Cupid

Cupid was pretty good to us this year! I made this map of all of our firsts for Stillman. It has where we met, our first date, Where we were married......

Stillman got me some roses. This is not typical for Stillman. I usually get flowers on non holiday days. For no reason. I don't normaly get red roses either, so this was a nice surprise.

The kids got suckers, Movies, an elmo doll, cookies and a light up pen.

I got this New tray table with breakfast in bed! Kuddos Stillman! We also got each other tickets to two musicals. The King and I and Les Miserables.

Stillman and I also went to dinner and a movie. So nice to have a night out together. The night before we went to a stake dance and Stillman and I were asked to teach. We taught the Night Club Two Step. This is a great dance. Not to be confused with the country two step. It is an easy romantic dance that you can do to almost any song on the radio. It was great fun, as Stillman and I have not danced in awhile we were a little rusty, but it was nice to get a qick refresher.

Kreacher

We have our own little Kreacher in our house. So for those of you that don' t read Harry Potter (and I know there is at least one reader out there who doesn't. Shame on you Heather) Kreacher is an elf who lives in a cupboard in the kitchen and collects stuff from around the house and stores them in his cupboard.

A little remodeling

No more green carpet!
And Little paint.

Testimony

Stillman went to a priesthood meeting on Sunday night. He was telling me about Elder Keller's talk on testimonies. He told of an experience He had about attending the temple, and then proceeded from that story into his testimony. He was teaching the correct way to share a testimony.

While lying in bed tonight I was thinking why don't I ever turn my experiences into testimonies. And then an experience came to mind. I thought, why didn't I share that experience today during church. Well I'll tell you why, It is hard to hear the spirit promptings when you are trying to teach a three year old to be reverent "Or we are going to go out into the hall for a time out."

So I thought to myself. I can share it next month. No, I'll forget to. I should write it down in a journal. I don't keep a journal. But I do keep a blog, And people read my blog, so I can also share my testimony with it. So hear it is. At one O'clock in the morning.

Mom: It is the hardest thing I have ever done. It taxes my strength and patience. I used to think I would be really good at it. I was a good babysitter, I helped my mom with my younger brother, I worked in many a daycare. It is nothing compared to having their futures completely in your hands and their lives your responsibility. I will never judge another mother when I see filthy, boogery kids. I now know that their noses were just wiped a million times. Their jackets were washed the day before. This morning they were bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and in a short hour the boogery graham cracker mess is the end result. They are warm and fed. Good Mom.

Some days I wonder what my Heavenly Father must think of me when I have just thrown a grownup size tantrum because my three year old won't put his coat and shoes on and my 9 mo old won't hold still while I change his diaper. So I lock myself in the laundry room to just get a little peace and quite. (see you're not the only one) My Time Out. When I come out Alex is in his shoes and he too has tears running down his face, with a hug and kiss for me. I got my answer tonight of what my Father thinks of me.

The other day Alex asked if he could have a Doritos chip. I asked him how much of his lunch he ate. He holds his little fist up indicating zero and says "all of it". "Are you lying?" I asked. Up until a few months ago, you could ask him anything and only the truth would come out. Lately the line between truth and fib has become somewhat fuzzy. However this particular day he says "No, I don't lie. Because I follow the Prophet." I am amazed and pleased. "Where did you learn that?" I asked. "From Jesus." Feeling so pleased with my little guy, a whispering of the spirit says, You are not the only parent pleased this day. Feeling the truth behind this statement I sat in awe thinking about how Heavenly Father truly does love his little children.

Tonight the brethren were challenged to give their wives a blessing. Stillman asked if he could give me a priesthood blessing. I don't think he realized how much I needed it. everything he said was what I needed to hear. I truly believe this blessing set the mode for my next bit of inspiration that hit me just moments ago. While lying in bed thinking of this sweet moment I had with my children the Holy Ghost whispered to me a correction. He said. No, Michelle the child he was pleased in, was You, for teaching Alex.

In the November Conference ensign there is a talk given by the Young Woman's president. In it she says that she has a plate that says with Heavenly Father's help, we can do hard things. She said she would like to change that to say With Heavenly Father's help we can do all things. I would like to bare my testimony that I know Heavenly Father is mindful of our strengths and weaknesses and that when I call upon him I can do hard/all things. Including having more patience with my children. Whenever I take the time to ask for his help He freely gives it. My day goes smoother, and I notice how truly good my kids are. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Bold

Bold the items you have done...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland--I love Disney!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Been to the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
20. Slept on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors- The ones close to home
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied-at one point just after college
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant- I bought a kids groceries at the store
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie- not unless you count my mom's college assignments
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-working on it
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen-I served at a red cross putting food in a box
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving-
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Tied a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London- nope, but in new york I have
77. Broken a Bone - chipped one
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper- I'm from a very small town, of course I have.
85. Read the entire Bible - how sad is it that I can't bold this one?
86. Visited the White House-just the outside
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating- I have seen it done
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury- Stillman has
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy

I tag anyone who dares to be bold!

2009

Well January is half over and I haven't posted anything so I will give you a quick update of what has happened since Christmas. Stiilman is back at work after using up all his vacation time. And has been dilligently working on our taxes. I turned 30. It was great, no midlife crises. We had every one over for cake and ice cream, My mom and Stillman had the idea to decorate with 30 years of pictures of me. Although they ran out of time so Brigitte and I quickly put them up, it was fun getting into them. Stillman gave me some money for my birthday so I could go on a shopping spree! hurray! I enjoyed spending time with you all, Thank you so much.



Alex is now a sunbeam! He is getting so big so fast. He always has a hard time switching classrooms and teachers. This is probably because of how many times we have moved in the past four years. Just as soon as he gets use to going we uproot him and stick him in a new ward. So he has had a hard time wanting to go into the big room with all the older kids. He is getting braver. The first week I had to stay with him. I soon snuck out and he cried and sat on the teachers lap. The next week he didn't even want to walk into church so I told him I would stay in the back of the room. If he missed me he could turn around and see me. This worked really well. And the third week He worked up the courage (after a few worries) to send me off to class. yeah Alex! I however think all this worrying is just to make me feel wanted because when I spy on him he is doing just great.

Jayden has taken his first steps! He is not in a big hurry to walk because he is a speedster on the knees. He stands up in the middle of the room all the time now, he loves to wrestle with Alex, is eating finger foods and only wants to feed himself. And I thought Alex was stubborn. After a week of sleepless nights two teeth have finally broken through, with a third and fourth on the way! Oh dear.

More Holiday Activities

Caroling, Caroling through the Snow
Making Christmas Cookies

Alex had to make sure they tasted good for Santa, Stillman is making a football Ginger man.

Even Jayden got to shake some sprinkles on a cookie before he passed out for the night.

Alex has another set of "Bear Pagamas" now maybe his other set can get washed!Here we all are in our Christmas Jammies, except Jeremy was working and Jayden was sleeping. We missed you two. This is our coolio Facebook pose. Apparently it is very cool to make a kissy face and throw the peace sign. What do I know. Callie is the expert at this pose. I don't know what Jason is doing.
While we were sitting on the couch we heard Santa's sleigh bells on the roof. Since we were awake Santa passed right over us. This upset Alex very much. He didn't think he was coming back :( But, I assured him that he was coming back and we set out his milk and cookies and Alex rushed us all off to bed. Santa should come over more often. Alex had to make sure everything tasted perfect. I hope Santa didn't catch his cold!Jayden was jut too cute not to post this picture of him in his Papa's new BSU hat.