Primary Temple Trip

We had a great temple trip with the Primary kids last month. We did it in conjunction with a Ward Temple Trip which worked great because more parents were able to attend the temple session while we were watching their kids, but it did mean that we had to entertain the kids for longer than a normal Primary temple trip. So we did some kid games before and after the temple focused part. We had a lot of fun but also managed some spiritual moments. It was a great success.

It was a super foggy and rainy day. I thought the temple looked cool through the haze.

I love these kids!! And I love my calling!!!!!

Some Merry Thanksgivmas Festivities

Since we always celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas for all of November and December, aka Merry Thanksgivmas, we put our Thankful Mr. T. Turkeys up the first week of November and our Christmas tree up the second week 

Since our girls express so much interest in crafts we've been trying to add more in to our day to day lives and holiday traditions. So here is our Thanksgiving craft.

So much more holiday fun to come!

James's Birthday - The Big ONE!

That's right, I blinked and my baby turned from this...

Into this!

Robert and I totally fell into the typical pattern of Firstborn=Big one year old party, Second born=Little party, Third born=Why does a one year old need a party they won't remember?? So we did nothing big. We got a present, made a cake, and as we were about to sing our neighbor with a boy James's age showed up with a present too so they joined us for the fun.

Crazy kids!

Crazy kids plus neighbor Caleb

He definitely dove into the cake the most out of our three kids, but that's not saying much! Haha!
Happy birthday Jimmy boy!! Our sweet Baby James! You'll never know how much you are loved!

Invisible Growth

While we were in Arizona welcoming Aly home from her mission, I kept pondering on what all we - Robert and I - had accomplished in the 18 months she was gone. Unfortunately, I was getting pretty bummed about it because the short answer was "NOT MUCH." Robert is still in the same step of his education. I'm still in the trenches as a stay-at-home mom with a church calling as Primary chorister. We added James to the family, but that hasn't really changed our life routine a whole lot other than there is one more kid to team up against me getting any of my to-do list done, so when all was said and done I kept coming back to the thought that on paper we had no significant accomplishments or progressions.

I think most people probably go through phases when they have these same thoughts or feelings of being in a rut. After thinking about this for a while, I recalled an article that I read a couple years ago written by Robert's cousin's wife, Kendra, called "Invisible Growth". (Sidenote - Kendra, Jeremy, and their little crew have a daily family vlog that everyone should check out: J House Vlogs) She talks about having some of these same feelings, but she realized she WAS growing and progressing. It was just "invisible." 

"For instance, I used to struggle to go grocery shopping with one child. Now I struggle to go grocery shopping with three children. BAM! Invisible growth."

This article touched me when I first read it 2 years ago, but it completely resonates with me now. I started to think about ways I've grown that no one sees. Things I'm doing better physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I've grown in immense ways! Someday, maybe I will get a chance to progress in more tangible ways - finish my undergrad and grad degrees, resume some hobbies I've had to put aside for now, serve missions for my church with Robert. But for now, I'm growing from the inside, and that's okay. In fact, I think some of the most important growth we can have in this life is invisible. Ponder on that one for a minute ;)

A few ways I'm growing then (18 months ago) vs. now...

• THEN: Family scripture time happened maybe twice a week. Personal scripture study was a thing of the past. NOW: Family and personal scripture study happen at a regular time almost every day.
• THEN: Parented a strong willed, active 3-year-old and sweet yet stubborn 1.5-year-old. Spanked at least one of them at least once a day. NOW: Parent a strong willed, active 4.5-year-old, sweet yet stubborn 2-year-old, and an increasingly mischievous 1-year-old and all the new challenges those ages entail. Resort to spanking maybe just once a week.
• THEN: Had Robert home helping out the majority of the time. NOW: Robert works at the school as much as I can force him to and I am more productive with my days than I was when he was home.
• THEN: I was doing my best to be the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. NOW: I'm 18 months of trials, triumphs, learning, and growing closer to becoming that person.

Our family THEN

Our family NOW - Growth! ;)

How are you growing?

Ward Campout

When Robert and I were first married we decided we wanted to be a camping family. The we outgrew our tent when Mary was born and life got busy, yada yada yada. We received a big tent for Robert's birthday last year, made several camping trip plans, but they all fell through. So when it was announced that there would be a ward campout. We decided this was finally our chance!

The only person that didn't sleep great in our tent was ME. Ha ha! I was stressing all night that the kids were too cold, but they all did great! Lydia and Mary even woke up and asked to go potty in the middle of the night which NEVER happens. They usually either wet their beds or don't go at all. And then after they were done going, they went right back to sleep. I was so proud of my kiddos!

As always, James cracks me up!!

Our awesome big tent! We love it!

We had a blast!! As soon as the seasons warm up again we have several places we want to camp before we move away from here. I can't wait!!!

San Fran Fun

My sister and her husband were doing the tourist thing in San Francisco for a few days, so we went up to spend one of those days with them.

Pier 39

Ghirardelli Square

I love that Golden Gate Bridge snuck into the background

Love my sis!

Random story, while we were walking to Ghirardelli Square we passed one of those statue men street performers. Lydia walked up to it thinking it was a real statue. When she got right next to him he moved toward her. She immediately took a ninja stance as if ready to karate chop him if he got any closer, and she froze like that for a good 10 seconds or more. Classic!

Always a good time with family!!

Instagram Revisited - October

10/3/2014 - My seminary teacher hubby just pointed out that seminary is on the path on the way to the temple. #ilovemyhubby #seminaryrocks #templetrip

10/3/2014 - I love the temple and this handsome man of mine #perfection #templetrip #ilovemyhubby

10/4/2014 - I spy a certain cousin of mine rockin the missionary look @grantlyman21 #ldsconf

10/6/2014 - This boy has been extra snuggly the last few days. The cleanliness of my house is suffering because of it. #snuggleorclean #ichoosesnuggle #ilovemykids

10/11/2014 - Late night sparkling cider to celebrate a successful first interview trip. Hopefully there's more to come. Robert feels it went well, and I survived the past 4 days as a solo parent. #goteam #ilovemyhubby

10/15/2014 - I love me an Arizona sunset! #home

10/25/2014 - Printed and laminated Robert's and my hourly schedule for the whole week. Each thing that is printed on the schedule is an individual piece that is printed on magnet paper so it can be rearranged. It makes my heart happy just looking at it #ocdmuch Some of the things Robert chose to put on his schedule make me giggle. #ilovemyhubby

10/27/2014 - Verse 24, great scripture to kick off my day. The Lord has my back. #dandc35verse24 #imamormon

Halloween 2014

Costume Prep

Where I normally have complete control over what our family is for Halloween, the girls have been saying since the saw Frozen last Thanksgiving that they wanted to be Elsa and Anna this Halloween (along with 90% of all little girls this year). So a Frozen theme it was! We were on a much smaller budget this year so I had to get pretty resourceful with putting together the costumes. 

James was Olaf, so for that costume I found a pattern at http://blog.peekaboopatternshop.com/2014/09/olaf-costume-tutorial.html and used some of Robert's old t-shirts and other things I had on hand. I think the finished product turned out even better than I hoped.

For Robert's Kristoff costume I found some of the cheapest shirts in the right colors at Goodwill as well as a fuzzy scarf and ribbon I already had, pieced them together and...

Voila!!

The wig was a lucky cheap find at Goodwill too. It was more of an A-line hair style, but I trimmed it until it looked a little more Kristoffish.

Ward Trunk or Treat

Knowing they wanted to be Elsa and Anna so far in advance had its perks. I waited for a good deal on the costumes and got them for Mary's birthday. They've been getting plenty of use for the money.

Robert's mom got Elsa and Anna wigs to add to Mary's birthday present. Unfortunately Lydia hated wearing hers, but Mary LOVED hers.

He's THE CUTEST!! I say this often, but IT'S TRUE!

And I was Sven. Cheapest antlers I could find online, and brown clothes that I already had. Simple yet effective.

The whole Frozen family :)

Preschool Halloween Parade and Party
Can I just take a second and say that it's so fun having kids in preschool?? And my girls absolutely love it! Their class had a little Halloween parade, and the parents were invited to come watch and see all the songs they've been working on then join them for cookies the kids had decorated. Both Lydia and Mary were in heaven.

Pumpkin Carving

Trick or Treating

Halloween 2014 was a complete success! Halloween is my favorite!