Making homework fun with puffpaint

Olivia did not want to do her homework ...until we got out the puffpaint. Then it was fun!

We will be who we've always been

It's so easy to judge people and think everyone else's life is so much easier than my own. I went out last night with a friend (who I'm just starting to get to know). She lives in a million-dollar home and seems to have more money than I can imagine. I think it's easy to start thinking "oh, if only my life was as easy as so-and-so" but "so-and-so's" life may not always be what you think.
So she started telling me about her childhood, that her dad was an alcholic, abused her mother, left when she was 2. She wasn't saying it like she felt sorry for herself, she was just telling her story as someone might relate the places they lived when they were younger. Her mother married a few years later to a good man. One Saturday a few days after they were married, he told his wife and 4 girls he would take them all out for breakfast. He hopped in the shower, had a massive heart-attack and died. My friend was in 4th grade. Her mom worked temp jobs all her life, moving her 4 girls like a gyspy all over the country. She fell behind in school and grew a dislike for it because of always moving around. Her real dad, when he would take them for the weekends, told them he wished he never had them and didn't know what to do with them. And here she is, sitting accross the table from me, positive, happy, talking lovingly about her husband and 6 (!) kids. Life is good, she says. She just doesn't understand why her dad hasn't ever seen it that way, and doesn't appreciate the adults they've become.
Just goes to show we have personalities that were formed before we came here to earth and while parenting and upbrining affects us, we will be who we've always been.

I gave in

I don't usually by my kids toys for no reason (birthday,  Christmas, etc.) But we were at the 29th street mall in Boulder at a toy store and found this cool track.  Evan was medmerized and I couldn't resist. He needs something to do while the girls are at school.  He starts in 2 weeks but just mornings.

Evan having fun at back-to-school night

Lettuce Wraps

Oh, and I forgot to post about the lettuce wraps. They were awesome. I forgot to take a picture, but they were unbelievable good and I will make them again. Delish.

Sunday night

Whew. What a weekend. I'm exhausted, but posting. I'm laying here in Olivia's bed typing from my nexus. The reason my eyes are shut in the picture is the bright flash in a dark room.
Olivia's baptism was today and it went really well. My parents both spoke and Emily sang. I made brownies. Griff and Michelle and their four kids and Taylor's brother Jordan all came too. And several families from the ward. The room was packed.
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If you want to get your honey to do some things around the house, make him a honey do list. Then invite your parents to town. And watch how fast he gets stuff done;). This was Taylor the morning my parents came. Busily working on the list so he could cross things off. He even did a few extras so he could write them on and cross them off. Just for extra points. And when my dad said,"I see you've got a honey do list" I look over and see Taylor smiling with satisfaction at all the crossed-off items. Yep, that's my man.
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Okay, what's worse, seeing a bedroom scene (pg-13) with your parents or your inlaws? At 32 I'd still prefer not to believe my parents actually do that. J/k but really. Gross. We watched Blinside last night which is a really good movie but maybe as a rule don't watch movies with bedroom scenes with your parents. Or inlaws.

Primary temple trip

I took our primary kids on a temple trip last Saturday. The weather was perfect and the kids had a good time.