Time for Each Other


“We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, ‘Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.’ Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.”

M. Russell Ballard


Family Day

…in Canada.

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I have this funky little calendar that says that today is National Family Day in Canada. I’m good with that. Any reason to have a celebration is usually fine with me–but Family Day? How can you possibly beat that?

This day is supposed to be spent having all kinds of adventures with your family–indoors or out. I’m an inny sort myself. It’s a bit nippy out.

Since this day falls in a cold month–the books say that Hot Chocolate and Cookies are the thing to do.

I’m pretty darn ok with that too.  :]

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Since we wanted to do this properly, we chose to make Canadian Maple Cookies in honor of the day. They were a hit.

So take this as the excuse you may need to stay home tonight and play games or watch a movie or just sit around eating cookies and being with your family.

Grab them while you still can. They grow up sooo fast.

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You must trust me on this.

Inevitable

I have found…

that when it looks like this…

and this…

and this…

on the outside

…it becomes quite necessary…

to find this…

and this…

and this…

on the inside.

Warm tummies, warm hearts.

It can’t possibly be helped.

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Happy Birthday President Lincoln!

Valentine Pancakes-

My cute niece Tracy—

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–did a post last week about making pancakes into shapes for her girls. They were the cutest things I’ve ever seen.  Anyway–I was so impressed that I decided to try it.

First–we got a mustard and ketchup squirter bottle from the dollar aisle at Target. We washed them out with warm soapy water first. You can fill them with your favorite pancake mix–well, unless it’s blueberry or some other chunky fruit thing–your favorite SMOOTH pancake mix.

Don’t be afraid. It was really fun. Just squirt the batter onto the hot pan–make the “picture” first and then fill it in. To be honest, I was terrible at it, but laughing through breakfast prep isn’t so bad, and they were still edible. The one above looks like it has a spooky little man in the middle. It was suppose to be a heart!

So then, I tried to make a happy face and ended up with some dude with dreadlocks! I told Rhen that I made him a Bob Marley pancake and he thought I was so incredibly cool! Heh, heh…

This heart looks more like a slingshot. Tracy–I need art lessons!

And here was my attempt to make a lacy heart. Can anyone else see a squirrel in there—or is it just me? :]

Perhaps this is more a self portrait than I’d like to think. Ha ha.

To tell you the truth–I’m sure your pancakes will be fabulous if you have the least bit of artistic talent. And if not, and you’re like me, you’ll just laugh your head off and your kids will think you’re the best–or nuts.

Either way, you get breakfast and everybody’s smiling.

Beat that.

Love Is…

…the Most Powerful Force in the World

“The eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves all his children is an immensely powerful idea. It is especially powerful when children can visualize it through the love and sacrifice of their earthly parents. Love is the most powerful force in the world.”

Dallin H. Oaks