Temple time

Today I got to take 3 of my boys to the Draper temple open house! Dallan stayed home with Caleb since he already knows more than we do about heavenly things.
I was so proud of my sweet boys for doing their best to contain their wiggles by being reverent and respectful. They could feel the special spirit that was there, and they are looking forward to their next visit when they are twelve. Some of my favorite moments included:

Matthew: (in his loudest whisper) "Mom, Mitchell is picking his nose in the temple!"

Mitchell: (in his non existent whisper) "Look Mommy, TWO boogies!"

Mitchell: "Mommy, I'm a rooster ....COCKADOODLE DOO!" (no whispering there either)

Josh: (in the celestial room) "Do you think when I'm in the celestial Kingdom my bedroom will look like this?"

A discussion that went something like this: "Wow, look at all of these pictures of Jesus... I guess at our house we have a lot of pictures of our family... So we can tell this is Jesus' house by all of His pictures hanging on the walls..."

Josh: (While we were sitting in the sealing room) "Mom, I just really like to be home, whenever I'm somewhere else, I start thinking I'd rather be there...."

...and that Josh, is what the temple is for me. A reminder of home, A place where I feel a spiritual longing...to be there with my family forever no matter where life takes us.

It was a special day.

Nifty Self

When I was in first grade I had a snazzy skirt. It was purple with a paisley pattern on it. I think it used to be an adult skirt, but my mom tweaked it, took it in, added some lace on the bottom, and wala...perfection! I wore that skirt to school almost every day. I know I looked really nifty... My mom may have intended it to be a dress-up, and she probably wondered if my teacher thought I had nothing else to wear... but nothing would stop me from wearing that delightful piece of attire. That skirt would have to be ripped right off of me in order to break my fashion habits...and that's what happened. I was sitting on the bottom of a shopping cart and it got caught in the wheel...and it ripped in a big way. Oh, I miss that little beauty.

I used to set out a snazzy outfit each night for my boys to wear to school the next morning. They have started putting away what I laid out and switching it to something they think is way more nifty. This week, I think Josh wore the same shirt and track pants for 3 days. He loves them. I told him he could if he promised me he would remember deodorant each morning. (hey it's almost worth the fashion faux pas if I can get him in the deodorant habit).
Every now and then I have to teach them what it means to wear something clean, what it means to match and the difference between pj's and school clothes. Mom's are supposed to teach their boys things like that. But, most days when my boys emerge in something extra nifty, I try to remember my purple paisley skirt, because nothing was more nifty than the way I felt in it.
Dear teacher,
I promise Moody Jr. has a variety of clothing. He just doesn't like collars. He thinks that tan pants look like church pants. He doesn't like button up shirts because they itch, and button flies take too long. Thanks for realizing he is being his nifty self. He'll worry about matching outfits and name brand clothing soon enough... or maybe, with any luck, he won't!
Love
Mrs. Moody

Do you know what this means?

Do you know what this means?

Do you know what this means?

It means Spring is coming!

I have a little patch of dirt
right under where my dryer vents outside
and every year
a little purple flower
is the first to have the courage to peek!
Every year when I see it
I know Winter is almost done
and Spring is on it's way!
I still have snow in my yard
And my trees are still bare
but even if it snows again
(and it probably will)
I know that little purple flower
under there
will bloom again
to remind me of the hope of Spring!

The day the Lord created hope
was probably the same day he created Spring.
~Bern Williams

Mitchell + Markers

What do you get when a magic marker is put in the dishwasher
while it's running?
A pool of purple water
and dishes with a hint of Crayola!

My Sister

Aubrey and I are only 14 months apart.
I don't remember my life without her in it.
She used to suck on my chin when she was a baby
I helped her not to be afraid of grasshoppers.
She helped me not to be afraid to buy things at the store.
We shared a room for most of our lives.
We were room-mates for two semesters at BYU.
We went on a cruise together and saw ancient ruins.
She got her Masters degree.
I taught Elementary school.
I got married.
She went to Philadelphia for a PHD.
I had babies.
She went on archaeological digs....
We have had great phone conversations.
Sometimes we'd just cry for a while and say "I love you, bye"
because that was all we needed to say.
Aubrey just got married
And I am so happy for her!
And though our adventures will continue in different states,
Aubrey, you will always be close to my heart.
I'm crying a little right now
because that's all I really needed to say.
I love you, bye!

Hospital Honeymoon

What do you get when you have a bride so sick she is wheeled to the alter in a wheelchair
then taken from the temple in an ambulance
and missed her reception because her appendix burst?
A Honeymoon suit in the hospital
and a Wedding day that will not soon be forgotten!
Congratulations Aubrey and Kyle! We love you with all our hearts!

Visit my mom's column (www.janenebaadsgaard.blogspot.com) for
the "rest of the story."

Snowman house of horrors!

Josh stayed outside for a long time to create his snowman house of horrors!
It was dark when he took this picture.
It adds to the the ambiance don't you think?
You should see the snowman who is holding his own head in my front yard...
Someone is reading too much Calvin and Hobbs.

Kitchen tools

Why do my door jams have little scratches in them?
Why do my kitchen utensils suddenly go missing?
Because they are Mitchell's tools that's why!
He thinks that my manual can opener opens doors.
He thinks that my wire wisks are hammers.
See what a good job he's doing "fixing" Caleb's stroller with an electric beater attachment!

BYU basketball tickets

Hey BYU fans, we have 6 tickets for the game tomorrow at 8 PM. Dallan has meetings so our family won't be going. If any one is interested, let me know in a comment, e mail or phone call! Go COUGS!
update: I now have 2 left...any takers?

President's day

Lewis Nicola, a Colonel in the Revolutionary War, wrote a letter to George Washington describing the dire condition of the troops. They had endured many hardships and hadn't been paid as they had hoped. He and other military men were proposing a scheme to General Washington and this was Washington's response:
Sir:

With a mixture of great surprise and astonishment I have read with attention the Sentiments you have submitted to my perusal. Be assured Sir, no occurrence in the course of the War, has given me more painful sensations than your information of there being such ideas existing in the Army as you have expressed, and I must view with abhorrence, and reprehend with severity. For the present, the communication of them will rest in my own bosom, unless some further agitation of the matter shall make a disclosure necessary.

I am much at a loss to conceive what part of my conduct could have given encouragement to an address which to me seems big with the greatest mischief that can befall my Country. If I am not deceived in the knowledge of myself, you could not have found a person to whom your schemes are more disagreeable; at the same time in justice to my own feelings I must add, that no Man possesses a more sincere wish to see ample justice done to the Army than I do, and as far as my powers and influence, in a constitutional way extend, they shall be employed to the utmost of my abilities to effect it, should there be any occasion. Let me conjure you then, if you have any regard for your Country, concern for yourself or posterity, or respect for me, to banish these thoughts from your Mind, and never communicate, as from yourself, or any one else, a sentiment of the like Nature. With esteem I am. George Washington

What do you think that letter proposed to elicit such a strong negative response from General Washington?

They wanted him to play a role in making himself
King
King George the first.
I am in awe of his response.
I love how he told them they should have known him better,
and that he was true to the principles he held dear.
He didn't choose glory, or power, or fame....
he choose the right way.
And he is revered
Here's to being true to yourself
and for having the courage to choose the right way!
HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

May your day be filled with love!

Valentine #6

My aunt shared this with me and it really touched my heart.
How do I love thee?

Valentine #5

Some loving words from our prophet Thomas S Monson...
May we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed."

Choose your love, Love your choice.

May I share with you a formula that in my judgment will help you and help me to journey well through mortality... First, fill your mind with truth; second, fill your life with service; and third, fill your heart with love.

Never let a problem to be solved, become more important than a person to be loved.

The good you have done, the kind words you have spoken, the love you have shown to others, can never be fully measured.

25 random things about me:

(since I finally took the time to do this on face book, I figured I'd post it here as well.)
1. I am the oldest of 10 children, and my youngest little sister is two days older than my oldest little boy! My mom and I had rooms right next to each other in the hospital..Yep "Father of the Bride, Part 2"

2. I graduated from BYU with a degree in Elementary Education. I taught 4th and 5th grade for 3 years before my oldest was born. I loved it so much that I'd have done it for free... but I love being a mom to my little boys even more! (although a housekkeeping tip would be appreciated every now and then.)

3. I celebrated my 10 year anniversary this year and I still feel fluttery inside when Dallan gets home from work. He hates it when I tickle him, which makes me LOVE to tickle him!

4. I love curling up with warm socks, hot chocholate and my latest find in Children's literature. I love to gather people in my home and I love to play games!

5. I love music, being outside, having adventures (even if they are only in my imagination), laughing, and spending time with my family. My idea of the perfect day is being surrounded by the people I love.

6. I don't like to sleep with the closet door open. When I was little I thought that the "Art Musuem lady" lived in our bathroom so I couldn't sleep until the door was closed. Now I close the closet doors so that the stinky shoe smell won't strangle me in the night.

7. My biggest fears are: hurting someone's feelings, driving in bad weather in the DARK, saying goodbye to someone I love, and my boys making unrighteous choices.

8. My favorite word is JOY.

9. I love warm cinnamon rolls, chocholate chip cookies right out of the oven, warm bread (I'm noticing that I like warm things....) Reeses Peanut butter cup shakes, Jamba Juice, and FRUIT!

10. I can throw an awesome spiral. Move over Max Hall. (But I throw a baseball much more like a girl.)

11. I love to give things away-- Dallan earns it-- I give it away. It's a good arrangement. I also love to de junk , calendar and organize! Ahh what a feeling!

12. I used to be quite an "on the go" person, but because I have been quite homebound for the past several years, I have learned to be happy and content at home. (But I'm still up for the occasional adventure!)

13. I really feel happy & cheerful inside most of the time... Sometimes I am a bit of a worry wart but mostly I'm just happy.

14. I am outgoing, but tend to handle lifes challenges a little more privately. I love all of my boys dearly and even though sometimes people feel sad about our son with challenges, I know they'd feel happy if they really knew how sweet it is... I am also continually humbled by the goodness of other people.

15. Someday I want to write children's literature and adopt a child who doesn't have anyone to love him.

16. I love Gerber Daisies because they are just so cheery! And I love lip smackers chap stick because it's tasty!

17. My "Look" hasn't changed much in the past 10 years. At our 10 year reunion, I got an award for looking the most the same....compliment?... Hey I'll take it :)

18. I love to scare Dallan. He always YELLS when I startle him then he goes into a primitive defense position. I guess I'm going to have to handle the robbers in this house:)

19. I Love to go the library! I really do. It is just so fun!....

20. I love the smell of babies, the sounds of my boys giggling, and the feeling of sunshine on my face.

21. I love to be comfy! My pile of pj and work out pants is the biggest stack in my closet. A close second being my over-alls pile. I know... they aren't in style any more, and I'm slowly giving them to DI. Oh I'm going to miss those beauties... (But I'll still keep a few for the days when it all just needs to hang out. )

22. I think I'm sort of old fashioned. I have no desire to send text messages...face book is a bit of a stretch for me....and I still only have 3 songs on my i pod because I haven't taken the time to figure it all out.... Poor Dallan. Imagine how I'll be when I'm 80--- hopefully he'll have lost his mind by then so I don't drive him crazy. (and I still like to watch I love Lucy & Little house on the Prarie and My 3 sons when I catch them on TV)....

23. I believe in Miracles.

24. I know there is good to be found wherever you go and in whomever you meet.

25. My Faith, My family, and My friends are my favorite blessings.

Valentine #4

Because the people you love really do shape the way you see the world...

Valentine #3

"It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”

Mother Teresa

Valentine # 2

When you love someone....(please turn off my playlist)

Valentine #1...It worked!

A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning out my files and came across the first Valentine Dallan ever gave to me! ...Our first date was a devotional the first weekend in February. On Valentines day he was out of town, so he sent a couple of his room-mates and brother to my house to serenade me to the tune "My Girl." Then they presented me with a Valentine he had made with a bag of Hershey kisses. What good sports!
His card said:
One of the oldest tricks in the book:
Giving a Valentine to a pretty girl.
I hope this works!
Dallan


This is a great week to focus on all of the things I LOVE! I have to admit, I'm a bit of a romantic at heart, so I'm going to post a Valentine thought each day this week!

Monopoly

Sunday afternoons with my boys look like this....

The boys ate dinner at the counter, because they couldn't bear to end the game just to eat. So our rousing game of Monopoly started right after lunch, and didn't end until bedtime. I better not ever teach them how to play Risk or we'll be playing for days...

Somebody's listening...

I just told my boys, "I'm getting a little bit tired of cleaning up messes."
Josh responded "Mom, don't you remember you said that when you don't feel like praying, you should pray until you do?...Well I guess you better keep cleaning until you feel like you want to!" I guess somebody was listening!

Validation

Just in case you ever wonder if the small acts of kindness you do really make a difference... Thanks to a dear friend for sharing this with me! (please turn off my playlist at the bottom of the screen)

There's no place like home!

Caleb doesn't have any ruby slippers, but our wish was granted... He's coming home today!
Caleb has had quite an adventure at the hospital this past week. He had a nissin G tube procedure that was more complicated than we thought, had 2 collapsed lungs as a result of surgery, had chest tubes placed to drain the fluid, had chipmunk cheeks as a result of bad IV's and had an allergic reaction to some medicine...He got his chest tubes taken out yesterday, and his lungs look good! He's tolerating his feedings well, and I've finished g tube training. So we're preparing to be home by this evening! Caleb will still be recovering for quite a few weeks, but what better place to heal than his own cozy room, his own comfy bed, and his own family and friends to snuggle him? There's definitely no place like home! You can read more about his hospital stay and see photos on his website. Just click on his picture on my side bar.