Home With All Ten Toes

He's home!! He said he it was "a lot of fun and a great campout". I still don't get it.

A Moment of Silence...Please

Keep Dave in your prayers tonight. The poor soul is currently up on some mountain freezing in the 22 degree weather. He was just called as the assistant scout master in our ward. His first campout is...yes, snow camping. It is forcasted to be a low of 16 degrees tonight! May he make it home with all his fingers and toes.

Scouts are crazy. What's the point of camping in the snow? I don't get it.

Dave Cracks Me Up

There was a great sale on cereal last week. Here is what happens when you buy too much, there's not enough room in the pantry, and when you add a very creative husband to the mix.

A cereal fort!! McKenna LOVED it. What a funny Daddy.

So the other night Dave needed to eat sugar after I had gone to bed. Apparently he was shocked at what he found. And here's what I found on the table the next morning...
The note says "Natalie, We need to talk...I'm worried about you...I think you have a Reese's addiction...Not to eating Reese's, but to collecting them! We can get you the help you need. Love, Dave".

In my defense, the miniature cups were a great deal after Halloween! How could I pass it up!? AND...Dave bought me the fun size Butter Cups for Christmas. I am not at fault for that one!

That was one of the things that drew me to Dave when we first met. He has always been so full of life and a great person to be around. Things haven't changed much...he still cracks me up...daily!

It Runs In The Family

I can't believe McKenna is almost one year old. This has been the fastest year of my life. We still just can't get enough of this little girl.

She's addicted to peek-a-boo. Seriously, she'll put anything in front of her and then jump out at you. Here she is playing the game behind a cup.

The girl is a ham...

...I wonder where she gets it from??

Hmm....any guesses?

Finding Joy in the Journey

One of my favorite talks from October's General Conference was by our prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I felt so moved by the spirit while I listened to his words. Recently I have read this talk in the Ensign and was once again inspired to appreciate the life that I have now. Don't get me wrong...I am very happy with the stage of life that I am in and all the blessings that fill my life. However, sometimes I get caught up in the "I'll be happier when.." frame of mind. I think we all do. Anyway, this talk was a wonderful reminder that there will always be another wish for tomorrow and to be happy with today. Here is a quote from his talk titled "Finding Joy in the Journey":

"I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now....

If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. ... We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

Thomas S. Monson, “Finding Joy in the Journey,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 84–87

Here is a link to the complete talk. It deserves a look, and another...and another.

Can I Make It Any Easier For You!?

I'm not sure how many male readers follow this blog, but here is a friendly reminder that Valentine's day is just around the corner. To make your life a little easier, I decided to make this post about a "no-brainer" idea for your special someone. Here is a link to an Etsy shop full of beautiful and inexpensive handmade jewelry for the daughters, mother, and wife (or girlfriend) in your life. Imagine for just a moment the squeals of joy you'll hear from these beautiful women as they open this precious gift. Go check it out....and you can thank me later.

Here's a tease of what you'll find.

Hey ladies, my sister makes jewelry for men as well, so you can give that gift a try! Feel free to spread the word and/or post about this on your blog as well. And no, my sister has not put me up to this.

A Snowman...the Miniature Variety

About ten days ago we had another series of major snowstorms. Here's a picture of the snow accumulation on the picnic table out front. I realized, as I was shoveling snow during our last storm, that I spend all my time, when outside...shoveling. I haven't played outside with my kids this winter, since by the time I am done shoveling my kids are done playing, or McKenna is crying for me. So this day I finished and McKenna was still napping, so Taylor and I tried to build a snowman. The sad part was that the snow was not the snowman type. We couldn't pack it enough to roll a ball, so we made a miniature version of a snowman.I'm glad it was a small dude since I only had baby carrots in the fridge. :)

We later gave him hair implants. Taylor said "he looks weird."

McKenna Baby...I mean...Toddler? :(

McKenna took her first step on December 12th (10 months and one week old) and look at her now (11 months old):

She still prefers crawling and will only take a few steps here and there, but she is still by far our earliest walker. She's growing up way too fast!! It makes me too sad to watch my babies walk. It suddenly makes them a toddler and no longer a baby. (And yes, that is a dirty diaper that Dave is enticing her with. Hey, she really wanted it! And no, it was not a stinky one.)