Kids say the darndest things!

We have these friends that we just love and they just up and left us and moved to Hemet. Craig often makes fun of them saying that they moved to where all the old people live and why would they want to move to the end of the earth? This brings us to the conversation in the car today.

Eli: Where is Phoenix? We want to got to his house. (All the kids are chiming in now pleading for me to take them there)

Mom: We can't go today it is 3:45 and they live far away.

Allison: Yea, they moved to Heaven!

Mom: Not quite, they moved to Hemet :)

New Calling

This post is more like a plea for help instead of documenting what is going on in our life. Back in mid December I received a a call on a Sunday morning to come and have a visit with our bishop. I am going to save everyone all the boring details, but I will say that on my way there I had a BIG hunch about the changes that were about to occur at church and for my family. Long story short I have been called as the first counselor in the primary presidency. I do have to say that I am very excited about this calling, but what you all need to know is that I am a shy, reserved and VERY NONE creative person!!!! I do love kids and to be honest I think I get along with them better than I do adults most days. (Well, except for when it comes to my own, but we aren't going there today)

So, here is my problem. Since I have been called I have been conducting. Now, this month is my month to do sharing time. AAAGGHHHH!!!! I served in the primary in my old ward for like 4 months before being asked to do something else. I have been watching ever so closely and taking all kinds of mental notes while the others were doing sharing time. You know, when I am not running around putting out fires.

Now all that said, brings me to the reason for this post. I need help and ideas. I have to do this for the next 2 Sundays, adapt it for junior and senior primary and incorporate singing time with it. Yes, I have read the Friend and been on sugardoodle. Does anyone have anyother grand ideas or places to look? I am ready for the flood gates to open for creativeness in this small pea brain of mine. Thanks ahead of time for your input. I know that we all receive callings at certain times in our lives to help us grow and learn. I have to say that this one is mine. I have been so used to getting lost in the shuffle and filling in on the callings that are hard to fill. I know that my Heavenly Father would not have asked this of me if I could not do it. I know that over time I wll get used to this. I just need a little help getting the wheels turning. :)

New Lessons

Yesterday I decided I needed to let my 3 little boys make their own decisions. I really struggle with getting them to claen up after themselves. I was fixing dinner and I told them they needed to clean up the mess they made in the family room. I also told them they would not be eating until it was cleaned up. I figured if they went to bed with hungry tummies maybe lesson learned? Well it took 2 hours for them to clean up the mess. Well, Spencer never did help. He kept asking for dinner and I kept redirecting him to the mess. At one point he sat at the table and made goo goo eyes at me trying to soften me up. (Do you think he knows I have a soft spot for him?) Anyway at this point I am trying to conceal the fact that I am busting up inside. I tell him he still needs to help clean up the mess. Without skipping a beat his face turns to anger and says to me, "I'm not going to be your friend anymore!" My 2 1/2 year old said this!!! Do these things just keep happening earlier and earlier??? I looked at him, told him I loved hom and that he still needed to pick up the toys. For the first time I don't think I was his favorite person!

Potty training is "Beautiful"!

NOTE: The content of this material may be a little too descriptive for those that are week in the stomach.

So I thought what better day than today to start potty training. Spencer has been wanting to for some time, but with all the other kids home and no schedule that I just couldn't keep up on it.

Today is the day! We are sitting down to lunch and I think to myself, "Oh yea, I haven't put him on the potty in awhile." I do a quick check before I pull the pants down ( no surprises please). I see a skid mark in his pants. So, this will be a number 2 and 1 trip to the potty. No problem! So, we are sitting on the potty and he is trying to push it out. You know how they sit and look because they have to see what they are working so hard to accomplish. Remember I told you this was a little descriptive! Anyway he is lookin' and he is pushin' and the little tiniest bit comes out. He looks up at me with a huge smile and says, "BEAUTIFUL!" Need I say any more? How cute is that???? I'm sure this won't be the only potty training documentation that you may read, but I will always give you fair warning before you sit down to read it!

Disneyland

Wednesday my friend Kara and I took our little boys to Disneyland. We left after the BIG kids went to school and tried our very best to be back before school was out. (Thanks Lynnley for backing me up!) The boys had a blast and I am hoping this will be a monthly event!

Just about caught up

So, this is what happens when you are just crazy busy in December...you DO NOT update your blog. I just did a ton of posts about what has been happening in our life during our time off track and the holidays. We have also been down to one computer and it is a fight to see who gets to it first. Somehow I always loose. I have also been busy, because I got a new calling. I am the first counsiler in the primary presidency. So, if any of you have any great ideas on scouting, primary program and fun sharing time ideas, please, please, please pass them on to me. I served once in the primary for about 4 months teaching and I have subbed here and there. I am TOTALLY clueless, but I am excited. I just love kids and I love to see their excitement for learning. We have a GREAT president and the other counsiler just happens to be my good friend too! We will be spending a lot of time togehter. Anyway, here is to a new year!

Christmas day

Every year on Christmas morning Craig makes the kids sit on the couch and listen to the story of Christmas while they are starring at ALL of their presents. I tell him each year he that maybe they will listen better if we chose to do it a different time other than right then. I think he just likes to torcher them!
We had my 2 brothers and their wives and my sister all at my house for Christmas this year. We did the same last year and decided that maybe this might be a new tradition. It was a fairly small Christmas for us this year. We chose to get the kids Disneyland passes. So, besides clothes and the gift Santa brings that was it! All in all I think it was fun. Besides it really is about spending time with your family and giving not receiving.

Zach is thinking please talk faster dad!!!
I just have to post this. Sorry it is in 2 videos, but my finger slipped off the button. We made a scavenger hunt for the passes. They thought it was fun!