Okay, so I still hate Sundays

Help!

What do I need to do so I don't hate Sundays? We have a great church time 10am, so I can't complain about that. But I hate dealing with my kids during Sacrament, they are awful. Tyson is so bored that he is picking trash off the floor to play with, Zach falls asleep on the end of the pue for everyone to see, Emma can't sit like a lady to save her life and is very loud, and refuses to fold her arms and sit still, and last of all Tess who has no concept of how to be quiet and has definately entered the terrible 2s and doesn't want to stay still either. Then I loose kids trying to get everyone to Primary and nursery, which makes me late to teach my class - Gospel Principles. Aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Then we come home and I'm too tired and cranky to keep the kids from grazing all afternoon - leaving crumbs in their wake, and by 5 o'clock I let them watch whatever they want on t.v. because I have nothing else for them to do. I try to get a nap, but if I sleep the kids reak havock on the house which just makes me crankier. The time just seems to slow down as I wait impatiently for bed time.

Please, this is a shout out to anyone who has good keep me sane on Sunday suggestions! And no suggestion will be ignored!

HAPPY 12TH ANNIVERSARY HONEY!

Today, I celebrate 12 years of being married to the most wonderful, patient, understanding, funny, loving, handy, smart, hard working, and handsome husband in the entire world - don't argue with me, I know I'm right!! (Even though he forgot about the time difference and woke me up at 5 am to wish me a happy anniversary - I'll take being woken up early over him forgetting any day of the week!)

Even though he can't read this I want to send out to the universe that I love my husband incalculably more today than I did the day I married him. I don't know how I snagged him but I am thrilled that he chose me. I can't bare to think about life without him. Thank you honey for 12 amazing years, and I can't wait to spend the rest of eternity with you.

Quick snap shot of what we have done together over the past 12 years:
Earned 4 college degrees in 6 years
Had 4 children
Moved 9 times
Joined Army
Survived 2, 15 month deployments
Bought and renovated (still) our first home
to top it all off -
WE HAVE A FAMILY FULL OF LOVE

French Cafe's

It kept suprising me that everything I saw in Paris looked exactly like I had imagined Paris to be, right down to the Cafe's. The waiters really wear the black and white outfits, people really sit outside and drink their coffee and smoke, and yes even the pigeons are real. This pigeon flew into the cafe and the waiter had to shew it out, several times - I thought it was great!!

The Louvre

I wasn't very excited about going to the Louvre, mostly because of the crowds. I spent most of the time looking at the ceilings - they were phenomenal!! Just so you won't think I hate art, I love it, it's just that my favorite are the Impressionists and those are all at a separate museum, so there really wasn't anything I wanted to see at the Louvre. Except of course The Mona Lisa, but I couldn't even get close. The first picture shows the crowd around the painting. Since I couldn't get close, I just lifted my camera over my head, zoomed in and took the picture. It turned out pretty well I think.

HELP Me Count My Blessings....Please!

Today in church they talked about over coming trials and enduring with faith, and one of the Hymns we sang was "Count Your Blessings". I realized that I really needed to count my blessings, because I am having such a hard time with something - let me explain.

We (the kids, my parents, and I) got back last night from spending a week at my parents cabin in Idaho. I got to see lots of my extended family which was wonderful because I haven't seen them in years. I really wanted to see two of my very favorite people, my cousin Sam and his wife Kendra. We visited and ate and the kids rode horses, it was a great time. Well after I saw them I got a little depressed, and it has just gotten worse over the last few days. On the 17 hour drive home (yes you read that right) I contemplated over why seeing them made me so sad. I figured it out. They have a great "normal" life. Sam is an attorney, Kendra works part time as a nurse, they just built a beautiful home that they will live in for the next bazillion years, and they have 3 beautiful girls. I call almost any version of family life that is non-military "normal". My family life is far from normal. I want normal - I crave it, more than I crave chocolate. I want my husband to walk through the door between 5 and 6 each night. I want to plan weekend activities and projects, knowing he will actually be there! I want him to be my kids sports coach. I want him to be at all the school performances. I want regular holiday and vacation traditions. I don't have any of that and it makes me really mad and sad.

How can I create a "normal" life for my children when our lives are anything but normal?

So, in an attempt to stay sane and not get bitter I will try to count my blessings. If you care to add any, please do!

Things I am thankful for(and not in any particular order):
1. Husband (I got really lucky)
2. Beautiful children (not just cute, beautiful)
3. Healthy children
4. Healthy body
5. Wonderful supportive family
6. Great friends
7. Beautiful home
8. Gospel
9. Faith in Heavenly Father
10. Seasons
11. Snow (I know I'm crazy but I just love it!)
12. Nature
13. Chocolate!!