Today is a BIG DAY!!

I know it's been a long time and there are so many pictures to share and experiences as well.  But, let me tell you about all the reasons I believe today will be a great day. First, Preston defends his dissertation in just an hour and a half!!!  Woohoo!  Second, we are going to get an offer on our house!! (as long as they didn't change their minds over night).  Two big reasons that we are excited for the day.  Besides that, we have our play group at someone's pool today, it's beautiful outside and we get to go to some friends to watch the NBA finals. (Mostly that's exciting for the friends from my perspective. :D ).

Anyway, wish us luck!!

More to come soon!

Happiest Places on Earth

We made our final trip to Orlando this week!  It was strange thinking we won't be making that 4 hour journey every month.  Not that the temple isn't enough to keep us going down there, but we've been adding Disney after the temple to make it an extra fun/ extra long trip!  I guess I won't miss having to drive 4 hours to get there, but it's always sad to realize your opportunity is coming to an end.  We love the Orlando temple!  The boys even know their way around and have favorite spots to go.  The fountains are their favorite :)  Plus, our Disney passes have several months left on them.  But it was fun while it lasted!!! 

I couldn't help but take lots of pictures knowing it was my last chance.  So, here they are (probably more for my memories than your enjoyment, but please enjoy!).

Brayden gave Bun Bun a tour of the temple.

Zander got hold of Bun Bun and ran away.  Good thing Brayden's a good sport!

Trying to see in the temple's back "door"

Ahhhh. . . got Bun Bun back.

The nice white rocks around the back fountains

And the palm trees we won't be seeing in Utah

A little lunch

Playing and talking together. Too cute!

SO BIG!!!

Zander snapped this shot.  Haha.

 DISNEY WORLD - Magic Kingdom

 Hidden Mickeys in Small World

Life Plans as of Now

Even though our seminary journey didn't end like we had hoped, the journey continues on.  Not that we can't take "No" for an answer, but what else do you do when you just feel that it's the path for you??  Plus, you gotta understand that both our attempts so far have had some extenuating circumstances.  First round they had actually told Preston's principle they were going to hire Preston, but then the hiring freeze happened and they just couldn't.  Now we were just too far removed and we're not entirely sure if the pre-service director Preston worked with in Arizona ever really considered him as a student teacher.  He seemed to forget about Preston and didn't provide the feedback he would promise.  Who knows if he even watched the videos?

All we know is that we feel like Nephi when he went to get the plates.  We feel like we're being told "Go get a job in Seminary and Institutes."  So, we try once, but it doesn't quite work.  That's ok.  We'll just try again.  I wonder if Nephi felt like we did when we knew we were going for the right thing, so we just figure it's going to work.  But, just like for Nephi, our second try didn't end up working.  Now we're at the point where we feel like in the eyes of everyone else we should probably just find a new goal.  But, in all we feel from our Heavenly Father,  a job with seminary is still the right goal.  It's pretty humbling having to get turned away and ask for another try when there's not usually that option for people.  But, as the Arizona preservice director responded, Preston does have some natural talent, so we can be given a chance when we get to Utah.  But, I'm pretty positive this is THE last chance.  So, here's to hoping that it all ends like Nephi's journey to get the plates.  If not though, we can rest assured knowing that going for seminary will still get us to where we need to be.  That being said, Utah is calling.  It is where we need to be.  So, on June 9-ish, we'll be heading to MO for a Doxey family reunion and then on to Preston's parent's basement in Sandy where we will mooch off of many necessities of life while we build our means back up.  We are SO grateful for parents who are in a position to help us!!!

FHE- Followers of Christ

This week we talked about Elder Oaks' talk from Conference.  Another record-time planning session (is it really "record" if it happens every week?) that led to a successful FHE.  The Lord is really looking out for me!  It seems like all I have to do is make an effort and he takes care of the rest by filling my mind with great ideas.  I love it!  Anyway, the talk is titled "Followers of Christ" and Elder Oaks talks about different things we do that make us Followers of Christ. 

For this FHE you will need:
-footprints (traced or printed then cut out)
-the talk "Followers of Christ" by Elder Oaks from April 2013 General Conference
-tiny pictures for the characteristics you choose.
-something your kids use while they sleep/rest (like a blanky)

Prep:

Make your footprints however you choose. I traced my own feet and cut out a stack of construction paper footprints.  I ended up with 8 (4 of each foot). I think it was just the right amount. Then choose the same number of characteristics that you want to use. Elder Oaks discussed charitable contributions (tithing), baptism, the sacrament, service, missionary work, keeping commandments, repentance and forgiveness.  I added my own applicable habits of sharing, reverence, and playing nicely.  Then search for pictures of each thing.  I used a google search for the topic plus the word "coloring" because then it brought up lots of black and white pictures that are much nicer for my ink supply. They're meant for coloring on, so if you have kids that want to help prep, you could let them color them in!  Or if you're in a super big hurry, you can even just write words on the feet.

The last thing to prep is deciding where you're going to lead them.  I chose my bedroom because the talk basically says that if we follow Christ we'll find rest to our souls.  So, I figured a bedroom is a good resting place.  Wherever you choose, leave your child's "resting item" there where they won't accidentally find it before you start.

Song I used:
Do as I'm doing (with marching in a line to follow the leader. . . since we're talking about following Christ).  "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" would work nicely too.

Lesson:
After we had an opening prayer, I explained that just like in our song when we followed each other (each of us got a turn leading) we were talking about following Christ.  I told them that we say "follow in his footsteps" because we want to live the way He did when He walked on the Earth.  I told them that Elder Oaks shared some ways that we can follow in his footsteps.  Then I shared his testimony from the end of his talk that says "He invites all of us who are heavy laden to come unto Him, to learn of Him, to follow Him, and thus to find rest to our souls."(I added emphasis).  I emphasized that we work hard to follow all his footsteps and then we can rest because it can be hard and tiring!

Now the fun part- the footprints!  I just held the stack and showed them the one on top and asked them what the picture showed.  Then when either they would guess it or I would tell them, I would toss it on the ground ahead of us and we all had to run and hop on it.  They started taking turns standing on each one :) I kept tossing the footprints ahead to lead to my room where my resting place is.  Once we were there, they found their blankies waiting on my bed and then we went to their resting places after a quick treat and brushing the teeth.  They both did really well with it and actually went back to race to the footprints after we were done.  So, I asked what steps Brayden remembered.  He started just pointing and saying "that one and that one" so I started naming some for him and he seemed to actually be paying attention and trying to remember them.  Ahhhh.  Another success.  Parenting is SO fulfilling when you're doing it right.  Basically when you partner with the Lord.  Love love love it.

Conference 2013 FHE - Christofferson

Yesterday was not my favorite day.  I went grocery shopping during my time with Preston during the day, then shortly after he left, I started feeling sick to my stomach and must have had a stomach bug.  It lasted nearly all night.  Yuck.  A tender mercy was having Preston come home early without me even asking.  He must have been inspired! But, one reason he came home is he heard some news we had been waiting for.  It was bad news.  No dream job yet.  But, despite all the negative things that I could focus on, I was still able to feel pretty positive in life and put together another good FHE.

Elder Christofferson talked about being redeemed.  It was a really great talk that I need to go back and read more in depth.  But, I had the idea pop into my head (from a higher source I'm sure) that we could have a little shopping experience for FHE in a mini store where the boys could each spend homemade $2.  However, the prices were $1 for 1 mini marshmallow, $2 for 5 mini marshmallows (obviously a better choice), or $3 for 10 marshmallows and a large gummy bunny.   The idea was that they would want to spend $3 for the best treat bag, but they could only provide $2 on their own.  I explained that there was a way to afford the $3 bag.  They could go ask Daddy for a coupon that would make up the difference.  Brayden was wise and got the coupon. Zander tried to take the bag without a coupon and ended up having a fit until we just gave him the $2 bag that he could afford without the coupon.  That little one can't resist sugar!! It was a good object lesson though.

During the activity we used the words "redeem" the coupon.  Which is important since the whole talk is about being redeemed.  The other key was that the coupon was on the back of a picture of Christ- our Redeemer.  So, while the boys ate their treats we showed them the picture and explained how we can go to our Heavenly father and ask him to help us with what we can't do for ourselves.  We explained that Christ is our Redeemer because he provided a way for us to "say sorry" and repent.

I also used a small quote from the talk. There's lots of good things you can share from the talk.

Anyway, it was fun.  And hopefully took the principle to their level.

Umbrellas, Paint and More!

We've had a lot of random fun that never got shared, so here it is.

UMBRELLAS
We've had some rainy days here in Florida, so the umbrellas have been thought of and pulled out.  It hasn't rained inside yet, but it never hurts to be prepared! :D

 PAINT
Brayden got a little pain kit from Auntie Julianna for Christmas and we finally got around to pulling it out during a Zander nap.  Brayden LOVED it and was actually pretty good.  I let him paint all by himself by the end.

 BUBBLEGUM
They got bubblegum in their Easter baskets, but they haven't had much exposure to gum and 2 of the 3 other times Brayden tried it he swallowed it.  So, it's been unopened.  But, after explaining to them so many times why I didn't think they were ready for bubblegum, they finally talked me into letting them try it.  They have been very good at spitting it in the garbage can with a couple exceptions.  I did find three barely chewed pieces in the kitchen sink after I took a trip to the bathroom.  The pictures below are of them eating bubblegum on the back stairs.  Brayden's idea :) 

 HAIRCUT
I cut Brayden's hair the day after Easter because I felt slightly embarrassed that his hair was so out of control for all the Easter pictures we got.  This doesn't really show off the cut so much, but it does show the fact that there was hair all over.  Brayden sat very still for me, but didn't want a towel over his shoulders :)

 DIY BENCH
I saw an idea on pinterest (of course) to make a bench using a bookshelf type slab of wood.  Well, I just so happened to have a bookshelf scrap and a little table I got for free at a yard sale, so I went ahead and made a small bench that would fit the table.  I think it turned out cute.  It's not perfect, but still pretty cool to see something I made getting used and loved by my cuties.

 MARKERS
Thank goodness for washable markers.  Zander went to a 2 week phase after discovering our markers that coloring was all he wanted to do.  So, he got left alone with just him and the coloring book at times.  One morning I helped him draw a circle a few times and then told him to practice.  I left the room and was with Brayden in the kitchen when Zander came running out saying "Circle! Circle!!"  I assumed he had drawn a circle on his own, but since he was so excited I went to look.  Sure enough, he had a drawn a circle!  A pretty good one too.  I hadn't had experience with the markers on the wall yet, so I was pretty concerned it wouldn't come off, but I had to praise him for his artwork too.  So, I told him it was very good and then told him that the wall is a no no for markers.  We cleaned it up together using a wet wipe and it luckily came right off! He then got the idea to start testing markers on all the accessible surfaces at the coloring table (the table, his clothes, skin).  He has now lost most curiosity and does very well, but he did get pretty good at wiping up marker!