I am in love....

Okay, most of you are aware of my love for Jane Austen. I loooove her. I love empire dresses, I love that that was the time of the restoration, I love Jane's portrayal of women during her time. She fascinates me! Anyway, I was looking on one of my favorite websites, etsy, and found this "Jane" doll. Is it adorable or what! I want to make one for Miss Emma.

Happy Birthday Ally!

We just celebrated Ally's 5th birthday! I cannot believe how much she has grown up. She is still high energy and high spirited, however, she has matured quite a bit. She is the very best helper. I don't know what I would do without her. She is so smart and quick to learn. We have been working on her letters and sounds to prepare for kindergarten, which she knows quite well, however, math is her forte. I have hardly worked with her, yet she can already do addition on her own. She just taught herself. Ally also has the softest heart. She wants others to be happy. I had wanted to celebrate her birthday at a local tea room where there is a private room for little girls. She wanted instead to go to the water fountains and play outside. With it being memorial day weekend, most people were out of town, however, we had a wonderful time. Ad'Lynn and Marty were in town and Brielle and Briley came over. Thanks to everyone who remembered us and celebrated our sweet girl's birthday!

Family Vacation

We just returned home from our trip to Florida to visit John's parents and his brother David. We had a wonderful time, even though it rained the entire time! It worked to our advantage, though. It wasn't insanely hot outside and we did manage to find a break in the weather to go to the beach. The girls loved it. Ally was afraid of the waves, which were very choppy due to the weather, but she did enjoy looking for shells. Emma, on the other hand, spent her time contently playing in the sand with her bucket and shovel. It is so like her to find something to occupy herself and stay there intently for a long time.





John and David and I were also able to go to the temple in Orlando which is absolutely beautiful. We did family sealings and later went to the bookstore. Can I just say that I loooooove church bookstores! I could spend all day in them. I bought the new family hymn book which I have wanted for some time now. It has pictures that go with the hymns, great to use for family home evenings. Needless to say, that wasn't all that I was able to find. Finally John and David had to drag me out. Later in the week we pretty much kicked back and took it easy. We watched movies, ate outside on the lanai, and hung out. When we were planning this trip in the beginning we talked about going to disney or sea world. We decided though, that it would be easier on our pocket books as well as be an opportunity to just give our girls our attention if we kept everything more low key. I could not believe how true that was. Both of the girls were on their best behavior. It was a good lesson to me of what things John and I should be doing with them.

Why the bad economy is good for you....

I was sitting in a doctor's office and noticed an article advertised on the cover of a magazine titled, "Why the bad economy is good for you". I opened it an began reading about how even though the economy is hard for many of us, there are some good outcomes of it. We are a little healthier, we are more creative with our means, we spend more time with loved ones because we are doing less, and so on. I wanted to share this because it reflects some of my own feelings. Not to sound too preachy, but it does seem that we are seeing many signs of the times, however, the scriptures teach that the righteous shall not fear. I never understood that. I wondered how in the midst of so much turmoil, there could be peace and comfort. I think that I am beginning to understand. I don't want to minimize the effects that the economy has had on many of us. It is very hard and many if not all of us are feeling the effects. However, it is also about perspective and attitude. We can still be happy, if not happier, with less. To illustrate, here are some pictures of the girls and some of their friends picking strawberries at the berry patch. We had a wonderful time. I have been freezing our strawberries and making freezer jam. Would we be doing things like this if we had everything at our fingertips? If so, would we have as much fun? I don't think so. I am noticing more people planting gardens, more friends asking me how to can, we are making more home-made gifts, and doing less extra-curricular activities which results in more family and friend time. I am so sad for those of us who have been hurt by job losses, however, I have to say, there is something sweet about these experiences. We have the ability to make them for our good rather than just a trial.

In honor of my mom....

Since it is Mother's Day, I thought that it would be fun to share some of my favorite memories of my mom.

Going to Hamilton Place mall with her when I was in grade school
Motivating talks after a heartbreak. Mom is one of the most comforting people I know.
Bringing treats to our classroom in grade school
Trying to sit as close to her as possible while she was on the phone so that I could listen
Being with her and my Aunt Gretchen in Winchester. They're hilarious together!
All of us crawling in bed with her in the morning when Clark was a toddler. He would come in every morning with a play frying pan and plastic egg and we would all laugh together.
Mom's frequent trips to Knoxville. Even though they are usually for doctor's appointments, I have still enjoyed the time that we get to spend together.
Her putting decals and clear nail polish on our nails when we were very little
Her presence at each of our childrens' births. Her presence was so comforting and calming.
Hearing her tell stories of some of our ancestors
Any holiday! Holidays at our home are the best! There is such an excitement. I think that the planning of them is actually my favorite part.
Phone calls
Visiting the hospital where she worked when we were little and getting banana popsicles
Mom's advice. It's always sound
I love all of the homemaking things that my mom is so talented at. I have tried over the years to implement them myself. She has taught me to sew, can, clean, budget meals, and so much more.
Notes that my mom put in our lunchboxes when we were little.
My mom's generosity. I don't know anyone who is more generous than my mom.

I know that these might sound a little random. But they are some of my favorite memories.
My mom has been so instrumental in my life. She has modeled so many wonderful things for me. Most importantly, I am grateful that she and my dad were bold and courageous as they made the important decision to join our church years ago. They both had wonderful strong churches that they belonged to, which they loved. However, they recognized a more complete truth in our church and because of that, I have been privy to so many blessings. Mom, I love you and thank you for all that have done and continue to do. Happy Mother's day.

Why God Made Moms

I stole this from my friend, Katina's, blog. I was laughing out loud and tearing up at the same time while I read it! I hope you all enjoy as well. Thanks Katina!

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.