fall break weekend in words

fall break! sanding and painting tv dresser. visiting newest baby cousin. packer cousin halloween party. another cousin animal themed birthday party. daddy makes boys new wooden toys. trying to get home in order. half cheese/half peanut butter sandwich (boys creation). yw lesson on service. daddy wondering why the women at church were in love with our mr rogers baby. levi, mommy, and rudger play in sandbox. some favorite neighbors bring over a plate of marshmallow brownies. halloween bingo,  halloween guessing game, and cuddles on couch reading halloween books to end the long weekend.

"oh how we need general conference!"

Elder Robert D. Hales

"Through conferences our faith is fortified and our testimonies deepened. And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days."

Carole M. Stephens

"We all need each other. Sons of God need daughters of God, and daughters of God need sons of God.

We have different gifts and different strengths. First Corinthians chapter 12 emphasizes the need for sons and daughters of God, each one of us, to fulfill our individual roles and responsibilities according to the Lord’s plan, that all may benefit."

President Dieter F. Uchtdort

"Doubt your doubt before you doubt your faith."

President Boyd K. Packer

"Parents today wonder if there is a safe place to raise children. There is a safe place. It is in a gospel-centered home. "

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

"A woman’s moral influence is nowhere more powerfully felt or more beneficially employed than in the home."

"My plea to women and girls today is to protect and cultivate the moral force that is within you. Preserve that innate virtue and the unique gifts you bring with you into the world."

Elder S. Gifford Nielsen
"I know we each must develop and carry out our own personal game plan to serve with enthusiasm alongside the full-time missionaries—EXCLAMATION POINT!"

And so many more good words from this conference. 

It makes my heart so happy when our children get excited for conference, even if it's because of the crepes, sleeping in tents, m&m's and bingo. I'll take it, because it's the consistency that matters and I'm sure, one day, they'll realize just how much we need general conference!!

Poor guy was trying so hard for so long to get those chocolate chips and anything else his brothers had.

and because I love being a wife and mother so much and because I love this family of mine so intensely, I want to be with them forever! 

Oh how I need general conference!

weekend in words

neighborhood fall party. game night with mandi and jon. really early and last soccer game of the season. thoughts turn to an outstanding man/husband/father who has returned to heaven. home depot run. the beginnings of refinishing our outside table that we inherited from my mom and dad. more prep work on fire pit. daddy goes to stake adult session. mom and boys have movie night. late date night working on other half of the basement (food storage, holiday decorating storage, craft/sewing room, can. not. wait.). one of the best stake conferences ever. afternoon naps. playing games. taking lots of pictures on mom's camera. halloween sweet potato cupcakes. sunday night visit with some family. feeling an excitement for living today and being a small part of hastening the Lord's work.

it's here again

October is here again. Oh, I couldn't be any happier. I'm pretty certain this is one of my favorite months. Mostly because of the kids and how much fun they had last year. We're doing it again, but of course with flexibility. I need that.

Yup, they're pretty excited about it. 

Well, either that OR because it's General Conference this weekend. (Can't wait to hear from our Prophet, apostles, and leaders)

I just wanted to add this picture because this is how Rudger sits these days and I LOVE it. Crazy-haired, adorable little boy.
He woke up this morning to see the fire on for the first time this year. He was mesmerized. It was freezing inside with the snow that was on the ground outside.  

I just love October.

weekend wordage

 hopefully the last of our canning, soup on a cold night, admiring the beautiful sunset, watching ninjago on the tablet, building our food storage shelves (yippee), fixing daddy's trailer, back to back soccer games, home depot run (cause we can't ever get enough of that store), calm and uplifting night at the women's conference (loved the focus of the night), fast sunday, renewed excitement for family history, pepperoncini beef sandwiches, reading and cuddling on the couch, chocolate chip bars, playing in family room before bedtime, laying in our bed and talking late into the night about what each of our kids need..our parenting..church callings..the gospel..life, had a hard time falling asleep because of the overwhelming gratitude I was feeling 

blurry, but I still love this picture.
AND please excuse all the unfinished projects in this room...good things will be happening in there soon.

weekend wordage

schools out for the weekend and we couldn't be happier. a hilarious ward talent show. (where my husband was part of a hilarious Napoleon Dynamite bishopric dance). college roommate get together (can't believe it had been over 10 years. such good laughs). phone call at 11:00 that night from my worried 9 year old. morning and afternoon soccer games with a big rainstorm in between. our baby trying to get any soccer ball he can find. friend birthday party for Levi (such a big deal when they get invited to a party). canning yummy peaches. clean kitchen. sunday meetings for both of us. farewell talk in sacrament meeting (made me so emotional thinking of our four boys). baby wearing a tie for the first time, heart melted. fascination of blind cord.  relaxing, lovely evening with just the six of us. feeling sad that the weekends already over with 

the words that come out of his mouth

Our Levi is such a fun boy to listen to. The perspective he has on life is so fun, he just says it how he sees it. The emotion he is feeling at that exact moment is what you are going to hear at that exact moment. The way he describes things makes me laugh, but at the same time it makes complete perfect sense. I love talking with this boy, but most of all I love listening to this boy. 

You want to hear some?

"I'm going to do my funny chore. You know, the one where I put my blanket by my pillow and then put my sheets over my blanket so that it will be bumpiesh"

"I wish we could have a baby that never turned 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 or I just wish he could always be just one!"

Levi: "there's a sound stuck in my ears.
Me: "do you mean stuck in your head"
Levi: "No. in my ears, it's the Mario song."

Me: "we have a great family, huh!
Levi: "no."  
*me feeling sad about that*
Levi: "Our family is the best!!"

"Nephi's older brothers did not reply. That's bad. To reply is good."

Corbin: "is mom home?"

Levi: "yes, I was I tall girl walk through the door and it was mom."

*For a couple of days Levi had been begging to play this game on the computer. I finally let him sit down and play. About 2 minutes into playing, Levi's friend knocked on the door to see if Levi could play. I told Levi he could either choose to finish playing his game or play with his friend. He had an internal struggle for a minute, but decided he would play with his friend. After a few minutes I looked in the backyard to see Levi's friend and another friend jumping on our tramp, but no Levi. The boys mom's were calling them to come home. I went outside to find Levi, he was sitting on the front porch crying. I asked him what was wrong. Through the sobs he said:

"I should have chosen to play animal jam instead. Those boys wanted to jump on the tramp and I didn't want to. Now, they have to go home and I didn't even play with them AND I don't get to play animal jam because I chose to play with my friends instead." 

broke my heart.

Oh, but how I completely love this boy and the words that come out of his mouth.