My Amazing Day!

If you are having a birthday,

Steve is the one to plan it!

I warned you ladies last year not to have your husbands read my birthday post, because they will feel the pressure to make all your dreams come true. Well, he's done it again! He spoiled me like a princess, and made me feel far more special than ever. He knows me so well, and made this birthday one to remember forever. I love his surprises, and love to play along, without trying to jump ahead or guess what's next.

First, he arranged for BOTH grandmas to come over and babysit the kids--mine during the day, then his mom at night. He even arranged everything with enough time and flexibility for me to come home to nurse Alana at the appropriate time. As soon as my Mom arrived, I was pushed out the door with my birthday package in hand, and a note: "Open once you get into the car":

And this is what I found: my GPS and 7 envelopes to open at specific times throughout the day.

WHAT A BLAST!

First stop: My friend's house to pick up my next clue, or so I thought. To my surprise, I was there to pick up HER!!!! Steve knew how much more fun I have on my birthday if I share it with someone, and he was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

Next Stop: (Now's when you can start getting jealous, or asking hubby to read over your shoulder)...the GPS guided us to {*drum roll*} a SPA where we BOTH got massages! He even spoiled me further by getting me a HOT STONE MASSAGE, which I highly recommend.

And Then: Out to Lunch with NO KIDS! He even printed out my birthday coupon, allowing me my second joy in life--taking full advantage of free things. We spent a little too long enjoying our time away, that I accidentally missed my next appointment...I felt awful, but Steve had already made new arrangements and switched things around so my day continued flawlessly!

The UnOpened Envelope: Due to the delay, there was one envelope we had to forgo...later Steve revealed its contents...Money for Rebecca and I to go pick a favorite Treat at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory! TO DIE FOR! Sorry to let you down, Rebecca! And, again, I'm baffled how well Steve knows me!

Adventure #4: After going home to nurse Alana, I went back out into the wintry Birthday weather, with only an address in my hand, and not a clue where I was going. It lead me to a familiar downtown area, where I had to park the car, and continue to find my location walking with the GPS in hand. I was so thrilled to see it lead me to a Luxurious Salon, and thrilled even MORE to find out that he had scheduled a cut/style/"whatever she wants" with one of my FRIENDS who worked there (and I didn't even know that was her salon!) I was SO SURPRISED!Angelique gave me the best haircut I've had in at least 4 years...and she's quite the stylist, too:

We had SUCH a good time talking, laughing, and sipping lemonade. I recommend Angelique if you're looking for a great cut and a fun time!

Night's End: We ended the night with me nursing Alana, then an impromptu scavenger hunt for Steve when he discovered {panic} that he lost an extremely important work package on the train. Never FEAR! After a faithful prayer, and speeding to the train yard, Steve found the right train, and the right conductor to talk to, and found his package! Yea! With that sense of relief, we were able to finish our night off with a wonderful date, Photo-since my hair would never look as good again, even though this picture doesn't even show it at its best--and a movie.

Thank you ALL who were involved with the planning and secrecy, and even those of you who had to cancel Bday plans with last minute due to Steve's sweet planning! Thank you Moms, Stefani, Rebecca, Katie, Lindsay, Mary, Angelique, Val, Jeanine, Zoe, Angelique's manager, etc...Amazing job at making me feel like an important person! You all are amazing, and have shown your love so sweetly! Thank you!

All gifts aside, what Steve gave me most of all was a wonderful gift for me to spend time with friends. I have really missed this and have scrambled to fill my social needs and manage the time being a mom-of-three demands. So even if we had sat around at home, giving me just that time to visit with friends was the most amazing thing!

The real thanks, of course, goes to my husband. Thank you thank you thank you! To which he replied:

"Wives, be jealous. Husbands, I'm sorry!"

We're Partying over here!

Consider this your Ecard for Addie and Me!

Cousins Photo Shoot

Avery and Alana...5 days apart

In the Princess Skirts made by Cheri

In the hats we made out of an old sweater

(Made it...loved it)

Our Santa Babies on Christmas Day

Proof that the pressure gets to every young model!

Mommy Rule # 27

You are allowed to open your eyes during prayers if it means you capture moments like this:

Carter-- 3 1/2

Addison--2

Dare you not to smile

5 Months Old

Downtown Adventure

During Christmas time, Cheri and I initiated her Arizona husband and 3 kids to the lovely, windy, and snowy downtown Chicago. 6 kids with 3 adults still didn't feel like enough hands at times, but we sure made some GREAT memories! The kids were thrilled to:

1. Ride the El Train and sit in the front car. I enjoyed how many times I was asked how many twins we had with us (two 3 yr olds, two 2 yr olds, two babies, all born within days of the other cousin). I felt like Lindsay, Katie, or Stefani--how many times do you GET that question?
   

   




2. Survey Passengers on the train. The Preschool Teacher in me came out, and soon Carter was walking up and down the train, interviewing each passenger and recording his findings. Then, when his Bar Graph math lesson turned into Addison's art project, preschool on the train was over. It was a good moment though, and a highlight of the trip! I loved seeing Carter so outgoing and confident, and really appreciated the heartfelt smiles of the strangers on the train.






3. Meet Steve for lunch. Steve conducted his own "Power Lunch Mtg" with his young attendees.

Needless to say, it was hard to get 6 kids 3 and under who didn't have naps to pose for a picture. Here's proof of what happened when they heard,"Say Cheese":

We got a good laugh thanks to a local Chicago Vandal. Someone had replaced one of these safety precaution posters with their own rendition:

All in all, it was a great and memorable adventure.

Be Your Best Self

It's 3:00 AM now, and I came to the computer an hour ago after I woke up to check on the kids. It was going to be quick, to find a scriptural thought to share at our RS activity tonight. Instead I find myself grateful for an article I just found. It's called

The Choice is Yours.

This article outlines an actual process of HOW to be my best self, HOW to stop doing the things that stand in my way that make me feel lousy, like I'm a bad mom, or an unworthy daughter of God. I love reading the scriptures and talks promoting faith, yet sometimes I don't know HOW to put it into action. I read about repentance and the atonement, and still find myself repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I appreciate the practice suggested in this talk. It outlines a strategy to actually help overcome self-defeating behaviors that get in the way of us being our best selves. This applies to all things in our lives, not just the serious sins he suggests in the article. It applies to controlling our anger, speech, thoughts; it applies to taking care of our selves physically, controlling our appetites and exercise habits; it simply applies to any habit that we are wanting to change in exchange for being our best selves. I'm glad I read this tonight, at 3:00 AM. I hope that it will help me to be a little kinder, to stand a little taller, to be a little better. Hopefully this will help me have a better day tomorrow, that I can consciously make the choices to be true to who I really am.

• Outlines a strategy of how to stop our self-defeating behaviors, our habits or sins that interfere with being our best selves.
• Encourages responsibility of our choices
• Brings to light the choices we make seemingly automatically
• We have the power within to stop and change and take charge of who we are choosing to be--the type of person, wife, daughter, mom

We all have bad habits we wish weren't a part of our lives. I'm not talking about biting your fingernails or cracking your knuckles. All sins and bad habits are defeating to the true self--the person you were created to be. And who is that, who are you created to be?

My confidence is that you were created for greatness. Each of you have touched my life in a very poignant way, in that my life would not be the same if it weren't for your influence, example, and encouragement. We each have a very specific duty we agreed to accomplish while here on earth, and now it is up to us to rise to the occasion and do it. We don't have time anymore for self pity. We don't have energy to waste on negativity. It's time to stand firm and cheerfully get to work.

Read the quotes on my sidebar by Sister Marjorie Hinckley and Nelson Mandela. I want to be like Sister Hinckley, and adopt that cheerful perspective. I believe what Nelson Mandela said, that we are powerful beyond measure, simply because we are children of God. When we grasp that reality, we see our greatness, and now self-defeating behavior can stop us from achieving our highest potential.

Another quote I like to remind myself of the need to rise to be my best self is this one:

"One of the greatest challenges is to overcome the feeling that we are unimportant, that we are not special and unique. Do you think for a moment that Heavenly Father would have sent one of His children tot his earth by accident, without the possibility of a significant work to perform? My dear friends, you are a royal generation. You were preserved to come to the earth in this time for a special purpose. Not just a few of you, but all of you. There are things for each of you to do that no one else can do as well as you. If you do not prepare to do them, they will not be done. Your mission is unique and distinctive for you. Please don't make another have to take your place. She can't do it as well as you can. If you will let Him, I testify that our Father in Heaven will walk with you through the journey of life and inspire you to know your special purpose here."--Bishop H. Burke Peterson

No one can be a better Mom for your children than you can. No one can fill the role of being a friend as well as you can. No one can be a better wife than you were chosen to be. No one can replace you. Your part in the lives of others is like being part of an orchestra, made up of several different instruments; it is not the same without each instrument playing its individual part. Without you, a great composition would only be a simple melody. But together, we can acheive a marvelous work.

I don't usually aim to be so profound at 3 AM, and can use that as an excuse if this all came out wrong...we'll see in the morning with a fresh pair of eyes. But in the meantime, Welcome to Thursday, January 21st. The beginning of a new day, a day where you and I are committed to be our best self. If even only for today.

If you read the article, share with me your thoughts. If you have favorite quotes, share those with me, too. If not either, just keep sharing your love, friendship, *forgiveness*, and support. We can not move forward without the strength of each other.

PS...Tonight, 7:00 PM at the church. BE YOUR BEST SELF presentation where 2 phenomenal women will talk about "Power of Positive Speaking" and "Battling the Blues". You are invited, yes even if you aren't in my ward. Call for details, or comment if you want to come and don't know the way. Best of all: a children's class will be provided.

Bad News!

Computer got a virus.

Darn swine flu!