Saturday, May 30, 2009
Nature and Science
For family night recently we went with a few other families to the Nature and Science Center here in Austin, it is free and really quite nice, the company was even nicer.
The Green Lizard
This was so funny. Fish caught a lizard, a green lizard he thought and brought it in to show his brothers and sisters... I had gone to pick up one of the other boys so had left for a few minutes and when I returned Douey and Fish are emptying my pantry. Naturally I was curious (and a little upset). He went on to explain that as he was bringing the "green" lizard inside it jumped out of his hands and is lost in the house, kitchen somewhere... he thinks. Then with enthusiasm I replied "ok, GET EVERYTHING OUT OF THE PANTRY, hurry!" as we were doing that, sweet little Douey with her hip height eye level spots it in my pots and pans cabinet and squeals "here it is" Fish reaches in to get and says, "this is not it, this is a different one! This one is brown and the one we caught was bright green" This is when I start to loose color in my cheeks. As he was holding it slowly but surely the lizard begins to turn bright green again, phew! It was a funny 5 minutes. One to surely be remembered.
another thing caught in out yard... I could probably do without those as well. h well boys will be boys.
another thing caught in out yard... I could probably do without those as well. h well boys will be boys.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Nattys Birthday
Happy Birthday Dear Friend!
There are few words to express how dear this person is to me. We met over 10 years ago and were instantly hooked. We remained best friends and even more so kindred spirits through the years and amongst the distance. We are eternally yoked I am sure. Our kids share birthdays 1 of which are only 2 hours apart, and the other one looks like she is a twin with one of my twins even more so then his ACTUAL twin does and have from birth. From the time we met there was a familiarity and closeness that is rare and precious. Then as fate would have it years later we became business partners and we could not possibly ask for better people in our lives. This girl is so special to me, I am so grateful for her in my life, she is as close to a sister, as a sister could get. I love you Natty Cakes!
This was my gift to her. What I did was asked her friends here to give me one word they would use to describe her. I also asked Brady to give me a word.. which actually ended up to be many. I found the words, cut them and glued them on to the paper. All the words submitted by friends were lifted off the paper by foam stickers which popped it off the page a bit and the ones from Brady were also but in grey with blue writing, all the other words are from me, sort of a code if you will. It is hard to see the 3 dimensions in the photo. There were dozens and dozens more words that I think of when I think of her but I ran out of space. I think it turned out really sweet.
There are few words to express how dear this person is to me. We met over 10 years ago and were instantly hooked. We remained best friends and even more so kindred spirits through the years and amongst the distance. We are eternally yoked I am sure. Our kids share birthdays 1 of which are only 2 hours apart, and the other one looks like she is a twin with one of my twins even more so then his ACTUAL twin does and have from birth. From the time we met there was a familiarity and closeness that is rare and precious. Then as fate would have it years later we became business partners and we could not possibly ask for better people in our lives. This girl is so special to me, I am so grateful for her in my life, she is as close to a sister, as a sister could get. I love you Natty Cakes!
This was my gift to her. What I did was asked her friends here to give me one word they would use to describe her. I also asked Brady to give me a word.. which actually ended up to be many. I found the words, cut them and glued them on to the paper. All the words submitted by friends were lifted off the paper by foam stickers which popped it off the page a bit and the ones from Brady were also but in grey with blue writing, all the other words are from me, sort of a code if you will. It is hard to see the 3 dimensions in the photo. There were dozens and dozens more words that I think of when I think of her but I ran out of space. I think it turned out really sweet.
Wildflower and Butterfly Garden
A while ago....Natty Cakes and I went on a little field trip to the Wildflower Center and butterfly garden. It was wonderful. AHHH>>> I love it here!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
THANKFUL THURSDAY
“The Lord is my shepherd. … He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Ps. 23:1–2.)
This post is a hodge podge of thoughts, hopefully it will make sense. It goes without saying that I am about 25 posts behind. We have done some super fun things in this great city! I am behind partly because I have been extremely busy, partly because my laptop broke, partly because I have been suffering with TMJ and the position my head is in at my computer hurts my head, partly because we got a new MAC computer (that I love BTW) that I am still learning but mostly because time seems to be evaporating into thin air. I worry that just the basic responsibilities and task oriented nature of our days are squeezing out the smiles and giggles.... I don't like that. I don't remember the last time I was able to post a THANKFUL THURSDAY, being grateful takes time and energy, 2 things I have had little of. I am mourning the loss of many precious things that would have and should have been posted on my BYT blog but have not been able to and have since lost those fleeting spiritual moments to the necessities of a busy big family life.
Which brings me to my next thought. I am so grateful for my life. We have such a loving and happy life. Though we are happy the obvious strains that are on big families are taxing and I am VERY mortal. I am grateful for the power I bestow to make everyday a better one. I know that sounds corney but it is true. That I can go to sleep overwhelmed, feeling totally defeated by my day and awake with new resolve to make THIS day better. Having an acute awareness into your faults and flaws (like I do) can do one of two things, it can be debilitating or it can be empowering... today I choose empowering. I am grateful for that power to choose. I am grateful for a great parenting quote I found this last week.... it very well might have changed my life.
This quote resonated in me not only in relationship to my kids but in relationship to myself as well.
We have a great summer planned, fun but crazy and literally about to begin. It is 8 straight weeks of one, some or all of us being away from home, in different city's and states at different times. I am grateful that school is nearing an end and for the adventures this summer will bring.
So to make this short... I am grateful for many things but today I mention 2
1) For the Gospel of Jesus Christ that makes everything go full circle. All happiness and joy that I experience is hinged on this gospel. When I am mindful of my Savior and make CHOICES in harmony with Him, I am happy and at peace and I carry with me the knowledge and faith that He does "maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters" no matter how rapid and swift they feel at times. There is reprieve in His arms.
2) Is similar to the above, the power I have to choose my attitude amongst all the business and noise. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15.) Then... all will be well. My busy life is not going to get less busy or less demanding... so I must become a better mind manager and make conscious choices to bring about the results I seek.
I read something some time ago that helped me realize this. That at the end, all that really matters isn't the things you did, but what its effects are today, not the knowledge you have learned, but how you applied it, not the words that were said, but how they made you feel, and most of all, not the moment of occurrence, but how its now just a part of our legacy. What legacy are you leaving? It all centers in a choice, our agency, that is powerful and empowering.
SOME QUOTES WORTH MENTIONING... these little gems help keep things in perspective.
Hope your day is great! If you feel up to it.. comment back to me something you are grateful for, that would make be happy and grateful!
This post is a hodge podge of thoughts, hopefully it will make sense. It goes without saying that I am about 25 posts behind. We have done some super fun things in this great city! I am behind partly because I have been extremely busy, partly because my laptop broke, partly because I have been suffering with TMJ and the position my head is in at my computer hurts my head, partly because we got a new MAC computer (that I love BTW) that I am still learning but mostly because time seems to be evaporating into thin air. I worry that just the basic responsibilities and task oriented nature of our days are squeezing out the smiles and giggles.... I don't like that. I don't remember the last time I was able to post a THANKFUL THURSDAY, being grateful takes time and energy, 2 things I have had little of. I am mourning the loss of many precious things that would have and should have been posted on my BYT blog but have not been able to and have since lost those fleeting spiritual moments to the necessities of a busy big family life.
Which brings me to my next thought. I am so grateful for my life. We have such a loving and happy life. Though we are happy the obvious strains that are on big families are taxing and I am VERY mortal. I am grateful for the power I bestow to make everyday a better one. I know that sounds corney but it is true. That I can go to sleep overwhelmed, feeling totally defeated by my day and awake with new resolve to make THIS day better. Having an acute awareness into your faults and flaws (like I do) can do one of two things, it can be debilitating or it can be empowering... today I choose empowering. I am grateful for that power to choose. I am grateful for a great parenting quote I found this last week.... it very well might have changed my life.
"Bringing up a family should be an adventure, not an anxious discipline in which everyone is constantly graded for performance." Milton r. Saperstein
This quote resonated in me not only in relationship to my kids but in relationship to myself as well.
We have a great summer planned, fun but crazy and literally about to begin. It is 8 straight weeks of one, some or all of us being away from home, in different city's and states at different times. I am grateful that school is nearing an end and for the adventures this summer will bring.
So to make this short... I am grateful for many things but today I mention 2
1) For the Gospel of Jesus Christ that makes everything go full circle. All happiness and joy that I experience is hinged on this gospel. When I am mindful of my Savior and make CHOICES in harmony with Him, I am happy and at peace and I carry with me the knowledge and faith that He does "maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters" no matter how rapid and swift they feel at times. There is reprieve in His arms.
2) Is similar to the above, the power I have to choose my attitude amongst all the business and noise. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh. 24:15.) Then... all will be well. My busy life is not going to get less busy or less demanding... so I must become a better mind manager and make conscious choices to bring about the results I seek.
I read something some time ago that helped me realize this. That at the end, all that really matters isn't the things you did, but what its effects are today, not the knowledge you have learned, but how you applied it, not the words that were said, but how they made you feel, and most of all, not the moment of occurrence, but how its now just a part of our legacy. What legacy are you leaving? It all centers in a choice, our agency, that is powerful and empowering.
SOME QUOTES WORTH MENTIONING... these little gems help keep things in perspective.
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."Abraham Lincoln
"The secret of happiness is to make others believe they are the cause of it." Al Batt
"Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut diamonds. Discard them and their value will never be known. Improve them and they will become the brightest gems in a useful life."Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. " Robert Brault
“Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.” Norman Cousins
Hope your day is great! If you feel up to it.. comment back to me something you are grateful for, that would make be happy and grateful!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Walking Advertisement ...
Are we just a walking advertisement or what? This was totally unintentional by the way, but GO FUELD just the same. Ahh... I love these people! Thanks Clay for the photo.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Lunch with the Kids
After a 4 day shoot and a super busy week for Ben (and me too)he took Monday off so he could just hang out with me and play with the kids. We had lunch with the boys at school, we played with the kids at recess and just had a super day!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Work with Dad Day
I decided to be a "Cool Mom" one day and let the kids skip cool so they could hang out on set with their Dad and see him in action. It was a super fun experience for them to see him in HIS element, doing his "thang". The kids were given little headsets and pranced around set like they were important. The crew was very generous, patient and kind having a few extra bodies around set for a few hours. It was a great day.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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