Umm... Thanks?!

So I challenged my family to have a question in mind as they listened to conference.  Mine was about how to be a better parent to my teen, preteen family. 

So thanks Heavenly Father, but really, the whole conference didn't have to be for me.

My Sis

I stole my sister Megan for an impromptu photo shoot.  Isn't she adorable??

I love seeing her so happy and excited!!

The Hunt

So we brought the kids into our room and blindfolded them (see here) and then headed to do our hunt for our family.  Here is what our utter destruction looked like

It doesn't look too bad, but when you factor in the fact that they were blindfolded and had to maneuver around it was pretty effective.

We had a lot of fun watching them and there was even one bloody nose, but we figured that just made the whole experience more effective.  Then we sat everyone done and watched the video.  It was a fabulous way to start our Easter morning!

The Hope of Easter - Another Testament

Over the years we have really cut back on the Easter Bunny side of  Easter.  We do some candy and they usually get some sort of surprise.  This year we decided to do even less.  So, I've been looking for things that will focus on the more spiritual side of Easter and I came across an activity that is kind of an Easter hunt, but instead you trash your house, spread candy all around and then blindfold everyone, and then relating details from the story in 3rd Nephi talk about how their has been a great destruction upon the land.  All their family has been lost, the world is in utter darkness and complete chaos, and they need to find their family (the candy),  and then find their way to the temple (which will just be the couch).  While fun and hopefully memorable I was still looking for a way to really bring the message home.  So while looking at videos on Mormon Messages, I remembered a video that I had bookmarked and never got around to going back and watching.  This one is from "Another Testament of Christ", the same photographer and team that did "Reflections of Christ".  As I watched it, tears formed in my eyes.  Not only was this exactly what I was looking for to share with my family, but I felt such an overwhelming reminder of the love of our Savior.  So on that lengthy intro...  Please watch.  And remember that He loves you.

How to Make A PB Sandwich (Tim style)

For a Family Home Evening Activity a few weeks ago.  Robby asked us to write down the steps for making a PB&J sandwich.  Now at work I teach kids language skills including sequencing and following directions.  So as everyone scribbled, I completed a 16 step list of how to make a PB sandwich.  I was of course the last one to complete the task.  Tim was the first one done.  I was ready to gloat.

Robby proceeded to demonstrate the directions that everyone had written down.  We had a lot of laughs as he tried to make sandwiches with bread still in the bag and spread PB without a knife.  He left mine and Tim's for last. 

Here is my list

1. Take the twist tie off of the bag if bread
2. Open the bag
3. Remove 2 slices of bread and close the bag with the twist tie - Put bread away
4. Lay the bread flat on the counter
5. Open a jar of PB
6. Using a knife take out approx. 1 TBS of PB
7. Spread the PB evenly over both slices of bread
8. Use more if needed
9. Put like back on PB - put PB away
10. Open jelly (remove lid)
11. Using a clean knife remove 1/2 TBS of Jelly
12. Spread jelly on one slice of bread
13. Put lid on Jelly and put Jelly away
14. Pick up one slice of bread
15. Put it PB side down on top of other slice so both PB sides are stuck together
16. Enjoy and put knives in the dishwasher.

So... pretty good huh?  Like how I was even able to insert the cleaning up and putting stuff away into it?

The final demonstration was Tim's.  The one that he had completed before I was even finished with 3 steps...

Tim's read...

Ask Mom to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for me.  When she is done, give her a kiss!

Guess who's gloating now.  It's posted on our fridge.

Basketball Season 2010

Needing to be inspired...

Today the kids were off school.  I had to go for about three hours and had a stack of stuff to do.  Unfortunately by the time I was done with meetings, my three hours were up and it was time to come home so that I could get Jarom off to his campout.  On the way home I resolved to get a lot done at home, but once I was home my motivation went out the door.  Justification steps in and tells me that as crazy as life has been this week (hence no posts and no checking others posts) I deserve the down time.  But as evening approaches I find that I am restless and searching for something...

I have lists of things that I need to get done - some are drudge work, but some are projects, but with my mind restless I can't seem to settle and do those things.  So I spent some time updating my blog layout and trying to think of something inspiring to blog about.  Nope.  I got nothin.  So for today, as I try to focus, this is all you get.