Family Fun

Last Saturday we spent all day doing fun family activities. We started the day going to a fundraising activity for breast cancer which Joseph enjoyed. They had all kinds of fun things for kids to do and they were auctioning off some pretty cool things for adults. Joseph's favorite part was the ball pits, we couldn't get him to try anything else. After the fundraiser we met up with Uncle Sam and Brad at the train show. Joseph and Brad loved watching all the different miniature trains and would get so excited when one would come by. It was really cool to see all the different trains and the detail on them was so in depth and amazing.

What a happy boy!

Mama can you see me in all these colors??

I really liked the blue lights on this train.

The miniature train had 108 cars. It was really cool to watch go by.

Daddy and Joseph enjoying the trains!

This layout had so much detail. The lights in the city turned on at dusk. It took the guy 16yrs to finish it.

This train was carrying actual logs, it was pretty cool.

This entire layout was made entirely out of legos.


Two trains just passing by each other.

This train set is built inside of a coffee table. Talk about a conversation piece, maybe one day if Ben and I win the lottery ( the guy who built it only wants $8,000.00.)

The Value Of....

To realizeThe value of a sisterAsk someoneWho doesn't have one.

To realizeThe value of ten years:Ask a newlyDivorced couple.

To realizeThe value of four years:Ask a graduate.

To realizeThe value of one year:Ask a student whoHas failed a final exam.

To realizeThe value of nine months:Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn

To realizeThe value of one month:Ask a motherwho has given birth to A premature baby.

To realizeThe value of one week:Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realizeThe value of one minute:Ask a personWho has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realizeThe value of one-second:Ask a personWho has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one. Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more whenyou can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:

LOSE ONE.

I put "Loves" on it

The other night my mom came by and kidnapped Joseph for a "secret project" I of course asked what they were going to be doing and I was told it was none of my business.

Well I am very glad that my mom stuck to her guns and didn't tell me. The next morning when Joseph got up he just couldn't wait until Valentines day so he gave me my present early. He handed me this little bag and inside I found a candle that he had decorated with hearts, glitter and ribbon. As soon as I had it out of the bag Joseph looked at me and said I put loves on it because they make you happy mommy (Joseph calls hearts loves) and then he looked straight at me and asked are you happy mommy? Of course I was and still am, I was so happy in fact that I started to cry.

When Joseph told me that he gave me loves because they make me happy it reminded of me of when Stephen was younger and he told Aimee that he gives girls flowers because they like them.

Life's Little Joys

I was watching my friend Jen's kids this afternoon and I got the chance to hold her new baby Merich. As we sat down in the rocking chair I was remebering how sweet it was when I used to do it with Joseph. Merich was a little fussy and I began to sing to him and he calmed right down and just stared at me. Now maybe it was the moment or the fact that I was holding a new baby boy, but all of a sudden I was flooded with memories. It was nice to be given a chance to remember some of the best days of my life.

It was funny as I sat there holding little Merich I was amazed once again by how small, precious, cute and fresh from heaven these sweet spirits are.

We are so lucky to be given such a huge and wonderful responsibility from our Heavenly Father. While Ben and I are waiting patiently for another sweet spirit to enter our home, we are so grateful for the opportunity we have to raise Joseph.

I know some days are hard, and we as moms find ourselves loved, frustrated, tired, sometimes mad, happy, overcome with joy, constantly working on paitience, and many others but we are so blessed.

It's goes by so very quickly I hope that we will all take the time to stop and enjoy those little moments when we have the chance.

* SUNBEAMS *

So this year Joseph has joined the official ranks of the BIG kid primary. He is loving everything about it.

On his first Sunday in there our friend Jessica was sitting next to him and she had to get up and do something, well the wonderful primary president came over to sit by him and he told her NO that is Jess's seat. Only certain special people may sit next to him and it has been Jessica every week. Thanks Jess for making him feel so welcome in primary, We love you.

Then today during singing time, Joseph was doing a great job and the primary chorister commented on how good a job he was doing and Joseph promptly responded with " yeah I'm a Rockstar" I guess we have been playing Rock Band to much at home.

Pay it Forward

I got this Pay it Forward challenge from my sister Heidi's blog. I thought it was such a great idea and am way excited about it. If you would like to join me just follow the instructions bellow.

This is how it works: The Pay it Forward Exchange is based off of the concept from the movie "Pay it Forward". I will send a hand made gift to the first three people who comment on this post on my blog requesting to join the PIF Exchange. All the gifts will be made and sent out some time within this year. How exciting to not know when your surprise package will arrive! What you need to do in return, is pay it forward by making the same promise on your own blog. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PROMISE TO POST THIS SAME 'PAY IT FORWARD' MESSAGE ON YOUR BLOG, WHICH MUST BE ACTIVE IN ORDER TO PLAY. YOU WILL PAY IT FORWARD TO 3 PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON YOUR BLOG. I'd love for you to join me. Will you? Other comments are welcome but only the first three will be my Pay it Forward recipients. Come and join me, who doesn't love a gift or giving gifts???

Why oh Why?

Why is it that when we as parents are doing something for our children if they don't think it should be done that way it becomes a WW III battle?

Earlier this evening I gave Joseph a haircut and a bath nothing new but for an hour all you could hear coming from my house were his screams. I kept reassuring him that he was fine and that this is something we have to do but all I got in return was crying and dirty looks.

In the end he forgave me and we went about the rest of the evening but I just wish he could truly understand that it is all out of love.