balloons

it's true that balloons can turn an ordinary trip to the supermarket into a fun-filled and extraordinary adventure with four kids. they even let me take pictures when we got home (very unusual for ian who is suddenly gone the minute the camera appears)
Lydia is getting quite the personality and is so much fun. I loved these pics of her with her balloon. She makes me laugh constantly. These children are the greatest and they're all mine! I love it!

I was recently released from the Primary presidency this past week and it's quite sad. I've loved being in there with the boys, it's the best calling I've ever had. I've been called to be in the Relief Society as the 2nd counselor. That means I'm now over enrichment (which really isn't called enrichment anymore). It has been so long since I've been in Relief Society I don't know if I'll be able to sit through a whole lesson. I think Primary has given me ADD. I'm sad to be leaving Primary, but excited to start something new so wish me luck and if you have any great ideas for meetings formerly known as enrichment meetings I'd love to hear them.

Prayer

Prayer is such a powerful blessing in our lives and to hear a child's prayer is priceless.
Our little family has made some changes in our family prayers. we used to do it right after dinner while we were all at the table. we've recently felt a need for more frequent family prayer and have made a commitment to prayer at least twice a day, once before austin goes off to work and right before bedtime. morning prayers have been much easier than i thought they would be mainly because of austin's dedication to getting us all up before he goes out the door. what a man my husband is! the hard one is our evening one when we're trying to get the kids to bed before we lose our sanity, we just haven't quite worked it permanently into our bedtime rituals.

Wes Wes

Happy 6TH Birthday!!
He wanted Pop the Pig and a scarf. He got both. He was so excited. And he picked out a hamburger cake (keeping with his pop the pig theme and his favorite food). We had a lot of fun celebrating his 6th birthday and making it a very happy day for him.

faith is power

Today in Relief Society our bishop shared a talk from Sheri Dew. It was powerful and reminded me of the great power that comes from faith. Speaking of Mary, Sheri Dew said, "Imagine also the faith required to mother the Son of God. Surely at times Mary felt a crushing sense of inadequacy--which could only be managed with faith....I am grateful every time my faith is stretched, because only if our testimony of Jesus Christ penetrates every aspect of our lives will we be able to do what we have come here to do."
As sisters we have all felt the inadequacy that could paralize us, but our faith in our Heavenly Father and in our Savior knowing how much they love us and the confidence they have in us can help us continue on to do great things.