Finding the joy in the simple things!

It all began with a half full bottle of water...






It was a fabulous October afternoon, an excellent day for fishing! We all loaded up in the truck and headed down to the lake - excited to catch something and enjoy the outdoors. We fished for hours and hours and had a great time! On the way back to camp the kids were becoming irritated with one another because they were hot and tired and hungry. Well wouldn't you know it...someone found a bottle of water, a half full bottle of water. So being quite the comedic bunch of kids, they began putting the bottle in front of their eyes and pulling faces trying to make the rest of the family laugh. It worked.....and was the funnest ride back to camp.
Each of us pulled awesome faces with our gigantic eyes peering out - a priceless moment of pure enjoyment. Living the simple life....enjoying the simple things....
Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. ~ Lao Tzu

Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

"Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not"

We were sittin' up there on your momma's roof
Talkin' 'bout everything under the moon
With the smell of honeysuckle and your perfume
All I could think about was my next move

Oh, but you were so shy, so was I
Maybe that's why it was so hard to believe
When you smiled and said to me
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I like you a lot
But you're 'bout to miss your shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

It was the best dang kiss that I ever had
Except for that long one after that
And I knew if I wanted this thing to last
Sooner or later I'd have to ask for your hand

So I took a chance
Bought a wedding band and I got down on one knee
And you smiled and said to me
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
I think you know I love you a lot
I think we've got a real good shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

So, we planned it all out for the middle of June
From the wedding cake to the honeymoon
And your momma cried
When you walked down the aisle

When the preacher man said, "Say I do"
I did and you did too, then I lifted that veil
And saw your pretty smile and I said
"Are you gonna kiss me or not?

Are we gonna do this or what?
Look at all the love that we got
It ain't never gonna stop
Are you gonna kiss me or not?"

Yeah baby, I love you a lot
I really think we've got a shot
Are you gonna kiss me or not?

The Office - Parkour!

The Office - Parkour! - Video - NBC.com



This video is posted for giggles and amusement, and as a dedication of sorts to my lovely half monkey son Cody. Cody practically climbed out of the womb...and has been scaling, climbing, jumping and vaulting everything and anything ever since!
He is a very acrobatic and talented little guy - who thoroughly enjoys giving his mother a heart attack! If there is anything close by that can be jumped on, leaped over, scaled across, or ran up..leave it to Cody to attempt. If there is a roof that is even REMOTELY accessible..that is where you will find Cody. A tree with a low enough branch to start his climb and he will be to the top before you even know he is missing. I will give him credit, he has never (knock on wood) broken a bone in all of his 13 years!
Recently he has been interested in Parkour...In simplest scientific terms, Parkour is a method of movement that focuses on maximum conservation of momentum in order to create a fluid and painless way to get from point A to point B. He has even taken lessons (I'm still trying to figure this one out) at a local park with a bunch of his friends given by a "professional traceur" Apparently that is what you call someone who does Parkour....who would've known!
One night we were at the movies and out in front there were these stone pillars, perhaps 3 feet high. Wouldn't you know it, Cody began jumping over them. There were maybe a dozen pillars in a row mind you. One after another he would place his hands on the top and then hoist himself over, do a little twist and move the next, in a very fluid motion! I guess he wasn't paying enough attention or his arms were a little worn out from jumping over the previous 10 that he didn't quite hoist himself up far enough to clear the last pillar and boom, smash, pop - Cody hit the pavement. Did this stop him, oh no! He was able to recover rather quickly and roll with the fall to make it appear that he "meant" to do that! He has really got the technique down, a pure Ninja! Now if I can only stop him from parkouring all over my cars...the dents are becoming very bothersome! I just cant help but wonder where he got all of his coordination from....he sometimes makes me believe in evolution!

'Pieces'

"Pieces"

I'm here again
A thousand miles away from you
A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am
I tried so hard
Thought I could do this on my own
I've lost so much along the way

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole

I've come undone
But you make sense of who I am
Like puzzle pieces in your hand,

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole!

I tried so hard! So hard!
I tried so hard!

Then I see your face
I know I'm finally yours
I find everything I thought I lost before
You call my name
I come to you in pieces
So you can make me whole
So you can make me whole

Mom's Rule - only because of their kids!

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
~Washington Irving

What a very special day today is. I am grateful that there is a special day to acknowledge, honor, and show gratitude for our mothers, as well as being spoiled as a mother! My kids made this a super great day for me. I was kind of dreading this day, the first one without Jason, where I would be responsible for all of the activities and outings with the kids. I don't think I had truly appreciated being spoiled by my family until this year. However, Jason was super amazing and helped the kids take care of me. He was very kind and generous helping our kids to spoil me and make me feel loved and appreciated.
We went to brunch at IHOP - didn't even have to wait, which was a shocker! We ate a fabulous breakfast, and then the kids surprised me with a bouquet a flowers, a new book, my favorite candies, a beautiful card, a gift certificate to get my nails done, and then a gift card to go shopping. They are so thoughtful (thanks to Jason being so giving) and very sweet children. McKenzie made me a Domino necklace at school which was very sweet of her. I shall hang it from my rear view mirror! Devin also made me a gift, which he left at school, so I'll get another gift on Monday! Yeah! The kids have also been working very hard today at getting along and not fighting, as it is mother's day and that is what is going to make mom the happiest! They know me so well!!
I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to be their mother. What a role - sometimes it comes so easily, and sometimes it is a challenge. It isn't an easy job, very trying and testing, but so rewarding and by far the greatest job ever offered. Sometimes I wonder what Heavenly Father was thinking...am I really capable of being a mother? Yes, yes I am. I am not perfect, but I am a super mom! And all that I am learning along the way only makes me better.
I am so grateful and thankful for my mother, she is amazing. I truly admire and look up to her for her great example of selflessness and love that she has shown me through my life. I love her more than she'll ever know and couldn't ask for anyone better, she is the best mom out there! If I could be anything like her, my kids would be blessed!

Prompting for the stubborn

Today I woke up late - and felt kinda groggy, with the decision already made that I wasn't going to make it to church today. However, someone had other plans for me.
I've never been one that has had really profound moments where the Holy Ghost has talked to me or warned me of danger, but today I had the feeling that I needed to go to church. I tried to talk myself out of going, Kenzie even tried to talk me out of going, but the feeling was strong enough to make me take notice and so I made the decision and went.
It was as if the lessons today as well as some of the testimonies were meant for me and me alone. It was as if someone knew that I needed answers but wasn't sure where to find them.
The words struck me so deeply and made my heart swell, confirming again to me the importance and the power of the atonement. There is no depth where we feel like we are that the savior cannot and will not go to rescue us. I imagine that the Savior feels much like I do as a parent. When one of my children falls and gets hurt or are having an emotional trial and they cry, I cannot sit there and listen to them cry. I search them out and try and soothe their troubled hearts and heal their wounds. How great a feeling to know that the Savior is searching for me to comfort me in my time of trial and heartache. It is almost difficult and overwhelming to imagine the love that the Savior has for each one of us, and what he was willing to do for us. I know that the Lord knows who I am and what I am going through, he knows my strengths and also my weaknesses. I also know that I have no need to fear him, for he loves me unconditionally and was willing to die for me.
I am eternally grateful for the power of repentance and for the power of forgiveness. It is a blessing to know that I can forgive myself and that the Lord can and will forgive me when I make mistakes. What a comfort to know that I am not expected to be perfect,