The Littlest Dancing Star

Dancing With My Stars!!!

Deeper Thoughts

I know that whenever I talk to a friend or teach a lesson about something I've learned- it always stays with me more for some reason. Maybe it's just in the sharing of the emotions. Or maybe I actually feel like I am accountable to live that way once I tell someone else what I've learned. That has been the case with my last blog- I shared a win of having a house of order and then realized that if I'm declaring that - then I also have to actually keep up with that. And it's actually helped me KEEP the house in order more so. So, with that being said- I wanted to share some deeper insights to things I've been learning so that I can concrete them in my mind. And maybe create some value for anyone else who cares to read this blog.

I taught the Valiant 9 class at church for the month of February. The lessons were all about Nephi from the Book of Mormon. I love Nephi anyway- but as I prepared for these lessons I gained a much greater appreciation for how much God loves us!

I'ts Amazing to me that God asked Nephi to build a boat to take them very far across many rough waters- what a huge undertaking! He also didn't just drop tools from Heaven, Nephi had to make them. He knew what God asked him to do and got right to work. My favorite part of the story is in 1 Nephi 17: 8 that says "Thou shalt construct a ship after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters." The last sentence hit me like a ton of bricks! The picture that came into my mind was God's big hands carrying Nephi's boat accross the water safely to their destination.

It seems to me that if He will do that for Nephi and his family- He will do that for me. And that Heavenly Father is a lot closer in my life than I had ever knew before! In verse 13 of the same chapter it says "...I will prepare the way before you.... and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led."

I took Pres. Eyring's counsel from the last General Conference to keep a journal every day of how you have seen the Lord's hand in your life. It was a little different for me to give specific credit to Heavenly Father for all the little things that went well and that I enjoyed in the day. But, it's also helped me see that He carries our family over smooth and rough waters. We have to do a lot of work!! In a sense- we must make our own tools and then build a huge boat. We can't afford to be lazy like Laman and Lemuel, we must get right to work and do what we know we must do. But, as we do that we will know "That it is by me that ye are led." And also in verse 40 "he loveth those who will have him to be their God." Which to me means that I must keep acknowleding His hand everyday and do what what He wants me to do and not always what I want to do.

This might be kind of weird for a blog, but .....Thanks for allowing me to share my heart with you!

House of Order

A dinnertime tradition is to go around the table and tell a couple of WINS for the day. I thought I would share the insights of our family.

Jordyn: Enjoying Cade growing up. Being the top reader in my class. Getting good at rip boarding and basketball.

Tyson: Getting myself ready for school 4 weeks in a row (which includes guitar practice before school) because that means I get a late nights on Fridays!

Luke: Wrestling on the trampoline with my brothers.

Joey: Playing with Cade. And earning Bobofet in Lego Star Wars II.

Cade: Being the center of attention!

JD: Learning about Accounting with his friend Emmet.

OK- my WIN is long because I'm the writer of this blog so I get to give my own perspective....
Courtney: Having a house of order! I've always been a sub- par house keeper! I like having a clean house, but it hasn't always been on the top of my priority list. My college roomates will laugh at this story but I remember sitting at the kitchen table together having a pow wow about how we were going to divide up the cleaning of our apartment. I remember saying "This kitchen table always seems so dirty." Laurie (who was constantly cleaning up!) said "Well, then clean it!" I always thought that was a good answer to me- the lazy cleaner.

So I feel like our home is becoming a well oiled machine. The kids know what's expected and what's going to happen if they fall short on their responsibilities. They know their rewards if they follow through. Sometimes I feel like we're running a business because we have systems in place to take care of issues. So, I guess our business is -FAMILY! It may sound structured- but my brain really likes order! These are some of my favorite things that we have structured into our family system. Date night is every Friday night and one individual child gets to go with us every other week. Everyone gets one free hour of TV or game cube time a day- which they don't always even use, but they can build it up and save it for Saturday. (There is also incentive to earn more time by making healthy choices like exercising, reading, service) No afterschool snack til homework is done. Silly Daddy time for an hour on Saturdays. Everyone helps clean up dinner. Chores on Saturday morning that they get to pick from a list that I make. Family Home Evening every Monday. Family scripture study most nights. Family prayers every morning and night. Nothing too unique, but we are constantly trying new things to do better. So if anyone has any ideas or things they do with their family that they love- I would love to know about it! Even if it's simple- usually simple is best anyway. Just post your thoughts- I would love to hear them!! (Also, how to get pink egg dye out of the carpet?)

I'm really enjoying and seeing the benefits of a clean home and enjoying the spirit of it! The only problem is Jordyn has my old attitude and she thinks I'm way overboard on how I like things just right! A place for everything and everything in it's place! Ahhhh, it's a peaceful feeling I can get used to!

I only have a few pictures to share this time and they are of Cade, since he is the one changing and growing the most currently.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW JUST 16 MONTHS AGO WE HAD THIS:

AND NOW WE HAVE THIS!!!

The sad face is some mighty big teeth coming in!

February 2008

Well- the month of February was a Great one!
Tyson started Cub Scouts and had his first Pinewood Derby this month. I think JD and Dave (his friend) had more fun working on the boys cars then Tyson and Alex did. And I had fun painting it. So... it was a family affair.

I volunteered to coach Jordyn's Basketball team and that has been lots of FUN! Although, my competitive side has risen to the surface! It's different being a coach vs. player cuz as a player you get tired. After the game, I had to run around the walking path a couple times just to get my adrenaline out! Even though I don't know a ton about basketball-it's been fun learning and teaching the girls.

We've been doing a lot of reading this winter (a lot for us)...
Courtney's recent reads:
The 3 Stephanie Meyer Novels- I must admit I was addicted.
The Wednesday Letters- I can't remember who wrote it. It was cute.
Crucial Conversations- Kerry Patterson- Excellent!
Hidden Treasures- Leslie Householder-Awesome!
I'm currently reading:
The Star Garden by Nancy Turner
Forgive For Love- Fred Luskin- Really Great!

JD's recent reads:
Jackrabbit Factor- Leslie Householder
E-Myth- Michael Gerber
You Were Born Rich- Bob Proctor
Skeleton Man- Tony Hillerman
2007 Landlords Guide to Taxes
Crucial Conversations- Kerry Patterson
Currently reading: Peacegiver by James Ferrell

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Tyson's Pinewood Derby Car

Cade in the clown wig. He knows how to climb

onto the table now. He's the biggest messmaker I've

ever seen in my life - AND FAST! And he has

our whole family wrapped around his little finger!

Teaching Cade manners!

January 2008

I love to relish the happiness in simple moments like these! JD was wrestling with the kids and Cade came over laughing wanting to jump on the stack of kids! Apparently he is not my baby anymore!! Joey licking the syrup off his plate on a normal Saturday morning. And Jordyn giving Luke a makeover. Is that blue blush? Clearly, potential blackmail.

Tyson got baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on January 5th! It was such an amazing experience for me as a mother to watch him listen and learn and love the gospel! Tyson is such a good boy- he is always friendly to others, shares and loves to help others and make them laugh. What a day! What a great kid!! I was quick to snap a shot of JD as he grabbed too small of a jumpsuit and was fishing for a larger one. How cute.

"Arrgh, me Harties!!!" That's what Tyson wrote on his Pirate hat he made at Luke and Joey's birthday party! It was the first year for them to have a friend birthday party! I made the treasure chest cake for the pirates to find at the end of their treasure hunt. They loved it!

I was wondering why Luke is growing out of his pants, so I put Luke and Joey back to back and this is what I found. This summer the lifegaurd almost didn't let Joeyon the waterslides because he was barely below the line and Luke was barely above it! And I always thought they were the same height! Crazy.

Even with our 5 boys to 2 girls ratio- Jordyn and I still have some feminine influence in this house.... The other picture is showing my 5 year old boys playing Jordyn's Polly Pockets in the sink with their shirts off.

I feel so technological, now that I figured out how to put this video clip of Jordyn on here. Her jump rope team is called the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and I pretty much think my daughter is Amazing! Hey- I'm a mom- it's my job to think my kids are the best in the world!

Winter Fun!

Today is Tyson's 8th Birthday!! He wanted to have a Football Party and wanted me to make a Colts cake! That was my thrown together attempt on the cake. It's a little sad. I asked Ty what he thought of the cake he said " Well, it's OK, I'm sure you did your best mom!" We played football in the living room since it just snowed 4 inches-AGAIN!



This picture of Luke in the box is NOT a joke. He is truly sleeping in there! He was playing in it- and apparently he got a little tired!
OK- this is my favorite little toddler in the universe! As you can see- we don't starve him. In fact- there is NO fill line on this big fella. He loves food! Oh- my grocery budget is already out of control! What's going to happen when these kids are teenagers? We may have to own our own Kroger store! Mom and Dad- Are you having flash backs of what I looked like at this age?

The past 2 Christmas's our Grandparents (Bobby and Betty) have
drove to Kansas to spend Christmas with us. We decided to make the
16 hour drive to Georgia this year!

Ashley received a special Richard Simmons Latin video from
"Santa" this year, so we are posing in our special lounge outfits.

The weather has been CRAZY here! We had a HUGE ice storm that made

branches fall down everywhere and people were out of power. We were

very fortunate to keep our heat and power. It looked like tornadoes ripped

through town with how many trees and brances fell from the weight of the ice!

Unfortunately, this is a common sight at our house. Yea, I've already talked
about the grocery budget- You get the picture!

All nestled up in their new jammies! Aren't they cute.


After that ice storm that left ice on the trees for days. We got

a foot of snow!! Boy, was that some fun snow! This is one serious

wipeout from Luke!

Here is what the ice looked like on every single branch of every single
tree in town! Every blade of grass was frozen solid in place. If you ask me-
it was really Amazing and absolutely beautiful! But, I didn't lose my heat and power
so don't ask me!