Brynne and Kiersten the night we went to see the temple lights wearing the cute hats Amy had .

Anders with Christmas Presents

Anders in his new Scooby Doo underpants - he stayed dry all day today and yesterday - he is doing great! I am sooo sad he is turning THREE on Sunday. I may have a breakdown.

Here is the sign I made for my presentation on the new value - not quite up to Kami's standards but it will work for me! On another note, I let my kids have friends over tonight (friday night) and as I was driving the friends home (I left my kids home to clean up the mess) - I hit a deer. I love my Suburan - it's like driving a tank - and luckily I was not going very fast so no damage to my burban but the deer I am not sure it is undamaged. I think the kids I had with me may be traumatized for life though!

Virtue Handout

Andrea (mom, dad, Andrea and I went to the temple today - it was great except mom's stomach was growling so loud I couldn't even hear the temple ceremony!!) was harassing me at the temple(of all places) about not blogging - I do have good intentions of blogging but somehow it never happens but anyway, here are some going ons in my life. I worked Tuesday a 24hr shift and it was busy as it has been lately. Then Wednesday I was in charge on the YW Personal Progress Progressive dinner. I made chicken tortilla soup and finished my mini lesson on patriarchal blessings and got the salad ready for the other house, cleaned my living room and stuff like that. Wednesday night I had all the YW divide into three groups and then each group went to a different house. One house was dessert, one was salad and mine was the soup. We did a mini lesson on a value experience and then ate then each group rotated. It was fun I think. I feel like saying "buehler, buehler?" because the YW do not participate at all. Yesterday, I made bread in the morning and did laundry and then after Lynnaea left for Kindergarten I ran into to town - I needed to go to Deseret Book and Michaels to get stuff for the new virtue value. So, thanks to Kayli for reminding me of the scripture that says a virteous women is more valuable than rubies - that is what I used for this handout. It is a gold favor bag from Michaels (gold is the color for the new value virtue) and it is full of little red rocks AKA rubies. It has the scripture attached Proverbs 31:10 in case you were wondering and the quote from Sister Elaine Dalton "I believe one virtueos women, led by the Spirit, can change the world." I am pretty happy with how it turned out. I am going to pass them out after I do my little presentation on virtue. I decided to buy a people magazine to flip through as a visual for what the world wants us to think is okay to dress and act. I jogged 4 miles today adn yesterday - and now my knee is killing me. Danica has a basketball game at 8:00am tomorrow - that is just brutal and then Myles, Jared and her are going to the Jazz game at 7:00pm. The kids got tickets throught the JrJazz program.
Here is something that Lynnaea said yesterday that I don't know if I should think it is funny or if I should be disturbed:
Lynnaea "here are some things that are different between dad and you. Dad likes to play and you like to clean."

The Sevens Tag

7 Things I can Do
Play the piano - sort of
scuba dive
put in epidurals
start hard IV's when most nurses can't
make bread
carry a 4yr old and 3yrd old at the same time
saddle a horse

7 Things I can't Do
Play any other instruments
speak a different language
keep my house clean like my moms
get up at 5 am to excerise (even though it's been my goal for a month)
drive in Paris
remember names
be as tactful as I would like

7 Things I always say
Make your bed
Brush your teeth
Did you do your homework?
Did you practice your piano?
Say your prayers.
No, we can't buy that (at any store we are at - to all kids 50 times each!)
Time for scriptures!

7 Things I can eat
CHOCOLATE
seafood
mexican
ice cream
nuts
lime rickeys
Artic circle mushroom burgers

7 Things I can't eat
(that's hard and that's my problem!)-
anchovies
duck (jared has shot duck before and we have eaten it - very gamey)
really, really stinky cheese (had some in Germany that was nasty)
warheads
worms
flies
grasshoppers (delicacy in some countries!)

7 Things I love to do
Make out with husband
go on dates with my husband
Play with my kids
ride horses
hike/bike
scuba/snorkel
read

7 People I tag
Andrea
Kami
Kayli
Linsday
Lindsay Ann
Brooke
Traci
Sara

To be or not to be a PIANO PLAYER?

Danica hates practicing piano. Her dad doesn't understand why I make the kids take piano lessons. It is stressful - I yell she cries. She thinks her piano teacher is mean, her school teacher is mean and I am mean. Is it worth it? I took a poll at work on Wednesday and every nurse, midwife and physician I talked to said they have kids who either 1) thank them for having them take piano lessons or 2) say why didn't you make me keep taking piano lessons?!! This year is especially hard because she is going to a lady who is a professional and she won't let Danica pass a song off until it is perfect. No wrong notes, exact timing, good dynamics etc. I want a crystal ball that I can look into the future in and see her saying "thanks mom for making me take piano" and then maybe I would have the stamina to continue with the pain and suffering of piano practicing.

Otherwise, not much new here. Sunday was beautiful weather. The kids and I rode Fahs Elle. Lynnaea was riding by herself and she was kicking and kicking Fahs Elle and I said "what are your trying to do?" and she said "run" and I told her to work on walking first. So, then when she came back around from walking around the field she has both legs off one side of the saddle and I said" are you trying to get off?" and she said "no, I am riding side saddle." AHHHH- why not just ride the horse plain and simple!!! I tried making butterhorns for dinner club Monday and they did not turn out that great - and it took up my whole day. Tuesday I cleaned the house ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL Day long. My house was a disaster but now it is clean. Wednesday I went to work and had a really emotional draining day and Thursday I pretended to work on potty training Anders. I think I will wait till after Christmas. I need more time to prepare mentally. (Forexample, I took Anders every 45 minute s to the bathroom yesterday - we had just barely gone and sat on the toilet for a good while and as SOON as he is back on the CARPET playing he pees all over everywhere.) The weather is cold today and it is suppose to snow alot tonight and tomorrow. Anyway, that is all. Have a good day.