PRAISES!

That is what I am singing to Hunter! I realize that is what works best with him going in the potty. He doesnt care about the m&m's or that i took his trucks away, it's if i make a big deal when he does go in the potty. And so yesterday Morning he went potty and poo poos in the potty!!!!!!!!! HUGE deal!! I told him i was so happy and he is awesome. Everytime now he says he is awesome and asks if I am happy. He is really into emotions right now so I think this is why praising works. WHATEVER WORKS!!! I told him if he didnt go potty on the floor we would go play at the "park". Yesterday was dark, windy and rainy. How it is in the winter in California. So i actually liked it because it was still warm...er. So we ran errands and my kids loved being out in the rain! Hunter had his fireman rain boots on and he was jumping in puddles. Gookie was laughing when the rain and wind hit her face. We just had a good time together. HUnter did really well to stay by me and listen. At wal mart, Beth and her roommate Kristen were there. So we talked to them for a while and my kiddos love them. After that we went to Arctic Circle and played on their "park" equiptment. It was just a good day with my kiddos. Then we came home and took naps.

Last night we put Gookie in the port a crib in Hunter's room and moved him to her room. SHe woke up at 2 am and i gave her a bottle and I went back to bed. 20 minutes later Brad woke up with her. I never even heard her. He was tired and didnt know what to do. He doesnt get this whole let her cry herself to sleep she will be okay. So i told him to put her down, close her door and ours. Which he did. Brad was able to go right back to sleep and i could faintly hear her for an hour. I could have gone to sleep but i wanted to make sure she would eventually stop. Which she did. She didnt wake up again until 10:30 am! And lately she has been waking up ATLEAST one more time. I think the more we let her do this, the less she will cry and hopefully wake up. So bit byt bit we are making progress.

Tonight we are going to the temple!! We have been able to go for three months in a row now. And it is ALL thanks to Beth and Bethany!!! They are so good to us and love our kiddos. Our kiddos love them too. It is cute to see Gookie smile and go to them. We look forward to going to the temple tonight.

BRad has his interview with the Juvenile Correction Center in St. Anthony today. He will know in 2 weeks if it is yay or nay. We arent trying to get too excited. He has had great interviews before and nothing happened so.... I feel bad for Brad. HE said he didnt know if he could take another rejection. Poor man. He said that if he doesnt get this job than maybe God is trying to tell him something. We'll see.

This and That

I dont have any pictures to post, sorry. I actually dont know where the camera is which is sad because yesterday there was a great video moment as the kiddos were playing and Gookie was laughing so hard at her sweet brother.

Friday the kiddos and I went to hang out with the Sessions. Amber and Ben were in my student ward before my mission. Thanks to FB and blogging we realized that we were both in Rexburg and were able to get together. It was the best! They have two boys, 5 & 3 and a baby girl, Mylie. Hunter LOVES Andrew and Nic, expecially all their cool toys. And Amber and I talked and talked like we had never been apart. And it's been like 7 years!! They invited us over last night for dinner and FHE and we all had a blast. Yay!! It's fun to have friends.

I love motherhood. I love it with all my heart and have always wanted to be a mom. I feel like I was born to be a mom and I have complete joy from being a Momma. It's not a burden at all and I feel like I have had it really "easy". I feel like because I was the youngest of 7 kids and my oldest nephew is only 4 years younger than I am, I went into motherhood pretty prepared. I think the most frustrating things that I have dealt with as a mom are happening right now and with each child. Potty training with Hunter is one of them! Oh man! Ever since that Utah trip its just gone backwards. But what did me in yesterday was when he had dry underpants, but Gookie had wet knees. I asked him if he went potty on the floor and he showed me eaxctly where he went. So I think he pulled down his underpants and went on the floor!!PURPOSELY! SO frustating. He has discovered his..um..stream and finds it fascinating.Atleast I know he's a normal boy, right?
SO i had a stern talk with him and told him if he went on the floor again I would take away his trucks. He went in the potty and later on the floor so i took the trucks. ARGH!! He knows better! So frustrating. But we will keep on it because that's what needs to be done. So far today he has done well.
With Gookie she is waking up every night atleast twice. And the second time it isnt to eat, it;s to play!!!! I know it's all out of habit! But the neighbors are right above her and the reason we got in this habit is because Brad was working at 4 am and I couldnt let her cry so he could sleep. Tonight we are moving her into hunter's room so that she isnt right below the neighbors and Brad is buying ear plugs!!! I cant do this anymore!!! I am so tired and this must stop now!!
So yes I have my frustrations and things to deal with as do all Mommas. But if this is all I have to deal with right now, I am really lucky. And I really can't complain. I have happy kiddos (when they get their naps) and I think they are stinkin' cute. I am so blessed and love being with them with all my heart.

Hercules

The other night we were all sitting around after a LONG day. (please dont judge me from the looks of the mess) The kids had pulled out every toy out of the box and the box was turned upside down. Gookie was standing next to it just using it as a drum and the next thing she was trying to pull herself up! And she did it!!! All just using her arms! I think she may be a climber. Hunter never was. SO fun to watch her grow up and figure things out. Hunter was pretty excited that she got up there and we all cheered for her. I just love her fat thighs!

Interesting...

Yesterday Brad called and he had just received a call from the Juvenile Correction Center in St. Anthony, where he did his internship. He has an interview with them next Wednesday. It is so random as he applied there for ever ago. Interesting.

The Devotional

Here is the link to the devotional from the other day. Please take the time to watch/listen/read. It is the one titled "Louvest thou me?" should be the very top one.
http://web.byui.edu/devotionalsandspeeches/Default.aspx

My little dancers

Yesterday

These are pictures from the Museum. Hunter LOVED it! And we had a great time as a family!











Hunter and I went to Wal Mart last night (LOVE super walmart by the way) and I had to get a new trash can for the kitchen. We got one with a lid, Hunter thought it was a helmet. People in the store thought he was hillarious and people in the check out line thought he was 4!! ANyway, Hunter is soo fun and makes me laugh.




p.s. Yes i notice that in all the pictures my kiddos are pastey white. I am too. I am determined to change that once we see summer!!

Playing

What I needed.

Gookie woke up from her nap and when I went in to get her, the last part of devotional was on. (we have her radio playing the byui station when she sleeps). The speaker today was Kevin Miyasaki and it was as though he was talking just to me. It was everything I needed to hear. I need to get the transcript. I was truly humbled and yet felt so loved at the same time. Isnt it wonderful how much we are loved? Heavenly Father waits patiently while we throw our tantrums and is always there with open arms. Such a teaching moment today and I am grateful for it.

And guess what, the snow we woke up to this morning has all melted and it is a beautiful afternoon. We are meeting Brad in Idaho Falls and going to the museum as a family. Brad get's off work earlier today.
I love Brad. And I am thankful for him and his example to me as well as his patience with me.
Thank you for your love as well!

Murmering!

Yup, I am murmering and really havent been caring about it.

Brad wasnt called in for second interview for St. George and it really was like a punch to the face, for both of us. He thought the first interview went really well and was confident he would be called in. I know he is awesome and has much to offer in this field. So it is frustrating and hard that others arent recognizing what he has to offer.

I know that my murmering is all for selfish reasons. So i am letting it all out, hoping to get over it. I feel like we will be in our 30's and still in the same situation as in our 20's. As I have complained about before, we are just stuck and cant really do anything about it. Except to just keep on keepin' on. Its hard that we have both graduated from college and yet cant move on. I have been here for over 7 years and am ready to get away. But I am not in control.

In the scriptures it says that Laman and Lemual murmered because they didnt understand the workings of God (paraphrasing). I am murmering because I am selfish. I know God has a plan for us. I know that us not getting any jobs elsewhere is part of His plan. I was hoping for a different plan, focused more on what I want. Which is right there, my problem. So now it is time to just deal with it and choose to be happy. As of right now I dislike our ward, have been burned by friends and hurt by them, and want to get out of eastern Idaho. I am dying for a dishwasher, a real home with real carpet. But oh well. It is time to "deal with it" (for you mom and dad) and try and have a better attitude. I am not in control of what happens but I am in control of how I feel and how I react to our situation.

I have pretty much been wallowing all weekend and havent had a desire to do anything. No more! I will be better. Some day things will fall in to place. Joy in the journey, that's what I need. Endure to the end and endure it well! Time to do it.

Africa is too far Away!

MY parents' internet went out. And by some miracle MOm was able to send me a text. All it said was that they didnt have internet and mom had malaria. I knew she must be pretty sick to actually tell me. She is tough and never tells us when she is sick. She had malaria before but didnt tell us until AFTERWARDS because she said it wasnt that bad. Finally today we had an email from Pappy and this is what it said

Dear Family: Mom was literally struck down with malaria last Wednesday Night. Welost access to the internet approximately the same time!

Malaria is scary and very very messy. Luckily we had a couple of boxes of the right medicine and it started to "kick in" soon. Mom is now well enough to be a bit cranky.

The Doctor, Elder Maughan, says full recovery will take about threeweeks. The body manufactures a complete new blood system to replacethe one contaminated. What I found interesting is there is no malariamedicine in the USA. The medicine we use is manufactured in China. It has not been approved by the USDA because there have not been enough malaria cases in the United States for an adequate test base - 100,000cases.

The African people have some type of immunity to malaria. They get itabout twice a year and it doesn't affect them like it does people fromNorth America. From our observation, at least twenty percent of the Senior Missionary Couples - one member of each Senior MissionaryCouple - gets "the bug."

But, the loss of the internet was one hundred percent for the past four days.

More later after Mom gets feeling better. It has taken me twentyminutes to write these few lines.

I love you. Dad

Tyler's mission call!!

My nephew just got his mission call! He is going to L.A.!! So far every grandchild of age has gone on a mission. Brandon went to Sacramento, Jocey is in Puerto Rico (st. thomas right now) and Sterling is in Chile. They are all pretty awesome.

Speaking of missionaries, we drove by the elders as they were walking the other day. I honked and waved and Hunter asked who it was. i told him the missionaries. He asked who they are. I said "missionaries teach about Jesus" he then said "i no go to church!" Atleast he is connecting Jesus and Churh right?

Welcome Baby!!

Roman Nicholas Adams was born today!! He is so cute and can you believe that hair?!? It is so BLACK!! We dont have hairy babies like this in my family, but these Adams babies have so much hair it is just unbelievable to me! He is cute and Nattie is amazing. Baby and Momma are doing well and Daddy is so excited and proud. They now have two cute boys! Congrats guys! He is handsome.

Pretty in Purple

Her hair is getting longer that a bow will actually stay in. This makes me sooo excited! I am DYING to play with her hair.
Can you believe how much teeth she has? And another one is trying to come through too!!
We love our Gookie Girl!

Drive to Utah

This was the first time Gookie was in the car seat in the car. She was mesmorized the first little while and then she loved it!

Maybe my kids do look like me? They definately have my personality.

pictures soon i promise

Here is the forecast according to weather.com. Look how it is up and down!! "Spring" it plays with my emotions!!

Sat
Mar 13
Rain / Snow

39°
26°


Sun
Mar 14

AM Snow Showers
43°
26°


Mon
Mar 15
Mostly Sunny

47°
29°

Tue
Mar 16
Partly Cloudy
51°
32°

Wed
Mar 17
Mostly Cloudy
48°
29°


Thu
Mar 18
Few Snow Showers
38°
25°

Fri
Mar 19
Few Snow Showers
37°
24°


Sat
Mar 20
Snow Shower
40°
25°

So far, so good

Thanks for all the comments. I LOVE when people comment on what I am posting. It's nice to know what ya'll think or even just to say hello.

SO far today we havent had any accidents. Hunter has been pantless and he has gone potty 4 times this morning in the potty chair. SO that is better than yesterday. The sun is out and I have had the windows open this morning. The fresh spring air feels and smells great. Hunter heard the birds in the trees and stopped to listen. We are going to the park this afternoon with friends to get outside in this sunshine. But I dont know what to do about Hunter and potty training. But yesterday I said I wouldnt put pulls ups on him anymore. So this is what I am thinking. Underwear and pants and bringing some extra clothes. ANd i will pray that he wont have an accident on a slide or anything. We'll see what happens i guess.

ARGH!

So since going to Utah is has been like starting over with the potty training! HUnter is back to being naked because he will not go on the potty when he has underpants or pants on. It is sooo frustrating! He had two accidents today. One with pants and one was when he was naked. Did i totally mess him up with leaving him in a pull up while at my brother's house because i didnt want him to have an accident there? I guess so. I messed up his progress! Grr.
We will keep on keepin on. I wont use a pull up ever again because they are pointless. He doenst pull them down to go, he just goes in them! So i will just continue NOT to go anywhere and just bring extra clothes where ever we go. But that may be longer than i had hoped since we are starting all over again.

No news from Utah as of today. However, Brad's director of where he is working now called Brad into her office and met with him for 20 minutes.She told him how he was amazing and doing a great job and how they want him to work his way up in the company. As soon as he takes his licensing test they want him to do PSR work and eventually so IBI for them. WHich is good news. I am just glad that Brad's work and talents are being appreciated. Its a good place for him right now. He may not be doing what he is passionate about, But he is doing something he is good at and it is something for now. He is taking his practice exam tomorrow up on campus. Then he needs to do the application and take the test. It takes some time, but he is going to jump on it. It is beneficial for him to get his license regardless so he is getting it done.

I am ready for it to be warmer. It is trying to be, but is a bit too crisp to go outside. Today when i got the mail the sun was out, crisp breeze and the air smelled of cows. Spring is trying to come. But I think a storm is on its way which is depressing.

Hunter's movie kick for the week is "pete's dragon". He loves it. Gookie is all over the place and loves to play with Hunter. It's so fun to hear them in the hall laughing at eachother. It warms my heart.

Letter from the mission President's wife

As stated previously, my nephew, Sterling is on his mission in Concepcion. My sister Keri recieved an email from the mission president's wife. I thought it was good news as well as interesting and touching. So here it is..
Monday, March 08, 2010

Dear Families and Friends of the Missionaries of Chile Concepcion South:

We know you have all been worried perhaps beyond what you felt you could bear because of the earthquake here in Chile. Our hearts have been with you every minute. We are writing to give you more information and hopefully answer your questions so your peace will increase.

With the earthquake a week ago Concepcion and other areas in the north and coastal regions lost telephone service, electricity, running water, gas, and food in stores (from looting). The military arrived on Monday night (thank heaven), and imposed a curfew that everyone could only be out from noon until 6 pm so the looting would stop and services/clean up & repairs begin.

In the mission home we lost all of the above services for a week or more, but the mission Office sits on the one block in Concepcion that got power last Wednesday (sweet blessing that the police station is also on that block). There we could make calls and had limited internet—so we could better contact missionaries, the area presidency, local leaders, and missionaries’ families (including our own). Two Elders (Inostroza and Hong) also came with us to help make calls to families. Because of the curfew, we slept at the office two nights. We hope you were contacted during that time (Wed and Thurs evening of last week), but if not, please know we were trying. When we were out of the office, there was very limited communication—no internet, and phone service only occasionally at one spot in the city—and no calls to or from the mission home.

At the last zone conference President Swenson reviewed the emergency plan—in case of an emergency where communication was lost, each zone or zones were to go to specified chapels as quickly as possible. It worked beautifully-- everyone knew where to go and were together to support each other. The coastal towns had further to travel and the main phone antenna in the area was destroyed, so word from them was delayed -- holding up our official announcement that all missionaries were accounted for.

Once gas for the car became available, we were able to travel farther to visit missionaries and their areas and confirm that all 156 missionaries are alive and well, without a scratch. They look great. I gave each of them a huge hug and told them it was from their moms, making me cry thinking how much you want to hug them. Miraculously, their houses are all fine and despite the waters that rose up along the coast following the earthquake, no water entered their doors.

Missionaries in the north and coastal region gathered in the San Pedro chapel where dear sisters cooked for them every day. They went out for service projects but had limited time due to the curfew. We did not want them back in their homes until there was electricity, food availability without burdening the members, and safe living conditions. Now almost all services are up and running, and Sunday after church most of them returned to their areas (with cash from the ATMs that are now working), knowing they could return to the San Pedro chapel if necessary.

Areas in the center of the mission (Los Angeles, Angol, Victoria) had damage but much less and when we were in Los Angeles on Friday supermarkets and ATMs were open—a sure sign that things are getting back to normal. The services are also back in those other central areas. All of the Elders and Hermanas are now back in their own homes (sectors) doing missionary work and service projects.

Temuco and south to Loncoche all got a jolt but lost only their power—for a day. In those southern areas, missionary work goes on as usual.

Water: Normally, Chilean tap water is very safe to drink, but under the circumstances with water being cut off and possibly contaminated, we’ve told the missionaries they must either drink bottled water or boil their water until we tell them differently. Several months ago the Church started giving out water bottles with filters to a number of missions, and missionaries have been using those this week as drinking water has been distributed to the public. Now that the taps are running, we’re taking further precautions.

Food: All of the areas now have access to a grocery store, and truckloads of food have been made available from the Bishop’s Storehouse to the stakes in areas that need it. That food will continue to arrive. Wonderful sisters from the wards and branches have left their damaged homes and family concerns to cook warm meals every day for the missionaries while they have stayed in the chapels and many have cooked for the missionaries in their homes. We owe them so much.

Shelter: Almost all of the mission “dwellings” are homes, not apartments. All are saying their houses are okay. As soon as possible we’ll be making personal visits to make sure.

Aftershocks: It’s unnerving but normal, especially after a big earthquake, to have a lot of aftershocks. It’s the earth’s way of settling into its new position. They can go on for weeks or longer, but the good news is, they really seem to be slowing down--we only felt a couple of small ones today.

Missionary Work: The earthquake primarily affected only 3 of our 10 zones. In the hardest hit areas the missionaries will have lots of service opportunities, but they will still be preaching and teaching—perhaps more than ever. One Elder told me last night that he and his companion have knocked doors asking how people are doing and how can they help, and many people have burst into tears and thrown their arms around them, thanking them for coming. Hearts are soft.

We’ve asked all the missionaries to write their experience during and after the earthquake…what happened, how they felt, what protection from the Lord they received, what they learned. What they are coming to realize is that something as scary as an earthquake can actually bless their lives forever. My husband and I are convinced that after this the mission will never be the same…it’s going to be better.

We have all suffered through this, but hopefully have emerged with greater love for life and the Lord. One night I sat on my bed, the weight of the worry overwhelming me…what the families and friends must be going through...but then I remembered that all those 100s maybe 1000s of people were praying for us and these dear missionaries. We want you to know we felt those prayers every minute of this crisis. And they were answered completely. We were blessed at every turn.

A temple is coming to Concepcion. That’s not going to change. Through all of this, thinking of the temple gave us tremendous comfort. He wants His House to be on solid ground. The city will rebuild and the Lord will have a house of order. So the land will be prepared physically, and the people’s hearts spiritually. Then the temple will come.

We bear testimony that God lives, that He loves and protects us in all things. We humbly thank Him for everything.

We are so happy your sons and daughters are all safe and sound! If you have any questions or concerns, we’d love to answer them. You can contact us at this same email.

Thanks again for your prayers,

Hermana Jolene Swenson & President Joe Swenson

A long way home

On Sunday we went to Utah. Monday morning Brad had a qualification test for a job oppurtunity. So we went and stayed with my brother and his family in orem. While there I was introduced to the 'Just Dance' game on Wii. My favorite game ever!! It is sooo much fun and i played with my two nieces. Rachel who is 9, kicked our trash! She is too good! It was fun to be with the family.

Monday morning we woke up at 6:30 to get us all packed and ready to be on the road by 7:30. Brad's job thingy was at 8:30 in Salt Lake. We made it in good time. I then had to drive back down to Orem because Hunter left his blankie. Every mom knows you cant be without that! On the way to Orem the kiddos fell asleep. Once I did get he blankie they both woke up. SO we went to the target in Lehi to kill some time. Then we went back to Salt Lake and picked up Brad and were then on our way back to Idaho. We had some stops along the way. Around Blackfoot, Gookie had had it!! She did NOT want to be in her carseat anymore! We had to go to Idaho Falls. Brad still had 2.5 hours of work he couldnt miss. So We dropped Brad off at work (we only had one car, otherwise the kiddos and I would have gone home) and Gookie finally fell asleep so we drove around for the while. Then we went to Kohls and the Mall where the kiddos played at the play area and were extremely happy. Then it was time to load them up and go get Brad. Then we had to stop at his brother's house and switch all our stuff back into our truck. His brother let us take his car to Utah which was wonderful and such a luxury. We finally got home around 7:30!!!! It was the longest day ever!! Both kiddos were soo tired and were asleep by 9. Brooke slept all night long and it is 9;30 and she is still asleep!!! They did not sleep well in the car yesterday. Again, soo glad to be home!

Ahhhhhh

We celebrated our anniversary and Brad's bday last night. I planned it all out and surprised him. We went to dinner in I.F. at Texas Roadhouse. We would never be able to go there with the kiddos! The wait was 45 minutes and they wouldnt have lasted 10. So it was like a real date!! Then I blind folded Brad and drove this way and that and totally had him believing we were going to his grandparents cabin. But instead I had just driven to Rexburg and ended up in the parking lot of AmericInn. Yup we stayed in a themed room!!! He was like "where are we? we're in Rexburg?!?" But he was pleasantly surprised. We walked into our room and we could hear crickets chirping. We were in an Africa Safari room. The room was made to look like a tent with old english furniture and mosquito netting. The bed was soo comfy. We were dead asleep at 12 and didnt wake up until 10 am!!!!!! Meanwhile Bethany and Beth were at our house and were up wih Gookie at 2 am. She always wakes up at 2am. We were able to sleep in because the room was soo dark from the coverings they had over the windows. Oh it was great to sleep in.

Then we went to breakfast and went to the Church distribution center to get some, ahem, necessities!! Then we went to Sage Day Spa and got a couple's massage. It was DIVINE!!! She was able to work out all of Brad's knots he has had from sno mobiling. My gal did something to my neck, put pressure on a point and I feel like I have a new neck. She said that is why I have headaches. So next time i get a migraine I will just go in for massage =)

It really was like a second honeymoon, even if just for a night. To spend the time together was wonderful. We sure couldnt have been longer than one night though, we miss our kiddos!!

Thank you a million times over Beth and Bethany. We love you and appreciate that you were willing to stay the night with our kiddos!

Same Mold?