Conference Weekend

We LOVE conference weekend!!! It has always been something that we look forward to and this past weekend was no different! I had intentions of making some conference games (bingo, etc) for the girls, but since I wasn't quite organized enough for that I just printed off some pages for them to color while we listened. Between coloring, crafts, and playing games it worked out really well! In between sessions on Saturday the kids went outside and Wes made our traditional German Pancakes.

I loved all of the talks!! I felt the spirit and couldn't help but feel grateful that we do have living prophets and apostles to speak to us on our day. And, as I mentioned to Wes, they just seemed to hit the mark! These men absolutely know what is going on in the world, what our struggles are, and what we need to do!! I know that without a doubt!

• our home should be sacred. It is a temple. Treat it as such
• safeguard our family!!... never leave the house without family prayer... we are sending our children out into a dangerous place.
• study the scriptures, you will feel peace in your life
• Family scripture study and Family Home Evening are a must!!
• Joseph Smith was a real prophet! Called of God.
• Allowing ex-mormons teach us about the church is like having Judas teach us about the Savior after he betrayed Him
• Christ's standards will not lower to meet the world's standards
• There is no more important role than being a mother (and father). 
• Children should not use so much technology. Turn the TV off, i-pods, etc. Rather, read good books, have activities together.
• Slow down.
• Truth is truth.
• Stand up for what you know is right. Stand up for truth. Stand up for God.

Those are some of the highlighted parts for me. As I look back on the list, I notice that there is nothing knew. No alarming new revelation. But, what I heard over this past weekend has increased my testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, of latter-day revelation, the importance of families and motherhood, and the necessity to safeguard our families from the power and the influence of the adversary.  If I had it my way, I would jump at the opportunity to live in a bubble, never leave the house, and to protect my children from all the "bad" stuff out there! I know that's not an option OR the answer. I do know, however, that as a mother I can teach my children what God would have them know, I can teach them who they are and why they are here. I can teach them about their Savior, and who they can become. I can help them to cultivate and strengthen their own testimonies so that when they go out and are faced with a hard situation they can make good choices. I can create an atmosphere in their home where the spirit is always present and teaching them, where they feel save, where they feel loved, where they love to be, and where the gospel is lived and embraced.

Oh man, I could go on forever....

As this weekend closes, I feel edified, uplifted and instructed. And grateful.

Here are a few photos of the past two days!

 Just hanging out, listening to the Prophet

Playing Don't Eat Pete!

Zach and the girls helping Wes make Apple Pudding

 

German Pancakes! Everyone is excited!!

 Conference selfie!

House update: Walls are primed, ceiling is textured!

Look who got Jackson to sleep! Aubrey was loving this!

Such a great weekend!!

Swings can be scary!

It's been a bit of an adjustment for school! Olivia and the parent who drives her to school leave the house at 7:00 a.m. School starts at 8:15 and she gets out at 3:05. Olivia has a great time at school once she settles and she is always happy when we pick her up.

Last week, we drove by our new house after picking her up for school and decided to play in our soon-to-be new community park!

Side note: AUBREY'S BANGS!! ..... just patiently waiting for them to grow out....

One day we'll have a home!

When we purchased our home last January they told us that we should take possession of it around September or October of 2014. We gave up possession of our (then) house on May 16, moved the vast majority of our stuff in storage,  packed our immediate necessities and moved them (and us) into Tara and Darren's home. 

While we were staying there,  the kids and I took a few trips down to my mom's house while Wes stayed up in Calgary and worked in Airdrie.

At the end of July we packed up from Tara's and moved into Brandon and Stephanie's home.

So, it's been a bit crazy and a bit of an adjustment for the girls, but we are so grateful that we have family who love us and will put us up in our time of need... our LONG time of need. haha

It doesn't look like it will be an October possession date,  but we're holding out for November!

We like to stop by after church and check out the progress. 

This is what we found today! I also suck inside and was happy to see that the drywall up! Woo hoo!

We listed our house

[Jan 25]

When we purchased this home in 2009 we thought this would be our "forever" home.  Having never lived in a home (as a married couple or family....we just had that teeny apartment) we didn't really think about a layout that would work for our family, BUT the square footage in this house would allow a lot of room for growth as a family, and the price was right! 

We have put so much heart and sole into this home. We tried to make it our own, completed the landscaping, developing the basement, etc, etc. This was the home where we became more solid as a family unit... making our place in our new city and new ward. We brought home Aubrey and Simon here. The only home Olivia knows. First words, first steps. A lot of love, a lot of laughter, and even tears.

As our family grew and our circumstances in life changed, I started to think about how I could change our house to make it more functional for our family. Things like moving the dining room, adding an office, making a mudroom, swapping the location of the living room and kitchen! haha... all stuff that was nearly impossible.  However, we (I) was still set on staying in our home and continuing to make it ours.

In December of 2013, I came home from church, sat on the couch as I nursed Simon and it clicked....we need to see what else is out there. We needed to look at layouts, see if there is something that is functional for us. Is moving an option? Is it something that we want to do? We just have to at least look and see what's out there.

So, I started looking on line. I looked and looked, and looked. Wes just basically gave me free reign to look...I updated him on what I came across. There were some things that were a MUST: mudroom, front room, not being able to see the kitchen from the front door, and just an over-all functional, flowing layout that makes sense and allows us to easily entertain. 

There wasn't a lot out there that really jumped out at me. It wasn't that I needed a bigger house, I just needed something more functional. I first looked at smaller homes, but they didn't exist... not with what i needed. Then, I found one that I really liked....although I'm not even sure it was in our budget! We went to go look at it, but the show home wasn't there anymore. I was disappointed about that, but it lead us to look more and talk with a few people. I found a home with that could potentially work, but then I also went back on line and looked some more. We also wanted to be at the same end of our city. Anyway, low and behold....I found our house!!! Finally! I looked at it and it had everything that was important to me PLUS more. It was just what we needed! I wanted to actually walk in the home to make sure it was just what I thought it would be. However, it was over Christmas break by this time so everything was closed...until January 4th. We went back January 4th...WE HAD FOUND OUR HOME....now we need to find out what our current home was worth. We met with a couple of relators, talked to our bank, signed the papers to purchase the new home, worked our tails off to stage our home, and listed it the day we went to the Bahamas (Jan 25). Two weeks later it was we accepted an offer!!! 

It all happened so fast, but we knew we had to do it. 

This home has been sooo good to us, and I will love it forever!! But we are so excited for our new home and the years and years and years of memories we will make there.

February

It's almost April and here I am putting up photos from February!! I'm just a wee-bit behind! :) February was so long ago, that I can't really remember what we did (other than what I already posted), but here are a few ones from the month!

Could she even get any cuter??

I'm flying!!

Sensory play with rice...

and with snow...

It is so fun that she can eat now!...she loves it!

guess who found the goods!

Part time! We have our basement done...woohoo!!! Had the family over to celebrate! Good times!

Never a dull moment with our two little cuties!! 

We have a backyard!!! (July 19)

It feels like a long time coming, but we FINALLY have our very own backyard! Since we moved into a brand new home there was no landscaping done in the backyard. That was almost exactly 1 year ago.

In May I started feeling very antsy about getting it done (VERY antsy....just ask my husband!). We thought about doing it all ourselves, but Wes wasn't really thrilled about doing that, not to mention we really had not idea how to do any of it. We found a guy in our ward that does landscaping so we decided to hire him and have him take care of it (fence, sod, patio). He did a great job! We still can't walk on the grass for a couple of weeks, but we sure do enjoy hanging out on our patio! Today was our first patio dinner and it was a pleasure to have Tara and Darren join us!

And, we sure lucked out with the weather....it down-poured before dinner, and then hailed after dinner.

YAHOO for backyards and summer time! :)

PS: I am FULL TERM today!! Dr. says baby is 7 lbs. Anytime now baby, anytime....

She's BACK!!

The face-attacking, fussy, temperamental baby has left and our charming, happy, friendly little beauty is back!! We're so happy she is here!

For some reason it never occurred to me previously that moving would be hard on our little Liv. I'm glad she has adjusted and is feeling happy and secure again!

As for Wes and I...we are still trying to get settled. WOW...moving is a LOT of work!! It really is fun, though, when it's your own house. LOVE IT!

Here is our home....

They just poured the driveway today...which we are really happy about!! When they finish the exterior paint and landscaping, I will post an after shot. 

PS...we LOVE our ward!!! Actually, it is a really big branch! We are excited to start exploring our new city!!

And, Stay tuned for more pictures from Wes' Birthday!