what a beautiful mess

Joshua was in a play this week at school and played Papa Bear of the Three Little Bears. He was spectacular...I see a future stage presence in him. Maybe he's the next James Franco or something (I'm kidding of course cause James is just weird.). But Josh really did a great job and worked on his lines for weeks to get them memorized. As a bear, he was able to wear a really cool bear hat that his mother-in-law (Mama Bears mother) made for him. So I tried it on too cause I like bear hats. Tomorrow is the beginning of our big week.  Trevor and I are off the the Bahamas for a week of relaxing and doing whatever the heck we want.  We're loaded up and anxious. I'm sure time is going to just fly right by and before we know it, we'll be back home and it will be snowing. Again.  At least its spring.  Today I spent some time and read my journal from way back when...so far back- 1998 to 2004. The entries were mostly few and far between but I loved reading them. ...

This hat made the rounds on sunday. Anna was especially enamored with it. Stephen...not so much. Which is why there are no pictures of him in the hat. For stephen, it's strictly a baseball hat and that's it. I got some really great shots of everyone else in it though.  Annabelle wore it the most and posed like Michael Jackson. If you look closely at Emily in the hat, you can see her chin dimple which I love! And Josh looks like a beach bum wearing it. And the picture of trevor and I is just that. A picture of us with no significance to it except that it's us. Which I love. I'm so glad I get to be the other half of him. (I choose you-Sara Bareilles. Great song.)

We had a really great Easter spending the day together as a family. There was no egg hunt, no egg dyeing but we remembered our Savior and His atonement and that is the only thing that matters. I hope all of you had a very special Easter as well.

The moon looks pretty amazing. That's cause its an Idaho moon and Idaho moons are always amazing. We had a really great night tonight. Trevor took control and got all the kids to happily help with laundry so I wouldn't have to do it by myself tomorrow. We're going to bed early tonight. I think I may be getting sick...bummer. At least it's before our vacation and not during. Sick or not, when an evening is as great as this one's been, it's pretty-close-to-but-not-quite-perfect.

Emily turned 13. Emily turned 13. 13. 13. 13. I can hardly believe it. She is a happy, healthy, full of life kind of girl. She had a good day. We ended up in the cemetery first thing in the morning...on accident of course. And the first grave we saw was that of someone who was born on the same day of the same month as Emily only in 1885 instead of 2001. It was kinda creepy.  And then we watched I Am Legend to celebrate her special day. Cause nothing says I love you and happy birthday than a movie about the end of civilization and blood sucking humans. I'm so glad she's my daughter.

I feel so much peace living here in Rexburg, Idaho.  It's our home and it's where I want my children to grow up.  I've thought a lot about peace lately. Especially the amount of peace that is felt in my home. I sometimes wonder if my kids are the only kids in the world to not get along. I know they aren't and that all kids argue and fight, but in the midst of it, it's hard to realize I'm not alone. This past weekend while watching general conference, I was inspired with some ways to make my home more peaceful. I need to have a home where the spirit feels welcome. Listening to conference talks, uplifting church music, or just nothing at all, is one way to invite the spirit. If the spirit is present, during those times my kids feel frustration with each other, they will be better able to come up with ways to handle it that don't include yelling or kicking each other in the shins or pinching...(the list could go on.) Lately we have gotten off track wit...

Better be quick ya'll and jump on the bandwagon cause you saw it here first...Ok maybe its been around forever. At least since the 80's. Unfortunately I've been wearing my hair like this a bit too often lately. It could be because my hair is going dark and I just haven't adjusted to it yet. Except today I tried to change it. I dyed my bangs all blond. Just my bangs. It looks ridiculous. Don't ask me what I was thinking cause I have no idea. Luckily bangs grow out quick. Although I think I'm going to have to fix them. Soon. Like before our vacation that's in three weeks... P.s. candice- that selfie's for you. I hate taking them but I did it cause I know you hate them too.

She did a really nice job on her missionary report. She is to the age where she needs no help from me or Trevor. Like I said in past missionary posts, I love to have my children teach us the gospel. I think it helps to deepen their understanding and to strengthen their own testimonies. At the end of the lesson, she told us her testimony which was wonderful. I can't believe she will be 13 next week. I hope that we are being good parents to her. I know that she's had to be patient with us while we've figured parenting out (and we still haven't figured it out) but luckily she is an easy-going, super fun and delightful girl!

At least this time I was able to take him to urgent care. Joshua cut his head open at school today on the playground. Luckily a good friend of mine is the receptionist and was able to help him and call me to come get him. She was so matter-of-fact on the phone that I didn't even panic. I'm so grateful for good people and for Libby. His cut was so deep, to the bone, it required two layers of stitches. And lots of needle pokes to numb it. But he was so brave. And I only cried during his needle pokes too. It was torture to see him in so much pain. Absolute torture. I love that kid.