Today is my birthday... and other random happenings

Rachel requests a picnic in February!

After 17 years of faithfulness, the era of the "Great Honda Car" has come to an end. We sold our Honda to a loving Hispanic gentleman who will no doubt use it for parts. Thanks for all the memories, Great Honda Car!

My second child was baptized last month. I could not wait from his 8th birthday, until he was baptized. He was a hell child those weeks, but I really could see a difference in his mannerisms after he was baptized. He really takes it seriously, this being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, and representing Christ. We had a wonderful family get-together.... followed by Mike's best friend's wedding later that day.


Can you tell Austin's excited about scouting?

Austin loves scouting. LOVES IT. He is so excited about it. We have half the Articles of Faith memorized just because he loves to work on them. We started to read "Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief". We can read a chapter in 20 minutes (I read while he follows along - what can I say, I am not patient enough to let him read to me). He is so excited about reading. After we are done reading that, he's grab his scriptures (Thanks, Mom!) and encourage me to read a chapter with him. He loves that we are on a different part than the rest of the family. He has hopes to pass them, but we'll see.
Austin wanted to be Harvey Two Face for some school thing. This was the best we could do. I think the red-eyes really add to the effect. :)

Rachel has been challenging lately. Not really fair to say, but I'm keeping it real here. Aside from the lipstick/pen on the carpet, she loves makeup and nail polish. Stuff she should not get into, but does. I got mad at her for getting into my nail polish twice in two days, and she came back at me with, "Well, if you would paint my nails, then I wouldn't have to do it myself" Needless to say, that did not win her any points.

Mitchell has been playing more with some friends in our neighborhood. I love it. And I'm realizing that he's kinda short. He'll grow, I know, but it's a fun thing to notice. Also, he talks about Nazi zombies non-stop. Just a warning.

Mike and I celebrated our 14 year anniversary last month. Yes. 14. That must mean we really love each other. Last night in Young Women's we were talking about dating (Thank you New Era!), and discussed that as youth, we threw out an "I love you" to everyone, when really, at that age, while we do know what love is, we have no idea the depth of love we can possess. Even from our wedding day to now, it has changed so much. Thanks for 14 great years, Mike, and an eternity to come!

Last week, I told Mike that Austin was my favorite child right now. Yes, I actually said that out loud. (I had had enough of Mitchell not listening, and whining about some lame game he wanted, and Rachel had used my red lipstick to draw a beautiful heart on her carpet, then the next day used a green Expo dry erase pen to emphasize it...among other heinous crimes) And that jinxed it. commence the fighting all weekend long. The Easter bunny almost skipped our house. Really. But he came, albeit a bit late.

We put up our General Conference tent last Saturday. The people of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon, gathered together to hear words of their prophet, and their tents faced the tower. We have modified that a bit, but every 6 months we put up our tent (which takes up the whole living room), and face it towards the tv, and let the words of our prophets lift us up and inspire us to be better people. This Easter was it especially poignant to reflect on where we were last conference. ...and also to feel the grace and mercy of the Atonement of the Savior, and how it can change each of us into who God wants us to be.

Well, I'll just put it out there. Today is my birthday (well, technically not until 11:23 p.m. Please do NOT call me at that time. I will be asleep. I love sleep.). I am 33 years old. I am practically dead. Why is it that you can still remember when 33 was REALLY old? Then you turn that age, and it's really not that old. Thanks to OLIVIA, who said to me last night, "You can't be that old, right?" Thanks to all who wished me Happy Birthday. I think birthdays are all about feeling loved. I need to make a better effort at that.