Primary Music Leader

I just finished reading a blog post about Primary Music Leaders (PML). I was intrigued since this is my current calling (assignment - for those of you who don't speak Mormonese). I'll have to admit, he had some great ideas and made me laugh my guts out in the process. Please read this one for me. Here's the link - Normal Mormon Husband
I think the SNL cast member quality is the most important one to have. "The pressure to perform is on every single Sunday for the PML to do something fresh and innovative. She has to devise creative games, prizes, contests, props and pictures to keep things new and exciting during music time. As soon as she starts recycling material, she will lose her audience. Once a week for 48 weeks it's lights! Camera! Singing Time!" (Normal Mormon Husband blog post Friday November 14)

Simple message -

Yesterday at church, the sacrament meeting topic was on the family. I'm sorry to admit I wasn't able to glean much from the talks as I was too busy out in the foyer with little S. That's where I was when the 1st speaker finished speaking. After a few seconds of listening to silence from the pulpit, I realized that I was supposed to be up front with the hubby and kids singing a musical number we had prepared. When I walked into the chapel, I saw DH with the kids already up front. The look on DH's face said it all! He was greatly relieved to see me and was thinking that he might be on his own for this one. We (except for our "too cool" teenager) sang "A Family is of God." We do not have amazing singing voices, but the simple message conveyed was beautiful.
The chorus:
God gave us families
to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love,
for the fam’ly is of God.

Providence

Providence is defined as: The careful guardianship exercised by a deity. A manifestation of divine care or direction.

Today I am thankful for Providence. I am glad that God has a hand in my life. His plans for me are so much bigger and better than my own plans. I sometimes forget that there is more to my life then this temporal existence. God has an eternal perspective and because of this sometimes my prayers aren't answered the way I want. Sometimes things just plop right in front of me and I go "Well, okay, that's not what I was planning, but I'll play along." That's usually when it gets good. That's when the miracles happen and the growth occurs. Yes, today, I am most thankful for Providence.

Guess Who is Four?

Little B turned 4! He is a destructor of things. Banging, pounding, kicking and throwing are his favorite things to do, and oftentimes his toys get the brunt of it. He is my tantrum thrower, my escape artist, and my constant worry. On the flip side - He is potty trained, knows how old and how tall he is, tells me about how strong he is, has the coordination and balance of a trapeze artist, can do a flip on the trampoline, ride his bike without training wheels, has no qualms about taking medicine, loves food as long as eating doesn't interfere with his playing, is oftentimes shy around new people or surroundings but once he feels comfortable he'll talk your ear off, has great enunciation, has no fear of heights, and loves hiking and being outdoors! During primary music time as I'm conducting the music, he is my loudest supporter! He has the most gorgeous blue eyes (aside from my DH), he gives great big bear hugs and has the best smile EVER!

Sweet baby -

Who couldn't love a face like this?

Playing dress up -

Climbing rocks -
Opening presents - Can that smile GET any bigger?

His race track cake made by his older brother A (this one we made for the family get together). It was two bundt cakes next to each other with the tops leveled and icing poured over to create a race track.

This one we made for his friend party. His best buddy/partner in crime celebrated his birthday with us. We had a double birthday bash.

Both of their names were on the cake, but I photo-shopped them out since this blog is open to all. My friend brought me a picture of this cake for our boys birthday party. I think ours turned out better than the picture. It was so much fun to make. We used fondant for the track and put in the lines with a writing tip. The Oreo's all the way around the outside really finished it off.
Here's B showing me his cool transformer -

Here's B with his friends -

Things You Don't Know About Me

This is Julie's Things I've Done... (at least the things I'll admit to - in red)

To participate just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. Happy discoveries!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (does Ensign Peak count?)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (does Arizona count?)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (I didn't actually swing the ax, but I got to pluck the feathers!)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Halloween Pictures at Last!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Meaningful Stuff

I've been aching to blog this past week! I just can't get to it.

A few reasons include but are not limited to:
planning a birthday party
home school
two kids with strep throat
doctor visits galore
grocery shopping
getting ready for Primary
preparing preschool lessons
keeping up with the one year old
computer ban for the week I've imposed on the kids and I feel guilty using the computer for blogging

I've got pictures from Halloween that I'll post as soon as I can!