So, it's been 5+ years...whatever. I have actually been feeling the urge to post again and since Instagram doesn't satisfy my urge to be so verbose, I'm once again a blogger. 

For the last couple of months, Drew and I have noticed a definite lack of peace in our home. It's been so noisy with television shows, tablets, phones, iPads, but also contention, idleness, impatience, teasing, shouting (playful shouting, but shouting is still shouting), disobedience, and just a general lack of peace. Of course we still loved each other, but we were giving our best selves to others around us. We were going to church, having Family Home Evening (most Mondays), reading our scriptures and saying our prayers every night as a family. What were we doing wrong??

After quite a bit of thinking, we decided that we needed our children to have a better relationship with our Savior. The phrase "Come unto Christ" kept coming to mind. I know that when I am aware of the Lord in my life, my behavior changes. I feel better and I want to be better. We weren't putting the Lord first in our lives.

In thinking specifically about improving our scripture study, I had two ideas come to my mind: 

1- Have the children read that night's chapter before scripture time and find at least one thing that they liked or wanted to make to make a comment about

2 - Look for the Lord's hand in their lives that day

I added those two ideas to their daily list of chores and not one child has complained about it. Our scripture time is so much more peaceful and I love hearing them share what they love about that night's chapter. I also am amazed at the responses that I get when I ask them how they've seen the Lord in their lives. In focusing on the word of God and our Savior, our attitudes and behaviors are slowly changing back. We are beginning to Come Unto Christ once again.

In Alma 31:34-35, it says, "O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious." 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this gospel. It is a gospel of second chances. In an article from the September 2002 Ensign, Juan Uceda said,

 

"It is comforting to know that we worship a God who is merciful and who allows His children many chances to learn His ways and be obedient to them. Who among us would be saved without a second chance—more than one opportunity to prove ourselves in the sight of God?"

Who aw YOU?

Everyday, as soon as the kids leave for school,

Owen says, "Okay, Mom. Who aw you?"

(As in, who am I pretending to be for the morning.)

I've been Dora before but usually I'm Princess Leia.

Then I have to guess who Owen is.

He's kind enough to give me clues like "I'm gween and weally weally WEALLY little."

(Yoda)

Or, "I have foy ahms and I'm a bad guy."

(General Grievous)

Is there a theme here? He's never even seen Star Wars.

So, here was his clue the other day:

"I have two guns and my name stawts with 'OOO'."

I start my guessing..Ooga-Booga.

No.

Oogally-shmoogally.

No.

I can't think of anyone from Star Wars that starts with "Ooo".

I give up.

He gives me one last clue.

Carefully sounding out each letter, he says

"Ooo Ooo Ooo Wex!"

Of course, Rex!

(Duh, mom.)

Guess what?

Owen just turned to me and very randomly said,

"Guess what? Everyone goes to the baffroom. Even Darf Vader."

That's what it's like to be the first kid

Our car conversations are my favorite.

Today Aubrey asked the boys, "So how many kids do you want?

"Like, how many kids do you want to work for? 'Cause you have to pay for them."

Owen said he wanted 60 1/2.

Aubrey looked at him like he was crazy and said, "You want to work for that many kids?

"Wait, what's a half?"

(Pause in conversation)

Then Aubrey says, "You have to have more than one

because the first one you test everything out on.

"Like, you know how you get a glass of water and do a whole bunch of tests on it?

That's what it's like to be the first kid."

30 Year Old Grandpa

It was Brad's job to vacuum today. The kitchen/dining room was in need.

Naturally, when one pulls a chair out to vacuum under it, one needs to take that chair all of the way into another room.

Naturally, when another room has four additional chairs, a bench and a high chair, that room becomes a train station.

And the floor automatically becomes hot lava.

At this point, pillows start appearing from all corners of the home.

A small chair is seen being gently tossed across the room.

I remind the passengers that that cute little chair is about thirty years old and should be taken better care of.

Passenger Ethan declares "Yeah, if that was a 30 year old Grandpa, you wouldn't treat it like that!"

At dinner tonight, we told Drew about Ethan's funny line. Someone said, "That's impossible! A 30 year old Grandpa!"

I, being the ever popular Actual Factual, pipe in with "Actually, a 30 year old man could be a grandpa. If he had a child when he was 15 and then if that child had a baby when he was 15..."

Drew replied, "That may be biologically possible, but not socially acceptable."

Ethan responds, " Yeah. Because HE couldn't have a baby at all. (Duh!)"

When I'm 64.

Wednesday night I had a dream that a crew from the city came and did our yard work.

It was that out of control.

Yesterday, my nephew took a look at our weed infested lawn and asked me what I was growing?

Last night, at about 8:30, I decided it was time we regain control.

I took on the dandelions.

Drew manned the weed-eater and trimmer.

Ethan mowed small sections of the lawn until Drew was ready to take over.

Aubrey and Bradley were armed with clippers and deadheaded the roses.

Owen was there with snow shovel in hand, ready to catch the fallen.

All the while, Karie slept.

The kids did well until about 9:15.

I suggested they ride their bikes.

Drew continued mowing and I continued weeding.

By this time I had moved to the flower beds and the street light was our only source of light.

The kids were cheering for my cause, chanting

"Die morning glory! Die! I shall dance on your grave!"

I suggested they go and get some popsicles.

We called it quits at 9:40.

I was dirty and sweaty and smelly.

After getting everyone "one more drink of water" and trying to satisfy their pains caused by near-starvation, I decided that summer is not my favorite season.

I hate being hot.

It makes me irritable.

I hate feeling sweat dripping down my back while talking to my neighbor on her front porch.

I hate how my clothes have that irritating stiction with my skin.

I hate not being able to do yard work in the middle of the day.

That makes me even more irritable.

I'm a prisoner.

I am bound by heavy chains to air-conditioned locations.

I told Drew that when I'm in the nursing home,

please make certain that I do not have

a plastic covered mattress.

I don't think that I could handle that.

A fan blowing directly on me would be a plus.

And if it wouldn't be too much to ask, please play with my hair.

(Drew just smiled at me and started playing with my hair.)

I love Drew.

SHE'S A SHE!

Sorry about the striped picture, but isn's she cute? I think so. After 11 years and three cute boys we get to have another girl.