Mothers Know Best

O.K. so I call my mom yesterday after complaining to Jamie how I feel that I have been given more than I can handle. I wanted her to say "I'll come up and help you". Who doesn't want their mother to come and help them when times are tough? But what I got was not what I wanted to hear. I didn't what someone to help me fix my problem. I didn't want advice, because I had every excuse why it could not be done.
I explained to her all my frustrations. She said the tail is wagging the dog. She said, do you remember when i would sit all you kids on the couch and tell you to sit still and do not say a word and I would wave the wooden spoon. I said I remember the wooden spoon, but not sitting on the couch.
She said sit the boys down and let them know what is expected of them and that they need to help out.
The last thing I wanted to do was bring the boys in from playing outside and tell them to start working. For I thought I would get into another grumbling session with them and I did not have the energy to do that anymore.
So, after I hung up with my mom, I sat there for a minute and i decided I was going to do it. I felt the spirit after I decided and I new what I was doing was right. So I called them in , not knowing what I was going to say. I had them all sit on the couch. I could tell they new I meant business.

In a nutshell I said, the Lord provided us with families so we can all work together. He did not design families for the parents to do all the work and the children go and play. what is happening is while you guys are out playing, I am in the house stressed out with all the cleaning, cooking, your homework, Showhomes work, taking care of Haylie and Tyson and many other things. The Lord does not what me to do all these things by myself. We are to work together. When you guys go and play football, one person can not play all the plays. It takes the whole team. I think they got the point, for after that I assigned them some work and they all pitched in and cleaned with good attitudes. I felt empowered and all of a sudden I had more energy, because I was doing the right thing. I wrote them a thank you card, thanking them for their good attitudes and help.
Jamie came home from work that night and reiterated it to them again.

Isn't it wonderful that the Lord created families and didn't send us down here to be by ourselves. He wanted us to have a unit where we could rely on each other, have fun together, and learn from one another. It takes a family to get all the things done we need to do. Just like football, one person can not make all the plays, it takes the whole team.
I need to remember this.
Being in Minnesota, the Lord has taught me through many examples to turn my heart and mind towards my family, my husband and children. Being away from extended family in Kentucky, we have grown closer and stronger. When times get tough, we have learned to step it up. But we all need a little reminder every now and then.
So, thanks to my wonderful mother, our house got cleaned and we all went to bed with love in the air!

Haylie's First Day @ Preschool

Haylie was so excited to go to preshool this morning. She thought she was going to get on the bus with her brothers, when I told her that I was going to take her, she was a little disappointed. Her teacher is Mrs. Mitchell and she goes to the All Saints Preschool.

I was so excited for her to go to school. Being surrounded by so many boys, I wanted her to find some girl friends. I love the school. It had such a good feeling about it when we toured it. She will be introduced to so many new things. I can't wait to here all about it from her. She has already brought home a new song about a butterfly.

After school she shared this song with me. Again I am sorry about the layout of the video. The computer will not let me turn them around.

Pretty in Pink

Haylie, Pretty in Pink, in the dress Grandma Bowman bought her for her birthday. As you can see in the video, twirling is Haylie's favorite thing to do in her dresses. Sorry about the video, I couldn't figure out how to turn it around.

By the way mom, she got a lot of compliments on her dress at church today! You picked a winner!

Football Pic's of Ammon

Several games ago, Ammon sprained his ankle. He has had to ice it a couple times a day and wrap it when he plays. The picture where Ammon is on the ground is where Jamie is wrapping his foot.
Ammon is having so much fun playing. It is amazing how much they improve after a couple games.
We are playing the Minnetonka team @ Wayzata.

Tyson @ 3 Months Old

Home on Williston Road

In order for us to live inexpensively here in Minnesota, we are in a program called, Showhomes.com. We are a Home Manager. We live in houses that are for sale. We stage the home with our furniture, and we keep the home clean and we show the home. When the home sells, Showhomes moves us to another home and comes and hangs up our pictures and decorates our new home. Our first home was in Chaska, Mn, the home was on the market for 11 months and when we moved in, it sold in 2 weeks. This is our second home in Minnesota. We will have lived here for 1 year on October 12. We believe our first home in Chaska, MN was just a temporary stop, until this home was ready. It is truly a blessing for us that this home has not sold. We feel the Lords hand in our lives and how merciful he is.

We have 1 neighbor, with which we share a driveway with. We couldn't have better neighbors. They have 3 boys, Zach age 12, and Matt and Jake, 10 year old twins. They love sports and our boys play with them everyday, all day as you can see in the video. They play football in our front yard and baseball in their front yard. They also have a dog named Maggie. Haylie has a wonderful relationship with their dog. She will sit on their front porch with Maggie and watch the boys play baseball. One day, I went running after Haylie and picked her up real fast. Maggie saw, and started barking at me and didn't stop barking until I put her down. She is very protective of her.

We love the area. The boys have made good friendships and everyone from their school lives just a couple miles away, and plays in all the same sport leagues. We hope we can stay here till the end.

Faith

I have learned a lot these passed 6 years. Can you believe it has been 6 almost 7 years since Jamie went back to school. Who knew the ride we were undertaking? We sure didn't. Looking back I do not regret a thing. Yes, it has been so hard, there were times where I thought we weren't going to make it. I believe through it all the Lord was trying to get me to rely upon him always and have faith. Faith is the kicker. Because in order to have faith, you have to walk first into the dark, not knowing what is going to happen. There is nothing logical to it. If there was, it would not be faith.
In the Book of Mormon, Moroni says ....dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. I like how he says trial of your faith. Because it is a huge trial to start walking into the darkness, not knowing what will happen. Jamie and I have walked into the darkness so many times and the Lord has been there for us every single time. It has strengthened my faith and it has strengthened my trust in my Heavenly Father.
I also love the scripture in 1 Nephi 7:12 Yea, how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him.
I came to a realization for myself just the other day. My new phrase is "Just Start". I will give you a couple of examples.

1. I was nervous to start a blog. I didn't feel good in my writing skills, I didn't know how to use the program, and I saw all the other blogs and didn't feel like I could measure up, so I never started. Then I "Just Started". I noticed that as I put the effort in and kept going, I could feel that I was being strengthen and I started to enjoy it and learned how to do it. Now I can't wait to blog!
2. I have just recently started to exercise again. I didn't want too because I was so tired and if i was going to do anything when I could do anything, it was going to be sleep. But I didn't like the way I looked and I didn't like the way I felt. I also wanted to feel good, so I could better serve my husband and my children. So I knew I had to, and it was going to require work to change. The first couple days of exercising was so hard. My heart was not in it. Then what I noticed, was I felt better and I now I make sure I get the time in each day and I am enjoying it. The lord blessed me. He could not of blessed me, if I did not "Just Start".
3. One more example..... a wayyyyy messy kitchen. We all know what they look and feel like. Looking at the mess is overwhelming. But what happens when you "Just Start"? It doesn't seem so bad after all, and usually, after the kitchen is cleaned, you go start on another room in the house.
So that is my thought for the night... "Have faith and "Just Start" what ever it is you desire" Let the Lord help you, for he can do all things according to his will, if we have faith in him.
So Let us be Faithful to Him!
Do you have a Faith building story? Please share.

Family.......It's about time

How I love Family!

Family is there through thick and thin!

Family is unconditional love.

Family is helping in time of need.

Family is fun.

Family is memories.

Family is sharing.

Family is visiting!

Family is forgiving!

Family is joy!

Family is faith.

Family is charitable.

Family is silly.

Family is a good walk in the park.

Family is praying for another.

Family is a phone call away!

Family is deserving.

Family is work.

Family is food.

Family is a good vacation.

Family is Christ centered.

Family is missed.

Family is a good talk.

Family is a good shoulder to cry on.

Family is honest.

Family is kind.

Family is unselfish.

Family is Eternal!

Are You Cereal

Cereal is one of the best foods! You can have it for breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, or even as a dessert. Cereal can range from being healthy to being down right junky! Cereal can also be deceiving. For example, my kids favorite, CoCo Krispies, has less sugar than Frosted Mini Wheats. After the kids go to bed, nothing beats sitting cross legged on the couch eating a bowl of your favorite cereal, listening to nothing, but the sound of the crunch of every bite.

Haylie's Swim Lessons

Haylie just started swim lessons at the YMCA. This was her 2nd lesson. There are 3 kids in the class. A girl named Brook, who cried the whole time and would not go in the water. A boy, named Finn, who would go into the water, but would whine and cry to his mother off and on.. Then there was Haylie, who when she jumped in the water yelled, Woo Hoo! Yeh! and clapped her hands!

Tyson Wayne

Cute!
Cuter! Cutest! He is our first child to suck on their fingers to calm themselves into going to sleep!

Tyson says Hello

Tyson says Hello to all of you in Kentucky!

Tyson is getting so big! He started sleeping in his own crib this week . He shares a room with James.

He is sleeping well too! Last night he went down at 10 pm and did not wake up until 8:30 am. WOW! It was wonderful!

Football Pic's of James #81

The Fabulous Five

JamesAmmon

Haylie

Jack

Tyson

One of the reasons I am grateful to have started this blog is because no matter how hard my day has been, when I sit down to update my blog, I start to feel such gratitude for my husband and my children. I have never thought of myself to be great in writing or in expressing my thoughts, so I always get a little nervous before I start to write something. But as soon as I sit and start typing, I can feel the spirit guide me.

Life has been crazy hard since Tyson was born. There are days where I just what to give up and not do this whole mother thing anymore. I never thought it would be this hard with 5 children.

Then I read the scriptures. In the Book of Mormon, in Alma, it says that when we put our trust in the Lord he will strengthen us in our afflictions and in our trials. That is true! When I earnestly say my prayers and read the scriptures and call upon him for help throughout the day, he strenghthens me and lightens my burdens. He is the only one who can help me right now. He must miss me very much! For isn't it usually through afflictions and trials that we seek after him more earnestly? Ha! Ha!

I am so grateful, that I have the knowledge of my Heavenly Father and saviour, Jesus Christ. That I know they live and love me and my family. I know they have, do and will take care of me and my family, for that is how we have gotten where we are today. With God, all things are possible!

I call my children the Fabulous Five, because they truly are fabulous! They each are unique and bring a special spirit into our family. James is kind, Ammon is witty, Jack is tender, Haylie is our princess and Tyson is our bundle of joy!

They are growing up so fast. I have to remind myself to enjoy each moment and not wish that the day will soon come to an end.

Fun Pic's

Explanation of Pictures

1. Jack is at Shady Oak Beach. In Minnesota we go to lake beaches instead of pools.

2. James and Ammon dressed up at Jill and Rich's house when we went to Kentucky last August.

3.The three amigos at a Louisville Bats game in Kentucky.

4. Haylie and I at the aquarium at the Mall of America.

5. Our Princess.

6.Haylie with her cousins Caleb and Keifer.

7.James in the middle of a haircut.

8.and 9. Some family pictures one week before Tyson was born.

10.Cute little Tyson.