I guess receptions are BORING for kids!!

We had Logan & Sydney's open house the other night. Brenner fell asleep on the way there and there was no waking him up. The funny thing is that he didn't want to lay down on the chairs or the floor... he insisted on sleeping standing up.

Quick Quote #1

Kids say the funniest things. Here are a couple from Brenner....

We went to the mall the other night. We saw a rainbow, so we pointed it out to Brenner. The road around the mall keeps turning so Brenner kept seeing the rainbow out different windows on different sides of the car. He said, "That rainbow keeps moving all over the wheres."

The other day we were heading to St. George and Ry was supposed to be home at 3:00 so we could leave. We were waiting outside for him and I said, "Daddy's late, should we chew him out." Brenner said, "No." I said, "Why?" Brenner said, "I don't want to eat him."

Thanks to Jessica Romney for giving me this idea. It is so cute the things our kids say.

Things I learned at Education Week at BYU

Lessons I learned in classes (not in order of importance, but in order of my classes)
1. The job of Homemaker is the job for which all other's exist (I could explain if I could remember the analogy.)
2. A Happy Wife is a Happy Life
3. If you plan on getting there EARLY, you may make it ON TIME.
4. You get back what you give out. If you're angry, your kids will be angry, if you're happy, your kids will be happy.
5. Invite music into your home.
6. Do everything you can to make your kids want to be in your home and their friends want to come over to your house.
7. Write down promptings from the spirit (so you don't forget them and you can act on them.)
8. An adult attention span is only 7 minutes (I've probably lost you already.)
9. A 2 year old's brain is like an overgrown garden. All of the vegetables are good, but if they aren't thinned out, nothing will grow. A 2 year old is like a sponge. They are learning soooo much and everything is good, but we need to focus on only a few of those things.
10. Even if marriages are made in Heaven, Man is responsible for the maintenance.
11. "Each family is given all the gifts it need to gain exaltation." Bernell Christensen. Each unique person in our family with each of their different talents help us reach exaltation as a family.
12. Do a family service once a month or more.
13. Pray to the Lord to help you make decisions- even if you want to make them yourselves.
14. "They may not remember what you said, but they'll remember how you make them feel." (I know you've all heard this but I can't remember who said it.
15. Children will become who they are told they are.
16. A lot of history about the Salt Lake Temple... ask me and I'll tell you some time.
Lessons I learned from Deena (my yard-saleing buddy that I went to Ed Week with)
1. I can only dress like a teenager for 7 more years because I will be too old at 39.
2. It's not always about ME.
3. How not to diet and exercise (sorry Deena I wasn't very good this week)
4. How to accessorize. (She made me buy earrings and a necklace)

etc. etc. to both lists.

I had a lot of fun and I've been rejuvanated to be a better mom, spouse and person!!!

The View from my Front Yard

This is the view from my front yard. It's the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It has been so fun watching it grow. What an awesome opportunity to have our kids so close to the temple.

40th West

This post is for all of my friends that have moved away from the neighborhood. Can you believe the changes around here? This is a picture of me driving down 40th West from 114th south (there's a light there) to my house. This will cut out tons of time heading to church (and Target). Strange how things happen so fast!!!

Digital Scrapbooking... not for me.

So, I have been at BYU education week (a post will be coming on that). I didn't want to haul all of my scrapbook luggage with me, but I knew I would want to scrapbook. So, Ryan convinced me to take my laptop and try digital. The pages turned out pretty cute, but it's just not for me. I don't know how to make a paper clip actually look like it's clipped over the paper. I just really like the hands on feeling of the ribbon and the paper. It was fun to try, though.

"I did it"

Joren is just talking up a storm now. He can even say a 3 word sentence... "I did it." He buckles is car seat and says, "I did it." He plays Break the Ice and says, "I did it." He is such a BIG BOY!

Logan & Sydney sitting in a tree...

KISSING. First comes love, 2nd comes marriage....

So, my baby brother is finally married. Everything went great, the ceremony, luncheon and reception were wonderful. The only one thing that went kind of wrong (although it's really funny) is that the bride and groom had to walk from the temple to the luncheon!!! Lucas and Shellie took all of their stuff to the luncheon for them... including the keys to their vehicle. So, we are all at the luncheon waiting for them- starving- and we look out the window and see them walking down the street in their tux and wedding gown. It will be a good memory.

Taking a Walk Back in Time

This past weekend was my brother's wedding. He and Sydney got married in the Manti Temple on Friday, August 17th 2007. Her endowment was the night before so we rented a house in Manti to stay in. This house was sooo fun. It was like taking a walk back in time. All of the furniture was from the 50's or 60's. So was the iron and ironing board (it was wooden). It was really fun. There was an apple tree and a plum tree in the back yard. The kids really liked this place. It's called the Manti Vacation Home if you ever want to google it.

One man's junk is another man's treasure

I love to go to garage sales on Saturday mornings. I have a friend from East Millcreek that I have been going with for years. My kids love it because I always come home with treasures for them as well. Brenner loved this marble thing. He played with it forever. He didn't quite get the concept, but Mommy had fun building stuff too. (Notice the underwear. We finally got him potty trained. He still has problems with pooping in the potty, but we're working on that. Sometimes he will go in the potty, sometimes he won't. Hopefully he'll get there soon.)

"Honey Do" List

I have the longest Honey Do List for my poor husband. It will never end, I fear. This weeks job was to tile the boys' bathroom. He did a great job. Now he gets to do the grout tomorrow.

My Biker Boy

We got Brenner a bike for his birthday in May. At first he didn't even want to ride it, but now he is getting so good at it. He loves to ride it all the time on the street with all of the other neighbor kids. He rides it to the mail and the park and the pool. He told me he needed a helmet so he won't get hurt when he wrecks.

Lagoon

We got the pleasure of going to Lagoon for our Little Family Reunion (ry's mom's family). The kids had never been to Lagoon and they had a lot of fun. Brenner mostly wanted to play the games... wack a mole, spill the milk bottles, etc. And of course you have to pay money for those... But we finally got him to go on the rides. They both loved the rides. Brenner especially loved the dragon roller coaster. Ryan and I got to trade of with family and go on a few rides as well.