living in the moment

Ann Quindlen wrote, "The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make...I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of my three children sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on the the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less".

lots and lots of pictures.

Helaman 5:12

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Devin and I were reading our scriptures the other night and we read this particular verse.. it happens to be one of my favorites. I'm so thankful for the foundation we have and our testimonies of Jesus Christ. I think that Satan has tried to drag us down but b/c of the gospel in our lives we are still standing and loving live.
Last night we were talking about what we have done since we have known each other a little over 4 years(mind you we were married 3 months after knowing each other) so here is the list.. brace yourselves!

Lived in 7 different houses (and one more come April after our house sells)
8 different jobs (every time Devin started a new job it was always better, we have finally found one that will be long term)
2 kids
1 cat
more debt than i am willing to share (thank goodness for tax money that has helped us almost pay it off)
5 different schools
5 different cars
gained more weight than i am willing to share (we are working on it!)
moved from one extreme state to another, weather wise anyway
been to NM, UT, ID, Rocky Point Mexico, NV, and CA
bought a house and sold a house (well we have an offer on the house that is)

I know there were more when we were talking. It just goes to show how blessed we really are. I'm so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father that knows our needs and what we can handle.

An update on the Family
Devin- today he went before the board for his staf (E5) i still haven't heard from him but i know he will do great, going to school full time with university of Phoenix online, works at U. of Phoenix for the military department, was released from YMs and put in as the pack committee chair for the cubs.
Tanya-I'm going to school full time now with the university of phoenix online, playing hard with the kids, trying to learn how to use my new sewing machine, and thinking of ways of how i want to decorate the house we found to move into..we found a steel!
Ezra- talking tons more! yesterday he was saying "oh my gosh" it was funny, still runs and runs and never stops, will be staring preschool soon :( i can't believe my little boy is going to go to school
Rylie-She really is a princess. waves bye bye, says bubbles, bath, and will baby sign more. She loves her brother and loves to be tickled. she has such an personality!

Family Trip

 

We had such a great time this weekend. We decided to go to California for the long weekend and just get away from all the stresses we've been feeling lately.
The first day we went to San Diego Sea World. We LOVED it! We sat in the first row to see Shamu, i'm not sure if Rylie enjoyed that but Ezra sure did! I don't have pictures up of that yet because it was on our waterproof disposable..so once i develop that film i will scan some in. The kids loved the Sesame Place the best. They even got to see Elmo dance and sing. Rylie was even big enough to go on some rides. The funny part is they had a toddler area and that was their favorite area, you know those areas that you can go to for free in the mall!!! But it was still fun and Ezra got to fly a flying Elmo. (pictures of that are on the cell phone, so i will post those later too)
Sunday we got up and got ready for church and just followed a guy on a motorcycle that looked like he was going to church. Well he was and we found a building, but it was a spanish ward. Of course i didn't mind! I loved it. There is something about spanish wards and singing spanish hymns and touches my heart and I feel the spirit so strong. We made our way up to Santa Ana and visisted with Devin's Aunt Tammi and Great Grandpa Wilkerson. He is 93 years old very alert still! (pictures again on the other computer.. i will post them soon too) The kids got to meet their Great Great Grandpa and take pictures. I thought it was funny that the first thing he noticed about Rylie was that her ears are pierced. I don't think he liked that so much, hes a little old fashion :) I'm so thankful we got to visit with them and see grandpa.
We also went to the Santa Ana Zoo before we left because we didn't get to go to the San Diego Zoo. As you can see Ezra got to ride the elephant.. he was laughing the whole time.
It was a great trip. I wish we could've made it out to the ocean but we didn't get it in. next time!

On a side note, Devin and I are both going to school full time now so if I don't update as much or you don't see me on facebook as much you know why!also remember that if you click on the collage it makes it bigger!

mr. potatoe head

 

 

this just cracks me up. this is the world according to Ezra :) i think we will have to work on body parts a little more...

1 2 &3 = FUN

 

Rylie's birthday happens to fall on the same day as 2 other little girls in our ward. So we thought it would be fun to do a play date/party for them. Rylie turned 1, Audrey 2, Maysa 3. They were so excited about their special birthday party. Audrey even said in the car before we got there "party all day long"... well it wasn't all day, but it was a couple hours of fun and toddlers. Our ward has so many little children it was hard not to just invite everyone, but we had to be realistic. We had a playdo area, craft area for their take home bags, bean bag toss, an awesome outside to play in, movies, snacks, cupcakes..basically a toddlers dream day. :)