No Blankets or fans in Heaven

Tonight we had a really great family night! We turned on music and danced with the kids. Audrey is such an amazing little dancer. Adam even got into the action! After that we had scripture study and then the girls started a little discussion of their own. It is so fun to see their minds working and their understanding of gospel concepts and principals forming. I was really impressed with both of their sweet little testimonies of Jesus and God. Rachel talked about how Jesus loves us and God loves us and how we have to love them and keep the commandments. She is attending a Catholic Preschool so sometimes she tells me things that I am pretty sure she gets from school. Tonight she was telling us that if we all point up to Jesus that we will get to see him. It was really funny because Audrey was correcting a lot of the things that Rach said. Audrey talked about how first we were in Heaven and God made all of the people and then we came down to earth to learn about Jesus and God. She said that everyone in the whole world will die and go to Heaven. She then told us that Jesus is building us houses in heaven to live in with doors and beds but they don't have blankets or fans in heaven. She said that we have to bring our favorite blanket! Kids are so funny! Rachel and Audrey were both in on a string of comments about how you can't run around and play in Heaven because the clouds are too soft and if you make a hole in the clouds then you will fall through. But then Rachel said that if we fall Jesus will save us because he doesn't want us to get hurt. James was trying to tell the kids how Heavenly Father wants us to talk to him. Audrey said, "he doesn't have a phone up there!" He just has his ears for a phone and he can hear us. It's hard to describe the amount of animation that the kids had as they were talking about all of this! They were so into it! It was really fun to see them growing and forming their own ideas! Anyway, I guess we better not forget our blankets!

Mother's Who Know!

Mothers Who Know Do Less

Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children—more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, more time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. Their goal is to prepare a rising generation of children who will take the gospel of Jesus Christ into the entire world. Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord's kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power.

I love this quote from Julie Beck's talk in General Conference! It is so true - that is influence, that is power! By small and simple things ladies!!

I've been Tagged Three Times!

I didn't want to do this but I will respond now that I have been tagged by Libby, Heather, and Sarah Cardon. Here goes . . .
1) I didn't used to like to be alone! I was always surrounded by people growing up and then I had six roomates at college and only one bathroom! I got used to being around people all the time! When I married an only child who needs his space I had to figure out how to be alone and I hated it at first. Now, I actually enjoy it when James has school or mutual or basketball and I can put the kids to bed and just relish in the quiet. I usually curl up on the couch and watch some silly show that I wouldn't watch if James was around. Sometimes I stay up way too late just to get it in!

2) You may not believe this but I actually do get tired of talking. Sometimes I choose not to answer the phone at all. That may sound normal to most people but for those of you who know me, you may be surprised.



3) I have recurring dreams that I am back at Ricks on CDT (The dance Company) and I am about to go on stage. I don't remember any of the dances and I have had three kids but everyone is expecting me to know the choreography. I am always terrified! I miss dancing but I have come to terms with never doing it again.



3) James and I plan to take up ballroom and Latin dance! We're just waiting for Mom and Dad to live here so they can babysit!!! LOL

4) I absolutely love trees! It is my #1 criteria in finding a neighborhood to live in. There could be the most beautiful house in the whole world but no trees in the neighborhood and I would rather buy an older house so that I can get the trees. That's why I'm going to build in High Meadow Ranch someday - I can hace both!! Until then, I will have to live vicariously through my parents. I really miss our old oak tree!

5) I could eat out every day for lunch and never get sick of it! I hate lunch at home! I love going out for lunch because then I can get a huge salad or a yummy sanwich or soup that I would never waste my energy at home making for lunch. I would rather eat a home cooked meal for dinner any night but for lunch I'd rather eat out!


6) I love the rain! There is nothing more relaxing to me than an overcast day with the sound of the rain on your windows. I have to admit, rain is a little more threatening in Houston than in Utah. If you have ever witnessed a Texas rain it is like standing under your shower with full pressure! It floods in Texas and we have hurricanes but a little innocent rain, there is nothing better!

Park Weather in Houston . . . Finally!!

The other day we went to the park with our best friends the Irvings!! We have had amazing weather the last week and we are soaking it up!







Fun was had by all until . . . Naptime!

Cookies!!!!

Texas Rennaissance Festival

Yesterday we took the kids to the Rennaissance festival. We had a lot of fun! The girls were very brave and got strapped into harnesses and did the trampolines where they go way up in the air. We went on a lot of rides and the girls got their faces painted. Adam was a trooper, he stayed in the stroller most of the day. He did reach a point where he was done with being in his stroller, as you can see in the middle picture. Here are some fun pictures!

Guess Who's MOVING to TEXAS????

MY PARENTS!!!!!



It's hard to believe I know! I have been so excited to post this news but I have been wating for the right time. (After my parents felt ready) A lot of things still have to fall into place (their house has to sell) but the wheels are in motion. You might be wondering how in the world this came about . . . Here goes: My Dad has been talking about the idea of moving for a few years now but Mom has always vetoed the idea. Mom has been out to Texas a million times visiting me and my kids and I think it really started to grow on her and she felt comfortable here. She started to call me and tell me about houses she had seen for sell online (of course at an amazing price!) She would ask me to go and check them out but in the back of my mind I always that she was just "talking" and that nothing would ever really happen. Before too long, my Dad was on board. That is when I really started taking it seriously. After rumors of "serious talk" toward really moving here my parents decided to come out for a visit so that they could look at their options. I have my real esate liscence so I was able to show them all over Houston! It was quite the marathon! We looked at tons of homes and finally came to the conclusion that they needed to build! (I could have told you that but you have to let people make up their own minds) Well it turns out that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree because my parents ended up falling in love with the same area that we fell in love with a few months ago. They baught a lot a couple of blocks away from our lot that we are planning to build on eventually. So, I went from thinking I would never live near my family to potentially having them two blocks away! There have been a lot of mixed emotions. I am so excited to have my parents here and especially for my kids to be near their grandparents. I am also sad to see them sell the home that I grew up in with all of the memories! I will miss having an excuse to come to Utah. It will be so strange not to fight with James every year about spending money on airfare! James was so sweet and surprised me with tickets to Utah for Christmas so that we can spend our last Christmas in our house that we grew up in together as a family! Again, things are not set in stone but if all goes well my parents will be here at this time next year! Life is full of surprises and this was one of the best!

You might still be wondering why Texas?? Here's why!







It's a far cry from tumbleweeds! The other reason is for change, being in the mission field and a new adventure. Not to mention that it is a fraction of the cost.

Peter Pan

We let Rachel and Audrey watch Hook a while back and in the movie the kids have to believe that their Daddy is Peter Pan. They say, "I believe in you Peter, I believe." After watching the movie Rachel has been telling James, "Daddy, you're Peter Pan, I believe in you!" The other night at dinner Audrey was asking us who was right about something we were talking about her or Rachel. She asked me and I answered and then she asked James and he said "I'm Bipartisan," to which Rachel responded, "Daddy, you're not Tarzan, you're Peter Pan!" I thought it was so cute that she thought he said that he was Tarzan. We all got a good laugh. Kids are so much fun!

Rachel's Prayers

"Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Dinner and for letting us stay up all day and all night. Thank you for going to night night but I will have bad dreams and I will have to sleep with Mommy and Daddy but Mommy doesn't want me to. Amen."
"Dear Heavenly Father, my birthday is in March, but Teagans Birthday is this week and he's gonna have a party. Amen"