Caleb wants what?

Sometimes when you are a middle child you feel the need to find ways to stand out. Caleb, on a weekend visit to his Aunt's house, visited the KU campus. He decided to become a KU fan. It didn't help that a few months later they won the NCAA basketball championship. Now, you might wonder how this would be classed as a stand out behavior if you didn't know that:
1) He was born in Manhattan, KS.
2) Both parents are K-State Alum!
3) The reason he was at his Aunts house in the first place was because Jason and I were at K-State for a football game.

What is a mom to do when, as a K-State alum, her son wants a KU birthday cake?
You make it:) So here is my attempt at the Jayhawk!






I couldn't resist putting my K-State shirt for the pictures though!

I didn't do it!

I wonder who got into the left over frosting?



Notice the shirt she is wearing! I think she should wear it everyday:)

Caleb is 8!!

Where does the time go?

My baby boy turned 8 and got baptized. He is no longer my "silent destruction" (Sydney has taken that mantle upon herself). His chubby cheeks and little boy talk are gone. He is still sweet and quiet, but now his lovable personality has grown into a little boy whom we love so much.



There is something about a suit! Here are Caleb and Jason with their power ties.

And here is the family during all the craziness. If you look closely you can see all the distinct personalities in our family.


I wish I was better at stopping to smell the roses. It was all rush, rush, rush up to the church. Suddenly you blink and it is over. I think time speeds up as your kids get older...

What did I do today?

So what do mom's do all day? With spring finally here my daily completion list is shrinking at a rapid rate. Yesterday I cleaned the kitchen and made dinner for extra people and spent the whole day there. But I do have a clean fridge inside and out:)

Today I couldn't ignore the need to pull out summer clothes for Sydney. That of course leads to the all day task of sorting through clothes to find too small, too stained, and too immodest clothes and get rid of them. I am very grateful though, that all the clothes in this picture were given to me. (I love friends that are done having kids:)

Before:



After:



I also had to get in the attic to fix the fan which is through Sydney's closet. That helped motivate me to put is all back neat and orderly, since I had to pull half her closet out to start the day!

Finished closet - you can't even see that the boxes are packed to the ceiling in there!

"Time to get ready for Church"

Whenever you hear, "Blake don't move, I'll go get the camera" coming from the other room, you immediately begin to wonder what is going on.



They were supposed to be getting ready for church. At least they were dressed:)



And this is what happens when you have 3 older brothers. Did Sydney ask to play with a doll? No she wants a nerf gun strapped on her and a scope. I hope I can remedy this later in life. But then again princess is not a word to describe me so I'm not sure who will teach her!



We couldn't even keep the cute purple bow in her hair.

Compromise = Failure

Why do we think that we can compromise our standards and not fail?
Here is the recipe for my failure. I happened to have some homemade caramel sitting in the fridge so I decided to make caramel brownies for the YW who had their camp forms ready to turn in on Tuesday. There were too many left over! I even put them in the freezer to get them off the counter, but then I learned that they are even good frozen:(
Oh well, here is a recipe for failure...
Carmel Brownies

1 package German chocolate cake mix
4 Tablespoons Butter
1/3 cup evaporated milk

Melt butter and mix all ingredients together (I usually do it by hand) just until cake mix is moistened. Take a little over half mix and spread in bottom of 9 x 13 pan. Bake 350 for 8 minutes.

Carmel
25 caramels
1/3 cup evaporated milk

Melt caramels and milk in microwave stirring about every minute until melted.

Take 8 minute cooked cake mix and pour melted caramels on top. Also sprinkle 1 cup chocolate chips. Take the rest of the uncooked mixture and crumble on top.
Bake 350 for 16 minutes more. Wait to cut until completely cooled.

Sorry I don't have a picture, my camera is in Arizona as usual.

Why...

Some days I just have to wonder why...
Why do we think we can actually have the house perfectly clean and the laundry all done when we still live in the house and are wearing clothes. (I am pretty sure that they even have laundry in nudist colonies:)
Why do we resist so hard to do the things that do us the most good.
Why don't we listen to those little promptings that would save us so much anxiety and relieve others at the same time.
Why do we think chocolate will make us feel better!

I came across this quote by President Ezra Taft Benson again. I think I have found it many times in my studies so it must be important for me.
"We live in an age when, as the Lord foretold men's hearts are failing them, not only physically but in spirit. Many are giving up heart for the battle of life...As the showdown between good and evil approaches with its accompanying trials and tribulations, Satan is increasingly striving to overcome the Saints with despair, discouragement, despondency, and depression.
"Yet, of all people, we as Latter-day Saints should be the most optimistic and the least pessimistic. For while we know that 'peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion,' we are also assured that 'the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst.' (D&C 1:35-36)"

So how do we try to be perfect, and not despair over the impossibility of achieving it even for one day?
How do we not become discouraged over the immensity of the tasks to be done?
How do we stop ourselves from the despondency we feel when we feel overwhelmed and inadequate?
How do we stop feelings of depression when we look at the world around us?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said this,

"My dear brothers and sisters, aren’t the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in His Church great reasons to rejoice?

Wherever you live on this earth and whatever your life’s situation may be, I testify to you that the gospel of Jesus Christ has the divine power to lift you to great heights from what appears at times to be an unbearable burden or weakness. The Lord knows your circumstances and your challenges. He said to Paul and to all of us, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” And like Paul we can answer: “My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9)."

(President Uchtdorf is usually speaking directly to me:)

Oh that we could be more like Paul! If we could just be better at allowing the Savior to lift us up instead of trying to do it all ourselves. If only we could "glory in" our weaknesses, and allow the "power of Christ" upon us.

I am probably not going to publish this post until it is buried under others. You can ask my husband and he would agree that this is way too personal a subject for me to be capable of sharing with others.

So I am going to switch the laundry, take a shower, say another prayer, and put on my happy face. I just can't wait for a temple to be closer because if there was I would be on my way right now! I quess today is a survival day. I just wish I had more thriving days.

Compromise :)

I actually went 4 days without SUGAR!!!
That may be a record. Jason and I decided on a compromise. We each get to pick one free day a week and then we both get that day free. That way we go 5 days without sugar for me and soda for Jason, and then two days that we allow sugar and soda in moderation.
This should at least save me from sitting around when I have a chance to read and snacking on skittles or jelly beans. My great downfall in life, snacking while I read:(
Speaking of reading...
What to read next
Fablehaven 4
The Thirteenth Tale
Brisingr
River Secrets
The Hunger Games
I have them sitting on my shelf, I just cant decide which one to start with. Any suggestions?

Something Funny!

Just a little something to get a laugh.

So we went down to Lee's Summit to watch conference at Jason's parents house this past weekend. Something about spending 6 hours at the church to watch Conference with Sydney just didn't compare to relaxing at the Furnell's and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa:)
So while we are driving around Jason turns to me and says something along the lines of "I bet you can't go without sugar for a month". For those of you that know me well, I know you are already laughing. In fact my sisters text in response was, "LOL".
Jason first said that he would give up Mountain Dew also. No no no that was not nearly good enough. He would have to give up soda completely!!
Unfortunately, I am also very competitive by nature and can't bear to lose a challenge.
And a challenge it will be. Here is how the month of April shapes up for me on the dessert front:
-youth fundraiser this Friday that includes a dessert auction (which I will be making lots of treats for)
-Easter
-Caleb's birthday and Baptism (which he has requested about 4 different desserts)
-My birthday
-trip to Arizona

Maybe I can just make it through the day...