Privacy....again.

I really hate to do this but certain events that have happened lately have made me realize that I just need a little more privacy in our lives.

If you would like to continue reading our blog please let me know by emailing me at

rachael.n.bishop@gmail.com.

Thanks! :)

***UPDATE***

So, I have decided not to go private after some thought and listening to Conference this weekend.

Sorry for the false alarm, but thanks to everyone who contacted me and who wanted to keep reading! I really appreciate the support! :)

What we've been up to....

This is what Todd has been up to...

...he has been on a very grueling three week case and has been working 18-20 hour days. Needless to say, we haven't been seeing too much of him.

And when we do he always has his computer in front of him.

Thank goodness it ends tomorrow and like he said tonight, "time to par-tay".

I hope par-tay to him means Mommy alone time at the spa.

I have been keeping busy with the boys, the daily routine, and my calling.

I feel so lucky to be able to work with some incredible Young Women.

Being around them just makes me so happy.

I went into the YW's hoping to convince all my Laurels to not get

married at 18 and go on missions...

5 months later we were doing this...

We actually had a great night talking about Temple Marriage and all that

they have to look forward to.

I just love these girls to pieces (missing 7 of them in the pictures, I need to do better about taking pictures at mutual).

Thatcher had a Open House at his school and Tagg and I tagged along...

He loved showing us around his classroom,

here is his favorite center...

art. Of course.

All the kids made paper plate faces of themselves.

Thatcher had been telling me for days before hand that his had "green disco ball eyes"...

He was so proud of it.

I loved it.

Spring break was this past week and the boys spent most of their days doing this....

...which made me very happy to see them outside in the sun shine.

They also played outside almost every day until it was dark.

It is so lovely to have a backyard again.

We had such a fun week just hanging around together with nothing really to do.

They boys played so well together all week, I think they were really just enjoying being together with no school or routine.

I love breaks like that.

The other night at dinner the boys were being so silly,

I had to document it...

These boys bring so much joy into my life...

And that is what has been happening around these here parts...

I love me some Disney World....

We went to Disney World a few weeks ago...

It was a blast.

C'mon, it is Disney, you have to feel the magic and have fun!

I will tell ya, it was great to leave reality for 6 days and just be together as a family,

the four of us...

....crammed into a hotel room, waiting in lines for rides, and eating at buffets,

but mostly,

relaxing and having fun.

It was great. We needed that.

AND we were MOSTLY Blackberry and work free for Todd.

Which was Heaven.

Love me some Disney...

"Hey Campers, it's COLD outside!"

The first week of February we got snowed in.

Yes, in Dallas.

I was in shock!

I mean, wasn't I promised when we moved here in July and I wanted to shoot myself because I was so hot, to look forward to the MILD Texas winter where I wouldn't have to deal with bundling the boys up to go outside?

No shoveling snow?

No ice on everything?

Well someone broke their promise!

We got lots of snow, cold, and ice...

and since this great big state doesn't see this stuff very often we were snowed in for a week.

The boys obviously didn't share in my disgust of the white stuff, they were thrilled.

They had been devastated just weeks earlier at Christmas when there was no snow on the ground, and "Christmas is not Christmas without SNOW"!

Well they got their Christmas wish, just a month and a few weeks late!

Loving this thought today...

My life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow,

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not 'til the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

in the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

who leave the choice with Him.

~Author Unknown

I am so grateful for the knowledge that my life is in the hands of the Master Weaver.

I might not always understand why, but I do always have hope and peace.

Today after several months and even years, I feel a tremendous sense of peace.

I am so grateful for that.

I am also grateful for this very handsome guy...who loves me just the way I am.

(just like Mark Darcy with Bridget Jones)

I am one lucky girl...

and these two...

who I wish I could just squeeze forever...

Very Merry...

We had a very Merry Christmas...

My parents came from Rhode Island, and my brother, sister-in-law, and

niece came down from Oklahoma.

We had a great time enjoying the Texas warmth, playing games, watching movies, going bowling, eating out Tex-Mex, and just spending time together.

Todd and the boys making a Gingerbread house...

The finished product...

Grandpa and Abby

America's Next Top Model

Rebecca, Abby, and Jon...

Grandpa and Grandpa and their three grandkiddos!

The tree Christmas morning...

The toy frenze begins...

Just keeping it real...always someone getting hurt with two boys!

Jon is so excited about this gift.

Todd checking out his new stuff...

Mom and Dad and a little elf named Abbalish...

Surveying the damage...

Bowling with the whole fam damily...

Jon thinks he loves to bowl...

Thatcher

Jon and Rebecca livid that I am so so close to beating them!

Jon giving Abby the Vigo look...

Our friends the Churchhills from Cambridge came for a short little visit

while they were visiting her parents here in Frisco.

We loved catching up with them and meeting their cute little new addition!