dancing queen

Wow, my kids are good. I make 'em cry all the time and they always forgive me-almost instantly, in fact. (Just so you know, THIS crying episode was not my fault..just another rumble with Cole). There's a reason the scriptures tell us to 'become as little children'. They don't hold grudges, they don't bad talk, they love unconditionally. What a miracle it is to bring them to this earth and have them teach US so much!!
Dayne has been asking non-stop to watch Mama Mia (since she's obsessed with the music). We finally realized that there's some parts of the movie which probably aren't suitable for kids and chose to turn the soundtrack on to its loudest and have a little dance party. So fun to watch your kids dance..
I posted a video already on my facebook page, but thought I'd post it here as well (for those of you smart people who don't waste your time on facebook).

NOW

My favorite pic of Cole.


"The psychological condition of fear is divorced from any concrete and true immediate danger. It comes in many forms: unease, worry, anxiety, nervousness, tension, dread, phobia, and so on. This kind of psychological fear is always of something that might happen, not of something that is happening now." ~Eckhart Tolle


Living in the NOW, that's what I'm trying to do. I'm grateful I woke up in a warm bed today, next to my husband. And we're both healthy! I'm more than grateful for that. We had a good yummy breakfast and I was able to feed all 3 of my kids good, healthy breakfasts as well. My wonderful mother-in-law has been busy doing my laundry for the last 2 days. What a blessing that is..to have her, first of all, and to have warm water and soap and a washer and dryer to do it all.! What a convenience! It makes it so much easier (believe me, I've done laundry by hand with freezing water in Argentina). I had a car today to run my errands and warm clothes to wear for myself and my children. Today is a good day. I have every thing I need. Geof. got called in to sub again today, at the middle school in Amboy. He does have a job-today! When I think this way, I'm content. I'm calm. I'm happy.


Life will be okay.


-No word on the job with Insitu. He does have a 2nd phone interview with University of Phoenix. Looks hopeful.

to you.

A repeat of past post pics..., I know. I love this man. Things have always been so RIGHT with him. What a great feeling to know I'm with the right person for me. There's nobody else I'd rather spend my days and nights with, Geof. Thank you for making me laugh, cry, scream..and forgive you. (;
I can't (no wait, I can) believe it's been 7 years! It seems like 20.., but that's just because we've chosen to hardest route possible. So like us. I'd do it all again with you..

just a question..

Okay,
I'm totally stealing this from my friend Lisa's blog. I thought it was a great question and one I can easily answer.
For the rest of your life, WOULD YOU RATHER...
-Only eat one meal a dayOR-Get only 4 hours of sleep a night.Which do you love more? Food or sleep?
I LOVE love LOVE food, but I'm pyschotic without sleep. I also am trying to fast more often seeing that the world's finally coming around to the health benefits of fasting. Okay, don't quote me on that. I'm sure MANY people (especially asians) have known that for quite some time now.

We haven't heard a blasted thing from the company Geof. interviewed with, yet. All is well. I've been trying to keep my mind off of it (trying, mind you) and was able to receive some good insight from the scriptures.
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? - For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." 3 Nephi 13: 31-33 (can also be found in Matthew 6). Maybe my prayers have been vain repetitions lately. He's aware of the fact that Geof. needs a good job and a way to support his family.
And it will happen.
I do know it'll happen (forget the small font). There's just other things I need to be praying about and working on. And, I am.

I realize Valentine's Day isn't over yet..

Last night we had a romantic dinner at home with the lights down low, kids on each side of us, and Geof.'s sister Ellynn and her baby Finn (her hubby Jason was working). (;
No, it was great. For real! We all went around the table and read the back of our "hearts" where Geof. had written down a question for each of us to answer. Example: "name 5 things you love about mommy", or "What's your best memory with the kids?" etc. The kids did much better than we expected and we felt much closer to them afterward. We have the sweetest kids ever...when they want to be. Sorry no pic of the intimate event.
When we woke up this morning to another day of cloudy skies, I thin Geof. realized what the day COULD turn into...seeing that we've all been sick and stuck in the house all week. After hearing me yell at the kids a good 10 times before it was even 10 am, he suggested we spend the day in Portland.

Yea for Portland! How can you say no to that?? Geof. was so good and let me do whatever I want. We went and walked along the waterfront, ate at a Greek restaurant, and even stopped by the overpriced Nordstrom Rack looking for running shoes.

City of Bridges.

Dayne immediately went running after the seagulls and Cole quickly followed after her. He was a bit shy at first. He's getting so old! Last night he got out of the bath and I was helping him dry his hair and realized he was right to my chest (in heighth). Did that sound weird? Anyway, he's getting extremely tall and I admit, I was a little depressed after that. Am I wasting my time on stupid things or trying to just enjoy my kids?? The other night I went to a presentation of Love and Logic that Cole's school had provided. I have read parts of a few of the books the organization has put out, and I've also been to a few classes in Utah, but what one of the presenters said really struck me as something I don't want to do or be anymore! She said when she was raising her kids and her oldest was in 1st grade, she knew she needed to change something about her parenting because she had a constant scowl on her face. She wasn't enjoying what she was doing because she was so exhausted. I feel like that a lot. I seem to be a lot happier when I'm outside with my kids, being active. But you can't always do that. So I'm hoping I can improve my parenting skills using love and logic tools so this whole thing can be enjoyable. Anyway..moving on.

Geof. followed the kids down to the water and had quite the time throwing rocks in the river. He could do that forever.

winner: June Bennett, for whiniest kid in Portland on Valentine's Day.

When we got home the sister missionaries surprised us with some heart decor and chocolates on our window downstairs and some fun things that they had crocheted for the kids. I don't even know what these particular thingees are called, but I want em!! They're like leg warmers for your arms and have little pom poms on 'em. I might steal them from Dayne.

The 2nd attempt at making a hat for June. The 1st one Sister Cox made was too small. It's those darn foreheads I've cursed 'em with!

Cole and Sister Kelly sporting the matching mittens she made. We love our sisters. They sure love my kids and I don't know what we'll do when we leave here. They'll be so bored with just me and Geof. around.

p.s. no news on Geof.'s job with Insitu. They said the soonest they'd get back to him was Friday or Monday. I'm thinking it'll be later than that since they're continuing to interview for multiple positions right now. We'll see!

Hood River

Dayne enjoying her turn on the swing.

June not as happy with Dayne's turn. She really is nearing 2.

Dayne hiding from the dragon.
We had quite the time pretending that Dayne was a princess and June and I were saving her from a fire breathing monster.

Isn't this a rad park?

The view of the river from the park.

Sunday night the girls and I drove with Geof. to Hood River, OR for a job interview he was having with this company on Monday. Most of the drives I've done up and down the Gorge have been in the dark, and I haven't been able to really appreciate the beauty. Wow. It was AMAZING! I'm trying to not get my hopes up (although it's a very good company and Geof. did do very well on his interview), because who knows what'll happen. It is an incredible place, though! Here's some pics of the girls and I enjoying the park in town while we waiting for Geof. to be done.

highly recommended

Geof. and watched a movie last night, titled "Fireproof". Ignore the IMDB rating. I'm guessing what turned them off to it was the fact that it doesn't use bad language or have some raunchy humor. Maybe some of you have seen it. Although I'm pretty picky about movies, and this one definately did fit the "made for tv" standard, it really made such an impact on me. I don't remember the last time I watched a movie and felt really good afterward. It's about a couple who are at the point of divorce and are able to pull their marriage together through the acceptance of Christ in their lives. Kirk Cameron (remember, from Growing Pains?) is the main actor and I guess he's become extremely religious and decided to do this movie. It's wonderful, I tell ya!! Go rent it and make it a night with your spouse. (:

A GOOD MONTH

Life feels good right now. I know that probably sounds crazy since it's January, we don't have a job, and the economy is so bad that everyone around us is out of work. I feel wonderful, though!! It will all work out. Geof. has 2 promising interviews coming up...no promisES, yet..but hopefully something will come up. We've felt so good about our decision to end aviation, and know that something else is in store for us. I'm confident about that.

The kids are good and quite hysterical. Dayne was upstairs watching a movie this morning while I was downstairs doing Taebo. I had a feeling that I should go check up on her. I called her, no answer. I looked for her..nothing. I ran outside yelling..no response. I finally stood in the kitchen and just waited (she's a pretty good hider). She finally shows up at the back door calling, "what mom!?", as if she's 16 years old. "Dayne, where were you?! I was calling you!". She replies with this, "Mom, I'M the mom, now. And I was at Gerda's (the old lady who lives across the street)." She says all this while wearing her too small dress up sandals and her purse slung over her arm. Scary. I didn't even know how to respond other than some stern explaining about how dangerous her act was. It didn't seem to sink in at all.
Cole loves school, even though he won't admit it. He always comes home happy and I know he's learning a ton. I still get tempted to home school him, though. He's growing up way too fast..making me quite sad, in fact. I wish I'd given him more hugs and kisses when he wasn't pushing me off.

June is fast approaching 2. Really!! I can't believe it. She points her finger at us and shouts, "nnnnnnnoooooooooooooooo"..really accentuating the n. It's so cute we don't even know how to mad. Pretty darn cute, that curly girly.

This past Saturday we drove up to Whispering Woods, some condos that Geof.'s parents get once a year as part of their timeshare. They had been up there all week snowshoeing, cross country skiing, swimming in the heated pool. It was beautiful. We went swimming and then packed the kids in the car and took the 15 minute drive to Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood (part of it was the hotel in "The Shining"!!).

Dayne taking pics of Mom. Cole and Dayne always want to take pictures with my camera. I decided to give my old camera to Cole and he and Dayne now go around the house taking pics of their feet, the carpet, the wall..their cheek. You get the picture.

The lodge was beautiful. It was a very clear day and it was amazing how close the mountain was. Cole kept talking about how "creepy" it was...maybe it was because we told him the scariest movie of all time was filmed there.

I promise Cole was not trying to shut Dayne up. She hates it when he tries to hug and kiss her (which is what he was trying to do, forcefully).

My new favorite pic of us.