St George

So I have been back from Saint George for over a week and have not "blogged" about it. I intended to do it the very day we got back - but between math and work and Brock, I haven't seemed to get around to it. Plus I have been overwhelmed by all the fun things and cute pictures. So I am going to just do one post at a time - rather than do the whole trip in one sitting.

We had SO MUCH FUN! But it was CRAZY! We had 5 kids under the age of 2. We did 2 activities a day - which does not sound like much, but if there was an hour where all 5 were fed, awake, happy, and in a clean diaper - I felt like we had succeeded! I have to give a shout out to Karli for all of the hard work she did. She really kept the whole group running, she could have handled all 5 by herself I am sure.

One day we went to Snow Canyon and played in the sand dunes. It took Brock a while to warm up to the sand idea, but soon he was climbing all over - and much to my surprise he did not try to eat it!

"Dan Cook would do it!"

So a little background. Dan and Jamie Cook are a SUPER CUTE couple that used to be in our BYU ward until they moved to California. A few weeks ago on her blog she told a story about how she lost her keys and her husband, Dan, searched through their dumpster to find her keys. To read the whole story here is the link. (I could not figure out how to just type the word "here" and have it link - sorry)

http://thecookfamilyblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/case-of-missing-keys.html

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Our story:

So my mom gave me a gift card to Cafe Rio, which is basically gold in my world. The next day I realized I never put it in my wallet, I glanced around the apartment for the card it was in, I figured I had left it in the card. I asked Jason where the card was, he said he threw it away, I told him the gift card was still in it. We check the garbage, but it had already been taken out to the dumpster.

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I asked him to go out and search the dumpster, he said, "No way!" I immediately blurted out "Dan Cook would do it!" He looked at me like I was insane and we both started laughing hysterically. He hadn't read the blog - so he thought it came out of no where and was like "What did you say? Is that supposed to make me go out to the dumpster?" I told him about the blog. I don't know if he didn't want to be shown up by Dan or if he was just being nice - but at 10:45 at night, while it was snowing, he went out to the dumpster and searched for the card. He came back without the card. He said it was probably just in my wallet, I went to grab my wallet to show him it was not in there. When I grabbed my wallet I saw it sitting at the bottom of my purse. OOPS :(

Brighton Bengals

It was senior night for the Brighton Boys Varsity Basketball game on Tuesday night (they beat Skyline - yea). They had all the parents and seniors on the court and read some info about them. My dad was out of town - so it was just my mom. Below are some pictures of the night.

We watched 2 games (JV for Daniel and Varsity for Michael), Brock liked the JV game, but the varsity game was close, so I was yelling a lot and Brock DID NOT LIKE THAT, every time I would yell "rebound" or "Defense" Brock would cry like he was being killed. I tried not to yell - but years of basketball enthusiasm took over. And if any of you have watched basketball with my mom you know where I got it from. At least it is good to know Brock never hears me yell, so he was obviously confused and scared when I did yell. I need to take this child to more sporting events.

Since they won the Region they got to cut down the net. Michael was the "last cut", isn't he so cute!

Brock and Daniel

Brock and Michael

The Boys (2 basketball stars - and maybe a future star??)

Delay in Bloggage

So I am finally updating. I have been lagging, not because I am busy - I kind of am - I HAVE to finish my independent study math class by April 4 and all my "nap" time is used either doing that or working. But mostly because life is SO BORING and I have nothing to say. I am so sick of winter and cold I could scream. I am already planning mine and Brock's summer - it is going to be so fun - I have BIG PLANS! We are going to the beach, and the mountains, and on walks, and mommy and me classes, and the park, and basically anything we can do outside. The problem is I don't know if we will be living in A)Provo B)Salt Lake or C)Syracuse, New York, so all the plans are tentative - but still - just the dreams get me through the day. If anyone has any advice on how to get through these last few cold months let me know.

**Karli and I are going to St. George for a week for this very reason, just us and the kids - and I am so excited!!!

My thoughts on the race

(My spell check is not working - so forgive my blatant errors)
Given that tomorrow is Super Tuesday, I thought I would give my input. Jason and I are pretty into politics. We follow the candidates and research the issues.

For strictly political reasons I like Mit Romney, unfortunetly I DO NOT like the fact that he is Mormon. I was not going to vote for him because although I think he would make a great president, I don't think that we, as a church, are mature enough to handle it. However, I really do not like McCain, he is just too much like George Bush, and although I liked Bush and voted for him in the past, I think the nation really needs a change of pace, and I do not think McCain would provide that in the area's needed. Given all this information I am pretty sure McCain is going to win, Huckabee is splitting the conservative vote in the "winner take all" states, and Romney just doesn't have enough percentage in the "grade on a curve" states. If Huckabee would drop, Romney could take it, however I think Huckabee is staying in JUST SO Romney will lose and McCain will pick him as a running mate.

Other than the fact that I think he would be a good president I am a little sad about Romney not winning because I am curious to see how the church would handle him as a president. Would he have home teachers? Would he be a home teacher? Hold a calling? Could he go to the temple? Would he go to the temple? If he wanted too, he obviously could not take body guards or do a security sweep - I just think the answers to these questions would be interesting. I wonder who ever the bishop is for the ward the white house is located in, is asking himself these very questions.

So if McCain really takes it (and I think he will), I hope Obama wins over Clinton (and I think he will), because I would vote for Obama over McCain. I think Obama is just something new and exciting, and it is "worth a shot", his lack of experience is a little unsettling, but I like the idea of bringing in an outsider. So my predictions for tomorrow is McCain and Obama. However I would like it to be Romney and Clinton, because I don't know if Romeny could beat Obama. So I am praying for an upset on both sides.

Bathtime Baby

He loves to stand up in the tub! He often slips and falls and goes under the water. He does not love that so much.

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**update -I posted this yesterday (Tuesday). When he takes a bath I have always been right there holding on to him to make sure he does not fall (like in the picture). He has never really "played" or enjoyed the tub, he just sat there, and tried to stand up. But today I needed to get ready and give him a bath at the same time. So I set him in the tub and got ready (Don't worry I was in the bathroom watching him), but he had SO MUCH FUN without mom right there. He would go on his stomach and crawl to toys and roll around in the water. It was so funny to see. He NEVER played when I was there. It feels good to be able to "let go" and know that he is happy and wants to be independent.

Our Prophet

As I am sure many of you know, President Hinckley died yesterday. I just wanted to take this opportunity to share my feelings along with my testimony. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to live and serve under his direction. He truly was a prophet of God. I loved him dearly and learned many things through his teachings. I gained my testimony through reading his talks and hearing his messages. I am also grateful for the women in his life. I have learned of his mother, Ada. She was wonderful and truly a woman of God fit to raise a prophet, and of coarse, Marjorie. She was so inspiring. I have tried to emulate her in my approach and attitude towards life. I am grateful they are together again.

I am grateful for President Monson, and my prayers are with him, along with the other members of the 12. I am most of all grateful, that President Hinckley (a most beloved prophet and influential figure) can die, and it is ok. Our church is ok, the members are ok, and the work will go on. A new prophet will be appointed and we will sustain, follow, and love him. How grateful I am for the organization of this church and for modern revelation.

Brock's rocking horse

So I know that there are a lot of pictures of the same thing, but Brock loves his horse, and particularly loved it on this day. When he wants to ride his horse he goes through 2 phases. Phase 1: stand next to the horse, he will pet him, eat his ears, and rock him back and forth. Phase 2: ride the horse (This is pretty self explanatory)

Why do I encourage things I hate?

For any of you who really know my husband, you know that he wears gray sweat pants and a white tee-shirt EVERY SINGLE DAY. For those of you who don't really know him and think I am exaggerating... I am not. He wears them everyday and only changes for church, the temple, going out to dinner if he is going to a semi-nice restaurant (fast food gets sweats), or a social/family function (even sometimes those gets sweats). I am not such a fan, I like a little more variety than that. But when I saw these little gray sweat pants I had to buy them. I think it is SO CUTE when they wear them together. So why do I encourage it when I hate it... I don't know... Jason says it's is because subconsciously I really don't hate it. I am pretty sure I do.

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(I had Jason read this before I posted it to make sure I did not offend him, and he would like me to say that he wears them because they are comfortable)

New Years Reslolution

I know this is a cop out - but I haven't given much thought to New Year's Resolutions. So, I will just fall back on "my song" that I always think of when I am trying to make goals. All of them are things I need more of, and I will probably be needing them until the day I die. However I will bold the ones I am going to focus on.
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More holiness give me

More strivings within

More patience in suffering

More sorrow for sin

More faith in my Savior

More senses of His care

More joy in His service

More purpose in prayer

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More gratitude give me

More trust in the Lord

More pride in His glory

More hope in His word

More tears for His sorrows

More pain at His grief

More meekness in trial

More praise for relief

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More purity give me

More strength to over come

More freedom from Earth stains

More longing for home

More fit for the kingdom

More used would I be

More blessed and holy

More Savior like Thee

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(OK, so I probably should have just bolded the whole thing :)

More Holiness Give Me - Hymn 131

Some Christmas Pictures

I got some WAY CUTE pictures of Brock this Christmas Season. The professional ones are from a photo shoot with his cousins by Jess. The others are just some ones I took. Enjoy

Christmas Eve

Every Christmas Eve we go to my Grandma's house. We eat dinner, do a nativity, dance around the Christmas tree, and exchange gifts.

Brock played baby Jesus in our family's nativity. He did great (especially being held like a "little baby") He didn't wear the "swaddling clothes" so he kind of looks out of place. But he didn't cry or fuss once during the whole thing.



The whole cast


My family is from Norway, and we have actually kept many Scandinavian traditions. One of them being dancing around the Christmas tree. (you can kind of see it in the background). Every Christmas eve the whole extended family dances in a circle around the tree while singing Christmas songs, we mostly sing carols and hymns, but we end singing a Norwegian song, none of us know the words, but we do know how to mumble and dance! We think it is great - those who marry into the family (i.e. Jason and Travis) think it is weird.


This is my sister Katie and her cute Audrey!

Christmas Morning

My parents gave him a rocking horse (his name is painted along the bottom on the other side)


Opening presents with mom

We spent the night at my parents house and opened presents Christmas morning. Brock is at a great age for opening presents, he LOVES tearing paper and cardboard boxes, so he was just in heaven. I was so excited about the rocking horse, I had one just like it when I was little. I loved my horse, I have several pictures of me falling asleep while on the horse. (My name was also across the bottom ((I hope i am not living vicariously through him :) ))

Thoughts on Christmas

I have been thinking a lot about Mary the past few weeks, and the role she played in the Christmas story. I would like to share them with all of you.

I think that sometimes we expect God to just take care of things, or make them easy. I think we expect this a lot more when we feel that we are doing his will. We think things like, "If God wants me to ______ then he will do_________." But if you take a look at Mary and her attitude you will see a true "hand maiden of the Lord." Mary was pregnant with the Son of God, the Savior of the World. This was absolutely God's will. On the night of Christ's birth Mary had traveled to Jerusalem with Joseph. As we all know there was no room for them in the Inn and she gave birth in a stable and laid Him in a manger.

Now if I were Mary I would probably have a few thoughts running through my head. 1 - I would probably be a little mad at my husband for not ensuring I was taken care of. After all I AM pregnant and he is supposed to provide for me. I might be mad that he had not made prior arrangements or couldn't figure out how to make sure I had a suitable place to deliver our baby.
2 - I might be a little mad at God. My prayer that night might say, "God, this is your Son, this is your will, you asked me to carry this child, and now, tonight, you have not even provided for me. Did you forget about me? What about what I want? I am willing to do what ever you want me to do, but why is there no room in the Inn, why did things just not fall into place?"

I am grateful to Mary to teach me what true humility is. I am grateful that we have the beautiful Christmas story, and that through her obedience, grace, and understanding, she was not selfish or prideful, but willing to quietly give birth to her son, my Savior, in a stable. I pray that when things aren't going the way I think they should go, rather than blame someone else, I will have the quiet strength, faith, and courage to truly be "an handmaiden of the Lord."

Things I learned from Super Saturday

I am the Second Counselor in our Relief Society - and as such I am in charge of enrichment, which means I was in charge of our Super Saturday for Christmas. It was a few weeks ago, but I am just now recovering, so I am only now able to reflect on the things I have learned. I thought I might share them with you, knowing many of you might find yourself in a similar situation.

1 - You don't need 500 different crafts, although you might want diversity, most people sign up to do all of them, and then they don't have time to actually do all of them, so you waste money buying the stuff.

2 - Once Saturday has ended - end it! Do not do make up days, or continue to let people buy stuff - this only increases your chances of going over budget, and in the end you will not be able to make everyone happy, and it isn't fair to just make a few happy.

3 - Don't ever reduce prices until the day of - it will just be a nice little bonus if they get there and don't have to pay as much. Last minute spending is always more than you thought.

4 - Delegate. I say this with a little bit of hesitancy. I had plenty of people volunteering to help, but I just wanted to do it myself. I know that if I did it again, I still wouldn't delegate much, but it is still useful advice. Looking back, I guess, there were some things I could have given up control of.

5 - Don't expect to get your own crafts done. I actually thought I would.

I hope this was a little helpful (and humorous to those of you in my ward). I loved Super Saturday and am glad I got the opportunity to participate. I am proud to report I have finished all of my crafts and stayed within budget (it got a little scary at the end).

Temple Square

I love temple square any time of year. To be honest spring is my favorite time, but the holiday lights would have to come in at a close second. Although it was cold outside, Brock handled it very well.

Ward Christmas Party

We went to our ward Christmas Party last week. We had a nice dinner, got family pictures taken, and Brock got to sit on Santa's lap. Jess took some great pictures (as always)!

Our family picture.

The ward Christmas party was on December 8th, my birthday was on December 9th, so that is what we did for my birthday. I think i just need to know that every year for my birthday i will probably be at some sort of Christmas party. I guess it is ok because i love Christmas. Jason did make me breakfast that morning, and then we went to my family's house for Sunday dinner, so all in all it was a good day.

Thanksgiving

Life has been crazy. I have had no time to blog. But I plan on changing, so I need to catch up.

Thanksgiving was so wonderful! Jason's whole family came to town. The whol family hasn't been together in 4 years, and the 4 grandchildren have never been all together. We were only all together for like a total of 14 hours, but they were a wonderful 14 hours. I din't get a lot of pictures of the family, but we tried to get a picture with the grandkids and Jason's mom. Here is how they turend out.