Olivia's hair

I found this idea on Annie's Feathered Nest.  I thought I was so cute so I tried it on Olivia this morning.  I need different hair bands but I think it turned out really cute.

Life's Moments

Today my heart is over flowing with emotion.  I'm not sure I should even write about it but I have to in order to sort through all that I am feeling.  Writing is therapy for me.  This morning I got a call from Michael's mom telling me that his aunt had been life flighted to Boise last night.  I guess she had been sick for awhile and finally went to the doctor.  He diagnosed her with bronchitis and gave her some antibiotics and cough syrup with codene.  She came home and took the medicine and never woke back up.  Her family called 911 and she was rushd to the hospital.  She had to have breathing tubes put in and they discovered that she has bacterial meningitis.  They then sent her on to Boise.  She still is not responsive and only time will tell the outcome.  This is a person that I love with all my heart.  She is kind and loving and has always accepted me as part of the family.  I have spent many hours with her and had many wonderful conversations.  My heart breaks for her mother, husband and children as they wait this out.  Of course, the whole family is upset and praying for her.  All day I have wandered the house thinking of her and thinking about how quickly life can change.  It only takes a minute and life can be turned upside down.  I have felt this before in other areas of life.  I have spent the day thinking about what is really important.  Telling my family I love them, reading stories to my children, kissing my husband before he goes to work, tucking my children in to bed at night.  So much of the time, life can get busy and all these little things can be pushed aside.  We never know when the opportunity to do these things will be taken from us.  I have also thought about the Savior.  How lost would I be without my knowledge of Him?  How hard would it be if I didn't know that what I was doing or trying to do was going to last beyond this life?  I am so grateful for the knowledge that Jesus Christ is my Savior, that we will live again and that my family can be together forever.  I doesn't take away the pain and sorrow that we feel here in this life, but it gives hope for the eternities.  It gives brightness to an otherwise dreary ordeal.  The fact that Jesus suffered for our sins and that He felt all of our pains, sorrows, and frustrations gives me strength and hope.  I know that I can turn to Him, that He knows me and he knows what I am going through.  Life would be so much harder without that knowledge.  Life's moments can take us by surprise and throw our plans into chaos, but we can always find strength through the Savior.  We can be grounded through our testimony of Him and as life throws it's storms of fury at us, we can stay strong and true and ride out the storms with our hand in His.

To all my friends and family, I love you.  I love your examples, I love the strength that you give me and the joy that you bring into my life. 

Super Princess

Olivia received an early birthday present today from her Auntie Stace and Uncle John.  She was so excited!  She had Zeke help her open the pretty pink wrapping paper and pull out a new pink cape.  It is so cute!  It is covered with sparkles and glitter and it has an "O" on the back.  She put it on with her pink leotard and went running through the house yelling at us to watch her go "so really faster."  Zeke of course had to put his on too and I'm sure they will spend the day being really fast super heroes that ocassionally stop to watch Dora or Max and Ruby!

My highlights

I ha some requests for pictures of my new 3 hour highlights.  Here are a few.  They aren't great, but they're the best I could come up with.

New Calling

Today was a big day in our family.  Michael was called to be the 1st counselor in the new bishopric.  Today was the first day he got to it up front.  For the next five or so years, he will be sitting up there and watching us in the congregation.  It was a specal day for us.  Despite the bad roads, the Feslers were able to come and share in all the events that took place today.  They have been our family away from home and we have grown to love them over the years.  We were so glad they could come.  After church we had a meeting with the new bishop and his family and our family along with the stake presidency and the Feslers.  It was a wonderful meeting and there were wonderful blessings given.  Anyways, I am proud of Michael and all that he is and of his willingness to serve the Lord and the people of the church here.  There will be hard moments and frustrations that come, but I know in the long run it will be a tremendous blessing to our family. 

Who Can Count to Eight?

I'm just wondering if it is a requirement for car salesmen to NOT be able to count?!  How hard is it to count to eight?  Olivia can do it and she is 2!  We have been looking at getting a new car because our van is quickly going dowhill.  We tell them it has to seat  8 - we have 6 kids. Oh yeah, yeah, it seats 8.  No that only seats 7.  Well this one seats 8.  No that only seats 5.  How many kids have to be in the third seat?  Well, unless there is room for 4 in the middle seat there has to be room for 3 in each row.  Oh, this only seats 2 in the back seat.  It won't work then.  After telling us about all their cars that DON'T seat 8 they finally say, "we don't have any that seat 8 here."  Ya think!  So frustrating.  Michael is now requesting pictures of them buckled into all 8 seatbelts before we go to look at the car.  I mean, really...

Brothers

You know, growing up with four brothers was certainly an adventure.  My younger sister was young enough that we didn't play together so I spent my childhood doing whatever my brothers were doing.  I learned a lot of things some important and good, some not so much.  I was always amazed when I would have girls tell me how cool or cute or whatever my brothers were.  I had many "friends" because they thought my brothers were cute.  If only they could see them behind the scenes!   There was a lot of wrestling. competition, teasing, fighting, burping, eating, sarcasm, and other exciting stuff.  Even now with them all grown and being fathers they are still the same.  When they get together there is still the competition, wrestling, eating, fighting, teasing, etc.  The oldest brother gets thrown in the pool fully clothed (minus the phone, watch and leather boots) by the younger brothers, the youngest brother still is affectionately called by his childhood nickname...It's all the same, they are just bigger, older and sometimes louder!  Occasionally though, I get to see another side of them.  Just recently I have gotten to see that other side by my two younger brothers.  I was amazed, humbled, and very blessed to see that side.  They can be serious, spiritual and soft, despite their usual appearance:)  Anyways I am so glad to see this side of them every now and then.  As a sister, I have always been proud of my four brothers.  Despite all the obnoxious noises that they produce, I always thought they were cool (never tell them that) and I always looked up to them - even the younger ones.  Adding to that love and admiration is this other side that peaks through.  It strengthens me and adds to my admiration of them.

Lazy Afternoon

Yes, it is almost 3:30 and I still have not gotten dressed.  It's one of those lazy days.  I made cookies this morning with Zeke and Olivia and lifted weights.  I also made a pink puppy out of playdough and talked to my sister on the phone.  I had intentions of walking on my treadmill but caught up working with some old pictures on the computer - cropping, restoring, and printing.  Then I made lunch for the kids and worked on a project for my oldest sister's 40th birthday.  She died 38 years ago and each year I try to do something for my parents in memory of her.  This years project is bigger than other years so I spent several hours working on that.   I also got the chicken ready and marinating in the fridge, did the dishes and some laundry. Now the kids will be home from school soon and the rest of the day will be a whirlwind of activities.  Anyways, I don't have lazy days very often so it was nice, but now that the day is almost over I feel like I need to rush around and do stuff.  Oh well, it will give me something to do tomorrow:)  Zeke and Olivia also enjoyed the day.  After making cookies, they played with playdough and then watched Dora.  I even let them eat lunch in the living room today.  They love that!  They enjoy lazy days too and being able to stay home and do whatever they want.  I guess days like today are good for everyone every now and then!

Hammerhead Sharks

I know why they're called hammehead sharks.  Because their heads are hammers and they're sharks!

Oh, the wisdom of a 4 year old!

Three hour highlights

Last night I went to one of the beauty schools here in town and got my hair highlighted.  It is the first time since I moved back to South Dakota that I have had highlights.  Anyways, I got a very friendly stylist and she did a very good job.  One of the things that I enjoy about going to the beauty school (besides the price) is the fact that it takes SO long to get your hair done!  It takes 3 hours to get highlights.  I love it because I get to sit in the chair and do absolutely nothing! And I get to do it for3 hours!  I didn't have to feed the kids.  They had leftovers that Michael fixed for them.  I didn't have to deal with chore time, homework time, or anything else.  I got a great scalp massage and a new hairdo.  It was great!  When I got home, since the chores were done, I played Don't Eat Pete with the kids and put them to bed.  Then I got a nice big bowl of popcorn and a Diet Dr. Pepper for supper and ate it quietly on the couch with no little beggars gathering around.  It was lovely.  Don't get me wrong, I love my children and I love having popcorn nights with them and everything else that we do, but it was nice to have a break too.  It has been a long winter with a lot of time trapped in the house and a lot going on with the kids.  It was a much needed break for me.  I LOVE three hour highlights:)