Joshua's Wall-e Birthday!

Joshua had a really fun Robot (Wall-e) party this year! We had 15 kids there! And it was a lot of fun. The cake turned out awesome! Joshua doesn't actually turn 6 until December 22, but we celebrate early so that we can avoid it being crazy around Christmas time! It works out really well!

BASKETBALL!

So, I went to the ward's, ladies, basketball team practice tonight! It was awesome! I was so glad that I went! I can't wait until next Thursday! I wasn't as horrible as I thought I would be, and it was so much fun to get all that excersice in. Every one did a great job! We will be awesome come game time!!!

Almost ONE!

We celebrated Scott's first birthday a month early! Just because his birthday is right around the craziness of Christmas time, and all. We've done this with Joshua too, and it has worked out well, over the last couple of years. So even though he is not quite 1 year old, he had a great birthday party! I was a lot of fun. I decorated with "1's". And made his cake a "1". And everybody came. He got a lot of cute clothes and toys! Thank you to everyone, for all their cute gifts! Happy Birthday Scott boy! We love you!

Look who's walking!

Scott took his first steps on Saturday night! He isn't quite walking all on his own yet, but he is well on his way! He is super cute!

My Army of ROBOTS!

Joshua is going to have a robot (Wall-e) party! And so I made these robots as the invitations. They "print" out the information. (which is roled up on a long piece of paper inside the bot.) They turned out really cute. It should be a fun party!

Breanne's Dance Recital!

Breanne's Dance Recital went well. She loved all the attention! She bowed in the middle of the stage, until the curtains were closed! She has a lot of fun doing dance, and this time around was even funner because her cousin Niamh did it with her. They both did a great job!

OUR BIG NEWS!!!

JARED IS FINALLY DONE WITH SCHOOL!

Jared defended his thesis on Friday! He got his Master's Degree in Computer Science from BYU. It is such a great accomplishment, and I am so proud of him! Thank you to Linda, who baby-sat the kids so that I could go with him, and watch him do his presentation. He did a great job! And now there is one less thing that he has to think about. No more school. We had everybody come over that night and had dinner. Jared did BBQ spared ribs and BBQ chicken in the dutch ovens. And everybody brought sides. It was very good, and it was a fun celebration. you can't really see any of the decore in this picture, but I had it all decorated with "Congratulations" signs. It was a really great day! We have been looking forward to it for a long time. CONGRATULATIONS JARED! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! AND I LOVE YOU!

The LOOT!

Here's the kids enjoying their "loot"! (When I was a kid, it seemed that the best part of Halloween was when you got home, and surveyed your nights work.)

Halloween

Halloween was fun this year! Jared was the headless horsemen, who then has a pumpkin head. I was a princess with Breanne. Joshua was a doctor, Eli was a dracula, and Scott was Super Baby! It was fun to get dressed up. And it was awesome that the weather was so great! Plus daylight saving hadn't been done yet so it was still light out when we started. It was a good Halloween, but I'm glad that it is over because my kids always get spooked around Halloween time, and we have more "come-into-Mom's-bed-because-I'm-scared" during the night. So I'm glad that it is over, so that we can (hopefully) get over being scared. (At least until next year!)

SOME FUN "MOM" QUOTES

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?"
--Milton Berle

"Having a toddler is like having a bowling alley installed in your head."
--Marin Mull

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at her parents every time around -- and why her parents will always wave back."
--William D. Tammeus

"You can learn many things from having children. How much patience you have, for instance."
--Franlin P. Jones

"A baby makes love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankrolls smaller, homes happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."
--Author unknown

"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother."
--Lin Yutang

Thank you to Janice, who gave me this sweet little quote book about parenthood. I cry almost every time I read through it.

By Small and Simple Things....

So my sister suggested a mothering book to read, and my mom got it for me for mothers day. It is a really good book called, "Mothering with spiritual power." By Debra Sansing Woods. It takes scriptures and likens' them to motherhood. The whole book is great, but the one concept that has continually jumped out to me, and the one that I thought I could share with all you other busy mom's is this:
Remembering the By Small-And-Simple-Things Philosophy
"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise."
-Alma 37:6
The chapter goes on to explain how to apply this concept in mothering. And now instead of getting frustrated with the messy kitchen, and thinking "this is overwhelming, and to much." I think...."I will just clean this part of the counter, or just sweep the floor...etc." I try to apply it whenever I feel overwhelmed. Just to take it one step at a time. And it really works, eventually everything does get done. But it keeps me from going crazy at the forefront.
The book is much more in depth, but I just thought I'd try to explain this concept of thinking. It has helped me, maybe it will help you.
I sure look up to all of you other moms out there. It is really nice to know that everyone is experiencing similar things being moms, and I always find strength in reading your blogs, and hearing your stories!
Love Julie!