I know I just posted, but...

I was trying to catch up on blog-reading, and I read this on a friend's blog from our last ward. She takes fabulous pictures, by the way, and I was showing them off to my husband when I noticed this quote:

"Find joy in your children. Don't overschedule them or yourself. You may not be able to take them on exotic vacations. It doesn't matter. When the day dawns bright and sunny, take an excursion to the canyon or the park. When it's cloudy and wet, read a book together or make something good to eat. Give them time to explore and learn about the feel of grass and the wiggliness of worms."

-Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Today, Benson has been a two-year-old, times two! Are you ready? Take a deep breath, because this will exhaust you!
He has used a baby-wipes container as a bucket to empty the toilet water onto the floor; managed to throw a tantrum in the middle of Kindermusik; coated himself, a cell phone, the bathroom floor and anything else in his way in shaving cream (SORRY WHITNEY!!); ran away from me while the other two were being immunized (which was a joke in and of itself, I practically had to sit on Kimball to get him to hold still for the nurse); dumped out an entire box of chocolate Easter candy and then tried to feed it to the puppy; intentionally spilled his mother's lame excuse for dinner (Spaghetti-O's) out all over the table; and then while putting him to bed and trying to pretend like I was asleep myself, stuck his finger up my nose!!!

Throwing back late!

So, I know that I am totally late for "Throwback Thursday" but here it is. Isn't it the cutest? Any guesses???

I have to explain why I am late posting. I can't help it. I am terrible when I get started on reading anything. I have to admit that the whole "Twilight" phenonomenon was really annoying to me because I couldn't understand what was so compelling about vampires. Um, open mouth... insert foot! Seriously. I rented the movie a few weeks ago, and to my surprise... LOVED IT! Anyway, it drives me crazy when you have to wait to find out what happens next, and the movie totally leaves you wanting more. I got online and found out the second movie isn't coming until NOVEMBER! GRRRR.... so, I gave in and decided to read the books. Of course, I had to read from the beginning so I wouldn't be lost by details that weren't in the movie. I read for two hours on Monday while the boys played at the park and then disciplined myself to only read in the evenings. I finished the first book last night and I LOVED IT! I know I am way late jumping on the band-wagon, but I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THE SECOND BOOK! For this same reason, I have totally neglected any blogging at all, so I am way behind in catching up with everyone. I just can't put a good book down! Um, Nickole? Can I still borrow it??? I'll be calling you!!!

Easter weekend

Easter is always exciting for us. We go on a picnic, decorate eggs, have a visit from the Easter Bunny and then on Sunday we try to emphasize the true purpose and meaning of Easter and usually have a family dinner. The slide show is super-duper long, but I took a TON of pictures. Thanks to my sweet friend Sha for coming on the picnic with us and for bringing her cute girls! Oh, we also made chocolate covered marshmellow eggs yesterday, but I have to get those pictures from my mom. Kimball told me that he liked Easter because it was about Jesus and because it was long. I guess we have been celebrating since Friday!

Fishy Throwback Thursday

I have this picture in a small picture frame as part of a collage that I have yet to hang in my room. I love it because it shows how much Josh LOVES getting involved with the boys and teaching them all the boyish things to do. Kimball was so little in this picture. Maybe not even two years old yet. Josh took him fishing and they caught this poor little fish that Kimall was too proud of for Josh to turn back. This picture was just as they got home to show me their catch. When Benson saw this picture today, he didn't fixate on daddy or the fish or even brother. He FACINATED on the paci that Kimball is sucking on. OH BROTHER!!! Anyway, it made me smile and decide to post it!

Thoughts...

I just keep thinking about how I need to post about conference. Since having kids, I haven't been able to sit and focus on conference as much as before. I always try and we record it on the DVR so that we can go back and watch, but it's just different.
This year, however, my kids were really good. They played in the basement while I plopped myself down on the couch to watch conference. I really, really enjoyed it. It felt like so many of the talks were just what I needed. Since I gave a talk just the last week in March, I had been doing a lot of studying, reading and praying. Many of the thoughts and impressions that came to me during my preparation were reinforced during conference; all the more making the messages feel personal.
The talk that I keep thinking about was President Monson's talk at the end of the Sunday morning session. He told a story of a woman who was leaving East Prussia for Germany after the war. She had lost her husband to the war and now had lost her home. She packed what she could into a small wagon and left, on foot, with her children. It was many miles to travel in the cold and snow, but she was determined to press forward.
As they moved forward they ran out of food, clothing and shoes. Watching her children begin to starve, she could do nothing but press forward. One by one she buried her children in the frozen ground with nothing more than a teaspoon to dig their graves. Just before the end of her journey, she had to dig a grave with her bare hands to bury her baby.
She had lost everything, her home, her belongings and worse her husband and then her four children. She wanted nothing more than to die. She contemplated suicide when the impression came to get on her knees.
President Monson encouraged each of us to follow her example, to get on our knees to seek for divine supplication in the trials we have been called to bear. This woman went on to live a happy life, knowing that because of the gospel of Jesus Christ she would see her family again one day. President Monson reminded us of the scripture that , "men are that they might have joy, " and encouraged us to "be of good cheer."
Considering all that is going on around us in the world today, and given our own individual challenges of parenting, finances, marriage, testimony (whatever they may be), we can press forward accepting the challenges as they come, recieving the strength to endure and overcome from the atonement of Christ.

Ricks-girls weekend

This slideshow is from last weekend. I met some of my room-mates (and dear friends) from Ricks and we spent time laughing, reminising, catching up, eating, shopping, bowling... just a little of everything. Thanks girls for making the time! I love ya!

Interactive Throwback Thursday

My boys, my boys, my boys. They are growing up so quickly. I love to listen to the way they express themselves. It is so innocent and matter-of-fact. So, today for my "throwback" I posted pictures of all three of my boys on their blessing days. Take a guess as to which one is Kimball, McKay and Benson. They are all about the same age, one is 4 weeks, one is 5 weeks, and one is 6 weeks. Bonus points if you can nail their ages!!! P.S. They aren't in order... that would be too easy!

PICTURE #1:

PICTURE #2:

PICTURE #3