Last Saturday I walked into the room when Warren was playing with Mr Potato Head. This is how the conversation went:
Warren: Mom! Mr Potato Head is feeling REALLLLY warm and fuzzy today because he did lots of really good things.
Me: (slightly distracted but laughing) Oh. Really? Warm and fuzzy huh?
Warren: (grinning from ear to ear) Yup, sure does!
Me: (I take Mr Potato Head and we start making a new face. I open the back hatch to switch out the lips only to find that he had filled it with little fuzzy balls like the ones pictured above.)
Me: (lightbulb flickers) Oh! I see. He really is feeling warm and fuzzy isn't he?
Warren: (matter of factly) Yea, mom. That is what the Prophet said!
So, if you aren't familiar, every spring and fall our church has General Conference where we get to hear church leaders speak on various topics. Our last conference was Oct 3 & 4th. Each day there are two- two hour sessions. President Monson gave a wonderful talk about service. The part about the warm & fuzzy jar starts about 7 minutes in. Click here to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siZ5Ut-gAIo .
During conference we gather with those we love and listen intently.
The last few conferences Warren is usually in the room as we listen.
He switches between cuddling with us on the couch/bed to playing
nearby. Whenever the prophet speaks, we always make sure he
comes up and listens with us. This last conference he did as usual
and cuddled up under my arm and we watched together with our
friends while we were visiting in Michigan. I know he was there
with me but I guess I assumed that since he was so little and the
talks are lengthy that he wasn't really actually absorbing much.
Just a few days before our Mr Potato "warm and fuzzie" experience
I had attended Enrichment at the church. We had a great dinner,
service auction and the Bishop left us with a great thought on service.
The RS Presidency handed out small jars full of "fuzzies" just like
those President Monson received from the Primary kids he mentioned
in his talk. The little jar was given to us as a token of his beautiful talk
and was to serve as a reminder that we need to serve one another
both inside and outside our homes. I brought it home and sat it on the
counter but hadn't mentioned it to Warren.
You can imagine how my heart lept (and still does) to know that my
four year old son was listening to the Prophet's Words that day (over
a month ago). He sees the fuzzies. Remembered them and more
importantly how the Prophets talk had made an impression in his heart
about service, that he did not forget.
Last Sunday in Primary the song leader asked the kids "What does it
mean to be a Sunbeam for Jesus?
After several kids replied, Warren's said: "It means that when every
time we make a really good choice our heart grows bigger and bigger
and that is what Jesus wants."
It is such a joy for me to see his testimony & knowledge of the gospel
taking root in his heart and for me to see it sprout - independent of
mine. How grateful I am to be there to share these moments with him
and see the warmth fill his face as he shares it with me.
Now THAT, my friends, is what I call a warm & fuzzy!
BEFORE: The first project which brings MUCH happiness is the fact that I FINALLY found a new light for my dining room table!
Ahhhhhhhhhhh. Do you also experience the calm, like I do when I see this picture?
Missing from this picture is the Hello Kitty Border that was around the top of the room and the yellowed mini blinds that had what looked like 10 years of dust mites on them. 
I primed and painted all of the doors and trim, painted the walls, Ripped down the wallpaper boarder, took out the mini blinds and patched the holes, mounted the curtain rods, hemmed and hung the curtains! I am working on a new bed and a new bedding ensemble (something less traditional) but that is down on the priority list of to do's. The quilt has sentimental value and so I'll keep it for now. ;)
Warren was all about suga this Halloween! As you can see he was the dashing Robin Hood! Robbing the rich to feed the poor. With a little suga....that is. ;) 
I coudn't find a Robin Hood costume anywhere so I made his costume this year. Thus, all the posing and angles. He was very pleased with the product and I was too. :) BTW- The phrase "1 hour fast & easy sew" on a pattern = Lies! ;) 
I totally did not make him pose like this. He was walking and I just got a lucky shot but I thought it modeled the costume nicely. :)
For the second year in a row the Fronks were so kind to come over and help us gut & carve a few pumpkins to create.....
The Houston Zoo is the most beautiful zoo I have ever seen. It is filled with rich, lush, tropicals all throughout. These Tai Plants had been planted recently because I haven't seen them before. They were so bright and beautiful. These pics don't really do them justice.
The Lions live! I had to post a picture of the momma Lion awake. We have lived in Houston for 3.5 years and have never seen either of the Lions awake. They have always been sleeping. I had decided that the zoo really didn't have Lions and they were stuffed. They were sleeping again when we first got there but as we walked off they lifted their dreamy heads and opened their eyes for like 3 minutes before they returned to their slumbers. 
And here is my sweet little Ben. Just as we left the zoo I handed him a Joe Joe (A cookie of chocolaty goodness from Trader Joes). He was so tired but they are SO delicious that kid was eating it in his sleep! For like 5 minutes. Now, that is the goodness of a Joe Joe my friends. :) 
The goods: Peas, carrots, green beans, cabbage, cilantro, kale, spinach, lettuce, green onions, cucumbers, orange red & green peppers, tomatoes, squash, basil & rosemary. 
I did some research a LONG time ago and had decided to do a "square foot" garden because it claims to be the most successful with the least amount of upkeep and I am all about low maintenance. ;) I built these three 4x4 garden boxes in the garage this week in 95 degree weather & 90% humidity. It seems like it has been raining for 40 days here. It was ugly but I made it through without swearing. 
I bought some landscaping fabric and layed it down under the boxes (I don't do weeds) and over the area where I wanted my mulch paths.
LSAT booster secret No. 1: Eat bacon. A lot of it.......cause if big brothers happy, Dustin's happy and so are his neck and his legs. ;) 
Day 5: 
Finding humor in triage, I had to take this picture. It was like they were waiting for him. Trying to lay down in "Hall Triage". They gave him lots of drugs and sent us home. 
Meanwhile, back at the ranch.....Dustin was taking care of us. I tried to scat him back to his studies but he was always thoughtful to help clean up after meals and played with the boys. Warren was so happy to have him here that it was a job in itself to keep him out of their hair. Despite Weston's injury they got some good studying in and we even found time for a little fun. 
Day 6: 
