Last Waterfall trip

We can feel the crisp in the air. 

Autumn is near.

 We've had to pull out the sock box, a few sweaters, the jeans are now in the laundry rotation, and leggings are being added to skirts now. 

So we needed to visit our most favorite waterfall one more time before it's too late. 

This time we packed some towels, drinks, and a quick lunch. Which made it so much more enjoyable. :-)

see the rainbow :-)

When we got to the waterfall spot it was much colder than last time. Even in the middle of the afternoon it was still COLD. Mason didn't want to play in the water so he just poked at things and skipped rocks on the little pond.

 Hailey....she didn't care. She wanted to enjoy it one last time.

 And this exactly what she did. And the kids loved that they seen a rainbow right in front of their eyes. You can see it behind Hailey in this photo.

Lily was the only one who was smart enough to pack a swimsuit. But most of the time she just wanted to climb. 

 Ducati. She just had so much fun. I couldn't be more than 3 inches from her but that doesn't matter. I asked her what would help her feel safer? She said, " If you shut off the waterfall so I can eat my lunch." I love this girl! ;-)

Mike was soaking up every minute while we were here. 

 

 He climbed up, over, and around the waterfall. He literally left for about 20 minutes so he could explore. Luckily I've mastered juggling kids or this might not have worked.

 He even worked up the gusto to go through this freezing cold waterfall.

Ready.....

 Get set.....

 There he goes...

He did it! 

 Brave, Brave man. I chickened out. It was WAY too cold for me.
But this fun outing was very much needed. We were all beginning to feel those stressors that life brings. And instead of focusing on making mountains out of molehill. We made these mountains full of more wonderful memories.

  

Rock the Park-No Limts

While sending a message to a friend on FB I seen a post from the Station Park. It's a new strip mall that is being built close to my neighborhood. Any who..... they posted that the next 5 people who wrote a comment about their Summer Concert Series will win a VIP package. So I quickly wrote a comment. And within a few minutes me and 4 others won those packages! YEAH!!! I won 4 front row seats, a Swag Bag, and a complimentary photo. I was really excited!!!

Mike and I have wanted to go to one of these summer concerts but either he's tired after a long day, I'm tired after a long day, or someone is feeling sick.

But it just so happens to also be book club tonight. Dang!

So Mike and I figured that I would to go book club for alittle bit, leave for the concert, then go back afterwards. 

And that's exactly what we did.

When Mike picked me up from my friend's house we headed over to the Station and seen these lovely chairs waiting for us. Yeah- we felt so special :-) 

 Since the concert didn't start for another 10 minutes the girls played...

 and played.....

and played some more.

Here's my date ♥

Now the show started and these girls went WILD!!!

In the car ride to the concert we tried to explain what a concert was. I told Lily and Cati that it's where you sit and listen to people sing songs and play music. They seemed interested.

When the band first stepped onto the stage the girls sat in their VIP seats and just listened. Then the music started to take over them. First it was feet swinging.  Then head swaying. Added a few minutes later some hip shaking. After the first song these girls were out of their seats dancing the night away.

Lily's dancing with Mike on his lap. After the bands cover of Footloose she jumped down, threw her jacket off, and start showing us her dancing moves.

Lily really loved the concert. She knew most of the songs so she joined in on the chorus. It was really adorable to watch.

The only time I was able to grab Cati for a photo. Not the best but it's alright.

Mike and I were grateful for the front row seats. I didn't have to worry about them dancing into chairs or people. That was nice to not have that added worry.

Mike and I just sat in our seats and enjoyed the show.

Here's that photo of Lily taking her jacket off, throwing it into the chairs, and starting to shake her entire body. It's like Elaine all over again. :-)

I guess Lily didn't want me to take a photo of her dancing with Mike. See the teeth.

When the band started playing Bon Jovi Ducati went crazy. Ducati grabbed Mike's hands and started dancing all over him.

That's my girl.... Who can deny the Jovi?

This was such a great evening. I'm literally kicking myself for not coming to these concerts sooner. 

 

Here's me with my swag bag. A canvas bag, a black hat, a water bottle, and a business card. I was suppose to get a complimentary photo but I must of missed it since no one knew what I was talking about. But I can't complain. Tonight was so much fun!

Fervent Seed

As a child I always knew I wanted to be a mommy. Why? I'm not sure. I guess that's what most little girls pretend when they have baby dolls and toy strollers.
For me being a mother of 4 I really do enjoy this calling. I know there's good, bad, and ugly days. But for the most part I love spending time with my kids.

Mason. He's growing into his own young man. Everyday he's learning a little more about himself which is helping him find HIS path. Some days he still needs me (which is nice) but most days I just stand back and watch him. And he just amazes me how mature and responsible he is.

Hailey. She's a carbon copy of me. She's still learning to find her own path. Which is fine. She's still very teachable. And she has such a strong spirit. Not strong-stubborn. But strong- determined. When learning something new I am amazed by how hard she'll keep try without giving up. That strength is something I really admire about her.

Ducati. She's a sweet little girl. Her laugh is infectious. I can't look at her without smiling. Her main goal in her 2 year old life is to play! So when I see her coloring on the walls, chairs, her legs, or my debit card I remind myself that she's found something new and exciting to color.

Lily- She. Is. Confident. Genius Smart. Inventive. Strong-Willed. Perfectionist.
She's a carbon copy of Mike. And she is the one I bump heads with the most. I know I'm arguing with a 3 year old. Not my finest moment. I admit that I forget that she's 3 when she starts reasoning with me. What 3 year old does that? :-)

I can't recall where I heard this or who said it.  I apologize in advance for the paraphrasing but it goes something along the lines....

A man was talking about how easy parenthood was for him and his wife. His children never swayed, rebelled, or misbehaved. They were perfect students. They never went against what they said. Finally someone sitting close to him who heard all this expressed to him that he feels sorry for him. Not pity but sorrow since he was given such an easy child. Because having a difficult child is a blessing from Heavenly Father. He's trusted us with one of his stronger spirits. And Heavenly Father knows that only the elite can handle his stronger ones. So to those parents who had a hard time parenting know that God was with you more. 

I remember the feeling of both guilt and happiness. Strange since it was at the same time.

Lily is such a fervent spirit. 

(definition:
having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling,enthusiasm: example a fervent admirer; a fervent plea. Or hot; burning; glowing) 

I was promised in my patriarchal blessing that I will raise up a fervent seed who will worship the Lord as I do. And I never understood what that meant until now.

Lily is my fervent seed.

She's the one who has an intensity of her spirit. She carries such strong emotions in her little body. I've joked with Mike that she reminds me of Tinker Bell. In the story Tinker Bell can only show 1 emotion at a time since it's so intense for her. I'm pretty sure anyone can testify of this if they have ever experienced a Lily tantrum.

While looking on Pinterest my friend pinned this and it literally made me cry. So I made one for myself.....

This Momma was completely humbled.

I might experience moments of difficulty. But that's OK. Each child is truly a blessing from God. Heavenly Father knows what's best for each of us. And he knew that not only did I need her but she needed me. So to help me know how to be the mother that fits HER needs I called the only person who might have been able to help me- God. After all she's his child before she's mine. He knows her the best. He gave her everything she would ever need already in her spirit. All I have to do is love her and teach her how to use it. My answer was treat her as I would Mike. (She is his mini-me) I needed to give her more patience, compassion, love, excitement, challenges, kindness, and forgiveness (even when she kicks a hole in the wall).

And it's completely changed my relationship with Lily. (Actually it's changed my relationship with all my children.)  And it's so wonderful to say that our relationship has started to mend and grow into what it was suppose to be. An equally cherished relationship.

Tumbling

Hailey has found her passion. For months she's wanted to get into an activity. But she wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Dance but she doesn't like Ballet. Acting but she only wants to sing in a play and not talk. Gymnastics but it was alittle too far advance for  her. But at least I had something that she was interested in. 

So after calling around I found this local studio that offered tumbling classes for older girls. I know....she's only 6 and that's considered old. After 1 class she was hooked. She's mastered a cartwheel within the hour class. 

 Now she's cartwheeling around everywhere.

 Even her little sisters are following in her footsteps. They'll do summersaults while she does her cartwheeels.

 Hailey's plans are to learn all she can then move to a different class or studio since she'll know how to do all those special flips.

 I'm just happy she's found something that she enjoys.

Brigham City Temple

Personally I rarely see the fruits of my labors. But I try to follow these wise words...

"When the Lord commands, I do it"

And today was an entirely new experience. Our family made it a goal that we wanted to visit the Brigham City Temple open house this summer. So we set up a temple jar that we all contributed too. Any change we found went in it. Any money I had left over from groceries went inside. You get the point :)

So now to find a date and time for us to go. I think this was a bigger struggle than anything else. With Mike working crazy and sometime long hours he had to cancel on me. So I asked my mom to come along. She accepted but due to the same thing (long and crazy hours) she had to cancel as well. So I gave up on people coming along and I made the choice that I would take my kids NO MATTER WHAT!

So I planned, prepared, and stood still as all those worries started to come.
But I knew I was doing the right thing. Something like this only comes around once and a great while. The last time we went to an open house was when I was pregnant with Ducati. So 3 years ago. And this is something I wanted my kids to experience.

Now a week before my scheduled time Mike called me at lunch and told me that he only has to work 2-3 crazy shifts and that he might be able to come. After I hung up I received a prompting to check the reservation times again. In my head I knew they were either all full or only in the morning but I checked them anyways. And through Heavenly Hands there were evening times now available. It would be alittle trickier for me but worth it that we all would be able to go to the temple open house together.

So day of Brigham City Temple my to-do list was really long:
*clean Mike's suit   *wash his shirt  * bathe girls  * wash kids clothes (if needed)   *make a take along dinner (down side to Celiac- it's difficult to find places to eat that it's easier to just bring something)    *vacuum   *wash dishes  *leave extra food out for Pinkie

*make Ducati some flower barefoot sandals (since the girl never wears shoes...which I've accepted....I at least wanted her toes to look pretty when we're out)

 Pretty easy to make. Took about 30 minutes to make. Tutorial is here

*dye Cati's dress (she's outgrown her blue dress that I dyed a while ago. And this dress my mom purchased for her for Easter had a few stains on it so she hardly wanted to wear it. I did a quick dye job it's good to go.  

She loved it!

 *pick up Hailey and Mason from school early    *bring them home to shower and dress    *clean out van    *pack the van w/ everything   * KEEP KIDS CLEAN   *avoid naptime so the girls can nap in van     *pack Mike's clothes    *get dress myself :-)   *fill up gas tank  *be done by 3:15 so I can pick up Mike from work

I was exhausted by this point. :-)

After I picked up Mike from work we started on our drive to Brigham City. He just changed on the way. As we exited the freeway we could see the temple. This made everyone so excited!

  Now park, eat dinner, and take a shuttle bus to the temple

and when we arrived....these words come to my mind, "It'll all be worth it in the end". And everything today was completely worth it. I'm so happy things worked out that allowed all of us to be there together.

 The Brigham City Temple has so many peach blossoms around it. It was just absolutely beautiful.

 I didn't notice that I had a speck of dirt on my camera until I got home so ignore the black spot.

 The tour was amazing. Beautiful. Stunning. Peaceful. Lovely. Words can't even explain it. Things truly worked out wonderfully. The kids weren't cranky. They were full. Alittle tired. Very reverent. Just so well behaved. I was so happy.

After the tour we went for a cookie and a bottle of water. I know...Cati and I have Celiac- but I'll count this as our 1 cheat day a month.

 Afterwards we went walking the grounds which was crowded but then again not as much as I would have thought.

 I answered a few questions Hailey had about the Sealing Room. And this is where I seized the moment and explained to Mason and Hailey about being temple worthy, about making special promises with God, about finding someone who can bring them to the temple to be married. Hailey asked me what if she couldn't find someone who can take her to the temple. I smiled, not at her, but about this moment. I recently read on my friend's blog about her daughter's recent wedding. She told her this, which I in turn told Hailey, "It's your choice who you marry and your choice if you want to be married here". {para-phrasing what she said :-) }

So Hailey thought about it for a second and said she's going to make a promise with Heavenly Father that she'll come back, with a boy, and be married here.

 Mason did the same thing. He's saying his promise, "Lord I will come back here, worthy, to go on a mission. Then later to be  married to a girl." He's such a sweet young man.

 We had such an amazing evening. I completely forgot all the work I chose  to do in order to make this day special.

 Mike and I can't wait to come back here.....someday.....to visit after it's dedicated.

The drive home I asked everyone what was their favorite part
Mason: The Baptismal Font..especially the oxen
Hailey: The Baptismal Font
Lily: riding the bus
Ducati: all the flowers
Mike: the peach blossoms
Me: the peach blossoms as well and the sparkly chandeliers

 This was one amazing Family Home Evening :)