Boys

There is a saying that hangs in my laundry room.  It looks like this . . .

 

HERE is the link so you can print it too.

Only this morning, for about the 1000th time,  I went into my boys bathroom and I really wished I had a sign that said instead,

"If you are still in the process of raising 3 boys, 

please remember that the pools and pools of  

urine behind the toilet 

will disappear all to quickly, 

and that you WILL NOT (no surprise)

 miss them at all!!!"  

So, if anyone out there wants to make me this sign, I will gladly hang it on my bathroom door. 

Young Women Activity

 I love that I get to work with these wonderful Young Women!  Last week, we had a class activity, and I wanted to share our fun project.  

Since our theme for the month was on Individual Worth, I got to looking through the personal progress book for ideas.  I came across goal 7 under Individual Worth and thought it could be a really fun activity.  The goal lists several scriptures to read, and then asks the young woman to have a friend, family member and Young Women leader each write positive qualities the Lord has given to her.  

So, I took an idea off of Pinterest found HERE, where each person writes these positive qualities on a white board, and then the young woman stands in front of it and we take a picture.  Here's one example of how ours turned out. 

I really wanted the focus of this activity to be on the girls thinking of and writing these positive qualities, rather than on the crafty part to come later, so I asked them to really think of each girl as they wrote about her and be sincere and thoughtful in her comments.  They did a great job!  I felt that each girl's comments totally reflected her.  

The rest of our activity was assembling these little boards to put our pictures on.  I have a similar board in my home with a family picture on it and a totally different saying, but the idea was the same.  We Modge Podged the words on, and then taped the picture in place.  I cut, sanded and stained the boards ahead of time to again, keep the focus on the qualities we were listing, rather than the craft. 

I thought they turned out so cute!  And I hope these girls will display them and remember, above all, that they really are of Infinite Worth, with a very unique and divine mission. 

1st Day of School

 

Well, here we are already!  School has begun, and might I say is going quite well so far.  Chad started 2nd grade this year.  WOW!  That seems hard to believe! 

 This is him at his new desk right as the bell rang on the first day.  I have to say I am so impressed with how well he is doing with his morning routine-he gets up each day and is ready before scripture study.  So proud of him! 

 Tyler just started his 2nd year of preschool.  He is super excited!  He has one whole day under his belt, but hopefully, he will have a great year! 

And of course, Greyson, couldn't be left out when the camera was pulled out for pictures.  

Love these boys! 

Moments

I've been having a few of those moments lately where, even if only for a few seconds, I see my children for the joy they bring and the little people they are becoming.  I treasure those moments, and I need to seek for more of them.  As a mother, I think it is all too easy to get caught up in the mundane tasks of everyday life and miss all the moments that really matter.  Moments like all three of my boys playing together, happily.  Watching my 7-year-old speak to his 2-year-old brother in a kind, motherly voice, like he has heard me doing, or reading him a story.  Chad reading, really reading, from chapter books-man, he's growing up!  Tyler talking to me all day, telling me everything that comes to his little boy mind, and Greyson telling me, "I do it, by myself.".  I came across this quote the other day that really struck me:

The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in the pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments". -Dieter F. Uchdorf

Boy, I am so guilty of waiting for my "golden ticket". Not that I'm not happy now, but I find myself constantly thinking of how much better life will be when . . .

When Dave can quit his second job and be home more
When we have finished paying off our debts
When we build our dream home
When I'm all done being pregnant, like done forever, which I'm not sure is yet
When all my kids are in school and I can get a little more done each day

The list could go on and on.  The thing is, when I constantly focus on the future or my "golden ticket", I'm missing the everyday moments.  I'm learning that life is mostly challenges and trials of faith,  with small fleeting moments of peace and joy, that if we look for them, are truly our treasure.  My children are growing up before my eyes.  I've got to treasure these moments.  Yes, some days are hard.  But, I know that for this stage of my life, home is where I need to be.  And, when we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to His help.  I know that as a mother, I'm on the Lords errand.

I posted that quote in my bedroom, right as I walk out of my room.  I need to frame it and place it in virtually every room in my home as a reminder.  No more "golden tickets" Telena, THIS is my NOW! 

Last Day of Summer

My kiddos start school tomorrow.  They are ready.  I am ready.  Chad is anxious to get going in 2nd grade and to see all of his friends again.  I'm super excited to be starting preschool again.  But there is still a little tinge of sadness as summer comes to a close.  Chad will be starting soccer this week as well (our first time signing up any of our children for any type of organized sport).  I'm already overwhelmed by the practice schedule.  I imagine we'll just have to give up dinners together as a family on those nights for a while.  I guess we'll see how this all goes.  

There are so many fun memories we made together as a family this summer, and I totally intended to record them, but this blog has taken a serious back seat, so for my own sake, here is my summer recap as we head in to school tomorrow morning.  

4th of July Celebration and Telena's Birthday

We had major fires in Idaho this year, and even lost 66 homes to fire in our own town, so there was a ban on fireworks for most of the 4th Celebration.  However, the boys enjoyed doing their fair share of poppers.  

 Of course we had to attend the parade.  

 As for my birthday, Greyson did a great job helping to unwrap most of my presents.  And Dave made me an ice cream cake (see below).  It's scary to look back even just a few years at past birthday pictures-I'm getting OLD!  

Salt Lake City trip, Airforce museum 

When I was down in Utah for my roommie reunion, I also met up with our old neighbors.  Boy, I sure miss them!  While I was there, we took our kids to the air force museum. 

I can never go wrong with airplanes and my kids.  We had a lot of fun together and catching up.  

Yellowstone Park w/ Grandma and Grandpa Jones

 It's not very often that my own little family and I get to take a trip with just my parents and us.  This summer, we planned a trip together to a campground and hot springs nearby, followed by Yellowstone Park.  My boys sure love their grandparents, and it was a special time that they got to have them all to themselves.  We had a lot of fun swimming, followed by exploring in Yellowstone.  

 I had to take the boys down to the Madison river, where I played my life away as a child.  There are several hot springs bubbling up throughout this river and as kids, we would play in them for hours.  I love to show my kids some of the things I enjoyed as a child.  

 We saw Old Faithful . . . 

 and took a few hikes.

 It was very enjoyable and we made some special memories together.  

Girls Camp

Well, I really missed the boat on taking pictures while up at camp, but I had such an incredible experience with our 19 girls up in Island Park.  These girls were the most helpful and positive I think I've ever known at a girls camp.  No complaining, no arguments.  Just lots of bonding, fun and friendships formed.  I love girls camp and I'm so glad that I get to work with these wonderful girls each week.  

We did have one more incredible trip to Bear Lake, which I will have to post separately.  It has been a great summer!  And now, we open our arms to fall as we start back to school.  

Roomie Reunion

Fifteen years ago this Fall, I headed off to what was then Ricks College for my first semester of college.  I didn't know anyone, and I was placed into an apartment by the apartment managers with 5 other girls.  Little did I know at the time the impact these women would have in my life.  We were kindred spirits, meant to be together as roomies.  We were known as the 211 girls, as that was our apt. number.  We had a LOT of fun back then!  Looking back at pictures, we were oh-so silly!  Over the years, each of us have gotten married, moved away and started families of our own.  We've tried our best to stay in touch, but this last month was the first time that all six of us have been together since we were roomies 15 years ago.

This was us then . . .

As our lives have taken us all over the country for school, missions, you name it, it just happened that we have all begun to move nearer to each other and this presented the perfect opportunity to meet up once again.  We all met at the zoo in Salt Lake City. 

 Here we are, 15 years later. 

 And here is what we have grown to, minus our hubbies.  Six of us have grown to 32 total (original 6, 20 children, 6 hubbies).  How fun it was to meet up again after all these years. 

Chad's 7th

Clear back last month, Chad celebrated a birthday.  I don't know who was behind the camera because there were nearly no pictures taken to capture the moment, but I still need to document it, nonetheless.

Chad turned 7 this year.  I feel like I'm entering a different stage of parenting now, and 7 really doesn't sound so little anymore.  The truth is, it isn't all that little-Chad is one of my best helpers.  He is capable of doing so much and I really love that he can help with and entertain his brothers (not that he is always willing to do it when I need him to). Chad's current love is Hot Wheels cars, which he received a handful of as gifts.  His cousin also gave him a pair of Rollerblades, which I think he practically lived in for the first two weeks. 

 

 For Chad's cake, he wanted a "Bounce on 2" cake (a game he plays on the ipad).  Thankfully, Dave did the decorating with Chad's help, and I think it is the most simple and fast cake decorating we've ever had for a birthday!  He was pleased a punch with how it turned out! 

So, Happy Birthday, to my oldest.  Seven years ago, I became a mom for the first time, and even with all of the ups and downs and struggles, I wouldn't change a thing.  Love you, Chad.