Time out

I went to Time Out for Women again this year in Indianapolis, so wonderful! It wasn't completely an escape for me since I had to bring Grant, but I had lots of help (it is NOT a stroller friendly city so we all got a great workout lifting my massive stroller up and down stairs). I wasn't quite as captivated this year as last, but again, had a little distraction with me, but it was still wonderful to hear these speakers and the major trials they have overcome in their life and really helps put your own life in perspective.

It makes me realize I have absolutely nothing to complain about. My biggest concerns in life right now are trying to make myself get up early to exercise and deciding what to make for dinner. Makes me feel pretty pathetic for complaining about things when I hear from women who have had their eyes and breasts removed because of cancer. I love getting away for the weekend, staying up way too late, spending way too much money on clothes and having my spiritual tank refueled.

It was funny- when I got back I was cuddling with Ethan and telling him I'm sorry for not being as patient with him as I should be and he said "you need to study the scriptures, then you can be nice". I wasn't quite sure where he got that from, but the next day I was trying to get him to buckle his car seat and he wasn't listening so I was getting annoyed, he said again "you need to study the scriptures then you won't be frustrated!" Getting lecured by my three year old...

Staying sane...

I hate doing dishes. I love to cook, but I absolutely hate the cleanup. I sometimes run the dishwasher three times in a day because I despise washing dishes by hand. I hate wrinkly hands, it makes my nails soft, I hate touching yucky food- (they don't believe in garbage disposals in Kentucky)...BUT...Since Anthony started defense he's been so much busier and is rarely home for dinner, which is usually my wind-down time. Without that I start to get a little crazy (ok a lot crazy!) I discovered that I could watch BYU tv scripture discussions and started listening to those, then discovered the Family Expo programs and they were right about the time I like to prepare dinner, so I started watching them. Then I got a really crazy idea that I should try to wind down by washing dishes by hand after dinner. I could send the boys out to play and just quiet my mind and watch some of the great programs while unwinding for the day.

I've done it for 3 weeks now and I actually kind of enjoy it. Of course I don't do it on the weekends and sometimes still cheat and use the dishwasher, but it really has helped me not only to feel more connected to the "human" world but feel a little more peace in my life. And I've recently discovered that I don't have to watch all the boring programs while waiting for the one I want- I can watch any of the programs for the last 2 weeks or so by clicking on it- and all this time I thought it was live tv ;)  I even got to watch a few of my friend Tresa's husband's aunt- The Food Nanny - awesome ideas, I think I might have to try it. Who would have thought anything good could come from doing dishes?

Happy Easter

A few days ago I took the boys on an egg hunt and the Easter Bunny was there. I was really surprised by Joshua's reaction- he was so excited he fell flat on his face while running to hug him. He kept giving the bunny big hugs, would come back to me, jump up and down and then go hug him again. He kept lifting up his arms asking the bunny to pick him up. It was so funny how excited he was. We had a nice quiet Easter, it was fun to stay home all weekend, watch conference and just be together as a family.