Our BYU Girls

Last night Brynn and Abby were invited to go to Cornbelly's with a family in our neighborhood. They arrived home close to 10 p.m. as happy as can be with their freshly painted faces. I love these girls and who they are becoming. They are a joy to be around.

My LIttle Care Bear

When I was in first grade about 26 (?) years ago I borrowed a Care Bear costume that my aunt Mary made. I vividly remember how much I loved wearing the costume then, it kept me so warm on a cold Halloween night. I remember wearing it in the Halloween parade at school and trying to balance my head so I didn't tip over.

Well fast forward about 23 years and I was telling my Aunt Mary about the obsession. I mean serious obsession that Abby had with Care Bears. I was at Mary's house for Emily's baby shower. Mary insisted that I take the Care Bear costumes home to California with me. We looked all over her new house and couldn't find them anywhere. After I headed back to California, she found them and I don't remember the details, but somehow they made it to me. (There are two.) They have been well used. I love getting to focus on their cute little faces when they put the costumes on and it also brings back a wonderful nostalgia of my childhood.

Cousins

Last week it was our turn to host the monthly "Vest Family Home Evening." We had a great lesson on testimony given by Scott and Annette and their kids. It was great visiting with my siblings and watching our children play together. I was a little stressed that night because of the busy week I had ahead and some other things I was working through, but it was a great time.

Cleanin' Boys

I am way behind the curve when it comes to teaching my children how to work. My biggest weakness is probably the frustration that comes when I don't feel a job has been done right or the way I think it should be done. I constantly think about teaching them how to appreciate and value work , but haven't come up with a "system." I bought the book, "Breakthrough Parenting." I've read a little, but with the move and getting settled, it'e been set aside. I need to dive in a make a plan. Hopefully I can take full advantage of the fact that my kids like to work with me before it's too late! My boys can often be found giggling over a broom or mop or vacuum (thought this one scares me for safety reasons).

Daddy-Daughter Date

Our ward's Activity Day group held an 80's Daddy Daughter Date Party for the girls and their dads. Brynn really looked forward to this night for the chance to dress up and have her Dad all to herself. She came up with her own 80's outfit, complete with fashion glasses, and I helped her with her hair. She's such a sweetheart. Joe said he had a nice chat with her on the walk home. She talked about how happy she is that we moved here. How happy she is to have many new friends who believe the same things she does. How much she loves the Gospel and the Church. We're happy that Brynn chooses to find joy in everyday life. Brynn was happy to inform me when she returned home that she and Joe won the dance-off. I'm not surprised! I was just called to be the Activity Day leader. I am so excited! Abby will be able to come when she turns 8. It will be so much fun to have both of my girls with me and an excuse to have a "party" with them every couple of weeks. :)

Utah!

When we first learned that we were moving to Utah I didn't give a single thought to the curriculum, but after we moved here, I thought, "Oh good! Just in time for Brynn to get the 4th grade Utah History Curriculum."

As she's been learning about the state of Utah and it's history, she has been amazed that they use the term "Mormon Pioneers" in class. She's still getting used to the fact that our faith is so common here. I'm sure that if we would have stayed in California, she also would have heard the term "Mormon Pioneer" because of the role the Mormon Pioneers played in establishing many places there.

In class they made a replica of the state. They were asked to bring either a cake or cookie in the shape of Utah, along with items to make rivers, mountains, etc. We're pretty lucky that Utah is such an easy state to cut out of a brownie. We decided to make it a brownie so it would hold together better. Brynn was so glad. Most of the kids made cakes and no one's held together quite as well as Brynn's. It was right up Brynn's ally. She loves creating.

New Ward=New Callings

Moving into a new ward there is always the anticipation about what the new calling/church assignment will be. A few weeks ago Joseph and I were called in by the bishopric. I accepted the assignment to be the Activity Day Leader and Joseph to be a Priest Quorum Advisor and Mission Prep Teacher. We're both thrilled and nervous about this new season.

I love how each new assignment we receive helps us to grow. It seems as thought just as we feel like we're getting the hang of it, seasons change and we're released from that calling and given a new challenge. I honestly don't think it's because the calling get's easier, but that our ability to do it well has increased. When things get hard, I often think of something I learned while working for CES (Church Educational System) during college. Sara Allen, the director of Academy of Girls often taught us about a principle that her father taught the missionaries that he had a stewardship over when he was a mission president in Ventura, CA. She told us, "If this isn't the hardest thing you've ever done, then you're doing something wrong." I've often thought about this during many times in life. I think it emphasized the point that we really need to put forth hard work and alot of effort to do the important things in life "right." I've thought of it in my marriage, in my mothering, in my house-wifing, in my work outside of the home and also in my callings.

I'm excited to re-focus on the basics with the girls. Activity Days are designed to help support girls and their families in completing the "Faith in God for Girls" program. I am extremely far from doing everything right in many areas of my life. I'm excited to focus more of my energy on some of these things.

Basic Requirements

An important part of faith in God is keeping your baptismal covenant and staying spiritually strong. To help you develop faith and resist temptation, do the following things:

• • Pray daily to Heavenly Father.

• • Read the scriptures regularly.

• • Keep the commandments and live “My Gospel Standards” *

• • Honor your parents and be kind to your family.

• • Pay your tithing and attend tithing settlement.

• • Attend sacrament meetings and Primary regularly.

  
  

  My Gospel Standards

  “My Gospel Standards,” Faith in God for Girls, 22

  I will follow Heavenly Father’s plan for me.

  I will remember my baptismal covenant and listen to the Holy Ghost.

  I will choose the right. I know I can repent when I make a mistake.

  I will be honest with Heavenly Father, others, and myself.

  I will use the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ reverently. I will not swear or use crude words.

  I will do those things on the Sabbath that will help me feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

  I will honor my parents and do my part to strengthen my family.

  I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure, and I will not partake of things that are harmful to me.

  I will dress modestly to show respect for Heavenly Father and myself.

  I will only read and watch things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father.

  I will only listen to music that is pleasing to Heavenly Father.

  I will seek good friends and treat others kindly.

  I will live now to be worthy to go to the temple and do my part to have an eternal family.

  I'm also excited to focus on setting and accomplishing goals about Learning and Living the Gospel, Serving Others and Developing Talents.

  And I really can't wait to have fun with my girls. I love being where my kids are. This past week we did a get-to-know-you activity where we played a few games and had pumpkin chocolate chip muffins for a snack. One of the games we played was "Friendship Tag." We got the blood pumping as we ran around chasing each other. That night as we were re-playing the days events for Dad, the girls said, "We played Friendship Tag and even Mom played!" It was a great reminder that I need to play with them more.

  My happiest moments as a mother are when I am in the thick of it with one or more of my children. When I'm working along side them to clean their room, reading to them nestled in beside me, traipsing through Disneyland with them, when I'm sitting with them helping them to learn a new song on the piano.....I love these moments. Moments where I've chosen to be completely present.

  
  

Breaking the Ice

Nothing breaks the ice in the neighborhood like your son wearing a wrestling singlet from the moment he gets home from school to the time the sun sets at night. When we moved here, one of my mom's friends gave us a box full of hand-me-downs for our kids and this little gem happened to be in there. Aaron was in love at first sight and has probably worn it everyday since. The funniest part is that everyone thinks it's Joe's old uniform. I guess it's not a far cry from some of the cycling jerseys he wears. Some have told me that they would hide it, or wouldn't allow their son to wear it, but sometimes I believe in going against the grain and I always believe in letting my kids express themselves. Go ahead Aaron, express away!

Girls Trip and Camping with Cousins/Brothers

After Joseph and his brothers had their snowboarding trip last winter, Karen suggested we do a sisters/sisters-in-law trip with the girls. We went to Deer Valley and stayed at Stein Eriksen Lodge. We enjoyed an amazing dinner at Ruth's Chris and then stayed up late into the night talking and laughing, sitting in the hot tub. I have great sister-in-laws (on both sides). They are great friends of mine. We are all so different, just like our husbands are all so different, but I love visiting with each one.

The next day a few of us went to Park City Mountain Resort and had fun doing the Ziprider, Alpine Coaster and Alpine Slide. It was lots of fun! After a lunch at Baja Cantina, we headed home to our families.

Joseph decided to organize a camp with some of his brothers while we were gone. I didn't receive too many details from the kids except that Isaac and Enoch got lost and they couldn't find him anywhere and that they were camped by a river. Nice! Just what a mom wants to hear. Later Joseph clarified that it was a tiny stream and that the kids weren't supposed to tell me about the incident because they weren't lost for long. Abby also told me that she was freezing in the middle of the night, but I am just glad they made it home safe and in one piece. They had a great time! The next morning they went on a hike to Cascade Springs before heading home to meet us. They are all wonderful dads who are trying their best to do what's right and connect with their children. I'm proud of all of them.

True to Joseph, we have tons of pictures of his activities and none of mine. He took them all with his iphone so some are a little blurry.

Peaches and Nectarines!

Our peach trees became prime for picking within the last couple of weeks and boy did we have peaches! I don't know what variety we have, but they were so yummy and plentiful. We had Adam and Karen over for dinner and finished up the night with fresh peach shakes. They were so yummy! We didn't have time to bottle them, and we eat more of the frozen variety anyway, so we gave away about 10 big bags full and then we sliced and froze the ones that were left. We need to get another freezer for the garage because our freezer is jam-packed full of peaches. I thought I would make some peach freezer jam, but we ended up just freezing all of them. Just when we thought we had taken care of all of our peaches our other variety of peach tree was ready for picking as well as our nectarine tree. They were amazing! We again ended up giving away about 10 bags and then cutting up a bowl of peaches and nectarines that we enjoyed eating all week. They came faster than we had time to think about them. Next year I hope to freeze some again as well as make peach jam, and possibly bottle some. Keyword: possibly. :) We're not crazy about bottled peaches, so maybe not.

We just missed the apricots before we moved in, but we've been able to enjoy some yummy apples and pears along with the peaches and nectarines. I'm told we have a cherry tree too? I don't know, honestly it overwhelms me, so Joe has taken care of picking the fruit. I spend an hour or two every other day or so weeding. I'm hoping to get most of them taken care of so they won't go to seed and be more of a problem next year. I'm excited to attempt a garden next spring, but whenever I'm out there weeding, I think, "Wow, this is big, maybe we should shrink it a little." We'll see. I actually really enjoy pulling the weeds. It's kind of addicting to give a little tug and try to loosen the roots enough to pull up a big honkin' one.

I've tasted a few raspberries, which were yummy, but the bush is super weedy, so we may end up tearing them all out. I'm not sure how we will every get in there to get all of the weeds, but even in all of my overwhelmed-ness, I have this peaceful feeling that I just need to do what I can and that it will be a great learning opportunity. For the most part, it really is a low maintenance property, even with all of the fruit trees. I've had to let go of my all-or-nothing approach to life and just accept what I can and cannot do.