Desert Botanical Gardens

This is Mason's favorite butterfly in the Butterfly Pavilion -- the Buckeye:

It's been a long time...

...since I've blogged anything. I guess it's cuz I've been super busy all of the time. Busy with family, kids, church, photography, life in general. Blogging is one of the lesser things that falls by the wayside. There is a reason I'm posting today -- a contest. Yep, that's right. Pretty sad, huh. But once you see this amazing necklace you'll know why!


I entered on Janelle Joy's photography blog. She is one of the photogs that I look up to. While you're at it, see what I've been up to on my photography blog. So there it is -- my lame excuse for blogging (but it will all be worth it if I win!!)

Abby has been taking ballet since August. She has her demonstration tomorrow, so I had to get some photos of her in her ballet costume. You've just gotta love this little girl!

Family Photos

I've been working on the cutest Reverence Books for my kiddos for Christmas. One of the pages has a picture of the child and says "I am a Child of God" at the top. I took the photos for them and they turned out so cute!! Behold my little ones:




Here's Mason trying to be a stud. He's been giving me a goofy cheezy smile. I have to get him to laugh to get his real smile.

















Abby looks so stinkin' cute! Just like a princess!



















Jake was trying to get a Cheerio in his mouth!















They were such good sports for this one, even though the dead bermuda grass was poking them in the back!







We also had photos with my whole side of the family. Here's the one of just our family. Don't you just love the looks on Mason and Abby's faces?

Halloween

I love Halloween!! People call me crazy, but I love seeing the kids get dressed up and pretending to be someone else for a night. It's so magical for them!

Here are our cute kiddos at our HOA Halloween Festival

Mason really wanted to be Lightening McQueen again this year. That has to be the easiest costume we've ever done (but he loves it!!)

I think I may have overdone it on Abby's costume this year, though. Any of you mothers that have PBS-loving kids will probably know about the new show, Super Why! Abby is obsessed with Princess Presto (or Cresto as she says). I found a costume for her online, but was just not cute enough. Besides, who hasn't said, "I can make that for cheaper anyway!" Famous last words. The day before Abby's preschool party I started the costume which was basically a little girl's formal gown that I elaborated to look like the character. I went to bed at midnight and I still had a couple finishing touches to make in the morning. So maybe I am crazy, but I still think she was the cutest one out there on Halloween (someday she'll thank me for it). These pictures don't even do it justice!!

My kids assigned each member of our family to one of these Super Readers
Daddy is Alpha Pig, Mommy is Wonder Red, Mason is Super Why (of course), Abby is Princess Presto, and Jake is Super You (the show's effort to include everyone)

Jacob had a couple different costumes this year. For our trunk-or-treat on the 30th, he wore a bear costume without the hood (it was too hot). On Halloween, it was even hotter when we headed out, so we raided his closet (actually an 18" section in Mason's closet) and came up with this cute beach bum costume. He was much happier and pretty stylin'!!

For the past few years we haven't carved jack-o-lanterns, so I bought a 28lb pumpkin and carved it with the kids' help. They designed it.

Here is Rustin's idea of Jack-o-lanterns. My mom grew these pumpkins in her garden. She had enough for each of her grandkids. They got to go out the pumpkin patch and pick which one they wanted! My kids saved a seed from our giant pumpkin to plant next year so we can have pumpkins like Grandma!

Long Overdue

This post has been long overdue as many people have told me. I don't ever feel like posting unless I have something world-shattering to show and tell. However, I have been informed by a wonderful friend that it's the little insights into eachother's souls that are the best. So, here you go Amber!

Now, I just have to say that I'm sorry for the rest of you, but I have the absolute BEST visiting teachers ever! They are always so good to bring exactly what I need to hear. This month was no exception. I am always wondering why my home is never quite the haven that I would like it to be. I tend to think things like, "if only they would clean up after themselves" or "if only they would do this." I was lovingly reminded that the problem is not them, it's me. I need to change my attitude and prioritize my time better. I also learned that I need to keep myself closer to the Spirit so that my family can have the Spirit in our home more. I look around our home and see physical things that need fixing, but I fail to see that it needs help spiritually. Thank you to two faithful visiting teachers who are in tune with the Spirit to bring this little bit of understanding to my mind when it was much needed.

Mommy Mercies

My days are always full of what I like to call "Mommy Moments." Those times that you just want to rip your hair out (or your child's) and scream. Take today, for example: Abby wet her pants while eating a snack at the table -- not so bad, made her clean it up and sent her to change. Went to check on her, playing in her wet clothes on the bed. Now I have to wash the sheets. Checked on her again, naked. Checked again, had peed on the floor of her room...twice. Lovely.

These Mommy Moments are interspersed with the times that make it all worthwhile: the Mommy Mercies. Like when I got Jake out of bed after his nap. He gave me the biggest belly laugh ever. He was so giggly it was contagious! We were all laughing which made him laugh more. Or like the conversation I had with Mason today:

Me: Mason, did I ever tell you how much I love you?
Mason: No. (as if that's true)
Me: I love you bigger than the ocean. Bigger than the sky...and the stars!
Mason: Bigger than the moon?
Me: Bigger than the moon.
Mason: Bigger than the cars? (apparently that's pretty big)
Me: Bigger than the cars.
Mason: Bigger than the trucks?
Me: Bigger than the trucks. (he had to think for a while, then laughed and rolled onto his back)
Mason: (laughing) Why are you so cute? Stop being so cute! (The way he says it is the best!!)

Times like these just make my heart melt and remind why I am doing this. I love Elder Bednar's talk about the tender mercies of the Lord. I try to find them in every day. It makes it so much more meaningful.

What Mommy Mercies have you had lately?