Sunday, November 30, 2008

We're Back

I didn't really want to let blogland know we were going to be out of town for sometime, but....I guess you could tell anyway. We went to the fabulous family compound and enjoyed a great Thanksgiving week with the family. On our way, we planned a stop at the Polar Express. We had so much fun. We took our sweet time getting there, but we arrived early, went swimming, had dinner in our jammies, and rode on the 6:30 train. It was so fun to watch the wonder in my kids' eyes as they saw Santa. We listened to the book, had hot chocolate and cookies, met Santa, and enjoyed some Christmas time together.





It was actually cold there. Imagine that. You can see us all with our coats on (a rare occurrence nowadays....but don't worry, the girls are all still wearing our flip flops). brrrrr!
Here is Santa and sweet Elizabeth, she loved getting her very own bell from Santa.


The Grand Canyon

It is amazing to us, but none of us had ever been to the grand canyon. I have flown over it many a time, but I guess that doesn't count. Being the absolute party animal that I am (ha), I have to admit I thought this route would add minutes to our trip, and that it would kill me to see the hours roll by without making much progress. However, (I know you are glad to see I might be changing...finding joy in the journey and all), I did enjoy it. It was amazing to see the canyon, it is indeed GRAND. It was slightly scary to me as Bj took himself and our son beyond the small wall to look over the edge, I kept imagining them both plunging to their deaths...but alas, we are all alive, and we are better off. Madeline was scared to death, and cried as we got close to the edge. Elizabeth wasn't scared, her crawling all over me wasn't fear of the canyon, just fear of the flash. Mitchell kept commenting on his bravery and courage at climbing over the wall and tempting fate....I, being the fabulous mother I am, crushed that belief, by telling him that doing something dangerous just because it is dangerous isn't brave, it is stupid. I continued that ....bravery must be for some good cause (country, freedom, family....not for kicks). I may not get the "mother of the year" award for that speech, but I may keep a kid alive. Here's hoping!




Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with my whole family. This is the first time this has happened since....well, since we grew up and went our own ways. But, now everyone is closer to the homeland and it is easier to get together. We spent the first 5 days alone with my parents just enjoying the lack of responsibility. We swam in the 90 degree pool, went for runs, walks, and bike rides, looked at beautiful Christmas trees, enjoyed Christmas presentations, played the wii, played ping pong, made neighbor and family gifts, visited friends, and enjoyed the good life (as good as it can get without Internet).


The kids table!

Here's our water baby. Loved every minute in the pool, and did it the whole time without water wings.


Cousins! These two were inseparable, it is so fun watching them grow up together. Here's wishing we lived closer.

This kid worked hard on his flips, dives, and beating the competition in all the pool games.


We had such a great time. I absolutely loved the alone time, and enjoyed the lack of responsibility. November was a super crazy month full of tasks upon tasks, but hopefully, I can hurry and finish all the commercial Christmas stuff early, and take time to enjoy the beauties of this season. I am so grateful for these moments, where I can run away from it all, and hopefully come back better, and ready to tackle it all again, but with a good attitude and a loving heart. Wish me luck.

Oh....and the Christmas cards are ready. Do you want one? I have a limited number, but if you want one and I have enough left, just shoot me an email sbisel@byu.net with your address and I will send you one.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

No Double Duty

Busy week, busy Sunday, we're all busy. So, I am not going to do a double duty post. Bj already put Halloween pics on his blog, baldguyblogging.blopspot.com....so, please go visit his site to see how much fun we had.

Halloween was great. We had the trunk'r treat the night before (serious collection of the good stuff there), then on Halloween we spent the day putting Prop 102 door hangers in neighborhoods (thanks Seth and Denise for helping us), at class parties, visiting Nana Betty, having dinner with the big family, and trick or treating all over our neighbor, going to "booville," and falling asleep during the movie that night (I seriously can't stay awake in movie's anymore). We must thank all those who helped us collect yummy treats that filled our tummies that night, and will serve as stocking stuffers in about 2 months.

In almost related news, I found our halloween outfits for next year at target yesterday for $1.5 -$2.50. Seriously, that is great. I can afford that kind of stuff, now I won't have to go to Goodwill again, and come out feeling like...is that supposed to cost that much?

Monday, November 3, 2008

tagged

My sweet friend Lydia tagged me, and I had to do it, because I love her that much. I am supposed to post the fourth picture in the fourth folder in my My Pictures folder and then tell about it. I am on a Mac and pics are organized slightly different, so I'll do the best I can.



I have tried for 2 days straight to upload pictures, but it isn't working.  What up blogspot?  So, imagine a picture of a 1.5 year old Elizabeth in the bathtub covered with suds.  She is super cute, super naked, and super great.  On this occasion, Bj was washing her and she slipped and gave her a dislocated elbow, the third or fourth in her short life.  Poor kid!  The pictures that come after this one are of her screaming and crying.  You'd think we would be smart enough to stop taking pictures, but alas, we didn't realize what had happened to her.  Poor Monkey!  I will keep trying to post the pics, but I wanted sweet Lydia to know I am participating in your tagginess (that is a word, I promise).


Sunday, November 2, 2008

The Family

Yesterday while I was at Stake Conference I was reminded of a simple truth.  We are children of God.  He loves us dearly.  I think the first time I got a glimpse of the power of his love was when I became a parent.  I remember watching my children sleep as they were babies, and an overwhelming rush of love would come over me. I realized then, that if I love my children with a love that was so powerful and binding (yet I am a very imperfect being), how much my Father in Heaven must love me. This glimpse of his matchless love has taught me more about why we have families. Families are to help us understand the Gospel better. Everything in this life is here to help us come closer to our Heavenly Father, to learn, to grow, and to bring us joy. I love this song that came out in last months friend. The words are below, and this is the link to the song.

I love all the truths this song teaches in its simplicity. We are all in the family of God. We each have roles in our family....a mother, a father, and children. God gave us families to teach us! It is the perfect place for us to make mistakes, and learn from them. It is the perfect place to practice the things we learn in a safe environment. Families love each other, and we make mistakes together, but we always know that no matter what, we Love each other. I am so grateful for these shining moments of Joy when I understand the gospel plan a little better. I am so grateful for the adult session of Stake Conference....the quiet moments of reflection and gospel truth help me so much. I am so grateful for the whisperings of the spirit to help me get out of my "funks" and focus my attention of the beauties of the gifts I have been given. I am grateful for families, to help me understand my Heavenly Father's love better. I hope YOU know that He loves YOU too!


The Family is of God

1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.