PERSPECTIVE

Perspective is an interesting thing isn't it? It seems like every time I start to self pity, life has a way of putting things back in proper perspective again.

This past week I have encountered endless green boogers from three little noses compounded by a massive case of the stomach flu for mom. YUCK! Sounds horrible until my blog snooping led me to a mothers daily account of her four year olds battle with cancer. I couldn't stop the tears from flowing while I thanked my Heavenly Father for good health for me, my husband and mostly my children. THANK HEAVEN FOR PERSPECTIVE.

I have spent countless days worrying about the health of my grandfather and have tried to spend as much time as possible with him every time I go to Logan. Recently, one of my friends lost her grandmother in a sudden and unexpected death. No closure, only questions. THANK HEAVEN FOR PERSPECTIVE.

I always have a list of "wishes" and "if I just had" items on my mind. Take for example, the fall centerpiece that would have looked amazing on my kitchen table. Last night I watched in horror at the thousands of homes destroyed in the California fires where they literally lost EVERYTHING. That fall centerpiece just doesn't seem so important anymore. Again, THANK YOU FOR A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE.

I think the Lord has a way of directing my path to help me appreciate what I have; it's just a shame he even has to remind me. I have a wonderful healthy family. I have a home with all of my basic needs not only met but in abundance. I have friends on every hand that are always willing to help in any way shape and form. Life is good. I am truly blessed. Sometimes, I just need a little PERSPECTIVE.

Jami's Dancing Days

I just thought I would share one of my old videos from when I was performing with the ballet in China. Yes, it was a few years back and I look a little different but hey- three kids will do that to you. Make sure to fast foward closer to the end - it gets more and more impressive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5lN96dgt_Y

All I can say is....WOW!

Betty Crocker- I think not!

So when we lined up for talents in heaven why is it that I bypassed the "domestic" line completely? I'm sure there must have been some great sale going on that lured me away because I am one heck of a shopper!? The problem is that when I do feel the urge to be Betty Crocker I usually end up with a kitchen that looks like a tornado just hit, the need for an on-call assistant and a semi-decent finished product. If I am lucky - every once in a while I might hit the jackpot. While Adree was here last weekend I thought she would be the perfect assistant in making my moms famous cinnamon twists BUT I was mistaken! She is no better than I (okay, really she is far better than I but in this particular instance she was not). We ended up calling my mom every five minutes and second guessing our every move. In the end, we did have a mess, a phone covered in flour but a fairly good product.

Too Cute!

Do not attempt to adjust your screen - it is true to size! Caymbree is ALL GIRL and Bridger is ALL BOY! While they are only four weeks apart in age there is a distinct difference in size. Aren't they cute? (Bridger is my sister's little boy).

The Best Day Ever!

"This was da best day EVER!" These are the words that make every parent wish they could freeze frame time and space and savor the moment! Hope and Hallee were ecstatic about our last family outing to the pumpkin patch where they got to run around wild looking for the perfect pumpkin. Add a small corn maze to the mix, dinner at Costa Vida, and a night of creative painting and WA-LA! you have it...the best day ever!

CEASE FIRE

What do you get when you put two incredibly strong headed, spunky, and determined three year olds together? Normally, a lot of screaming, hitting, crying, tongue-sticking-out, WWF take-downs leaving their moms on the verge of Hitleristic punishment! Hope and Adi (My sister's little girl) usually have a really tough time getting along so the idea of them spending a few days together required a little creative thinking, as few as "no's as possible, and about five back-up plans. However, I am happy to report that they must have called a CEASE FIRE because they did great together! Nothing that a huge bowl full of candy (that is now 3/4 gone), a lot of make-up and dress up clothes, and adding 3 other toddlers to the mix couldn't fix. Yes, that was part of my plan...add more toddlers to the picture to create a diversion. The jury is still out as to whether I am brilliant or just insane!

Too much confidence?

After getting Hallee ready for school today she looked at herself in the mirror, smiled and then said, "Mom, you know what? Sometimes when I am at school I think I am the prettiest princess in the whole class but I don't ever tell anybody that cause I don't want them to feel sad." Ya know what Hals...I agree!

What you say CAN and WILL be used against you!

Hope has a new game plan. She has decided to give me a taste of my own medicine and use my commonly used phrases back on me. Just today I have heard... (I'll do my best interpretation)

• "Are you lis-nen to me mom?"
• "Use gonna lose a mable (marble) mom!"
• "Look at me when I's talking to you!"
• "Use gonna go to time-out!"
• "Are use kidd'n me?"
• "Dis is mazing!

Nothing like hearing yourself through your child!

SOLVING THE WORLDS PROBLEMS

Intrigued by the title hey? Well, it's true...my friend and I solved ALL the world's problems yesterday during one of our regular theraputic-ignore-the-chaos conversations. I'm a little shocked at how simple the answer is actually and even more amazed at how long it has taken me to realize it. So are you ready for it? It's KINDNESS! Just think, if we all were kind to each other there would be no more wars, no divorce, abuse, road rage....

So here is the hard part; How do I instill this in my children? How do I teach them how absolutely critical this life skill is? (I'm accepting any and all suggestions!)

I had to put my money where my mouth is today when some not-very-nice (I'm not allowed to say "stupid") trucker honked and threw up his arms when I pulled out LONG in front of him after waiting to get across the road for five minutes. I was proud of myself for whispering "kindness...kindness...kindness" in between gritted teeth and you'll be happy to know I even mustered up a smile, a wave and mouthed the words "sorry".

So moral of the story...be kind today...Pass it on!

I'm In Love!

I'm in Love....with baby Caymbree. Maybe it is the fact that she can't talk back to me, tell me that I "am a mean mom", or whine? Or maybe it's those bigger-than-her-head BOWS that put me over the edge? Whatever it is...she's got me hooked!

DANCING DIVA'S

Hallee has been taking dancing and tumbling from Elite Academy for the last year or so and loves every minute of it! She spends countless hours at home perfecting her toe touches, leaps and back bends.

This year we signed Hope up for a class even though she is a little young (the class is for 3-5 yr olds; Hope turns 3 in November). According to Hope, Hallee "gets all the fun" and she constantly was asking us when she would be "tall enough" to go to school, ride a school bus, and go to dancing. Not much we can do about the first two requests so the third was a done deal. I was a little nervous about sending my I'll-do-it-when-and-how-I-want-to daughter off to a structured class so I popped in the other day to check out how things were going.

I got some great video of Hope but I can't figure out how to flip it the right way. Oh, well... you'll get the idea. Notice how Hope is facing backwards while the rest of the class faces forward? Like I said, it's her way or no way :)