Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween

from Dorthy, the Lion, and the Wicked Witch

Trunk or Treat

Kids got their faces painted!!!

This had to be the best Trunk or Treat! There were 3 art projects, a movie theatre set up with popcorn, lots of games, they could create their own unique drink with bugs in it and everything! It was well organized and a lot of fun! Of course very busy and crowded as well!

Favorite Costume- Good friends the Binghams

David was a little overwhelmed so was being shy! He was a cute Bumble Bee!

Pumpkin Time!!!!

Who needs a man? Woman Power!!

I raked the leaves earlier that day, cut the pumpkin, seeded the pumpkin, and then carved the pumpkin!!! (I usually left this all up to the man of the house- not any more!!)

Fall Time

The kids took these pics of each other. We had some really pretty days this week! The kids love to be outside, climbing trees and running around!

These apples were from the tree. They don't look all that great we but, we made yummy applesauce! The kids loved it and it is such a fun fall activity!!

Pittsburgh

The kids were off school Friday and Monday which we had a great long weekend! Monday I played hookie and we went to Pittsburgh with my mom, laura, and david! It was a really fun adventure! We went to the Children's Museum and the Zoo! The kids kept telling me what a great day they were having and they like days off school!!!! We all needed this- especially me!

Mr. Rogers Neighborhood

They got to build and tinker in a room that resembles a garage! They loved it and they made a "house"

This is the Water room which is very cool! We came prepared with clothes they could get wet in! They love playing in Water!

The Zoo

There were two baby elephants- they were so much fun to watch. One was looking for food so my mom told it to go backwards and she listened, moving backwards and then my mom pointed out the food and she found it. What a great day!!

This Peacock just was walking around and came up right in front of the kids.

Those are real sharks!! What a day!

The Top 10 Things I Survived This Week

This week I survived:

10- all the mom jobs

9- kids whining

8- helping others (which I do love)

7- the flu shot

6- my mom hurting her back

5- writing 3 papers

4- Jenna getting the flu

3- not feeling well/ no sleep

2- taking 5 tests!

1- alone on a Friday night!

I am not sure if I survived well, but I survived!
Now I have to get through next week and what that will bring!

Happy Conference!!

So I had posted about me being Overwhelmed- I hate to admit that it hasn't gotten any better! I have been struggling lately with all the things that I feel are required of me- and I can't do it all! I have felt overwhelmed, frustrated, guilty, not good enough, and so on. Which of course doesn't help any situation. I am glad to be going to school but have been struggling to enjoy it like I did last semester. I felt stress last semester, and I also felt this Joy just with the idea of being there. I have been fighting to get that back. I have only felt loneliness, fear, and frustration.

I have had feelings of needing to let go, and have struggled with that too. I know I have a Heavenly Father that loves me and wants to carry my burdens. I know he is there, I have felt him and have seen his hand in my life daily. The big problem is me- I know what I need to do and I don't want to. Crazy!?! I know. A fight has been in me.... Sometimes I think it is easier to carry around our struggles and pain then to let them go. Then what? I am afraid of that feeling of free falling... that idea of then what? So I keep struggling.

(This is me screaming!!!!! I struggled even doing this)

This weekend has been my answers to prayer. I feel I have been given a new strength, with concrete answers and direction. How amazing that we have a Gospel that can do all that for us!!!! There were so many wonderful talks this weekend- I think I really got it when Pres. Monson's daughter talked about safety equipment. I realized how much I have in my life- I have everything. It all of sudden didn't seem so hard to let go!! I feel a new peace, a new freedom!! (Which I felt the same way after doing the Zip line)

I felt so much love from my Heavenly Father, and I could feel me letting go. I feel a power in me, an excitement- I am BACK! I am so thankful for the words that have been spoken from our Church Leaders. I am thankful for a living Prophet. And I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and for his Son, Jesus Christ!

I hope everyone is doing well and feels Gods Love for themselves!!

(The Sacred Grove)

God Bless!! I love you!!!

Taking care of a caterpillar

The kids came to me and said that they found a caterpillar that was going to die, so they needed to save him. They wanted water, I told them leaves would do just fine!! Well, leaves it is then!! I think the caterpillar was in leaf heaven! I even saw him eating a little! So the kids saved the day and the caterpillar! They had so much fun! Today was pretty cold but, at least it was sunny- it rained the last 2-3 days!! The kids were thrilled to be able to play out side!!

Big Burned Marshmallows

Family Memories: burning giant marshmallows! It was so much fun to be together around our fire pit on the first day of fall!! A lot cooler than the week before- which seemed to even make it a little more fun!!