Things I Have Learned...

Happy Birthday to Wise Old Me! 

One good pen is better than a whole drawer full of nice new ones that don't work.
I will never be size 2. In fact, I will most undoubtedly never be in the single digits again.
It is better to buy one expensive shirt that I love than 10 on the sales rack that end up in the DI box after one washing.
Kids are all the same, but I sure do love mine more.
The Church is True. Jesus is the Christ. Families can be Together Forever.
Relationships are the most important things in life.
The relationship I have with my Husband is more important than any other relationship on Earth.
The body really does change after age 30. Metabolism slows down, joints tighten, and it just isn't as new as it once was.
Early to Bed, Early to Rise sure would make me healthy, wealthy, and wise... if I could just exercise the self discipline to do it!
An Apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a cookie a day keeps the shrink away.
John Lennon pretty much summed it up with his lyrics "All you Need is Love."
There is peace, power, and serenity in Nature. We are beings meant to be outside more than our culture is used to.
There's more to our world that Utah. There's more to life than spending your life at the gym, driving a white Escalade, and an living in an 8,000 sq foot house.
I'm still the same person I was 32 years ago.

30 Years

30 lessons I've learned in the last 30 years (thanks for the idea, Crystal):

I am happiest when I am expressing gratitude for my blessings and giving service to others.
The body is a gift
Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers in His own time and in His own ways. But always far better than I could have ever imagined.
Life is so short
There is a time and a season to everything
Challenges and trials are for our good

I get it

Andrew I get. Of the three, he's most like me. 

James is like Mike and his Dad. So, for the most part, I get him too...

 Daniel on the other hand... where on earth did this kid come from??? Whatever the gene pool, we are amazed and amused by him. 

Merry Christmas 2018

My cousin Matt -by James

My cousin Matt -by James

Cousin Matt is my very favorite cousin. He loves airplanes, he's nice, and he's a good example. I feel happy and important when I'm around him. He notices me and he asks me questions.

We both love airplanes and he shows them to me. He makes WWII Biplanes, bombing planes, and foam planes. He builds them himself so that they're not as expensive and so he can fix them when they break. He told me that we can build a foam plane when he gets home. He's super creative. He draws art, makes ceramic stuff, and he reused a drone camera for something else. He made a spy camera that you could wear and even put it on Jessie. He's also super good at the guitar and really good in school. He likes to read a lot too, just like me.

Matt is super nice. He always has a smile on his face, he's nice to his family, and he takes care of his mom. He treats others nicely and he's happy. He shows others his projects and shares them and teaches us how they work. He lets us go in his room to see and hold his birds and planes. He helps others. I've noticed that he's patient with Katelyn, even when she's being a 'little stinker.' He acted on a prompting to make her bed after she was being unkind. After he was set apart and on his last day before he left for his mission, he stopped by my house just to say bye to me.

He's a good example to me and my brothers. He's nice to others even when they aren't. Even though he could get a job, make money, build planes, and date his girlfriend he's making the choice to serve a mission instead. I know he will teach others, bless others, be nice to others, and help others on his mission.

I'm grateful for my cousin Matt who is a good example of being nice, helpful, kind, and creative. I can't wait to hear about his mission and to see him again.

2017

Dad: We'll, that's a cool car. Daniel: I know, I'm looking at it. “I'm like a bouncy bunny rabbit. Except, I'm a snake and I eat bunny rabbit's.” -Daniel Friend: Did you get seasick on your cruise? James: No, I got funsick. Mike: Hey, stinky bottoms. (To Derek) Daniel: Don't you mean, flowery pants? While sneaking into a piece of candy, Andrew says: "Mom, can you do nothing?" James: Mom, what's that? Mom: It's a book about the birds and the bees. James: I'll like that book because I like birds & bugs. “My name is Pulverizing Pancake.” Daniel “Daniel slept in a chair last night. He's training to be a grandpa.” -James “Mom, Ama taught me how to get to school in time. Go in the car.” -Daniel Mom: Andrew, those socks look really dirty. Andrew: They're not. I put them on yesterday. “Do you boys know Dad is part house elf?” –Dad “Right now I'm speaking English in minion language.” -Daniel “Sometimes when I’m really hungry I try to eat my lip.” -Andrew

“Mom, do you know what I am going to get for Christmas? A chainsaw... and TNT.” -Andrew After getting hit in the face with a football, Daniel replies with a big smile on his face: “ I’m okay, that happens all the time!” Andrew: Mom, did you know that I can turn invisible? Mom: Wow, how? Andrew: I don’t know, just I can. “There’s people at the store right now buying Halloween candy, because they didn’t get any as kids.” -Daniel “If Dad gets a fast car, he’ll get tickets all the time.” -James “Today was like the worst day ever. We moved seats and I got moved by the most talkative girl in the class again.” -James Mom: Andrew, thank you for your prayer last night. It really helped. Andrew: I knew it would help… I is magic. Mom: Do you boys wish we had a dog you could play fetch with? Daniel: No, we already have chickens that do that. Except they don’t bring the ball back. “The hot chocolate was so hot that it burned my ear.” -Daniel We hope 2018 is filled with love and laughter! The Balls