Rely on the Lord

Have you noticed I haven't been blogging this week? Yeah... it's been a crazy week. I think I say that more than I don't so it doesn't really mean anything. (Reminds me of the "Incredibles" when the Mom says, "Everyone's special, Dash." and Dash says, "Which is another way of saying no one is." Yeah, I'm way off...) 

The younger kids are in bed. We celebrated Friday in style eating lots of ice cream and watching, "Ramona and Beezus." It has to be one of my new favorite movies. My Mom sent it to us for a Valentine's surprise. I was surprised how much I really enjoyed it. It just felt real. It made me laugh and cry and laugh and cry some more. Kaia is SO much like Ramona. I always felt like Ramona when I was growing up.

Zeke and my oldest son, Gabe, are sleeping in snow caves somewhere up the canyon with the Scouts... why they do this I will never understand, but they enjoy it.

So now comes the hard part. The house is quiet and I am "alone". Well, not really alone, the cats are sleeping nearby, but the house is SO quiet. TOO quiet. No more distractions to keep my mind busy.

What a week and what a finale! Crazy house stuff: flooring choices, meetings with all the builders and "big wigs", deadlines and delays, a broken window, and not-so-thorough bricklayers. Poor Beck has a double ear infection which means we didn't get much sleep, Parent/Teacher Conferences for Kaia and Gabe, my husband and I were so busy we barely saw each other at all. Oh, and one of our cats has been sick and had to go to the vet and the engine light on our van keeps coming on and we can't figure out why... almost sounds like the lyrics to a REALLY bad country song.

We tried to go out for dinner last night and it was a bit crazy. I was worn out, because of all of the above and more, physically and emotionally. Well, it wasn't the best Valentine's Day ever, but it wasn't the worst; after all, we did have sushi! Then, to top it off, I got sick later that night -- I've never gotten sick from sushi. Well, that won't stop me from eating it again!!

Today is a blur.

Before I put the kids to bed, we read a little verse and quote from "Stand a Little Taller" by Gordon B. Hinckley. It was the perfect quote and scripture for today. My heart needed it.

RELY ON THE LORD

"And by hearkening to observe all the words which I, the Lord their God, shall speak unto them, they shall never cease to prevail until kingdoms of the world are subdued under my feet, and the earth is given unto the saints, to possess it forever and ever." Doctrine & Covenants 103:7

"The Lord has given you this glorious Church. His Church, to guide you and direct you, to give you opportunity for growth and experience, to teach you and lead you and encourage you, to make of you His chosen daughter or son, one upon whom He may look with love and with a desire to help. Of course there will be some problems along the way. There will be difficulties to overcome. But they will not last forever. He will not forsake you." ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

Curvy Diva Seeks Sexy Prince

Happy Valentine's Day!
(This was the card I gave Zeke last year 
because he always calls me Lola)

Surreal... but Nice

Valentine's Day was great. Beck and I went to the Elementary School and helped with the Valentine's Tea. It was really fun! The kids get all dressed up in their "Sunday Best" and they learn table manners and etiquette and such and then, they get to sit down to a little "tea party" with cake and punch.

"Peace, Mom"

Zoe was really excited for Valentine's Day:
I painted their nails that morning:
Then I told them to be silly:
It comes quite naturally to them:

Zoe at the tea party with her class:

Kaia with her class:

When Zeke got home from work, he brought flowers for ALL the girls. (And I didn't get a picture of him walking in the door! Dang!! He looked so cute.) Sorry for the lovely backdrop... our kids don't hold still very long. Our photography "rule" is very similar to golf: "Play the ball where it lies." Um, we need to change that. That's Beck's "potty chart" in the background and our trim still isn't finished along that wall. Well, it's us.Beck wanted a picture with the flowers too:

For dinner that night, we made heart-shaped pizzas and had ice cream sundaes with all sorts of fun toppings. We put the kids to bed early and curled up together and watched a movie. We also had Spumoni ice cream of course!

My husband is my very best friend. I just realized I didn't get a picture of us together... I need to do better. Well, here's an oldie, but a goodie. This is from Girls's Choice 1990 or 91? Yes, that really is me behind all that hair and make-up! Good times :)
Just FYI, I also have a very cool 12 year old son... he does NOT want to be on my blog... unless it's something cool. Well, Gabe, our definitions of cool might be different, but I love you anyway :)