And they pitched their tents round about the Temple...

Here are some pictures of our conference day on Saturday. We went to the first session at the church and then decided to spend the others at home. I had this brillant idea to put up our tent, face it towards the picture of the temple and watch conference on the computer from inside the tent. Before we began I read out of Mosiah chapter 2, about the people gathering around the temple to listen to King Benjamin speak to them. They all pitched their tents with the doors facing the temple and sat and listened with their families. So, that is what we did. The kids LOVED it and it made conference a little more interesting for them. : )

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I enjoyed many of the talks at conference. My favorite was the first one by Elder Scott about prayer. I had just been researching that very topic and had come up with pretty much everything he had said, so I was comforted that I was on the right track and not the wrong one. : ) What is amazing about the gospel is that we can learn and find out the doctrine for ourselves. We have leaders to guide us but we truly need to learn to govern ourselves, and we can do that through prayer and determined scripture study. I am so grateful to have the gospel. How desperate life must seem without it. I pray I can help others to find the joy and peace found in the Savior. I try to be an example for now, but hope to be more anxiously engaged in the future.

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The other day when Sammi was doing student of the week she got to share some toys and special things of hers with the class. She brought a couple of bracelets that we made together which said, CTR, Be Good, and CTR Sammi. She shared them with the class and said CTR means choose the right. And the "Be Good" was to remind her to be good. She said the kids asked her questions and that Mr. T held them and looked at them. I was so proud of her for so innocently sharing just a piece of the gospel with her class in a very simple way. She is my CTR girl and I love her so much.

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Daniel is my curious boy. He loves to ask questions. At scripture time it is more like question time. Every word he does not understand he asks for a definition. It is good, and good for me to have to explain to him. Lately it seems like he has ants in his pants, it is really hard for him to sit still, anytime. It will be really fun to see him be a big brother to William, I know Dan will need the love cranked up for him though. I will do my best to be aware of each of their needs. I pray though, they will be forgiving of my weaknesses, especially after birth.

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Lots of love to you all. I am just waiting for Charles to come home from the Preisthood session. We made a turkey today, leftover from Thanksgiving (frozen). We had two for some reason and so we thought we might as well have a turkey weekend. I am sure that the doctor will be pleased with my weight gain over the weekend!! Turkey - YUM!

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Love, ME

Fun at the Park

We spent last night at the park and it was lots of fun. Sam and Dan were trying their hand at baseball. It was pretty funny to watch. Sammi also LOVES to swing and she gets pretty high, so does daddy (as you can see). It was a beautiful night at about 60 degrees. Spring is busting out all over around here and I love it.

I hope you all enjoy your General Conference time. I know I love it. We just got back from the first session which we went to the church for. We are going to watch on the computer for the next one. I love Conference time. I will write more about that later.

Lots of love to all!

Love, ME

Role Playing

Yesterday Sam and Dan were pretending that they were mom and dad. It was so funny. They were mom and dad and Charles and I were Sam and Dan. So as you can see Sammi stuffed herself with a ball and stuck her tummy out and Daniel is giving "the look". It was so funny. We said things like, "I am hungry, that's mine, she's not sharing, I want, want, want, etc." They would come in and Sammi would pretend to make us food and they both said to us my favorite, "You need to treat each other with respect!" They did a pretty good job being mom and dad. Daniel looks a little grumpy for playing Charles, who really is not a grumpy daddy. But we were really teasing them with the things we were doing and Daniel starting feeling like a daddy. He really got into it. It was a fun time and I think it was educational for them and us. They could see how they seem to us as parents, and we got to see how they see us as parents. Boy, we are funny. One thing I cannot wait for is explaining to them both about William's food source, and how their mommy is like a cow. Oh brother, that will be quite the conversation! : ) Mooooooo!

Lately, we have been working on respect. I am teaching them to treat each other, their toys, their teachers, their parents, the earth, and all things with respect. As a primary teacher I have noticed a great lack of respect from a lot of the children towards their teachers and even the church and being in the church building. It is so sad. I am going to do my best to teach my kiddos to be kind and respectful. It is important to me.

I just went to Sammi's parent teacher conference with Mr. T. It was good. She is doing very well. She got a perfect score on her CAP test, which I am glad of. She is doing a really great job at reading and is an all around good student - which makes me thrilled. I just want her to be happy at school. He said she is. It makes me so happy because I have this theory that there is really no greater teacher than Mrs. MOM (and DAD). Sam has never gone to preschool or any other form of prep for grade school. What she has learned she has learned at home from someone who loves her more than anything. So when people say you "need" to send your kids to preschool for their development socially and educationally, it is a bunch of bunk. You can be your own childs teacher and I believe it is good, even the best, for them and for the parents. It brings me such joy to see them grow and learn. I love my children so much. I just hope I am teaching them as Heavenly Father would have me teach them. I could not love them more than I do.

That is all for now. It is a beautiful sunny day here and I am so glad. I love sunny days.

Love to all,

Mari

We went for a walk on Sunday, this time we let the kids walk with us. Normally they ride in the stroller. They had so much fun walking holding our hands. The first thing Sammi said was, " I love to feel the wind in my hair!" It cracked me up. We walked around the beautiful neighborhoods here. Flowers are blooming, grass is green, and trees are budding. There are some houses here that decorate for Easter and they hang the plastic eggs all over the trees in the yards - it is really cute and pretty.

We walked on Sunday in the evening as it was getting dark, it got a little cool. After about a mile and a half of walking the kids got a little chilly, the wind started blowing and we still had over a mile home. I said, "It is time to sing!" So we started singing primary songs and every song we knew to distract them from being cold and the "long" journey home. It worked! They loved singing, they walked strong and forgot they were cold. They were both so strong and so positive, no whinning. I think they watch our example as we walk and run almost daily and they see it is just a part of life. They always want to do it too. I was so proud of them for their strength. I told Dan I thought he was amazing and strong (He was my hand-holder) and he said, "Thanks Mama." From then on he walked even stronger. The power of positive encouragement. It works! It was a fun time as a family - those are the precious times.

I love the power of music. I believe it has healing powers really. If I am ever feeling alone (it happens sometimes) I crank up the music and I can change my mood in a second. I love it. The kids love music, they love to dance to it, sing to it, and play when it is on. It can be so powerful.

Baby Will is really kicking hard now. I can actually feel his foot on the outside of my skin when my hand is on my belly. The other day Dan had his head on my belly and he said the baby kicked him in the ear. I love it when they can feel the movement. I have about 4 weeks (or less) to go. I will be trying to encourage him out about a week and a half before my due date (which I have 3 of). My due date from my first visit, with just date information, was May 4th. Then the next ultrasound was May 1st, and the last ultrasound I had was April 29th. So, who knows really? I think I would go with the April 29th date and size since I am not completely sure about my last cycle date. Plus, the doctor said I was measuring about a cm larger than my due date at my last visit. Anyhow, I am really feeling more and more ready. I am feeling pretty tired yet I have great bursts of energy. I even moved the kids bunk bed around the other day. I am just anxious, very, very anxious for the baby to join our family. How exciting! We shall see when Will will join us. I am going to guess his weight at 9lbs at birth. Any other guesses?

Lots of Love,

Mari

Here are some pictures of Danny Boy. He is so funny. He keeps telling me that he is going to call Baby William Baby Henry. It is so silly. Henry was one of the names that Charles kept winning with in the name pulling out of a hat game. I was not interested in the name Henry - at all. So, we took some more time and finally came up with Will Turner after watching the charming movie Pirates of the Caribean. Inspiration, I am sure. : ) Anyhow, hopefully Dan catches on so the baby is not totally confused! : )

Daniel is my silly, sweet boy. He is such a good listener and helper. I am so glad. He LOVES riding his bike and playing at the park. He also will still cuddle and be sweet with me, with Sammi I have to convince her to sit by me and give hugs. She would much rather be jumping around being silly. She is so fun and energetic. It is amazing how fast they grow!

Sammi got to do her poster today at school. She loved it. She got to tell everyone all about herself. Mr. T her teacher asked her why she is called Sammi Sunshine and she said, "Because I am my mommies sunshine!" I thought it was so cute. The kids asked about Sage doggy in one of the pictures and Sammi said, "she is not my dog, she is Kary and Ray's dog , but she is part of our family." Cute. It seemed like she had fun doing it. Tomorrow she gets to take in some of her favorite toys to show. It has been fun for her. I am glad.

I am getting ready for this baby to come. I cannot wait, though I have to. I really am looking forward to the whole thing and moving on to the other side of pregnancy and recovery. Soon enough.

That is all for now. Much love to everyone.

Love, Mari

My Silly Heads

Sammi's Student of the Week Poster

Here is the poster I got to make for Sammi. She is student of the week, which means she gets to talk all about herself for the week and do special things. She was suppose to make a poster that she will have hung up on the wall all week. All I have to say is thank goodness for computers. It sure makes it fun. This week is also parent teacher conference so I get to meet with her teacher and see how she has been doing so far. That should be fun.
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Sammi got to go to her very first girl birthday party. She was so excited about it. She had it on her calendar for 2 weeks! Today was the day and she was so happy. She had so much fun. She got to wear her pajamas, they did hair, nails, and princess stuff. She was in heaven, I am sure. Charles and I took Daniel to McDonald's playland so he felt cool too. He had fun being the only child with us and getting lots of attention without distraction. It was a fun day for both of them. Charles bought some girl scout cookies from someone at work so it seemed like we spent the day eating those - pretty yummy! It has been a sugar filled day! I feel the buzz! I hope I can sleep.

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I am feeling good. My gut is getting so big, I roll out of bed about 5 times a night to go potty. That is really lame. It is not like I drink tons of water right before bed either. I will be perfectly sound asleep and if I wake up then I have to go potty. It would not be too bad except we have our bed against the wall, and I sleep on the wall side. I have tried to sleep with the bed in the middle but I just can't do it, I need the wall for comfort or something. Also, it is by the window for some cool air, because now I feel like a million degrees most of the time. Anyhow, scooting to the bottom of the bed is a challenge, a silly, weird challenge in the night. I look forward to moving about freely again soon. Instead of my belly being full - my hands will be full! I much prefer that! : )

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Well, that is it for now. Hope all is well with everyone.

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Lots of Love!

Mari

Fire at Brayton Chapel In Alaska

Apparently, Brayton Chapel was consumed with flames sometime last night. Go to www.ktuu.com or www.adn.com for more information and video. I actually cried when I saw this, so many memories.

I apologize for not writing much lately. It is not that nothing is happening but rather I am getting that nesting urge. So, I actually spend a lot of my time cleaning and preparing for baby time.

It will be so different this time. I hear 3 really makes the difference. I am glad that I have two little helpers though. They really are a big help, mostly. : ) Daniel loves to help do the dishes - which I am so grateful for. Sammi is good at cleaning most things. Sometimes it seems we have too much stuff everywhere. I am amazed. When we came here almost 3 years ago we had our clothes and some books and toys - nothing else. Now, we are loaded full of furniture and everything you can imagine. We actually need to get rid of things! It is so amazing how no matter where you go you can rely on the fact that members of the church are there to help you. At least I have found that to be my experience. We have never been alone, or felt alone, though we had no one here that we knew before. Now we have people we consider close to family and we know they will be there for us. It is so nice.

Well, I was going to write more but Charles just got home and I want to be with him. So ta, ta for now. I will write more interesting things later!

Mari

Growing. . .

I am just amazed at how big my little nephews are getting! It is so fun to see them grow. I love the pictures. Please keep them coming, since that is all I get! Give lots of hugs and kisses for me!

How much they change!!!

I am just amazed at how much little tiny babies change with time. I love little babies. : ) Big babies are good too.

Fun Photos

A picture of me holding Jimmy soon after he was born
Me and baby Kevin : )
Me and Katie (not a great picture)
Me, Kim and Katie
Bob giving me and Beth a horsey ride

Happy Sunday

Today was Sunday. How I love Sundays. Today was steak and potatoes dinner - the best! It is a beautiful day here, near 60 degrees. Spring is here and I am so happy for it!

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Sammi gave a talk today in Primary. She did so good! She read the whole thing all by herself. She was nice and loud and she just did a really nice job. I was happy for her. She is really a fun girl to watch grow. How I love my Sammi. Both Sammi and Daniel passed off their 4th article of faith today. We are on to the fifth now. It was so cute to watch them stand there and sing the song to the Primary Pres. They love to pass off their articles of faith, they get a prize from the prize box when they do. I have enjoyed teaching them to them.

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You know what is so great? On lds.org there is this place just for music. On the site you have available to you all of the hymns and childrens songs with the sheet music, the lyrics, someone playing the piano or full vocal. It is SO GREAT. Especially for me, who never learned how to play the piano. I can just turn on the website click the play button and teach my children the primary songs - I LOVE IT! What a great resource. The kids love it too, I find it very helpful. One day I will have piano in my home, and I WILL learn how to play. Things seem to come more easily to me now as an adult. My learning was stunted by distraction as a youth, now I have more of a fire for learning. It is very helpful! I do love to sing and I love music in the home. I want that to be a part of my home and my family.

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Not too much going on here. I am just getting closer each day to THE DAY. Not much longer now and I will have another child to love and cuddle - I am so excited about that. We had to break down and buy a car seat yesterday. It fits! Thank goodness. It is pretty darn skinny and the kids can buckle - hooray! I am so glad we found one. We could not bring baby home without it.

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That is all for now. It is about time to go for a walk. It is so pretty outside. I love Sundays, just being with family. It is so great.

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Love, Me