Monday, September 27, 2010
cute kiddos
Here are the three kids all ready for church yesterday. Michael got this suit as a hand-me-down from a friend in Delta, and it was the first time he wore it. Faith just moved up to size 3T clothes, and Lauren is in 12 month clothes, so it was the first time they wore their dresses, too. I just feel like they are all getting so big! Faith looks like she should be scrubbing floors with her scarf in her hair. Wouldn't she be the cutest floor scrubber ever? (I realize it's a big leap from 2-year-old mess maker to floor scrubber, but still, she'd be a cute one.)
carnival
Michael's school held its annual Carnival fundraiser last Friday night. The kindergarten classes performed a dance to some Brazilian music. Jeff was concerned when he dropped Michael off in his classroom before the performance, because he started to have a breakdown. Fortunately, one of his teachers seemed to recognize it and she took him and helped him through it. We were thrilled to see that he was happy and that he did what he was supposed to during the performance. I have a video of part of the performance, but I'm having a hard time getting it loaded. So here's a photo. It's like playing "Where's Waldo?" Can you spot Michael in the crowd of other 5-year-olds wearing blue jeans and white shirts?
The rest of the carnival was a lot of fun too. The kids had a great time buying glow in the dark bracelets and tattoos, and doing other activities like a fish pond, bowling, decorating paper bags, and throwing a ping pong ball into a cup for prizes. Jeff and I had a good time eating tacos from Sonora Grill. Oh. My. Goodness. They are yummy. The only real downside to the evening was that we forgot to bring the stroller for Lauren, and she's getting pretty heavy to lug around on my hip all night.
The rest of the carnival was a lot of fun too. The kids had a great time buying glow in the dark bracelets and tattoos, and doing other activities like a fish pond, bowling, decorating paper bags, and throwing a ping pong ball into a cup for prizes. Jeff and I had a good time eating tacos from Sonora Grill. Oh. My. Goodness. They are yummy. The only real downside to the evening was that we forgot to bring the stroller for Lauren, and she's getting pretty heavy to lug around on my hip all night.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
thoughts of lately
I've had a lot of things running around in my head, and I feel like I need to write them down, if only to not forget them.
It seems in every church meeting lately, I've felt a quiet invitation to do more, be better, seek out the Spirit. I think I am too "at ease in Zion." And I feel like I am being invited to step up, to prepare for something better. (Or maybe I'm being prepared for something horrible and I will need the added strength that stepping up will give me. Either way, I should do it.)
I've been grieving for someone else's lost marriage. Every time I drive by their house (at least twice a day) I ache. Even though I know there's nothing I can do for them, I feel there are lessons to be learned from their experience. (Granted, I don't know all of the circumstances here, but I DO know that I can do better to protect my own marriage.)
Watch and pray. I think this is going to be my motto. I'm going to write it on my walls (or get vinyl lettering and stick it to my walls). I need to be more vigilant, more dedicated to things like personal prayer and scripture study, Family Home Evening, and teaching my kids correct principles.
I feel like above all else, I need to guard my testimony, my covenants, my marriage, my family, and my home. Anything that interferes or weakens any of those things should be eliminated from my life.
The General Relief Society meeting last night was so good. I loved the call to charity from President Monson. As he said, (quoting Mother Teresa): If you judge people, you don't have time to love them. I have become a lot better about judging others as I've gotten older. In principle, that is. In truth, I still judge people, a lot. But at least I am recognizing it now and seeing that my judgment is often incorrect or misinformed, and most certainly unnecessary and unproductive.
I've learned that I shouldn't question motives or circumstances, but just to love and serve others where they need it. (However, "should" and "do" are not always the same thing - I'm working on this.)
As anyone who reads my blog knows, my favorite job I ever had was as the editorial assistant at the Church News. But I was often blown away by the comments we received from our readers, about every cover photo we ever ran. "That woman is too fat. She doesn't represent LDS women." "If she followed the Word of Wisdom, she wouldn't look like that." "That woman is obviously wealthy" - they had plantation blinds in the background of the photo - "and her perfect blond hair and blue eyes and perfect home aren't representative of LDS women." "He works on Sunday, why are you writing about him in the Church News?" "She's obviously not wearing garments." And on, and on, and on. So I LOVED what President Monson said last night about such judgments. I know I won't get the wording right, but it was something like, "If your attitude and judgment were reflected in your countenance, which of you would better reflect the spirit of Relief Society?"
I just feel like the Lord is inviting me to better reflect His light to my family and others around me, and to be a better servant to them and to Him. As my good friend April likes to say, "It is time." (Okay, so she got that from Rafiki in The Lion King, but she still likes to quote it.)
It is time.
It seems in every church meeting lately, I've felt a quiet invitation to do more, be better, seek out the Spirit. I think I am too "at ease in Zion." And I feel like I am being invited to step up, to prepare for something better. (Or maybe I'm being prepared for something horrible and I will need the added strength that stepping up will give me. Either way, I should do it.)
I've been grieving for someone else's lost marriage. Every time I drive by their house (at least twice a day) I ache. Even though I know there's nothing I can do for them, I feel there are lessons to be learned from their experience. (Granted, I don't know all of the circumstances here, but I DO know that I can do better to protect my own marriage.)
Watch and pray. I think this is going to be my motto. I'm going to write it on my walls (or get vinyl lettering and stick it to my walls). I need to be more vigilant, more dedicated to things like personal prayer and scripture study, Family Home Evening, and teaching my kids correct principles.
I feel like above all else, I need to guard my testimony, my covenants, my marriage, my family, and my home. Anything that interferes or weakens any of those things should be eliminated from my life.
The General Relief Society meeting last night was so good. I loved the call to charity from President Monson. As he said, (quoting Mother Teresa): If you judge people, you don't have time to love them. I have become a lot better about judging others as I've gotten older. In principle, that is. In truth, I still judge people, a lot. But at least I am recognizing it now and seeing that my judgment is often incorrect or misinformed, and most certainly unnecessary and unproductive.
I've learned that I shouldn't question motives or circumstances, but just to love and serve others where they need it. (However, "should" and "do" are not always the same thing - I'm working on this.)
As anyone who reads my blog knows, my favorite job I ever had was as the editorial assistant at the Church News. But I was often blown away by the comments we received from our readers, about every cover photo we ever ran. "That woman is too fat. She doesn't represent LDS women." "If she followed the Word of Wisdom, she wouldn't look like that." "That woman is obviously wealthy" - they had plantation blinds in the background of the photo - "and her perfect blond hair and blue eyes and perfect home aren't representative of LDS women." "He works on Sunday, why are you writing about him in the Church News?" "She's obviously not wearing garments." And on, and on, and on. So I LOVED what President Monson said last night about such judgments. I know I won't get the wording right, but it was something like, "If your attitude and judgment were reflected in your countenance, which of you would better reflect the spirit of Relief Society?"
I just feel like the Lord is inviting me to better reflect His light to my family and others around me, and to be a better servant to them and to Him. As my good friend April likes to say, "It is time." (Okay, so she got that from Rafiki in The Lion King, but she still likes to quote it.)
It is time.
my personal experience with the First Presidency
Last night was the General Relief Society meeting, and President Monson spoke. I loved it. His sense of humor is so wonderful. It made me reflect on the few times I have had the privilege of meeting him personally.
When I worked at the Church News, one of my duties was to deliver copies of the editorial each week to the Church Administration Building. One went to President Hinckley, one to President Monson, and one to President Faust. I delivered each one personally. They were usually not in their offices, but occasionally I would catch a glimpse of them. When you enter the Church Administration Building, the office of the First Counselor (then President Monson) is on the left, and the Second Counselor's office is on the right. When you enter either of these offices, you first enter the office of their secretaries. They each have two secretaries, whose desks face each other on either side of an aisle that you have to walk through in order to reach the interior office. That door is usually closed, so you never knew if they were there or not. One day, I entered President Monson's office and was surprised to find him in that outer office, sitting on the desk of one of the secretaries, and chatting with them. He greeted me warmly and shook my hand. I handed him the folder with the editorial in it, and he invited to me eat some nuts out of the candy dish that was on one of their desks. I took a couple, and we chatted for just a minute about who knows what (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember). What I do remember, though, is that before I left, he invited to me eat some of the nuts from the other secretary's candy dish, and advised me to "work both sides of the street."
I met him on other occasions. Members of the First Presidency came to the annual Deseret News Christmas dinner. Since the paper is owned by the Church, one of them sits on the Board of the paper (at that time, it was President Monson). They were always very friendly toward all the staff members.
I only saw President Hinckley in his office once. I didn't get the opportunity to speak to him, but I remember being touched by how tired he looked. These men really give themselves, their time, talents, and everything to the Lord.
And just one more experience - this time with President Faust. A Church News reader had called our office and spoken with me. He stated that he had heard that President Faust had stated it as his opinion that the Second Amendment should be repealed. This reader wanted to know if that was true. I told him that I highly doubted it, because the Church as a whole upholds the law of the land, but I would take his number and find out for sure, and call him back. Then I went to the editor, Gerry, and asked her if she had ever heard such a thing. She said that no, she couldn't imagine that he would, but she would call President Faust's office and ask. So she did. She called and spoke with one of his secretaries, who said that no, President Faust had never said such a thing.
I was just about to call the reader back and tell him this, when the phone rang again. It was President Faust himself, and he asked to speak to Gerry. After a VERY short conversation, she got off the phone and came to tell me that he had said, "I have not ever said such a thing, nor do I believe such a thing." Of course, I relayed this to the reader when I called him back. I know that there are so many rumors that go around about the Church leaders and the Church in general and the policies and practices, and I just thought it was neat that President Faust thought this was of enough importance that he took the time to correct a false belief of one of the Church members.
When I worked at the Church News, one of my duties was to deliver copies of the editorial each week to the Church Administration Building. One went to President Hinckley, one to President Monson, and one to President Faust. I delivered each one personally. They were usually not in their offices, but occasionally I would catch a glimpse of them. When you enter the Church Administration Building, the office of the First Counselor (then President Monson) is on the left, and the Second Counselor's office is on the right. When you enter either of these offices, you first enter the office of their secretaries. They each have two secretaries, whose desks face each other on either side of an aisle that you have to walk through in order to reach the interior office. That door is usually closed, so you never knew if they were there or not. One day, I entered President Monson's office and was surprised to find him in that outer office, sitting on the desk of one of the secretaries, and chatting with them. He greeted me warmly and shook my hand. I handed him the folder with the editorial in it, and he invited to me eat some nuts out of the candy dish that was on one of their desks. I took a couple, and we chatted for just a minute about who knows what (I'm embarrassed that I can't remember). What I do remember, though, is that before I left, he invited to me eat some of the nuts from the other secretary's candy dish, and advised me to "work both sides of the street."
I met him on other occasions. Members of the First Presidency came to the annual Deseret News Christmas dinner. Since the paper is owned by the Church, one of them sits on the Board of the paper (at that time, it was President Monson). They were always very friendly toward all the staff members.
I only saw President Hinckley in his office once. I didn't get the opportunity to speak to him, but I remember being touched by how tired he looked. These men really give themselves, their time, talents, and everything to the Lord.
And just one more experience - this time with President Faust. A Church News reader had called our office and spoken with me. He stated that he had heard that President Faust had stated it as his opinion that the Second Amendment should be repealed. This reader wanted to know if that was true. I told him that I highly doubted it, because the Church as a whole upholds the law of the land, but I would take his number and find out for sure, and call him back. Then I went to the editor, Gerry, and asked her if she had ever heard such a thing. She said that no, she couldn't imagine that he would, but she would call President Faust's office and ask. So she did. She called and spoke with one of his secretaries, who said that no, President Faust had never said such a thing.
I was just about to call the reader back and tell him this, when the phone rang again. It was President Faust himself, and he asked to speak to Gerry. After a VERY short conversation, she got off the phone and came to tell me that he had said, "I have not ever said such a thing, nor do I believe such a thing." Of course, I relayed this to the reader when I called him back. I know that there are so many rumors that go around about the Church leaders and the Church in general and the policies and practices, and I just thought it was neat that President Faust thought this was of enough importance that he took the time to correct a false belief of one of the Church members.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
another round of boot camp ends
I have finished my second session of boot camp, and it has been so successful that Jeff is going to do the next one! I'm excited. That means I won't be doing the next session (paying for two of us is a lot, plus there's the fact that we'd be leaving three kids home alone..... not so good). But I'm thrilled that Jeff is going to do it.
During this second session, I lost an additional 2 percent body fat, 6 more pounds, and 3 more inches. I've reached my weight loss/fitness goals, now it's just on to maintenance. Which will probably be the hardest part.
So I'm taking suggestions: I might finish the couch to 5K program and run a 5K; or I might just go do the weight program that Becky put together for me; or I might do yoga classes with April. Actually, I'll probably combine the three of them. There's a 5K trail run at Snowbasin on October 9, and I think I'll do it. The yoga classes worry me, because they're at 10 am, and I'm not sure I could get home in time to get Michael lunch before he had to leave for school.
In any case, I am still committing to get to the gym at least 3 times a week. After Jeff completes this next session of boot camp, we might switch off sessions, or do them concurrently but just on different days. We'll see how he likes it and how it works out.
During this second session, I lost an additional 2 percent body fat, 6 more pounds, and 3 more inches. I've reached my weight loss/fitness goals, now it's just on to maintenance. Which will probably be the hardest part.
So I'm taking suggestions: I might finish the couch to 5K program and run a 5K; or I might just go do the weight program that Becky put together for me; or I might do yoga classes with April. Actually, I'll probably combine the three of them. There's a 5K trail run at Snowbasin on October 9, and I think I'll do it. The yoga classes worry me, because they're at 10 am, and I'm not sure I could get home in time to get Michael lunch before he had to leave for school.
In any case, I am still committing to get to the gym at least 3 times a week. After Jeff completes this next session of boot camp, we might switch off sessions, or do them concurrently but just on different days. We'll see how he likes it and how it works out.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Faith's new bed
With the bedroom and sewing room/office finally being finished, we are in the middle of moving everyone around. We're moving Jeff's work stuff into the sewing room, our stuff into the basement bedroom, Faith and Lauren's stuff into our old room, and many of Michael's toys into his room. I was so excited to FINALLY be able to pull out the stuff to make Faith's bed. We bought this bed at a yard sale. It actually has a matching footboard that is the same height, but we're saving that to use as a headboard for Lauren when she is big enough. Two headboards for $20 - can't complain about that. Especially since they are so cute and girly.
The quilt is one that I made for Faith for Christmas last year. I love, love, love how it looks in their new room.
Faith was so excited to have her new bed. She loves it. Now if we could only get her to stay in it all night (she's been waking up at horrible hours and thinking she needs to play).
The quilt is one that I made for Faith for Christmas last year. I love, love, love how it looks in their new room.
Faith was so excited to have her new bed. She loves it. Now if we could only get her to stay in it all night (she's been waking up at horrible hours and thinking she needs to play).
sock puppets
Jeff decided he wanted to make sock puppets with the kids. He decided to tie it in with Family Home Evening, so he talked about making choices, and how we can choose what we do. But puppets can't choose - they can only do what the hand makes them do. So we should make good choices and not just do what others tell us. (I guess that's what the point was. The real point for Jeff was making the puppets.) The kids LOVED it. In case you can't tell, Faith's is a bug, Michael's is a monkey, and Jeff's is a hairy cow.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Word of the Day: Excessive
The excessive time it took to finish this project. Remember, we started in December..... way back in December.... can you even remember last December? It's when this girl was born:
And look at her now:
Excessive frustration trying to get the new door frames level and the doors to close properly.
Excessive trips to Lowe's.
Excessive number of cuts I had to make to get that stupid crown moulding right.
Excessive amount of sawdust in my carport.
Excessive gratitude to Chay and April for letting me borrow their miter saw. (I promise I'll get it back to you this week.)
Excessive amount of caulk to hide my crappy cuts.
Excessive number of "little jobs" that had to be done to make it really complete. (Hang blinds, touch up paint, make curtains, install door knobs, hang mirror....)
Excessively tired of home improvement projects.
Excessive list of projects still to come. (sigh)
Excessive excitement from this guy, at the prospect of organizing his own room.
(Please excuse the excessive use of the word excessive.)
And look at her now:
Excessive frustration trying to get the new door frames level and the doors to close properly.Excessive trips to Lowe's.
Excessive number of cuts I had to make to get that stupid crown moulding right.
Excessive amount of sawdust in my carport.
Excessive gratitude to Chay and April for letting me borrow their miter saw. (I promise I'll get it back to you this week.)
Excessive amount of caulk to hide my crappy cuts.
Excessive number of "little jobs" that had to be done to make it really complete. (Hang blinds, touch up paint, make curtains, install door knobs, hang mirror....)
Excessively tired of home improvement projects.
Excessive list of projects still to come. (sigh)
Excessive excitement from this guy, at the prospect of organizing his own room.
(Please excuse the excessive use of the word excessive.)
trilobites
Last weekend (yes, I'm behind... still) we took the kids to Delta. There is a place out west of there to dig trilobites, which are basically fossilized bugs. Sounds delightful, huh? It was actually pretty fun. Michael had a great time and thought he was so cool to ride in Grandpa's truck with "just the boys" (my dad, Jeff, and him). The girls rode in the van. We are not so cool.
Anyway, we dug for trilobites. That basically consists of hitting shale with a hammer until it splits, and then you look between the layers for a trilobite.
We found quite a few. After we had done that for a while, we drove around. Dad took us to a hermit cave, where (if I understand correctly) someone who had returned from WWII lived. He built this cave out of an overhang in the rock, and he had a fireplace, gardens, ponds, etc. It was pretty neat, although I am quite sure that hermit life is not for me.
Michael also saw his first ant hill. He had been eager to find one since I told him that some ants live in the ground and build hills. That kid loves animals, and wants to know everything about all of them. It's exhausting. Thank goodness Grandma Sabin knows so much about them. I just tell him, "Next time you see Grandma Sabin, you can ask her."
That weekend there was also a "fly in" at the Delta Airport. They were having a candy drop, so we drove out to let the kids pick up some candy. It was fun to see the ultra-lights that were on display, and the kids had a great time.
Anyway, we dug for trilobites. That basically consists of hitting shale with a hammer until it splits, and then you look between the layers for a trilobite.
We found quite a few. After we had done that for a while, we drove around. Dad took us to a hermit cave, where (if I understand correctly) someone who had returned from WWII lived. He built this cave out of an overhang in the rock, and he had a fireplace, gardens, ponds, etc. It was pretty neat, although I am quite sure that hermit life is not for me.
Michael also saw his first ant hill. He had been eager to find one since I told him that some ants live in the ground and build hills. That kid loves animals, and wants to know everything about all of them. It's exhausting. Thank goodness Grandma Sabin knows so much about them. I just tell him, "Next time you see Grandma Sabin, you can ask her."That weekend there was also a "fly in" at the Delta Airport. They were having a candy drop, so we drove out to let the kids pick up some candy. It was fun to see the ultra-lights that were on display, and the kids had a great time.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Silly kids
After bath time, this is how we find Michael and Faith.
Jeff has gotten Faith to sing George Michael's "Faith." It's so cute when she does it.
Michael also felt the need to sing. After all, you can't have a Faith without a Michael.
Jeff has gotten Faith to sing George Michael's "Faith." It's so cute when she does it.Michael also felt the need to sing. After all, you can't have a Faith without a Michael.
Playing catch-up.... again
I just can't seem to stay on top of all the stuff going on! Life is busy. It's good, but definitely busy. Going back a couple of weeks:
We went camping with my family up above Ephraim August 13-15. It was a fun weekend. The highlight for Faith was Averie's jeep.
Dad helped Michael learn to skip rocks.
It was fun to hang out with family. The following Monday, Michael started kindergarten. I know, slacker mom who waits 2 1/2 weeks to post about his first day of kindergarten. We are sending him to Ogden Preparatory Academy, which is a charter school here. Kindergarten is half-day, and he goes in the afternoon. His teacher is Mrs. Thayne, and his friend Jacie from our ward is in his class. Michael loves, loves, loves kindergarten. He told me that he likes it SOOOOO much better than pre-school. He has homework almost every day (simple stuff like writing his name or sorting things in the kitchen), and so far he has been more than willing to do his homework. One day we did it in the morning before school. When he got home from school that afternoon, he asked me if he could do homework two times in a day. I didn't know whether to encourage his nerdiness or tell him that his friends will make fun of him for being such a nerd. In the end, I let him do homework again and made no mention of nerds or nerdiness.
I do have a photo of him on the first day of school, but Jeff took it with our other camera, and I can't find it right now.
The following weekend, we went to Elk Meadows, which is a ski resort above Beaver. We stayed in some condos with Jeff's family for the weekend. Michael and Faith thought it was cool that they got to sleep on a pull-out couch.
I thought these mushrooms were cool.
We decided that condos are definitely preferable to tents. Temperature controls, TV, stoves and refrigerators, and no tents to wrestle with when it's time to pack up.
We went camping with my family up above Ephraim August 13-15. It was a fun weekend. The highlight for Faith was Averie's jeep.
Dad helped Michael learn to skip rocks.
It was fun to hang out with family. The following Monday, Michael started kindergarten. I know, slacker mom who waits 2 1/2 weeks to post about his first day of kindergarten. We are sending him to Ogden Preparatory Academy, which is a charter school here. Kindergarten is half-day, and he goes in the afternoon. His teacher is Mrs. Thayne, and his friend Jacie from our ward is in his class. Michael loves, loves, loves kindergarten. He told me that he likes it SOOOOO much better than pre-school. He has homework almost every day (simple stuff like writing his name or sorting things in the kitchen), and so far he has been more than willing to do his homework. One day we did it in the morning before school. When he got home from school that afternoon, he asked me if he could do homework two times in a day. I didn't know whether to encourage his nerdiness or tell him that his friends will make fun of him for being such a nerd. In the end, I let him do homework again and made no mention of nerds or nerdiness.I do have a photo of him on the first day of school, but Jeff took it with our other camera, and I can't find it right now.
The following weekend, we went to Elk Meadows, which is a ski resort above Beaver. We stayed in some condos with Jeff's family for the weekend. Michael and Faith thought it was cool that they got to sleep on a pull-out couch.
I thought these mushrooms were cool.
We decided that condos are definitely preferable to tents. Temperature controls, TV, stoves and refrigerators, and no tents to wrestle with when it's time to pack up.
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