It's about time... I know

I have thought of all the things I should post about, but never taken the time to do it. Life just never slows down - does it?

My four pictures tell a story about the last couple of weeks. Tyler has been earning money so he could buy a garbage truck. His two friends Stephen and Wesley have one so he wanted one too. Thanks to our great friend Tammy, she got it for us half off- $8.50 is a lot of money for a three year old. (thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Balls he earned two dollars really easy) We got the truck from Tammy and he still had to earn 7 dimes. He didn't leave my side on Monday until he had earned all of them. WOW! He loves his garbage truck!

This is my typical husband. (not the socks but I thought it was funny) Sadly, I never thought I would have married a computer nerd but those iPhones are too much. He cant leave it alone- EVER! - notice the iphone in one hand and the laptop in the other-
I just had eye surgery- It is a procedure like Lasik but not Lasik. It is called PRK- It means my vision wont really be clear for two weeks- I can drive ... now... but things are just a bit blurry still. I have awesome sunglasses to wear to keep all wind and dirt out of my eyes- Ella loves them. She stole Aunt Renee's for this picture.
Two things to this picture- we were a one car family for a week and a half. Someone hit our truck and took forever to fix. Also, we have had my sister Jenny from Spokane here for a week. Party time with Isaac her son. Tyler and him spent tons and TONS of hours together. In this picture Tyler is waiting for Isaac to show up. So he scooted the piano bench over so he could see him when he drove up.
Darren has a conference in Odgen for all managers and spouses in his company. I am looking forward to being pampered, fed, catered too, sleeping in, exercising, and reading. Thanks Pat and Seth for taking the kids- If we haven't shown up by Sunday- you better just keep them!

because I want to remember this...some days I forget

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing, and so you are not surprised. But presently, He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace.”       -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

A two part question for a needy friend

I know people dont always want to comment on blogs but a friend of mine needs some help so I told her I would post the question here to get some ideas. 

My friend is helping pass some new laws for the state she lives in.  They are trying to unite and strengthen the peoplehood factor (feeling a part of something larger than oneself).  She has asked me to tell her how Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints do that.  She is working with lots of people but specifically wonders how the "Mormon" Community does it both locally and as an international people. 

So here are the two questions...

1. In your view, how does the Church strengthen LDS Peoplehood (ie unite people/communities and want to work together to support a bigger picture) 

and 

2. What makes you feel like you are a part of something larger than yourself?

 

Some examples might be shared family morals, helping people in need with the welfare program, going on missions, etc...  Feel free to expound on ideas. 

If you respond with an answer I can tell you a few more details- but am not allowed to post here on the blog as many of the interesting details as I would like to. 

For my mom!

I spent two days with an old Virginia friend, Justin A.  His wife was taking a class and so we went to the zoo one day, he used my dads chain saw and cut a tree branch up for me, helped me weed, ate good food and went for a hike up Ferguson.  This is his cute son Owen. 

This part is for my mom- so she can know I am trying too. 

Tyler goes to his Grandma Balls house and goes straight to the toy room. Tyler goes to my moms house and goes straight to the pantry. He knows just where the marshmallows, crackers, icecream... etc... are stored. My mom is bent on fattening up my kids. 

Tyler wanted to eat this candy necklace and I have put him off for months. Finally I gave in but Ella wanted it too- Two messy kids!

As you can tell they are still in their jammies, meaning this is  a post breakfast treat.  Between my moms double bowls of ic ecream with chocolate sauce and my pure sugar necklace, Ella has got to get above 18 pounds one day.  She is 13 months already!

We are getting old!

We had family photos last week in Logan with the Balls family. So I took the opportunity to have Corie snap a couple picture of my family. My first thoughts when I looked at these were wow, we all look ok, kids and all!  but Toby was done posing. But then I thought my goodness how do I have two children and how on earth am I almost 30!! Life goes by pretty fast.

So do Darren and Tyler look a like?  Anyone who knows my husband says Tyler looks just like his Dad! 

Allergies

Ella is allergic to Amoxicillin which she has been taking for an ear infection

She has never complained or been bothered by it- It started Sunday and these pictures are of Monday morning. She looks lots less puffy and red this evening (Monday Evening)

Child Labor laws

We worked at the bike shop again yesterday- no surprise! We spend every Saturday there- but next week we have to be in Logan so we get a week off!  This is Tyler and I painting baseboards in the rain.  There is  a nice roof that helped protect us, until the wind started blowing the rain on all the boards.  

Ella is covered in some kind of rash- It just appeared this morning and has spread over her whole body.  She doesn't seem to mind it at all, but we will keep an eye on it.  

Happy Easter everyone!  (we did dye some eggs this morning too)  Oh and to the Jewish girl reading this, Happy Passover!

A Spring weekend Finally!

We had lots of visitors this weekend- Tyler was able to make some money selling animals to them.  He had his shopkeeper apron on, and you had to stand behind the white table and give him money and then you could pick out which tongue depressor stick you wanted.  The sticks have pictures on them of animals thanks to Rob and Rachel's hard work last Christmas.  We love the Christmas gift. 

Thanks to Grandpa Harston finding some great stocking stuffers for Ella for Christmas, we have a styli'n little girl.  She loves to wear her sunglasses and beads around the house.  She just smiles and grins.  But she really does play with Tyler's cars and trains, driving them on the floor, so I am not convinced she is going to be all girl yet.  

Tyler got a few hairs cut- I just couldn't stand looking at that rats nest anymore.  Aunt Nellie said, where did the business in the front and party in the back go.... meaning his mullet is GONE!!!  Darren on the other hand, breathed threatening words to me... something like,  Amy you didn't cut his hair, Amy- no you didn't!  But he still loves me - Darren that is!  (I had a good dinner cooked!)

Ella's Birthday

We had such a fun birthday for Little Miss Ella.  We had lots of family and friends around.  

We had Dutch Baby Pancakes for breakfast.  Tyler helped blow out the candles so Ella wouldn't burn herself.  Uncle Rob and dog Jolene were here. Dan and Kyle friends were here.  Jolene tried to get up on the counter, I guess she knew something exciting was happening up there. 

We had steaks and hotdogs for dinner. Ella climbed into the drawer to help find the tools to BBQ with.  Cake followed.  Aunt Renee and Uncle Ben Bues came over. and Grandma and Grandpa Harston and Uncle Rob made it down from the cabin.  They have been painting none stop.  

It was a nice time.  and fun to see her getting bigger.  She wants to hang out with Tyler and do everything Tyler does.  She even plays cars with him.