"I love to see the temple..."

So one great thing about the decision to be active everyday, is that Sunday's I make my family join me on a walk. This gets us out of the house when we are more accustomed to staying in all day and accomplishing very little. Today we took our walk around the Timpanogas Temple. It is a very short drive from our new home and actually one of the things that sold us on the location in the first place. The girls grew to love the temple in St George. We visited the grounds often because we lived so close. Lucy loved to hear "Jesus talk" at the visitors center. I am so glad that at such a young age they have at least a knowledge of the temple and significance of its majesty. 

 Louis especially enjoyed the out door time. His hair line is reciding, which only makes him look more like his daddy. He is getting so chunky and so smiley. 

 The girls are holding hands walking around the temple grounds. It was short lived as Molly can't usually stand the confinement for very long. But they do love each other. 

 Tough crowd. I love this amphetheater. I watched several concerts there in summers past when I was single. The kids loved climbing up and down the rock pews and putting on shows on the stage. 

These guys showed up as well. They follow us wherever we go.  

Better than TV!

There are days when I wake up and am excited to see how much I can accomplish in a day with three kids. Then there are days when I wake up and plan to stay home all day, do as little as possible and make sure my kids are fed and happy and very little else. These days I find myself spending most of my time just watching them. Enjoying them. Being entertained by what they find to entertain themselves.

Lucy loves to sing. She will set up her animals in a row and just make up songs for them. She also loves to put her animals to sleep. She used to find pillows and blankets to put her animals to sleep on, but lately she has gotten creative. I have seen stuffed animals laying on spatulas and being covered by frisbies
as a blanket. today in our bedroom there were two stuffed animals wrapped in James' dirty shorts and laying on dirty socks. It makes me smile every time I find them. I don't know why she thinks all her stuffed animals need naps. I guess they are exhausted from all the playing. 

I love the one on one time I get with each of my kids. For Lucy it is during Molly's naps. Louis is usually asleep during that time as well. Today, we downloaded the cupcake game on my phone. I gave her one tutorial and she took it from there. I was so amazed how she figured out how to do everything. She baked, decorated, and ate electronic cupcakes for about 45 minutes. I sat and just watched her in amazement. I was completely entertained. And so was she. 

When Molly woke up couch jumping was the activity of choice. Lucy would jump from the ottoman to the chair and could never quite make it. I pushed it about two inches forward and she was able to make it with one big leap. This made me laugh to see her fly across the living room each time. Molly tried but later just pretended to jump and land on the same chair. I could have watched this activity for another half hour. 

Molly loves dress ups. I can change her outfit up to 6 or 7 times in a day. Always dresses, and sometimes dresses upon dresses is what she desires. It is fun to see what she has come up with. I have taken her to parks and on walks in her outfits of choice, because fighting her would waste too much energy on both sides. 

Louis is especially entertaining right now. He kicks and grabs his hands. He loves to smile and make the best noises. I spend a lot of time just watching him. 

And so it is my belief that kids are better than tv. They are far more entertaining, and if you have three of them in your home with three very distinct personalities, there are many "channels" to experience in just a few hours of the day. 

Becca (a post not about my children... gasp!)

This may turn into more of a journal spot for me, so I may go private at some point. My mom and Harriet the Spy taught me that you should never write anything that you wouldn't want others to read, because they may end up reading it some day. I have held fast to that rule in journal keeping from the beginning and would intend to do so here. I just think that a journal, whether nice or not, is meant to be some what private, at least while the journal keeper is living. Once you are dead it is fair game to anyone.
I have always believed that God has placed me in all the right places so that I was privileged to meet all of the coolest people the earth has to offer. One such person that continues to come back into my life is Rebecca Plumb. She is Rebecca Plumb Skaggs now and actually I have never called her Rebecca as long as I have known her. She is Becca. Becca was my MTC companion. I remember the day that I met her. She was sitting in our MTC room on a chair facing the window reading some book with her legs crossed. She wore a black skirt a green striped collared shirt and a short hairdo. I didn't know the impact she would have in my life at the time, but we became fast friends and partners in crime during our 8 weeks there. I guess part of the reason we became such good friends is because we struggled to learn Spanish together. And it was hard. We also had a great group of young men in our district that were proud to have two of the coolest hermanas in their group in the MTC.

We both went to the Tucson AZ mission, and later found ourselves to be companions again. We were both still pretty green and continuing to struggle and learn the language. We served in Tucson together, and had a lot of success working together.
We went home together, her to San Diego, and I to St. George. She had plans to attend BYU, and I had no solid plans at all. I applied to a Chemistry program at the Uof U and although it was a long shot I applied to a Psychology program at BYU. I was told I didn't have a chance of getting in with all the schooling I had done previously, but I applied anyway. I got in and found myself back with my friend once more as a roomate. We had a lot of fun together, and supported each other through countless bad dating experiences or lack there of on my end.
Becca graduated before me and headed back to California to find work. Not long after she invited me to visit her parents in England that were serving a mission there. We toured (and got lost) a lot of England together as well as a short visit to Paris France. We had so much fun. Shortly after I went to Mexico, she went back home and found a man and got married. She Stayed in San Diego and I in St. George.
It is strange because I think we both had never planned to leave nicer weather and especially never planned to be back in northern Utah. Yet, here we are. She moved with her family a year or two ago for her husbands work, and we shortly followed. It is crazy how we can't stay out of each others lives. She is a reliable friend, and one that I have always felt at ease with. We both love good cooking and more importantly lots of laughs. We now share a lot of the same struggles with children and stay at home life, and get to share those with each other again. It is so nice to live so close to her again. We will brave the winters together and probably shed a few frozen tears as well. I'm so thankful for Becca Plumb (Skaggs)

100 day challenge (no buckets of ice water included in this challenge)

There aren't words to describe my love... 

It is so nice to be back in a good solid routine again. It has been a really long time since our family's life has been consistent enough for a good routine. Sure there is a bed time and nap time, and meals that have never been missed, but it has been disorderly only because we have had two parents in the home for over 2 months. I'm not complaining... at all. We couldn't have planned the timing better for having Louis, had we actually planned it.... which we didn't. James finished his field work right when Louis was born and so a natural 2 and a half month break between finishing school, taking board exams, and finding a job was set in place just at that time. It has been fantastic, and made the transition to stay at home mom of 3 so much more pleasant and easier. Thank you James. But now it's back to work, or rather start to work. James got his first job at my old "first real job" Kids on the Move. And I am so excited for him. I already know its a great place to work and great people he will be working with, so I couldn't be more pleased. He is on day three and is overwhelmed with orientation and getting to know the in's and out's of early intervention but like everything else he has ever done, he will succeed.

First day of work. 

I have so much in my head right now that some of my thoughts might be scattered but I need to get them down somewhere or I will regret it. So to bring some order to my thoughts I will number them, in no particular order of importance, only just to separate them.
1. After being a stay at home mother of three for 3 days, I wonder how any woman manages to find any time to take care of themselves. I have not yet, but started today... that's another thought. I love my children and love the time I spend with them, but any free time I have seems to be spent tidying up or doing dishes so the time that they are awake I can focus on them. Essentially bringing order after they bring chaos. I promise I don't spend loads of time cleaning or picking up but to have the dishes done each night and start the day with a clean kitchen is the difference between a good/fine day and a great day.

She thinks she is a big girl because she can do this by herself. 

2. I have had 3 babies in four and a half years... and they are all still alive. I would say that is an accomplishment. It has taken its toll on my body however. With less than a year between birth and pregnancies and a gallbladder problem/removal in between, I have had no time at all to fully recover from each one. I have seen all the posts and blogs of women that are back to the gym the day after the baby is delivered but I am not those women. I tend to loose weight right after the baby is born and then gain a significant amount back within a couple of months after the baby is born. I am currently walking around with 3 babies worth of post baby weight. That is the honest truth, but it has taken its toll long enough. I love my kids but I refuse to use them as an excuse any longer. They are my motivation.

My motivation. 

3. I hate dieting. And God likes to teach me patience. So I will not diet, instead I will continue to make the recipes that my family will eat, always incorporating fruits and veggies and good grains, and not add or take away anything (except refined sugar, but again that's another thought). I will eat less of it and snack less and exercise more. I want my kids to be active so I have to give them a good example. I also want my kids to have a healthy relationship with food, so that means I have to as well. I want my kids to love and appreciate their bodies, so I will as well. They have never and will never hear me say the words, "I am fat" or anything like that. I want them to know more about inner beauty than outer beauty and judge people on the previous.
4. I saw a post once about this lady who did a 100 day challenge. She worked out at the gym for 100 days in a row. She did not shed pounds quickly but you could see her stamina building and even choices in her regular life were affected for the better. I believe in establishing good habits. So I have decided to take on her challenge. Starting today! Because like my dad always said, "Starting is half the battle." and it has been my battle. I always say I will start tomorrow. But tomorrow came and left, but today I made a difference. SO here are my 3 healthy habits that I am challenging myself to do for 100 days:

He loves his hands.

A: Read the Book of Mormon everyday for 100 days.
B: Eat less refined sugar (perhaps one day, none) for 100 days.
C: Work out or do some thing active everyday for 100 days.
At the gym tonight I thought a lot about how I wanted to be accountable for this. Social media has allowed us to seek support from family, friends, and even strangers who are not close to us, but I wonder if for me this would be to a fault. Depending on this kind of support can distract me from the support that I have present with me everyday. Namely, my husband, my children, my ward members that I need to get to know and meet and most importantly my Heavenly Father. Through His son, Jesus Christ, I can kneel down and pray to him and let Him know how it is going. I can be accountable to him. It is He that gave me this body and it is He that commands me to take care of it as a sacred vessel. So I will.
5. The reason for cutting out refined sugar is that I have a shoulder problem. I have been through countless rounds of physical therapy and nothing seems to help it, except warm weather and cutting out sugar from my diet. I live in the cold now, so the only other option is cutting down on the sugar. It is hard, because I like sugar. I like it in all forms, but because I love my body and want it to last, I will not eat refined sugar. Never? No. But I will not keep it in my home and I will allow myself to indulge only on special occasions.
6. I love being a mother of three beautiful children. It is hard, and most days I spend the day in dirty hair and gym clothes or pj's but I don't get to miss out on smiles or hugs and that is important to me. I write this because it has been hard, and in moments of weakness, I have regrets... but they are quickly turned around.
7. I will add one more goal to my list
D: 100 days of keeping a personal history.
I have started reading the Book of Mormon again. At the beginning of this book I am always reminded of the importance of record keeping. That is why we have this sacred text, because some very important men a long time ago obeyed the Lord and kept records, personal histories of their families and people. I have gained so much knowledge, wisdom and comfort reading them, and know that my own personal history is just as important. It may not be scripture, but it will be a lasting legacy that can testify to someone that I was here for one and two testify of the roll my Heavenly Father and His son play in my life everyday.
It is late and so I should instill a 5th 100 day challenge of going to bed, but with a newborn, it is out of my control.

Day ONE! Here I go!

Picture update: because I've gotten too far behind.

I have more updates, but this is just some of the random pictures I took off my camera and James phone that I did not have recorded anywhere. I love these kids so much. I have had so much fun watching them grow.

I gave the girls haircuts at the beginning of the summer.
I got one lesson from a mission companion while on my mission,
but I don't think it turned out too shabby. 

 I cut Lucy's hair too. I love the curls that come alive, 

when I cut her hair short. 

Molly and her heals. She wears them everyday. 

I spy.... Louis!

This was a perfect morning. I left James at home asleep with
a sleeping baby, and the girls and I got up early, and got
McDonalds for breakfast and ate at the park. 

We love a good excuse for Mcdonald's breakfast. It is actually
the only thing they will eat on the menu. Which is just fine
with me. 

It was actually a very cool morning for July. 

Molly loves her dress ups. She insisted on every flower in her
hair this day. 

Lucy is such a good big sister. She will sit down on
the couch, quite deliberately and hold her hands
out while she says, "Can I hold Louis with two hands... Please!"

Great grandma and Louis. So glad he gets to be held by her. 

We come up with all sorts of creative ways to spend our time when Molly
is asleep.

These cute dresses were given to us by a friend and the girls LOVE
them. It is quite painful to get Molly out of hers. 

Whenever Louis is laying on the ground the girls flock to him.
I actually have several pictures like this one. They love to look at him. 

Smores. Just because. 

Lucy has loved playing with her cousins this summer. The girls set up this nightlight
like a camp fire and pretended to roast marshmellows. 

We have had such a fun summer here in St George. The girls have absolutely loved getting to know their cousins better. It doesn't even matter that they are all older than them. They love to run with them and pretend to play with them. I have appreciated the love they have recieved in return. Especially from the older kids. They are always so sweet to them.