Sabbath Day Gong Show (The Sequel)

Sometimes my patience wears so thin it's translucent!

Today was one of those days.   

I was late for Church (again) and made John go ahead with the kids.  When I finally arrived, John made me feel all guilty for it.   Ok, not really, but he sure didn't make me feel ok about it, so same diff.   (His silent chastisement can be so biting:)   

 Sacrament Meeting itself was absolutely fantastic, except that Nate was being a little nerd and kept distracting both John and I.   (We later compared "notes," so to speak,  and we each totally heard things that the other didn't.    So it appears that between the two of us - we pretty much got everything out of the talks!  Yay us!:)   

After Sacrament meeting, I headed up to the Primary room, which was, looking back, perhaps a big mistake.  I'm kind of thinking now, that it would have just been better to go hide in a bathroom stall or something for two hours:)    Instead though, I spent the next two blocks trying to keep a couple of kids from bolting on us every chance they got.     One time, I made the mistake of asking one very cute but active boy if he wanted to sit nicely in sharing time or go find his Dad?  You know, cuz' I'm all about giving a kid a choice right?  

  ...He chose to go find his Dad. 

And I was all like....Shoot!!   

 I was stuck with the awkward realization that this kid had called my bluff, and now it was up to me to follow through, which I really really didn't want to have to do.  

 (Well played little boy.  Well played:)    

When I wasn't busy playing the role of the self appointed Hall Monitor,  I was struggling to keep my own son quiet!   To Sam's credit, he generally does try to be a very well behaved little boy and has really made great strides in that department over all. 

   But laugh at him once and it's a done deal.   He basically becomes his own one man act!   

Well, someone must of really fed his ego today, because he could not be silenced and was often blurting out the craziest things to kids across the room just to get a laugh!

   (I blame Netflix entirely for these random and silly outbursts as he was totally just quoting movies.)    

    

Things he's blurted out in primary include:

To one little girl (he possibly likes) he shouted:   "Hey!  I've got my Eye on You!"

To a little BOY who was trying to talk to him he said in a threatening tone:

   "If you don't behave then I'm going to tell everyone at school... that you take....ballet!"  

(Luckily, today wasn't quite as bad as in the past;) 

AFTER church, I remembered (barely in time) that I'd scheduled our family in for Tithing Settlement with our Bishop.    So, we rushed home for a quick snack, and then it was back to the church with kids in tow.   I made sure to take two solid minutes before actually leaving the van to severely lecture the kids about how they should behave when visiting with the Bishop.    (It was one of those, "Now I don't ask for much...." kind of conversations;)     Luckily, everything went fine, except for the moment when Sam shouted out "Dangit!" in response to a question, and Abby admitted that she usually forgets to pay her tithing.   (Other then that though, I'm sure we looked like really awesome parents right?)

   

  Here's the thing though.   Although today played out exactly as I described,  it also really was mingled with sweetness as well.   It'd be wrong of me to overlook that.  

 For starters, the Sacrament Meeting talks I mentioned, really were so wonderful.   I love this Church, right down to the very way it operates!

Second, I had the chance to sit in a class with five year olds and help/watch a very wonderful primary teacher teach the same two boys I'd spent an hour and a half walking the halls with as I pretended to be my own version of Cruella Deville.   She was remarkable with them, and spoke to them with nothing less then absolute love.   And I felt so very humbled.   

Third, I made John lecture Sam when we got home, and then Sam later came to me and told me he'd try harder not to be (and I quote) "like rude and stuff like that at church anymore;"    

Fourth, our Bishop is truly remarkable and he so graciously made us feel like our family was, not just normal, but still Heaven material to boot!  (Knock on wood:)
Fifth, I vowed to myself that I would never... ever ...be late for a meeting again!

Like, Never!!

Because I've learned, that if you show up late for a meeting - it's all down hill from there!:)

Three Stories that bring a smile to my heart :)

 Just recently John and I have (once again) started up the whole "allowance" thing with the kids.   The difference, this time, is that they only get their allotted amount IF they follow through with what is "expected" of them.    I'm all about expectations these days;)

Each kid has their own jar, they get a coin at the end of each day if they've done what they are supposed to, and then at the end of the month, whatever moola is in their jars - it is theirs to keep!  

Nate hasn't yet clued in to the fact that he's only getting paid in nickels and pennies, he's just really so happy to hear that clinkety clink that it doesn't matter to him what he's paid:)    I think it is important to note that the only thing we really "expect" Nate to do is make it through each day without calling me "mommy poopy pants."   (It should be the easiest nickel to make, but for Nate, it's quite the challenge:)

 Anyways, I thought it was hilarious when I went in to check on him before I went to bed and found him fast asleep, with his money jar tucked in nice and tight beside him.    

He's a  regular ol' Donald Trump this kid!

     

********

Ever since the weather turned colder John has been having troubles with this little red truck of ours.  

We've known for a while now that whenever the temperature dips down and it gets really cold, the truck has a hard time "engaging."   As in, John literally can't put it in gear and move forward!    Many times, he'd go somewhere, (like, say to work) only to return home in the evening ...on FOOT!    (If I had a dollar for every night this truck sat in front of the school instead of our house all because John couldn't get it home, I'd have...well, enough money to buy a new truck probably:)      The best though, was when a couple of weeks ago, after church, John hopped in the truck to head home.    He backed up just fine, but sure enough, when it was time to put it into 1st gear, the darn thing wouldn't go anywhere.   A family in our ward (who was waiting behind him) could tell he was struggling, so they kindly tried to nudge him forward by gently pushing our truck with the front end of their suburban.    But no luck!    Apparently he gathered quite a crowd of people trying to help.  I've never been so glad in my life for the fact that we sometimes go to church separately:)  

My favorite story though, was when (one evening a couple of weeks ago)  I was returning home with Abby, when up ahead we saw some crazy driver, doing what looked like a dangerous backwards maneuver, in the middle of the road!   I was still a ways away, and it was dark, but I turned to Abby and said, "I bet you a million bucks Abs, that that's Dad up there."

Sure enough- John was having another "moment" with "Big Red."
Apparently, those old tires don't give John much traction when it snows.      On this particular day he could back up just fine, but the thin layer of ice on the road was too much for those old tires to move forward on.    So...he did what any ol' Redneck would do.

He drove home - IN REVERSE!!!
All the way home!
He later described to me how he had to drive in stages, taking it one block at a time, just to look inconspicuous.   hahahaha!!!      Is it just me, or is that not the funniest thing ever?  Seriously.   Here we are, two weeks later - and I'm still laughing!!!

********

We have this rule in our home that on Sundays, the kids are not allowed to play the wii.   Not at all.   The kids think we are uber strict and mean for it, but I kinda get a kick out of getting to be strict sometimes.  (It makes me feel like I'm doing a good job.)

Anyways, a couple of Sundays ago, I was working on something in the basement, when Sam came in and turned on the wii.  I was a little bit shocked at his blatant disregard for our rules, but didn't want to yell on the Sabbath or anything (I was trying something new I suppose:) so instead I got up, turned off the TV, and sat down again without saying a word.

Sam, looked at the TV.
Looked at me.
And then quietly said, "Hmmm. Well.   I am insulted by your behavior!"  
And walked away.

Lessons from a Tree

Sometimes when I'm driving, I like to look for trees.   

Not just any tree, but trees that stand a lone.  

 You know, when you travel somewhere and for the most part, see nothing but wide open field;  but then all of the sudden- there's a strange, out of place, tree that changes up the landscape just a little bit?    

Those are the trees I love.    

   

For example, whenever I drive to Calgary, there are two trees in particular that always catch my attention.   (I pass by one just before I approach Ft.Mcleod, and one just after Claresholm.)    I love both of those trees because though they seem to have sprouted up out of no where, they've found a place for themselves and are absolutely unmovable.   I love the way these trees withstand the wind that beats relentlessly upon them day after day.   And I love the way that even though those trees stand alone - they stand so tall and majestic.         

I recently came across this poem and it makes me love trees even more!!

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs

and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

Chocolate Factory

My sister Jewel married into the best family!   (actually, so did I for that matter;)    

I say this about Jewel though because she married into a family of Chocolate Makers!!!  

I am pretty much convinced that the perfect combination of relatives would consist of at least 1 doctor, 1 mechanic, 1 dentist and 1 expert chocolate maker.    As a result, I have made it clear to my children that they will have to either Become or Marry any one of the above. 

  (Naturally, they are free to chose for themselves, within the parameters of that stipulation;)

ANYWAYS- back to the chocolate.

Thanks to Jewel's Mother in law, who then taught Jewel, who then taught me - I now know (sorta, kinda, in a really amateur type way) how to make CHOCOLATES!!!    Eeeek!!!!

Beautiful, tasty, homemade chocolates.

All of my siblings got together this weekend so that we could learn and do this together, under Jewel's expert tutelage.     

It was awesome!

Us girls got to visit. 

My Brother helped when needed. (someone had to take the pictures right?)

The cousins all played.  (mostly with Crystal's dog Kit)

At the end of the day (literally as midnight approached) we all went home with our equal share of chocolate.   

(Though I'll admit, it was maybe not as equal as they all thought, because I pretty much ate my weight in sugar with all the "snitching" I did throughout the day:)   

We've heard stories growing up of how our Mom would make chocolates every year, and how good she was at it, so it felt extra special to be able to do this together.

I'll admit, I did reach a moment when I was so tired and sick of dipping that all I wanted to do was light Jewel's kitchen on fire, but looking back - I'd do it again in a heart beat!

(Make chocolates that is, not burn her kitchen down:)

Love doing things like this with mes soeurs!

 (That means "my sisters" I just thought it would be much cooler to say it in french:)

******

PS:  Jewel and I got together to package ours up all nice.   Here's a pic of the final product, ready to give away!! 

*******

PSS:   On another note, I recently won this awesome framed printable from AshleyBennett Photography!  

It came with 6 printables that I can change throughout the year, and I LOVE it.   

Never again can I say I "don't ever win anything";)

You should follow her Facebook page or Blog.    Her photos are stunning!

75 years

Last weekend we drove to Raymond to visit John's Grandma and Grandpa Hardy.   

They are turning 96 and 97 years old respectively, can you believe it?!

It was fun to chat with them for awhile.   

The kids LOVE getting Jelly Beans from Grandma's jelly bean machine.    

Grandpa Hardy is tired often, but always perks up whenever the kids ask for a hug. 

  He gives the best "Puppy Dog Hugs" EVER!

It's remarkable to think of their heritage, and all that they have accomplished in their 75 married years.   

Pretty amazing if you ask me!

John's many personalities

The other night John came home from work with a packet of his school photos in hand.   

In it was THIS 8x10 photo (which I think is soo handsome by the way) as well as several extra wallet size pictures.

I immediately pounced on the 8x10 picture, and carried it off for safe keeping, threatening to hang it on our wall above the piano next to the kids' school pictures:)    

The kids immediately pounced on ALL of the wallet size photos, each child pleading with John to let them have one of their very own.    I imagine John must have felt flattered, as he divided out those wallet size photos to all four kids, telling them that they could do whatever they wanted with them.  

 Perhaps they would lovingly hang one on their bedroom wall, or take one to school to show off to their friends?   

Nope.   

Apparently the kids had other plans in mind.

Like this:

Well done Nate!  His best scribbling to date:)

And this:

(courtesy of Jessica)

And This:
(love the african/tribal feel to Sam's artwork:)

And last but not least- This:                       

(I found Abby's photos of John the next day.  She'd taped these photos to a piece of cardboard, with a string tied at two ends and hung it up on her wall.)    What you don't see is that above each face was a caption/name. 

  (Killer, Lady, and Evil Santa respectively;)           

I'll admit, this all had me laughing so hard as I gathered more and more of these pictures from various hiding spots.   

But it's got me kinda nervous too.

I'm pretty sure there is not a picture in this house that is safe from them now!

Thanksgiving Poem

I found this poem at the bottom of Abby's backpack today.  
Her teacher apparently had the class right about their "senses" and all that they are thankful for.

I LOVE it, and even though Thanksgiving is over, I may still hang this on my favorite quote board.  Turkey and all!!!

Thank You For...

Thank you for all my tongue can taste.

Crispy rainbow trout cooked on the grill,

My Grandma's yummy pumpkin pie,

Hot chocolate on a cold, winter eve.

Thank you for all my eyes can see.

A horse galloping across the beach,

Two polar bears wrestling in the snow,

My Dad returning home from work.

Thank you for all my nose can smell.  

My Mom cooking chocolate chip cookies, 

Apple blossoms on the tree in my backyard, 

Marshmallows roasting over a fire.

Quotables

In my room, beside my bed, hangs a cute decorative wooden frame.
And IN that frame, hang many of my favorite quotes at any given time.   (I LOVE quotes:)
It's funny how some quotes mean something to me at one point in my life, and then are later replaced by something that has come to mean more.  

At any rate, I thought I'd share a few of the quotes that are hanging in my frame at this particular moment:


******

QUOTE 1:

This quote has been on my wall for awhile, and it always reminds me that whenever it feels like the world beneath me is "giving way" -  to calmly trust.    I love the image of a bird perched on the frailest of limbs.  
 
Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.
-Victor Hugo

*******
Quote 2: 

I always look to this thought whenever I need to stop thinking of only myself.
(so basically, I pretty much look to this thought a LOT, and should probably think of it a little more still:)

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead.
True Story."

*******

Quote 3:

This following quote was shared by our ward Relief Society President in a recent sacrament meeting talk.   I literally got chills as she read it.   CHILLS!!!   Oh how this thought brings peace to my heart.

"He has an infinite attention to spare for each of us.  He does not have to deal with us in the mass.  You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being He had ever created.  When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only man in the world."
 - C.S. Lewis

*********

Quote 4:

I recently came across this quote and loved it so much, I had to slap a picture on beside it.   Nature truly does put me at ease.    In a very literal way it "sets me aright."  Usually when life gets feeling to busy or crazy, I know it's time to go for a drive;)

********

QUOTE 5:

I'm pretty sure that there is nothing worse then Fear.   For that reason, I love this reminder that this quote gives, that great things come when we face our fears head on.  


"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."
Eleanor Rooseveldt