HAPPY DAY!

Yesterday the kids were tired out of their minds which made for a very bad day for us all. When tensions start to rise around the house it is time to step back and start over. So we have what we call Happy Days. Basically an Un-birthday party for everyone. The rules are we have to be extra silly and have fun. We absolutely must be nice to one another and we have to focus more on telling each other how much we love and appreciate them.

Today we made a cake from rice crispy treats using tropical flavored mini marshmallows. Adelin so graciously donated her potty training treats for the cake decorations. As a collaborated project the kids and I put new training wheels on Mason's bike. The kids also had to pick a task to help me out. I knew it was working when I heard Adelin praising Mason. Saying "Good job Mason. I am so proud of you!"

We're Going on a Safari

Mason and Adelin are always on some wild adventure. Today it was a safari. Adelin loves playing with hats, scarves and purses. So when Mason saw her sporting her glamorous outfit he immediately thought she was going to the jungle and he was going to join her. So he grabbed his backpack and special safari hat and off they went.

An act of service

This week one of the kids friends had minor outpatient surgery on his face. While it crossed my mind that the kids should do an art project to give to Merrick to wish him well I went about my busy day and forgot. I ended up emailing his mom a get well wish. This morning while we were doing an art project Mason made the comment that we should make something for someone. And that we did. We made a blooming bouquet of cars. Mason wanted a police truck, a truck and a race car. So I attempted to draw and cut them out and Mason personalized them with color. Then we made a small pot out of paper and cut some paper for grass. We taped the cars to small sticks and stuck them in the pot.
Mason is always thinking of things he can do for other people.

Disney Time

In February we took a trip to southern California. Stephen had a business meeting to attend there and we thought it would be fun to tag along. At least it sounded like fun.

We did not get on the road until late which put us at the hotel too late to go out and run around. Mason and Adelin are very spirited children and desperately needed to run. Stephen had a meeting that night and as it was just me with three little ones, alone, at dark. in a new place and it was very cold out I was not about to take on the adventure. Hopefully there were not too many complaints from the neighbors.
The next morning we walked across the parking lot to the enormous mall. The kids were still wired up over the excitement of spending the night in a hotel.

That day Mason ran off twice. The second time he was lost for good in the busy mall. We were very fortunate to have found him safe. So we left the mall in search of a park. Alas there was only one park that we could locate in the city and you had to pay to get in. I did not have any cash so it was back to the mall parking lot where we had mini races and played tag.
The next day was much easier as Stephen was with me. We thought it would be fun to take the kids to Disneyland while we were in the area. I was still skeptical if Mason could handle it and not run off. After three hours the kids were a disaster and so we packed up and headed home.

The kids enjoyed themselves. Mason was designated co-captain on the whale ride. He made it a point to describe to the passengers how dangerous the water was. Lots of sharks that would eat them. Adelin got a chance to pet Pluto, who she thought was a real dog at first and say hello to Minney Mouse.

The Pieces of My Treasure Map

Recently, I was reading an article in the Ensign written by Thomas S Monson called the Treasure of Eternal Value. It was very insightful and addressed my dilemma. The following is taken from that message.

THE THREE PIECES OF YOUR TREASURE MAP:
A map to guide you to your eternal happiness.
1. Learn from the past.
2. Prepare for the future.
3. Live in the present.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal...But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

LEARN FROM THE PAST:
"Each of us has a heritage—who helped shape our lives. This heritage provides a foundation built of sacrifice and faith. Ours is the privilege and responsibility to build on such firm and stable footings."

PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE:
“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” "Fear is a deadly enemy of progress."

The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never cross the goal line."

"Wishing will not replace thorough preparation to meet the trials of life."

LIVE IN THE PRESENT:
"Sometimes we let our thoughts of tomorrow take up too much of today. Daydreaming of the past and longing for the future may provide comfort but will not take the place of living in the present. This is the day of our opportunity, and we must grasp it."

“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.” (The Music Man)

"Spend more time with family. Use crystal glasses every day. Wear new clothes to go to the supermarket. Take time to call relatives and closest friends. Tell family members how much [you] love them. Try not to delay or postpone anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.”

"Let us relish life as we live it and, find joy in the journey."

“Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today” is doubly important when it comes to expressing our love and affection to family members and friends."

“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” (Harriet Beecher Stowe)

The Treasure Map of Life

I had one goal going into the New Year. Get Organized. I wish it were as simple as it sounds. Get organized...two words. All I would need is to clean my garage and clutter control in the house and I would be done. It is not just my house that needs organizing, it is me. I used to be a perfectionist with great organizational skills. Now the items on my to do list are continuously being put off until tomorrow.

Last year I read a quote by President Benson. With a great deal of paraphrasing it said something like do not sit with hands folded idly in your lap. We need to always be doing something. Last year I had a hard pregnancy followed by an even harder recovery and a household of sickness in the subsequent months. Slowly we have been coming back from the dead and working on getting projects done around the house in addition to our daily responsibilities. This has been no easy feat. We have three little ones ages four and under at home all day. I try to remember the words from President Benson and stay busy. I am tired and what to relax but I feel great when I go downstairs in the morning and the kitchen is clean.

I have had the hardest time organizing my day to start with. Clearly there are never enough hours in the day to get it all in because someone always needs something. The house, the kids, the hubby, the friends, the family, me, exercising, the bills, they all need attention. They all need my time. Time I do not have much of. I tend to forgo cleaning to spend time playing with the kids. I used to feel guilty. But then I discovered I only have a short time with them before they go out into the world and are on their own. This is a crucial time I need to be using wisely. It is my responsibility to teach them what the need to know to help them when they are confronted by the realities of life.

Our Pet Fish

We have a fish named Nemo. It is a beta fish. Technically according to the fish store it is a girl fish. We almost lost Nemo several times. Nemo's first home was a glass fish bowl. That lasted a good two days before it was dropped and shattered. I do not know how long the fish was laying on the carpet. Then Nemo the fish was moved into a plastic high-rise. A couple earthquakes came through and knocked it over. Then Adelin tried to feed it carrots. The most recent adventure Nemo has been through was a tea party that ended with Nemo stuck in the drain of the sink gasping for air. So happy two month Anniversary little fishy.