what a beautiful mess

Is it Batman dressed as the Lorax  or  is it the Lorax dressed as Batman?  Actually, it's just Josh.  Fooled you though, right?

Tonight was our first missionary report for 2013 given by:  Annabelle! She fixed us a great meal  of fried chicken, grits, deviled eggs and cornbread with a peach crisp for dessert.  We gave each of the kids a copy of Preach My Gospel for their own study and  to use on our missionary FHE's.  Anna did the first lesson in it which is on the restoration of the gospel.  She worked on this most days of this last week and her lesson was very well thought out.  I love hearing my children teach the gospel and I especially  love hearing them bear their testimony of what they have taught.  And Annabelle did that really well.  Next week is Emily's turn and we get to experience a little of Turkey...

That my baby is almost no longer my baby.  Almost...but not quite.    For Joshua's sixth birthday we got him a big bike and some batman toys.  He loves Batman! For dinner we had his favorite: spaghetti and meatballs.  And he requested that we watch "Batman: The Movie" streamed to us all the way from 1966 via Netflix.  We all enjoyed watching it and laughed a lot...even at the not-supposed-to-be-funny parts.  Movies have just changed so much since the twentieth century! Joshua received the traditional birthday spankings. The kids have a love/hate thing going with the spankings and I can't say I blame them.  I hate having my rear getting hit, it hurts no matter how hard it's done... It was a great day.  Joshua is really such a good kid.  He makes us all happy like any youngest child will do.  I'm already preparing for the day when he will no longer let me hold him on my lap: Carl's n...

He is so super excited he can hardly contain himself. I've never had one of my children so excited for their birthday. He's laughing, can't stop grinning and keeps jumping up and down! Josh received a gift from Grandma Barwick today and I'm not sure who loves it more, me or Josh... We love this book! It has all of our favorite Dr. Seuss stories in it and the illustrations are beautiful and bright. Thank you Grandma! We love you! I still can't believe he's going to be six years old. Time goes by fast. But hopefully for his sake, tomorrow is a very long and awesome day!

This last weekend, our email got hacked. It happens to the best of us, sometimes many times. In fact, I assumed most people knew about it and also knew that the links in the email were spam. Apparently not. Today Trevor got a text from his boss saying that he couldn't open the link on his phone but that when he got home he looked at the website and his wife went ahead and bought some of those weight loss pills. We laughed and laughed until I cried... Anyway, sorry to everyone who received it. You all are beautiful people...and I would absolutely never send a link like that to anyone, not even an enemy.

Well, not quite. I was standing there eating a cookie and suddenly realized what I was doing.  I had on snow boots and my hand was in the band of my skirt.  I made Trevor take a picture cause it was so funny.  I'm such a lady.  But at least now we know why the boys sleep with their hands down their pants.  (although I don't actually sleep that way...I promise.)

This is what our Valentine morning looked like.  You may think it's lovely and maybe it is (debatable),  but I prefer what the day looked like about 6 hours later.  It turned into a beautifully sunny day.  But no matter what the weather was, it was a great day. We had the Elders over for dinner,  I talked to my brother on the phone,  and I got to spend the evening laughing with my family.  I've never had a better Valentines and I hope you feel the same way about your day.  Oh and I'm married to the greatest man ever who gives me really funny cards that the kids are not allowed to read... Happy Valentines Day! 

Trevor wakes me up every morning at five fifteen to make him a lunch and to pray together.  This morning, after he left and I was back in bed,  I got to thinking about my day, and then it turned into thinking about my days and then my life .  I realized that I have it so easy.  There are not many trying, hard days.  We don't struggle or fight.  Our good, happy days far outweigh any sad, unhappy days by years.  The worst thing to happen to us (it seems) is that we have  more than a two dollar fine at Creepy Mikes (Rexburg's video rental place).  I have been able to stay home with my kids every day of their lives.  I fix all their meals, and help them through their life changing experiences.  I married a good, good man who gave me this life.  He has worked so many long, tiring hours and still does at times.  And he never complains.  Ever.  He's happy to do it and is just glad he doe...

It's been a struggle lately, but we're getting through it. Math has never come easy for me and so Trevor gets to be the one to check homework and help the kids out with those difficult problems. He's so good at it too. I would surly mess the kids up since I took algebra three times and still never understood it... Can I complain for just a second? Okay...my knee hurts real bad and so does my wrist. I feel as if I'm falling apart.  I can't run or pick things up very well and I walk with a limp. I suck. There. I'm done. Trevor will be out of the shower in just a minute and then we are going to bed. Finally. (it's been a long day.)

The final two interviews. Trevor: What is your favorite food? Pizza, nachos, hot dogs, cake, cheesecake, ice cream, meatball sandwiches... What is your favorite color? Blue Who is your best friend? Sarah What is your favorite activity? Can't say and eating What do you want to be when you grow up? Retired What are you scared of? Someone getting hurt What is your best quality? Gray hair What is your favorite song? Don't have a favorite song but my favorite singers are George Strait, Chris LeDoux and Charlie Daniels.   What is your favorite scripture story? The Resurrection What is your quote; something you say a lot? "That's what she said." and "I love you baby." (that last one is what Annabelle said his quote should be.  Sarah: (interviewed by Emily) What is your favorite food? Nachos What is your favorite color? Red Who is your best friend? Trevor What is your favorite activity? Exercising and reading What do...