I am so blessed.

When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed, When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings; names them one by one , And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. Are you ever burdened with a load of care? Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear? Count your many blessings; every doubt will fly, And you will be singing as the days go by. When you look at others with their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold. Count your many blessings, money cannot buy, Your reward in heaven nor your home on high. So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged; God is over all. Count your many blessings; angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your blessings; See what God hath done. Count your blessings; Names them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God hath done. James E. Faust said "One of the evils of our time is taking for granted
so many of the things we enjoy. This was spoken of by the Lord: 'For
what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive
not the gift?' (D&C 88:33). The Apostle Paul described our day to
Timothy when he wrote that in the last days 'men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient
to parents, unthankful, unholy' (2 Tim. 3:2). These sins are fellow
travelers, and ingratitude makes one susceptible to all of them."

John just left this morning for training in California. He will not be home until Saturday. This week my goal is to count my blessings. It would be to easy for me to sit home and feel sorry for myself because John is gone. I can't imagine what my sister-in-law Paige went through when my brother Scott was in Iraq for a whole year. My week is so minuscule.

Aloha

Grandma and Grandpa Mills recently returned from their vacation to Hawaii and brought back some new outfits for the boys, a pearl necklace for Jennifer, and a t-shirt for John. After seeing where Far-Away Grandma and Grandpa stayed and hearing about what they did, we were all jealous. We're glad that they're back safe and sound.

James tries to hula.

These three boys are happy with their gifts.

A Treat for Taylor

I had my niece Taylor playing at our house yesterday. I ran down stairs to cut some box tops off the diaper boxes in the storage room, so I could send them with J to school. When I walked back upstairs Taylor had 3 suckers in her hand. She said, "I opened me 3 suckies Jen." She had taken the stool from the bathroom into the kitchen pantry and climbed to get them out of the candy bowl 3 shelves up. What a girl. There is never a dull moment with a 2 year old around. I sure can't wait until next year when I have two of them in the house 24/7.

No more mullets

Look at that beautiful hair. Even if I have them dressed that same people say "girl and boy," I say "no two boys." I am going to miss that little curl in Jakub's hair.
Business on top....Party in the rear.
Jakub after!
James after!

Fun Stuff

When the Xbox first came out, John was working at Clearfield High. Pepsi was giving away free Xbox's on there website, and John won. Well that Xbox died a few weeks ago. It was a sad day for John and J. Because of all the moping about I gave in and $500 later, John got his new Xbox!!! Jakub loved playing the the box. James wouldn't get in.
Jamesy's new favorite this is to put his hands on his head. I will say "Oh, no" and he will laugh.
Jakub spilled the goldfish on the kitchen floor and James came a running to help him eat.
I have had to move the scrapbooks off the shelve because the twins kept pulling them down and I was worried about them ripping pages. So the scrapbooks gone they have a place to crawl up and play. What fun!

Time Flies

I called my brother Scott yesterday to wish him happy birthday. He turned 29, which means I will be 31 this year..... wow how time flies......We were talking about our kids, his 3 and my 3. He was saying how his youngest Evan (2) is in a transition stage from 1 nap to no naps. I was bragging about the twins still taking 2 naps a day. I realized it wont be long be for I am in the same situation. I better start making the best of my two naps......time flies......After talking to Scott on the phone I started thinking about my new baby niece (Lucy) who was born yesterday. What a precious opportunity we have to bring these children into the world and be parents. The 1st year with twins was so overwhelming and I wish I could go back and enjoy the small thing........make time.....because time flies.......

Our Toddlers

We like to define our toddlers as:

• Two who love to eat bananas one day and then dislikes them the next
  
• Two who requires a lot of clean laundry, tidying-up after, and lots of attention, and constant amusement and stimulation
• Two who are focused in their attempts at launching spoonfuls of sweet potatoes
  
• Two who's innocence and wonder inspires us to do better
• Two who possess an abundance of love.
• Two who are unconditional in the giving, and delightful in the receiving of that love, along with showering hugs, kisses and smiles to those around them;
• a true joy and a true blessing to treasure

Show and Tell

I hope you all had a wonderful Conference Weekend. Ours was very eventful. Tooth #6 came in for James, I hope that means he will cheer up a little now. Our little Jakub still just has the 2 lower centrals. Jakub loves to open the cupboards and drawers all around the house. But of course the kitchen sick is a favorite. I know, I know, it is time for child safety locks. It is on my never ending 'to do list' J has put what he calls "yucky man stickers" on the cleaners, it has the poison control # on it. It works for a 5 year old but no for two 1 year olds.
J gave the twins a lesson on the art of sword fighting. James was very interested and played along. Jakub just wanted to chew on it.
Having John home on the weekends means 'honey do list time.' I think he would rather be at work than hear me nag at him. Maybe that is why he works in Odgen and we live in Idaho. He gets to be away from me 12 hours a day, 5 days a week. Anyway, he installed a new kitchen faucet for me. Now I don't have to splash water around with my hands to clean the sink. I just pull out the hose and it is done in nothing flat.
The other project we worked on was assembling the new cold storage shelves we purchased at Sams Club. Now I have a place to store my food storage items. It's time to go to the cannery!
We still have a bit of snow holding on to the north side of the house. As you can see there is a big project that will soon be at the top of the list when the weather cooperates....We are going to be putting in a fence and a yard this spring.