Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!! Our Easter services were so spiritual. My heart burned within me, and my testimony was reaffirmed: Jesus lives!! He loves us, and suffered for our sins that we might be forgiven, and find peace and joy in our lives. I know of the power of that forgiveness, the anguish of soul that is turned to peace. I am continually grateful for a loving God, that sent his son here to give us this beautiful gift. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers, for mine have been heard, and often granted. I know that God acts in our lives, that he is not a passive God, for I have had divine intervention in my life. I seek for ways that I may be his hands on earth, that I may bless the lives of others as my life has been blessed. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit that I felt today burn so strongly within me, grateful that I can have its guidance daily, helping me through hard times, and difficult decisions. I love you all, my friends and family, and wish for you all that the Spirit can bring: Joy, Love, and Peace.

More important things than teeth

I have a tooth that needs a root canal. When it really hurts the whole side of my face hurts. It started hurting last weekend so I was able to get an appointment for the dentist on Monday. Well, because the whole right side of my face is hurting, I can't tell him which one is causing all this pain, and as he says, "There are a number of candidates." So I'm supposed to wait until it gets bad enough that it's fairly obvious which tooth it is. I have an appointment with the endodontist this evening, and hopefully we'll figure out which tooth it is. But I'm just begging for them to actually do the root canal.

I was telling my kids how much my tooth hurt, and James says, "Just ignore it, mom. There are more important things than teeth."

Yeah, there are more important things, but OW!!

Latest project

So I found this fabric at Roberts while I was buying stuff for all the other projects I have planned, and Annabelle wanted it done NOW! so I made her a new pillowcase. Quick and Easy!

Temple Dedication

When I was eight, my family lived in Korea for a year, and I was able to go to the Seoul, Korea temple dedication. I vividly remember hearing the choir sing the Hosanna Shout, and singing the Spirit of God, and feeling my soul burn within me. I wrote in my first journal that it felt as if angels were present. This was the first building block in my testimony, and one of those moments that shaped my life. Those are the kind of moments I pray that my kids will have.

Yesterday we were able to get tickets to be in the temple for one of the Draper Temple dedication sessions. We knew it would involve a lot of time (over 5 hours!) but we hoped it would be worth it.
The kids waited so patiently, but by the end, James was struggling. The Hosanna shout didn't have quite the impact I was hoping for because of acoustics, but I think they felt the spirit, even if it wasn't a watershed moment. But they did get a cool experience. Our room was right off the hallway by the elevator, and they got to shake President Monson's hand as he walked by.
Maybe as the years pass, they'll remember less and less of how long it took, and how bored they were, and more and more of how they felt to be in the house of the Lord, in the presence of a prophet of God.

Old school recycling

So I've had this great idea for a project that I'm excited about. I totally got the inspiration from Naartje's clothes (I took Paige shopping Saturday night). Their style is totally bohemian, mix and match fabrics with raw edges and extra ruffles and such. So instead of throwing out all the leggings, pants, shirts and skirts that are too short for my girls (don't think it'll work so well for my boys) I'm going to add a little something to make them a little longer, (a ruffle or two, stretchy lace, patches?) and hopefully cuter. My first project that I have is a dress my sister made Annabelle that is darling, but the smocking top is too tight now to get her arms into. I have a knit T shirt that is a size too small (too short) and I'm going to sew them together and add some embellishments and Voila! (well, we'll see!!) I'm not a great seamstress, but my new machine has inspired me. Plus, how very ecofriendly and pocketbook concious I will be!!

Spring Break

So our trip to SoCal was great! On the way down, we took a detour to Chinatown in LA and went to our favorite restaurant, Yang Chow, so that was a treat.

We spent two nights and three days in Disneyland. Just a great time! Annabelle loved the castle and the princesses.

She was a little upset everytime the big kids left to do their rides, so we tried to do lots of little kid rides together as a family too.

The teacups were one of her favorites, but they made me feel sick, so we didn't do them too often.





The kids absolutely loved Legoland. It was a good change of pace from rushing around at Disneyland and it was not even close to crowded.


After seeing all the stuff they made out of Legos, James said, I've just gotta get more creative!

The kids all wondered if they would ever have enough legos to build a building this tall... (Not if I can help it!)

James' Baptism

James was baptized today! It was such a good day!! He is such a sweet boy. When they were getting dressed after the baptism, he told Matt, "Dad, I feel really good." His uncle Steve stopped James afterward in the hallway and asked him if he felt any different. He said he felt good because of the Holy Ghost. I am so proud of the person he's becoming.

No weed here!!

It was the World Fair today at Paige's school. Paige's country was Jamaica, so we brought a flag (which I sewed on my new sewing machine. Yay me!), tropical fruit, Jamaican jerk sauce, Pirate stuff, Bob Marley CD's and a fake bottle of rum. As we were setting it up, the parents of the other kids doing Jamaica asked me if I brought the pot. Now what flashes through my mind is that there is some sort of pottery technique in Jamaica that is so obviously famous, and I just don't know about it. After the blank look on my face persists, she goes on, "You know, weed?" And I realize my mistake. "No, no weed here.."

An ode to my valentine

Well, not an ode exactly, but, well, something...

Matt and I met my sophomore year at BYU. He noticed me in Physics class and asked me out. And then I asked him for the second date the very next night, and then the third for the night after that... Forward? Yes. But I knew what I wanted. And I guess it paid off...
I don't remember exactly when we decided we were going to get married. But we knew we would, and went ring shopping together... He proposed on a clear starry night in February at the reservoir up Provo canyon. He got down on one knee in the snow...
We were married on a beautiful day in June in the Salt Lake Temple. Nearly twelve years later, we are still in love. He is the most wonderful man I know. He makes me so happy.
We can still sit and talk for hours. He still makes me laugh. (Sometimes cry..) We're both very realistic. Marriage is work. And sacrifice. But there's so much reward! So happy Valentine's Day babe, I love ya.

Ahoy there me hearties!!

James just turned eight, and we had his birthday party this afternoon. We ordered the cupcakes from The Sweet Tooth Fairy in Provo. So cute!! And sooooo tasty too!
My favorite are the little treasure chests! There are ones that had little treasure maps too, but I didn't get a picture.

We all had a blast! Even me! (I was just so happy not to have it at our house!)





Even Thomas and Annabelle had a fun time. They tried to not get run over by the big kids.




James loved all the attention. He just lapped it up.





Paige even helped Annabelle go on the Monster Slide! But only twice, and then she was off!
All in all, a successful day!