Little Man...

is now a big kid! I can't believe it. I've been telling everyone because I'm so excited, so if you've already heard than I apologize. Our little man, Austin, is officially potty trained. Oh ya!

I started last Thursday with some much needed encouragement from Jen. (Thanks Jen). I bought Thomas and Diego underwear and left them at the store :(. So we got back in the car to get them and then we started potty training. The first day he had five accidents. Friday he had another five or six till I gave up and put pull-ups back on him in the afternoon. Saturday my ever so positive husband put the underwear back on and he went three times by himself before noon! Then he had an accident. Sunday he wore pullups to church but since they were dry when we got home we put underwear back on. He had one accident after dinner. Monday he wore underwear until it was time to go to Draper. I put pull ups on him and they were still dry when we got home. Yesterday no accidents at all and he doesn't even want me to help him anymore.

I'm in shock. It was so much harder with some of the other kids. I think Heavenly Father knew I just couldn't handle disastrous potty training right now. It's my least favorite part of having kids. I just couldn't be happier today and i'm so proud of Austin for being such a big boy.

Draper Utah Temple

We went as a family today to the Open House for the Draper, Utah Temple that will be dedicated in March. I really appreciated the opportunity to take the kids through the temple and explain to them some of what happens there and let them feel what it's like inside.

I don't think Eden really understood what we were doing until I told her we were going to see the place where people get married. She giggled, like the princess she is. But the whole time we were walking through she kept whispering "When are we going to see the place where people get married?" It was the last stop but I don't think she was disappointed.

I think Dallin and Cameron were most impressed with the Celestial room. Dallin whispered to me that the chandelier and other lights made it seem like even the air was whiter. That was a significant observation for me. It is a beautiful room.

Cameron said she was so glad to go because she pictured temples being totally different. She didn't realize that it was such a beautiful, comfortable place to be. I think it made temples seem less mysterious and more special to her and got her excited for the time when she's old enough to go there on a regular basis.

We went out for dinner afterwards and Austin kept shouting that he wanted to go back to the temple. I hope he at least was left with an impression that the temple is an extra special house of the Lord.

I've never been through a temple open house before and I appreciated the feeling of welcome. It felt like a place that was calling me to stay and be at peace. It was nice to walk through the rooms slowly and take in some of the intricate details. I could tell that a lot of talent and love was invested in that special place. It also made me want to go back like it did for Austin. It's a place I know I need to visit more often regardless of which temple it is.

Sew What?

On Friday afternoon Cameron, her friend Felicity, and Dallin sat upstairs in the playroom and experimented with a sewing kit Cameron got from her grandma for Christmas. I have to admit, I wasn't much help. Except for providing them with some felt and showing them the importance of tying a knot in the end of their thread I left them on their own. This is what they came up with.

Cameron made a purse for her teacher at school, Mrs Mecham. Cameron cut everything out and sewed the edges and Dallin put on the buttons. He even matched them up with the slits he had precut for the buttons. For their first attempt (and unfortunately without significant adult supervision) I was pretty impressed with their accomplishment.

Spontaneous Trip

We decided Sunday afternoon that the weather was decent enough we should take a trip and go somewhere. So we got up early on Monday morning and drove to Arches National Park (only a three hour drive).

Our first stop was to climb Delicate Arch (3 miles one way).

After only a few minutes Austin decided he wanted out of the backpack and in on the hike. I was so impressed. He hiked the rest of the way to the Arch, with only a little help from the rest of us (who were afraid he'd fall off the cliff).

There were lots of "trail markers" along the slick rock to make sure people followed the trail. I tried to explain to Austin what they were, so every time he saw one he would shout, "look mom, another "trail"!" He even started to count them. It was pretty cute.

The little kids really wanted to do everything the big kids did but sometimes short legs are a real hinderance.

I just had to capture this on camera. Dallin was so sweet to Eden. It was really hard for her to hike the whole time and never have anyone carry her. We all tried to be encouraging but when I saw this I just thought, "there's nothing like having an older brother to help you."

That's Delicate Arch in the background, we're almost there.

I didn't trust Austin to walk around this narrow ledge. I had visions of him falling to the bottom.

We made it!

Time for a well deserved snack and a break.

And maybe time for a little nap. As if Austin could help himself.

Amazingly, though, the kids were ready for more. We did a few more short hikes before we called it a day (because Ryan and I were getting tired).

I had so much fun with the kids. When we were done hiking we had dinner in Moab and then drove home. It was a long day but a nice break from the clouds and cold of Northern Utah (even though it was still cold and partly cloudy down south, it was warm enough to have fun).

My Little Dalmation

Humor me for a minute but I'm going to be one of those really proud moms who totally brags about how wonderful and great their child is. I'm so proud of Cameron and how well she did in her performance of 101 Dalmations this week. It was so much fun to watch and she was so cute. She had all of her lines and dances down perfectly, facial expressions and all. I was in awe. She is amazing.

I have to say, though, that I honestly thought all of the kids that performed did a spectacular job. The little ones were adorable and the older ones were impressive.

Cameron was Patch, but for these first performances on Wed. she didn't have her patch on her eye, so you'll have to look for the name tag.

This was Cameron saying, "Spotted coat!"

Way to go Patch! And thank you so much to all those of you who came to see the performance. It really meant a lot to all of us to have your support!

Austin's World

One of Austin's favorite things is to get out all of my kitchen utensils and pretend to make dinner. This time I thought he might enjoy using Cheerios for food instead of the marbles he normally uses.

It was a lot messier than I thought, though. Me and my brilliant ideas.

After a while he came into the office to see what I was doing (probably blogging :) ). He was looking over my shoulder when he tooted. There was a slight pause and he said, "My bum just said (zerbert sound)." I laughed. A few minutes later I heard him sliding down the stairs and said, "I'm funny," to himself. Yes, Austin, you are funny.

You're also pretty darn cute. Even when you're sleeping.

Sometimes I wonder if he'll still be so cute and funny when he's older. I'm sure in some ways he will but I'm also finding myself trying harder to enjoy who he is today because, as I've seen with the older kids, the toddler stage passes oh too quickly.

A Clean House

A few days ago a friend stopped by and threw into a casual conversation an odd comment. She said that they (fellow scrapbookers) decided the other night that my house is always clean. What? I didn't know what to make of it but she left before I could ask what brought about that conversation. So for the next few days I felt paranoid and kept my house extra clean just to prove they were right (and in case any of them stopped by). But then it dawned on me, I do this anyway. Why? Here are my top reasons:

1. I'm a control freak.
2. Crumbs are evil and must be destroyed.
3. I like to make my kids work. (You think I clean this house all by myself?)

Okay, all kidding aside, here's my real reason. I was talking to my sister the other day and she recited a quote that sums it all up for me. She said she went to the cannery and just inside the door was a sign that said something along the lines of, "Serving in the cannery is just like serving in the temple except that your blessing people who are living." (It would be better if I had the actual quote). But the point is our homes are also like temples. When I work here I bless my family and create an atmosphere where they can feel the spirit. I've always wanted a home where anyone could come in and feel welcome. A place where someone could stop by at any time and feel like I was waiting just for them. A place where they can sit and relax and feel at peace. Keeping my home clean is part of always having that feeling of peace in my home. Not just for special occasions but everyday for my husband and my children and family and friends. Of course, I don't always accomplish this (especially when I'm sick) but I think for the most part I get the job done. And it's always nice, at the end of the day, to sit back and enjoy that peaceful feeling for myself, purely selfish.

So if you happen to come over and notice that my house is clean, know that I did it just for you, cause I love you.

Cookies From the Heart

The other day I was making cookies in the kitchen (gluten free of course). Dallin was sitting at the counter making aliens and said, "Mom, I love watching you bake." His remark struck a resounding chord in me because I feel that cooking for your family is such an important thing and yet it seems to be losing its appeal with more and more people.

One of my favorite memories was coming home from elementary school to find cute little Oscar the Grouch cupcakes all over the kitchen counter. My mom was still frosting a few so I sat down and told her all about my day. There were many times after that when I sat at that counter and poured my heart out to her. She would listen while she made dinner, cookies, etc. There were six kids in our family so getting her attention was challenging but this was always a time when I felt like I could talk to her and she would listen.

And here was Dallin, talking away, and I was listening and I realized that this was a very important moment. For months I had been trying to find out how he felt about some specific things but couldn't find the right moment to bring it up. And now, all of the sudden, he was telling me all about it. All while I put dough on a tray and slipped batch after batch into the oven.

I feel very strongly that cooking is becoming a lost art but its importance is more than just letting a child talk to you while you bake (or sit on the counter and eat carrots out of the salad, Austin). Making dinner for your family shows them how much you love them and care about them. Sitting down to eat together teaches my kids that our family is our most important priority, worth spending time together each night. It's hard on the nights when Ryan's in school, but we still have a nice dinner together. To me, it's about health; physical, emotional, and spiritual. I care about what they eat, I care about how they are feeling, and I care about how they are developing. I think about those things as I think about what to make for dinner and who will like it best, and who probably won't eat it at all so what should I do for a backup. I try to find a balance so that there's something for everyone each night. Maybe I try too hard but it's my way of showing them that I love them and care about them. I guess that's why Dallin's comment hit so hard, because he knows that I cook because I love him.

Sunday Dinner

Watch out below!

C'mon Eden, we can make it around this mountain.

Mountain? Wait a minute, there's somebody in here!

After a yummy Sunday dinner together with Adam, Breanne, and Michael, Adam crashed on the couch for a little nap. But the kids thought it was a better time to pounce on him. Was it a good nap Adam?