paper route

so we have a paper route...

Am I crazy? What kind of sleep deprived state do I need to be in to finally get it?

7 days a week, every morning 4:30 AM...yes Julia still wakes up periodically throughout the night.

This was the first week. I am so sore from all the running- going back and forth from house to house as Chay drives the car, hands me a bunch of rolled up papers and tells me the next 5 houses to deliver to.

Chay and I decided we better go together for awhile before we venture off on delivering 120 papers alone. So yes the whole family is driving in chaotic circles all over dark neighborhoods at 4:30 in the morning trying to learn the trade of newspaper delivering. Julia and Kenzie really like it for some reason- they enjoy watching Chay and I trying to figure out where the stupid house numbers are and us bickering about getting lost or being on the wrong street...I pop popcorn for the girls and they just munch away in the back seat as they enjoy the show. They now go to bed around 6:30 at night!!!

I decided to take on this new challenge as a way to motivate ourselves to climb out of some debt a lot faster- We still owe on Julia, Chay's student loan...and the dreadful credit card debt- which is almost a swear word to some so I should probably abbreviate it instead- the dreadful C.C. debt. The payments each month are just annoying and so here we go...on a debt diet. Chay wasn't too happy when I told him without really asking him that we will be doing a paper route- but despite it being early it isn't too bad- we kind of like it don't we Chay?...ok that isn't funny...Since we have to deliver papers every single day even on Sundays we are going to work extra hard to pinch and save until we get some debt paid off. The quicker we pay off our debts the quicker we can quit the paper route.

Do any of you know who Dave Ramsey is? Ok I am super nerd- I love talk radio. I listen to Dr. Laura, Dave Ramsey, Glenn Beck- whenever I can. Well Dave Ramsey is a financial guru- he pushes debt free lifestyles all the time. He has a debt-free program that many of his listeners follow (very similar to the church's program)-anyway- so whenever someone finally becomes debt-free they call into the show and tell Dave they are out of debt. Dave congratulates them and throws a big radio party for them and makes them scream on the top of their lungs "I am DEBT FREEEEEEE" then Dave will play some kind of Top Gun Rocky type music for them...and Chay always laughs at me- but it is at that moment when the caller is screaming "I am debt freeee!!!" that I get all teary eyed and practically cry... I know- pathetic- I can't really explain it- well whatever it is I am feeling- I feel it. (I know Mom what you are going to say- it's the Spirit. I am grateful Heavenly Father is mindful of me- even in the simplest of ways- and He wants us to get out of debt!)

so Let Freedom Ring!!!! I still have my own student loan that kicks in next year which makes me want to gag just thinking about it and we have our car that we plan on selling- but for now our goal is to get rid of the small stuff. I want to see if I can actually do this- stick to a budget and succeed.

My dad delivered newspapers when he was a boy. Keith delivered papers and pizzas. Bryon delivered pizzas- in the Thunderbird (yes he did Jaynee-here's a picture of a Thunderbird- I will forever cherish that car- the 20 point turn around) I delivered pizzas and now I keep the tradition alive- I am now a carrier for the Standard Examiner. Oh and do any of you remember this Nintendo Game "Paper Boy?" I remember Bryon playing this all the time. So Bryon? Are you out there somewhere? I don't think you even know I have a blog- but this video is for you and for the good old days when we would fight over the Nintendo and of course you would always win because you were huge and strong. I still have vivid memories of you holding onto my ankles forever so I couldn't move. I would try to swing at you and bite you but that only resulted in more dead legs and you pinning me down and hucking up loogies in my face...lovely isn't it? Um...for the record- we fought a lot as kids. Love you Bryon-

this video game is the theme of our early morning lives now:

will it blend

ok well I now want a blendtec blender- I've always wanted an amazing blender- but this one grinds wheat, makes soup (even heats it), smoothies, ice cream, food processor, juicer- it would be the multi-purpose appliance so I wouldn't have to store a million other appliances/gadgets shoved under my sink somewhere-

I am sure the Vita-mix blender is just as amazing or even better but I am good friends with the guy who manufactures and distributes the blades so I am partial to Blendtec- anyway so at Costco there was a demo guy who was selling the blenders and making smoothie samples for everyone- they were mighty delicious I tell you. There were quite a few people huddled together patiently waiting for a taste- you know how it is at Costco on Saturday around noon time. Taste testers on every aisle and hungry shoppers all fighting for that last sample on the tray... anyway so as the blendtec guy was pouring smoothies into the little sample cups this peculiar, kind of interesting individual butted her way through the crowd to the front and said really loud, "I want one. Not too much. I can't have too much because I just had my colon removed." I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. I had to turn around and look at Chay so I wouldn't be heard laughing. Chay then said in a serious kind of monotoned voice, "where's my camera...I need a picture of this lady."

The more I tell this story the funnier it gets. I love moments like these....


ok and this video is for Chay...please post your Chuck Norris quotes Chay...

here are a couple quotes that mean something to me:

"If you always have to be wound up, you could wind up nowhere. Tap into the eternal power source and run on automatic" ~Elder Richard G. Scott

"The importance of having a sense of the sacred is simply
this--if one does not appreciate holy things, he will lose them.
Absent a feeling of reverence, he will grow increasingly casual in attitude
and lax in conduct. He will drift from the moorings that his covenants with
God could provide. His feeling of accountability to God will diminish and
then be forgotten. Thereafter, he will care only about his own comfort and
satisfying his uncontrolled appetites. Finally, he will come to despise
sacred things, even God, and then he will despise himself.

"On the other hand, with a sense of the sacred, one grows in understanding and
truth. The Holy Spirit becomes his frequent and then constant companion.
More and more he will stand in holy places and be entrusted with holy
things. Just the opposite of cynicism and despair, his end is eternal
life."~Elder D. Todd Christofferson

to explain the last post....

Kenzie will be a future blogger...I thought she was messing around on pbskids.com but I guess she wasn't-

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chay

just the thought of being able to spend a day with Chay when he was 6 or 7 sounds so fun to me- I bet he was so dang cute- Chay is a very humble, funny, playful, easy going person- I can only imagine how adorable he must have been as a little boy.

ok here are a couple funny entries from his journal when he was a little guy- he didn't date the pages but I am guessing he is 7-8 or so... got to love that cursive!



Crap- my battery just died on my camera and I have no clue where the charger is- so I only have one picture- I will write out the entries.

Page 2
"Today is Sunday. We have to fast. I am learning to sew. I love to go swimming. Today is special. It is a sunny day."

Page 3
"Today there was nothing to do. I went to John's house and he wasn't there. So I went to Mike's house and he wasn't there. I went to Paul's house and he wasn't there. I went home."

baby whisperer

Baby whisperer where are you? Can you explain Julia to me....tell me what she is thinking and who the heck she is?

Julia is almost 10 months and she is just a cute yet weird baby....with crazy hair. I mean she is wonderful and all but she is so unpredictable- I have tried and tried over and over to get her on a schedule and she just resists everything I do. She will at least go to bed at 8 every night but she wakes up sporadically throughout the night- screaming her head off. She is stubborn and whiny and she is wearing me out. She is kind of hyper and all over the place...she is super busy. I need sleep. Crying it out is not helping- she screamed the other night for 2 hours...and my heart was about broken. I can't do this cry it out stuff...I think I am going to call Dr. Laura...

just called her and her line was busy.

whatcha gonna do with all that junk?

keep singing it joette...all that junk up in your trunk-

well three times a week I go walking with some girls in my ward. Well Wednesday was trash day and guess what I found in someone's garbage can while we were walking???? These cute little benches. Elissa had to push my girls while I walked the entire time holding benches in my arms...but I feel this great find to definitely fulfil and defy the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure"...

...the poor girls who lost their benches...sadly their names were still on them- Amie and Kaylee- sorry Amie and Kaylee that your mom threw away your benches- hopefully no childhood scars will come to be because of your lost benches...but in the meanwhile I totally think they are cute- and I will have to paint them someday. Chay unscrewed and flipped over the boards that said their names....

Tonya I thought of you when I was digging through the garbage can....

a new quote

ok so maybe I should start a weekly update on the quotes found in my ward bulletin. This week's wasn't nearly as exciting as the last one- thanks to Mariah Carey but still- it is so completely random:

"A pessimist read his horoscope that said, "Make three new friends and see what happens." He made three new friends and nothing happened. Now he complains that he is stuck with three new friends."

maybe I should start taking my horoscope seriously...lol

Did you notice how this quote is found directly underneath the Theme: Relying on the Atonement of Jesus Christ...and...today was fast and testimony meeting too...I'm pretty sure testimony meetings don't follow a theme- although this is a wonderful theme mind you...

This is just so funny to me- I am seriously looking forward to next week's quote already! If Seinfeld or The Office is ever quoted I will have to throw a ward bulletin party or something-and you're all invited-...

meet virginia

weed it, till it, compost it, dig, fertilize, plant, mulch...I don't ever want a front yard bigger than the one I have now. So this new homeowner thing has been quite the experience. I really have no idea what I am doing- especially when it comes to keeping a nice yard. My mom always planted petunias and alyssum in her flowerbed so that is what I planted in mine...

My neighborhood is interesting. There are quite a few young couples like Chay and I...then there is the middle age who seem to have a lot of stuff, and of course the elderly who have the most amazing immaculate yards. Unfortunately or fortunately- depends on how you look at it- Virginia, an 80 year old who has more energy than...me- lives right next door. She isn't your typical 80 year old. She named her cat Mr.Goatee. She of course has the yard of dreams...she is always out there pulling weeds, clipping this, digging that- I feel quite the pressure as she peeks over at my lawn as she waters her flower pots. It's like I know what she is thinking. Last year I attempted to grow flowers in my front yard...but I was big and pregnant and so the whole month of July and August I kind of just let my yard go- it was a freaking jungle- weeds everywhere- it was a mess. Virginia would make little comments "your flowers need a little weeding it looks like" It was a little embarrassing-

So today- I finally planted some flowers. All morning I struggled with keeping Julia and Kenzie happy out on the front lawn- with a big blanket, a box of cereal, toys--every 5 minutes Kenzie wanted something or Julia was crying...running back and forth into the house, back to the garden shed-everything I tried to do took so much longer than it was supposed to- I then notice Virginia watering her hanging flower pots which already look stunning- she just smiled and said, "Are you going to try again this year?" What??? Her comment threw me off guard and then I realized how it kind of came across a little ungracious. It was like she was supposed to let out a scary cackle after she said that.... Of course I just smiled but all of the sudden the competitive side in me raged...Bring it on Grandma! All of the sudden I was planning out all the things I would do to my yard to make it look better than hers. I was imagining her all amazed and stunned at how beautiful my yard was for a young mother with kids...

well this prideful feeling died real soon...and it made me laugh because it reminded me of a sitcom on TV or something-

Have you guys ever seen the movie Stranger Than Fiction? I love that movie only because I always feel like my life is being narrated...I always describe my life events in my head with funny or not so funny commentary in literary form...do you guys ever do that? My thoughts seriously consume me at times.

President Monson

ok so many of us didn't get to see this. This is when President Monson wiggled his ears during the priesthood session- it is a great story. Enjoy.

sunday highlight

ok- I really don't know how to process this- it took me a little off guard. I was sitting next to Elissa at church- Sacrament meeting was just about to start and I was of course browsing the ward bulletin- and you know-- some people just really love their callings.... As I skimmed through the agenda seeing who would speak, I noticed a quote at the bottom of the page. Now you would think a quote found in the ward bulletin would be spiritual and/or from a prophet or apostle- oh no, it was from Mariah Carey...yes it was...and this is what it read:

"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." ~Mariah Carey

you got to love ward bulletin humor- This is so random to me! Is this just crazy to anybody else?...I think I will take a picture-



If anybody can relate this quote to the gospel I will buy Mariah's new CD for them...ok probably not but that would be funny if I did.

julia gulia

Julia Kaye- what a little crazy girl you are. She is cute and smiley- but she can be quite the opposite. She already gets mad when you take away a toy- she loves outside so when I take her inside she starts to scream. Nursing has to be her idea and when it isn't and she doesn't want to- she will bite me! Hard! oh ouch...she already has her two bottom teeth! she is going to be a tough one I can already tell. She now scoots and can crawl a couple steps...so she is trying to move! She is precious though- she is so full of personality. I have a feeling our house won't be a quiet one through the years...

Here is a video for family- kind of long but Mom will love it. Hey mom- show Daddy!

tulip play

I was going to call this entry "death of tulips" because I had to dig up some beautiful in bloom tulips from my out of control flowerbed. I am converting the flowerbed to a garden....but "death of tulips"? almost sounds like a name of a band-and not too welcoming.

Kenzie and I were enjoying outside while Julia and Gage slept. I think I want to learn how to have a beautiful yard. Leaves, flowers, water, rocks...just very relaxing- so beautiful. Enjoy the slide show.


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it runs!

Chay finally got the little blue 4 wheeler working. I was a little skeptical when he told me a year ago that he was going to buy a 20 year old 4 wheeler that doesn't run...but you know? After a year of tinkering and ordering parts after parts- it runs! It is so fun. I'm not sure what is more fun for Chay... having a 4 wheeler that runs or just fixing a 4 wheeler until it runs...He has already made mention of how he wants to get another project to work on. Oh my poor back porch- someday we will have a normal garage... you know how they say you subconsciously marry someone like your brothers?- well it is like serious childhood deja vu when I walk outside and see Chay hidden under his 4 wheeler with tools scattered everywhere-

oh and grass experts....any advice? I have fertilized, watered...what is wrong with my lawn? Is that a bug or fungus?

comebacks please

I really want to put words to this song I have made up on the piano. It's a pretty tune and the words needed would be somewhat serious and meaningful I would think.

So yesterday I was at the piano trying to come up with some words to my song. My mind was blank. "What do I feel when I play this?" I would just sing silly stuff...just kind of entertaining myself- but then for some random reason I started to think about the guys I have dated in the past and especially the ones who wouldn't let me break up with them first...because I was so desperately in love with them...and my pride couldn't get over the thought, "why didn't they like me as much as I liked them?" Do any of you reflect back on stupid things like this? Well suddenly I started to sing "man hater-I'm so hot- your loss" kind of words to my song and no it didn't go well with the melody but it was so fun...

I need your comebacks. You see, I dated this guy once who swept me off my feet- he had a pull on me (this is pre-chay mind you) and I fell for him pretty hard. Well one day in the car he looked at me and said, "April...you have almost everything I want in a girl...it's like you have 9 out of the 10 things I am looking for in a girl" Who says that?? At the time I was so devastated and obviously lacked self esteem that I immediately thought, "tell me that 10th thing and I'll be it for you" I know pathetic. Don't worry I know...I was kind of lost at that time in my life- but so...now that we all know better, grown up a little, love ourselves a whole lot more and are completely disgusted with what this guy said to me...let's play the perfect comeback game! Write and tell me what I should have said back at that moment in the car! Do you want to play?

best comeback wins!

my turn on earth

President J.Reuben Clark Jr. said, 'We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer' (in Conference Report,
Oct. 1936, 111)."

For mother's day I must write about what has been on my mind lately. Joette will probably giggle about this...but she understands better than anyone: Mom, thank you so much for making sure we were apart of the stake play "My Turn on Earth". I was 7 years old and Joette 9. We were in the angel choir for the play and only sang the song "My Turn on Earth" twice- once in the beginning of the play and once in the end. We wore white. I wore the dress I would be baptized in. As simple of a play this was...it was a serious testimony land mark in my life. Keith was a main character of the play. We lived, breathed, slept the words and music of that play for 6 months or so. To this day- 21 years later I still have all the words memorized to the music. It wasn't until recently that I noticed how simply perfect this play lays out the marvelous plan of salvation. You can seriously answer most of life's questions with a line or two from this play...well guess what Chay got me for Mother's day besides making chicken enchiladas for dinner?

My Turn on Earth Soundtrack!... it was like the feeling you get when you haven't seen a best friend for a long long time. So as 80's as this music might sound it brings me back to my childhood, dancing and singing in our living room- Mom do you know how one little effort on your part could be so monumental to me? I know it sounds so silly- but I am so connected to music and so hearing these songs is one of the most comfortable feelings ever.

So guess what will be playing in our car??? I know there is a lot cooler music out there to listen to- you know me- I have my all time favorite artists who are so incredibly talented...but I have to carry on mom's tradition- and....I would rather have Kenzie singing dorky mormon music than...Jonas Brothers? (who are these guys anyway? I haven't heard one of their songs. I just hear about them on the news. Am I so out of touch???....I feel so disconnected from some things..what is happening to me? I used to be so cool. I think it's motherhood and deciding what's really important and what isn't...losing my cool identity while at it. lol

Happy Mother's day.

as of lately attempt2

 

Kenzie stepped on a nail outside. It went right through her shoe. Ouch! In her tears she still insisted she say the prayer. (She has seriously given every prayer we have had as a family for the last month or so...) So Chay cleaned her foot with soap and water while she sat next to the kitchen sink- I decided to say a little prayer thinking it would bring hope and faith or something... and then her sobs stopped for a second to say, "I DO IT, I SAY IT!" and this was her prayer as tears rolled down her cheeks and in between big gasps of air: "Father, I hurt, owie foot- better please....mommy...foot hurt outside...name Jesus Christ Amen"

Chay and I both got a little teary-eyed ourselves- I don't think I have heard a more sincere prayer. All I could think was 'well with that faith I wouldn't be surprised if the owie was already healed and gone' so that was a tender moment...we then stopped her crying with hot chocolate and Ice Age...



um...here is a quote that made me reflect much... "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it." - Dalai Lama
-this could be turned both ways- it is good to sacrifice and work hard for things...yet we need to be careful that our goal of "success" doesn't ruin or lessen essential growth in relationships with our children, spouse, family, friends...

 

Julia Kaye- what a precious little person. She will be 9 months on Thursday! Can you believe how fast the time has gone? I can. Every minute. It has been a long 9 months...or a long 2 years since I started to have children...

Julia is at this stage where she is full of giggles, curiosity, and snuggles. She always smiles. She is still fat. She is struggling with this very much- her spirit wants to crawl and be everywhere but her body is just too heavy to move...she spins circles on her belly...cruises in the walker...and still jumps like crazy in the johnny jump up...but she cries a lot when she is on her belly because she can't move...oh Ju Ju you will figure it out...


So you know your kids are close in age when: they are both teething, both wear the same size diaper, both weigh the same, both shake their head no at me,...

 

Kenzie loves to get in Julia's crib and wrestle with her. I try not to interrupt unless I hear screaming or gagging or something- Julia just laughs and smiles most of the time. I want them to get along. Please get along forever and ever...no fighting!!!!

Ok well my laundry room is almost finished...
when you get free counter tops and cabinets that were designed for someone else's kitchen it can be tough getting them to work and fit- it has been a puzzle...but seriously I can't get over how nice the room is looking...more to come on that later

but guess what I got ourselves into now?...I got a free fence- a 6 foot wood privacy fence to go around our back yard and between us and our crazy friendly cigarette bud flicken neighbors. We share the same driveway basically...and it so hard to get used to.. I placed an ad on KSL saying if anyone was getting rid of their wood fence please let me know and we'll come take it down for you. Well sure enough a nice lady wrote back 2 weeks later offering us her fence...she was of course upgrading to vinyl...so...another project comes our way.

I like projects. It gives me something to think about and to look forward to. Chay I am sure would like to relax and go ride his 4 wheeler or something...but for me- I am a lot happier when I am creating, learning new things, seeing change...working on something new (not doing the dishes or laundry- these don't count...or cleaning the bathroom)

 

 

gamma

thank you so much for coming mom...we miss you already...and your cooking.

My mom is my motivator. She gives me more reasons than I can explain to get things accomplished and to see an end in sight when working on a project. We are both known for starting things and not finishing them so together we must create an odd synergy or something- we just don't want to let each other down. So with her help we almost finished my laundry room!! I want to post pictures so bad but it isn't finished exactly yet- we have a few small things to do- and I get my little chest freezer on Monday- and we still need to build some food storage shelves...so maybe in a week or two-

When Mom came I was in the middle of my first coat of paint on my cabinets...ahhh what a chore! It was fun but so time consuming- especially with little kids with curious fingers.

But I will elaborate greatly on my laundry/storage room when it is finished but thank you Mom for all the help-



Thank you Mom for being such a special grandma to my girls. Mom loves children and it shows. She would rather play and give Julia a bath than anything else and that is what a Grandma is supposed to do! Thank you for taking individual time with each one of my girls. It is so important to me and to them that they have special love from outside the home and from someone besides Chay and I. Thank you for bearing your testimony to them during Family Home Evening. You taught me that Family Home Evening should always end with a testimony...

I am thankful for all the many things my mother has taught me- she continues to do so as she reaches new chapters in her life...My mom is faithful, fair, funny, um...another f word- fantastic, fixer, forever

The two weeks she stayed we mostly worked on my basement. We did go see the Emma Smith Movie and we went out to eat way too much. I always eat a lot when I am with my own family members. I eat so well when my mom is around because she loves to serve in the kitchen...for example for dinner I made pork chops and potatoes...she then said, "we've got to have biscuits too" never in a million years would I make homemade biscuits if I already had potatoes to eat...but um...her biscuits are the most amazing most fluffy things most delicious yummy ever...so I will have to post the recipe on the kitchen website.



I have seen my mother change a lot from the time I lived with her as a teenager. I am sure her struggles with health and constant prayer have a lot to do with her change...but she is unmovable, steadfast and courageous about life...and about Heavenly Father's plan for her. I love being with my mom. I wish my girls could spend more time with her. It makes me sad living so far from my Mom and Dad and my siblings. I get kind of lonesome at times. But I feel blessed to be in an amazing ward...everything is ok...swell...remarkable.

I love you Mom. You left your hat. We now have three hats here that belong to you.

chay

This is why I can't resist him-

oh how I love pictures of Chay when he was a little guy- maybe we will have a little Chay someday.... no I'm not pregnant.




I grabbed this off of Tonya's blog- thanks Tonya for sharing

frontrunner

oh Utah... oh blessed Utah

so there is a train now that runs from Salt Lake to Ogden...it is called the FrontRunner. This is the first week it has been up and running and to celebrate this new public transportation movement, UTA has decided to let all ride for free for a week or so...so obviously we had to take advantage of riding a city train for free...it is all about the experience right?

well...so we created a wonderful idea to ride the train, pick up Chay from work, stroll the temple grounds, get a bite to eat and ride the train back home...

ok- talk about total chaos...

Don't ever say the word "free" or "clearance" or "discount" around any long term native since birth Utahan- they are out of control- simply out of control. Have I ever told you about my after Christmas clearance experience at Target? I have never seen so many angry motivated moms as they pushed and shoved their way around the aisles at Target- they would not even look at what they were buying- they would simply just take armfuls of Christmas junk and dump it into their carts..."what a bunch of hoarders" is all I could think and so I put my set of ornaments back on the shelf and left... so I am generalizing...not every Utahan spends the night in front of Old Navy the night before their annual clearance sale...but there are quite a few who I'd guess would believe shopping frugal and getting a good deal determines their worthiness...lol- ok so I am exaggerating slightly but I kid you not about the Target story...and if you want to get food on sale- you have to go to the grocery store first thing in the morning when the shelves are stocked... it is a good deal war zone out there- fight fight fight


ok so back to FrontRunner- quite impressive but the crowds were outrageous- but what was even more outrageous was the organization of the whole ordeal- they were not prepared for the big crowds of passengers- there wasn't a line for handicaps or elderly, there wasn't a limit capacity, there weren't enough workers to compensate for the overload of people and...so this is why civilizations must be governed by laws because it was just insane- people were pushing and shoving and fighting. I had a double stroller of course and the only place to put it was by the door- so before I could get it and move it when the doors open...I hear: "who in the hell left a stroller right here?" "Get the damn stroller out of the way" ....um relax please...everything will be ok. Both rides to and from Salt Lake were jammed pack...dangerously packed- not really standing room only- more like face in stranger's armpit room only.

so when we finally got back to our car- it felt so wonderful- I love cars!!! Quiet, comfortable, sitting is granted-

In the quiet car ride home I finally said how crazy people can get when something is free- like everyone felt they were all so deserving of something- and my mom then said, "all I could think about is how horrible it would be if there was free health care" it was so random and totally not what I expected to hear but oh what a good analogy mom! SCARY!

um so...say no to FrontRunner on free ride days and say no to free health care...

emma

mom and I watched the new Emma Smith movie last night...I still can't believe I watched a Mormon movie in a cinema- something my Washington State native self isn't used to- but I was so incredibly touched by this movie...

As I watched the movie I was having a hard time taking it all in- I would get so wrapped up in the horror of just one trial Emma faced but the movie kept going and so as her life went- major trials after trials...I couldn't even process the pain and agony she had to bear- married to Joseph, losing so many children, disowned by her father, the mobs, sickness, moving, persecution...more than we can imagine. My mom and I were in tears of course...

So I guess people judged Emma because she didn't go west with the church- her children decided to stay also which caused her and Joseph's posterity to leave the church and start the RLDS. This must frustrate so many members of the church. Many must question, "If she could have just trusted a little more, if she could have mustered up just enough faith to make the journey west..."

after watching this movie all doubt seems to be lifted and I can't imagine her any other place besides next to Joseph living out her eternities...

everyone's experience on earth is individual...

anyway- good movie

Here are some trailers- some of my favorite quotes from the movie are in these trailers...I love it when Emma gets up in front of the relief society for the first time and says "sisters we are going to do something extraordinary"

intersection insight

2 missionaries were at a busy intersection by my house- they were waiting for the light and holding their bikes...I noticed how they kept waving at everyone...I could hear endless honking as cars passed them by- when it was my turn to wave and honk I noticed the big smiles on their face- it made me teary-eyed. Servants of the Lord loved by many- one wonderful advantage of serving a mission in Utah. It was a lovely sight to witness.

Shiekra

more from our trip...I thought Keith and Calie would enjoy this a little- watching your kids frolic in the water- I love how Isaac chickens out at the last minute and Bryon gets out of the way pretty fast but Taylor endures all. The best is hearing Chay giggle as he records this...

A little Sheikra anyone???? This was so incredibly scary- what a thrilling ride I must say... roller coaster...of love.

who's your american idol?

ok so most of you know I love to waste time watching American Idol...I just love it for some reason or maybe I just love to waste time...go ahead Chay's family- you can all gasp for air! I have come to terms that I will never be quite as productive as Chay's sisters and sister n law (Marne) and Bev for that matter (you all amaze me)- but it is ok- they can continue to be mastermind homemakers with their food storage and quilted table runners- and I will watch TV and talk to Emily for 1-2 hours a day, dwell on unfinished projects and play too much with my girls...yes I do believe you can play too much with your children-

so guess who went home last night???? Michael Johns! I embarrassingly admit that I voted for him on Tuesday. I never vote but I just think he is hot. Don't worry- Chay is well aware of my little idol crush....
you see, this Michael Johns kind of reminds me of this guy I knew from college- Brock.- So I dated Brock's brother off and on and I really liked his brother but I think it was fair to say our whole apartment had a secrete crush on Brock. What better college story is there when there are "2 hot brothers living next store" ? ...but then again I have a lot of good college stories....

Ok well goodbye Michael- the rest of the American Idol season won't be nearly as fun without you.

lo and behold

lo and behold there was poop in the toilet...

yesterday I attempted potty training for the first time in my life...and Kenzie's life too. I have no idea what I am doing but I feel that she is ready. I am sick of buying diapers and size 4 are getting too small and I will not buy size 5 diapers...- many websites recommend "waiting until the child is ready and then it is much easier" -ok so I might agree on it being easier at first...but I'm the parent and I say now is a good time whether they like it or not...sorry but I'm not in the best mood today.

Well I have tried several methods all crammed together which is probably confusing Kenzie. But after many trial and errors and accidents- the best learning method for Kenzie is the "run around bottomless method" just like African tribal babies...and probably the pioneers for all that we know...

oh the Chinese still practice it... click HERE on Emily's blog to see china kids and their bottomless pants.

ok so panties were too similar to diapers for Kenzie so after going through 3 pairs of wet panties and cleaning up puddles of pee- I took them off and told her very seriously that we are supposed to go pee in the toilet. Her next attempt is quite funny. She sat on the toilet and kept saying "book" and pointing to the cabinet under the sink. I open the cabinet and give her my "Better Homes and Garden" magazine- and there she sat like her mommy- reading a magazine while she went to the bathroom.

Well I was ready to give up. She wasn't interested in the reward of stickers on her potty party chart or did she care much about the chocolate chip I would give her when she went- so I didn't think I was was really ready for all of this...and then 1/2 hour later I hear her grunting...my first thought was "Oh my disgusting!!! She doesn't have a diaper or any underwear on!!!!!" Well what do you know??? She was pooping in the toilet!! It was the most beautiful sight I could ever witness! I loved seeing her poop floating in the toilet so effortlessly! Much more delightful than seeing it all smelly and squishy in her diaper. So what a milestone! Don't worry I didn't take a picture of her first poop in the toilet- although it was tempting.

So we continue on with this adventure...I'm not sure what to do about nap time and bedtime. Do I just let her wet the bed until she learns? What do you mommies do? I did make a mistake today- I left the house to go to story time at the library and so I put a diaper on her. I think I am confusing her. I just needed to get out to the house- I was going crazy. But I will be better....

Mckenzie is really growing up. Her vocab is exploding and she is quite the entertainment. Everyday she will say a new word it seems. These last couple of days she will say, "thank you berry much" and "come on honey" She loves to pray and sing "I love to see the Temple" We have to sing it every night before bed. She is also an out of control brat with emotions raging all over the place. She screams suddenly, tells me and Julia to "STOP IT!" She will rage for a good 5 minutes sometimes and then she will be the sweetest angel. This is all new to me. I didn't have any exposure to crazy toddlers growing up. I'm the youngest and so I am completely clueless when it comes to kids. I try, I read, I pray, I play- and so far so normal I think. Anyway-

So the conference upliftment was a little short lived I say- I have been kind of moody and wished I could still be so lovely and positive. I will figure it out someday how to truly change...I think I will be 90 and I will finally be a cool and collected person who simply enjoys every waking moment with peace and faith- but until then....

anyway so I was losing it the other day and I was yelling at Kenzie for doing something and she looked right at me and yelled back "corner!" She pointed to the corner where she usually sits when being naughty. I thought to myself, "you know she is right- I am being naughty" so off I went...to the corner. Kenzie was in total shock but quickly took on the mother role and brushed my hair and said, "it's ok, it's ok" I then apologized for being naughty and asked for her forgiveness. I hope it was granted- I think it was.

so hopefully I stay out of the corner...I didn't like it very much

conference

Is it really already over??? I want a couple more sessions please.

When President Monson was closing up the first session this morning I thought to myself, "is it just me or does he seem like a totally different person?...it's like he is speaking with so much power and conviction.." I was getting chills all over as he spoke and the spirit bore witness to me that we are so incredibly blessed to have him as our prophet. I know President Thomas S. Monson is our living prophet on earth today. Elder Holland confirmed my feelings when he said President Monson was speaking with the mantle of a prophet. It was so true. Did you all feel it too?

I love general conference and I wish we could have it every 3 months.

Conference makes me:

want to clean my house
have unsurmountable hope in all things
feel special
see worth in everybody
want to be better (that's a given)
feel so privileged to be a member of the church
want to hug my children
get into gear
set my priorities straight
want to say no to busyness and yes to righteousness
want to read the scriptures
want to go to the temple tomorrow
have more spiritual family home evenings
work on my showing Chay how much he means to me
have more patience with my children

what does conference make of you?

I decided to have a question in my heart before conference started and to search for an answer through what the speakers had to say. I was starting to get frustrated because my girls were out of control half the time. Julia is just crabby and Kenzie was getting bored too often. I heard myself say in my head, "why do I even try to watch conference?" Well Elder Ballard's talk obviously gave me strength...he should have spoke at the beginning- Saturday morning! But you know what? Heavenly Father is mindful of me and I did find some answers...despite the chaos of attempting to watch 8 hours of conference this weekend with a 2 year old and an 8 month old...who is crabby- Julia is just a crab! She's a cute little moody stinker who REALLY wants her way or else. But anyway so I feel uplifted and hopeful-

don't do it

ok so well all those years of taking a little spoonful of cookie dough, licking the spoon or the bowl when it comes to brownies and cake batter- finally caught up to me-don't do it. I baked zucchini bread last night and I of course started to lick the spoon. I offered Kenzie a bite and Chay said quickly, "I don't think so- what about salmonella April?" I thought to myself "oh brother" well 2 hours later and through the entire night last night I was buckled over in the worse stomach pains, diarrhea, vomiting, heartburn...and of course Julia is still sick so...I thought I was going to die!!! I am still queasy and weak but I feel a little better...Chay gave me a blessing and stayed home all morning so I could sleep. No more cake batter...just say no.