MARBLE RUNS and BIKE RUNS

 Ashton has been miserable for the last three days. He has a bad cough and just doesn't feel well. The only thing that has brought a smile to his face is doing marble runs together. I think Nate was shocked to not hear him crying and came looking and found he and I on the floor putting together the marble run. I think his daddy was impressed that I had helped calm the baby. This morning while I was cleaning the kitchen he was whining after me. I told Sierra go get the marble run and in a few minutes he forgot his troubles again.

Nate arranged for us to have our first family bike ride. It was a lot of fun. I was surprised how well Madison kept up. She was swerving all over the place. She learned to ride a bike not too long ago and she hasn't had much practice since, but she was determined and held back a lot of fear and tears and just pushed through it. At the end of our little bike ride, Nate smiled his cheesy smile and said, "Are we done?" 

I said, "Yeah, I think so." 

He said, "Wow! Do you think we went a whole mile?"

I sarcastically added, "Yeah and I think I burned off half a cupcake!"

I guess from the world of bicycling's perspective that was a pretty shoddy run. But from my perspective, we took four kids on a bike ride for a mile without any real break downs or bike accidents. 

"Winner, winner, chicken dinner!" 

CONFERENCE, OMELETS, LEAD, and KITTENS

We woke up this morning and made omelets for everyone and started conference on the futon. I didn't realize that it reclines. Sweet baby tomatoes, we felt blessed! Reclining, in our pajamas, eating omelets, and attending church. Who decided to do this every six months? It has to come from heaven, because I can't imagine a more heavenly experience. I have to say my children weren't that great at participating today, but we will revisit conference again and again all week as we make applesauce together.    

 James came in the house after exploring the property this morning exclaiming he had found a skeleton key and a rope. I said, "You mean a chain?" He said, "No, a rope." He hauled it around half the day putting them both on my head and telling me it was a crown. Until, his father realized that it was lead on his key, not a skeleton. Yikes. Dad disposed of the key and the rope. He is the protector and he plays his role well. I was oblivious and excited. I was like, oh my boy, he is so resourceful, creative, imaginative, and curious. This farm is so great. We have so many hidden treasures. It took a father to realize it was really a death trap. Don't cringe looking at the pictures now, cause I do. 

The girls got cats again. Remember this cat and these cats. Well, Edison we had to give away because we moved and they didn't allow pets. Herc and Zues just disappeared one day. Nate thinks a Coyote got them. I am not sure. One day we came out to the property to feed them and they were gone. We are hoping Vu (The black cat.) and Yoshi (The grey cat.) stick around and grow old with us, because they make my girls so happy. 

 I wish I could say these super cute pictures were taken during conference, but they weren't they were taken between the sessions while we watched Curious George. Don't worry we will get there. They will learn to love conference like I love conference, but it may not come till they are older. I never paid attention or cared much at their age either but I remember my parents made it a priority to listen to the prophet and I hope they remember that I listen to the prophet too.

CONFERENCE SATURDAY

 I love conference. It fills my soul in ways nothing else can. I love to listen to it during the week as I clean and do mundane tasks. It makes the work seem easy and dare I say fun. I love conference. I love and support our latter day prophet President Thomas Monson. I love all the apostle and each has touched my heart at different times. I feel blessed to know these men are called of God. I feel blessed to have had the spirit testify to me over and over again of the reality that we are lead by a prophet and apostles in these days. Whenever I become concerned about things that are happening in the world and here in America, especially lately with what is happening on the political stage, I remind myself that I know the prophet, who he is, and where he is. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. It sustains me and strengths me in these troubled times. Anyone who watches the train of the world, filled with drugs, dishonesty, immorality and all manner of evil pass by and doesn't desire to climb aboard and be apart of it and looks around wondering where to turn. I say, turn to the prophets. They will lead you through these trouble times. You can hear their voices with a touch of a button. Go, listen to the prophets voice.

CHICKEN COOP

I have needed to clean out the chicken coop for a while. It has been on my list of to do's for too long. I have been trying to include the boys in my projects more. I thought, Lisa, you should let them come with you, instead of putting them in front of a show. I believe the thought was the Spirit. I know I need to teach them how to work and they love it, but it adds time and messes to every project. I have been trying to learn to just accept that the project will go slower and there will be a million interruptions and enjoy the moment. I countered, I will turn on Jack and the NeverLand Pirates in my room cuddle them up with bottles and sippy cups and go clean it out. It will be easier. Who wants their three year old and eighteen month old knee deep in chicken droppings. They were going to touch it. Yickes! Then I thought, it will be okay, you will just all take a bath when we were done. We put on shoes and thick socks and went to work. It did take about three hours, but it went by quickly, and those two boys grinned from ear to ear the whole time.