reverent in church... again... I could go on forever.

I guess the point of all of this reflection is simple... even though being a mother has really changed me in a lot of ways I couldn't be more grateful. I constantly pray for the strength and knowledge to be a good mom and I often fall short. By the end of the day I feel like I have run a marathon only to wake up to the starting line of a new one. But, I love every minute of it!! I am so thankful for my children and for the trust the Lord has put in me to watch them for him for a little while. I just hope they will love and respect me when they grow up as much as I love and respect my own mother. I hope they will look past my faults and shortcomings and see how much I truly love them and how amazing they are in their own individual ways.

Mother's Day this year was relaxing and wonderful. But, it wasn't full of fancy gifts or nights on the town. The best thing I got for Mother's Day was the realization that the last nine and half years has truly been a dream come true!!

Showlow Trip

During General Conference weekend, we were so lucky to be able to go to Showlow with Todd's cousin and his family. Jaime and Tyson spoiled us rotten and showed us a great time!! We were so grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them and have a nice, relaxing weekend. Besides during conference, we didn't see much of our husbands. They were too busy playing outside with the kids, riding the ranger, shooting hoops, playing volleyball, and going to the Priesthood Session. So much fun, so little time!!

So, needless to say, Jaime and I spent a lot of time together and it really was a treat! I want to be like her when I grow up someday... she is incredible!

As for General Conference... this is where my mad eaves-dropping skills came in handy. With eight kids to manage, it was hard to sit down and listen to every talk, but I was thankful to be able to tune into most of it even through the madness. My kids sat down and watched a lot too, which I am grateful for. They are starting to understand the talks and recognize some of the Apostles. So cool!!

And once again, I was sure that the General Authorities were talking directly to me. I heard a lot of important things that I know I needed right at that time. I love how that happens!!

Besides listening to conference, here are some of the other things we crammed into the weekend...

Tyson and Todd and all of the kids (sans babies) in the jacuzzi.

This picture makes it look warm and sunny, but it was actually pretty cold.

There were even snow flurries Friday night right after we got there, so the jacuzzi probably felt really good!!

The kids watched movies in the theatre room and they thought that was so awesome.
But, Bella and Regan crashed and I thought that was so awesome :)
(Sleeping kids really are adorable.)


The kids had fun making Easter cupcakes.

Chansey, Eathan, and Bella rode the zip-line at Roy's cabin, but somehow we only got a picture of Chansey. Cool action shot! Thanks Jaime!

What a perfect weekend... cool weather, lots of family time, more fun than you can imagine, and listening to the General Authorities inspiring words... all wrapped up into two days.

A little piece of Heaven on Earth!

A Trip to the "Salon"

My sister Rosanne is totally amazing!! Somehow between her eight kids, two grand-kids, many busy church callings and being a great sister, she has found time to be a beautician for the last 30 years. She has many regulars that come every time they need their hair done and then there are those who only show up once in a while. We fit somewhere in the middle. But this week, we paid Rosanne a visit for some serious hair-dos. Chansey wanted a perm (again) and Bella and Spencer were in desperate need of a trim. Well, needless to say, once again, Rosanne came through for us...

All rolled up... just waiting for everything to set.

I thought this was a funny shot. I am not sure if Chansey is covering her face because the solution stings her head, or because it stinks... ?!

Spencer was ok as long as he had a lollipop in his mouth.

He has had several haircuts before, but this was the first one by a professional.

Bella had her first haircut ever!!

AFTER

BEFORE

Bella's hair was really long, but it was so wispy and scraggly at the ends, you can barely see it!

Well, three hours and a few tears later, we all made it! We were exhausted, but the kids all looked spiffy! Thanks Rosie!

Spring Break ~ Mexico

During Spring Break we were able to go to Rocky Point with my brother and his family. We love hanging out with them! They keep us entertained and they are so good to our little ones. Our trip was so fun and relaxing this time and the weather was beautiful! I wish we could have more vacations like this. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Mexico...

Playing in the sand... my personal fav... I don't love the ocean.

(Don't ask me why this picture is sideways)

Spencer just LOVES to be outside... can you tell?

This picture was taken on the porch of our cabin. The tide isn't very high in this picture. Sometimes the water comes up over all the rocks and splashes onto the steps of the cabin. The kids always love to play in the water... even when it is not high tide.

Love the braids!! How do those mexican hair-do ladies move their hands so fast anyway?

Eathan is searching for crabs in the small pools of water between the rocks. They put "big" ones in the buckets and watch them attack each other.

We also love to feed the seagulls. It's amazing how fast they come when you start throwing pieces of bread in the air.

The great thing about going to Mexico is that we don't really do a whole lot, but our kids love it so much and they always have endless amounts of fun. We hang out with the family and have a great time together. We usually take pictures every time we go and they always look kinda the same. I guess when they get big, my kids will never forget the awesome family memories we made in Rocky Point!!