Silly Sunday Sweethearts

Look at these cute silly girls. I just love them all. I am so sad to think that in just a little over a year Emma's gorgeous (sometimes silly picture) face will be gone and off at college. We will miss her dearly, but I am so excited for all the new adventures coming her way. It's all happening so fast. I remember Damian (and his often similar silly picture face) leaving for college. Life moved in warp speed after that...college, marriages, missions, kids (not in that exact order). The next generation of Idiarts will be starting it all soon. The Nadaulds have already begun. Lucky for me, Mary has quite a few more years...but it is already going pretty fast, too fast.

Out with the old...

and in with the reused!

When my mom told me my Amatchi's chandelier was so beautiful I just couldn't see it. But if there is anything I know that I can totally trust my mom's opinion. She has an eye. She can see something that looks old, dingy, and not so cute and see it's potential.

My Aaron painted this chandelier silver, glazed it, cut new candle covers, and hooked it all up today. Oh, how I love it! And it's just so special that it used to hang over all our family and loved ones in my grandparents' dining room. And it brings a beautiful sparkle into our new and improving master suite.

Birthday Lunch

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends in our area. Today we celebrated the birthday of one of my friends in our ward. Emily is an amazing creative mother, talented musician, and dedicated Christian. I really admire all she does, and there is something about her that reminds me of home...could be that she actually is from the Bay Area!

There were about 15 ladies here. We shared some of our favorite soups and salads while the kids ran around and played. It made for a very enjoyable day, especially since my mom watched the kids for me this morning so I could cook and clean in peace. This is how Emily blows out her candles...or her husband Aaron does (waves it with his hand). Happy almost birthday, Friend!

Bouncy Boy

My computer is dying. I need take everything off, reformat and start a new. I've copied all the files, videos, and documents. Not much else left but to get it running at it's optimal level again. I'm just a little nervous to erase it all.

On another totally unrelated note, I snatched a picture of Noah on something he loves...this large bouncy ball. He hops on it all around the room for at least an hour every day. Often Noah chases Cameron as he laughs and runs away from him.

Now

One of my goals this year is to exercise every day...again. I've been trying by doing a workout video here and there or hitting the church aerobics class. I even tried running around our driveway and yard while Cameron played outside. I just can't seem to get it done in the mornings, and I know that by the time the last head hits the pillow at night I am too wiped out. Plus, I hate working out at night. I miss the freedom of running on streets with sidewalks (man I wish my street had sidewalks) whenever I want. I just can't seem to get up early enough to do it before I get the kids ready for school. And then a million things come up and before you know it, it's 10:30 and I am still in my pajamas and tennis shoes.

I read President Uchtdorf's January Ensign article last night. It motivated me this morning to get out and take the kiddos on a bike ride, with me running (slow jogging) by their side. It made me reevaluate my goals and just get to it...NOW!

I've wasted so much time waiting for the perfect time to get it done each day.  But I didn't think, I didn't plan, I just got us bundled up and headed out the door first thing after the big kids left for school. We didn't last long...I should say Cameron didn't last long. But it felt so good. And the beautiful sun was shining so bright...I swear I could have run a marathon today. I'm so grateful that this article came my way and motivated me to just get to it and not dwell on the fact that I've procrastinated this goal a million times for the perfect scenario. At this time in my life, there is no perfect scenario. And since I didn't "plant that tree 20 years ago" the second best time is now.

A Post from a Friend

I read this post today on a friend's blog. I think she has a great perspective, one I can relate to. And for the record, I would LOVE to be like "June Cleaver"!

You know what the hardest thing is? Balance. And not just in the obvious sense--balancing time with four children, getting all the chores of life done, making time to meditate and exercise, squeezing in service, helping with homework, nagging about piano practice, driving to basketball... That type of balance is a whole series of discussions in and of itself. It would include questions like 'how do you prioritize and fit it all in?' and suggestions like, 'I clean the bathroom and put on my make-up while supervising the toddlers in the bath. Awesome multi-tasking!' But there is another kind of balance that I have deeper worries about.

I am constantly concerned about the balance between needs and the best use of my time. Here is what I mean:
I am an ambitious human being. I always have been. I load up my plate--heaping full-- all the time. I want to learn more, accomplish more, serve more, be more. Even if I had no job or children, I could fill up my whole day, every day. I would run, read, clean, write, cook, bake, sew, photograph, and...and... You get the picture.

If I had the time, I would pour myself into growing Penny&Tillie.  Jessie and I have grand visions and big ideas for our little hobby to become a big business.

But my life doesn't look like that. I have a husband. A dear, hard-working, awesome fun, loving husband. And, as June Cleaver as it sounds, I expect myself to keep the house a beautiful place and put good food on the table, because, dang it, he works hard for me all day every day. I also have four children. Four energetic, loud, brilliant, beautiful, demanding, loving children. And they're not just mine. They are God's. He made them. They come from Him. And, though I highly value the agency--in other words the freedom to choose--that God has granted all of us, I also hold myself responsible to teach my children and give them the tools they need to succeed. And, heaven help me, if one of my children wanders or struggles or feels unloved, and I haven't given him the best of me, I don't see how I can live with myself.  

I've said before: I don't believe in being a martyr mother. I have to have my own interests and identity. But I don't want to look back at this mortal life--this amazing, beautiful gift of a life--and realize, 'I wasted the best days I was given on selfish, secular, mundane interests.'

And there it is. The balance struggle. How to give everyone (including myself) enough of me. I doubt I will ever really feel like I'm winning the balance battle. But I am constantly reevaluating my life. Like every single day.

I hope to the heavens I am getting it at least sorta right.

A Kid-Run FHE

We let the kids run the show for FHE today. Mary came up with a great lesson on prophets. She had Noah read a scripture about how the Lord reveals his secrets to his prophets. Then she talked about Lorenzo Snow and Joseph Smith. We helped a bit with Lorenzo Snow, but she knew the story of Joseph Smith and even ended her lesson with a testimony of the First Vision. It was so sweet and I can't believe what a great job they did. During the lesson Nikki and Cameron read scriptures under the piano (their lesson contribution). It was pretty fun to hear all the words they threw around, "yea, Lamanites, God said, and, and, and, amen."

But the best part of the night (besides Aaron and I acting like cranky children who kept moving around and complaining) was that the parents got to share our talents. Aaron decided to make a bridge with his body, just as the kids usually do, and I played the piano, but I wasn't nearly as good as Mary.

What a fun night.