Women's Conference

On Saturday was the General Relief Society Meeting. My friends from the cruise texted me and said let's extend the cruise and have a girls night out, go to the meeting then on to dinner. I was game and I needed to go to the meeting. If they hadn't texted me I probably would not have gone. But I did go and learned or relearned some valuable lessons.
1. I love my husband. At the meeting a few women brought their children. I could hear them crying throughout and it made me appreciate Ryan so much. The entire time we have had children I have never felt like I couldn't leave them with him. He knows I need to go to these meetings so he says go and I leave without a second thought of if my little ones will be OK. I know they are. Ryan is a great dad and most of the time a better parent than me.
2. Those same women who brought their kids taught me that clearly they needed to be at the meeting. Even though they had little ones they knew how important it was to go. They were at the meeting and listening to some wise council. I know if I had to bring my little ones I would not have gone to the meeting. But these women did and I am sure they are blessed for it.
3. I need to do better on my visit teaching. Whenever I go I am blessed. I visit two great women and each time I learn something different from them that I wouldn't learn if I don't go.
4. President Monson is a true prophet of God. I loved his talk on not judging. I needed that reminder. I don't know how often I will judge only to find out the rest of the story and wish I hadn't judged. President Monson's talk was great. I know he is called of God to lead our church now. I know if I follow his council I will have a better life and live with our Heavenly Father again someday. Here is a link to his talk. I love his sense of humor.
http://new.lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-sept-2010?lang=eng

Back to Reality

I am home from my great vacation. I relaxed, didn't sleep nearly enough, laughed, talked and had a great time. I was a little torn, since I went on the cruise I was not able to hike the Grand Canyon. I heard it was a grand time and that I missed out on a fun group. I will hike it next year if my dad is up to it. It has only been two days since they did it so I don't know if they are prepared to do it again. But if he is I will go.

Back to the cruise. Below is a picture of all of us on Catalina Island. We did the zip line and all of us went, even though we were all scared. The rest of the week we laid on the adult only deck and laughed, ate and got way too much sun. These women are great and I appreciate all of the different perspectives that come from them. Each one teaches me something I need to know even though they don't realize it.

I had a great time and I am so grateful to my husband. I am truly blessed to be married to such a great man. I know my little ones and house were taken care of. The entire cruise I never worried about my family.

I can't wait till next year.

Angie, Eileen, Talena, Lori, Dyan, Becky, Jene, Amy and Kierra.

Going cruising

I am leaving my family behind for one week. A bunch of friends and I are going on a four night five day cruise. I have mixed emotions. On the one hand I can't wait and on the other hand I know I will miss Ryan and the little ones.
But it is needed. It is needed because my kids need to ask their dad to open the piece of candy he just handed to them instead of walking across the room to have me do it. It is needed because my kids need to have their dad tie their shoes and make them do their homework. It is needed so I can go to the bathroom without "MOM" being yelled ten times. It is needed so I can appreciate all that I have and what a great man I am married to.
Jay has promised to save all of his squeezes he gives me everyday and give them all to me when I get back. Ryan and Jack seem to think that the house will fall apart without me and that I am the one who makes sure everything runs smoothly. Kate had no idea that I am going but hopefully will be happy to see me when I get back.
I know my family will be taken care of. I don't doubt Ryan's abilities at all. They will have fun and maybe they will not go to bed every night at eight but they will be smiling when I see them on Friday.

I can't wait!!!!!

Attack of the Ducks

Last weekend in Show Low we spent the afternoon at Fool Hollow Lake. We love it there. It is so pretty and the weather was fabulous. We had some goldfish from the car and since there were ducks the kids decided to feed them. These ducks were not afraid. They ate goldfish out of Jack's hand. The funniest thing was Ryan trying to feed the ducks and he got bit. I guess it was so funny because he had just told Jack to not be afraid of the ducks and then he got bit. After that we were all a little leery of the ducks. I have never seen ducks so aggressive. We had fun feeding the ducks even when we get bit.

Single motherhood and Jayisms

For the past week Ryan had to go to North Carolina and Virginia on a business trip. Ryan has never had a job that required travel and I was not happy. I have been spoiled for my married life with a husband who works a 9-5 job and is home at night and on the weekends. I like this. So for a week I was a single mom. I did not like it. On top of being alone I also took two sub jobs. Yes, I know most people work full time but again I am spoiled and I don't. It was so hard to get things done, put the kids to bed, shower them, feed them, get homework done, and all of the other things that I had to do by myself. My good friend said it best. I was living some one's reality and it was a nightmare for me. This week really made me appreciate Ryan and all that he does. In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" it states that "husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and their children." I know that is true. For me and Ryan it truly takes both a husband and a wife to raise our family and teach our children. I am grateful to Ryan and all he does for my family and me.

Now for some Jayisms. One is probably not appropriate but it is too funny not to post so I am going to.
First off one day last week I was taking the kids to get ice cream and they were crying about only get one scoop. So I said if you continue to cry and whine you will get no ice cream so be happy with one scoop. Jay replies with "so, I will just have an empty cone." Sometimes his arguments are just too logical.
Now for the inappropriate one. Stop reading if you are easily offended. I warned you.
One morning Jay would not wake up. He does this on occasion pretends to sleep so I have to carry him and dress him while he "sleeps." So I was doing this and took off his pajama shirt put on his school shirt and then went to take off his pajama pants only to realize he had no underwear on. Which is sad to say is not unusual for Jay, I guess he prefers to go commando. Anyway back to the story. I proceed to take his pants off only to be surprised with something sticking straight up. Now if you have boys and it's morning, a body part often sticks up in the morning. But I was surprised and so was Kate because she pointed at it and said "huhh." Needless to say I quickly got him dressed and tried my best to not make a big deal out of it and not laugh too hard. See not too inappropriate it was just too funny seeing Kate's reaction and Jay's non reaction. I love my kids!!!

First day of School

Whenever I hear first day of school I always think of Nemo shouting "FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL" to his dad and his dad not wanting Nemo to go to school. I have mixed feelings about the first day of school also. I have expectations about what I will do when school starts. How I will clean out the den, be organized, get to the gym everyday, and so much more. When this doesn't happen I get a little down. But like all lows in life I muscle through them and realize that life goes on and that I am going to be okay.
Jack started second grade and Jay started kindergarten or young learners as we call it here since the plan is for Jay to do kindergarten twice. So Jay goes to school only half day and Jack is gone all day. I don't like it. I do miss my kids and I think Kate does too. But I know they are learning and enjoying it so much. Ryan challenged them to meet someone new everyday and it is so fun to ask the boys about this. They always say yes we met someone new but they never remember the names.
Here are their favorites that I ask them every year.

Jack's Favorites

Color: blue

Animal: dog

Food: pizza

Best Friend: Jake Platt

Book: Ramona Forever

Activity: riding my scooter

Toy: paper airplanes

Movie: Ramona and Beezus

What do you want to be when you grow up? Baseball player

Jay's Favorites

Color: red

Animal: great white and tiger sharks

Food: cotta (cottage cheese) and hot dogs

Best Friend: Wilson Kerr

Book: animals

Activity: playing with you (mom, Dyan)

Toy: power rangers and transformers

Movie: Jaws

What do you want to be when you grow up? baseball player for the power ranger team.

Some of the answers were the same from last year but is it so fun to see how they change and grow up. By the way they have yet to wear these clothes again. I have to get a token first day of school outfit that will be worn twice, once on the first day of school and once on picture day.

California, again

We had another great trip to Cali. The kids all love the water, the sand and being outside. Thank you to Jason and Shelley for letting us all stay at your house. We had a great time.

Jay, Kaden, and Jack all buried in the sand. I love this picture.