Hallie's Graduation

Here is a movie with the highlights of graduation!

Growing Up Too Fast!

Natalie is getting so big! She has discovered how fun the dogs can be...obviously from the picture, Meg is not too excited about it.

She's such a pudgy little girl. I love this age because she really interacts a lot more and you can tell she understands what you are saying. She's just so much fun.

Even though it was a pain in the butt to get Natalie here, it was totally worth it. She is 100% girl and I can tell that she will be stubborn just like Hallie, but she'll be smiling instead of crying about it.

Why I Love Primary!!!

I will admit that when I was first given the calling of Primary President, I was less than excited. Over time I have realized it's not all that bad. So here are the reasons I love Primary:

• I have grown so much. Heavenly Father puts us where we need to be so we can become the person he needs us to be and the person that we can be.
• I get to see how great my kids are! If I was in class, I would never know how good, and kind, and caring they are in primary.
• I am surrounded by awesome people. My presidency and teachers are amazing and wonderful examples to everyone.
  
• I love the kids. They are so much more entertaining and more enjoyable than Relief Society.
• It's not exactly spiritually satisfying on Sundays, but that doesn't matter because helping these children to learn how to live a spiritual life is more satisfying.
  
• I have a short attention span at church just like the children. When I attend Relief Society or Sunday School I get so booorrreed! Thank goodness for Primary, right?
• I have more friends in Primary than I ever would in Relief Society. Kids don't care what you drive or what you said the other day or who your other friends are. They like you for you.
• Finally, I have met someone who reminds me so much of my Grandma Turner. Her name is Emmy Collette. She is sweet and stern at the same time. She has such a strong testimony of the gospel and shares it every chance she gets. When you are out of line, she lets you know but still loves you anyway. She is a living example of what I should strive to be.

I know people have a negative attitude to a Primary calling, but I think it's the best place to be! Well, besides Young Women's! I still miss that, but Primary is definitely my second choice. I think you learn more there than you could ever imagine. So here's a thanks to anyone who has ever accepted a calling in Primary because I know you have influenced a child for the rest of their lives. Without you, some children may never know anything about the gospel because they may not be taught at home. Without teachers and nursery leaders, adults would have a hard time attending their meetings and learning what they need to learn. So when a member of the bishopric calls you to his office to extend a calling in Primary, accept it with a happy heart because it's one of the funnest callings around!

Kindergarten Roundup

Today was kindergarten roundup for Hallie. I'm so excited for her to begin this phase of her life, but I'm also so sad! The time passes before our eyes and everyone always says how quickly it goes, but it's hard to listen until it's your little baby that is ready for school. These last 5 years with Hallie have been so much fun and she has given me a whole new perspective on life! Although she was (and still is) my difficult one, I have enjoyed every minute of it and I am looking forward to the years to come.

Movie Ratings

I am shocked at film ratings now days! We watched Marley and Me with the kids and it was a cute show, but it was really pushing it being a PG movie! The first surprise was when the couple began making out and suggesting they were going to do the deed. But that wasn't it...there was more. They talked about sex (yes, using the word sex!) they showed an awful lot of making out, the sound of a bed squeaking while getting busy, Jennifer Aniston stripping down to the nude (you could only see her back and a slight glimpse of her side), and then a naked Jennifer Aniston doing a cannonball into the pool. She had everything covered up, but still obviously naked! Now, if I had watched this and it was PG-13, I wouldn't have batted an eye. But it was PG and said to be a great family film. FAMILY FILM? When I am uncomfortable watching this movie with a six year old, it is not a family film! I was in dismay. Sure it was a cute movie aside from all the sensual scenes, but can you really say "sex" in a PG movie? We can't watch rated R because I know it will be a booby movie. Yes, naked women all over the place. Surprisingly, even naked men! I am very leery about PG-13 movie content because I saw a girl flash her goods in a PG -13 movie and now I have to be the same way with PG! I feel like I can't take my kids to movies unless they are G for the fear of them seeing something their little eyes shouldn't! What is this world coming to?

My Winner!

I know we have told almost everyone we know,
but Asher is AWESOME and won two medals
at the snowmobile drag races in West
Yellowstone. Some guy from Cali brought
his little 120 sled to race but his daughter didn't come with him so he asked Asher if he would like to race. I'm so proud of him! At the time of the picture I couldn't find the other medal, but his face lights up when we talk about the race. Now he wants to drag race his four wheeler! That's a little scary to me, but I know he will love it.

POPPLES!!!

I don't know how many of you remember popples, but I DO!! I had a popple and I absolutely loved it! If I remember correctly, I had the white one. I would turn it into a ball and roll it down the hallway like a bowling ball...oh I loved that thing. Ahhh, don't you just love reminiscing?

Tornado!

We call Hallie our little tornado. This makes her very angry! I decided to get "evidence" to show her so she could understand why we call her tornado. As you can see below, this is why we call her that. All she could do was laugh and say "What? That's not a tornado!". And this was nothing compared to what she can do!

First Foods

Natalie is at the age where she wants FOOD! She has been grabbing at everything I eat around her! After some huge study doctors now say to wait until your baby is 6 months old instead fo 4 until you start feeding them solids. Apparently the sooner you introduce babies to food, the more likely they are to have food allergies. There are no major food allergies in our family so we fed her anyway. A few weeks ago we gave Natalie her first taste of rice cereal and she loved it! I just can't believe she's already at the age where I can feed her with a spoon. She will be 5 months old a week from today. I just want her to stay little forever.

March

So March 11th is coming up. To you it may be insignificant (unless you are Shan, then it's your birthday!). The last time I ever talked to my dad was March 11th, 2001. I only remember because he called me while I was at Shannon's for her birthday. Throughout the year I don't care and it doesn't bother me, but there's something about an "anniversary" of sorts that gets memories going. I think what bothers me the most is he was so worried about what to do about me being on their car insurance when there were more pressing matters. He let that be the last day we ever spoke. He never fought for me to be in his life. This year we are going on 8 years. It's hard to believe I've gone 8 years of my life without a dad. I can honestly say I've been happier without him. It's horrible, I know. What kind of a daughter could say that, right? But it's true. I just think of all the negative things I've missed out on and I know my life is happier without him. I'm just bothered by the fact that I'm not important enough to him for him to fight for me to be in his life. Especially now that I am a mother, I don't understand how you can let your kids walk away and be okay with it. I've made my peace with him the best I know how and I have made peace with myself about my decision. I have no regrets and no "what ifs". I just get an occasional thought of how can he live with himself for letting go. At least now I have an example of what NOT to do!! And I can't believe I just wasted a post for this!