In a way, A Missionary Already!

I told this little story to my friend -she said it was cute and that I should post it.

But -a side not first. In Ben's baby blessing he was repeatedly blessed to be a missionary and spread and share the gospel with others. So, I love that he's doing it, somewhat, already.

As I waited to unload groceries, a woman and I exchanged the typical pleasantries -"Your boys are cute." "I hope I didn't spend a ton" etc, etc. She was probably late fifties and very nice.

Ben deduced from my conversation with her that she must be "O.K." to talk to....so he piped right up about his favorite topic these days.(He does this sort of thing quite often.)

He quickly informed, "Laman and Lemuel are bad guys."

She said, "That's right, they are. Who's a good guy?"

Ben replied, "Nephi! He's a good guy."

She asked him his name, then asked him if he was named after King Benjamin.

He said, "No. But, King Noah -he's a bad guy."

She agreed.

Their conversation was cute and went on for a little while till the food was rung up and we were on our way.

Now, in that moment, I had actually been a little nervous that he could possibly be talking to a non-member who might not know anything about who "Laman and Lemuel" were -I felt relieved that she was obviously LDS. However, after talking with my wonderful, returned missionary girl friend, Brittany, she pointed out what a good opening it could have been to at least bring up the church or Book of Mormon.

Had the woman responded with "What?", I could have said something to the effect that "They are in the Book of Mormon....." -which would have ultimately lead to a conversion, I'm posistive. ;) And, how easy would that have been to do!

The point is....Children are Innocent and not afraid. They are open and willing to share any information they have with anyone who is around. They are not held back by nerves or self doubt -they are free to share the things they know are true. They are willing to talk forever about the topics they love and that thrill them. They want anyone and everyone to hear what they have to say. I wish to be more like that!!

I never went on a mission, and, thus have no real experience with just bustin' out with any information about the church. I have the self doubt and nerves that, I am so glad, Ben doesn't.

I hope to raise my boys to be "Life Long Missionaries." I hope Ben will always have the guts and love to share the truths he knows with anyone, at any time, in any place. What an example my little boy is. I am kind of looking forward to a time when this might happen again with someone not of my faith, so I can then be an example to my boys. Children teach us all more than we could ever teach them -for that I am continually blessed and eternally grateful.

The Circus and Zoo!!!

Last week Joe and I took the boys to the circus and the zoo. It was such a fun trip! I love our little family.

The circus was so fun. I met my older sister and her boys there. Ben loves his cousins. We had a a great time. (Thanks for the tickets Kate.) The circus pics were kind of dark, so I left 'em out.

We took a ton of pics at the zoo. It was a blast. Ben loved the various animals, and Joe and I loved watching him take everything in! Here are a few of the many many pictures. ;)

Joe carried Ben around forever, he took him to the bathroom fifty million times -Thank goodness for a strong, willing, thoughtful husband who is the best dad to the boys!!!

The train ride! Cute boys!Kader-Bum! He's so cute!! (I didn't start out wearin' a hat -but the heat and sweat killed my hair...so, it was a hat once again. :/ )The carousel ride! Ben loved it...even though his face doesn't show it here.
Ben's favorite animal these days! The tiger was soooooo close! It was cool.

Joe pointin' out the giraffes. Good times!

So cool -the leopard was nose to nose with Ben. He paced back and forth and was thrilling for the kids. (A video clip coming soon.)

Checking out the elephants!

Such a fun trip -so much to say. But, pictures say a thousand words, and I've posted tons of those....so in a sense, I have said it all.

READ THIS BOOK!!!

My friend recently reccommended this book to me. We both always seem to need the same things in life at the same time as each other. She found it helpful for her, and thus suggested I read it too.

I have been called to repentance and am excited to have been. I have not been the wife I have always wanted to be. I have not seen things from the view point of my husband. Although I thought I had good reasons for my behavior or attitude or what have you -I have been horrible. I have not had my priorities in the best order. I have been tired for no reason, been grouchy for no reason, been rude and even disrespectful, and at many times felt justified, because "I was doing so much for the kids/home/my own needs." Can you believe that?! Am I 28 years old or 2? How ridiculous I've been. For sheesh!

This is not easy to admit "publicly", but I have been such a baby, and so self-centered, without really knowing it. And, we women think our husbands are"doin' fine" because they don't complain -but really they are struggling and are doing their best to "suck it up".

I HIGHLY recommend this book to ANY married woman! It opens your eyes and allows you to see things clearer and challenges you to adjust your priorities! I am very thankful for this book. And, I am glad I now can think of my role as a wife and mother with a new view and perspective. I am grateful for a hubby who has been so great despite my childishness and selfishness.

Women, we have a calling- the highest calling- to be a wife and queen. We need to be making our marriages and husbands the top priority. Read the book. Maybe all of you are already amazing, adn maybe I am the only one who needs to repent -how would I know?- still, it would be a good investment of time and money to get this book!

Quick Post -more to come later.

Joe and I took the boys up to salt lake for a quick trip to see the circus and go to the zoo. I have pics, and will post 'em later.

Also, after only two and a half weeks of potty training -Ben has mastered it! He is now going #2 in the potty and have been no accidents!!!

Heading out on the road for several hours, I was worried. But, I pack his seat, and told him if he needed to go he could say, "Mom, Dad, stop the car, pull over I gotta go potty." and we would pull over. He let us know. And, didn't have any probs. He had no prob with the public restrooms and it made for a great two days!

I hope my good fortune will continue! I love Potty Scotty and couldn't have done it without him, I thank my hubby for all the clean up duty he did whenever he was home, and I am glad to not feel like there's a peein'/poopin' time bomb waiting to go off -the pressure/worry of "what if" is almost totally gone.

He's potty trained!! Whoohoo.

I Love 'Em!

I was just tired of typing and not posting pictures. Also, I can't keep posting about potty training forever. These are a few older, random pics of the boys. They are getting so big, and in a few short months they will be 3 and 1. I can't believe it. I am so grateful for them and to be a mother! There is nothing better.

Aw Poop.

Now, the Potty Traing Adventure is going very well! No more #1 accidents to report. Ben is even telling me at night that he has to go....but, aw the poop...and more poop! In the book i've read and from the words of wise mothers who have gone before me, getting them to go #2 in the toilet is the hardest part, and its' unpredictable. Yay!-(sarcastic). This has proven true in Ben's case. It has been almost a week of our Potty Training Adventure and he's has had six poopoo accidents (three were in one day -sheesh!) I feel like there's a pooping time bomb waiting to go off at any minute.

Now I know this is not the most exciting or even entertaining topic to post about -But, this is my life these days, so it's what ya get. ;D Still, all is going well, and hopefully we will be celebrating a #2 in potty VERY soon. Everyone fast and pray for me! (Wink wink)

Just a Fast Post.

I snuck downstairs for a second, just to tell a funny story.

Just now, during dinner, Ben looked at me and said, "Mom, there's something wrong with you."
He got this off of Finding Nemo -which he watched for the first time in forever yesterday.

I guess as moms our kids relate everything to us first. So, maybe that's why Ben frequently makes comments directed at me. As you might remember, he told me to "Go your way, and seek no more to destroy the church." I am glad to be the first one he thinks of to try he material out on -and he's not wrong -I often time think there's something wrong with me too. ;D

I'll Be Gone for a While.

I have a minute to post.....both boys are sleeping...a treat! Anyway, I have not been able to blog since the Potty Training Adventure has begun. Ben is doing SOOOOO good. He's has minimal accidents. No prob- they happen, no biggie!

I try to stay within a few rooms of Ben, in case he needs me, and I want to keep him upstairs by his potty seat and the toilet that has an "fit-in" seat next to it. Thus, the reason I won't be posting or blog surfing for at least a little while (Our computer is downstairs). I'll miss it and crave it often. I'll catch up with you all as soon as possible.

WHOOOOOO!!!!

I can hardly believe it. This morning Ben told me he wanted to go potty "in there" pointing to the toilet. I let him try. He didn't go but I pulled out the "Potty Scotty" doll -(potty training in one day thing)- and let him "watch "Potty Scotty" go potty. He thought it was cool but never went. I figured, "If he's telling me he's ready, then I'll go to the store, get drinks, big boy undies, and whatever else to encourage potty usage.

I planned for tomorrow or Friday. But -when Ben woke up from his nap, he told me he wanted to "go potty in there" again. I let him try.........and to make an already long story shorter, he ended up going and telling me when he needed to go SEVEN times. He had three accidents, but no biggie. all of this happened within two hours. ( What a pee-er) He gets the concept, and I will reinforce everything tomorrow. And, hopefully he'll be completely trained soon.
Any one who is thinking about starting to train -should really gets the "potty training in one day" kit -it WORKS. It was awesome. The light just turned on and Ben "got it". Whoohoo -it's all I can say! The end is in sight!

Farts and Good Manners.

For a long time now, Ben has known to say "Excuse me" after farting or burping. And, he's pretty consistent. Here's a funny story that impressed me with just how thoroughly ingrained it is in him to do.

A half hour after both boys were in bed, Kade woke up fussing, in needed to be soothed. So, I went in got him and rocked him out in the living room. After a few minutes I went back in the boys room to lay him down.

As I was entering the room, I heard four long drawn out, funny little farts coming from Ben. (Obviously, I wasn't going to talk just to remind him to say "Excuse me" and risk waking Kade for something not too big a deal at the moment.)

But, I didn't have to anyway. After the fourth tooter, Ben lifted his head off the pillow, looked at me and softly said, "Excuse me" then put his head back down to go to sleep. It was all I could do not to laugh too hard or loud. (I hadn't put Kade down yet.) I was laughing back to my room and even woke Joe just to tell him. (Sorry. ;D )

Kids really are a hoot, even more so when they toot. Ha ha -I'm so clever.

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So, Saturday I needed a change in scenery, so we went to St. George. There is a little water park (Outside on Tabernacle and Main-it's free) that is SO fun and perfect for little kids. There are different areas to play in -a wall of waterfalls, a big fountain area, and a river that is wide and slow at one end, and thin and fast at the other. There are flat low rocks for the kids to climb on. (They are rough but not scratchy; kids can get great traction.)

Around the entire place are tables, tons of seating, and nice shaded places --totally great for picnics!

The boys and I had a great time -I posted a few clips of the day. ANYONE who is close enough to go,should really go. It is a blast!! (Word to the wise -don't sit on the red rock, it stains light clothing!)

This was probably Ben's favorite part --the "waterfalls". Ben would eventually get himself soaked. (He was just starting out in this clip.)

I love watching Ben play and nervoulsy try things. If you watch the shadows, you can "see" better how he's playing and splashing in the water.

Kade was having a great time! I wish the back ground noise wasn't so loud....you can barely hear his giggles. He's so happy!

I love this clip! Kade's baby feet are just too cute for words!