While the Cat's away...

Friday I had to run some errands and so Todd decided to take the boys ice skating downtown.

When we all got in the car (I was dropping them off at the T station) Tagg said,

"Mommy, you're the cat!"

Ummm what?

I asked him what he meant and Thatcher said,

"While the Cat's away, the mice will play! You are the cat and we are the mice!"

Nice one Honey.

I quickly reminded both the boys and their Dad that if anyone was the cat it was Daddy, and that THE cat was going to be away a lot in the very near future...so he might live to eat those words!

Anyway...

Here are some cute pictures of the boys taking the T downtown

and ice skating for their first time at the Frog Pond.

The mice had fun...

Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!

Wow. It has been raining NON STOP since Saturday.

The whole Westgate playground is a swimming pool,

and we have been stuck inside for THREE days now

(except for three hours at church yesterday!)

The boys are going stir crazy.

Spring better get here fast.

We want to enjoy this playground for a few more months!

photos taken by my neighbor and friend Inka, who lives upstairs.

"Come Listen to a Prophets Voice..."

Today I had music on while I was studying my scriptures, and Tagg who loves to be in the same room with me while I study (funny how they never really want your attention until you want some private time!) was running in and out of the room playing.

After I was done studying I turned on a Conference Talk by Elder Russel M. Nelson from the last General Conference.

As I sat listening, Tagg stopped playing and came into the room.

"Who is that talking?", he asked.

I told him I was just listening to a talk.

He just stood there for a minute and then started to climb up on my bed.

I asked him to get down and go play so I could listen and he said,

"But I want to see whos voice that is, I like that voice".

I helped him up on the bed so he could see my iphone in my speaker dock.

While the conference talk is playing a picture of the speaker is put on the iphone, and when Tagg saw his picture he said,

"Who is that?"

I told him that this was Elder Russell M. Nelson, that he was one of the apostles, that he is the

Prophet's friend and that he gives talks about things for us to learn so that we can do to help us go back and live with Heavenly Father.

After listening to me and looking more at his picture Tagg said,

"I like that man, I feel good listening to his voice, I like listening to his voice."

Instantly tears came to my eyes as I heard this sweet little one tell me in his own way that he was feeling the spirit witness to him that this man, Elder Nelson, was a true apostle of the Lord and that what he was saying was true.

It was one of the sweetest experiences I have ever had.

I have seen the spirit touch hearts before.

As a missionary I witnessed hearts touched and changed often, and those experiences were

some of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had.

They pale in comparison to this experience, as a mother seeing the spirit touch my son's heart and for him to recognize it.

Nothing could be greater, nothing could be sweeter.

I went and grabbed my camera to document this moment.

It really was wonderful.

These words came to my mind...

"Out of small and simple things great things are brought to pass..."

Organized chaos and a little bit of Joy...

We finally got around to doing somethings that I have wanted to do for a long time; make a Family Mission Statement AND make Job Charts for the boys...

Done...

...and done.

It is amazing how doing those two little things has really brought so much more organization to our chaotic lives.

We are breaking down our Family Mission Statement and focusing on one "principal" each family night. Todd has been putting power point presentations together (inspired by my Dad while we were in Rhode Island for Christmas) for FHE. It is hilarious/awesome how much the boys LOVE it. This last Monday to introduce our Family Mission Statement, we talked about Moroni and the Title of Liberty and the boys didn't make a PEEP the whole presentation. For our boys that is a miracle and Todd and I couldn't stop ourselves from laughing.

The boys are earning tickets every day for privileges. Gone are the days (hopefully!) when they would beg me in whiny voices to "play the wii" or "a treat". Now we simply say, "do you have tickets for that?" It has worked great so far.

It has made for much happier boys...

...and also a much happier Mommy.

And you know what they say,

"when Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"

...words of a wise man.

On another note here are some pictures from a day at Joy School at our home.

I love these kids. My kids love these kids. I also love their Moms. My kids also love their Moms.

They are a great bunch of ladies and I feel tremendously blessed to have been able to live near them, get to know them, be inspired by them, and call them friends.

I am SO GRATEFUL for the support group that we have had while here at MIT.

Don't even get me started on thinking about leaving Cambridge in a few months. I may or may not have started crying while on the elliptical at the MIT gym yesterday thinking about graduation, closing another chapter of our lives, and saying too many good-byes.

Oh well, I won't think about that today, I'll think about that tomorrow.

Be Mine

I hope you all had a very lovey dovey Valentines weekend.
We did.
Todd spoiled me silly, he is THE BEST Valentine.
We decided to try something besides Italian this year
and went to a fancy french restaurant...

It was totally fun and different and we tried different French
foods, and I had the creme brulee for desert of course.
I kinda felt like Ina for the night, which was fabulous...

The next morning we had our Valentine breakfast as a family and
everyone felt very loved the whole day...

Christmas in a Nutshell...

So I know it's almost Valentine's Day and I haven't blogged in forever, but I wanted to at least go back and document Christmas 2009.
We had a great Christmas season.
We had too much food, too many parties, and Todd had too much time off of school.
There was too much free time, too many presents, too much snow, too many movie and game nights, too many wonderfully lazy days, WAY too much Wii playing, too much laughter, too much family bonding, which all equaled out to just too much fun!!

Buon Natale. My Italian booth at the Westgate Holiday Party.

This kid is so handsome it scares me.

From this...

...to this in a matter of seconds. Love it.

Tagg and his girlfriend Lucy.

FHE making a gingerbread house.

More candy got in their mouths then on the house.

One thing is for sure, I've got me some adorable boys.
Here they are in the Christmas getup's.

Joy School Christmas Program.
Thatcher was a wise man.
Tagg was suppose to be Joseph but that didn't fly when he
saw all the yummy treats for refreshments.
This picture is after a major tantrum. Love it.

These kids are the best. And so are their moms, I am so lucky to be able to do this with such great women.

Blizzard 2009. It was a doosy.

Thatch couldn't wait to make snow angels.

Sledding down Grandma and Grandpa's hill.

Todd the sled tow.

Christmas Eve...

Cutiest Bootiest. Love him.

Daddy and Thatcher.

Goof troop...love this kid.

Halloween or Christmas? You decide.

The boys opening their presents dressed as Batman and Robin.

Santa found them!

Best buddies. Melts my heart.

It's about that time...

I thought I would jump on the overprotective bandwagon and make our blog private. If you view our blog, we would love for you to keep peeking...you will have to set up a gmail account (which is free), I will also need that address to give you access to the blog. If you would like to be added, just leave me a comment and let me know your gmail address. I do not care if I don't know you or barely know you, I just want to make sure only people who I feel comfortable with are looking at our blog with our permission.

Thanks!