My Burdens & Joys

We were just messing around a few mornings ago with the camera and this is what we came up with. It is near impossible for me to get them all looking and smiling at the same time....this one works.

Cole loves Morgan....and she really gets a kick out of him. (When he is not squishing her!)

My little Carson. He has been my mellow, easy going little guy for so long. We are now entering in a new stage with him. He is defiantly changing. Yesterday he told me in his mean little kid voice that he was going to go be smart. I wish I could convey in writing the tone and his little look when he said it. He meant it to be mean and hurtful but I found it quite comical. He also likes to tell me when he is mad that he doesn't like me.

Cole had a good one the other day too. I have never been called an old creep before and I have to admit I was really offended. Cole got mad and he said "you're an old creep mom". Don't ask me where he picked that one up from but number one, I don't like being called old and two, I am not creepy.

Now on to the sweet thing that can't talk back yet! She is doing wonderful. It is so different having a girl. I am so thankful I have her. She brings so much joy to us all. She is 5 months in these pictures.

Our Valentines

Yes, we went shooting on our special day. Mike loves to teach me about this kind of stuff and I really don't mind learning. I think it is a good skill to know.


Our day was spent doing some chores around the house till noon. Then we went shooting for awhile and then off to Reno with the kids. It was really neat day...we went to the planetarium and checked out all the cool stuff they had on display. I think the boys enjoyed it.


I just want the kids to be exposed to a variety of things to make their world seem exciting. They say when they are little is the best time to introduce them to all sorts of things. I hope they had fun and learned something new.

To Which Do I Choose: Panic or Peace?

I love this country and I love the freedoms we enjoy. I love learning about how this country came to be and how God's hand was so evident in its birth. George Washington said this of God's hand in the matter.


"I am sure there never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe, that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God, who is alone able to protect them."

So it is with this perspective I will look at the transpiring events of the day. The stimulus bill has passed and we don't know what is in the 1,071 pages of this socialistic bill. I have heard of many disheartening things that make me what to panic and head for the hills, so to speak... but I know where to turn for peace.

Part of me wants to put all the blame on politicians and greedy men and women who seek for gain, but I think that all the blame on them alone would be unjust. I think some needs to fall on us...all of us, for letting principals of righteousness fall by the wayside. For not standing up for honesty and integrity. I think now is the time to turn back to those principals. Benjamin Franklin said that only a "virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." And we have plenty of people right now wanting to be our masters. And plenty of people without virtue.

I guess I need to get to the point of the matter. I feel we are on the fast track to some pretty ugly times. I feel that I have two options with the way things are going. I can choose panic and take a negative stance on the world and get stressed out about things that are, for the most part, out of my control or I can choose peace. With the later choice I mean to turn to God in prayer and ask for the Holy Ghost to be with me.

Last year I put more emphasis on temporal preparedness, this year I want to put more on spiritual. I am happy to report that my study on recognizing the Holy Ghost more in my life is paying off. When I have that thrid member of the Godhead with me things don't bring me down and I am able to stay positive even with bad news.

So in conclusion I choose peace. I choose to focus my thoughts on the positive in life right now. And that does not mean turning a blind eye on what is going on out there in the world. It means staying informed

and active in my community and keeping it in the right perspective and remembering who is really running this show...and it’s not the crack pots in Washington or anyone else who has a corrupt agenda. Last quote by John Adams:

"Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Carson City Museum Play Day

So this past Saturday was family day (we are trying to keep up with some New Year goals) and Michael thought it would be fun to take us to Carson City to the children's museum there. So we drove the 45 minutes and had a good time. It was not what I thought it was going to be but the boys had a blast and that is the point.

Carson, in this first picture is at a train demo/ride. This is what was most interesting to him. They had little play rooms set up. There was a jail house, doctors office, bank, grocery store and more. Carson looks pretty offical at his desk while on the phone.

Cole really got into it while he was there. He loved playing in the grocery store and being dressed up like a doctor. I really learn a lot about my kids while watching them at play. They are really funny to listen to.

And of course here is a family shot of us all. It was a good time had by all. Even Morgan I think had a good time while we were there. We stayed for almost two hours. This is something we will have to do again as a family.