some serious bed head

thats all! :)

a ride on the carousel

finding joy in the journey

"If you have childrem who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didnt appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward.




Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.



If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will - to your surprise- miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important- and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."

President Tomas S. Monson

I believe these words where spoken just for me. Last night i picked up the Ensign and read these words. How fitting they are for me right now, in my times of struggle and battle with myself. This journey can be a joy, I just need to find it, in all the everyday things. Find the small joys. I am not very good with words and cant explain exactly how i feel. I have struggled with depression on and off for a long time. I have never wanted to admit it or do anything to fix it, because that may mean going to tell all of my personal thoughts to someone i dont know. How much this talk helped me. I am just so grateful for a prophet who listens to the Lord and who can speak to us the words of the Lord. How grateful i am for this talk. How grateful i am for this season. The season of thanks and gratitude.

You can read the rest of the talk here.

mexican hot chocolate and other recipies to try

we made mexican hot chocolate for family night last night. devoured by everyone. callie couldnt get it down fast enough. thank you spray and wash.

mexican hot chocolate:

3/4 cup instant hot chocolate mix
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 pinches chili powder
1 cup milk
3 cups boiling water
In a large mug, mix the hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, cinnamon, and chili powder. Pour in the milk. Add the boiling water and stir.

i am the worst at making new meals. i hate making something new and then it not turning out good, so ive always stuck to my staple meals. ive gone out on a limb and found some meatless(healthy, and less $$$), simple, delicious meals. and my kids even ate them. big +!

here are a few you could try,,, if you are a "going out on a limb" kinda gal!

Ravioli soup

Cuban black bean stew

whole wheat spaghetti with garlic zucchini and tomato

enjoy!

Repunzel. i think not.

it happened, again.






yes. she did it.
now wipe your tears of laughter and read on.
they story,

i was on my way out the door with my arms full going to the gym. i forgot my phone, i always seem to do that. since my arms were full i asked addie to run up to my bathroom and get it. i went ahead and went to put callie in the car. addie came down no phone in hand. she just stood there and stared at me. i took one glance at her head,
once full of long,even hair,





now looked like she met up with edward scissor hands in the hallway! i had to leave the room instantly. i had to tell myself that what i just saw was some sort of illusion and could in no way be real. i looked at her again with my hands on my cheeks and just cried tears. ( i have been emotional lately) i couldn't look at her. she had cut it to the scalp in some places! i kept thinking there is no way on earth anyone could fix it without making her look like the little boy down the street or worse the "mister" who works at Toni and Guy!
i gained composure and took her to a recommended hair dresser. she worked wonders and was great! i was so pleased. we decided not to chop it completely off, but to give her a cute bob, blend it in as best we could, trying not to cut too much more off, and leave it to grow out, telling people, "she cut it". i am so pleased and so grateful to mandy! thank you!

she is still my beautiful little girl. she brings me so much joy.... and hardship, but much more joy.




and a picture with sister, just because.

addies drawings

Addie has been starting to draw "things" now. just recently. it brings a smile to my face. the way she uses her creativity and imagination just makes me so happy. she will usually draw a circle and then make it into something, or see what the circle is shaped like and call it that. kind of like looking at clouds and pointing out pictures. that is what she does. i love it.

the sun:



a penguin with googly eyes:

thursday night entertainment

they were a little too hyped up for bedtime. i let her burn off some steam. they were being so silly. you will hear my weird voice, why does it always sound different and weird on video?(marks voice is in it too, just so you dont think i sound too much like a man! :) ), and yes i do say, " oh my land!", i am strange like that. addie uses her foot as a microphone, and there are a few bonks of the head. i get a little knocked out at the end. enjoy.