Tie Day at school

Today is tie day at school! I am so grateful for video chat! My husband helped me learn to tie a tie by walking me through it on video chat. That's right, I tied all these ties myself. woot woot! Also, a big thanks to my brother David for letting us borrow the ones that sing!

Can the Holy Ghost put me to Bed?

Tonight's family home evening was about the Holy Ghost, and I thought I would share a few of Landon's thoughts on the holy ghost that were shared throughout the evening.

I had Landon help me out by banging pots and pans while I whispered a message about the Holy Ghost to the family. I asked the kids what kinds of things got in the way of us hearing the promptings of the holy ghost. Landon said, "pots and pans."
I asked Landon if the Holy Ghost was loud or soft, he whispered soft. I asked him if we needed to be quiet to hear the Holy Ghost, he said, "Maybe the Holy Ghost can talk to me at bedtime, because that is when I am quiet."
Then, I blindfolded each of the kids and had them try to find a picture of the Savior after being turned around several times. It was difficult, and they ran into things, until they got some help and listened to the whisperings of the "holy ghost" who told them which way to go.

We talked about different ways the Holy Ghost helps us, guides us, and comforts us. All of a sudden Landon turns to me and says, "Maybe next time I am on the trampoline, the Holy Ghost can help me go higher!"

I talked to the kids about how we always want the Holy Ghost with us and what we need to do to always be worthy of his companionship. Landon says, "I hope the Holy Ghost can come to Faith's soccer game with us and watch her play."

Then, after prayers and scriptures Landon was ready for bed and asked me, "Mommy, can the Holy Ghost put me to bed?"

I am not sure if Landon knows exactly what the Holy Ghost is, but he knows that he is someone who helps us and someone he wants around. If all he knows is that the Holy Ghost is a good friend, well, I will take it. I love Family Home Evening!

A Wonderful Weekend

Conference weekend is always a special weekend. I make a special breakfast on Sunday morning, the kids play Conference Bingo, we spend the weekend as a family, and we are all spiritually uplifted.
Something really special happened this Conference. When Landon, my little three year old saw President Monsen on TV yesterday he started singing a Primary song we recently learned, "Our Prophet has some words for you, and these are his words, be true, be true. At work or at play, in darkness or light, be true be true, and stand for the right." The spirit touched my heart as I realized that he knows who the prophet is. I hope he knows how wonderful it is to have a prophet on the earth. I know I am grateful for a prophet on the earth. It was wonderful to hear him talk of temples and what a blessing they are.
There were so many beautiful and wonderful talks. I loved President Uchtdorf's talk and his analogy of the puzzle of the Savior, and how the Lord gives us a piece to the puzzle at a time, not always all at once. That kind of went along with Elder Bednar's analogy of the lightbulb vs the rising sun, and how usually it's a little knowledge or experience at a time, helping our testimony grow, line upon line and precept upon precept. I also loved President Uchtdorf talking about the knobs and tuning out the world to tune into the Holy Ghost. I also very much enjoyed M Russell Ballard's talk and how the "little flecks of gold", when compiled together amount to a lot. Thus, by small and simple means great things come to pass. I also loved this quote from his talk. "Unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives."
And finally, I really loved the question posed, "To Be or Not to Be, is actually a really good question." I think it is safe to say that I am taking a lot from Conference and I will be trying a little harder to be a little better each and every day.

Being a Single Mother

It's true, when we moved here and Doug started working for MasterControl, we knew that travel was involved. However, in the three years we have been here, Doug has never been gone this much! It came out of nowhere, and at a really inconvienient time (although I don't know that there would have been a convienient time to basically become a single mother).
Doug was home for one week in March, he should be home a couple weeks in April and then one week in May, and one week in June. He flys in on weekends for a day or two, just long enough to remind me that I actually do have a husband, and then he's gone again. In May/June he will be going to Thailand, so he will be gone for three weeks straight, and for my birthday too!
Thanks to my wonderful friends, I have still been able to coach soccer, which I love! I suppose I have learned that I can survive without my husband, although that doesn't mean that I like it. I really do miss him. There really is a lot to be said for marriage, having a partner to be there for you to support you and be there help out with things.
I do have to say that it is nice to be able to talk, text, and video chat while he is gone! Gotta love technology!
The hardest thing is to find a balance sometimes when he is home. There is so much we want to squeeze into a weekend, or a day, or even a week. We want to have family time, one on one time with the kids, time for us as a couple and then we have so many fantastic friends that we would like to hang out with, but it is really hard to find a balance with all those things.
I am sure we will get the hang of it......someday. I just have to focus on the benefits and hope that they are worth it. San Diego in June and Florida in November! Maybe someday the bonus checks will go towards something other than debts too! Fingers crossed!

My Chunky Monkey

Today Griffin fell over and Landon went to help him up. Well, Griffin is a heavy boy and Landon looked right at him and very sincerely said, "Griffin, I can't help you, you are too fat!"
Having kids can be so entertaining!

Missionary Madness

Back in December, my brother Jeff opened his mission call. Three weeks later he was off to the MTC. We had a wonderfully crazy few weeks, including a beautiful day where we went to the temple with Jeff when he went for the first time.

His setting apart was the night before he left, and it was an amazing and powerful night, where we all felt so strongly that Jeff was doing what the Lord wants him to do and going exactly where the Lord needs him.
He has been on my mind a lot lately, since he just flew to New York on the 14th of March, and he is currently serving in Queens. We are so proud of him.


Jeff flew out just one day before my brother David came home. Everyone was so excited to see David again! Check out the welcoming committee. My kids had so much fun making posters to welcome their Uncle David home. It's been great to have him home, and he looks great.
What a good example my brother's are to my kids, and myself! It is an amazing blessing to have brother's serving the Lord. I love being able to share spiritual experiences with them and hear the ones they are having as they strive to do the Lord's work!

A shout out to Gavin's birthday

Yes, I know that it was two months ago, but it's still worth writing about.
For Gavin's birthday he invited some friend's to go play lasertag. They had such a great time! It was such a fun day!









The night before, we had gone bowling as a family, with my parents, my brothers, and my niece and nephew. The kids were so cute and had such a great time!






Gavin is thrilled to be 9!