Ordinary Days

These ordinary days will make up most of my life.

I know I need to make the most of them!.

It isn't always easy, but I know that taking time to enjoy the small things in life TRULY makes me happy.

Being happy is a choice. Sometimes I do not choose it and instead feel like the circumstances and events around me push me towards the unhappiness. That is not true. We always have a choice.

We can choose to laugh to cry or scream about spilled milk, being late or one of the million things that may not go the way we had hoped or planned.

I love when I can laugh about it.

I am trying to do that more.

"Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunshine."

--Gordon B. Hinckley (pictured below)

I love this man. He was our beloved prophet for many years, I loved his optimism, his constant ability to look up instead of down.

 Here (Below) is Gordon B. Hinckley with his dear wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley. (she is absolutely one of my hero's) Absolutely. For my bridal shower, I received her book, "Glimpses into the heart and life of Marjorie Pay Hinckley"

 This was such an amazing book. I have read and re-read it. I love her spirit.

Her thoughtfulness. I love her love of being a mother.

I love her love of the gospel. I love how she makes things uncomplicated. She has passed on, but when I think of who I want to be like, I HOPE, one day, to be more like her.

This is the book, I just finished reading.

I have read Stephanie's blog for quite a while and I love it. I love her.

She is so strong. She has so much faith. She is a fighter.

This book was Ah-mazing! I love this book because it teaches me to never give up. I love Stephanie's REAL story of her accident. She didn't always have good days. She went through many AWFUL things. But I guess that is the point, we all have hard things we have to go through, but our Savior is there. He is.

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I love how she described struggling with the changes to her body and appearance.

As a woman, I struggle with LOVING my body all of the time. But I know it is a blessing. I know I can do so many things and I know that it isn't what is on the outside but truly what is on the inside. Stephanie is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met (although I technically haven't met her).

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Read it. I know you'll love it. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you will love it.

Four words that make ALL the difference.

I BELIEVE IN CHRIST!

My faith truly is part of who I am and all I do.

I love the peace, hope and clarity the Gospel brings into my life.

to learn more, visit: www.lds.org

Encouragement

Laundry tips

How I have managed to make laundry more enjoyable

(and done!) the best part.

 My kids each have a basket at the bottom of their closet.

One of their jobs each morning is to make sure ALL of their dirty clothes are in the basket

AND

that the basket makes it way into the laundry room.

Easy for them to do, teaches them to keep things clean, to work, and makes laundry so much easier for me.

 Everyday (besides Sunday) I do a batch (or two or three) of colored clothes.

We buy LESS clothes and wash more.

I do whites as needed once or twice a week.

So, I just have to bring the dirty clothes basket from the Master Bedroom,

dump them all in and press start. (which I LIKE!)

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As clothes come out of the dryer I put them into the appropriate basket.

When all of the loads are done, I set the baskets in my kids' doorways so they can do them after school.

Usually I don't have to remind them.

They see them in the doorway (and the can't get in their room without moving it or stepping over it)

and usually just do them.

Then all I have to do is Mine and Waylon clothes, towels and dishtowels.

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Another reason I LOVE this is my kids can do it ALL on their own.

We have this thing in our house called Wii Currency. They earn 45 minutes of Wii each day by doing their dirty clothes, making their bed and getting ready for the day

 (getting dressed and brushing their teeth)

If they misbehave, they lose their Wii time (in 15 minute increments usually)

They can also EARN Wii time by doing jobs.

They earn 15 minutes for each job.

Besides cleaning the bathroom (because that is hard!), for which they earn 45 minutes.

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So, very often, my kids beg me to do the clean clothes and many other chores.

I love it because it helps them LEARN how to work for what you want, that work is not always easy, but it is rewarding. And that work is necessary.

I LOVE making things simple and efficient.

It makes it so much more enjoyable.

I AM A MOTHER!

A few years ago I read this book. AMAZING.

The book talks about the joy and craziness of being a mother.

It talks about her decision to stay at home with her kids.

But, my very most favorite part of the book is when Jane Clayson Johnson discusses the "I am just a stay at home mother" response.

I have heard many people say that. I am sure I have said it too.

Being a Mother is the greatest gift.

So, she suggests, when asked what you do.....you respond by simply stating: "I am a Mother."

{Of course she says this better than I ever could}

Awesome book.

I love that it celebrates motherhood.

It is truly awesome.

What do I do?

"I am a Mother."

{insert smile}

Dedicated to my treasures: Michael, Olivia and Isaac

You make my life. I love being your Mother.

Recent Reads.....

I put these in order from least to greatest.

The best of Me by Nicholas Sparks.

I love most of his books. This one was so-so. Not my favorite, but not awful.

Helpful, I know

 The Vow by Kim and Krickett Carpenter

And amazing story about marriage and sticking with it for better or worse.

Wanted to read it before I watched the movie.

 And the BEST book ever. I honestly didn't think I would like it so much because I have seen the movie. I like the movie, but the book is UNBELIEVABLE. I couldn't put it down (ask my hubby)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Just got a bunch more from the library, Can't wait to get started.

Organizing Owner's Manuals

What to do with all of those pesky owner's manuals?

I have wondered this for years.

I actually refer to them when cleaning or maintaining something, so I keep them.

But there are so many and they are so big.

I saw this idea on a blog {sorry can't for the life of me remember where}

to organize them all in a binder.

 We had this HUGE blue binder that I honestly didn't think would be good for anything.

I bought some page protectors

I organized the owners manuals into categories (for example: electronics, kitchen appliances, household appliances etc.)

I put them in the sleeves and it was done.

I like easy

 Who knew this huge obnoxious binder would be good for something?

I also added some bright white letters on the side so my Husband can find it easily.

He often needs an owners manual to fix something, now he can see it easily on the bookshelf. 

Ahhh...that is much better.

Organizing anything makes me happy.:)

Thoughts for today

The coast

Waylon had a conference. On the Coast. This is us all going to the coast. Good times.

The kids rode in this 3-D Max-rider at the mall. They were in love. Isaac and I were very happy to sit in the lobby and watch them. When they come out they get to watch their ride.

We also ate ice cream got an angry bird games and went to the arcade. There wasn't a great variety of things to do close-by.

 Ping Pong at the hotel.

 The boys vs. the girls.
We also went swimming, but since there was no lifeguard I was on full alert watching my treasures. So, no pictures.
Isaac practiced swimming on his own.

 MJ chilling on the beach

 Isaac throwing rocks in the water.

 My happy girl

 And her shell collection

 concentration

 Isaac snapping his clam

 Beautiful girl

 Looking for treasures....

 Digging

 Isaac loved snapping his shell open and shut.

 MY MICHAEL. Cute.

 The view.

 making a sand castle is serious business.

 More treasures.

 Olivia just kept walking and walking.... it was a gorgeous day on a beautiful beach.

We spent several hours at the beach.

Grateful for the opportunity that we had to go and spend time together (we did see Waylon in the evenings)

Enjoyed going with the kids a little older.

Didn't enjoy: Olivia puking in the middle of the night. or Isaac breaking his glasses.

Grateful to get away from it all and slow down, and enjoy some time with my

Favorite People!