We saw the Prophet!

We had an awesome opportunity to hear the prophet speak today. My sister in law is in his home ward in Holladay. At the end of every year he gives a talk, reviewing that year. We were three rows back. He came in smiling, and even wiggled his ears before he sat down. He was much more relaxed than we usually see at conference times. He talked about 2008 in his life and the church. He dedicated a few temples last year. He also spoke about the passing of Pres. Hickley. He visited him while he was home and sedated and as he held his wrist, he felt a distinct impression that he would not see him awake again. That night he was prompted to give Pres Hinckley a blessing. He arranged for other members of The Twelve to do this the next day. The next day they all gave him a blessing and Pres Monson knew that this was the end. Pres. Hinckley died that night. Pres. Monson was tearful as he spoke of his gratitude in obeying spiritual promptings.

He spoke of a man who was working on the Idaho Falls temple. He fell 20 feet onto his head. At the hospital he was in extrememly critical condition. Pres Monson came and gave him a blessing. When that temple was dedicated, that man found Pres Monson and gave him a big hug. He had no lingering injuries and was completely healed. He told Pres Monson "Thank you so much!" And Pres Monson told him "no, thank God."

I learned about Temple divorces. Did you know that all temple divorces have to be personally approved by the prophet? He said that was one of the hardest parts of his job, to see all the eternal marriages that wanted to end. He also is the one who personally approves membership to excommunicated members. He said he always looks at his picture of the Savior as he contemplates reinstating members. He said he always leans towards being forgiving, since that is how the Savior is, and he wants to be like Him.

Oh, it was awesome! He spoke for an hour. He was funny and spiritual. Afterwards my kids and I went and shook his hand. He gave LoLo a high five. We love our our Prophet!! I have a testimony that he is God's mouthpiece for us on the earth. I am so grateful to have the Gospel in my life, and to be sealed to my wonderful family.

Libs

The reason we don't have ornaments on the bottom of our tree.

We caught Santa!!

We set up our camera, and we caught these pics of Santa in our living room!! Pretty cool huh? And yes, our tree is only decorated half way. You can tell we have an 18 month old in the house!

Um, yes LoLo there COULD be a Santa Claus

Okay, so the saga continues. LoLos teacher told me that he had been upsetting the other children, telling them there is no Santa. Xassar has been feeling awful about the magic being gone for him. Then today, Xassar was answering Santa questions for Lundie. Xassar thought "here I am, lying to Lundie, right in front of LoLo!" Which defeated the whole purpose of telling him the truth in the first place! So he decided to backtrack and bring back the magic, by not LYING, but telling him his childhood experiences. And how when he was growing up, they received presents from someone they didn't know. (They were really poor, so people were always giving them gifts.) Xassar said "maybe those gifts WERE from Santa!" I told LoLo about a Mickey Mouse House I got one year that was supposed to be from Santa. He told LoLo that actually, Santa is real for children. Parents don't play with toys, so he isn't real for us. Xassar suggested that we put out a camera and try to catch Santa on Christmas Eve. LoLo got really excited about that. Xassar told LoLo that he neeeded to find out for himself if Santa was real. So we figured we can still tell some truth AND keep the magic. So, thanks to Liz for this link www.capturethemagic.com We are definitely doing this!!

No LoLo, there isn't a Santa Claus

I can't believe it. My almost 7yr old doesn't believe in Santa. He'd been asking if Santa was real all week last week. We don't want to lie to him, so Xassar and I sat down and had a talk with him. We told him about Kris Kringle, and the idea of santa. But he knows that santa is pretend now. *sniff* We threatened him big time if he tells Lundie! This morning while eating cereal he said "who here believes that Rudolph is real?" Lundie rose her hand, and he did too (while giving me a look.) So far, so good. I'm sad that the magic is over so soon for him.

Wicked!

So I broke down and bought tickets to Wicked. They were expensive, but everyone tells me it's worth it. Is anyone else going? We'll be there April 9 at 2pm!

12 years of wedded bliss!

Xassar and I were married Dec 5, 1996. As we came out of the temple the wind began to blow. By the time we started driving to our wedding breakfast (on the mountain in Bountiful) it was a blizzard! My bridesmaids got in a car accident, and hardly anyone came to the reception because of the weather. That's okay because the important thing is that I married my best friend. I love you honey! Thank you for being the music in my life. Thank you for supporting us so I can stay home with our little darlings. We've been through a lot together. I am so grateful for the years of being struggling students together, of living in "the hood" in Ogden, of waiting tables together, (remember when our budget was $800 a month?), taking institute classes together and getting through dental school. Happy Anniversary!!

Surprise!!!

Xassars brother "D" surprised him at the play. D and I were sneaky and planned the whole thing. D flew in from Philadelphia just to see the show. He surprised Xassar backstage before the show started. It was so fun! He got to stay for the weekend.

Our house was full on Thanksgiving, Libs got a rash, LoLo and Lundie stopped fighting long enough for a loving pose.

LoLo feels the Holy Ghost

LoLo had a rough morning this week. He told me he was sick, so I said he could stay home from school. Throughout the morning he kept teasing Londyn mercilessly. When I got out of the shower I could hear Londyn screaming and crying. He was sitting on her back, not letting her get up. I put him in time out for the second time in an hour. Afterwards I told him "you are going to school. You are obviously well enough." Oh boy, he was so mad. He said all sorts of hurtful things like "I don't ever want to be near you" and "I don't want you to be my mom." I took him to his classroom with him stomping and storming the whole way. That night for family home evening, Xassar told him how awful it was to speak to me that way. (He is really good at making sure the kids respect their mother.) I told LoLo that he had hurt my feelings. During the whole conversation Lo-Lo was playing with a paper towel tube. Finally Xassar said "listen to me, look at me. I want you to know that I love you. You are my son forever. I want to be with you forever." Lo-Lo teared up and I could tell that his heart was touched. He came and hugged me and told me he was sorry. "I love you so much," I told him. "Mom, could you hold me up tight so I can put my legs around you?" This is a boy who doesn't cuddle. We held each other for a good half hour and watched the Wizard of Oz. We talked about the feeling he had and how it was the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for that tender mercy. I hope LoLo remembers that experience. LoLo, I love you!

Londyn's giggle

This will make you smile. You'll need to pause my playlist to hear it better.

News Bulletin! Liberty is walking!

She just started last week. It is so fun to watch her toddle around. I did her hair in piggy tails today and thought "oh my gosh, you look like a little girl and not a baby!!"

Mighty Change Through Christ Preview

We had dress rehearsal last night. We all got airsprayed to look tan. I took some pics so you'd all be excited to come.

Just read this book

This is a great book. I picked it up at Costco on Stephenie Meyers recommendation. Can't wait for the next one!

I've been tagged- thanks Alisa

Okay, I am supposed to write some things here. Strange things about me? Things people may not know? I'm not quite sure what to do. So here goes:

1. I am a licensed nail tech in the state of PA. I went to beauty school at night after working my full time job. Since John was busy with homework and dental school, I figured I might as well be really busy too. The school was awful and I really didn't learn a whole lot. But at least now I can flash my license at the beauty supply stores and get a discount! Hair products can be expensive!

2. I don't like potatoes. We had baked potatoes all the time growing up. They were always so dry and yucky. I don't buy or make potatoes. When John gets potatoes it is a real treat -poor guy!

3. I graduated with a double major (french & technical sales) with a 3.9 average. Toot toot! (yeah, that's me tooting my own horn.) I love the french language and it came easily to me. I was ultracompetitive in class with all the RM's. I've never lived in France, maybe someday we'll go on a mission or something.

4. I love cats. I always had one growing up. My cat during my school years was Penelope. I loved that calico cat. I was always excited to see her when I visited home on the weekends during college. One time I came home (this is when John and I were engaged) and I couldn't find her. I kept calling her. I finally asked point-blank "mom, where is Penelope???" She then proceeded to tell me that she had gotten sick/old and they put her to sleep that week. I was completely devastated. I remember sitting on the basement steps sobbing uncontrollably. It was so awful because I didn't get to say goodbye! I was so mad at my mom for not telling me beforehand, for not letting me BE there! (My mom is not an animal person. She wasn't trying to hurt me, she thought she was protecting me.) There is a place in my heart for sweet Penelope. I still feel pain at not being there for her when she was put to sleep. Hopefully I will see her again someday.

5. This goes along with post #4 I REALLY WANT A KITTY. I keep pestering John to let us have a cat, but he keeps putting his foot down :( I want a hairless Rex cat, or a really really short haired one.

6. I love any kind of chocolate and mint combination. Junior Mints are my fav! I was sad that the kids didn't bring any home on Halloween.

7. I am still close to my childhood friends. Jenny and I have been friends since she was 6 months old and I was just born. The other three have been with me since elementary school. Oh boy do we have some funny old pictures! We still try to get together once a month.

8. I read the newspaper every morning. I feel incomplete if I don't. I never miss the tv reviews that Scott Pierce writes. I usually eat a bowl of cereal while reading it. FYI-my fav cereal is Rice Chex with sliced bananas on top.

Funny 6 year old conversation

Last week LoLo and his friend Joseph were discussing the election. I was driving them back from school where they just had a mock election.
Me: Who did you vote for?
L: John McCain
J: Me too, Obama has bad ideas.
L: Yeah, Barack Obama has bad ideas.
J: I wonder where he gets his bad ideas from?
L: Hmmm maybe a robber or the devil?

Ha ha!! I guess they've been listening to their parents!

My Sweet Libs

Here is my baby. This is what she likes to play with lately: toothbrush, toothpaste, medicine dose thingee. She is 16 months and still doesn't walk. She can take 9-11 steps though, so I am hoping by Thanksgiving she'll be walking. She was 20 pounds at 5 months old. She is now 21 pounds. She's definitely grown into herself. She used to be 120% for weight and now she's 25%! This is what she looked like last October. Big girl!

My brothers and sisters

We all got together awhile back since my brother was in town from Minnesota. This is me and my brothers and sisters. (Except for my oldest brother in AZ and another brother who was sick.) I am the youngest. You can see the torture that I've had to endure from being the youngest. Then there we are with my sweet parents. Love you guys!!

My new handbag

So I saw someone with this bag at Home Depot a couple weeks ago. I gasped and thought "I must have that bag!" I asked her where she got it. I've been on a search through stores and the internet and have finally succeeded in getting the bag! I love it!

Dad playing around

Xassar is a fun dad. Here are some pics of him playing with the kiddos. I thought LoLo would be to big to swing around by the ankles, but apparently not!

Halloween

Here are the kids for Halloween this year. I made LoLo's Danny Phantom costume. (I don't sew, I just kind of hot glued and ironed on.) Lundie picked a ratty old snow white costume from the DI, I couldn't convince her to be anything else. Libs is a bumblebee. When I sprayed LoLo's hair white, he complained that it was "grey" and that he looked like "an old man." He looks very fierce in this photo, that's him being in character. I've actually seen that same look a few times when he is NOT posing!

Girls in tutus!

My friend designs bows and tutus. She asked me to bring Lundie and Libs to a photo shoot to model her products. Here are a few snapshots, aren't they adorable? I can't wait to see how the professional ones turned out!

Our next theatre project

Xassar plays Alma! (That's him in the green scarf.) I have a smaller supporting role. It's an original musical written by a man in our stake. Tickets are free so please come and see us. It should be an uplifting experience! You can get tickets here http://www.mightychangethroughchrist.com/

Family Home Evening

Last night we had FHE. Xassar got out "Dr Drill n Fill" for the kids. They got to make play-doh teeth and fillings. We talked about work and jobs and how we work to get money. We are introducing a chore chart and "commissions" for the kids to earn. Here is a sample of the conversation:

X: So kids, who is a dentist?

LoLo: You are!

X: Right. So why is daddy a dentist?

Me: Why is daddy a dentist instead of a fireman?

LoLo: Because learning to be a fireman is too hard. Daddy, if a fireman saves you, do you have to pay him?

X: Um, yeah I guess you do. So, I am a dentist so I can earn money. Why do I need to earn money?

LoLo: So you can pay the fireman?

Ha ha, we got a good laugh.

Here is my hero Xassar!

You may be wondering what the heck Xassar is. My talented husband likes to program video games for fun!!!! No joke! He just finished a 3 year project on a role playing game. He calls it Xassars Quest. (Check it out at his website http://www.climbwalls.net/dungeonsforever.htm) We've almost been married 12 years. Thanks for all your hard work so I can stay home with the kids!!

My first post!!

Here are my lovlies, LoLo, Lundie and Libs. The are my life, and I am so grateful to be a mommy!