Saw the following and wanted to share.



Boy (errrrr, Girl), I sure am looking forward to being done with preschool, school getting out, and a myriad of other things that I feel like are keeping me from living in the present.

THAT said, I'm working on living in the present NOW, and being WITH my children, doing what they're doing and involving them, even crashing their lego building time and fort time....it's so fun to play legos with boys who aren't telling me what part to find (ahem, little brothers who would only let me play if I found the 2-ers and 4-ers they were looking for.  LOL!).  Still, I'm so thankful for the little time we do find to play together between everything that seems to busy our lives.

Give them Capes

♥♥♥

A father was left for the weekend with his two young children while his wife attended a weekend away with her new counselors in a newly organized church auxiliary.  As she left, he felt a tug at his pant leg.  He looked into the adoring eyes of his two foot tall daughter and said, "Hey! I know you!" 

"Daddy," she whispered,  "I can fly!"

"Wow!" he exclaimed.  "Can I watch?"  You may know how little girls want to have their daddy's attention at all times.  

"I need a cape.  Will you help me?" she asked.  As she took his finger in her little hands, they made their way to the linen closet where mommy had neatly folded and organized all the towels and sheets.  Daddy picked out the prettiest pink dish towel and clothes pinned it under her chin.  It made the perfect cape!  She looked up, but her eyes remained on the floor.  

"This isn't a cape, is it." Daddy said.  "No, daddy," said the beautiful little girl "this one is the cape" as she pointed behind her without looking, and knew she was pointing at the perfect cape.  

Daddy tenderly took off the shelf and loosely tied the brightly colored beach towel about her neck, and she began to soar.

As this father lovingly watched his daughter fly with the magic of the cape, he realized that every experience that she would have would help her to soar higher and higher. 

One would think that an airplane needs a tailwind (pushing from behind) to get up into the air.  In fact, an airplane can rise faster, and higher, with a headwind (pushing against it).  

Challenges we allow our children to have, or challenges we give them that they will have to face head on, will help them SOAR.  We just need to give them a cape. 

♥♥♥

The  above story (cape and airplane and all), recalled to the best of my pregnant memory, was told this morning in Sacrament Meeting by our visiting High Councilman.  This experience was told with the tender voice of a loving father, who over the years has watched his daughter and other children soar, because of the magic of a cape.  Because of the love in their home.

What love is in my home?  If I give them a cape, will they fly because I believed in them?  Will they fly because they overcame a headwind and were lifted higher, and higher?  Will that headwind make them stronger?  Will they be able to face the storm that's brewing?  Will they have the inner strength and faith to believe in themselves and a loving Heavenly Father who believes in them, too???

This brother's talk hit home.   Give them capes.  

Me Being Absent

...it's mostly because my external hard drive, the one with 10 years worth of pictures, is getting a "DATA TRANSFER".  It died.  And with it, my enthusiasm for taking pictures and SAVING them on my computer....It's a sad, sad day.  I've been waiting for FOUR HOURS to hear if there were any "DATA ERRORS", which would mean three times the amount of $$$ to get my beloved information and pictures back, and also a chance that I'd never get them back.  Sad.  Crossing my fingers, and my toes.

....Attribute the rest of my absence to some ah-ha moments I've had which undoubtedly resulted in some small home improvements.  And not really the kind that involve drills, saws, cans of paint or even money.  The improvements I'm working on involve time and energy.

A few things I'm aiming for as the new year has started include trivial things that I'd rather put off in order to accomplish more 'noteworthy' things.

I used to put off doing my dishes in order to edit pictures, or put off playing with the kids so I can get some more pinning done on virtual cork boards.  I used to go to bed exhausted at 2 am after blogging and facebooking, and social-media-ing instead of retiring at a reasonable hour (and the same time as my sweetheart).  I used to live a charmed, yet pathetic life, filled with lots of good, but I know I can do better.

With some minor adjustments to my crazy lifestyle, which now includes growing another human, and really CARING and NURTURING the humans currently in the four walls of my home, I've become happier.  Not that I've left ya'll behind, but I feel like I'm doing MORE NOTEWORTHY things than receiving praise for a fun photo shoot, or a beautiful dress I've made, or the awesome job teaching preschool, or any other number of things that I DO enjoy doing, but am finding they need to take a back seat to the children who are frequently buckled into the back seat of the car while I run errands and 'be successful'.

Trying out a new system, if you will.  Please excuse my absence while I...

Go sledding:

Paint Bird houses:

And live each day with Simple Joys.

Merry Christmas! {2012}

We couldn't decide, so you get to see my favorite and then everyone else's favorite.  I even saved all the addresses from cards we received this year, in hopes that season's greetings would make their way from our home to yours....That said, I'm not super woman, or even organized enough to print and mail (or deliver) all 50 cards I wanted to.  Maybe  next year?!  Let's hope so. 

We hope our home is filled with the Spirit of Christmas and gratitude as we recollect on the past year and focus on what we can improve on in the coming year.  We are grateful for the birth and love of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for his atoning sacrifice.  Without his marvelous plan of salvation, we could not be a forever family!  As we learn and grow together, we give thanks for our many wonderful blessings, including or family and friends. 

Merry Christmas!  

♥, the Poulsens

♥ Christmas Wishes ♥

We have had a perfect (and I mean PERFECT!) Christmas eve.  Snow falling throughout the day, Ryan only having two appointments, the boys playing well, and I  finishing up a few odds and ends.  I have been craving French Dip Sandwiches, so I put a roast in, and mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!  The house smelled so yummy all day!  

Ryan and the boys ran an errand (to get ice melt) while I wrapped what I had finished.  We sat down to a delicious dinner, complete with chocolate pudding, and *gasp*!  Everyone cleaned their plates!  The boys ate EVERY.LAST.DROP of onion soup and roast beef sandwich!  So we read a Christmas story and opened the traditional Christmas Eve Gift.  Pajamas, that I finished at 2 am this morning.  

The following story is my FAVORITE Christmas story (from my great-great grandmother's autobiography), after the story of our Savior's birth.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did as we discussed with our children the meaning behind Christmas, and how blessed we are, despite what we might think at times.  

♥♥♥

On the 26^th of October, 1856, we left Salt Lake City, with all its advantages, to “rough it” in the country.  For a time we felt the change very much; and especially did our children, who would cry to be taken home.  Spanish Fork was a new settlement, and at this time, consisted principally of large wheat stacks, temporary dwellings, and houses in course of erection.  The huge wheat stacks had a great attraction for us, who had so recently passed through a famine. 

We rented a house, purchased a good building site, and built a small room in which to winter.  This had just been accomplished, when my husband was taken very sick;  But recovered in a month sufficiently to take a journey to Salt Lake City on business.  He had but just reached his destination, when unfortunately he took a heavy chill and became entirely prostrated by rheumatic and lung fever.  He was staying in the First Ward with friends, however, who kindly cared for him for many weeks, by which act they bound our hearts to them in gratitude.  Meanwhile, I had remained in ignorance of his sickness, daily expecting him home, the letters sent to inform me of his condition, not reaching their destination.  My situation all this time was by no means enviable.  The weather was very cold, and our temporary house afforded but poor protection from its severity.  Mr. Cornaby, expecting to return in a few days, had left but little in store, and it was soon exhausted.  With three helpless children, I had much need of fortitude, but was never left without a resource – my trust being in Israel’s God, who has never failed me.

The recent famine experience had taught me economy, and the little I could procure from the sale of some clothing, enabled us to live.  I could have made our condition known, and have received help, but delicacy forbade; so I made the best of the situation, exerting myself unceasingly for the helpless little ones.

Christmas Eve came, and my darlings, with childish faith, hung up their stockings, wondering if Santa Claus would fill them.  With aching heart, which I concealed from them, I assured them they would not be forgotten; and they fell asleep with joyful anticipations for the morrow.
 

Not having a particle of sweetening, I knew not what to do.  They must not, however, be disappointed.  I then thought of some squashes in the house, which I boiled, then strained off the liquid, that, when simmered a few hours, made a sweet syrup.  With this, and a little spice, I made gingerbread dough which, when cut into every conceivable variety of design, and baked in a skillet, (I had no stove) filled their stockings and pleased them as much as would the most fancy confectioneries. 

I sometimes wonder if the children of to-day enjoy the costly Christmas presents of toys and rich candies with which they are surfeited, more than my little ones did their gingerbread toys, twenty-four years ago.

(Excerpt from Autobiography and Poems by Hannah Last Cornaby, pgs. 44-46)

♥♥♥

While Ryan and I want to give our children more gifts and things to make them happy, I am humbled by my great heritage.  Christmas was frugal this year.  I have had many restless nights wondering what and if we'd be able to do what we had planned, if anything at all.  I had lots of help from my sisters to make what we had 'do' and I'm so pleased with the way our crafts & gifts have turned out.  I simply cannot wait to see the joy on my children's faces in the morning!  

Last week, I had lots of scraps leftover from making our gingerbread house...I remembered this story, and let my children cut out "every conceivable shape" and we baked them in our oven.  We took twine and hung them in the window, to remind us of this wonderful story and the simple gift Hannah made for her children when she had nothing else.  It was headache enough to make this gingerbread dough with the ingredients I had on hand....I cannot imagine boiling down a squash and making a sweet syrup to make such a humble gift. 

As I finished sewing three pairs of pajamas from patterns I drafted myself, and with jersey-knit my mother-in-law gave me years ago, I almost felt sorry for myself for not having the funds to just go buy new pajamas.  When I finished at 2 am this morning, I felt so blessed.  My heart full, that I am able to use my talents to bless my family.  My heart full because my children were going to have more than a gingerbread toy.  My hear full, because I know that my Savior loves me, and he has not forgotten me, much like 'Santa' visited my very young ancestors.  

May tomorrow be joyful and peaceful as we show gratitude for our blessings.  May we remember the reason for this wonderful time of year, the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I pray my children will look back on these years with fond memories of family time and happiness!

Life Lessons

It's 12.12.12.  Dum...dum...dummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

So here's 12 life lessons we've learned very recently at our house, in no particular order:

1. Saying "King Me" makes you King of the fort AND gives you super powers on the playing board.
2. Cuddling a tired and heavy toddler is just as precious as cuddling a newborn.  I will start doing this every night.
3. Too many mountains of cake and frosting are sure to add on the pounds to a pregnant woman who's 22 weeks and has not gained a pound...till this third birthday cake THIS WEEK.  Dumb calories. 
4. When you stay on top of your clean house, it will not and cannot bury you in laundry, crumbs, or little mis-placed toys.
5. Rubik's Cubes are TOTALLY AWESOME till you realize it takes 4 meltdowns to solve it...wait...we only solved one side. 
6. It's super cool to have a van without a middle seat.  Everyone is happier, warmer, and more excited to HURRY into the car. 
7. Reading the scriptures in a comfortable chair by the fireplace beats reading your scriptures with your head on a stair-step by the fireplace.
8. Never, ever, EVER, underestimate the climbing skills of a 2 1/2 year old. Or how unclean your drawers are when all the earrings are dumped into them from the top of the dresser. 
9. Always tell your children you love them.  No matter what.
10. Elves on ceiling fans are awesome....especially when they dust for you!
11. Toes are not meant to have doors opened on.  It hurts, and is equally painful when you begin your dip into a hot bath.
12. Hardworking husbands are worth more than their weight in good looks.  Luckily my husband is both hardworking AND good looking, which makes a tired and cranky husband even more delicious.  Just stating the facts. 

Some Days

Some days I really am a good mom.  Some days, I actually do fun stuff with my kids!  And some days, it all happens on the SAME DAY.  No sense in spreading out the wealth of fun, if I'm up for a circus, right?!

We all (including daddy!) went to the Museum of Idaho to see the annual Christmas Display, where our kids were impressively well behaved.  We had fun seeing all the different santas and nativity scenes from around the world.  I think we topped last years time, and spent a whopping 45 minutes perusing the displays!

Afterwards, we came home and tidied up a bit, then started making messes again.  ...Some days, that's how it goes.

I got the dishes done, and the floor cleaned, while kiddos played with birthday presents.  Then we cut loose! While Tanner was busy cutting 16 pieces of construction paper into 128 strips for a paper Christmas chain, Kortlen and Taylor watched me make playdough.

I.hate.playdough.  Okay, maybe just a strong dislike.  But I make it for my kids.

I dislike the texture when I'm mixing it, I dislike the smell, I dislike the mess it leaves, and I dislike the way it turns gooey if we don't play with it often.  I think my dislike for playdough stems from all the playdough my mom made us as kids, and how my younger siblings would eat it.  *shudder*  Mostly little pieces, but still.  yuck!

BUT this time around, I dumped in a whole-lotta peppermint oil to cover up the playdough-smell.  I also made a mental note to buy a more hardy stirring utensil....my rubber spatula was pretty useless.

Some days, we know how to have fun, and love each other while doing it.  Some days, I LOVE being a mom, and I LOVE my kids more than ever!!!

I have to add, that some days my kids surprise me.  They shouldn't, but they do.  We went to the ward party after all this fun, and while Ryan was at work, I totally rocked being an awesome mom.  My kids sat BY THEMSELVES while I played the piano, were reverent while 'not my kids' were running helter-skelter, and I was just so proud to have a good parenting moment!!!  For once, I wasn't running helter-skelter after my kids.  :)  It was AWESOME!  My kids are AWESOME!

P.S.  what do you do with all the single staples that are perfect good, but broken from the larger pieces?!  Ugh....we went through a LOT of staples today.  LOL!

King Me

Back in the day, when I was single, or maybe even married, but definitely before I had children, I worked at Porter's, a popular craft store in Rexburg.  It's where I met Ryan....his mom trained me, and set me up with her son, and the rest is history!

The job was AMAZING.  I loved it!  Besides learning many different crafty things, I got to demonstrate how to use the products by DOING crafts....can you say DREAM JOB?!

On occasion, when items weren't moving off the shelves fast enough, I was asked to 'make it work' and figure out a way to lure the customers in, by making something awesome.

So when wooden trays were a little stagnant, I had this brilliant idea:  Checkerboard!

It was a labor of love, and I put too much time into it to sell it to the many crafters who just wanted to buy the floor model instead of making their own, but I held out....long enough (3 year) to take it with me when I moved on in life.

A few days ago, I pulled it out and taught Tanner and Taylor, one-on-one, how to play checkers.  Then I let them have at it.  :)

They played for HOURS!!!!!  Brings back all the "King Me" memories of my childhood.