Christmas Letter 2011

Critchfield Family Christmas 2011
I have an autobiography I had to do as a sort of senior project in my AP English class in high school. My kids ask me to read it to them at bed time. Can you believe I have forgotten some of the things that I wrote happened. Not just forgotten, like “Oh yeah! I remember that now!” I mean forgotten like, “Did that happen? Did I make this stuff up?” It is a sign of my growing older I suppose but also a sign that is it good for me to write things down. So with that attitude, I start our annual Christmas letter.
Bridger has had some shifting of job duties at work this fall as part of a company restructuring to be more efficient. He is now basically a call center claim rep which means he doesn’t have to drive 5 hours in a day to inspect a claim in the nethermost regions of SE Idaho. He won’t be called to work in Montana for a week or more on the last minute because of a storm that just came through. He will have to sit in a cubicle for 8 hours a day from 8-5 specifically to answer phone calls. There are good and no so good parts to the change and we are trying to take them all in stride. I think it is easier on me to take them in stride because he is home more and I don’t sit in a cubicle 8 hours a day. He was also just given a new calling at church. He is the assistant scout master. I had someone tell me what a good job he does with these boys. We also had our neighbor return from Iraq so he is no longer maintaining 2 yards. Instead of working the hours of 2 jobs and having 2 callings and 2 yards, he is down to one of each which is a nice change.
Corban turned 11 this year and is in 6th grade. He has been going on camp out with the scouts. Corban’s response to Bridger’s new calling was, “Does this mean you will HAVE to go on all my campouts with me now?” Corban is not so thrilled with the new calling. Corban started middle school this year and is loving it. He is really thinking of himself as a teenager now and acting more and more like one. It is better to tread into these teenager years slowly. I guess it is good he is giving us a head start to adjusting. He did wrestling at the school this year and really improved in his strength. summer. He did electronics and swimming.
Kjerstin got glasses this year. That is probably what she wants everyone to know. She asked if she had to wear them in the shower, in bed, at gymnastics while doing back handsprings, etc. She likes her glasses, and color coordinated her outfits to match her glasses her first few days of use. She is 9 and in 4th grade. Her best friend across the street moved this summer. She did sewing, fitness, electronics and swimming in 4H. She liked sewing so much, she has also sewed PJ pants for herself since then as well.
Brynna is 7 and in 1st grade. She is an excellent reader. Many times I find her reading a book I think is too hard for her but she wants to read it and figures it out. Brynna’s friend also moved this summer. She is still my snuggler. Brynna did sewing, fitness, electronics and swimming as well in 4H. She also tried out gymnastics this year and is improving in her handstands and cartwheels.
Daven is 3 years old(4 in 10 days) . His speech has dramatically improved! Now I find myself wishing if for just a moment he wasn’t talking non-stop. He is very busy and the things he says often crack me up and make me smile. Last night at the store, he asked Bridger to carry him. Bridger picked him up and threw him over his shoulder. Daven said, “Not like that!” Bridger said, “Yes, like that!” Daven said, “Okay, whatever you want” as he was carried upside down. When he sat on Santa’s lap at the church Christmas party, he received a brown paper bag with an orange, some nuts and candy in it. He came joyfully down and said, “Santa gave me a lunch!” He loves Mario and wears his Mario hat more days than he doesn’t. Corban is his best friend.
Gideon is 22 ½1/2 months old. He is not a whit behind Daven and wants to be doing whatever Daven and everyone else is doing. He is saying new words everyday it seems. The only baby thing about him is his binki which he is reluctant to get rid of. He has a killer smile and is a Grandpa’s boy. He has a special relationship with his Grandpa Critchfield. He is also a little mischievous. He currently will stealthily look for anyone to leave a bathroom door open so he can climb in the sink (and has turned it on twice now). We have to keep our eye on him!
I stay busy with the kids at church in primary, volunteering at the elementary school, PTSA president at the middle school, mystery shopping and generally duties of wife and mom. My only complaint is I don’t have as much time to read or write as I would like right now. I still find time to exercise as it helps me keep my sanity J. My accomplishment of the year is I finally refinished the table I have been talking about for several years. Woo hoo! 1 down!

Here is a quote from a blog I like to read to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas!

"Tis the season! And no, I’m not talking about Christmas. I’m talking instead about the season of illness, of cold, flu, strep, croup, and all the other contagions that seem to prey on the unwilling. Turns out, viruses and bacteria aren’t the only things that are contagious. So are moods and actions.Studies have shown that both sadness and lonleliness can be spread from person to person. Luckily, positive attitudes can be just as contagious. We’ve heard of pay-it-forward movements, where acts of kindness spread like a particularly pestilential pink-eye. Happiness is also contagious. This year, as I’ve been thinking about what I’d like to give (and get) at Christmas, I’ve also been thinking of what I’d like to give (and get) in terms of spiritual contagions. I’d like to catch a spirit of optimism and a gift of discernment. I’d like to pass on kindness, persistence, and thoughtfulness.Of course, I realize that these attitudes are earned through our efforts–they don’t simply pass through the ether like germs. But I think that we do find ourselves inspired by the attitudes and behaviors of those around us, often more than we think. And if that’s the case, why not seek out those who possess the attitudes we’d like to have? Why not strive to embody qualities we’d like to pass on? This year, what kinds of contagions would you like to be part of?"

Halloween 2011

I looked at my posts and realized it has been 2MONTHS since I last posted! The song, "Sunrise, Sunset" applies to my feelings about life lately. I remember the sun coming up and I see the sun go down and I wonder what happened in between that time. It seems to fly by. We successfully made it through our primary program at church. I think the Sunbeams were ready to be done! I was sitting on the front row by them and kept them from crawling on their chair and up over the front wall. Daven kept saying, "Another song?" "Is it my turn, YET?" We have had our first snowfall over the weekend. I am waiting for it to melt so I can mow up those leaves that are all over my backyard. Bridger was called to be assistant scout master. They have yet to release him from his other 2 callings. He has had some changes at work and his job duties have changed to where he will be working in the office more and covering 6 states instead of SE Idaho. I am hoping that means less travel and we will see him some more. Corban has started wrestling and has been at school at 7 am to 5 pm including practices and meets 2x a week that last 2-3 hours. He has been to several merit badge pow-wows trying to knock as many merit badges out of the way as he can. It is seriously impedeing on any time I used to do laundry/cook/etc. It will last through the beginning of December and I can't wait! I have been busy with PTSA at the middle school. I am also trying to use up all those tomatoes from my garden that are finally ripening in the basement. For Halloween, Corban was half skeleton half Corban, Kjerstin was Princess Tiger Lily from Peter Pan, Brynna was Little Red Riding Hood, Daven was Mario (although he had 4 differnt costumes-his photo is his attempt of saying I am tired of dressing up and this is as good as it gets after Trunk or Treat, trick or treating to grandmas/grandpas, class parties, etc.), Gideon was Yoda and loved answering the door and telling the kids trick or treat and bye. I was Madame Hooch from Harry Potter (the flying instructor). I have put the Halloween decorations away, put up Thanksgiving, and am already anticipating Christmas . I trying to remember to be grateful for all we have been blessed with. I am trying to re-read the Book of Mormon again before the end of the year and am thorougly enjoying it. Happy Fall ya'll!

School bells now are ringing!

Our start of school this year has gone a lot more smoothly than I anticipated. Corban started 6th grade at the middle school. He is loving the fact that he has so many lunch options now! Kjerstin did not get the teacher she wanted and everyone told her she had a grouchy teacher! Kjerstin has loved her teacher so far this year and is doing great as a 4th grader! Brynna is now in first grade and is doing well. I went to volunteer in her class. They are a noisy bunch! She loves the fact that she gets to celebrate her birthday soon as school begins. Daven has missed his siblings greatly but is settling into a good rhythm hopefully. His speech has progressed so much over the summer. He almost always has a Mario hat on his head and I am glad I get to keep him home a couple more years. Gideon is SO busy! I literally get exhausted trying to keep up with him during the day. I am glad Daven is home to help me! (The photo is of him helping wash the car. He was very wet. We just tried to keep him from trying to eat/drink the water-yuck!) Things seemed so peaceful and slow and I was enjoying it so much! Then I went and volunteered to take over as PTSA president at the middle school since the president has decided to go back to school. It has been a little crazy but I am hoping that it is just the initial craziness and things will die down a little bit. I am starting my second round of P90X and loving it once again. Bridger and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary this year. We got married about 10am. At 8am that morning I was surprised with a dozen roses and a note that said, "See you soon! Love Bridger" This year I was surprised with a locket with a note inside that said, "Thanks for seeing me soon!" He is still the romantic I fell in love with. Fall is a time to consider all the bounteous harvest or blessing we have in our lives and I certainly feel blessed!

What have we been doing this summer?

Left: City of Rocks Below and right: at Bounce house in Twin Falls

At Planetarium in Twin Falls

At Twin Falls Temple

Modeling their own creations at 4-H Style Revue

I haven't posted for 2 months! We have been busy. The kids start school on Thursday. I will miss them. I enjoy the company during the day and the adventures we find ourselves on. But in the famous words of Tony Horton: Bring it!

4-H (Swimming, Electronics, Fitness, Sewing, Cooking)
Williams Family Reunion
Cousin Camp in Lewiston
Swimming Lessons

Goodliffe Family Reunion
Camping at Lake Walcott
Corban's Arrow of Light
Bannock County Fair
Refinshing our kitchen table

A picture says a thousand words

It seems like it has been forever since I have had time to write. A lot has happened and I thought photos would say it all!

Corban graduated from elementary school and Brynna graduated from kindergarten.

Kjerstin had her 9th birthday!

Corban got to go to work with Dad for a day!

Gideon leared to vacuum!

We've been swimming!

Milestone

Usually you think of milestones in a child's life or development. They happen a lot more frequently than the home improvement projects we have at our house that are waiting for my husband to have time to do them. So when one of them gets done, it is a big deal around here! When I was 9 mo.pregnant with Daven my washer (front loader) overflowed and flooded my laundry room. The linoleum had to be replaced and thus the baseboards came off. He is 3 1/2 now. Two years ago, we had a crazy hail/rain storm that filled our window wells in the basement and flooded our basement. The floorboards had to come off to help dry out the drywall and carpet. They have been off ever since. My kids have come to accept this as just the way things are. I heard on Saturday, "What is so great about having baseboards anyway?" Now thanks to some WONDERFUL friends, we have baseboards again! We were invited over to dinner on Saturday and after dinner, Bridger and Ryan (their dad) came over and knocked it out! I am so grateful for their service! They made it seem like it really wasn't a big deal to them, but it was such a great service for us! I keep meeting all these people that I want to be like when I grow up! When my kids reach a milestone, I say, "My baby is growing up!" I want to say, "Ah, my house is getting fixed up!"

Mothers Day

What makes a good mothers day? Do you have to have breakfast in bed? Do you have to get a gift ? Do you have to have dinner cooked for you? Do you have to have a nap? Is it spending time with the ones who helped you to become known by this name or is it an opportunity to take a break and spend some time alone? Do you have to get the cute kid made gifts? Does someone have to wish you a happy mothers day? Bridger usually takes a Friday off before Mothers Day and plans something for us to do for Mothers Day. This is secretly one of my favorite things about Mothers Day. It didn't happen as planned this year. We were all sick and Bridger had to work and I had to do some things to finish out the jump a thon at the kids school. I was a little disappointed. I did get to sleep in (a little-7am) and didn't have to cook on Friday. Bridger took me out to lunch and got the kids a Costco pizza for dinner. I think that is good. I averted my eyes from my laundry beckoning me to pay attention. It was good. Today we cooked dinner for our mothers and I felt it was a day for them to feel special. I can't say what made Mothers Day this year good- but it was. I don't think it is a check list of what you get or what is done for you. It isn't the same from year to year but it always seems to be good.

How Not to Deal with Stress

This last week has been one of those you see on the calendar and just dread its' approach. In my philanthropic spirit, I volunteered to co-chair the spring fundraiser at the elementary school. We are doing a jump-a-thon. Last week was the jumping days and I got to spend a good deal of time at the elementary school. I also had visiting teaching scheduled. And it so happens that a majority of the mystery shopping jobs were available last week. It was also Easter and I had family and church obligations in addition to everything else. I still feel tired and would like a secluded week long vacation where there are no children, computers, cell phones, etc. Bridger is gone for this week and there is still SO much to do. I think I have taken some of my stress out on Cadbury Mini Eggs. I also have over-reacted to otherwise mild situations at home causing my loving family to wonder where their mostly sane mother/wife has gone. Now that I'm pretty sure I hit all the wrong ways to deal with stress, I hope to do better this week and try the right ways. Inhale, (pause) exhale--and continue. But I would be willing to take applications from those willing to lend me their beach house and watch my five children!

Peeps Time

I recently have acquired more peeps. I had to look on my blog for the recipe I had used before. I found one more idea for those peeps that might be fun especially for FHE! http://peepsofmormon.blogspot.com/

April Fools!

When I was little, before my child brain could register it was April 1st, my mom would make us cardboard pancakes for breakfast and stuff our shoes with newspapers. I have yet to be such a Mom. I always get to April 1st and I am too tired to do anything extra. This Friday I woke up with a migraine and I thought it would be yet another boring April Fools' at our house. I took my medicine, and got over my migraine though! I was thrilled. I told the kids because it was April Fools they got to eat dessert for dinner, and dinner for dessert. (I got all of this off the internet). I made meatloaf cupcakes with mashed potato frosting for "dessert" and a giant hamburger cake for "dinner." I think the kids were thrilled with it all and I felt accomplished for finally being the type of Mom I was I was everyday! I also took them to see the Weiner-mobile. It was here in Pocatello! I was doing a mystery shop and stumbled upon it. Bridger has had a little Hotwheel car of it since he was a boy. I always get asked, "Is this real?" Now they know! I took my kids back after they got out of school. Here is a photo and some stats:

A hot dog roof, custom ketchup and mustard upholstery, a mustard stripe aisle, a "bun"box, a horn that plays 21 different versions of "I Wish I Were an Oscar Meyer Weiner."

Spring Break

We had a busy spring break. I enjoy the break from school as much as the kids or more! Bridger took a couple of days off so we could do something as a family and we didn't have to feel so guilty having fun when he still had to work. We took the kids snowmobiling and sledding on Monday with Bridger's Dad. He loves snowmobile and we have had relatively little time to do that with him since we moved here. It is fun for him to be able to share that with his grandkids and try to pass on one of his favorite hobbies. Tuesday, I had a mystery shop in a town bordering Utah, so we decided to drive a little farther and take the kids to Chuck E Cheese. They have been begging to go there for years, literally. We have been before, but the closest ones are in Utah or Boise. Bridger was rather skeptical of going, but I think even he had a good time watching the kids have so much fun. Brynna said it was the "best day ever!" Daven quickly copied her saying that. He also asked if we could go to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow. I thought it might be a little juvenile for Corban but he had a good time, too. Gideon loved following Chuck E. around and wanted to touch his nose. On our way home, we stopped to get ice cream. Brynna told Bridger he was spoiling them. Kjerstin promptly told him that was his job. Wednesday, we went to Lava to see Aunt Pam and go to the dentist. The kids love going to the dentist, probably because it is their Aunt. Thank heaven for small blessings. No cavities helps, too! Thursday their Grandma Critchfield wanted to do some scrapbook pages with the kids. I have resigned myself that if scrapbooks happen, they will happen when the kids are older and I can leave pictures out. She organized this herself and did pictures from their last birthdays. I think the kids had fun and she got to share one of her favorite hobbies, too. Friday they finally got a day to play with their friends and had a great time and I had a day to catch up and stay home :) There are two more months of school and there is one day off (Memorial Day). That certainly won't match up to the this month where we had two Fridays off and one whole week off. We had snow during spring break again. It is great to live in Idaho. I think we have every year we have lived here. It didn't dampen my spirits and I loved the break from the normal pace of life. It is like President Hinckley once quoted, "Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." I enjoyed the ride this week with it's vistas. Now to go back to sidetracks and smoke and bumpy ride!

Walking in the Light

I was watching my little Gideon the other day. The sun was shining through the window and leaving a blotch of sunshine on my carpet. He kept walking back and forth over that spot of carpet wondering ( I am assuming) why it looked different and why it felt warmer. My dog would do that, too. He would take morning naps on the places where the sun shined through the window leaving a warm area on the ground. He would move as the day grew to follow that warm spot. It got me to thinking about the light of the Gospel. Do we like to walk in the light? I also saw some photos on Facebook of one of my younger cousins. He looks like he is not walking in the light that he was brought up in. He looks like another one of my cousins that recently got arrested for drug use. Why do we leave the light? It feels good. It is warm. Even my one year old baby can tell that. I know sometimes we have are required to exercise faith and take a step into the darkness before we find the light again. Do we get lost? Are we afraid of making the step and stay where we are and get lost? Is it our stubborness? It makes me want to be like a little child (my little child) and walk in the light. It makes pray that my little Gideon will always want to walk in the light. It makes me think of the primary song: Teach me to walk in the light of his love, teach me to pray to my Father above, teach me to know of the things that are right. Teach me, teach me, to walk in the light. Do we have to be taught to walk in the light? I think we get it as little children and we somehow forget. Is it like those classes we have taken that we really don't remember anything from because we took it just to get the grade and move on? It is amazing to me how much I learn from my kids even when they don't even know they are teaching me. Right now they are telling me to be done with this, but I hope I remember the lesson I learned and I will walk in the light.

Blue and Gold

This is Corban's cake for the Blue and Gold Banquet. This will be our last for Blue and Gold for 4 years until Daven is in cub scouts. They had to choose their favorite Dr. Seuss book and decorate a cake to match. Corban choose "The Cat in The Hat." This is the cat's hat if you can't tell. I am no cake boss but think that Corban and I did okay. They were 2 other kids who picked the same book and had similar cakes. They served green eggs and ham, and had a fish (One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish) for each boy to take home. Corban is not a pet lover and declined the gift of a fish. Brynna was sure if we did take it, it would die because don't don't have a good history with fish. It was a nice event. Here are some Dr. Seuss quotes:
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." — Dr. Seuss
"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." — Dr. Seuss
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not." — Dr. Seuss
"If things start happening, don't worry, don't stew, just go right along and you'll start happening too."
"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one."
"They say I'm old-fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast!"

Beauty

I went to the temple yesterday. We seemed to have a million things happen trying to keep us from going to the temple. We were later than we thought we would be and decided to do initiatories instead of an endowment session. Some concerns I had were answered in doing initiatory. I think it is that way with our kids, too. We can help them out with their problems by just spending time with them. As we spend more time with the Lord, He somehow answers our concerns in verses of scripture we have read before. We don't see beforehand that these verses have a direct correlation to our situation. Somehow in spending time with the Lord, he is able to help us.

I was also thinking about beauty. I was listening to all the things Heavenly Father blesses us with and none of them are beauty. I know he could bless us with beauty. Is it that he doesn't care? I don't think so. I think it is that we are all beautiful. It is like that with flowers. Take a pussy willow and a rose. Some are maybe less attractive to some than others. But to others they are just as beautiful. I have heard that we are all beautiful but had bought into the philosophy that if all are beautiful then no one is. I think we get too focused in this world with making ourselves more beautiful. We try different haircuts or haircolors. We try different clothes or different ways of doing our makeup. We buy into all these schemes of Satan telling us we are not beautiful. It is not that it is bad. But anything taken to the extreme can be detrimental. I was reading an article in LDS Living. It said that Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie are under their BMI. I thought that was interesting. It gives a new definition of what you think healthy is.



I was also listening and all the blessings we get are so we can serve others. Kind of like the priesthood. You can't bless yourself but you in turn are a blessing to others. We need to remember why we are given this body and what the Lord has asked of us in return.

A Symbiotic Relationship

I have to call some local businesses for PTA this week. I am co-chair of the spring fundraiser and we are going to ask some local businesses if they are willing to match a portion of what we earn to help boost our earnings towards a new playground. I am not excited about doing it. I don’t like asking for things. I don’t have a problems giving things. I guess it is just harder for me to receive. It is humbling. This has tied into something else I have been thinking about. My kids don’t need me as much as I need them. I always thought the story went that you brought children into the world and they need you to feed, clothe, and care for them in order to survive. I am the giver and they are the receiver. When I was pregnant I felt like the children were parasites feeding off of me to grow and develop healthy bodies while I dwindled in health. I think in the eternal scheme of things, it is the other way around. I need my kids in order to achieve exaltation. I need them to help me perfect myself. It is a little like being told that the world is round and not flat. When they talk in relief society about what kinds of service we can give others, I am thinking to myself, “That is all I do all day every day!” I do give my children service by maintaining their physical needs. I never thought of it in the reverse scheme of theme. It is a symbiotic relationship where I help them with little things while they help me with big things in return. We both benefit. I know it is part of Heavenly Father’s grand plan for us to come to earth to gain bodies and have families so other spirits can gain bodies, but I think it is a two-fer. They get a body and we as parents get Christlike attributes. I had been thinking about this for awhile and it was reiterated as the spiritual thought at our presidency meeting last week. One sister quoted a professor from BYU who teaches marriage and family relation classes. He said, we don’t come to earth to get bodies, but to have families so we can develop the 199 Christlike attributes he has found in the scriptures. I saw a reality TV show a few years ago where parents donated their kids to people who thought they were ready to have a family. As I watched it, I as a parent would never let my children be taken care of the way some of these people took care of them. I think that is the way Heavenly Father must feel as he lets us borrow his children so we can raise them and learn to be more Christlike. It is a humbling thought that we are the receivers and not the givers. What are they going to teach me today? Maybe something that will make it easier for me to make those PTA phone calls, please?

Wanted: Good Health

When I was little, I remember missing quite a few parties at school because I was sick. It seems I haven't changed much and have passed it on my children. Valentines Day was spent "pouring" our guts out! You could also substitute "puking" for "pouring." Over 50% of the people in my house were sick. I think I can still smell throw up, but I don't know where the smell is coming from. There were only two that were left untouched. That is okay because they have have their share of puking in the last month. I had strep two weeks ago when Bridger was in Montana. I have wiped every surface I can think of with disinfecting wipes. This isn't really what I wanted when my alarm is going off at 5am and wished I could just lay in bed for a day and not have anything I HAD to do. I hope good health is on the way and will stay for awhile. In the month of January there was only 1 of the 5 Sundays that everyone was healthy and at church. It can be so hard with large families to stay healthy! I keep telling myself we are just extra healthy from all the antibodies our bodies are developing. Also I am spared gaining a pound of two from Valentines treats. I will probably lose a pound or two instead. That's a good thing, right? It sure doesn't feel that way or is it very romantic or fun to lay in bed on Valentines Day. All the fun ideas I had will have to wait for next year. Maybe my children will recognize that it is a true sign of a mother's love that she cleans up after they throw up. It reminds me of our first Thanksgiving when we were married. We both had an awful case of the stomach flu. The good part is it does make it easy to remember. I can say, there is no one I would rather lay in bed by! Happy Valentines Day!

Valentines

I watched two DVD's this week. We got the DVD Valentines Day in the mail from Netflix. I was never a Valentines Day lover and I thought this would be a funny movie to watch. It had a couple good points. When we love someone, we love the good and bad in them. It wasn't my favorite or one I would recommend. I also watched a DVD this week that I have had for awhile and just got around to watching. It was much better for Valentines Day. It is called The Seven Commitments for Perfect Communication by Emil Harker. The Seven Commitments are as Follows:
1. Assume Good Intent
2. Accepting Reality
3. Communicating with the Desired Outcome in Mind
4. Clear Direct Communication
5. Fogging
6. After Fogging
7. Disarming Landmines
I read the commitments and thought that they sounded pretty basic. Did I really need to listen to someone tell me how to do something so basic? I was surprised. For example, when you get mad at someone, you are not assuming good intent. Did my child really want to cause me more work by leaving their coat on the floor? No. So don't get mad. And when I talk to them. I communicate with the desired outcome in mind. If I yell, it won't have the desired outcome. Everyone has a natural desire to be happy and to make others happy. When this doesn't happen, you have to assume the person has a good reason/intent. Fogging may not be so basic to understand. It is letting criticism go through you like you are made of fog and not hurling criticism back or getting hurt feelings, then getting to the source of the criticism. Listening to this made me more aware of my communication with my children and everyone that I communicate with. I can't believe how much I can work on things that I thought I already knew! This is the same case with the gospel sometimes. We think we know it but there are always ways we can apply it more if we will just look. Happy Valentines Day! My favorite part of Valentines Day the movie was the mom coming to see her son. Hopefully if we apply better communication we can be with all our family forever! Happy Valentines Day!

Gideon's 1st Birthday

Well, Gideon's birthday this year was just as busy for other family activities as last year's. We had to celebrate a day early. I can't believe he is already one. I was at Brynna's Valentine party on Friday and Brynna's teacher (who has a child of similar age) couldn't believe how much he is walking. Neither can I. He is a joy to our lives. His nickname is Mr. Giggles because he is such a happy baby. I look at him and I want to see him as a baby still. I remember when Corban was one, I saw how much he had grown and changed and how big he was! (I wanted him to grow up more so I could sleep through the night again.) Now, I wish (like the song) that I could save time in a bottle. He wasn't too interested in birthday cake. He made a mess of it but didn't really care for the taste. He does love oranges though! He is my first that has liked oranges at such a young age. I thought I would post a few pics.

The Last Few weeks

My Sundays have changed in this new year. With a new meeting schedule and new callings come more meetings. I seem to have little time or energy to write when I have time. Once Sunday is gone, my writing time seems gone, too. I have to figure something out! I have had several thoughts over the last weeks, things I have read that have resonated as truth and events I have attended that have enriched me. I will paste two of those articles: http://segullah.org/daily-special/tiger-mothers-mormon-mommy-bloggers-and-happiness/

http://ldsmag.com/index.php?option=com_zine&view=article&ac=1&id=7386

I also attended a stake relief society meeting yesterday. I really felt like some of the things said were answers to questions I have had for months. Our stake president was talking about in 3 Nephi where the people come and touch the Savior's feet and hands. He said it was such a profound experience that it blessed not only them but their children and grandchildren through the change it wrought in them. He asked if it was the physical act of touching His hands and feet that changed them. He said it was not, but the Holy Ghost bearing testimony to them. He told us that we have the same opportunity everyday to have spiritual experiences that can change our natural man little by little to make us into what God wants us to be. I liked that. It is amazing how many times reading the scriptures you can continually be taught from verses you have previously read.

Other than these uplifting things, life has been the normal busy. My Gideon is now quite proficient at walking and not yet one year old! Here is a photo of the kids in their recent activites.

Look!

I took the kids skiing over the weekend while Bridger stayed home with the little boys. Bridger has taken Brynna skiing once before. She basically skied between his legs. I tried that at first and I wasn't up for holding her and letting her sled down the hill all day. She needed to figure it out. So she spent the day learning, which means lots of falling. She would sit in the snow after she fell and look at the ski lift, other skiers who were passing by, the trees around us. I would say, "Brynna, Look! This is what you need to do to get up." I said, "Look!" quite a few times on Saturday. I was getting frustrated she was not looking at what I was showing her. Yesterday in our family scripture study, we were reading 1 Nephi chaper 11 where Nephi is getting the interpretation of his father's dream. The Spirit kept saying to him, "Look!" I love the exclamation mark. It made me wonder how many times the Lord tells me to Look! and see the tree and I see the people around me and not the glorious but somewhat distant tree in my future. In the same chapter there is a part where Nephi is told to "Look!" and he think he will see the Spirit again, but something else is shown to him. I think this happens to me, too. I think I have in mind what the Lord should do for me and it doesn't happen, but I neglect to see the other greater things the Lord has in store for me to see. It was quite a ski lesson for Brynna, but a greater lesson for me to Look! in my life at what the Lord has for me.

My life

Last Sunday I had a migraine and couldn't bear to look at a computer screen. All week long I have trying to put my thoughts together to post. My life feels a little chaotic right now and I find myself feeling like I am treading water, with waves washing over my head from time to time. The Savior has been my lifesaver I am clinging onto. I am just trying to keep up literally and figuratively. I have always been one to easily overload myself. I scheduled myself with 23 credits in college because I could. If I have a free minute, I am likely to fill it because there is nothing scheduled that can't be squeezed in somewhere else. I always end up showing signs of fatigue in one way or another. I just read this quote on Sugardoodle. "If Satan can't get you to be bad, he'll make you busy." A common sentence in my house lately is, "I am too tired to care!" It is good and bad. Some things that need to slide, do and unvariable some things I shouldn't let slide, do as well! I keep telling myself these are growing pains of personal growth. I have tried to slow down as our prophets have counseled. I took my kids out of TaVaci this semester. I am trying to teach them piano myself instead (which in a way is MORE work). I didn't sign my girls up for dance this spring. I am trying to find that balance in my life. I really suck at the Wii balance games, too. I always think, this is a waste of my time. My kids love them, though. They think they are fun. If I let myself have fun maybe I would relax and be able to float on this sea of my life.

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