dinosaur park...

we had to make a trip to the dinosaur park last week. with sick kids we've been locked up so much, but at least it's been nice enough to go outside. we had a blast. it's funny how the park is growing up with us. the little ones just love running around and seeing everything, but dax is fascinated with dinosaurs and knows all their names and whether they are herbivores or carnivores or whatever. it's funny.

what mothers can learn from the savior

Have any of you read the ensign article "What mothers can learn from the savior?" It was such a good reminder for me. I think we need the uplift sometimes as mothers and we definetely have the saviors hand in raising them in our homes. I think the most motivating part was how much we need to teach them about the gospel and not worry about some of the temporal aspects of being a mother in the world today. I know for me I try to remember that the reason I stay home is not for free day care, I stay home so my kids will grow up being taught by me and not someone else. I was so blessed to have the mother I did that taught us so well, and continues to teach me. I am so grateful for her example to me and the lessons I've learned from her, and my grandma. My house may not be spotless all the time (although it is clean underneath:) we might have toys surrounding the house and markers and construction paper always on the table, but I hope that my kids learn something more from me than to learn to clean! I hope they learn love,and that they love their siblings, and the gospel. Here is a quote from the article....

"Quality {time} is a direct function of quantity {time}- and mothers, to nurture their children properly, must provide both." Elder Ballard also taught that, "a mothers nurturing love arouses in children from their earliest days on earth, an awakening of the memories of love and goodness they experienced in their premortal existence."

"Mothers, teach your children the gospel in your own home, at your own fireside, This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the Lord's way of teaching."

I hope that may have helped inspire all you wonderful mothers out there. I know it inspired me. In our world today I feel like the role of mothers as we new it is rapidly changing. Our children need us more than ever, and they need the our savior too. In our stake confrence this year one of the speakers gave an amazing talk on grandparents too. How grateful I am for grandparents. Our area authority told a story about his grandfather when he was little, and he had him come to his garage and build a cabinet. He told the boy he needed it made, and taught him how to make it.When it was finished the grandfather gave it to the boy, he didn't need it it made, he just felt the need to have an experience with his grandchild. I remember so many things of my grandparents growing up. I was so blessed to live next door! My grandpa let me think I was driving the old white truck when we went to feed the cows (it was always on cruise control.) and my grandma always letting us come help her get ready for parties or helping cook or just visiting with us. and doing corn! I loved husking the corn with grandpa and grandma.
My kids have grandparents who are doing the same with them, and I am so grateful for that. I think it's so neat the relationships that they have with their great-grandparents, grandparents and aunts and uncles. so thank you to all of you who help my childrens lives better:) I'm grateful for you.

....A COUNTRY BOY....

oh renner! i can't believe i atually caught the shot right at this moment! this is one of the cows at my moms house, and they have become quite tame to the grandkids. the cow kept licking renner and he loved it! no fear at all. i guess living with a bunch of animals, pigs, the dogs, cows and longhorns have gotten renner quite used to the country life! what a cute boy! don't worry we sterilized him after!

so funny!

i saw this on a friends blog and just had to pass it on again! funny funny.

HOW MANY OF YOU LOVE THE DINOSAUR TRAIN!!! I FOUND THIS CUTE THING TODAY OF THE "ABC" SONG OF THE DINSOSAUR NAMES. WE PRINTED ONE TO TAKE TO THE DINOSAUR PARK WITH US. DAX WANTS TO MAKE SURE WE SEE EVERY NAME ON THE LIST! HOPE THEY HAVE THEM ALL THERE!
GO HERE TO FIND THE PAGE.http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/print/index.html

riding horses! gotta love friends. dennis was so nice to let my kids come ride horses. his grandsons were so nice to even help the kids ride. my kids loved it! they even loved watching dennis rope with his grandsons after...he told everyone he got to watch a rodeo! although i think mckenna didn't end up too well the following night we all had a good time!

our projects!

making sugar cookies! we needed a project, so we took some supplies and made some bunnies! i love the edible grass i found at target and the candy dots in the dollar section! i had leftover frosting or i would've done the bunnies pink to match the marshmallow, but decided to use my resources!

seriously!

honestly! why is it that no matter what i do, my darn kids still catch every bug that comes around! yes you heard me we caught RSV! are we kidding! i know i shouldn't freak out but seriously. doctors always say to listen for wheezing or the chest and breathing, which yes is true but tysie has no wheezing. we were almost positive yesterday that she didn't have it, and turned out she did. honestly she sounds just like a cold, which is how it acts in most kids and adults. but by the time you get to a baby it's horrible. hopefully kembrie won't catch it, or not as bad as last year.

updates on clint pedersen

patrice's family is posting updates on their blog. the blog is http://clintandpatrice.blogspot.com
keep praying for their family.

SuGaRdOoDlE

sugardoodle has their april confrence packets available. check them out at http://www.sugardoodle.net. i love sugardoodle, it's so helpful! i always print the confrence packets but this one is my favorite. i love that they did one for younger kids and one for older. and they have cute paper dolls in the older one too! if you're kids are like mine confrence is tough but i want my kids to participate with us. so coloring and paper dolls are a great motivator to keep them in the room at least!