I tried to get some cute mother's day pictures in front of our neighbors "weeds". The wild flowers grow totally over his walkway leading up to his front door. He says its to keep solicitors out. They really are beautiful. Too bad we were too rushed before church to get some great shots.

Being a kid

Last night when I was putting the girls to sleep, i was sitting in the chair in their room and Brooke asked, "Mom, will i ever be a child again?" A little puzzled at what she was asking, I responded, "No, you will never be a kid again once you grow up."
Brooke, "I am glad it is going slow then. I really like being a kid."
Me, "I really like you being a kid too, Brooke."

It made me ponder again how fast the time goes and how much i am enjoying (but want to enjoy even more) these young ages. It also made me smile so big thinking about how much this girl loves life. She has always had such a joy and passion for everything in life. Man, I love this girl!

Just for Nanna

Dear Nanna,
Happy Mother's Day! Since you can't be with us, we made some quick videos to tell you how much we love you! Can't wait to dote on you next year back in sunny California!!!











We love you Mom! Hugs and kisses from Fremont to Toronto!

hiding toys

Ben and Brooke used to play a little game with Jackson where they would hide toys in their hand and then drop it down the front of his shirt. He LOVES it! And often times he comes up to me with a small toy and grins and laughs and puts it down the front of his shirt. Well this morning when he was getting in the bath, we found 6 pet shops in the legs of his sleepers. He had been hiding toys. I guess he was playing the game by himself. It was so funny!

Learning

There are a few very poignant lessons i feel like i have learned the last few years and i don't want to forget them:

• Love more, criticize and judge less. (even the smallest points of criticism vocalized breeds ill feeling and frustration)
• There are "incurable" people. And I don't want to be one of those. (that was coined in a book I read a little while ago. And since then i have realized over and over again that the author was right, people like to have an excuse for things-and not "curing" themselves emotionally, spiritually and/or physically will always give them an excuse. whether it is for their performance in life, their health, their relationships, their job, or whatever it is-its a crutch to lean on if life is hard. So sometimes it is easier to be "incurable".)
• Give people the benefit of the doubt. (maybe some people are "incurable" and need an excuse, but others really are trying. 9 times out of 10 we don't know the full stories-or the story from two different view points. so give them the benefit of the doubt, maybe their dog really did die, or maybe they are struggling emotionally and you just don't know it.)
• The most important role in life for me is to be a good mother. (i have always known this deep down, but with each year I realize it more and more.)
• Its important to be your own kind of good mother. (everyone mother's differently, and you are you're own kind of good mother. I need to keep my eyes on what is important to me in raising my kids.)
• People that criticize others and how they mother are people you don't want approval of anyway, so brush it off, ignore it, and keep deliberately trying to be the best you can.
• Laugh and have fun. (we all need a little more laughing in our lives.)
• When you've had a bad day, turn on music really loud and dance with your kids. (its hard to cry or be mad or be frustrated when you are dancing with your kids-even if you are a horrible dancer.)
• 'Real Mother's' like to help each other out. (this term was again coined in an article i read a little while ago- mom's really want to help each other out. I really believe that is why i had such a great childhood, because my mom and her friends relied on each other to help each other out and in doing that they developed binding relationships that strengthened all their families.)
• Be happy for others. (i think it is so important to be happy for other's successes, accomplishments, exciting news, etc. when we are genuinely happy and excited for others, we have no room to be jealous or comparative.)
• Embrace all types of people. (my dad used to say, "If we were all the same, it would be a boring world")
• Surround yourself with people that inspire you to be better, not people that bring you (or others) down.
• And while you are surrounding yourself with people that inspire you to be better, don't compare your weaknesses to their strengths. You are your own person. (this is something i have learned over and over the past year, it is so sad when people constantly look at other's strengths and then tell themselves that they aren't as good. )
• Rely on the gift of the Atonement in every aspect of your life!
• Be grateful for every little thing.
• Like the very cliche saying says: Live, Love, Laugh (it might be overused and little bit annoying by now, but it really is true.)
  

Coming home from HK

Noah and I are chilling at the airport about to hop on flights home from HK. We had an awesome trip, but can't wait to get home to the fams! Here are a few pics.



Waiting for the double decker bus at midnight when we arrived.



View from our hotel.



Nice name for the smoking floor!



Playing hoops with the local kids.



Crazy tall buildings everywhere.



Getting our tailor made suits!



Enough said!







On top of Victoria Peak.



Hong Kong temple. Our session was in Mandarin.



Crazy hats from the biggest night market ever!



Three wolf moon.

Missing the Fam

I had a business trip to San Diego the past two days and am so excited to get back to Ashley and the kiddos! It's crazy how much you realize your love for family when you are away from them!

I can't wait to see Jackson lift both arms over his head and coming running at me! He is really into wrestling lately and will just randomly come up to me or Ash and try to push us over. It's fun to see him play with Brooke and Liv - I'm so glad our kids get along so well. I hope we can keep that closeness for life!

See you soon guys!!! Time to hop on the plane!