scriptures4kids.com

How have I not found this before? Of all the many times we search for things to do on Sunday, I finally found this link at the ideadoor.com that goes to scriptures4kids.com. It is a lady who has done this for free so we all can have it. Enjoy and check it out.

Oh LIFE

Life is full of fun, craziness, and joy. You cannot exist without the laughter. The screaming and business of it all would weigh you down. Recently I have made our Ward Relief Society blog in one day while allowing the kids to each invite someone to spend the night, and the next day or so I wrote a draft of our ward Roadshow. The kids were running in and out with who knows how many neighborhood kids over at one time, playing wii, upstairs, trampoline with two water hoses going, bikes, lots and lots of snacks...etc. At the end of the days things were accomplished, but why does it always feel like nothing got done. There is still dishes to do daily, laundry all the time-more when everyone needs towels, and tons of toys everywhere. Mom's 5 minutes at the end of the day just isn't enough. IF mom ain't happy, it is sad to say that noone is happy. Other than the obvious continuation of morning scripture time, and all the personal and family prayers, exercise-more real- not just counting the inside stairs I take to my bedroom; church, piano lessons, hugs and kisses, there has to be more ways to just fit laughter in my day. Joy, Joy, Joy. Life, Life, Life. Sometimes you love it, sometimes you hate it, sometimes you wish there was more of it, but being grateful is always the answer. I am slacking on my journaling of all the cute things the kids say and do and well that part of life is lost somewhere in the vast emptiness of my brain if not written down. So just a plug to WRITE things down and find Joy in the day. Make a plan and work that plan.
With the freaky cold weather in the Northeast I am so not looking forward to being stuck inside and oh freezing everywhere on my body again. But being thankful for a job is helpful, but not too consoling. Knowing I can sleep in a warm bed is great, knowing the ward should be good is awesome, now I just need to find a great house on a culdesac and in a great school system. Didn't think it would be hard, but it is turning out to be so frustrating finding one that is well kept and up to date and well has everything I want. There can't be a problem with that. ha. Something has to give. But it won't be the joy and laughter, cuz that holds things together sometimes. I can't believe I have to find a home that my daughter can grow to 14 in and invite all her teenage friends over. Time sure does fly, especially if you don't take the time to enjoy and write it down. Good luck to all.

Hairy Lychee, Do you really want to eat that?

Hairy Lychee, just saying the name puts a disgusting taste in my head. Who would eat something with hair on it? Well Kandon did and I kinda tried it. It is a reddish when ripe fruit here. I have seen it many times in the store, but of course am too scared to eat it. Well Kandon asked a teacher at school for one and brought it home. All she had told him was to peel it. At first I had no idea how to do that. I mean where to start. Then with more pressure than I thought needed, it began to peel little by little. It really was like I was peeling off pieces of skin with hair on it. Now the hair isn't as soft as ours,and is pretty thick and plastic feeling, but just saying its name gives me the creeps. It's official name is rambutans, but it goes by hairy lychee more. Well it peeled and looks like a big grape. In reality it is a big seed covered in a little bit of fruit. Kandon says it tasted like a strawberry, but I just barely got my teeth on it and juice and that was enough. Could not say it tasted like anything I knew or liked. And I couldn't believe it when Kandon asked me to buy more. Hopefully he will forget about it because if I buy it. Who has to peel it? Me of couse. Well that is my exotic experience for the month. It is nice to be around so many different plants and stuff here and to see them in the store, but I guess I just am not the adventurous type. Oh well.

Joys of a New Year

Well, Cliff's b-day was Friday and since we had saved some pop fireworks, we had a war. Yes in flip-flops or shoeless(as in mom's case). We threw them at each others feet. This year to add more fun, mom found some super chinese ones that are like little red stick bombs and much more powerful and louder. You can probably guess that there was much fun and laughter as we ran in the street chasing and running from each other, mixed with a search for someone else's lost bunny that ended without success. Anyways, long story short, those suckers hurt when hit directly on and sting nearby. (I can testify and so can poor Kowen.) We love him. He is the one that keeps us laughing and he didn't let us down. Mom had to laugh so hard when he came hopping toward her after getting hit on the foot with one, screaming, "OHHH it burns, it burns!" Yep, I laugh at my child's pain. But don't judge me, because it was hilarious and you would be laughing too. He wasn't crying, just complaining. We also found out that mom is a lousy shot.

I also wanted to just put in a reminder to all who do the laundry. Check your kids pockets for things. Not to mention gum, sticks, animals, but the mp3 player you let your 4 year old use because his is missing and the ear phones that got left in his Alabama sweatshirt. Oh well, another thing got ruined in the wash and dryer. The joys of parenthood. It was just an old anniversary present anyways.Got a new one for Christmas, so I will live.

Now about New Year's Resolutions. Have ya got any? Are you working on them? Well I decided since we finally kinda have the money to spend. I would take piano lessons since I have had the keyboard for 8 1/2 years and can't keep myself motivated to practice. Well, it is as bad as when I was 12. Not because I am missing playtime to practice, but because it is embarrassing that I am so old and so, so , so , bad. Oh well, so my point was, pick a resolution and go after it. Let me know if you are succeeding. Maybe it will help me to stay motivated. Good Luck! I have to go practice now! Yippee!