Temple Trip

Note to readers - Blogger is having major issues today! The pictures are all out of whack! Forgive me, but I'm going to get this posted then mess with it later! Ü Lots of love to all!!!

I can't believe it has been more then 2 months since my last post! I have a whole summer of pictures to catch up on! Moving has kept me sorta busy!!! I just have to post about this cute primary activity we went to this week. It was our first activity in our new ward and we are continually impressed with this ward and neighborhood. We went to the temple and since I just got called to teach the 12 year old class in Primary (11 year olds turning 12) I got to go! (Yes, we only got to go to Sunday School once together! and it was the greatest class... I was definitely bummed to only get to sit with John that once and then be whisked off into Primary again. Don't get me wrong... I LOVE Primary! But it was sure nice to sit with my hubby again!)

Anyway, on with the activity. I took Mahlia and Jackson along with Joseph. We drove to the Mt. Timpanogos temple and there the Primary President told the kids we needed to be reverent and respectful as we walked around the temple grounds. Mahlia and Jackson took this very seriously and the whole time we walked from the van to the grounds they walked like this... singing "I Love to See the Temple"

Mahlia and Jackson were very reverent and loved every minute that we sat and sang Primary songs as people went in and out of the temple they stopped to listen to the sweet voices and tears welled up in their eyes as they felt the amazing Spirit these beautiful children brought with them.

And last but not least, as we were leaving to walk across the street to the park, Mahlia spotted a bride. She was entranced by the beauty of her white dress, veil, shoes and of course her Prince! She immediately let go of my hand and started running towards the bride. I got nervous, hoping this bride would be kind and gracious to my daughter who was completely awe struck! Mahlia ran to her with her arms open wide and practically tackled her with a hug! Mahlia asked her if she was a princess, then of course asked her if she could see her shoes. Mahlia was so excited to see gorgeous sparkling white high heels under the beautiful dress. Mahlia then asked her if that boy was her prince. The bride got teary as well as "her prince" as he answered, "yes I am!". It was so beautiful as she let Mahlia hold her bouquet and her photographer took a bunch of pictures. (if anyone happens to know this bride - I would love to get a hold of her! Her mom offered to email me the pictures, but we didn't have a pen or paper handy, so I'm hoping to somehow find them!) Mahlia told the bride she loved her and as we left Mahlia said she couldn't wait to be married in the Temple too. Mahlia ran to find her little friend and when she did she said, "Eliza, I saw the prettiest Princess - she's a bride and got married to her prince in the Temple today! Come here!" So, they ran back to the bride and the bride was so sweet and let me take these pictures. Mahlia asked me later if I heard the bride when she told her a secret. I told her "no" I didn't. And she said, "Mommy, she told me 'I love you' and then she told me 'thank you'"! Mahlia has had her picture of the temple taped to the foot of her bed ever since. She told her grandma that night that she felt the temple in her heart, right there in her heart. It has truly touched her.

p.s. Joseph was there too, he was just in a different group and having a great time with the boys - no time for pictures with Mom! :o(

No more monkey's jumpin' off the couch!

Well, our little curious george now looks like our own little Rocky Balboa. This is what happens when two older siblings - who are supposed to be good examples - choose to entice their baby brother into joining them in naughty behavior*. Where was Mom, you ask? Unclogging the nasty toilet. What a lovely morning!!! Ü

(*naughty behavior = jumping from one couch to the next while the other tries to push the other one off!)

This last picture was taken tonight when we changed the bandage. It seems to be closing up pretty well. It probably could have used a few stitches, but I'm glad we chose to use the butterfly - it seems to be healing well. Although, these pictures don't really show all the bruising that has begun. He's got a pretty sweet shiner.

I'm so thankful my Dad was close by to help me out! I'm not known for my calm, levelheaded nature at times of emergency involving me or my children (shocking, I know). Grandpa and Joseph ran to get bandages and ice cream sandwiches to make everything all better! Thanks Dad!!!

Now, let's see if anyone learned a lesson around here today. Ü

May 2009

First I must thank John for buying me a new camera. YAY for awesome husbands!!! I still haven't found my camera.... Blame it on mom brain I suppose. We have had a wonderful month of May (isn't May always wonderful?)! Mother's Day, my birthday, Joseph finishing up 1st Grade and Mahlia's first year of preschool. Whew!!! B-U-S-Y!!! Here are a few photo updates:

Foothill Dance Festival - The first graders did the Mexican Hat Dance. Joseph is not a fan of dancing...

Field Day! Jackson and I got to go help with the parachute. So fun!

Fairy Princess Mahlia got all dressed up for her little friend Sammie's fairy birthday party. My little girl is growing up!!!




Making cookies on our first day of Summer Break.



Silly Jackson.








Mahlia's preschool graduation.

(notice her tongue sticking out as she is practicing for her upcoming performance! it's inherited! Ü)

John's first tri of the season - Salem. Daddy with his biggest cheerleaders!!!

Choices - Mother's Day 2009

I could chose to rant and rave about what a disaster today has been, I could choose to curl up in a ball and cry while waving a white flag. Instead, I choose to remember this on Mother's Day 2009:

"Mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island....You are doing God's work. You are doing it wonderfully well. He is blessing you, and He will bless you, even - no, especially - when your days and your nights may be the most challenging. Like the woman who anonymously, meekly, perhaps even with hesitation and some embarrassment, fought her way through the crowd just to touch the hem of the Master's garment, so Christ will say to the women who worry and wonder and weep over the responsibility as mothers, 'Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.' and it will make your children whole as well". Elder Jeffrey R. Holland "Because She Is a Mother"

And this:

"In our society, we give motherhood plenty of lip service. We pat moms on the head, bring them flowers on Mother's Day and honor them before crowds. But at the end of the day, we don't extend them the same respect we would a professor, a dentist, an accountant or a judge.
I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is. To create an environment that's stimulating and nurturing, to pass on a sense of responsibility to another human being, to raise a child who understands that he or she is created from good and is capable of anything - I know for sure that few callings are more honorable. To play down mothering as small is to crack the very foundation on which greatness stands.
The world can only value mothering to the extent that women everywhere stand and declare that it must be so.... We should no longer allow a mother to be defined as 'just a mom'. It is on her back that great nations are built". Oprah Winfrey "What I Know for Sure"

I am a mother. I am honored to be a mother. We have our good days and our not so good days. But with the knowlege that I have that I have a Father in Heaven who has entrusted me with these 3 amazingly beautiful children I can do this!!! I can try to make today better than yesterday and the next day even better. I am a mother, I am blessed, I am honored. I am extrememly grateful for my mom, her mom, my dad's mom, John's mom and John's step mom. I come from a line of exceptional women - exceptional mothers. I am so blessed. Happy Mother's Day. (Thanks John - for being the BEST companion a girl could ask for! I LOVE YOU!!!)

Lost

Ummm, yes, we are still alive. However, I've lost my camera. It's sad. First I lost the battery (don't ask me how Jackson got the battery out of my camera in the first place!). Finally after searching for a week with no luck, we bought a new battery. Now where is that darn camera!?!?! It's time to find a new hiding spot for my camera, even higher than the last hiding spot! I'm missing out on great photo ops!!! "You're killing me Smalls...." (quote from "The Sandlot")