What good kids I have...

Last week we all had the chance to go to the Draper Temple open house. It was so nice to have all of our family in the celestial room together. 

Afterwards in the cultural hall next door they had an open house, lots of people were getting their pics with Christ, so naturally the kids wanted one also.

Ben got signed up for baseball the other day, it hasn't started yet, but he is very excited. Can you tell?
Benji is such a good, loving, thoughtful boy. This morning he got up around 8 and kept himself entertained for awhile. But by 10 when he was lonely, instead of just waking me and Roxy up, he brought us breakfast in bed. Seriously, he is wonderful. 

After our nice breakfast and a couple of cartoons, we decided to go do some service. The other day we walked to Walmart and noticed along the way there was a lot of trash. So today we filled 2 whole garbage bags. What good kids to be willing to spend their Saturday morning picking up litter. 




Notice Roxy's shirt.

Just some pictures.

Roxy's school picture, doesn't her hair look so much like Syd's?

Ben being Ben:

And my personal favorite....

I GET to have TODAY

I have had too many friends in the not so distant past that have gone through unimaginable trials relating to their kids. In the blog world you can read about them and then you read about their friends that can relate and so on. It's hard to see how much sadness and unexplained death and grief is out there and in my very close friends lives. I feel so helpless! I want to say comforting words but have nothing that will dull their pain. Some of the feelings I have heard mentioned is "Why do bad Moms and teenage Moms and Moms that don't even want their children get to keep their kids and I have to lose mine?" I feel so badly for these Moms that have to ask these questions! I have no answers to these questions. The only One that knows is our Heavenly Father. In my daily prayers I often get stuck in vain repetition "nourish and strengthen our bodies" or thank thee for "today". Really? Today? What am I saying? What am i really thankful for? I want everyone that reads this to know that I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that I know our Father in Heaven has a plan for us. Today, I am thankful for TODAY! I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for TODAY! I complain about my trails that are legitimate sometimes...But I have 3 beautiful, healthy, smart and loving children that I GET to raise. I GET to be a Mom and I love that calling. I hesitate when I say this because I feel like it may come across as insensitive to those that have lost children but I think they would rather hear me saying how incredibly blessed I feel to have my kids rather than what a pain it was fighting with Sydney today. I don't know why some get called home sooner than others but I do know that I am thankful for TODAY and the fact that tomorrow I will be tired when my alarm goes off because I GET to wake up and listen to Sydney whine about me getting the tangles out of her hair. I get to clean up the toys after Joseph destroys my house. And when Parker pukes on my carpet and poops in her pants, I GET to be the one to clean it up. I am thankful for TODAY.

Brace Face!

We look like such NERDS!

Sure? or Unsure?

Christmas Decor

I do realize I was the ONLY one to not post my decorations and I honestly feel awful about it! Instead I thought I'd post some "Winter" pictures. We went back to Traci's cabin and had so much fun as just our family of 5. We played in the snow, hiked down to the natural bridge, played games and went "exploring" in the back yard. Our little family needed a quiet vacation like this! I love you all and, again, I'm sorry about the lack of decor pictures.
Love, Amanda






ps. Is 3 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches what you would call excessive for one day? I had them for pre-breakfast, pre-lunch and post dinner/pre-bed. My hips seem to be fine so I'm thinking...a moment as a taste, forever on my waist? Unless you're Mom because in that case my waist is right below my under-wire. :) I Love you ALL! Goodnight!

Commandeered

The family couch blog has officially been taken over. I thought since it was a failed attempt at a family blog that Cody and I would use it for ours! It's only fair since he set it up. I will try and update it as much as I can. Love you!