October Break at the Cabin

Okay, so I have been thinking alot lately about how I am as a mother and I have felt inspired by some other moms that I know or know of. I decided that I was going to do my best to be a better mom, one who doesn't yell so much and makes life for my children a little more fun. October Break gives my kids a 4 day weekend and I thought it would be a perfect way to make some fun memories. The kids and I were going to the cabin for the weekend, unfortunately Michael couldn't go with us. We go to the cabin alot, so I wanted to do something that would make this weekend more memorable than some of our past trips. I didn't hook up the video player in the car and I packed us a picnic lunch to have along the way. It was a beautiful fall day (for AZ standards) and we headed out around noon. We stopped to have our picnic in Christopher Creek and the picnic area was very nice. After lunch we hiked down a hill to the creek. The kids had fun looking at the water and walking on the rocks. There were alot of spiders along the banks of the water and that freaked them out alittle bit, but they still kept going. After our lunch break and hike it was time to get back on the road.



We arrived at the cabin and it was in the 60's. The kids changed into jeans and sweatshirts and were outside playing for the rest of the afternoon. It was pretty windy and the stronger the wind got the more Jared stayed inside. For some reason he was very scared when the winds were gusty. I seriously think he was afraid he would get blown away. On Friday it was cold and windy again, but we bundled up Jared and Austin and took a walk down to the pond. The kids played in the sand pile, we did rides on the tire swing and we played on the lawn.


Saturday brought rain and even colder temps and more wind. It was a good day for movies, crafts and games. Jordan spent some time playing with his cousin Daniel at his cabin, but the rest of us stayed at Granny and Papa's cabin. Ashleigh was a little bored not having anyone to play with, but she was good to play with Jared and read to Austin. I enjoyed having time to do things with my kids. The only thing that could have made the weekend any better would have been to have Michael with us. Thank you Granny and Papa Gunnell for the use of the cabin for the weekend. I know I had a blast and I am hoping the kids did also.

Busy Family Life

Life is busy, as usual. I was talking with a friend the other day and we both felt like we were running around like chickens with our heads cut off, she has 2 kids in Junior High and 2 in Elementary School. I feel lucky that mine are only in Elementary School, I am busy enough with their schedules as they are now. Ashleigh is taking piano lessons and loves every minute of it, she is doing very well. She is a perfectionist so I have no worries about her passing her songs off each week. Her teacher says she is doing great. She is also going to be starting After-school Sports in a few weeks. She is looking forward to playing soccer at school with her PE teacher being the coach. Jordan starting playing soccer a few weeks ago with a youth league here in Mesa. He loves it so far and his games start this weekend. I am so happy that he is having fun learning to play sports, hopefully he will want to spend more time doing sports than playing video games. A mom can only hope!! :) Jared is a bundle of energy and is just happy if he can go along with anyone. I am looking forward to the weather cooling down so that we can go to the park during the day once in a while. Austin is 3 months old today. He is such a cute baby. He is talking and smiling and laughing now. He tries to sit himself up when he is laying back and he has grown like a weed. At his 2 month check up (he was actually 2 1/2 months old) he weighed 13 lbs. 14 oz. and was 24 1/4 inches long, that was the 90-95% for both measurements. I couldn't believe it. I knew he was growing, but that blew me away, even moreso when my sister-in-law told me that was almost exactly what my nephew was at his 6 month appointment. I refer to Austin as our little Budda Baby. He has all of the same fat rolls as a budda, only they are a lot cuter on Austin.

General Conference

It's been a while since I have had a chance to sit down and update. A few weeks ago was the Semi-Annual General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It gives the members of the church the opportunity to listen to our beloved Prophet and other church leaders speak on different topics that they feel inspired to share with the world. There were 2 sessions on Saturday and 2 more on Sunday. I always look forward to Conference, I always feel spiritually renewed after listening to the Prophet and Apostles of the Lord speak words of inspiration. Especially this year, with an election and the worries of the economy I was eager to hear from our religious leaders. I am putting links to a few of my favorite talks.

Saturday AM ~ Neil L. Andersen ~ We may not know it all, but we know enough
~ President Dieter F. Uchtdorf ~ The infinite power of Hope
Saturday PM ~ Jeffrey R. Holland ~ The ministry of Angels
Sunday AM ~ President Henry B. Eyring ~ Unity
~ President Thomas S. Monson ~ Find Joy in the Journey
Sunday PM ~ Russell M. Nelson ~ Marriage

These few talks are just a sample of the conference as a whole. If any of you would like to read or listen to more I promise that you will be uplifted as you do so, just click on the link at the beginning of this post. I have been spiritually fed from this conference and I appreciate the love that my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ have for me and for all of us.