A Get Away for 2

All we both can say is "Can we go back?" No kids, no cleaning, no fighting, no making beds, no whining, no cooking...did I mention NO CLEANING!!! We had a blast in the perfect weather and just being with eachother.

Family Rules CHART!!!

So on the way home from Idaho I asked the kids what they thought our "Family Rules" should be... I was SO excited when they covered everything I wanted them too in their own words... including the consequenses if the rules weren't followed. I have a quote at the bottom by James E. Faust in a talk entitled "A Thousand Threads of Love" It states "For us to have successful homes, vaules must be taught, and there must be rules, there must be standards, there must be absolutes.... Without Discipline children will not respect either the rules of home or of society."

I am grateful to parents that taught me. Good, bad, right from wrong, forgivness, love and also taught me that there is a way to become better, and to become more, to find the Lord in EVERYTHING. Their righteous examples of Love and Faith have led me to my knees asking the Lord to help me raise and teach these kids our Father in Heaven has trusted me with, asking Him to forgive me daily struggles and weaknesses and make me better and more. My Mother always had new ways of teaching us, help us, and showing us the right way.... She always made charts...and I know through those charts I found excitement and enjoyment in achieving the desired goal.

Anyways I hope you all find time to read this talk and try to implement what you get out of it.

give me a C...give me a T....give me an R

Tonight I was overwhelmed with the responsibility I have as a Mother, a Daughter and a Wife to be better, to be more. CTR came to mind...and I couldn't get it out of my head....so it being 11:00 p.m. and not being able to sleep.... I snuck out of bed and made a CTR Poster for the kids. I went through my Church Clip Art I have collected and found picture that represent Choosing the Right!

We are going to Idaho in the morning...and I have been praying for the opportunity to have FHE all together and also talk about our Family Rules, and also to share my testimony with the kids. I have had plenty of opportunities and let them pass me by...BUT not anymore....whenever we are going to have all the kids...be it 10 minutes or 5 hours I am going to make sure to teach a principle.

SO...tomorrow it will be CTR. Each chart has 100 squares in which when the kids do something good, listen when asked the first time, share, hug, laugh, play, smile....they will get to put a CTR sticker in a square when they are caught "choosing the right." I haven't decided what will be the prize for completing the chart. I am thinking each child will earn a trip to the $1 store once they fill their personal chart and then when they ALL fill their sheets we'll ALL go to dinner, or a movie, or stay in a hotel. (something BIG for all of them completing it)

Anyways I think I can go to bed now that it is 12:38 AM I think the drive will be fun talking about the pictures I found and making our "Family Rules" (stay tuned for what they come up with...that will be my next chart!!!!)

What's Going On....

I love this picture!
Crazy is the word that has come to most people's mouths when they see all of us together or hear that we have 5 kids. I always want to say "ya, and I'm pregnant" (although I'm not...I just want to see the reaction) B and I are getting excited to be taking our much anticipated Honeymoon in a week and a half. Don't be Jel! But I really can't wait. Anyways just wanted to update that we are all doing well, and adjusting good to all the changes. There is a bump here and there, but all together we are happy.

A New Tradition

Mom's Clam Chowder :O) YUMMY!!!!

B's Dad's Family gets together during Conference Weekend on Saturday nights to tie a quilt while the men were at priesthood session.

Everyone made soup and rolls. When the men got back from the Priesthood Session we had a dinner in the garage. It was SO much fun to get to know all my new Auntie's and cousins and enjoy their sweet company. They have all welcomed me in with open arms and it's nice to feel their love and support. And see how much they love my hubby!