While the cat is away...

...the mice will play!

When we were serving together in Malta, Todd would have to go up to Catania every six weeks for "zone leader conference". I know that this was really just a giant sleep over with all the zone leaders from around the mission. He would fly up and spend the night and then come back the next day. Every time before he left I would tell the rest of the zone that 'when the cat is away, the mice will play!', Todd would hear me saying that and roll his eyes, but I think deep down he really was scared of what we might be doing without him!;) Well, it has become a tradition that whenever Todd goes out of town now this is what I say to him for about two days before his trip. I think it still puts the fear of God into him, maybe not...but it is still fun to say! So here are some of the things that the mice are doing while the cat is away this time...

Plenty of jumping...got to get the energy out of those kiddos!



Tonight after Enrichment several of my friends are coming over for a Lost party. You have got to love this show. I cannot wait! All I have to say is if Kate is pregnant with Sawyers baby, I am going to be TICKED. Jack + Kate FOREVER!

Till We Meet Again...

On Sunday January 27, the President and Prophet of our Church passed away. At 97 years old it does not come as a shock, but it is still sad to see him go. President Hinckley has been the prophet for most of my life. I remember when he was sustained as the prophet and listening to his powerful testimony. I remember sitting in the Marriott center at BYU and listening to him talk about modesty, and earrings and looking around the room and watching countless young BYU students take out their 2nd earings when President Hinckley said that we should only wear one. I looked to him with hope the General Conference after September 11th, and received peace when he spoke of the future. I have heard him speak in person four times, and each time my testimony of prophets today on the earth was strengthened. I took that testimony and bore it to the people in Italy and Malta who believed that the Heavens were closed. I have showed my sons pictures of him and bore testimony to them that we have a prophet of God on the earth that loves us and encourages us to be better. I love President Hinckley. I am happy that he has been reunited with his sweet wife and others who surely welcomed him with open arms. What a wonderful reunion he must be having! Truly, he has fought a good fight, and finished his race.

“In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” ~Gordon B. Hinckley

It is true...

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

I know, I know....I just can't help myself!

1) What i was doing 10 years ago: January 1998? I was in my senior year at my THIRD high school...thanks Mom and Dad (just kidding! :)) Applying to BYU and Ricks College. Being a typical boy crazy 17 year old teenager.

2) 5 years ago: January 2003?? I was on my mission in Malta. My companion was Marilee Randall. Around this time Todd and I JUST started to be good friends, after serving together for about 9 months. It was a great time.

3) 1 year ago: January 2007...you know honestly nothing really sticks out about this month one year ago! LOL. I was still in survival mode from having a five month old and a 21 month old...and that pretty much sums it up!

4) Yesterday: Hung out all day with the boys, cleaned, and then went out to dinner for a girls night with my good friend Teresa.

5) 5 snacks I enjoy: Harbo gummy candies, anything chocolate, diet coke (is this a snack?), M&Ms, and Kozy Shack Pudding.

6) 5 things i would do if i suddenly had $100 million dollars: Pay off our house and student loans, Pay off my parent house, Go as a family to Italy and Malta, Buy a new wardrobe after I lose all the weight I am going to lose, pay for lots of peoples missions.

7) 5 locations i would run away to: ummm is this if funds were limitless, cause that changes things quite a bit! Italy and Malta...c'mon now! Ummm Boston cause it is my all time favorite city, maybe Cabo San Lucas cause I have always wanted to go there.

8) 5 things i like doing: shopping, cooking, blogging, playing with my boys, throwing parties.

9)5 shows i like:
Lost, The Office, The Hills (yes I am 16), American Idol, anything on HGTV.

11) 5 things i hate doing: cleaning the bathrooms, taking both boys to the grocery store, folding laundry, saying goodbye to family after a fun visit, taking out the trash.

12) 5 biggest joys of the moment: running every night on my treadmill, looking forward to our Disneyland trip, Todd has an interview with MIT, tomorrow is Friday, and hearing my boys planning together in the other room! :)

Now I tag anyone who read this! Ha!

Don't Knock Dr. Atkins!

For those of you who knew me in 2002 you will be happy to know that Dr. Atkins has again come through for me! Just like I knew he would!

Since low carbing it and running/walking each night for an hour on the treadmill I have lost 15 lbs. since January 1st.

So here is to this weight loss journey of mine, and to Dr. Atkins, my long, lost, reliable friend.

More updates to come!...

Something to Think About...

"... might we ask ourselves what our children know? From us? Personally? Do our children know that we love the scriptures? Do they see us reading them and marking them and clinging to them in daily life? Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? Have they heard us not only pray with them but also pray for them out of nothing more than sheer parental love? Do our children know we believe in fasting as something more than an obligatory first-Sunday-of-the-month hardship? Do they know that we have fasted for them and for their future on days about which they knew nothing? Do they know we love being in the temple, not least because it provides a bond to them that neither death nor the legions of hell can break? Do they know we love and sustain local and general leaders, imperfect as they are, for their willingness to accept callings they did not seek in order to preserve a standard of righteousness they did not create? Do those children know that we love God with all our heart and that we long to see the face—and fall at the feet—of His Only Begotten Son? I pray that they know this." - Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Prayer for the Children," Ensign (CR), May 2003, p.85

I got this quote from a friends blog. I think about these things all the time. I am trying to be the mother that Elder Holland describes here so beautifully.

Well I know that Thatcher knows that I pray for him, he hears me pray for his safety and for my sanity when he dumps maple syrup all over our couches and carpet! Just kidding...kinda :)

Yay!

Todd just found out today that he was invited for an interview for the LFM program at MIT! This is a great step in being accepted and it means that he has made it through the first cut for this grad-school program! We have been keeping our fingers crossed, so we are very excited! Good job honey!

Happy 2008!

We had fun bringing in the New Year with friends on New Years Eve and New Years Day. There was plenty of food, football and fun! :) There was also plenty of games of Mafia played and we were introduced to the Wii. Todd now wants one (even though I did ask him if he wanted one for Christmas and he didn't back then!). He might return the kid carrying back pack he got for a new Wii. Wii will see...:). We hope you all have a wonderful 2008!

Also in the spirit of New Years resolutions we have a new addition to our living room furniture...

...if you are singing "one of these things does not belong here" from Sesame Street, I don't blame you. It does stick out like a sore thumb, but this little friend has been on my wish list since I cannot even remember when. I LOVE IT! I can walk/run while watching all my DVRed shows, it doesn't get much better than that.

And another thing that has been on my wish list for a LONG time...

We will be going at the end of February. For those of you who don't know, our boys are obsessed with Mickey and friends. Thatcher and Taggart might go into shock or have slight aneurysms when they see the mouse in person. We can't wait! Doesn't seem that your childhood just comes alive again after having kids, only better?