Halloween 2012

It's here, my kid's second favorite holiday!  It's a busy day, but we are all so excited!  Daeson is a Dark Skull Warrior, Tevan is the blue Ninja Turtle, Kb is supposed to be a bee, but screams when I put it on her. and I was a queen, but today I just have on orange and black with some spiders and pumpkins on my face.  I get to help at the Halloween party for Kindergarten and I am excited.  We are making black cat candy holders.  It should be fun!  I will get some pics posted soon!

Fall has come and gone

Yesterday we woke up to snow...a lot of snow.  I wasn't excited, but the kids were.  I rounded up all the snow clothes...hats, gloves, scarves, boots, snow pants...and got the kids ready for school.  They looked like marshmallows walking out the door, but they were toasty marshmallows!

It snowed off and on yesterday and today it is almost gone.  I am amazed how quickly the weather changes,  We didn't get much of a fall.  It has come and gone.  I loved last year for we had a warm Halloween, a reasonably warm Thanksgiving, and a very pleasant Christmas.  This year, I am afraid, will be heavy with snow.  Sigh.....soon Christmas will be here and we will be knee deep in the white powder.

The kids want to play in the cold weather, they know when they come in they can have warm cocoa and some marshmallows.  This is a favorite around here.  Since I can not eat chocolate without severe consequences, I drink soy steamers with coconut flavoring.  It is delicious and I enjoy every drop.  Yesterday I made the first batch of caramel popcorn....mmmmm!  Yummy!  It was so good and I wondered why I don't make it all year long.  Delicious!

Kaebryn likes the snow so far...she eats it.  Not surprising since she eats everything.  I am pretty sure she has a Lego in her stomach somewhere.  This child is a whirlwind of energy.  She is into everything, puts everything in her mouth, and if all doors are not closed, she destroys whatever room she has access to!  When she was younger, we tried to get here to take a pacifier to help with the acid reflux, but she would not take one at all.  Lately, her favorite thing to do is to take a pacifier.  She chews, sucks, gnaws, plays with and soothes herself with the thing!  She is so funny like that!

Daeson is doing well in school and really likes it.  He has discovered a love for reading and has read "Magic Treehouse #33" and "Junie B.".  He likes to draw and is getting quite good at it.  He is a helper to me and is becoming a very responsible child.

Tevan is also doing well.  He is a fantastic reader, his teacher isn't sure what to do with him.  He needs some help with his penmanship, but what 5 year old doesn't??  He is very creative and uses his imagination to the max.  Everything is a game to him and he likes to show others all the games he makes up.  He is still very particular, and we have a lot of drama, but he's growing up quickly!

This should get it's own post, but Troy got accepted into the nursing program!  He was in the top 25 and he is super excited.  He is working hard and stressing a bit, but he is excited to move on.  Good job Troy!

I am on survival mode, and have been for a while.  Things are very busy for me, but I don't like to be idle, so its okay.  Tomorrow is Super Saturday and I cannot wait til its over so I can move onto the next project!  It is a big job being in charge!  Very stressful and time consuming.  But I made a lot of crafts this year, bonus.

One of us

Tonight after Kaebryn's bath I combed her hair.  She protested when I put the comb away...she wanted to play with it.  I gave it to her and she tried to comb her hair.  As she was doing so, Daeson said, "She is growing up so fast!  She is starting to be one of us!"

As opposed to???

Conference

There has been much talk on the changes made in conference, the revelations revealed, and the talks that were spoken.  I was grateful for the opportunity I had to watch/listen to all four sessions of  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints General Conference.  I was thankful for many of the talks that were directed towards me...as I am sure most of those who watched felt the same way.

I didn't hear every word spoken, nor did I get to hear the very beginning of Saturday morning due to techical difficulties, yet I feel thoroughly edified.  I do sustain the leaders of our church.  I pray for them, I love them for the services they so freely give, and I admire the ways they live their lives.

There has been much controversy as to what we, as "Mormons" believe.  We are strange and peculiar people.  And that is okay.  I am happy to be set apart from the world in the way I speak, dress, and worship. I am not perfect, church is not for perfect people.  It is a place where we can strive to become better people.  There are many things I need to improve in my life, and through direction from our faithful church leaders, guidance through direct revelation from our Heavenly Father, and counseling from my husband and children, I know I can do better.  Everyday I can make better decisions to become a better person.  All of us can.  All of us have the opportunity to be better, to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is not something we should ever take advantage of, and it is not something that we "deserve".  It is a gift, a privilege, and an honor to be able to converse with our Lord when we need him.  He is a constant in our lives if we live righteously. 

I was able to evaluate several aspects of my life during conference and there are several things I do need to change:

1. I need to love more.
2. I need to show respect to everyone and not be so demanding. I need to say please and thank you more.
3. I need not judge others.  Period.
4. I need to be aware of the things I watch/listen to online.  Are the shows I watch appropriate?  Is the music I listen to edifying?
5. I need to be willing to serve more.  I need to serve those around me and those in need.

There are many other things I need to do.  I am very far from perfect.  However, I need to start with a small list.  Line upon line, precept on precept.