Time Out

Remember how we had a cousin visiting during spring break? Well, in exchange for having him here with us for a few days, Mom offered to watch the kids while Tim and I went somewhere. By ourselves. Overnight. Amazing, huh? We've done this before, but it has usually been associated with a conference or a high school activity (thus involving other people's children instead of our own). After a little discussion we decided to keep it close to home. So here's what we did:

Tim had his last final of the semester on Wednesday night. I drove him up, dropped him off for his presentation, and hung out on campus for a couple of hours. I felt old. I did spend a lot of time being amused by the half mile long line (no joke- it may have been longer than that) that was snaking from the testing center past the McKay building and on to the Widtsoe building two hours before close on the last day of finals. This isn't a good picture, but you can kinda see the line in the background. It was not moving quickly... maybe 10 feet every 20 minutes.

When Tim was finally done, we went to dinner (Los Hermanos!) and then to the Hines Mansion for the night. This is the scene of the last time we went to a bed and breakfast... in 1997. It was the first time we had left Rebekah overnight (thanks, Amy and Eric!). It is a great place- we are planning to go back again. After all, we've only tried 2 of the rooms so far.

Thursday morning, we spent some time walking around our old neighborhood of 12 years ago. Back for breakfast at the Mansion, which was way too good to be good for me. We met a cute young couple there who were celebrating their 2nd anniversary. Watch for them later....

We then drove up to Salt Lake and started trying to do all the things on my list that we'd never done before. Thus...

The Gilgal Gardens


Salt Lake Library

Pioneer Memorial Museum
(very cool- definitely worth a visit, and it's free)


State Capitol


Self-Portrait inside the Capitol


Cool Arches


That's Governor Huntsman. No really- that dark, shadowy figure in there is the Guv. I promise.


We also went swimming in the hotel pool, took a walking tour of downtown (including walking the wrong way through all of the Jazz fans and dodging ticket scalpers at Energy Solutions Arena), ate Ben and Jerry's, and walked through the Gateway. We were exhausted by the end of the day. Then we slept.

Friday, we went to a session at the Salt Lake Temple. What an beautiful building with an amazing spirit. The cute couple who we had eaten breakfast with on Thursday was in our session. Coincidence? I don't know- but it was kinda weird.


After our session (it took awhile, since they start sessions on the hour and we got there just after 9) we had lunch at the Lion House Pantry. YUM. Big fluffy rolls with orange butter. German Chocolate Pie. There was other stuff, but it was less important.

We saw the Joseph Smith movie (very good), and then we were ready to return to our kiddos. It is really fun to be alone as a couple, but after awhile I just start thinking, "the kids would love this" and it's time to jump back into the madness.

Spring Break- I survived!

Spring break was pretty much exhausting. We had cousin Malachi here, Grandpa and Grandpa left for half the week, and Tim was getting ready for finals. That translated to me and seven kids most of the time. We crammed a lot into those few days, and I think everyone had a good time. Here are the highlights:

Monday:
Zoo

Tuesday:
Chuck E. Cheese
(no pictures, but I'm sure you can picture the chaos.)

Wednesday:
Hotel for Dogs
(also no pictures, and not nearly as bad as I was expecting.)

Thursday:
Snow!?


also, Tom's birthday- we sent balloons up to him.



Friday:
we headed south to meet Mom and Dad Walker at Cove Fort- it was cold!


Our tour guide pointed out this very cool mama owl sitting on her eggs near the front gate.


Afterwards, we turned east and visited Fremont Indian State Park. It was very worth the visit, and we want to go back and hike some more!



Back to Grandma and Grandpa Walker's house for the night. Anna knows what to do with a book and a Grandpa!

Saturday:
Four-wheeling was a definite favorite- Emma said, "I love four-wheelers. They are my dream!"

Sunday:
up to the Olson's for Jacob's ordination.
Why can I never remember to take a picture there?
Too busy talking, I guess.

It has definitely been hard to get back into the routine after that fun week, but the kids' new mantra is
"Six more weeks. Only six more weeks."

What am I going to do with them all summer?!

School Stuff

That last week before spring break started was a doozy- thank goodness for vacations! Price and Josh finished up their state reports at the last minute (of course), and we went to see them at the "state fair". Here they are with their state posters, which I never want to hear about again as long as I live.
Seriously, though, they did great... and they're done. Yay!

We also got to go watch Ethan's 2nd grade class in what was possibly the cutest class play ever. It might have something to do with that awesome bee on the second row...

I wish you could have seen his hands flapping as he flew around- he has a mean buzz!


Don't get on Ethan's bad side!


Cute bugs.

Easter Photo Shoot

I figured, since we went to so much trouble to get dressed up for Easter Sunday, we might as well take advantage of the unusually well-coiffed kids and get some pictures! Easier said than done, I might add. It takes a ridiculous amount of maneuvering, yelling, pushing, and pleading to get everyone in the right place and looking towards the camera!

If you haven't watch this, do.

This is my favorite talk from General Conference last week. It is beautiful, and it has changed the way I have thought about Easter this week. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. He is my Savior. This isn't just a pretty story- it is real. He lives. Have a wonderful Easter!

Randomosity

Annie, having checked a VHS movie out at the library yesterday:

"Mom, can I watch this movie?"
Me:"Yep, but you'll have to rewind it first."
Annie: "What's that?"
And then she just about died before it finished rewinding:
"This is taking soooooo long!"



Emma, whispering in my ear when I picked her up from kindergarten today:

"Mom, **** wants to marry me."

Aren't we starting just a tad early here?



Price, as he was supposed to be sleeping last night, asked instead:

"Mom, when you were growing up did most people have computers?"
Me: "No."
Price: "When did your family get a computer?"
Me: "Not until after I was in college."
Price: (stunned disbelief)



Also, none of my kids can understand how we possibly lived before the advent of the internet. Actually, though, neither can I.

Visiting Grandpa and General Conference

Conference weekend was great- mostly we stayed home and just soaked all of the great talks. On Sunday, though, we watched the morning session at home, and then drove up to visit Grandpa Steele in between sessions. Mom and Dad were there watching conference with him, and made lunch for us to eat together. It was wonderful to see Grandpa- and the kids were mesmerized by all the "stuff" in his house. For me, it was like stepping back in time- all of the decorations and memorabilia in his house was there when I was growing up visiting Grandpa and Grandma... and they had lots of really cool things. They have been all over the world, and served a mission in the Philippines. Everywhere in the house, there are photographs, figurines, paintings, tapestries....

The kids especially loved when Grandpa told them about his days as a bomber pilot in WWII- he showed them pictures and models, and kept them generally mesmerized for a long time. And that's not easy to do with my kids! I love Grandpa. I am so grateful for eternal families. Grandpa and Grandma together again is something I wouldn't want to miss.

To add to the family nature of the day, we stopped by the Draper Cemetery on our way home- we have ancestors there, Absalom Wamsley Smith, in particular, who was one of the founders of Draper. We walked around looking at all the Smith, Shipley and Allen headstones. Since Tim and I found out (post-wedding, not that it would have made a difference) that we were fourth cousins, it was interesting to note these names- this is the same approximate section of the family that we both originate from. As we were walking around, Tim said, "It's amazing we all don't have four heads and 6 arms." What with all the inter-marrying that went on in that small town then, and our much later marriage, I think we'd better tell our kids to be careful who they marry!

It was a wonderful weekend. I am always a little worried as conference weekend approaches- maybe that stems from years of trying to watch 8 hours of sessions while wrestling little kids. They are growing up fast, though, and either watched with us or left us alone most of the time. In Primary the kids have been learning the names of the apostles, and it was very cute to hear Annie saying, "That's Elder Uchtdorf" or, when I pointed to another apostle, "L. Tom Perry".

I came away humbled and inspired by the words spoken by our prophet and apostles. Maybe next year I will remember that before it starts! Anticipation, rather than dread, would be good.

Our New Hobby!

Yep- that's it! Pretty much, we're not going to have money to do anything but eat and keep our kids in braces for quite a while. Isn't Josh cute, though? Price and Rebekah will be following within the year, we think. Three at once- will we survive?

Easter Egg Hunt in January.

Okay, it wasn't in January- it was actually April. But when we were there this morning it sure felt like the middle of winter! I didn't do a good job of taking pictures- my hands were too cold. I'm a good Mom and didn't bring gloves for anyone. Hey- at least they had coats with hoods!

This annual neighborhood egg hunt is seriously the only one I've ever gone to that I liked. It is well organized (thanks, Andersons!), it is over quickly, and every child is told exactly how many eggs they can take, thus insuring that everyone gets a good amount. Then they serve donuts, juice and hot chocolate after. I love it! I may have to organize something similar wherever we move next.

Price and Ethan were actually there, too- I just didn't get any pictures of them. Everyone came away happy, cold and smelling like smoke. That fire sure felt good on our frozen hands!

Help!

When I was a young mother (especially when I had 3 kids ages 2 and under), I considered myself to be very much responsible for, and even in control of, my children. Not that I felt that I was doing a wonderful job as a mother- actually, I spent a lot of my time frustrated and somewhat depressed that I was "ruining" my kids because of my own failings.

Gradually, as I had more children, more experience, and more years under my belt, I started to realize something: although I do have influence on my children, I have very little control. Also, I am coming to recognize and be very grateful that I am not solely responsible for how my children turn out.

The first thing I have learned is that my children have their own personalities, desires, motivations and talents. That may seem obvious, but it is something I have struggled with. Rebekah, especially, reminds me of myself, and I tend to take her shortcomings very personally. It is helping me to realize that even though I have influence, and I am trying hard to teach and be a good example, my children are ultimately responsible for their own decisions and for their own lives.

The other important thing I am learning, especially as the kids get older, is that I am not the only person who can influence them for good. They have a wonderful father, grandparents, other family members, each other, school teachers and coaches, and church youth leaders.

I am quickly coming to realize that the kids' scout and young women leaders are EXTREMELY important, especially as we approach the teenage years. Last weekend was a great example. Friday night, Price and Josh had an 11-year old scout campout in their leader's backyard. They have amazing leaders who have immersed them in the scout program already (it has only been 2 months since they turned 11), and who are willing to spend lots of time with a bunch of pre-teen boys. This is amazing to me, since I sometimes think I'm drowning with just two of them. Price and Josh came back from their campout excited and exhausted, and slightly freezing. I am so grateful that they have good men to be role models and teachers in their lives.

Saturday night, Mom and I accompanied Rebekah to the Conference Center in Salt Lake for the Young Women's General Broadcast. Quite a few girls and moms from the ward drove up, and spent a couple of hours listening to the prophet and the General Young Women's leaders give them counsel and help negotiating these hard years. I am very thankful for the YW program, and I especially love her ward YW leaders. They are so patient, concerned and loving with the girls, and are working their hardest to help the girls make good choices and feel good about themselves.

Inside the conference center- looking up to the stand.

Just trying to show the enormity of the room- we were just to the right of center, so this picture really only shows half of the room. It's huge!

See what great help I have? I haven't even mentioned the most important influence on my children: their Heavenly Father. They were His children before they were mine, and I know that He loves them and is watching out for them. I cannot orchestrate the events and decisions in my children's lives to give them the testimony that they need to have, but Heavenly Father can put people, places and situations into their lives that will guide them that direction.

I am so, so thankful that I am not doing this alone. I have great hope for my children- they are wonderful. I just need to do a better job of showing them that I think that. I just need to love them.