Valentines 2009

Valentine's Day this year was the best yet. Nate made heart shaped waffles for breakfast, and had fresh strawberries to go with it. A beautiful rose was also awaiting me in the morning. I gave a massage to a neighbor, and then when I got home we hung out as a family. The kids got a care package from Michigan, with cards, festive socks, and some heart hair pretties :). We also dipped strawberries and bananas in chocolate that night. YUM! Nate gave me my gift...a brand new camera! I love it, but not near as much as I love him! Thank you Nathan for being the best father, the best husband, and the best friend that I could ask for.

The Evolution of Brinlee's Hair

Brinlee is such a wonderful spirit. So full of life (very full!), and taking every opportunity to grow. Too bad that her hair has not taken the same approach. Recently, I have taken steps to fix this, and I wanted to share them with you. The pictures come in chronological order.

In this first picture, you are able to see what I wanted to fix. It was a little unruly.
Then we did the bangs. It was very cute, but one day I noticed that Brinlee was looking a little "mullet-ish", so we followed with what we have today...
The bob! The picture is blurry, but it was the only one with her looking at the picture. I also added one of just the girls, in our new polka dot dresses. These are there new spring dresses that I had to let them wear because they didn't understand why it wasn't spring. And I got a new dress because I taught a lesson and gave a talk back to back weeks, and I needed a little encouragement! I also had a cute set of earrings and a necklace, but Sam took care of that for me only moments after it's debut. Nice.

We're alive...

I just read a friend's blog, and she apologized for being gone...since the middle of January! So, I guess I should say sorry too. The only problem is, I don't think that there are many out there waiting for me to blog :), so maybe an apology from me is a bit egotistical.

Life has picked up a bit here. After my last post (yes, November), we went to Michigan for a family trip. So much fun. I love my family. Then the holidays hit us, and left just barely after we had decorated for them. Recently we were put back to work in our new ward, callings for both of us :). I love it, but it really does make time fly!

Nothing new and exciting, but I felt that I should make contact with the outside world again. Hope all is well with all of you!

Thoughts?

Let's just say, it was time.

New Pictures

I snuck away from my children to create the new header for the blog. Hopefully no disaster occurs.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Angie for taking my kids pictures! Once again she has confirmed that they are absolutely beautiful! Oh, and I guess this is sort of a spoiler for all of those who will be getting a Christmas card this year. I am sure it will be a picture from this bunch.

Now back to motherhood...

That Time of Year

It is about that time of year that you need a jacket when you go out.. It is dark by 7 pm, and dark until 8am (time change will help). Leaves have changed, and are falling. SmokeAnd lastly, it is the time of year that I am full of treats, desserts, and good food until January comes accompanied by New Year's Resolutions. Here are some pictures of Halloween at the McArthur home.

Making and decorating halloween cookies with a few of our favorite people in the whole wide world.

Picking the perfect pumkin at the pumpkin patch. (Brinlee had more fun throwing the pumpkins...needless to say, we hurried!) Carving pumpkins. Left to right: Brinlee's pumpkin, Bailey's pumpkin, and Sam's...the one that says "sam". Could you tell?

Halloween morning. Everyone was so excited to wear their costumes all day. We had Tinkerbell, a pumkin, and an adorable little boy. We didn't get any pictures of them all fixed up, but you get the picture. They were cute. And we have enough candy to last us through the week :). Hope you all enjoyed Halloween as much as we did!

Stolen...But Worth It

Well, I was off "blog hopping", and I found this quote. I love it! I think I have heard it before, or at least something similar. Here it is:

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is rough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise, life is like an old time rail journey,. . . delays, side tracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

First of all, I love President Hinckley. Such an inspiring man. He was counseled once in his life to "forget himself", and I think that is the basis of much of his counsel to us, and so many of our struggles today. We want for us. To an extent, I think it is necessary, but I think that we let it grow to more than that. Again, a great quote. Thank you, whoever you are, for posting it, and causing me to take a look at what I am expecting out of life. And, more importantly, who is to thank for all of it.