We have been so busy! Not really with work (although we have bid a lot in the last week or so) but with life! I will not try to bore you with all the stuff we have been doing but here is a rundown.

March 4 one of Mark's best friends, Brigham, got married! It was a beautiful day and we spent a lot of time as a small family enjoiyng and remembering the true meaning of family. Congrats Brig! and welcome Ashley to the family!

For Spring Break we worked all week until Friday, March 18. We drove to Las Vegas and walked the Strip with the kiddos. The highlight of the evening was the water fountains at Bellagio. Spencer absolutely loved them! Saturday I was scrapbooking with my team and Mark and Spencer went to Bass Pro Shop and watched the BYU game. It was a great little trip.My dad came in town the next week. We didn't get to do much with him but it was still fun having Papa in town. Spencer loved going to Steph's house for shooting with the Wii. Of course Carter had to show us all up.

On the 25 (Saturday) we moved the family that was living in our house out. We spent the rest of the day cleaning and showing the basement apartment.
Sunday we went to church. Then we went upstairs to continue cleaning. However, God had different plans. A lady in our ward needed an apartment, called us, and wanted to move in Monday morning. Luckily Mark's brothers both live in our neighborhood so we literally moved in 16 hours (including getting a few hours of sleep). That is right WE ARE BACK IN OUR HOUSE!!! Not in a corner of the basement, not above our lighting store, but in our house; our home!!!
Monday we helped Ann move into the basement. The rest of the week was unpacking, arranging, and recouperating from moving three families in three days.

General Conference was awesome. Katherine slept during the morning sessions and Spencer slept during the afternoon sessions so that made it easier to listen. We have a renewed sense of purpose for life as a whole.

We have done lots of stuff with our church callings. I am helping prepare our Girls Camp fundraiser that is coming up at the end of the month. Mark had an Elders Quorum activity on March 25 that was a lot of fun. Katherine has a tooth! She has had her bottom tooth for almost two months.She has started eating rice cereal and loves it. Last Wednesday she rolled from her tummy to her back. It is hard to believe she is almost 7 months old already.

Goals

Most people set goals at the beginning of the year. They keep them for a few days and then nothing. Well, I was taught (thank you Dad) that if there is something in my life I want to change I shouldn't wait for the new year, but start that day. So, I thought I would share a few goals I have going now and a few new ones I want to start.
*Journals. Say the plural word because I write mine, Spencer, and Katherine's journals. I also keep this blog and a blog for my scrapbooking business. Well, I can't do all of this daily but I have set a goal to write in someone's journal every Sunday and update my blogs once a week. Since I made this goal I am doing rather well. I am amazed at how much detail I am able to remember for my children's journals. I hope the journals become a treasure for them.

*Family Home Evening. We have always struggled to sit down and hold FHE. We are usually together doing something but we haven't always sat down to have a lesson. So, the past couple of weeks I have really tried to encourage us to sit down for a lesson. They are usually short and followed by a game of hide and seek for Spencer's sake but we are doing better. I found a really fun idea online for Valentines Day (No, we aren't doing anything special. Today is just another day with all of us under the weather a bit). I think Spencer will enjoy this one because we are making treats to give away and enjoy.

*Flannel Board Stories. This is a project I want to make for the kids. Different stories from the scriptures, dolls with different clothes, animals, etc that we can take to church or play wth at home. The first step will be making a travel size board and maybe a bigger board for home.

Why I love my life...

Instead of being mushy for Valentines about my valentine I thought I would share a few things of why I love my life.

1. Katherine's giggle. I have to work to make her really laugh but the work is so worth it.

2. Spencer's wisdom. He says some very intelligent things for a two year old.

3. Helping hands. Mark is always so willing to help out with whatever I need. Dishes, diapers, story time, puzzle time, and everything inbetween.

4. Scriptures. I love to read my scriptures. I wish I had time to devour them but I am glad I have a few minutes each day to read them.

5. Answers to my problems. For example, lately I have been struggling with finding time for all I should be doing and prioritizing what comes first. Our bishop got up yesterday and gave a beautiful testimony of how young mothers are often so overwhelmed but how they do so much just by spending time with their children. It was just the answer and comfort I needed.

New Year, Same Me

Hi Everyone!
It is already 2011! I am not going to feel sad for being so slow at updating the blog because we have been super busy. I will try to catch up on everything we have been up to but I am not making any promises. Also, to accomplish this I won't do pictures today.

Thanksgiving was yummy! I got to sit at the little kid table and I was so proud when all of my nephews, neice and Spencer ate all of their food! We helped my parents decorate for Christmas, did some shopping (I helped my mom spend her money), decorated my brother's grave and hadlots of fun.

The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas were full of Christmas projects, birthdays (8 to be exact), work (nothing new there) and church activities. We loved getting Christmas cards and letters learning what our friends and family are up to.

Christmas was amazing like always. We were super spoiled by friends and family and each other. The kids and I spent a full week at my parents. It was nice to get away and nice to come home too. Spencer loved opening presents (he even helped Katherine). Our big present was concrete to park on at our house :)

Mark has started another semester of school. That means back to normal work hours for me. I enjoyed my time off but did not get any of my big projects done. It also means Spencer spends a lot of time at Grandma's. I sure do miss spending all day with him.

Work is still slow and steady. A good note is that Mark entered a best business idea competion. He placed and will be awarded $1300 to start the business. He is planning to build a website with the money. His idea is to make LDS hymns and college fight song music boxes.

I absolutely love 9am church! Spencer sends me to class before I even drop him off to nursery. Mark's meetings are before the block so by 12:30 we are home for truly "A DAY OF REST!"

The freezing cold weather has subsided (for now) so we have spent a few days in the sun. Last Monday we even took Spencer and Katherine to the park for some swinging, sliding, and races. I love that Spencer says "On mark, get set, go!"

Not Like Tiger

Spencer loves to watch the Winnie the Pooh movie. One part Tiger gets everyone to start bouncing.

Me: "Spencer, why don't you bounce like Tiger."
Spencer: "I Can't Mom."
Me: "Why not?"
Spencer: "Cuz, I don't have a tail."

Katherine is so cute. She loves watching Spencer play and run around. This picture is actually a family tradition. See, at my Grandma Adams there are several Cabbage Patch Dolls. Whenever anyone playes with them they get their picture taken. I have many of these pictures from when I was a little girl. I am so glad that I now have a picture of my kids doing the same thing.

Thankful Thursday Part 3

Since I won't be home this Thursday I figured I would do this early rather than late. I have to start with a story. In January I lost my wedding ring. One Sunday morning while in the shower I remember seeing my wedding ring and making a note to check I had it when I got out (I don't wear my ring in the shower). I had it on when I got out but took it off to put some lotion on. That is the last time I remember seeing it. I thought Spencer grabbed it, put it in the toilet and flushed. We tour the house apart (including the plumbing in the bathroom) but never found it. When we moved out of the apartment above the shop we didn't find it. I have been heartbroken since.

Well, on Sunday I decided to get out the Christmas decorations. I started pulling the tree out of the box and between the branches was my ring! Spencer must have slipped it through the whole in the top of the box because I had already taken the tree down the day I lost it but had not put the box back in storage. I am so lucky though. The bottom of the box was not sealed tight so the ring could have easily fallen out and really been lost forever. I was so excited! I was smiling like a little school girl who just got a kiss on the cheek from her long time crush. Yep. I was giddy to say the least.

So, I am thankful to have my ring back. But in all honesty, I am truly thankful for the man who asked me to marry him. I am thankful for marrying in the temple and the promised blessing that if we live worthily we can be together forever. There is nothing that makes me happier than the thought of being with my family forever.

Thankful Thursday Part 2

This Thursday I would like to say how thankful I am for the Church in my life. I am so glad for the knowledge that families can be eternal, of a loving Heavenly Father, an eternal friend and savior in Jesus Christ, and of values that make me stand out from the world. This is a picture of the Jordon River Temple; where my parents were married and the temple I went to growing up.

I am thankful for my calling. Just this past Sunday I was released from Young Womens and resustained into my same calling but with new presidency members. I love being in Young Womens. It is time consuming but the things I learn and the girls I work with are incredible. I feel honored to be a part of their growing up years. I know my leaders from when I was a young woman hold a special place in my heart.This is at Girls Camp this past July. Proof: my belly (Katherine's first Girls Camp:)

I am thankful for the Spirit and the atmosphere it creates in my home. My little boy is constantly singing hymns that melt my heart. I am thankful for the little teaching moments that I have daily with my children to teach them how to be good and find the good around them.