Fun Conference Packets for Kids

I love these. We use them every year for conference and I am really grateful for the people who put them together (since that is not really in my skill set).

http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5851

Have a great Easter and a wonderful general conference too.

I love listening to the words of living prophets. We are so blessed to have these men to lead and guide us and help us on our way.

Hello, my name is Melissa and I'm a paranoid mom...

I fully admit that I am a paranoid mom. I don't let my kids go out in the front yard unless I am with them, I worry about them walking to school (even though there are three of them that walk together), I don't let them play at friends houses unless I can go meet the parents first....I am overprotective to say the least.

Thankfully, my children are very patient with me (of course, they don't really know any different), but sometimes they let me know it is time to expand the boundaries.


Recently, Bryce and Aubrey told me it was a little bit boring to only be able to ride their bikes where I can see them from the front steps. I can see their point, I guess. Aubrey is eight and Bryce is nearly ten. They should be allowed a little bit more growing room. So I really stretched (don't laugh) and have started letting them ride to the corner and back. I resist the urge to stand on the sidewalk so that I can see them the entire time, and trust that they will be able to handle it (ok, maybe that is a little bit pathetic).

This weekend we decided to go to the park, and the kids asked if they could ride their bikes to get there. I took a deep breath, shoved down the paranoia, smiled and said "sure." After a helmet check they were off. Sadly, I was not brave enough to really let them go on their own, I followed behind with the stroller and got to the park a couple of minutes after the three oldest had triumphantly arrived, but for me this is progress. The kids felt nine feet tall, it was great to see how independent and excited they felt.

They are good kids. They are responsible and they make good choices, I am not sure why it is so hard for me to let go a bit. I guess we all still have some growing up to do.

Proud to be an American

I love this country. I am grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America. I believe in freedom and the beauty of a government run by the people, for the people. I have NEVER missed an opportunity to vote. I do not understand people who take no interest at all in the government that manages the nation they live in. I think it is lazy and irresponsible to trust everyone else to make those decisions for you (sorry for any who feel insulted by that). I realize that my one vote will not change the world, but the one vote of thousands and millions of people, one by one, will make all the difference. Just like my small life can shape my home and community, my small interest and action on behalf of myself and my children can help to shape my nation.

The current direction of political tides causes me deep concern. I am concerned for the stability of our government, I am concerned for the future my children will face. If the people of this country sit back and do nothing, if we quietly go along thinking all is well, where will we end up? I am far from an extremist, but I am more than willing to do my part to make my voice heard. I hope that you will do the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtA9ztEujdQ

FYI, those in my neighborhood...republican caucus (the most grass roots form of shaping government) meeting tonight 7:00 pm at Monticello Academy 2782 S. 4800 W.

Harry Potter Drama

Last night we watched "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" as a family. We just finished the book the other night, and we let the kids see the movies after we have read the books. Our kids can be a little bit timid, so we weren't sure how they would handle this movie so we actually put off reading it for a while until they were a bit older.

Well, after the show, Aubrey nervously asked her dad to hurry up and tuck her in (she was a bit concerned about the dementors) and Gavin told me he was too scared to go to bed. He wanted to sleep wherever I was going to be (the kitchen table since I would be cleaning up there).

And so, we sent Gavin up to have a "sleep party" (that's what our kids call it) in Aubrey's room. He walked into her room and told her he was scared. She scooped him up, tucked him into bed by her, gave him a stuffed animal, and started to read him a story. She was too busy taking care of him to be scared herself anymore, and he felt a lot better being with her. It was very sweet. Josh tucked them in, and ten minutes later when I went up to check on them, they were both fast asleep.

As a mom I cannot get enough of this sort of thing. I love to see my kids taking care of each other and worrying about each other's feelings. It helps compensate for the times they try to tear each other's faces off. It is just so beautiful to see little people acting like our Savior. What a great parental payday.

Also, on Friday we bought Josh a new pair of shoes. He and I do not have the same style...at all!!!

(He is such a preppy).

Anyway, Aubrey saw the shoes we had bought and I asked her what she thought of them. She said she LOOOOVED them, but that she didn't think her dad would like them. I asked her why and she said they were too cool, they just weren't Daddy's style. I smiled that she knows her dad so well.

However, he does like these. Maybe hanging out with high school kids all day has rubbed off on him a bit.

Not My Favorite Week Ever

This is one of those weeks.

Logan has pneumonia.

Last week he had an ear infection.

Then he got RSV which blossomed into pneumonia.

Ellie has bilateral ear infections (code for pus in both of her ears...poor thing).

She also has RSV.

She is still smiling and happy.

The doctor was impressed with that.

Many babies her age end up in the hospital...I feel blessed.

Other than the raspy voice, you would not guess she is sick.

Except that she isn't eating very well...

and so...

I have a breast infection.

It makes my skin hurt.

I hate that.

Our fridge is like a pharmacy.

I am looking forward to next week.

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Probably not a good week to come for a visit...we may infect you too. Who knows, maybe even our blog has a virus (just kidding).

Interior Design...DeMoux Style

Let me preface this post by saying that I am NOT crafty really at all...however, I am really determined and sometimes that is good enough.

When Ellie was born (or just before) we rearranged kid's bedrooms so that the girls would be together. That meant moving everyone around a little bit. Aubrey and Elinor ended up upstairs in a very plain bedroom. While the boys don't care much about that (they like to cover the walls with their own pictures and creations) Aubrey kept asking me when we were going to make her room a "girly" room.

Sadly, the funds are just really not available for exciting decor, so bit by bit we have added things that we had around the house or got for super cheap. I am pretty pleased with the turnout, and Aubrey loves it (which is what really counts).

I used some pink tulle that I inherited from a friend to make a window valance. We found the butterflies at a store we had a Christmas gift card for. They are really fun.

After Valentine's Day, Walmart was clearancing all their holiday stuff and these chipboard sparkly hearts were 50 cents for a package of five, and they are really sturdy, so we created a border by nailing them up.

I needed a big something to fill space on the one big empty wall in the room. I had seen a really awesome picture frame at Walmart that had a place for an 8x10 and four 4x6 pictures and thought that would be great for the girls room. However, it cost $25...no thanks. So, I made my own by padding a stiff piece of cardboard with batting and covering with more hand-me-down fabric. Aubrey loves it (we haven't gotten the picture to go in it yet..but will soon) and I am just really pleased that she feels like she how has a "girly" room.

Even if I am not Holly Homemaker (you should see some of the junk I have tried to make), I do like to get creative sometimes and feel pretty pleased when I can figure things out at home without spending a fortune (since I don't have one).

Great to be Eight!!

Last Saturday, Aubrey had the opportunity to be baptized. It was a wonderful day. I am so proud of her and the choice that she has made to become a member of the church and make covenants with her Father in Heaven. She is an amazing girl and a fabulous example to her little brothers, I am always so impressed with the incredible person she is becoming. She is such a help around the house and especially with her baby sister. I am really grateful that Heavenly Father sent this little angel to our home.

Also, this weekend, Josh and I had the chance to go to the movies (which we don't do very often). We saw

Alice in Wonderland

We saw it on an IMax screen in 3D. We had been apprehensive because the movie looked a little bit unsettling, and pretty weird. The kids really wanted to see it, but we felt we had better see it first.

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I LOVED IT!!!!!!!

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It was so creative and fun and fabulous, and complete eye candy. I could not get enough. I was disappointed when it was over, it was wonderful. Now, I did go in with very very low expectations, and maybe that helped, but it was great if you ask me. I came home and read "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" and have found the movie is only very loosely based on the books, and the story was a little thin, but I still loved it.

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Josh thought it was ok.

What Lies Under the Bed...

I asked Aubrey to clean the stuff out from under her bed that accumulates magically there. She flitted past a while later saying the job was finished. So, I went to check if the job was actually done (boy do I love policing clean up opportunities).

Above is a picture of all the stuff that I pulled out from under said bed...and if you think it is easy for a 32 year old woman to shimmy under that bed you are nuts!!

I called Aubrey in and asked what all this stuff was and why she hadn't pulled it out and put it all away. She looked at me blankly and said,

"It was dark under there, I couldn't see it."

Oh.

KIDS!!!!!

Shel Silverstein

This weekend, Bryce discovered one of my true loves...Shel Silverstein books and poems. His current favorite (and one of my favorites for as long as I can remember):

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We gave you a chance

To water our plants

We didn't mean that way

Now zip up your pants!

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Hehehehehehe.

Thank you Mr. Silverstein for sharing your life, your creativity and your talent with the rest of us. I've always loved you.

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P.S. I love your bald head.

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(Don't be jealous, Josh, the man is dead...and I still love you best).