FHE at Temple Square

After a 3 day film shoot at Temple Square enjoying the flowers, Adam insisted on taking our family there for Family Night last week. It was beautiful! I highly recommend going up there on a Monday in the evening. It wasn't crowded at all, so we were able to see all of the sites and displays quickly and enjoy walking around the grounds. Then we ended the evening with a tour of Brigham Young's Beehive house. We were the only ones there, so we got to go through the house slowly, see everything we wanted and ask lots of questions. The Sister missionaries were so great with the boys and so they loved the evening. Being there helped us get a little of everything we're supposed to give our families for Family Night - learning, entertainment and physical activity. We even stopped for ice cream cones on the way home. It was a picture perfect Family night. How often does that happen?

Fostering Children

Yesterday we had our home study with Utah Foster Care - yes, we are going to give it a try. We have requested children under Jacob's age that are more likely to become available for adoption. Sometimes we wonder what in the world we are doing this for and what we are really going to be getting ourselves into. My life is pretty simple with just our 2 boys, and with Jacob starting Kindergarten next year, I will begin to have a lot more freedom. And when Adam gets really busy with work, like he is right now, I do a lot of single parenting - and then I am thankful I only have to deal with 2 by myself. But then I go to the temple and get such a strong feeling that things are not finished and settled yet, and so, here we go...

Disneyworld

In spite of the flu that attempted to ruin our time in Orlando, it was a GREAT Spring Break!

Goodbye Charlie

Although the play overtook our lives for a time, it really was so fun to be a part of and Tyson loved it! It was such a boost for his self-esteem and confidence. And he did such a GREAT job! Every night we saw improvement, especially in becoming more comfortable in front of an audience. It was amazing to hear him sing and see his acting/responses become more real. I think I may get stuck becoming a theater mom. Oh boy...

Tyson greeting his fans after the show.

Charlie and Veruca (played by my neighbor's niece)

Willie Wonka and Charlie

Tyson's in the Herald

Tyson was in the Herald today! But since our family home evening lesson Monday was "Beware of Pride!" I can't say I'm proud of him.

Oh, but I have too! I am a proud mom!

http://www.heraldextra.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=303920&Itemid=17&mosmsg=Thanks+for+your+vote!

Being a Little Famous

Tonight was a first. I answered the phone when it rang about 8:45 and it was a woman wanting to talk to Tyson. What!?! So I asked who was calling and it turned out she was a reporter from the newspaper wanting to talk to Tyson about being "Charlie" in the play. Oh! Well, it that's what she wanted, then of course!

I then proceeded to eavesdrop on the conversation. The protective side of me wanted to know what he said so I would know if he was quoted correctly. The curious side wanted to hear his responses, and I was very surprised by how grown up he sounded. He was very polite to her, which was a huge relief! Sometimes you just never know what will come out of your child's mouth.

Tyson was thrilled to his inner core by the whole thing and, after the call, announced he wouldn't mind being a little famous. Yikes!

Facing the Middle Ages

It's official - in one year I'll be "middle aged". Adam and I had a quiet lunch together today (thanks to Julia for watching Jacob - we haven't gone out for lunch together since I don't know when) to celebrate my 39th birthday. During our time together, we thought back, trying to remember what we were doing 20 years ago...

1) Adam and I had just gotten back together after spending our first 4 months at BYU dating other people. Adam had dated one girl pretty seriously, and so to make things up to me, he enrolled in my ballroom dance class. Twice a week we danced together - and that eventually mended hurt feelings.

2) My first nephew had just been born. I was the envy of all of the other girls in my dorm each time my sister brought him over for me to babysit.

3) Adam had just received his mission call to Brazil and I was in a frenzy trying to figure out how I could possibly live without him for 2 long years.

4) I, luckily and thankfully, had great roommates at Heritage Halls and was loving my first year at BYU. During our 2nd semester, four of us moved all of our beds into one room, making the room wall-to-wall beds, and we would fall asleep each night listening to Air Supply. We then made the empty bedroom into a TV room and it became a popular Friday night hangout spot.

5) I had my life clearly mapped out: I was going to graduate in education, wait for Adam to get home from his mission, work while I put him through school and have our first baby about the time he was to graduate.

Thinking back makes it seem like it was not all so long ago. But now I see how niave I was about the world and things. It's nice to know I am many years older and wiser too, and that makes me feel more confident in facing my "middle-ages." I am grateful I have someone so great to face them with. I look forward to the next time we can look back 20 years to see how far we've come, then turn together again and face our golden years.

At least that's how I hope it turns out. My life certainly has an opinion of it's own and I seem to have little say in the matter. But what I have learned is that if you surround yourself with great people and fill your mind and heart with the gospel, then no matter what comes, you will enjoy the journey.