castles

No new pictures for the week, we are trying to catch up from being gone....had to post the pictures of the sand castles the kid made at the coast. We are busy with our little castle here in Rexburg, we're done with bathroom downstairs! Hooray! So my princesses can move down there to spread out all their beauty stuff!! Yeah! (pictures coming soon)

Mitchel's castle even has a mote!?

Trey added colorful blocks to his castle!

Kindra used sticks and shells for her castle.

Spring Break and the Birthday Girl~!

Our Spring Break was great! We have always gone to the Oregon Coast.....so even though we are farther away we had to go! It was very cold, wet and windy- but we found some sun and fun on the beach! Then we made our way to Pullman/Moscow to visit family and friends! It was a quick trip, but we sure were feeling loved!
I love this picture! I made everyone go out to the beach cause I wanted to see the sunset. They were being goofy and took off running! I think they were tired of pictures!

By "the prom" (a walkway along the beach at Seaside) Trying to be creative here.

We got to see lots of cousins! We love our cousins! Grandma's house was filled with giggling girls and boys playing baseball and legos.

Our cousin Tyson just got back from his mission in Chicago and Kindra was getting the scoops on the mission pics.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE-BUG!

Yeah! Today is Katelyn's birthday!!! 14!!! She is so excited! We are going to celebrate later at Wingers! She is my "precious" daughter and I love her so. She makes life full of fun and smiles! I know we tease her about things (she should have been the blond one!) but she can take it and dish it out too! WE LOVE YOU KATE! HAVE A DANG GOOD BIRTHDAY!

The Climb

The temple looked so beautiful after our climb up the hill. The sky was just starting to get dark. All the young women in the ward climbed up the big hill here to the temple where we had a little devotional. It was a nice night for a walk!

YEAH! HOORAY! Avarie got her BRACES off TODAY!! She looks great! So grown-up!

REFLECTIONS:

I have been thinking a lot lately about the last 8 months. It is no secret that it has been pretty hard for us, this move thing. I thought I was a pretty strong person. Even though I know this is where we are supposed to be, it has not been easy. We have been so blessed and our house is now sold and we have a house of our own here! After getting spiritually fed from conference and reflecting back and looking forward I have come to a few simple things I must do every day to help make it through my "climb" in life.

Ok, so if you have teenage girls you know the song by Miley Cyrus. "The Climb". I just want hard things to get out of my way. I just want my kids to get to the next stage in life, or get to the next vacation, etc. So, here is my list....

1. Find something beautiful in everyday. Whether it is holding a child while reading a book with them, making cookies together or talking/ listening to a child on the way to school. (depends on which child as far as the talk/listen thing goes in my house:)

2. Find some time for yourself. In scripture reading, going for a walk, or just enjoying the sunshine! (yeah, we have sunshine now in Rexburg!)

3. Do something for someone else. This hit home for me at conference. I need to seek out the lamb stuck on the cliff. Find someone to talk to at church, not wait for someone to come to me.

It doesn't have to be a cookie delivery, Just a simple talk or note.

4. Don't be so judgemental. Ok, I consider myself a positive person, but once in awhile I get on these tangents where I like to pick apart things/people. We are all Heavenly Father's children and we don't know the whole story of why people do the things they do- so just be more Christlike.

5. Pray more. I need to communicate with Heavenly Father and tell him how grateful I am for all he has given me, along with help for the things I need. Just like I miss my earthly Dad and wish I could talk to him everyday...I can talk to my Heavenly Father everyday!!

All in All, I think that no matter what life brings us, we need to do what Elder Wirthlin says; "Come what may and LOVE it." Find the good and enjoy the CLIMB! Making memories along the way and if you are positive about the climb, your family will remember how you endured it and will learn how to deal too. Thank you to all my friends and family who have helped me make it through the climb! I love you. Sorry, I really had to vent this someway and I am not teaching RS anymore and I think this would have been too deep for my 8 year old primary class!!