He's shy, I'm not

We're pretty different.

However, we have a lot in common too. One thing that we really love, is each other!

It's not easy.

Sometimes it's not even fun.

But, it is marriage, and we're trying our best.

I'm just glad he's willing to take it on.

He really didn't want to do a kissing picture, but he did. I'm so glad.

Laying on the floor

Yep, I did it. I layed on the floor of the gym during my personal training session last night. Charlie, my trainer, had me doing a 300 workout which about killed me. No kidding! Then to top it off, I went to cycle class after that. What was I thinking?

Chuck E. Cheese's and shopping

I got all the kids off to school and stopped into the office and then headed home to Michelle and CJ whom I found playing hockey on the Wii. It was so cute!

Mich, CJ and I got into the car and headed to Altamonte Springs to let CJ play at Chuck E. Cheese's. He played his little heart out while Mich and I ate and laughed. I loved every minute of it.

On our way there, we spotted a Kohl's and of course, we had to stop in on our way back. Michelle is really working with me on getting some accessories, so I bought two bracelets that I sure hope I know when to put on.

After getting home, I got the kids and when I got home the youngest 4 were swimming with CJ. They headed home when I headed to the gym.

I loved EVERY minute of my visit with them. The only sad thing was when the time came for them to leave. :(

Visiting

Michelle and CJ arrived today around 3. The kids were so happy to see CJ and they all played and played! That was great, becuase that gave Michelle and I the opportunity to visit.

We had a dinner that sweet little CJ tolerated and then sent them to bed. They were supposed to go to sleep, but that didn't happen, of course. But, Mich and I watched a movie while Chris serenaded us with snoring.

I can't wait for tomorrow.

Finally, in the pool

It is cold, but they were in. I'm really looking forward to them being able to enjoy it this summer because it is really helpful. You know what I mean...

Friends

I feel blessed to have great friends. I know that they are hard to come by and I have had to lean on them quite a bit the last year or so. I am thankful that they have been there for me.

I know that sometimes I am not the best friend. I don't do high maintenance well. However, the ones that I have stick with me through thick and thin.

I also thought tonight while I was passing out the brownie sundae dessert at the baby shower for Katelyn that I have quite an odd personality too. I guess that most of you already know that though. Just tell me to be quiet when you need to. Deal?

New rule

Chris and I decided to implement a new homework rule at the house. We are really trying to help Brennan and all the kids for that matter be successful in school.

So the rule is, that you come home from school and sit at the table to do your homework. Brennan and Kerstyn are to devote one hour to homework and or reading time.

Lauklan, Greyson and Aislinn are to do their homework, read and or color for at least 30 minutes and then the other 30 minutes they are to go outside to play or play quietly in their rooms as to not disturb the older children as they finish their work.

Well... you would have thought I was killing Brennan when I told him the rule. He did NOT want to sit at the table. But, he did it. He even survived to live through the night.

Now, will we see improvement? I pray so.

Wow, parenting is hard, hard work! It pulls at heart strings that I didn't even know were there.

Relaxing Sabbath though busy

We all got up and made it to church on time. Clean, dressed and fed! I told the kids after we were all in the car that they did a good job. I don't think I even raised my voice!

Church was great except for the pouring rain that was trying to ruin my straightened hair! ;)

I lead the music in primary since Debbie is out of town and Lurlene played the piano. I always love to work with the children, so it was a lot of fun for me.

After church, we came home and ate grilled cheese that was hold us over until dinner time. The Shaw's came over and ate with us which was fun.

Chris had a meeting at 6 and Brennan had a fireside at 7 so the evening was busy, but good.

I hope we have enough charge in our batteries to make it through the week. Spring Break isn't that far away...

Cycle, chores and EPCOT

I got up this morning and had a bad attitude, again. Ugh. So, Chris sent me off to cycle class at the gym and for a better attitude. I came hope with a better attitude, it worked!

Chris and the kids did some chores around the house while I was gone and when I got back, I did some too then we finally headed off to EPCOT for the afternoon and evening. We met Disney Grandma there too.

We headed straight to ride Soarin which was an hour and a half wait but quite fun once we finally got on it. After that, we walked around the countries and ate, of course! Don't forget that we stopped at practically every bathroom too!

There was only a 5 minute wait to do Mission Space, which we did and some of the kids did twice, then we headed to the Test track where the wait was only 30 minutes.

It was after 9:30 when we finally got to the parking lot and we were all tired, but happy.

Getting up tomorrow and showered and ready for church should be interesting. To top it off, I won't have Chris to help because he needs to be in Belleview. We did it last week, but I had Grandma's help, so we'll see how I do tomorrow all by myself.

Can you hope for this?

I think I can. There was even one speaker at Time Out For Women that talked about it.

I hope today, for a better attitude. Yesterday, I had a rough day. I was down on myself, discouraged, gloomy, you name it. Sad.

I know that life is crazy sometimes and certainly not like the rosy picture that I would love to see. However, I also realize that my life is nowhere near as bad or rough as some. So, why do I get discouraged? Why can't I just see the good and focus on that. It's all about perspective really and I should just choose to be positive.

I need to go back to my hope focus, at least internally. Things aren't perfect, they never will be and some things that I worry about I can't possibly change, so I should stop.

I'm going to try.

Today, I'm looking for the good. It's all around me, I'm going to focus on that and move forward.

Pictures from the Magic Kingdom on March 13

I'm finally posting the pictures from Magic Kingdom on March 13. We really had a good time, but it was SUPER busy!

All of the kids after our first bathroom stop of the day.

Me

Disney Grandma on the monorail. I think this is a really good picture of her.

Monorail of Lauklan and Kerstyn

On the monorail on the way in to the Magic Kingdom.

Brennan in his Mad Hatter hat. The people in the park loved it and he got many, many compliments.
Kerstyn and Greyson with Eeyore.
The Mad Hatter and Eeyore.

All of the kids with Eeyore and me.

We ate lunch at Crystal Palace to celebrate my birthday. That is one of our favorite places to eat at the Magic Kingdom.

A little perspective

A distraught Aislinn today, "Mom, Gavin and Gabe told me today that I do NOT have an "S" in my name! I told them that I do. They are being mean to me. MOM, DON'T I HAVE AN "S" IN MY NAME? I write it A I S L I N N. See, there is an "S"." As she cries to me...

I respond, "Aislinn, yes you have an "S" in your name. Those boys are just not being nice. Don't you worry about it. You know how to spell your name, "S" and all."

To which she replies as she sniffles, "I knew it!"

Man, if all I had to worry about was the spelling of my name!

I love being a mom. (most of the time) ;)

Ward Conference

The choir sang the prelude music. We warmed up by singing Come Follow Me then stood and sang For All The Saints followed by Lord, I Would Follow Thee.

Bishop Saunders spoke on the blessings of the atonement followed by President Carter speaking. President Carter spoke about 7 sources of learning that we need to do to be better prepared.

I am going to list below so I can look back at this to remember his talk years from now.

1. Daily prayer - family and individual

2. Daily scripture study

3. Attend all church meetings

4. Magnify your calling.

5. Follow the prophets and your priesthood leaders.

6. Attend the temple

7. Family Home Evening

I feel blessed to have been able to attend and be spiritually fed. Now, if I could just hit more right notes on the piano, that would be nice. Is that too much to ask? ;)

Magic Kingdom

Apparently everyone and their brother was at the Magic Kingdom today. However, we still managed to eat about every hour and use practically every bathroom in the park! I call that accomplishment!

I took some cute pictures and so did Grandma, that I will put on later.

We had a great day.

Hope, Day 6

Today I have hope in:

1. The ability that I have to be blessed with great friends that I KNOW are there for me, no matter what.

2. That one day, I will look back on all this 'craziness' that I'm in the middle of right now and actually MISS it.

3. It will stop raining in time for all of us to celebrate my birthday tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom.

Hope, please!

I hope that we get our issues fixed with the septic and drain field so that I can actually use my house as designed.

That's not too much to ask, is it?

Not fun

Can I just say that it is not fun to have to stagger your showers and anything and everything that deals with water in your home!

Our drain field is apparetnly not sufficient to support our family size so we have been having issues since the fall.

Well, I've hit my limit!

We can't flush the toilets.

I can't just run the washer or dishwasher when I need to.

I have to instruct the children on where they can use the toilet in the house.

Not fun.

Not fun at all.

Hoping some more

I have hope that I can be the person that my Heavenly Father knows I can be.

I have hope that I can be kinder and more patient.

I have hope in the fact that I can be carried by my Savior when I can't carry myself.

Day 3 of hope focus

Today I have hope in:

1. The possiblities of eternal families.

2. That I can continue to try to raise my voice less.

3. That my children will not 'really' drive me crazy!

Hope, Day 2

Today, I have hope in:

prettier weather to come,

attempting to not raise my voice tonight with the kids,

staying positive when I try to discourage myself.

Good start, right?