If ye are prepared

If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. I have been worried about taking care of our girls if we get a bad pandemic and what to do with little kids.
I asked the doctor what things to have on hand for kids (you know how kids usually get really sick Saturday night after the pharmacy closes).
This is my doctors list of things to have on hand:
*Tylenol or something for pain and fever
*Cough Suppresant
*Decongestant
*Dermabond (like superglue - for bad cuts to glue skin back together)
*Mirilax (a Laxative)
*Promethegan (Suppository to stop vomiting if they are throwing up and can't stop)
Talking to other moms about their health-kits, other things to include:
*Tea-Tree Oil ( I guess it's from the Malaluca tree? for ear aches
*acidophilus (for yeast infections in kids)
It's amazing how much calm and peace has come after getting a years supply together. Just knowing that we have done what the prophets have asked us to do has brought security in unsure times.
Knowing that we can take care of our little ones is a great comfort.

My Beautiful Violin

I am tired as I write this. I've been extremely exhausted pretty much every day for the past while. Mid-April I was in a lot of pain and we found another ovarian cyst. 10 years ago I had a 12 cm cyst surgically removed. This one is around 6 cm - so about 1/2 the size. It is still there and the same size which now makes it persistent and abnormal, and by the OBGYN's opinion needs to come out.

I have surgery scheduled for Monday morning in St George. I've always been pretty sensitive when it comes to fertility issues. I would really like to have a large family with lots of kids. I really, really, really enjoy being a mom. Our girls bring me the greatest joy :)

I look at our girls as the biggest blessing! I love modern medicine too. If I had been born at another time in history, I don't know if I would have been able to have kids with the cysts - rupturing or twisting is a possibility when they get so big.

It's hard for me to write about this. The hardest thing would be to not be able to have kids. Next hardest would be to only be able to have 1. We have 2 sweet, darling girls, so I feel I have much to be thankful for. If it was up to me, I would choose to have 6+ kids. I feel selfish as I write this as I know family and friends that aren't able to have kids. Children are a huge part of the gospel, and we desire to raise them in righteousness and love - with a huge amount of FUN too!

Hopefully removing this cyst also helps me with my energy.

I have ALWAYS wanted to play the violin. Growing up, I started the piano at age 7. I really enjoy being able to play the piano, and even though I wanted to play the violin, I never told anyone because if I had to choose, I would choose the piano as my instrument of choice.

I finally decided to take lessons and make my dreams a reality :)

I think we need to take some time to enjoy the things that really make us smile and live.

I feel alive when I play the violin, and I don't feel tired at all when I play. I can only do it when the girls are taking naps (which seldom happens that they are both down for naps at the same time) or after they are asleep for the night. There are so many other things that cry out to be done in that quiet time with 2 hands - but I've really had such a fun time playing and pretending I'm a violinist :)

I wanted to find a good teacher - and I ran into Linda Deluca's husband at a yard sale at their home. She was inside the house teaching a violin lesson and I mentioned to him that I've always wanted to learn and was she taking on new students? After telling people I would start with her as my teacher, I have heard some amazing things about her. She has a Masters from Julliard in violin and she used to play for the Dixie Chicks. She has a fun personality too.

The person you are today and the person you are in 5 years will differ by the people you associate with and the books that you read. I'm glad I made this connection.

Here's to Enjoying the Journey and Finding the Courage to Follow Your Dreams!

Lots of Smiles

WOW! Life has been BuSy! I thought being a stay-at-home mom would be easy!! and that things would slow down a bit! I'm so glad that I'm at home full-time now. I don't have any idea how ladies work and have kids. We've had so much fun the last month and have been super-busy! I just got back from girls camp. I took Silver Dawn with me to camp - which was a huge adventure. Having a baby at girls camp for 4 days completely wore me out. You know the scripture that says to give your whole heart, might, mind and strength to the Lord? I gave all my strength to the Lord last week, and I haven't recovered yet :) I was so blessed to have such a great baby at camp. Silver was amazingly calm and quiet most all of camp (except for at nights). A huge blessing.

Overall, I'm really happy with how camp turned out. It wasn't perfect and there are a lot of things that I learned from this camp. We did our best with the situation and had a lot of fun along the way. The girls really came together in a spirit of unity and love. They were planning pranks on each other - especially the new girls coming in. We decided no pranks in our camp this year. It is a church camp and not a summer camp. We explained to them the reasons why no pranks would be allowed: The spirit thrives on unity, not contention. Ours is a gospel of love and service, not fear and exclusion. The girls understood this and worked together to bless other camps in our stake with surprise messages like "You are bee-utiful" and heart attacks. We learned the power of a thank-you when someone does something thoughtful for you and of service.

River and Silver have been growing up so fast lately. Here are some cute things that they've been doing lately:

Silver LOVES to laugh!!! She laughs all the time and has such a great attitude most all the time.

River loves Silver and they get a long so great!

Here is River eating her first lemon:

I love her facial expressions.

River also got a chick from Paca for her 3rd birthday. She named him Celery and we got to bring home his brother to keep Celery company. The 2nd chick is named Popcorn.

River loves animals and takes out her chicks at least a dozen times a day. River is also getting very brave these days: She rode on Paca's wheelbarrow with hay in it and held onto the hay straps. We also go swimming all the time at the Kanab pool. Before this year River would only dip her toes in the water. The first time we went swimming this year She told me she only wanted to get the water up to her knees but didn't want to get her suit wet. A boy ran passed and spashed water on her. She was pretty disgusted. He later ran by and splashed her again, she got scared and fell into the water. After that, since she was all wet already she really enjoyed the water. Now when we go she is usually up to her neck in the water all the time.

I've felt bad lately that I'm so busy that I can't do some things. Like my brother Mike wanted me to read over his Business school application and I just could not get to it to read it. There is a problem when you're so busy that important things just can't get done. I'd like to change so that I can smell the roses and be available to my family when they need me.

May Quote Board

I have a bad habit of saying "Oh my Gosh" or "Dang it". I didn't realize how much I did it until River started picking it up. So she was going around saying "Dang it" - I sat down with her and told her that that wasn't good to say. "Let's think of something else to say instead of dang it. I suggested "Oh no" Colt's suggestion was "Rats!" River's idea was "Gosh! That's a good deal huh mom? Gosh instead of Dang it!"

River uses logic and reason to try to get what she wants. We were over at Aunt Jane and Uncle Carl's home and River was throwing balls down the stairs. She wanted Aunt Jane to go pick them up for her. Jane said that River's legs were younger and stronger to go down the stairs. River says "Let me see your muscles.....see, you're muscles are strong....You could do it!"

River says this all the time (in a high soft voice) "Oooohhhh, that's cutes!"

Tomi Finicum is an 8 year old cousin that lives next door to us. After thinking awhile over things, she comes to amazing conclusions. Here is a recent smattering:Tomi: How old is your house? Me: It was built in 1998, so it's 10 years old. Tomi: Woah, So, the 1990's were a LOOONNGGG time ago!River found some of Tomi's Haloween candy. Tomi said that she could have all of it. I asked Tomi if she liked candy. "Uhhh Yeah!" she replied "Every kid LOVES candy.....I just don't want to get fat!"

"There's more to life than market share" -Karin

River says this ALL the time: "I could do this....I could do this........I'm a big girl"

River usually says "I have an idea" or "That was a good idea" This morning she said...."That was an credible idea" like incredible :)

"Ooohhh. That was a GOOD choice!" -River

"I'm SOOO glad her [Silver] could come to our family!" -River

Mom: River, please come help mommy wash the dishes.River: Hhhmmmm, that's a posibility.

River and I were outside. When she asked me what I was doing I told her I was pulling the weeds. "Oooohhhh, You're a weed girl and I'm a Shmellow girl! Welllll.....I'm really a chip girl." After a pause "Actually, I'm a chocolate chip girl"

Half way through checking Silver's temperature rectally River walked into the room. She promptly dropped her drawers and announced "My Turn!"

"I'm a Shmellow Girl!" -River River LOVES marshmallows

River is afraid of cars. This is nice for me while in a parking lot. We live down a winding dirt road. On the way back to our home after getting the mail, River was running along when a car turned the corner. She ran quickly over to me and said "Whew, that was CLOSE! We almost got Dead!"