The Pribyl Holiday!

April 26 is known as the "Pribyl Day" amongst many of our friends. That's what happens when Aubrie's birthday, my birthday, and our anniversary all fall on that day! Ben always makes jokes like; "If I forget that day, I just keep on diving". I've heard that one so many times, and am positive I will until the day we die! Sophia was due on the 29th of April, but I was at ease, because I knew she was a planned C-section. So how did all these special occasions fall on one day, you ask? Well.....April 26th was the first Friday after BYU finals, and was the only day, that weekend, that Salt Lake Temple had an opening. So I figured, "what the heck! What a great birthday to remember!" Then 3 years and 4 months later, I find out I'm pregnant and my due date is April 26th. I wasn't even thinking that she would come on that day, because who ever has their baby on their due date anyway? Well, at midnight on April 26th 2000 I had my first contraction, and she came 9 and 1/2 hours later. My hospital room had balloons that said, "Congratulations", "Happy Birthday", and "Happy Anniversary". So there is the History of how "Pribyl Day" came about!

This year I celebrated my birthday with some friends on Friday. My friend, Susan, just had her birthday on the 18th. We combined our birthday celebration. It started with a early morning hike, 6:30am (Yikes), at the Sunrise Mountain trail. We then met up with some other friends, who didn't do the hike, at Paradise Bakery. It was a fun way to start the day. Nothing like a couple of hours of girl talk to start your morning! I had to cut out a little early because I had to head over to Aubrie's school to bring in cookies. I brought some Paradise Cookies (rip off!) and we all sang Happy Birthday to her. She was so happy that I came! Sometimes the simple things mean the most! When I got back, I hit a big wall. I was so tired! My Mom took Ethan out for ice cream, and to the dollar store to get Aubrie and I some gifts (he is so thoughtful), while I took a short nap!

Ben and I started our Friday evening helping the Moore's pack and load up their moving truck. They just closed on their new house close by, and I'm so excited about it! Terri, Erin and I served in the Relief Society presidency,when I first moved here, and had such a great time together. After that, we headed off to Scott Godown's birthday party, but not before Erin gave me my birthday present. She made me an apron out of the Fabric that I love (the kind Karlee Fuchs uses). It meant a lot that she spent the time to make it! I was laughing when I opened it because I had recently called a girl, who makes aprons, to see if I could special order one for Erin! We think so much alike sometimes, but lucky for her my birthday is first! LOL Apron's are my new thing! I seem to wear them all the time, when I'm home! Yeah, there have been a few times I have picked up the kids from school in one, but I don't have to get out of my car. They are just so liberating, b/c I feel like I can clean, cook, etc. and not have to be worrying if I'm getting dirty! Anyway, Erin picked up on that some how!

So back to Ben and I's date! We finally met up at PF Chang's to celebrate Scott's birthday, which was on the 23! We had a good time catching up with their friends, and we had a crazy time as usual. I'm sure the server thought we were nuts, listening to some of our topics of conversation. Scott got some funny gifts; one being a speedo, goggles and swim cap. He put the speedo over his pants (we were in the party room), and put the cap and goggles on. I told him he had to wear them out of the building. By the time we all left, it was 10:00! There weren't too many people around by then, but he still wore them all the way to the car! He is a funny guy! He could probably make a lot of money on bets! LOL

Saturday, the "26th", was a relaxing day! Ben woke me up at 8:00 and gave me my gifts! He got me the Twilight book series, a huge collage picture frame that had pictures of the kids in it, and Photoshop Elements! After the gift opening, we went out for breakfast! Aubrie chose McDonalds and I chose Paradise Bakery (yes, I know that is two days in a row!), so we went through the McDonald's drive through and the kids brought their food into Paradise! Sophia broke down fast, because she had been up since 5:20!:( So we finished quickly ate and headed home! The kids swam and I just relaxed around the house (I was sooo tired). Then I took Aubrie to Justice (her favorite clothing store) and gave her some money to spend. She came out of there with 2 cat Webkinz, a Hannah Montana shirt, and skirt/shirt outfit! When we got home we had a lot of visitors. Kayleen and her Mom came over with a card and gift, and then Trina came over with her kids. Kate and Sarah gave Aubrie some greeting cards with cats on them (a perfect gift for her) and then Aubrie showed everyone her new kittens. Trina got me an air freshener from Bath and Body that I have been meaning to get (she was reading my mind, too). Later that afternoon Erin and I went to visit a YW who had a birthday, too! When I got back, Ben took the boys out, while Sophia and I slept and Aubrie signed up all her Webkinz! I got a 2 hour nap and Ben surprised me by getting the car clean!

We ended our night with dinner at Texas Road House! When you have a birthday, they make you sit on this horse saddle while they tell everyone it's your birthday. Aubrie was so excited for that; she is not shy! They had me get on, too! Dinner was alright. Sophia was miserable, so Ben and I took turns walking with her. The kids had a fun time. One of those "balloon maker" guys was walking around, and the kids begged and we caved! Aubrie got this huge hat, and the boys got swords! We came home and put the kids to bed, and Ben and I finalized our night with a few episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond, and then I finished up the last of my Sunday School Lesson. (My goal is to be on track every week!)

So the "Pribyl Day" wasn't as crazy as usual, but it was nice! My friends either called or emailed me, and I felt loved! LOL I was impressed that Aubrie wasn't expecting balloons, streamers and a cake! She seemed content and I was happy about that. She will be having her big celebration next weekend, when she is baptized! Oh ya, Ben and I gave each other our Anniversary gifts, too! Ben planned a trip to Las Vegas to see Phantom of the Opera. We go the week after Aubrie's baptism. I'm very excited about it because I have been wanting to see Phantom since I was in college. Now I just have to get sitters!

Today was very busy! Ben had an early church meeting, but that meant soft seats for Sacrament Meeting! Church was good! The kids were a little restless at first, but things calmed down after the Sacrament, and Sophia made it all the way through! The Moore's spoke, and did a good job! Sophia did well in Sunday School, too, but I spent the third hour of church in the halls! Two out of three isn't bad! She is teething, terribly, and I'm surprised she made it that long. She hardly eats anything lately, and just wants her bottles. One minute she is fine and happy and the next minute she is miserable. She usually does well when she is upstairs playing in the toy room, or the kids rooms! She also likes outside! I can't wait until she feels better.

After church, it was a mad rush! Ben had his home teaching, then I had visiting teaching, then our home teachers came over, and then Ben had a Priesthood meeting! I felt rushed from the moment we got home until the kids were in bed! Thank heaven's kids go to bed earlier than adults! Once they were asleep, I finally felt like I could relax a few minutes before I put another load in the washer and had to come down to do the dishes! When I got downstairs my Mom had cleaned the kitchen and picked up the family room! What a relief!! I actually had a few minutes to sit and relax and talk with my Mom a bit before Ben got home! That was nice!

Here are the kids funnies for the week!!

Boston said in his prayer tonight, "Please let us have the Holy Ghost in this house, because if we have the Holy Ghost our family can stick together like glue!"

Ethan heard me coming back on Friday, from my "girls" breakfast, and thought I was my Mom. He had ran to the front door calling her name. When he realized it was me and not Grandma he started to cry and said he wanted to spend time with Grandma. I said, "Don't you want to spend time with me?". He replied, with a uncomfortable look on his face, "I want to spend a little time with you Mom, but a lot with Grandma!" I let him off the hook and asked, "Probably because I'm always here and Grandma has to work, huh?" He looked happy and jumped all over that with a big, "Yeah, that's right Mom!"

Tonight Ben and Brother Thurber (our home teacher) gave Sophia a blessing. Well Sophia is so picky about her hair. She does NOT like anyone touching it. As soon as Brother Thurber put the consecrated oil on her head, she started to cry like someone pinched her or something. I said, "She is so a girl; she is so picky about her hair." Brother Thurber's son got this huge smirk on his face, like "tell me about it"!

Aubrie is having fun with her cats. This week she put one in a diaper, another one in one of her doll tutu's and last night we found her sleeping on her floor, on top of a bunch of blankets, by her kittens bed! They were all snuggled up to her. We were amazed that she didn't roll over one of them!

New Addition..MEOW

Here are our newest additions...Angel and Tiger!

As you know, Aubrie's cat ran away! Aubrie called Ben up a few weeks ago and said, "Dad, I just want a kitten for my birthday." I really wanted a new kitten for her, that way it could bond to her from the start. I didn't really know how that could happen, because by the time they get to Petsmart they are pretty old. I said a little prayer that we could stumble upon baby kittens somehow. Well sometimes when you pray for something, the Lord "doubles" your blessings!

This past Thursday afternoon, I had just put Sophia down for her nap and noticed that Ben was in our room (home early from work). I could only see half his body behind the door and I asked him what he was doing home so early. He said, "Please don't be made at me". I figured he had bought something big and expensive, so I asked him what he bought. He came out from behind the door with two little kittens. They were all dirty and didn't look very healthy, but they were very cute! He said that he found them with a bunch of other little kittens, under an air conditioner unit at an apartment complex. They couldn't be more than a month old. We washed them up really good and Ben ran to Petsmart to get them food, a bed and a scratching post. They seemed to do much better once they got washed up and got some food.

When I picked Aubrie up from school I told her she left some clothes on the couch and when she went to get them (there were no clothes) there were the two kittens. She was so excited! All the kids love playing with them, including Ben and I! It's amazing how much better they are doing! Give them some shelter, food and attention and it's like you have completely different kittens. Now they are running all around and are so playful! Fun! Fun!

Well, what else has been going on?? Well, Friday we had dinner with some friends from the old Ward and then Ben and I did our normal Walmart stop! I'm ready for the new one to open!!!

Saturday was a nice relaxed day! We just hung around the house. The morning was a little over cast, so we hit the hot tub and by late afternoon things had warmed up, so the kids hit the pool. My Mom and I bought some nice flowers for the courtyard. It's becoming my little garden haven! It's nice that she is here to keep up on the watering! I like sitting out there when it's cooler and enjoying the waterfall and the flowers! One reason I'm dreading the heat! Saturday night Ben went to his "fight night" with his friends, while I prepared my church lesson. It was on cultivating extended family relationships!

Sunday went well. We didn't have to take Sophia out of Sacrament meeting, and the kids were well behaved. The sacrament song was my favorite, "I Stand All Amazed"! Aubrie and Boston know it well, because I sing it to them all of the time. As soon as they heard the intro, they scooted up to me and they sang the whole thing, really loud! It was so awesome to hear their little voices sing such a powerful song! My friend, who was sitting in front of us, said it was like there were angles singing behind her. (Maybe a little out of tune, though!) Ben took Sophia home during Sunday School, so I was able to listen to the whole lesson. It was on the Parable of the Olive Tree. I had read the lesson already, but learned some things I never knew before. My lesson went really well. I used a lot of scriptures in the lesson, as suggested by the leaders, and the spirit was so strong. A lot of us were crying and there were several who were holding back tears. The lesson really made me think about my Mom's side of the family and how I need to get in better touch with them, like the old days! I always seem to get so much out of the lessons I teach!

Yesterday was "just another manic Monday"....wish it were Sunday! LOL I took Aubrie to dance this time, while Ben stayed home and made dinner and prepared the FHE lesson. I got to see Aubrie's ballet dance, which is coming along nicely! I also snuck in a trip to the mall and some grocery shopping in between!

Tuesday my Mom had off of work. When Ethan finished his chores he said, "Can I go downstairs and see Grandma before she goes to work". I told him she wasn't going to work and he said, "Yahoo! Now we can do some puzzles"! My Mom watched the kids while I went Visiting Teaching and also while I had lunch and did some mall shopping with Kayleen. We haven't done anything in awhile, just us two. It was nice to catch up on life and just hang out! When I got home from that, I hit a wall. I woke up the night before, a little before 3:00 am and didn't fall asleep until after 5:00. I put the baby down and took a quick nap, while my Mom took Ethan out for a root beer float and to the car wash! It's a new one where you can sit in the car, and at the end you vacuum the car yourself. Ethan was in Heaven, vacuuming my Mom 's car! I was still exhausted when Ben got home, so he took the the kids out for dinner, while me and the baby slept! It felt great! He can really be a gem when he wants to! He took the kids to one of Aubrie's classmates, parent's restaurant. (Whew! Did tha make any sense?) There were a few Sun's cheerleaders there, and an ex- Sun's player. Aubrie and Boston got their picture taken with the cheerleaders and Ethan was too shy! Way to go Ethan! LOL The boys kept commenting on how tall the ex-player was and how he was like Goliath! They also came home with some signed posters from the cheerleaders. Boston tried to put the picture up on his wall, but I wasn't having any of that! They were half naked!

Thursday, Ben went with Aubrie on her field trip to the Science Center. They are hosting the Titanic exhibit, so they got to see that while they were there. Aubrie had a great time, and Ben was a trooper, sitting on a bus with thirty eight year old's for an hour!

Ok...now to catch up!

Last week....hmmmm....can I remember that far back! LOL Here is the quick run down with photos and funnies!

Thursday I was busy with life and getting things ready for company. I used to be fanantic, making sure the house was perfect when company came. Now I'm realistic! The house is going to get dirty when company come to stay, especially if they have kids, so why clean it? Of course, I tidied up and put clean sheets on the beds, but seriously...why mop floors, etc?! For some reason I didn't have time to go grocery shopping, so I hit Walmart and Sams at 8:00 at night and got the fridge stocked about 30 minutes before the Hellewell's arrived. We stayed up for a few hours and talked before we all went to bed.

Friday the kids still had school. So the Hellewell's went to visit their Grandpa, while Ben worked, and I got some more flowers and planters for out front! I probably should have started this project a few months ago, b/c now it 's getting really hot! When everyone got home, we went swimming until dinner. Mark and Kristin have a 8 year old boy, 6 year old boy and 2 1/2 year old daughter. The ages were great for our kids. Even the 2 year old played with Sophia. Aubrie was obviously the odd girl out, but she didn't seem to mind! The kids all had a blast! We were lucky to get the kids down by 8:00, and then we played cards to see who would drive to Sonic for drinks. Ever since we were in college we always played to see who would go to get "something".

Saturday morning we took the kids on a hike and then we swam. The Hellwells left around 11:00 to go visit a friend in Gilbert, who just had her baby. Ben and I laid around the pool and then Aubrie and Boston and I got ready to go to Sarah and Kate Frandsen's baptism! Aubrie was so exited she was beside herself. Aubrie was beaming the whole time! I'm so glad I took her! I think it really got her excited for her baptism next month. The kids bought the girls little journals and photo albums, and of course Boston was so excited to give them their presents! He was so distracted by the whole "gift giving" thing, I was worried he wasn't in "the moment". After the baptism I asked the kids what their favorite part was. Boston said his favorite part was when they "were putting their hand's on their head" (receiving the Holy Ghost), "and that he cried both times"! We'll I guess I was wrong....he was in the moment! What a sweet boy! The girls are going to LOVE him!

After the baptism we hung around to take some pictures and then we went over to their house. Just as we were heading over there, Ben called to tell me the Hellewells were back. When we got to the Frandsen's, I let the kids play a little and I helped Trina get lunch ready. I knew that I wouldn't be able to stay for lunch, but I was happy to help out! They are great friends, and I was just happy to be a part of such a special day! When we got back we swam some more, ordered pizza and then put the kids to bed. We played some more cards, and went to bed!

Sunday went well. Sophia lasted through almost all of Sacrament and Sunday School. She wasn't having anything to do with the third hour, so I was walking the halls! I was glad to get the 2 hours out of her. That seriously is progress!! After church we just relaxed. It was nice!

This week I spent getting things for Sophia's birthday, buying clothes that fit (that's a good thing!:) and getting caught up on the house. Tonight was YW. We had a video scavenger hunt! It was a lot of fun and the girls had a blast! Some of the crazy things we had to get on film included, getting strangers to sing YMCA , getting a cop to Sing "Bad Boyz", and giving a stranger a noogie! We then came back and watched the videos and had treats!

Here are the family funnies for the week!

Ethan brought his Buzz Lightyear phone to church. It's so old, so it doesn't make any sounds. He just loves to pretend it's a real cell phone and talk to imaginary people. Before sacrament started he was "talking" on his phone and then handed it to me. He said, "Mom, it's for you". I asked him who it was and he said "it's John the Baptist!" LOL

We were driving home from picking Aubrie up from dance. I took all the kids in, for once, so we could watch her dance. As we were driving home Boston told Aubrie that he thought her dance teacher was ugly. Ethan piped up and said, "No! She is gorgeous!"

Monday Ethan and I were painting. I was making a lovely scene of the ocean and then I look over at Ethan's to see a huge grey square with all these colors mixed together. I asked him what he made and he said it was a TV! It doesn't stop there. On the way to pick up the kids from school he had to take his "TV" in the car with him. I forgot to ask him what he was watching! Ha~!

Ben got some little colognes for Christmas that he never uses. So I gave them to Boston and told him to keep them in his bathroom, for him and Ethan. The boys usually use cologne on Sunday's. Well, while Aubrie was at dance Boston comes downstairs, after doing his chores, smelling like a whole bottle of cologne. It was so strong I couldn't even sit by him without getting a headache! I can't think of anything funny with Aubrie, but she is really enjoying the piano and really knows her ballet positions. Oh, she was making me laugh when I went to her dance studio. Aubrie Jazz dance it to a Hannah Montana Song. She was singing it the whole time they were performing the dance for the parents!

Looks WHO's 1!!!!

Hard to believe that Sophia turned 1 today! Time has gone by so fast. I can't even remember being pregnant and her delivery seems like another life. Funny how that works! I know God works it that way so you will have more:) Sophia is my first child not walking by her first birthday. Aubrie took her first steps at 9 months, Boston and Ethan 11....and then there is Sophia. She is happy to crawl and when her bare knees hit the ground (when I have her in shorts or dresses), she lifts up her knees and crawls with her feet and hands! I'm alright with her not walking, because once she does I am in trouble! She is just like Aubrie; very active. She won't sit in the grocery carts, wants to explore every cupboard in the house, and won't sit still on any ones lap longer than a few minutes! Because of that, I'm really surprised she isn't walking yet. It probably has to do with the fact that she is so little still. She is my first kid to still be riding in the infant car seat. I just bought her the cutest brown and pink car seat (yes, over indulging...she is my last you know) and when I read the instructions it said it was for kids over 22 lbs! Will she be in it before she is two? LOL Will she ever get to turn around and face the front? The kids are excited for that to happen because then she will get to "watch movies". Yeah right! She isn't the least bit interested in that!

Today, for her birthday, I decorated the house with some cute wall cut outs and banners. I made a simple cake and one of her favorite foods...Pennie Alfredo! The kids were so excited for her birthday "party". They were a little disappointed when they found out it was just our family. They thought the cousins, aunts, uncles, etc...were coming. I told them she didn't know the difference, but I didn't think about how it would have been fun for the kids. It's funny how Aubrie and Boston had these HUGE birthday parties, when in fact we had no older kids to really enjoy them. I guess I should have switched things!! After dinner, we sang Happy Birthday and gave her her cake! Sophia tried using the fork a bit. Then she tried using her hands, and then resorted to licking it! After cake, she opened some gifts. The kids were so cute about gifts. This morning the boys were up early (6:30) making her a gift. Boston took a plastic container, that holds some of his toys, emptied it out and put his baby blanket and Mickey Mouse hat in there. He got an old card and wrote on it. It said something like, "Happy Birthday Sophia. We hope you have a happy day. Love Boston and Ethan". Aubrie gave her one of her stuffed animals. Sophia wasn't very interested in it because Aubrie wanted to give her gift last and by then Sophia was into her toys and not very interested in a stuffed animal. Aubrie's feelings got hurt and she started to cry. I explained that she would love it when she went to bed and that she was distracted by the "noise" toys. She felt better after that! Ben and I got her a See and Say and a little piano. She really liked the piano. After presents, she got to play outside a bit in the sand box. Wow! I still can't believe a year ago she was just an infant in my arms! What a sweet little girl.

She laughs when you sing to her

She likes eating peas from a can, strawberries, avocados, grapes, blueberries, meat, and yogurt

She looks like Aubrie

She likes to the Ball Popper and knows how to work it!

She likes putting things in her mouth, especially paper

Refuses to use a sippy cup! Ugh!

Rocks to music

Hates being in a room by herself

Tries to climb anything and everything

This is what she was up to while I was taking a shower the other day! Look at that devious look!

A week late!

***to save you from confusion, this email was written a week before I posted it!:)
I just emailed a friend, telling her that I felt like I was living in one of those "life comes at you fast" commercials! I think between all the traveling last month, and all the stuff coming at us this month, (3 birthdays, an anniversary a baptism, and more) I'm running faster that I have strength! This week is no exception. Monday morning my Mom watched Sophia while I ran a million errands, which included me hauling 2 huge pots for my front patio into a Sams cart! Luckily they had a nice man there to help me load them in the car. He was a sweet worker with a terribly bad stutter, and it took him about 30 seconds to tell me I had a nice smile. That made my day! Of course. I had to buy flowers and dirt for the pots, and since we live in Phoenix, I had to plant them immediately! Ethan helped me and had a lot of fun doing it! It was a great Mommy/ Son time! Aubrie had dance as usual, and we had a nice steak (from Sunday night) fajita dinner and FHE to follow. Boston read the lesson and the kids behaved themselves! Yeah!


Yesterday included a trip to the Church Book Store. I got Aubrie's scriptures (all the kids will get their own engraved set when they are baptized), some gift cards, and a new parenting book. I'm always a sucker for parenting books. It's called "Have a New Kid by Friday". I like a lot of it's principals, and I have already started implementing them. It seems to be working!:) I really don't believe that one particular program is a cure all, but I feel that you can gather many positive things from many sources to aid the parenting process along! Tuesday night I totally spaced a girls camp meeting, while we all went hiking up on the mountain trails by our house. It was a beautiful evening, nice and breezy! The kids did well, until Ethan fell right on a cactus. The poor kid had it all in his hand, and didn't cry at all while I was pulling them all out. A few minutes later he started to whimper, and by the end of the hike he said, "my hand is all better now"! We are just thankful he didn't land head first! When we got home we watched American Idol (Aubrie was surprised that she couldn't watch it since she didn't finish her chores....credit to the new book). I never saw her get them done so fast! She ended up catching the last 15 minutes. After the kids were in bed, I ran over to Erin's so she could help me with Aubrie's baptism announcement. My computer crashed, and Ben's is giving me some problems! I think I might be ready for a Macbook!


Today started early, and is still going! Here is the quick rundown. I had a nice wake up call from Sophia at 6:15. I then laid in bed for another 10 minutes and then got up and showered. I left the house at 7:40, to go to the temple. It was a girls trip, (Erin, Trina, Karolyn, Amy, Marji, Jen Sharp, and I). It was fun chatting there and back. We stopped at Cafe Rio...very yummy, and a ribbon store (where I amazingly bought NOTHING! ). Landed back in Peoria at 2:15, took Erin home, picked up the kids from school, took them to piano, picked up Ethan from the Walters, came home and laid down for 10 minutes, got up to make dinner, met up with the YW to celebrate another YW's birthday, came home and put the kids to bed, ran a gift to a friend, came home and got some hugs and squeezes from Sophia (totally loving it!), worked on Aubrie's announcement and now I am here...WHEW!!! I need to go to bed! Did I mention Ben was out of town?

Amongst all the running around today, I was totally noticing and appreciating all the kids special personality traits and couldn't help to smile because of them.

When I told Ethan to go brush his teeth, for bedtime, I found him in the bathroom SERIOUSLY combing his hair! That's his newest thing these days...making his hair just so! I was thinking "come on kid your about to go to bed, I told you to brush your teeth", and then I took a moment to just enjoy the comedic moment!

Aubrie came out of her bathroom with Sophia in her arms, and Sophia's hair was all wet and made into a mohawk! It was the funniest thing and I couldn't stop smiling inside! I really think that Aubrie thinks that Sophia is her life size doll!

I tell the boys that if they go right to bed, and don't' get out, they get to put a quarter in the "Disneyland" jar. Tonight, after putting them to bed, I heard some commotion upstairs and walked into their room finding things moved around. I told them they lost their quarters and walked away. Boston called for me and I told him I didn't want to hear it, and after insisting I said "Fine, what?" He said, "Mom, I just want you to know that it was me who got up not Ethan, and I don't' want you to take away his quarter". I felt so bad, but then his honesty made me smile!

Sophia took a long evening nap ( I had to wake her up at 7:15). She was up after the kids went to bed. Having that alone time and being able to focus on JUST HER made me smile!

Busy week..with a Conference finale!!!

This week has been pretty hectic! I was pretty much down for the count on Monday, trying to recoup from the trip. I also haven't been feeling very well. I have been feeling very fatigued, having stomach pains and feeling a little nauseous in the morning. NO! Pregnancy is impossible for me. I'm not sure whats going on, but I'll survive. I always do! The hardest thing was that I couldn't take it easy. The week was very busy and I had to push things in high gear to get stuff done! This week I hosted a baby shower for Leslie. I really didn't do much as far as food, every one pitched in and I just made a cake and got some food for the kids. Another friend got all the decorations, party favors etc. So I don't know why I felt busy. I still had to make her gift (hooded towls) and buy the stuff to make them. In between all of that, I had loads of laundry, a house to pick up, a meeting Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. The shower was Thursday at 11:00 am, and seemed to take up most of the day, setting up, actually having it, and then clean up. My Mom was a gem to help with it all, and it was a great time. I was glad that I could help out and host it! So I hope it doesn't sound like I'm complaining. I guess when you sit around relaxing all weekend, throwing yourself back into real life isn't the easiest thing!

This weekend was Conference weekend. It was a great General Conference! It was a little hard for me to accept the fact that I would no longer get to see sweet President Hinckley's face! On the other hand, President Monson is amazing! His humility and gratitude for the support during the solemn assembly was endearing, and the words spoken on his account were all so supportive. The talks given during the second session were my favorite. They focused on very specific and basic principals of the Gospel. Elder Ballard gave a great talk on Motherhood, which really gave me much to think about. His message was to mothers of small children. He said that the time you have with them when their little ( the developmental years) is so short , and to be careful how you spend that time. He cautioned us to not busy ourselves with things that can be done in a different season of our life. It is so true, so this is my last blog entry! Ha! Just Kidding! This is actually my way of preserving those sweet memories. I did realize that there are things that I can cut out of my life, that I can do later or not at all. As I was taking some pictures for Aubrie's baptism announcement, I sat there in astonishment at how fast 8 years have gone by. It seems like yesterday that she was Sophia's age. Then as I was rocking Sophia, tonight, I thought how quickly the next four years will go by, when I'm sending her off to school! When I look back at that time I would rather have put my talents, interests, etc. on hold, instead of regretting the time I lost with my sweet little Sophia, and the last year I have with my cute Ethan, before he goes off to school!

Tonight we had a few couples over for dinner. It was a nice visit. Ben and I keep saying how we should have at least one family over for dinner a month. I'm always so lazy to get things going, but once they come over I always have a great time. It's just a great way to get to know couples better. They were here until 7:30 and then we put the kids to bed!

Here is the 411 on the kids!

Boston...Was sad when his "girlfriend" had to go on yellow this week, is currently on his 5th Junie B. book (he keeps asking me how many Aubrie has read); got his first Webkinz and is anxious to get on the computer to feed him (it's a tan dog and he named him Jack Jack); jumped in the pool with his clothes on today (along with the rest of the crazy family); put a dollar and some candy in Kate and Sarah Frandsen's birthday cards that Aubrie made for their party (always so generous and thoughtful); and told my Mom that he was going to be an actor when he grows up because he is the "best actor in the world".

Aubrie...Was too tired to go to dance on Monday after a long plane ride home on Sunday; was too embarrassed for me to listen in on her voice lesson (is this the Aubrie I know?); went to Sarah and Kates birthday party and had fun painting nails, a pot, and doing girlie things; insisted that I buy her seeds on Saturday so she could grow them in the pot she painted, wrote in her journal that she thinks she is rich (she just got 10 dollars...ha!).

Ethan...told my Mom and I that he likes to "build things, clean things, and play in the kitchen" (what kind of profession fits all three?); did all his chores on his own while I was sleeping in Monday morning; randomly has been coming in the room where I'm at and saying, "Mom, I love you" and then blows me a kiss; had fun going to the outlet malls with Mom and getting pizza and playing in the play area!

Sophia...has been gracing us with 6:00am wake up calls; bottom teeth are growing fast; climbed the ladder on the play set outside; started doing the "crab crawl" since I put her in shorts; stood by herself in the middle of the room; fell in the pool (with me watching her of course). She didn't go near it after that; laughs when we sing to her!

Here are my two girls! Eight years goes by in a flash!!!!