Mother of all posts

So, lots of stuff going on in my head lately, creating lots of ideas, making it very hard to find time to post. So here is what has been going on in my life. If you don't really care, feel free to skip to the pictures towards the end :).

I have never been very good about reading my scriptures, praying, etc. We had a speaker about a month ago that said he wouldn't read anything else until he read his scriptures. I decided to apply that to my life but include all forms of media (tv, internet, books, magazine's, etc.). It's been going great! I'm almost to Alma! I do read the ensign or the Teachings of Joseph Smith instead some days. So, then I started getting all these epiphanies (my new favorite word). I didn't get the connection until my good friend Emilysa actually mentioned, "Have you been reading your scriptures?" when I was explaining my latest epiphany. Here are the major ones, I'm sure you will read it, and say but I already knew that, well I am hard headed and needed to hear it about a million times before it finally sunk in (or start reading my scriptures to clear my mind).

E1: I have been a less than adequate house wife. Now, I am not saying mom, but house wife. It hit me when a week went by and Scott had not one minute (literally) to himself because he was working, going to school, taking care of the kids when he got home and then catching up on the housework that I hadn't gotten to. I felt so horrible after I realized that I have been so selfish the last five and a half years, taking so much time to do stuff for me instead of taking care of the house. Now both Scott and I know that I can't do everything by myself, but I can sure as heck make sure the dishes and laundry are done!

Unfortunately with this epiphany I have found myself swamped with stuff to accomplish and haven't had any time to blog. I am now trying to search for a balance between house work and my own stuff, the kids, etc. Anyone know the secret?

E2: My mom has always saved good Oprah shows that she thinks I would be interested in. Lately there has been quite a few so I started recording them and just watching the interesting ones. Well, I watched the one about, "The Secret," a couple weeks ago and was blown away. Oprah had three ladies on, one who wrote a book about healing your life, written about 30 years ago. Another lady talking about lists, and then the last talking about the secret.

The first lady talked about how you have to forgive yourself and others and learn to love yourself before you can begin to heal your life. She suggests waking up and looking in the mirror and telling yourself that you love you. She says eventually you will start to believe it.

List lady says that you have to get past the shallow self to the core self and figure out what you really want from life and then make a list or a bulletin board with pictures on it. Keep the list in a spot where you can see it every day, but don't dwell on it. Write it down and then let it go. My mom and I were talking about it and she says that the idea of lists have been around forever. She told me that when I was 3 years old she made a list and stuck it in her planner. It had five or six things on it including more time with Christi (me), and a better income. She found the list a year and a half later after marrying my dad, James, and realized that every single thing she had on the list she had gotten. The thing you have to remember about lists is that you can't grasp after the things you want, write it down and let it go.

The last lady talked about the secret to life and the Universe's law of attraction. Basically positive attracts positive. My mom has always told me (and I always thought it was a bit cooky) never to say I am broke, just temporarily out of cash, because the universe would hear me and make it true. Well, I totally believe it now. It basically all came down to, you have to be happy with where you are and you can get to where you want to be. And then it was so crazy how a lot of this follows the gospel (forgiveness, be happy, etc).

I know I will always been on meds for depression (my mom has tried using these theories as well as eating right and exercising to go off before, and it just doesn't work with our family), but I can make my life better still with these ideas. I admit I haven't been doing good with telling myself I love myself, but I am doing my best to be positive. And guess what, my life has been so good lately. I have been so happy, even when I've been sad (okay, so I know that doesn't really make sense). Ethan's birthday was on the 4th of this month, and while I was really sad I was okay being sad. I knew that I was allowed to be sad, so it didn't send me into a spiraling depression.

So, on to the pictures. Scott has decided that we have to get outside every weekend, so we have been going hiking. Here are some of the pictures from our romps.

I asked Nathan to get a toy for Caden, and this is what I found.

Boys and their boo-boos.

Update

Here is an update an our little family. Caden is sitting up on his own! He still falls over quite a bit, but will sit up for a few minutes on his own. He loves his big brother and gave him his first kisses the other day. I tried to get it on camera, but I was too slow.

Nathan is so much fun. I love to hear him tell stories about how his day was to Scott. He doesn't always get everything correct, but he is so excited that we are paying attention just to him that he just rambles on and on.

Scott is working a ton. It has started to pick up in the mortgage department so he has been going in early and working late. We don't see him on Mondays or Tuesdays because he goes straight to school after work and doesn't get home until after 10pm. I am doing my best to make sure he gets some free time to himself, but it doesn't always happen.

We bought a new car! I am finally free! Last weekend we bought our first van, a Dodge Grand Caravan. So I am getting out a lot more. At the same time I am getting a lot more done around the house because I don't feel like I can leave unless it is clean. I am also looking forward to getting to the gym more now. I have a feeling my weeks are going to become a lot busier now, I am so excited! I'll try to get some pictures of our new fancy van later.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

I have been so blessed to be born into this world a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Today I had the privilege of realizing just how lucky I have been to be a student of Gordon B. Hinckley. Our beloved prophet passed away last night at the age of 97 with almost 13 years of service to our Church as Prophet and more than 50 years in other various Church callings. I spent a lot of last night and today in tears, I will truly miss him. I feel like I knew him personally, almost like a grandfather. But I can't help but smile every time I think of his reunion with his wife and other Prophets. I have been watching BYU-TV and I just love hearing all of the jokes he told throughout the years. One I remember was when my parents were at the fourth dedication of the SA,TX temple. President Hinckley asked one of the brethren of the Temple committee to come up. He then asked the brethren how old he was. I don't remember the actual age the brethren gave, but it was somewhere in the seventies. President Hinckley exclaimed, "Why you are just a spring chicken, I don't dare buy green bananas anymore." (Okay, so I am sure that those were not his exact words, but you get the drift). Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. President Hinckley, thank you so much for all your hard work and the humor and easy spirit you carried with you while carrying what had to be the most heavy of earthly callings. We love and miss you, you will never be forgotten.

Family Pictures... Finally!

I have been trying to get family pictures taken since Caden was born. My Aunt sent the boys matching outfits for Christmas so I was determined that we would get pictures before they grew out of them. We finally found time and went today to Sears. Here are some of the pictures.

This was one of my favorites, but Scott didn't like it.

This was the one we decided to get

My cute little boy!


My big boy!

Like Scott's hand?

I love this picture!!!


So I like getting a picture of just me and Scott. Don't know why, just do. We weren't ready for this next shot, but it was cute.

Ahhh, love birds....

Can you say triple chin??? Dorky? We didn't get this one.

My Gucci Boy

Having a fashion conscious Aunt is awesome. Especially because she loves dressing other people! Hmmm... maybe thats where I get my clothing thing from. Oh yeah, Jill I haven't forgot that we need to have a Ross shopping day! Anyway, I decided to take some fun pictures of my big boy in his new winter church outfit. Isn't he a doll! Thanks again Auntie and Grandma!

Oooh Baby, here I am (but not until I am 30)!!!

"Cheeeeeese!"

Isn't this just the cutest.

The outfit consists of a white knit turtleneck with matching black corduroy pants and jacket. Oooh-lala.

Happy Six Months Cade!

Mmmm... peas....

My baby is six months old! Time has just flown by. Some of our favorite things about Cade: he is generally a happy baby, he is sooo ticklish (Scott likes to tickle his shoulder blades), he loves food, he is very easy to entertain, one of his favorite things to do is watch his big brother, he sucks his two middle fingers, all you have to do is look at him and he smiles. He is rolling consistently from his stomach to back. He is almost sitting up on his own. He is eating some solids. He still doesn't have BM's regularly. He loves to blow raspberries (so far not while eating...yet). He gets a hold of something and won't let go; Nathan's hair, shirt and pants; my hair or clothing; toys, etc. He still doesn't sleep through the night consistently, but is getting closer. He is so easy going about being out of the house. He loves to ride in the front pack and just look and look. He rarely cries while in the front pack. He loves to read books when we are reading to Nathan. If he is up while Nathan is napping he gets really bored and whiny. He is a socialite and loves to be held by just about anyone. We love baby Caden!

Bathing in the sink after peas.

Great Poem

Mormon Women:
If you, or someone you know has ever felt overwhelmed by all they feel they need to do, Vickie Gunther of Redlands , California , wrote a hilarious poem, Dr. Seuss style, about how much LDS women try to take on. David B. Marsh used it at Women's Conference, and Vickie has given permission to share it.

The Girl in a Whirl by 'Dr. Sue' (a.k. a.. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed! My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exerci se and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each 'lost lamb' on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all,
I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write 'thank you's' to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires! I fix the sink's leak!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-years' supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It's easy!' she said and then she dropped dead.

Family

So it is always around Christmas that I start thinking about my life and my family. I just have to express how wonderfully blessed I feel to have been raised by such an amazing family. I have such an awesome extended family, cousins who feel like siblings, Aunts and Grandma's that are much more than just Aunts and Grandma's. I was begging my family to come over for New Year's Eve, and thought, ten years ago I would have been doing everything in my power to get away from them. Now I just wish I could see everyone all together all at once. I have been so lucky to have my parents near us for as long as I have. I know that it won't last forever. Just this next year my brother David will be leaving on his mission. We don't have much time left to be so close so often. Neville side/Turner side, we need to have another family reunion!!! This summer? Maybe in Utah? Or California? Grandma and Auntie come visit as soon as you can! I miss you all!!!

Happy New Year!

So here is what we did New Years Eve day. Scotty decided he wanted to build a little patio for his grill and new smoker (yup, my hubby smokes!). Nathan had great fun helping shovel and move the dirt.































And here is the finished product. I love it. My family came over New Years day and helped Scott finish it up. I am so proud of him! We are going to expand it and make a seating area. But we will have to do a little at a time. It is amazing what this 3 foot by 6 1/2 foot little patio cost us!

Okay, so we have been battling all kinds of sicknesses, and that is my excuse. We are finally on the upward, health wise, so I am finally updating this blog. We had a wonderful Christmas with my family. We opened presents at our house first and got to my parents around 7:30am Christmas morning. I think it is so funny, I am the one who wakes up Scott and the boys! I love Christmas, and my favorite part is watching everyone open their presents, especially from me! Christmas always comes so fast! I wish I could make it last just a little longer.


We got PJ's from Scott's parents. That was one of their traditions growing up, Pajamas on Christmas Eve. I have never had my own pajama pants before (silly I know), so these were one of my favorite presents. Here is Caden's little bunting sleeper. Everyone's PJ's (except Scott's) had penguins on them. Too cute!

Here is Nathan seeing the presents for the first time.


Our pathetic little tree. This was our fifth and final year with this little tree. Most of the branches broke off so we trashed it this year. It was a good little tree though. Perfect for what we needed.

Nathan opening his first gift. The PJ's he got were footy jammies, and he got a package of two. They are so nice and soft and warm. Notice Scotty's PJ pants!

Caden was not so interested. I think he just wanted food.



This is an outfit from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson. You can see my PJ pants. The shirt came with it, but I like it so much I might pretend it is not a PJ shirt :).

Unfortunately we didn't get any pictures from my folks house, but we had a good time. We got a 500 piece puzzle from my brother Jonny and we spent the next three days putting it together. We had a really good time! Nathan really got double the presents, since Cade doesn't really play with his yet. Some of my favorites are my beautiful books. I love leather bound books and I got Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain as well as the complete collection of Jane Austen. But the best gift ever was the Nativity willow tree set. I have been wanting these for five years and my Uncle Arnold got them for me (thanks to my mother). There are still more pieces to add to it, but I got Mary, and Joseph some animals and a couple shepherds. I am so excited. Anyway, I have to go take care of crying babies, but I will update our New Years festivities later. Hope everyone had a fabulous Holiday!