mini vacation

i have been complaining lately that because the house has been an all consuming project we haven't been able to take many family vacations so my wonderful hubby took yesterday off and we put the kids in the car and headed to vegas.

the rain put a kabbash on our outdoor plans so we ended up at the natural history museum. the kids had a blast.

at first megan didn't want to get anywhere near the animals

dallin doing his best bear impression


this is scorch the bearded dragon

dallin couldn't wait to pet him. megan wouldn't go within 10 feet of him

meggie looking at a mouse

after the museum we headed off to the MGM so the kids could see the lions and eat lunch at dallin's favorite restaurant - the rainforest cafe.

(i asked someone to take a picture of us but my flash was off so this was the best we got)

then we went outside and played in the rain

i love nothing more than spending time with my wonderful family. we had such a fun day and i already have plans for our next mini vacation.

**the best part of the day though was when i tucked dallin into bed

me - "i had so much fun with you today. thanks for the great day!"

dallin - "i had fun too mom but do you know what the best part of the day was?"

me - "what?"

dallin - "just being with you"

he melts my heart

Mauritania

Dear Mauritania,

Today my girl Oprah told me all about you. A country where big is beautiful. Where stretch marks and big butts are looked upon with adoration and the word diet is hardley ever heard.

Maybe one day, when I need you a little more, we could meet. I think we would be great friends. We could enjoy all my favorite things. Chicken fingers, pizza, ice cream and of course Cheetos!

Until then I will think of you with great fondness and longing everytime I say no to delicious food, run on the treadmill, sweat it out at Curves and with every aching crunch and lunge.

Your friend,
Lisa

because of me and in spite of me

throughout my day i think of that country song "you're gonna miss this" often. the lyrics are something like this "you're gonna miss this, you're gonna want this back, you're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast". everytime i hear it i cry because i know that it is true.

one day i am going to miss

*waking up to find a child in my bed

*breaking up fights

*having their friends over to play

*being a chef, chauffeur, and a maid

*their little voices saying 'mommy' and 'i love you'

*the hugs and kisses they so generously give me now

*them wanting me to play with them

*story time at the library with meggie

*playing the wii with dallin

*hearing their unabashed laughter that comes all the way from their toes

*the fact that right now they need me

one day they will leave my house and their loud ruckus noise will leave with them being replaced by deafening silence. i hope i can appreciate everyday i have with them.

i hope i am a good example to them. i know they learn more by the example you set for them then the words you tell them. at the end of everyday i look back and wish i would have done a few things differently. i hope they forgive me for my shortcomings. i hope they know how much i love being their mommy. it is all i ever wanted to be. i hope they gain a testimony of the gospel for themselves but know that their mother has a strong testimony as well. i hope they know there is nothing i love more in this world then them and their father. i hope they grow into the wonderful, loving, noble people they are meant to be, because of me and in spite of me.

this is the story of a girl

one day a little girl was playing so quietly in her room...

her mom was so proud of her...

then she came out looking like this - notice the bangs cut to the scalp... the mom had a range of emotions from tears to hytserical laughter...

the little girl scaled a bookcase to get the markers and scissors...

the mom wants to go to bed now.

tonight i painted piggies