Finally!

It finally looks like winter around here today!

The kids LOVED it! Well, Sanders really liked the "idea" of it and eating it, but the temperature forced him inside after about 20 minutes.

The three bigger kids rode the sled, played tag, had a snow man ball fight (you build small snow men really, really fast and then throw them at each other, and, of course, built a snow man.

While this was all going on, Ferb, decided to show off his snow skills and earned himself the name of the "Snow Subway". He was hilarious.

He would crouch down and then dive head first into the snow burrowing a tunnel for a few feet and then fly up through the surface and chase any snow balls he scattered on the way up. It was joyful to watch! Not only that but if you got his attention and threw a snowball up in the air he would go after it! I swear this cat is more dog than cat...in all the good dog ways and none of the poop on the grass ways.

Yay for snow!

SCRIPTURE TRACKER

1 Ne chp. 2 vs 10 -16

Scripture Tracker update

So....no one has called me out on my missing Scripture Tracker the past two days. What's up people?!?!?! Where's the love? Just kidding!

Actually, we've done very well and read every night since I made the goal. I just can't seem to remember to post it. Tonight's post is brought to you by the Letter S and the number 3

Wednesday Jan. 4, 2012

Scripture Tracker

1Ne. chp. 1 vs 8 - 15

Thurs. Jan. 5, 2012

Scripture Tracker

1Ne. chp. 1 vs 16- 20

Fri. Jan. 6, 2012

Scripture Tracker

1 Ne. chp. 2 vs 1-9

My favorite part about all of this, besides feeling like we are heading in the right direction is seeing how excited Sanders gets about it. He sits with his own scriptures taking his book mark in and out of his book. When it's his turn to read he usually just wants someone else to read his verse...but from HIS book.

I can already see the change in my family. I can't wait to see how far we go by the end of the year!

Reality Check

The thing about marriage is it is mostly awesome. Well, the marriage I've experienced anyway. Everyone has their own journey of course. We had to work really hard in the beginning to over come some communication habits that weren't super marriage friendly. But we worked hard, and continue to work hard, at growing closer and stronger.

Today was one of the harder days. As with most hard days in marriage it didn't really need to be and it was over things that don't really matter in the long run. Kevin and I don't dwell on the hard days. We are never frustrated with each other longer than a few hours. Today was longer than normal, but mostly because it started before Kev left for work, continued through his lunch break, but by the time he walked in the door at the end of the day both of us were SO over being angry/hurt/frustrated that is was almost like we hadn't been at odds most of the day. YAY! It's wonderful being married to someone who knows how to say He's sorry (and means it) without any prompting and accepts when you say you are sorry.

It's going to happen if you live with someone who is not an exact duplicate of you. Even then, I don't think everything would be happy all the time. Heck, I get frustrated with me every now and again.

The good thing about the hard days is that, if you learn from them and find the light, you end up leaps ahead of where you would be if you had only experienced smooth sailing. Something about opposition in all things.

So here's to the hard days!

Just not too many *wink*

It's pretty obvious, Dad!

Kevin and I were talking to Sanders about how to appropriately play with the cat. He does great most of the time...until he tries to pick him up and Ferb realizes he's just about as long as Sanders and there is no support. Then Ferb meows. Not a mean meow or even a warning, but more of a, "Come on kid...seriously. There's no why it's going to happen...so move along now."

He doesn't run away, he just kind of whines about the situation. He's a fantastic cat!

Anyway, we were asking Sanders to explain what he thinks Ferb is trying to tell him when he meows like that.

Me: "Sanders what does the cat do when you try and pick him up?"

Sanders: "Meows."

Me: "What do you think he's trying to say?"

Sanders: "Stop."

Me: "That's right!"

Kevin: "Sanders, how do you know that? Do you speak Cat?"

Sanders: "Dad, *eye roll* I no speak cat! I speak Danderd!!!" (Sanders---he says S as a D in his name)

Wordage

Over the Christmas break Beckham really, REALLY wanted to do this 1000 piece jig saw puzzle that I have no idea where we got, but at some point lived at D.I. It was a challenging puzzle with all of about 5 colors of various shades.

At one point, early on in the puzzle putting together process, Karaia sidled up to help. Kevin, half joking, asked her to find one specific piece. In about 5 seconds she was saying, "Here it is!" And thus she earned herself the nick name of Eagle Eye Karaia.

Later in the afternoon, Beckham wanting to be just like his dad, turned to his sister and called her Beetle Eyed Karaia!

*In keeping with my goals for the year, I decided I needed a daily record of the scripture reading we will be doing. So at the end of every post, if we have already read for the day, I will document what we read. That way I'll have a bit more accountability. If you don't see the scriptures, maybe you can give me a "try again tomorrow" pep talk :) *

Scripture Tracker

1 Nephi Chp. 1 vs 1 -8

Goals 2012

I've been thinking about what I would really like to focus on and accomplish this year. Of course there will be one that belongs on the list for at least another 8 years (become a fabric designer), but beyond that....what is my passion?

I found myself always returning to my family. While these may not seem as exciting as last years goals and pretty personal, success I have outside of my family life will dull if that part isn't what it needs to be. The truth is I am not the mother I want to/can be. I am too controlling, too short of patience, and all the other "too"s that don't make a very good mother, etc.  My dream family is one that has an atmosphere of peace, LOTS of laughing, and a safe place to be no matter how imperfect you are. Fortunately for me I think I have a good idea how to achieve that, but it will take a LOT of work. It's doable, but it's going to be hard. Super hard.

And so, the goals for this year include, but are not limited to

1: Reading the Book of Mormon as a family every. single.day ( I just decided this goal tonight, after I put the kids to bed so it will start tomorrow. I hesitated to make it a goal because I know just how challenging this will be for me on the days I just want the kids in bed already! Also we have no less then three major trips planned for this year and that also makes things harder. That being said, I have no doubt that this is the most necessary step to create the family I so very strongly desire.

2. Actively checking my temperature and cooling it down. Have you heard the saying , "Fake it 'til you make it?"

Source: tweakiz.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Well, by "checking my temperature" I mean to be actively aware of my temper and acting exactly opposite of my knee jerk reactions. This is going to be the toughest. But until it because a habit to speak softly regardless of the situation I am going to be, for the lack of a better explanation, "fake soft" until it becomes second nature to react that way in the first place. No more mommy tantrums for me! Well, at least a whole lot fewer.

and then, of course

3. Secure a contract with a fabric manufacturing company. Surprisingly, this feels the least daunting to accomplish :) I sure hope it happens for me this year, but if it doesn't I have no doubt I am going to have a blast trying!!!

Dear readers, I know there are a bunch of you that read and never comment (HI!) I am going to need a LOT of encouragement this year. I've set the bar high for myself and whenever you aim high you are going to fall hard a few times. Any pats on the back, smiles, gems of wisdom without judgment you feel inspired to share will be loved and cherished!!!

Here's to a GREAT year!!

Can't do it

I can't not blog. It feels too weird.

I'm playing with my cousins, The Four Musketeers, for our annual New Year's Day get together.

We always have a good time. For example there may or may not have been grape juice coming out a nose....not mine, thank goodness....I mean....if it were to have happened that is.

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