love month activities on the cheap

My friend Kim and I gave a short Relief Society workshop on budget-friendly ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. I had the best time brainstorming ideas and searching online for good Valentine's ideas. The best and easiest I found: roses made from egg cartons. Here is a link. They are so simple and if you do them just right, they look identical to dried roses! The Relief Society sisters were very impressed, mostly because they were made from garbage. I wanted to make a wreath out of them, but I already had an awesome wreath that my sister and I made last month (similar to elisa burke's) Here's a picture:

Lauren, that is dedicated to you. Thanks for the good wreath making times.

We're getting the boys in the valentine's mood too. I wrote scriptures about love on cardstock hearts. The boys pick out a couple every day, we read them and then hang them on the wall next to a picture of Jesus. The other day Noah said, "Mom, I have a new scripture that I want to tell you." He proceeded to dictate this "scripture" to me: "If you're big, you've gotta be happy. Don't cry. Don't get mad. Be happy. And be nice to your brother named Jake. This is for Noah and Jake. I'm happy that I said that Jesus could come to Noah's house."

Very inspiring scripture, don't you think?

And all you people on a budget, remember this oscar wilde quote: "who being loved, is poor?"

Sunday thoughts

This weekend Kyle organized a mini-MTC experience for the young men and women in the stake. Kyle and I were on a panel to talk to the youth about our missionary experiences. One of the girls asked me how I decided to serve a mission. I had to laugh remembering how many times I decided and undecided to go on a mission, and all the agonizing that went with the process. My BYU roommates probably remember all that decision-making drama, mostly because they were making the same decision for themselves. I remember one fireside in particular that came in the prime time of our mission decisions. Sheri Dew spoke at the Provo Tabernacle, and her point was that God had a place for each of us, certain responsibilities for each of us to fulfill, and that no one could take our place. During that fireside my roommate Megan had her decision to serve a mission confirmed, my roommate Laura felt that a mission wasn't for her, and as for me, I just felt more confused than ever! My poor Dad, I must have driven him crazy during those 2 years with phone calls soliciting fatherly advice. I can't tell you how many times he tried to reassure me with these instructions: "sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride." I'm sure everyone I wearied during the decision making process were relieved when I finally settled on a course of action and turned in my mission papers. Looking back, I feel grateful that I didn't have an easy decision, and that it took me so long. Because ultimately that was the perfect timing. I loved my mission, and I loved that a few weeks after it was over I met Kyle. It's funny how everyone has to find their own way in life, and everyone has a different story. You just never know what God has in store for you when you are in the middle of it. Even though that sort of ambiguity can be maddening, when it's far enough behind you, it is easy to see God's hand in it all.

and a quote by President Hinckley, that I heard him say in General Conference (April 2006) after I came home from my mission: "We are all totally in the hands of the Lord...We all face choices in the course of our lives...Somehow the Lord has watched over and guided my choices, although it was not always evident at the time."

I agree.

Robot Drawing 101

The boys and I broke out the art box yesterday and went for the oil crayons. After drawing approximately 30 dinosaurs, He asked: “Mommy will you draw a robot for me?” I was about to dazzle him with an awesome robot masterpiece, but then I stopped myself. I asked him why he wanted me to draw one, and he said: “Because I don’t know how to draw a robot.” I told him: “I think you will be able to figure it out. Let me see you try.” And then, within a matter of seconds, there was a snazzy little red-eyed robot stomping around on his paper, complete with sound effects. "I am a robot. Beep Beep."

Better than any robot that I would have done. Granted, my robot might have been pretty awesome, but how much cooler that he summoned his own creative juices to make something he didn't know he could. That's a life lesson if I've ever heard one :)

Noah goes to Primary

Since it's the start of a new year and Noah is three years old, he has graduated from nursery to Primary with the big kids. I feel so happy every Sunday that I am serving in Primary so I get to see firsthand how Noah is making this transition. On his first Sunday as a little Sunbeam in the front row, he seemed a little overwhelmed/unimpressed. During a sharing time lecture, I heard him mutter under his breath, while shaking his head: "I just don't know about this."

But he is catching on. I gave the 2nd week sharing time on "feasting upon the words of Christ" and in a phone conversation 3 days later, he gave an accurate recap of the lesson (without any prompting from me or Grandma): "Grandma, a feast means to have big foods to eat. We should feast on the scriptures. But that doesn't mean to eat them! We should read them!"

And last Sunday, he gave his first talk from the Primary pulpit! This was the talk we cowrote: "I love to read. I especially love to read dinosaur books. But at night before I go to bed, I love to read the scriptures. The scriptures are special books that teach us about Jesus, like the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I like to listen to the stories and look at the pictures. My favorite

story is about Samuel. He was a prophet and climbed on a wall and told people to repent. I am happy God gave us the scriptures." We practiced during the week and gave him enough ice cream and cupcake bribes to get him through the talk. Kyle helped him and I got to watch it all. He smiled through it all, and he even held up his dinosaur book and his scriptures at the appropriate time. I was proud of the little guy, for one thing that he would get up in front of 30 people and speak into the microphone. And for another thing, because it is amazing to see your child's faith take root and start to grow.

Having a child who is old enough to understand concepts about God and Jesus and church has made me think seriously about my own faith. And to make sure I really believe everything I am teaching them. (Which I do, by the way.) Since children are like little sponges, it's important that to give them good stuff to soak up! It's just a matter of time before the rest of the world starts throwing other ideas and philosophies at him. I learned today that it starts pretty early. We were playing with play-dough and he wanted to mix the black with the blue, but the playdough was new, and you know how there is just something so special about pretty new playdough! I said: "Don't you think it would be nice to keep them separate so you can have two different colors to play with?" He said: "Yeah, but I want to mix them. It's what everybody does!" Gotta love that good old peer pressure. Well at least these boys gave a mom and dad to keep them straight with the stuff that matters. And who will let him mix the playdough when necessary :)

snow day

Our first (only?) snowstorm of the winter, last Monday.

This is how it started:
and this is how it ended...
Stitches. Rough day for little Jake. Especially during the actual stitching. There was a lot of screaming and even a little foaming at the mouth. Can't say that I blame him.

But overall, he took it like a champ. Two minutes after the doctor was done, he was back to his happy little self. Proof:

The Tree

A few weeks ago, we drove out to our Parks and Rec department and got a permit for a Christmas tree hunt. Then we bundled up the boys and headed for the hills. The drive up was a joy.

You think Jake looks happy--you should have seen me. I was "giddy as a little schoolgirl," as my Dad likes to say (and yes, he often says it about himself). We even found a little snow!Noah was thrilled and instantly started throwing it. As for Jake, he was just plain confused by that weird cold white stuff.

The boys enjoyed hunting for a keeper. Here is Noah trying to cut down the "tree" he picked out for our family.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, how lovely are your branches. This is the other tree he helped us pick out. This one is a little fuller and more tree-like than the first, wouldn't you say?And this is the tree in its new habitat. It was no small task getting it here. But we are happy to have it. Noah kept dancing around the tree and saying: "Now we live in a forest!!" and "Oh wow! I LOVE our tree!!!" He has thanked God for it several times in his prayers. And Jake likes to throw footballs at it.

Little Wisemen

Watch this sweet video.

Now, here is a story about my little wisemen. Noah today said: "Mom, I have a great idea! A new game we could play!" I said, "Oh, really? What's that?" He said: "You be Mary, I be Joseph, and Jake be Baby Jesus." So I got a towel for my head, and Noah pretended to carry a staff while he led my stick-horse donkey to Bethlehem. Jake was waiting for us by the Christmas tree. I wrapped up Jake and held him on my lap, as Jake smiled at his new role. Noah wanted to hold him too. I commented on the imaginary sheep and donkey in our stable. Noah told me about the other creatures I neglected to mention: giraffes, chickens, and dinosaurs. Then Noah changed characters. He said: "Ok, now I'll be....the.....hm.....who's that guy who brought the presents?" "You mean the wisemen?" He said, "Yeah. Right. The wisemen." So then he so quietly left the room and came back with a handful of toys. He gave them to Jake and I, and kissed the baby Jesus. I thanked him and then Noah held up his index finger, motioning me to wait patiently, and--I have never seen him this intentionally reverent--whispered something and hurried out of the room. He came back with more presents, and he repeated this 10 times. Each time, he held up his little finger in the same way and quietly came back with more gifts for the Baby Jesus. That little wiseman sure does love Jesus! And I love my boys that help me understand why Jesus wants us to be more childlike.