January's Almost OVER!!!! REALLY???? I think I should PANIC!

This is where we live! 

 They were having a little Clam Fest with music etc. so we went down to check it out.  We did not partake of the Clams!

Kara came home from school the other day so upset.  She's been kind of crying about everything lately.  I was kind of getting tired of it, but I can't really get upset because I cry about lots of stuff too, Brent's probably tired of me.  I have been holding it together for the last week and so I am proud of myself.  I decided I should just hug her and ask her what has been bothering her?  I think she really just needed a good hug from me.  We did come to the conclusion that no one had really been picking on her and so that was good.  A mist the tears she said, "I just want to go home!"  Two steps forward one step back, right?  I guess Idaho will always be home to my kiddos.  Halle continually says "is it time to go home yet?"  I guess they don't know the saying, "Home is where your stuff is!"  Kara also said, "mom it's just so different here, no one is like me, and everything is the opposite of Idaho."  She does have a point there.  All her friends here are into that high-school mummy show??? I don't know what it is, but Kara did show me the creepy dolls they sell.  I'm glad she doesn't like that stuff.

I love this age!  Kids are so teachable at this age.  They just soak everything up and are so trusting.  We decided to set the never ending goal of reading our scriptures.  I decided this time to try and not just speed through it or say O.K. just one verse.  I must say we've been doing better than ever.  I think it is because the kids are at a good age too.  Halle still gets a little distracted and we have our share of face making and poking and prodding, but for the most part I think they've been listening and enjoying.  They have lots of questions.  So about a week ago we were reading Mosiah chapter 2.  We came to verses 36-38. Before this king Benjamin is talking about keeping the commandments. 36 And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go ^acontrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do ^bwithdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved—

 37 I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open ^arebellion against God; therefore he ^blisteth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in ^cunholytemples.

 38 Therefore if that man ^arepenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine ^bjustice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own ^cguilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the ^dpresence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and ^epain, and ^fanguish, which is like an unquenchable ^gfire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.

 39 And now I say unto you, that ^amercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending^btorment. 

I had to add those scriptures so my story makes sense.

The other day we were at Dinner and Hayden was saying the prayer on the food and he was blessing lots of people and then he ended.  As soon as it ended Kelton looked up at him and said, "Hayden you forgot to bless Uncle .....that he'll want to be with his family!"  Hayden turned to him and said, "Oh yeah, we don't want him to have to endure a never ending torment."  Then he quickly said another prayer.  I was actually quite floored by his recollection of the scriptures and then his ability to relate it to a situation and then also be able to feel so deeply for another human being.  I think I have a lot to learn from these little guys.

Here they are being very obedient for the many pictures I make them endure.

One more!

Well maybe two, get a little closer.

Dad want's a close up, so just one more I promise!

This is a little restaurant close to our home.  We have not tried it yet, but I think people seem to like it.  It looks pretty cool inside.

 That little ball of light is Halle!

 Isn't that cool how the sun just makes her almost completely invisible!

I've got like 15 bites now.  I've started counting my bites like the kids.  I have one right between my breasts on that bone.  Man does that one hurt and itch!  I got bit the other day right on my butt while I was on the treadmill.  I wasn't even running naked!  I know my butt is hard to miss, but come on!   

Kara and Halle enjoying the swings as the sun starts to set!

The best part about Mississippi are the unbelievably beautiful sunsets!  I love love love to watch the sun come up and go down in Mississippi!

What the HECK!

I told myself no blogging until after you straighten the house, clean the kitchen, mop the floors, do the laundry, make a grocery list and go grocery shopping.  Then I sat down to check my e-mail just really quick and I thought what the heck I've got to write something.  I don't know why I like to write, but it just makes me feel better, and then when I go back and look at pictures and funny things my kids have said and done it makes me so happy.

 Kara made this sock character for us.  Kara continues to be such a thoughtful little girl and continues to inspire everyone to be thoughtful like her.  I think I get a note at least once a week or more of her telling me how much she loves me.  Brent gets them too.  Yesterday Halle joined in making her own note and taping it to my door.  It was sooo cute.  It said I luv yoo Dad I luv yoo to Mome  This  is ro Blr fo you.  Translation on the last part is This is a rainbow for you.  She drew a rainbow and attached two pieces of gum for me and Brent.

 Kelton my amazing cleaner!  He always does what I ask the first time I ask even if he does not want to.  I know he doesn't want to because he tells me, but does it anyway.  He had to write a note to someone at school.  He chose to write to Santa.  This was what he wrote.  Dear Santa Claus,  Thank you for all the presents.  The thing I liked most was the big electric truck and the Thor hammer.  That was the very best Christmas just so you know the monster truck broke.  Love, Kelton

I thought this was so funny.  Just so you know Santa the Monster Truck broke.  This kid cracks me up.  He loves to learn and continually is asking me to look things up on the internet about different things.  Right now he is sooooo into ANTS.  He knows everything about Ants and compares everything to Ants!  If I pick something up he'll say "Did you know an Ant could pick that up plus..........!"  "Mom, would you want to be an Ant?  Mom did you know that Ants are Stronger than any human.  Mom did you know.... 

 This is what Brent looks like when he doesn't know what I'm talking about!

 This is my Keltonator with his big teeth which make him look so old!  Makes me so sad, but so happy.  How come you can have so many emotions about seeing your kids grow up!

 This is Hayden when he doesn't know what I am talking about.  We left him to baby sit the other night.  I was going over everything with him for the 50th time, for example don't put anything metal into the microwave, help Halle, read her a story, don't open the door for anyone, when should you call 9-1-1?, when should you call the neighbor, etc.  The list of things goes on and on.  He was like I know, I know, I know...  then he said, "will you pay me $5?"  I said, "well yes if you do a good job (he doesn't really know the going rate for a babysitter these days, thank goodness!)"  Anyways he did an awesome job!  The house was clean.  The dishes were put away, the counters were wiped up, he read them scriptures, and books, and put everyone to bed.  Halle gave me the full run down.  I was very impressed.  The only thing he forgot to do was put the extra pizza in the fridge, but he did  clean it all up and put it in the box.  I've never had a babysitter put the pizza in the fridge unless I specifically ask and I forgot to tell him to do it.  The funny thing is he put everything else in the fridge.  I guess I owe him $5.  He'll have to get in line with the other bills ( :  Just kidding (not really).

 So Hayden did this AWESOME board for his reading fair project and won 1st prize.  He drew that Harry Potter and painted everything.  I was really impressed.  I do feel a little bad because I don't think I posted Kara and Kelton's reading fair projects.  There's were really good too and they worked really hard too.  Kara won 3rd place and Kelton got honorable mention which he was not soo happy about, but I was impressed that he didn't tear his poster apart or anything even though he did not win, so were making progress.  Never compare yourself to anyone, but yourself, is the lesson, and you'll always see progress, at least that is what we strive for!

 We took several pictures.  He was very Happy and Proud of his project.  So was I as you can tell by all the pictures!!!!

The weather in Pass Christian, Mississippi in January is amazing.  Its been about 70 degrees all month.  It is kind of weird to walk outside and not be cold.  There will be this fog that comes in and you think your going to walk outside and be freezing cold, but then your like really its not one bit cold.  I still walk around with UGG boots and a sweatshirt inside the house, but I have to put flip flops and a T-shirt on when I go outside or I'll bake or sweat to death with the humidity.  I have to admit I was all wrong about the humidity.  All wrong!  I've been wrong about so many things its kind of amazing I know anything at all.

We kind of live as if were on a camping trip, but more like a cabin camping trip.  Halle is really good at getting dirty with her friends.  There is a little 6 year old and 4 year old boy that come for the weekends.  Lots of the houses in our neighborhood are 2nd homes (most people don't like to live in a cabin in the woods with bugs all the time).  Anyways, they offer up some entertainment for the kids.  There are also 2 little girls that just live down the street that Halle likes to play with too!

One more thing.  The bugs never die or hibernate in Southern Mississippi.  I currently have 4 bites, from I'm not sure what kind of bug.  They do itch, but it could be a number of bugs.  Kelton told us that on average you eat 1 bug every 4 years while you are sleeping.  We've decided that if you live in Mississippi you probably eat more bugs than that.  There are these jumping spiders and I'm sure we've all consumed a few of those.  If your ever interested to know something about bugs and you don't feel like googling it, just call Kelton, he knows!!!

Well on with my life today.  I hope it's a good one.  I'm hoping for only good news today.  ( :

Gulf View!

This is a picture from the dock at the end of the street.

What a beautiful world we live in!  I'm so grateful for our experiences here in Mississippi.  Even though it's been hard sometimes I feel that I've learned  so much and am so much more aware of how much I don't know.  I've also decided it is better not to know the future.  It would be so hard to be happy in the present if we new the future and I would have probably skipped out on so many great experiences just to avoid a little heartache.  

Hayden came home from hearing Elder Bednar speak last night and he said it was "AWESOME!"  That is pretty amazing coming from Hayden as he is my child that keeps his emotions to a minimum lately.  He even took notes.  There was kind of a funny story he told.  I guess someone asked, "how come it is so hard to get through Isaiah?"  Elder Bednar responded by telling a story about a man who always took a small pocket Book of  Mormon and would read it during his break at work, one day he was robbed and shot.  The bullet never made it past the chapters of  Isaiah.  

I feel Like I Should Post Something!

I guess my last post was depressing.  I'm sorry!  I'm really O.K.  The one good thing about having a  really bad day is that you really begin to appreciate the little things.  So I'm grateful for the bad days that make me grateful for the good days!

Today my kids didn't get off the bus.  I saw the bus driver drop the little girl off at the bus stop right before my kids stop and then he zoomed right by me at our bus stop!  I began to panic a little because even if I'm late to the bus stop I always see my kids running down the street to me.  I hurried and drove up the street and asked the little girl (I know her she has a crush on Kelty like all the girls in his class) if my kids were on the bus?  She said, "Yes!"  so I was a little relieved and went back to wait.  I waited 10 minutes and still no sign of the bus.  I started panicking again.  I called the school.  The school started to panic.  I started to panic more.  Finally 20 minutes later than the normal time they get dropped off, the bus came around the corner.  I was so relieved!  I kept imagining someone trying to kidnap all three of them at once.  That would be so horrible and hard because my kids would definitely fight back.  They maybe little but they are pretty darn tough.  At jujitsu Kara went up against a little boy her size, the little boy said I don't want to go against her I'll kill her.  Kara destroyed him pinning him several times.   I'm so glad they made it home safe.  The bus driver apologized.  Kara started to cry a little as she was scared because she new she was the last one.  Kelton said, he was thinking of the book goosebumps and was afraid the bus driver might turn into something scary and try to get them so he was already planning to use the emergency exit in the back of the bus if that happened.  He felt like they would have a good chance of getting away because they were close to the emergency exit and it would be hard for the bus driver  to get down the middle of the bus to them!  Later the kids told me the bus driver thought they should always be the last ones off the bus because they are so quiet and it makes his job so much better.  Anyways I thought that was a funny story.  I'm so grateful for my kids that keep things in perspective for me.

Tonight Hayden is going to New Orleans to hear Elder Bednar speak, so I've got to leave here in a second to take him.

My sister in-law shared this story with me that I really liked.  This story was given by Andrew Skinner at a BYU devotional.

 I testify that our Father in Heaven cares about each of us, individually and personally. There are many examples of this doctrine that I could share, but my son Mark recently reminded me of one. Mark served a mission to Mongolia. He served with and developed a deep love for a senior missionary couple from Idaho. They used an interpreter their entire 18-month mission. Their interpreter—a Mongolian sister—had an important story to tell. She grew up in Mongolia. The missionaries found her and baptized her. When she joined the Church, she started saving money for a full-time mission. She received a call to one of the missions in the United States, but at that time she spoke almost no English. She got on a plane in Mongolia to come to the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, knowing only three sentences in English:

“I am from Mongolia.”

“I am a missionary.”

“Please help me.”

When she got on the plane, no one had explained to her that she needed to change planes to complete the flight to Utah. She landed in Chicago, but, naturally, there was no one there to meet her and she didn’t know the language. She found a chair, sat down, and prayed to Heavenly Father to know what to do. She then got up to try to find help. As she was attempting to explain her predicament to a ticket agent (using her three English sentences), a man tapped her on the shoulder, pulled out his temple recommend, and showed it to her. She recognized the temple recommend because she had been given one before she left, so she knew this man at her side was a member of the Church. He motioned for her to wait. Ten minutes later he handed her his cell phone, and on the other end of the line was the missionary who had taught her the gospel in Mongolia. The missionary told her to follow the man to the plane to Salt Lake City and get on board. He told her there would be people to meet her in Salt Lake City—and there were!

Our Father in Heaven truly watches out for His children—very often through others. But that’s not the end of the story. The man in the Chicago airport was a businessman who has flown all over the world. He was upset that day because it was the first time he had missed his connecting flight to Salt Lake City. But because he was there at the Chicago airport, he overheard this Mongolian sister trying to get help, and he knew he could help her.

all that He does out of love. And He does what is best for us from an eternal perspective. He asks of us our loyalty, our willingness to help others, and our repentance—for which He will reward us with the riches of eternity.

As we near the end of another semester and another school year, it seems good to come back full circle to beginnings, to foundations and first principles. Therefore I return to where I began this morning—with President Brigham Young’s statement:

When you . . . see our Father, you will see a being with whom you have long been acquainted, and He will receive you into His arms, and you will be ready to fall into His embrace and kiss Him. . . . You will be so glad and joyful. . . . When you are qualified and purified, . . . you can endure the glory of eternity. [JD 4:54–55]

Sometimes Life is Hard!

Sometimes I feel sorry for myself or am scared about the future.  I hate not knowing the future.  My whole life I've wanted that security in knowing what is going to happen next.  I guess that really never happens.  We may have a sick child, disabilities, financial struggles, family problems, etc.  I was having one of those extra hard busy days where the world seemed impossible to bear when I looked out to see my visiting teachers pull up.  It was very bad timing, and I thought of pretending like I was not home, but my car was in the driveway and I had just peeked out the window and I thought I saw the lady in the car point at me.  I thought about turning the shower on and pretending I was in the shower, but in the end I just answered the door.  I was thinking maybe they were inspired to come by because it was such a bad time to come by.  I know that seems a little weird, but they rarely come and if they do it's just out of the blue so why would they be coming by at such an awful time.  It must be inspired ( :  Well I told them to come in but that I had to answer the phone etc. because I was trying to get some paperwork  out for a job blah blah blah.  They came in and said they would be quick.  So we sat down and we were talking a little about jobs.  The one lady who has 7 children is very smart (yet struggles financially) said she had thought about substitute teaching but couldn't get a job because she did not have a four year degree.  I was so grateful for my four year degree at this moment.  The other woman piped in with that she was so very grateful for her drapery business. She was very talkative and I think I heard a lot of her life story in a very short time.  I will only share a little. In short she has her business which she does full time while taking care of her husband that is in complete kidney failure on dialysis.  They don't have insurance and man did her life seem difficult.  I think I could write a book about the people I meet down here.  It's very hard for me to not tell it all, but I don't have time.  Her life seemed so hard to me, but she gets up every day and continues on with a smile. Later that day I took Hayden to Scouts and ran into our Elders Quorum President who had left work and was covered in dirt with a huge smile on his face.  He works a 12 hour shift 7 days a week of intense labor for $12/hr and still manages to go to church meetings covered in dirt with a smile on his face.  I can endure and my children will be O.K.  I can do this!  I can do this!   I know this goes out to some of my family and sometimes I wish I did not send it out automatically, because I don't like to share hard things.  I really only like to share the funny things about my kids and happy stuff.  Sometimes it's more fun to pretend your life is just like the Christmas card you send out every year.  I guess we learn from the hard stuff or I guess sometimes we don't!  Happy Day to y'all!

New Years In Austin Texas!

We went to Austin, Texas for the New Year and had such a great time with my little brother and his wife and 2 adorable little children!  

We climbed these stairs up to a beautiful view overlooking the hills of Austin!

 What can I say "I love Austin!"

 So pretty!

 Katie thought this might be where Sandra Bullock lived.  Let me clarify, if she were Sandra Bullock this is where she would live.  So who knows who really lives here, but it looks like they're livin' la vida loca!

 Katie and little cutie pie Lola!  Seriously this little gal is such a good baby!  If you don't want a baby, you'll want one after being around Lola!!!

 Piggie Tails!

 Hiking around

 Cautious Tiger was a little braver while hiking!  He so funny he would say, "Daaaad that's dangerous for me!"  Actually it's funnier in his little voice.  He's like a little adult with his logic.  So cute and funny( :

 My little Spunky Monkey!  The other day she was in the back of the car and me and Brent were talking about her.  She pipes in with , "I know your talking about me!"  It doesn't sound funny when I write it, but it was funny at least to me.

 Dallas and Lola braving the trail

 Uh oh!  Tiger has to pee!  Boys are so lucky they can just go anywhere!

 We then went to this Peacock reserve!  It was really cool to see all the Peacocks!  I don't think I have ever seen a peacock that close before!

 They are pretty, but they also poop just like any other bird!

 Hayden got pooped on and he was freaking out!  If you didn't know he is a little Obsessive compulsive when it comes to germs!  He washes his hands like a crazy man.  He's not afraid to remind you to wash your hands, and he won't eat unless he can wash his hands.  After he got pooped on he wanted to go home and take a shower before we did anything else.  We were too far to go home  so we put hand sanitizer all over him until we could get to a bathroom where he could do a thorough washing!

 Dallas with the double stroller!

 This picture is horrific of me.  I didn't even want to put it up, but I had to show you how bad my hair looked. I didn't even know I was looking this bad!

 Just some more fun pictures of the Reserve.

 They all had lots of fun looking for fish and playing with each other!

 Can you believe she just turn 6 and Tiger is only 3 1/2!  They are almost the same size!

 So cute!

 Cool hand-washing machine at Rudy's!

 The kids watching them prepare food at Rudy's!

 If your ever in Texas and you like Barbecue go to Rudy's!  It's a really cool restaurant too besides the good Barbecue!

 These are my favorite pictures!

 Everyone loved Lola!

 And Tiger too, of course!  What a cutie!

 They loved feeding her, even though she can feed herself!

 Halle would be a good big sister!

 Tiger fixing the house up!

 We had to make a stop at Costco!  When we were in Austin we started really missing all of the conveniences that we used to have!  It was a little hard to leave.  I love Costco!  I also went to their cool grocery store H.E.B. and I want to buy up everything.  The only place there is to shop for food around here is Wal-mart, and although I am grateful for Wal-mart, it's just doesn't have very fresh food!

 Oh this is that handwashing thing!

 More Rudy's

The hand-washing thing up close!  Hayden wanted me to make sure and get a close up!  He loved this!  You put a sticker on that says you have clean hands after you wash up!  That is where my clean hands sticker came from.

 Playing at Dallas and Katie's was lots of fun!  

 Kelton and Lola!

 More Rudy's

 Hayden and Lola!

We also went to this place called Jump Street!  The kids loved it!!!

My new haircut, by Katie!  Can you believe how dark my hair is?  I don't even recognize myself anymore!  I know I look funny staring like that!  I was trying not to smile so I wouldn't take away from the hair!  It's hard to take a picture of yourself.  I used the self-timer.  The first picture I just blew it dry and took a picture.  The second one I tried to curl a little.  I think I like the first one better.  I was trying to get a picture of me with my bangs hanging straight in my face because then I really look like a different person.  Anyways I needed a new hair due!  You saw how terrible I looked above.  This looks way better.  Katie found a grey hair, ugh!  Anyways I kind of like the blonde highlights on me, but I don't like keeping them up, and I don't like how long it takes!  Anyways someday when I'm rich and famous I'll have blonde highlights again, but until then I guess I'm a brunette!!!Thanks Katie!

Seriously what is that face!  What the heck am I thinking.  Actually I know what I was thinking.  I was thinking try not to look like a goof!  Well I know what not to think next time( :

O.K. here goes again .  I don't know why blogger does this sometimes, but it cuts off  half of what I wrote and makes me sound like a total space cadet.  If you had not already read this you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but the last time it happened I was talking about Talents and my blog made absolutely no sense.
I finally received a calling in my ward.  The cub scout leader.  When they asked me to be the Cub Scout leader I asked if I was over the Wolfs?  He answered, "no just the Cub Scouts."  I then said a little confused, "usually they are divided into Wolves, Bears, and Weebelos."  He said, "Um, I think just Cub Scouts!"   I told him those are the names with in Cub Scouts.  He then said, "Oh, then all of them, there aren't very many!"  So it shouldn't be too hard since the second counselor in the bishopric doesn't even know what my calling is.  Kelton is in the group and so it should be fun!  I think I'm kind of excited, even though I had told the bishop anything but Scouts.  I guess that is a good way to get that calling.  Next time I'll make sure and say, "please don't make me a primary teacher!"