A 'Fill My Cup' Weekend

This weekend was wonderful - it was one of those weekends where my cup was refilled and my soul recharged. It started with Super Saturday yesterday. Super Saturday is where all the ladies at church get together and do projects and crafts. There is something about creating things that is so satisfying and rejuvenating. I loved it! I made a beaded bookmark (which, incidently, I found broken on the floor today - Allison got ahold of it - but that's OK, it was fun to make), and a decorated notebook, and some hair bows.

The other rejuvenating part of the weekend was this morning at church. Elder Bruce C. Hafen came to speak to our stake. It was very nice. I had just read his book 'The Broken Heart' - and so I was very excited to hear him speak. Things I want to remember from his talk . . .

1 - The power of covenants . . . told the parable of the hireling - the hireling runs when trouble comes, but the shepherd does not . . . told a story about his oldest son (he said that he one time said to his wife in jest that the Lord gave him his other 6 kids as compensation for putting up with the first:) I guess this was a very challenging child. It was Monday night, his wife met him at the door and told him they needed to talk - about this one child. The boy was 10 and had an overdue Indian diorama that needed to be completed that night. His wife told him that if he would take the other 6 kids and have family home evening - she would work with the oldest son to complete the diorama. Elder Hafen said, "Deal!" So he had family home evening with the other kids while his wife and the son were in the kitchen working on the diorama. Occasionally he would hear outbursts of frustation from the child - and at one point he came into the kitchen very angry, ready to discipline, but his wife said - no, everything is fine. Anyway - at the end of the night the son had completed the project and with a big smile on his face came to show his dad. He was so proud of himself. He ran and gave a big hug to his Mom (which was a rare occurance) . . . and Elder Hafen later asked his wife how she did it? She said that she just told herself that no matter what - she was going to stick with that child tonight. No matter how long it took, no matter how many tantrums were thrown, she was not going to leave him. She was going to be there to help him complete the diorama. And she did. "I didn't know I had it in me," she said. Then Elder Hafen reemphasized the power of covenants - and like the shepherd, not the hireling - sticking it out through the tough times . . . I'm not doing this justice - he said it much better . . .anyway . . .

2 - He talked about the current financial situation - and how many are struggling and reiterated the prophet's counsel to get out of debt and live providently . . . talked about the pride cycle in the Book of Mormon . . . how when the people were prosperous that often led to indulgence and indulgence often led to sin. Also, he discussed the prevalent attitude that there is no tomorrow - and many indulge today. It takes time to harvest the fruit of our labors. In discussing hardships, both temporal and spiritual, his message had such a hopeful tone. He talked about how adversity gives us a wonderful opportunity to assess where are heart is and realign if necessary. Is our heart set so much upon things of the world, or is it set upon things of a better. What is it we really want, and are we making choices in accordance with what is most important to us?

3 - I was touched by his comments on the atonement. He told us that he was once asked, Why, if the central message of the gospel is the atonement of Christ, why, in the temple, is the story of Adam and Eve taught, rather than the story of Christ. He thought about that - and came to the conclusion that the story of Christ is the story of the giving of the atonement, and the story of Adam and Eve is the story of the receiving of the atonement.

The Joy of Cooking - Jensen Style

Allison and I decided to make sugar cookies today for one of her friend's birthday. I got the bowl out, and the butter - and then I realized I needed to run upstairs to grap a clip for my hair. So I gave Allison the stick of butter and told her to unwrap it and put it in the bowl - and I'd be right back. Well while I was upstairs, the phone rang. I answered it - and our upstairs phone isn't a mobile one. So I talked on the phone for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile Carter wakes up from his nap - so I went to get him after my phone call . . . so anyway, I go downstairs and I see Allison with the happiest grin on her face. Not only was the stick of butter in the bowl, but 2 eggs, 1 egg was on the floor, the cracked eggshells on the counter. She managed to get the Oregano out of the cupboard, and so a generous portion of oregano found its way into the bowl, as well as some cream of tartar. Allison happily showed me that in the recipe book I left out on the counter - she had found the word 'eggs'. "Mom - see the recipe says eggs!" It was so funny! We started all over on the cookies, needless to say, but didn't get too far before I realized I was out of Crisco, so we made No-bakes instead. But it sure was fun!

The other picture is of Carter helping Dad make pancakes. On Tuesday nights (my piano teaching night) Dad is in charge of dinner and it's usually pancakes or french toast.

Bookworm Allison

Allison is learning to read! When we were in the car this weekend - she'd be trying to sound out words in the back seat - and then would tell us when she would figure it out. "Open House" - I would hear her shout and then point excitedly to the sign. If she can't figure it out - she's always asking me what things say. She started out reading the books that we've read over and over again - and I always thought she just memorized them . . . but then she has started reading books from the library that she's never seen before. I love this part of being a Mom. Storytime is one of my favorite times of the day. This morning (I woke up feeling a little under the weather . . . so I stayed in my jammers most of the morning) - anyway we were on the couch reading, and I asked Anthony to pull out the video camera . . .

Fun Friday!

Ever since Anthony started his new job at First RF, he's been taking every other Friday off. It's great! We get to have a Family Fun Friday! As we were out and about Friday Anthony said, 'Why didn't I do this before?' Having every other Friday off means that we can go out and do something on Friday, and then still have Saturday to do all the work around the house that needs to get done. Last Fun Friday we . . . . hmmm - I can't remember what we did . . . but I'm sure it was fun - oh yes, we went to Kangaroo Kingdom and had lunch at the park. This Friday - we went to the Boulder Dinner Theater Kids Cabaret. During the day - they have these little musical plays for preschool to age 5. So fun! I had never taken Allison to a play before and she absolutely loved it. She sat riveted the whole time - and Carter did too for that matter. The play was a modern take on The Gift of the Magi, complete with Hannah Montana CD's (Della's sacrifice so she could buy her BFF JD a case for his John Elway signed football, which he in turn sacrificed so he could buy a CD player for Della). We had great seats. The actors came right out into the audience and sang the cutest arrangements of Christmas songs. Della and JD lamented over what to give each other to the tune of Carol of the Bells (that was probably my favorite song). There were only 3 actors, Della, JD and the story teller - and then they chose some kids from the audience to play Della's mom, Christmas helpers (to help Della clean and decorate her room - Della's Christmas gift to her Mom), and Smilin' Sam - the pawn shop owner. Allison raised her hand high when they were looking for volunteers to play the parts . . . and Della looked over her way - but wisely passed her by after seeing how old she was. Anyway - I loved it, and the kids did too. I think we'll have to be regular patrons of the Kids Cabaret.

After the show we went to get subway Sandwiches and then had a picnic at Chataqua Park. This park is nestled right against the mountains in Boulder. The trees above the picnic tables had just lost all their leaves, and so we had fun playing in the leaves before taking a short hike on one of the many trails in the park. I was so proud of little Carter. He's a great hiker! And I could tell he loved being outdoors. He would stop and investigate the little flowers and got all excited whenever we would pass a dog on the trail (I'm afraid we might be in for a pet puppy someday). And the best part - was on the way home - the kids fell fast asleep. It certainly was a Fun Friday!

Weekend Fun

Friday night, Anthony was supposed to go camping with the scouts. As he was getting ready we decided it would be fun if Allison went along. We got all the gear ready - and Allison bundled up. Right before they were going to leave - Anthony called the scoutmaster to see where the boys were . . . and he told them that they had cancelled the campout because it was cold. Anthony was all packed - and Allison was excited to go . . . so we decided to all pack in the car - and go camping as a family. We found a nice campsite down south. It was a little cold - but fun nonetheless. Anthony's excitement and love of camping is contagious. Some moments I want to remember . . .

1 - Allison watching the fire crackling - and sparks flying into the air and exclaiming, 'Mom - look at all those tinkerbells!'

2 - Carter waking up at 5:00 in the morning singing, 'E-i-e-i-o'

3 - Carter chowing down 2 packets of oatmeal at 6:00 in the morning

4 - Dad and Allison telling 'fill-in-the-blank' stories

5 - Allison explaning s'mores to me . . . You have to put chocolate on brown crackers, and then you 'burn' the marshmallows.

6 -Singing camp songs

7 - Snuggling in the car at 5:30 in the morning to warm up before breakfast.

8 - Carter blowing on the fire as soon as it got started, trying to put it out. (so cute!)

9 - Snuggling into two sleeping bags in the tent, on an air mattress, which was so much more comfortable because I laboriously blew it up with my own lungs (we forgot our air pump car adapter.)

10 - My freezing fingers while trying to take down the tent at 6:00 in the morning . . . thinking that I just had to endure the next hour - but then looking at Anthony and Carter and Allison - so cheerful and happy and excited to be outdoors, eating breakfast (at 6:00 in the morning) - and thinking - yes, this is fun! I'm so grateful I have such a wonderful husband who's cheerfulness in less than ideal circumstances is buoying (I don't know - is that a word . . . hmmm - it seemed to fit).

The Pumpkin Patch

We took the preschool girls on a fieldtrip to the pumpkin patch this week. They played in a hay-bale maze, looked at the animals, and walked through the pumpkin patch. Allison picked out a couple pumpkins for us to take home and carve. Carter is such an animal lover. He is always singing 'E-i-e-i-o'. And especially when he sees animals - he'll start singing. It's pretty cute! I think he should be a farmer for halloween this year. I'll see if I can find a costume . . .

Bowling!

We went bowling last week with the Rogers. It was a lot of fun. So at the bowling alley they have this little ramp for the kiddos to push the ball off of and into the lane. Emily and Allison loved it. After the pins were knocked down they'd both clap and cheer. Carter also found the arcade. I think he's got his Dad's genes in the arcade arena.