A holiday treat for ya:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1126846151

Easton's prayer

So... I am sitting ont he computer working on some stuff for Young Womens and Easton walked in about 5 mintes ago and said: "Mom I am going to say a little prayer ok?"... I was wondering what was on his mind and as he started to pray he thanked Heavenly Father for all his blessings and "this lovely day" (cute!) and then asked him to get him a little brother that he can teach "good things" to and help him grow up so we can take him to church. Amen. Really- that was pretty much the whole darn thing. I don't know whether to laugh, or cry right now...

Get your hands off my wheel!

I have been feeling a tad bit over-scheduled these days and with the Christmas Season dawning I had to chuckle to myself as I recalled an analogy my dad taught me. It goes like this:

Everyone has a steering wheel that they control. It is the steering wheel of your life. There are a lot of people throughout your life who will try to get their hands on your wheel and pull you this way and that way (their way). But- if you let people control your wheel- pretty soon you'll crash... so it's OK to tell people to get their hands off your wheel. It doesn't make you selfish or mean.

Growing up my dad was full of these little ananogies. I used to rolll my eyes and act all bored as he told them, but I guess I was really internalizing because they stuck somewhere in my cranium and they pop into my head when I need them. The moral being that although service is good- I need to be in control of what is happening or else the result is a crash. Which in my case = grumpy mom, stressed out wife, maxed out friend, crabby panic attack. so... thanks dad for teaching me this valuable lesson so many years ago. It makes me realize that I am in control of my life and I have to steer my own WHEEL!!! love you papa!

I am thankful for:

my hubby. easton. my parents. my in-laws. my sisters. jace. friends. an income. the prophet. the gospel. a car. the stars. books. computers. shoes. yards. parks. the ocean. music. soldiers. ross. good deals. blogs. people that laugh at my jokes. jewelry. people who read my blog. my new calling in young womens. grocery carts. heaters. umbrellas. paper. cheescake.

We have had quite a festive week here!
Easton had the MOST adorable Thanksgiving feast at his pre-school and his teachers really went all out. These pictures don't do justice to how adorable it was! We also had a playgroup at our house today where I helped the kids make these little turkeys. I think they turned out so cute I am going to frame Eastons and use it as a Thanksgiving decoration. I am compiling a list of things I am thankful for to post tomorrow and I am really starting to count down the day to Christmas!!! Wahoo!!!!

Bekah the Birthday gal!

Everybody needs a Bekah in their life! She is so uplifting and creative and just always makes me happy because she is so positive about everything. I love her laugh and the fact that we have the most random stuff in common (like our no-cartilage noses, and our phone call screening habits). She is such a great mom and totally loyal to all her friends. I know that no matter what we do- when we hang out we will always have fun. We could sit and talk about life for hours- well, maybe days on end. She is the most artistic and clever and so good at everything she does. She is also so willing to serve others and there if I am ever in a bind. Like it said- everyone needs a Bekah! I hope you have a great day- happy Birthday!!!

Thirty and Fabulous!!!

My dear sister Shelly is now officially old. I bet she is tired of me saying that- but what good is it being a younger sister if you can't make fun of the fact that no matter what SHE will always be older?!?! So... there are a million things I love about Shelly. In fact- I could probably have a Shelly blog. She is a phenomenal mom and a major domestic diva. She throws the best parties and is always hosting something!!! She is the best big sister anyone could ask for. She has bailed me out a number of times in all sorts of ways... financially, spiritually, mentally--- you name it. She is the kind of person you can always depend on to be loving and understanding. She and I have had some of the most wonderful talks and when we get alone and talk I always get such clarity about life and the meaning of things. She has been through so much in her life (including a brain tumor and THREE AWFUL pregnancies) and remains so close to the Savior. She and Boyd are now in the process of adopting two children from Ethiopia and I just can't imagine what she'll do with her next three decades. (No more brain tumors ok?) What a woman! I sometimes can't believe we're related! I'll let you know when she goes on Oprah... Love ya Shel! You are the best! Happy Birthday!

hApPy BiRtHdAy SkYe!!!!!

So... I guess it was bound to happen. My lil' sis is growing up! I just can't believe how much she has changed the past year. I really miss her!!! I am missing a lot of fun times in her life simce we are living so far away and it really stinks! She and I are 10 years apart and it's amazing how despite the age difference we are still close. Krystal (who for her whole life has tried without success to get everyone to call her by her middle name- Skye) is totally into school and activities and friends. She has THE CUTEST friends ever and they are so funny. Not to mention way to cute for a bunch of 15-year-olds. Skye is a track star. She can run like it's nobodies business and she also totally kicks butt at volleyball. She is so athletic. She is one of those people who tries something once and is automatically good at it. This is something I happen to love about her. She is so smart and would probably get straight A's of she were willing to clear her social calender a bit- but I am just so glad that she is having a blast being a teenager. She is a perfect teenager- sassy and trendy, feisty with my parents and learning just how much she can get away with. It is so funny to watch her find herself. I just hope she knows her special place in our family and just how much we all love her. Happy birthday sis!

Stuck in a bucket!

Easton got stuck in a bucket yesterday. Derek and I thought it was so hilarious- obviosely Easton didn't share that opinion (especially after I started taking pictures). I just thought I'd share so you could get a good laugh. As you can see he did eventually get out. Ha! HA!

Happy Birthday Batman!!!

I can't believe Easton is four. He brings so much to our lives and I don't even remember what my life was like without him. Even with all the crazy boy stuff he does and all his mischief- I still can't help but be madly in love with our little man. He is the best and always surprizes me with tender moments. I hope he grows up and know's how Super he really is...

If he wasn't obsessed with superheroes already- he is now! All his friends and even some cousins were all dressed up and it was a great party! Al in all we had Superman, Two batmans, a pirate, Optumis prime, spiderman and wonderwoman. Thanks to everybody who helped me and came!

Do we look tired? we are.

Mel brought me some surprize flowers from Seattle- they are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

My masterpeice of a cake... I really liked it acctually...
The superheroes even captured a villian... Derek is such a good sport.

I love this picture of me and Eastons friend Brynn- she is Mrs. Batman I think. She melts my heart!
Even Wonder woman showed up!

The only regret I have is not getting a group Superhero picture! Darn. Oh well, it was one wild-crazy-fun party.

I'm tired.

My sister Mel brought her boys to visit and we had a non-stop party! There were times when they faught like brothers- but it was so fun and you can just see from these pictures how much they love each other! We went to cannon beach and to OMSI. Mel got a little break and took a trip to Seattle and then they helped us celebrate Easton b-day!!! What a great weekend! Love you!
Easton kept asking Logan to carry him around when he realized he was strong enough! It was so funny!

We found a huge pile of sand on the beach and Logan named this "bum sliding". Later we realized that a better name would be "sand-in bumming". They totally wore themseles out! (Yes we matched their clothes...dorky, huh? They loved it!)

Mad scientist Payton making flubber ot OMSI-too cute!!!

A 40-pound what?!?!

I wanted to share a little story that taught me a very important lesson:

So... Derek took Easton and I fishing to hopefully catch a 40 lb salmon... (I might as well tell you now that this story doesn't end with us catching a salmon). So here we are one happy family. The sun is shining and we have this really strange day where the weather is like 80 degrees in October. Derek is casting and I am reading on a blanket. After about a hundred times telling Easton to stay away from the edge of the river I finally decided to get off the blanket where I was thoroughly enjoying my book and stay right by him. I was picking up a cool stick to show him when I heard the splash and then total silence that was shortly broken by be screaming "Honey, Honey!!!" I looked at Derek and he looked in the river and then jumped in. Luckily Easton didn't fall to deep or far and Derek was able to pull him out. It was so scary. not so much the part of him actually falling because the river wansn't that deep and raging and Easton was scared, but fine. Scary in the sense that all the times I have been frustrated at him and annoyed at him came rushing into my mind and all of the sudden I think I realized just how much he means to me and that I need to be a more loving and gentle mom. I need to focus on the good in him and stop nagging so much. I just looked at my boys soaking wet and had the most overwhelming feeling of love for them both. I am so lucky to love them and have love and I found new appreciation for my life in that moment.

We stripped Easton down to his undies and hung his clothes on a tree. It was pretty funny. Our only 40 pound catch spent the rest of the afternoon fishing in his football underwear and red rubber boots.