Family portrait "take 2"

Merry Christmas to you all!!!!!

Love,

The McConkies

So soon?!

Somehow Jacob will be turning four in December. I know he is growing and has been on this earth for almost four years, but I really think the time has gone at an abnormally fast speed. I really do feel cheated here. And yet, there are days when I wish he would grow up a little faster. Those moments usually come after he has created some new mess or had a melt-down over something. But really, I am not ready for him to grow up.

He is my cuddle bug. Seriously, we have "cuddle bug" time during quiet time where we sit together in the recliner and snuggle. i don't think I could kiss his chubby little cheeks enough. He is so sweet and tender and also so crazy. I love watching him learn and hearing all about preschool. He is full of so many questions, which I am often unable to answer as we delve deep into philosophy. How does Heavenly Father travel to earth? Really, how does He do it?

And I love the things he says. Annoyed at Marshall singing while he was trying to watch a show, Jacob told him that if he didn't stop singing then Santa wouldn't bring him (Marshall) any presents. Love the logic! The boy never wears shows when he goes outside, even if it is 8 AM in the morning and 40 degrees. I asked him if he was cold the other day and he replied that he wasn't because he has "fire" in his feet that keep them warm. Aha. Or how about the question as to whether or not Heavenly Father created Lego people. After all,  He did create real people so why not Lego people?!

Jacob is a ham and I am hope he will keep entertaining us through the years. I love my little guy!

School Pictures

I just took my own picture of this guy since he doesn't get school pictures just yet. I love him. He is so crazy and busy. He keeps me on my toes. He is full of questions about the world around him. And he loves to be outside all the time. I love his smile. He is a ray of sunshine and such a treasure!

How did she get to 5th Grade?! Anna is turning into such a beautiful young woman. She is growing up and becoming more aware of the feelings of those around her. She is a great help and has a big heart, always looking out for the underdogs. She has a strong sense of what is right. She is a doll!

I love my crazy hyper Jimmy. Somehow he is in 1st grade. Despite the fact that I don't think he can sit still, he has learned an amazing amount of Mandarin in the Dual-Immersion program. He is so proud of his new language skills and enjoys showing them to everyone. He wears his "heart on his sleeve" and can be very tender at times. I love my cute snuggle guy.

Rachel never ceases to amaze me. Now that she is in 3rd grade she has started choir, even getting her big sister to join her. Rachel is so tender. She gives me hugs when she can tell I am stressed. She looks out for our cats and gives them lots of love. She loves to make friends. She is a beautiful girl with a great sense of humor. I love my sweet Rachel.

Post Election: There is Always Hope

I know a lot of people are upset over the Presidential Election. It was a huge surprise to us all. Watching the numbers come in was like seeing a horrible accident about to occur. You knew what was coming, but you couldn't believe it and felt powerless to stop it. And yet you couldn't rip yourself away from it either.

Last night while reading scriptures, we read 2 Nephi 7 and the phrase, "Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement?" hit me hard. It was a reminder to me that the Lord has not forgotten us. He has not cut Himself off from those who are righteous. Though some think there is no hope, there really still is. The Lord goes on to say that it is because of the people's iniquities, not any action on His part, that He is separated from His people. Yes, there is a lot of sin in the world today, obvious from the results of the election, but there is always hope and peace for the righteous. As long as we stay close to the Lord, He will not "divorce" us. We will be okay.

I also think of the plaque I have hanging in my kitchen, a famous quote from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come what may and love it." The election is over and there isn't much we can do about the results. It's done with. And so we need to move on. But we can still learn to love the life we have. We can't give up hope. We have to have faith in our Father's plan and take comfort from it. Being angry or fearful will keep us from feeling the Spirit. We can be wise, but not afraid. Fear is the antithesis of faith and comes from the Devil. Fear hinders us from progressing. Instead, we need to look for the good and stand fast in our beliefs.

The world is not ending yet. The Gospel is going forth. There is ALWAYS hope.

Picture Review

This is a picture blog to let all you non-Facebookers know what we have been up too. Plus I am tired and don't want to write tons and pictures always tell it better. How on earth did get it to be November?!

Our cat pumpkin. Surprising that the kids picked to do a cat since we only have 3 of them. Ha!

Mama Witch all dressed up for the ward Halloween Carnival

Angry Bird Man. Isn't he so cute?!

Anna the banshee, Rachel the fruit ninja, Jimmy the dinosaur, and Jacob the fruit ninja. Fruit Ninja is an app for those of you who don't know. My kids love the game.

Cute 3 year old Jacob

Studly 1st Grader Jimmy

Sweet 3rd Grader Rachel

Adorable 5th Grader Anna

And this is to show just how confident I am. I am posting a picture of me without make-up, people. I did the "Save a Sister" 5k this past month for Breast Cancer. It was my first time doing it and it was a blast. Plus I shaved 2 minutes off of my last 5k from a month ago. Of course, I had to go out all pink.

Keeping Busy

I haven't been writing much as life has been a tad crazy. But here is what we have been up to:

- Marshall is keeping super busy taking a CES (Church Education System) training class Tuesday nights, teaching a law class at the local college Wednesday nights, and teaching an Institute class Thursday nights, along with his regular job and bishoping. Not to mention periodically teaching an early morning Seminary class at a local high school.
- I keep busy being Super Mom during it all and working my little job at the school. I really do enjoy recess duty. I get to see my kids and know the staff at school, not to mention see what goes on at the school during recess. I also keep busy with little projects and running/ biking. I ran a 5K last month and am doing the "Save A Sister" 5K in a few weeks. One day I'd still like to do a marathon.
- Anna loves 5th grade and her teacher. She is enjoying doing book reports and learning history. My kind of girl! She is continuing on with piano lessons as well.
-Rachel likes 3rd grade and math. Both girls are doing choir together this year and love it. Rachel started taking piano lessons and is liking it, but is very shy. We are not allowed to watch her practice, which is a total Rachel thing to demand. Hey, at least she is willing to play with his able to listen.
-Jimmy is amazing me with how well he is picking up Mandarin. The Dual Immersion program is wonderful. He is learning quickly and loves to show off how he can count to 100 in Mandarin and so forth. It gives him great confidence. I wish someone taught me a language when I was that age! Hopefully he can go on a mission to China because he will have the language down with this program.
-Jacob loves preschool and I love having some free time during the week. He is always so excited to go.  He enjoys learning about science, like dinosaurs and insects. I love how happy preschool makes him. He feels like one of the big kids. And he pretty much lives on his bike.

And that is what we have been doing. Hopefully I can put two thoughts together and write more often, but don't count on it.

Just a few things that make me smile

-My husband. He is always happy and positive and it is so contagious. He is adorable. I love him so much and the little things he does, like sing songs or put away clean dishes.

- My children. Jacob bounding out of preschool, eager to tell me the newest thing he has learned. Or his very profound and humorous three year-old statements. Jimmy sharing his newest Mandarin words with me or sharing his big plans for some awesome boy adventure, like a complete remodeling of the swing set. Rachel and her sweet nature, cuddling the cats or giving me a hug when she knows I have had a long day. Anna writing me cards or looking out for her younger siblings.

- My cats. They have such individual personalities. Penelope, who is the youngest and smallest of them all and yet still is the toughest. She is Queen Bee and makes sure everyone knows it. Bella, who is scared of her own shadow, but very sweet and loving. And Riley, who "talks" to us all the time and always likes to cuddle.

- The Godhead. What would I do without the sweet tender mercies I daily receive? They remind me that I am not alone, I am loved, and the events of my life are known above.

I am truly blessed.

Violence is not the answer

We could really use some more Ghandis and Martin Luther King Jr.s in the world. Pakistan declared this past Friday ":A Day of Love for the Prophet Mohammed" and encouraged Muslims to non-violently protest an anti-Muslim film that was produced in the United States. I completely understand their disgust towards a film that was an attack on their religion and beliefs. The idea for this "Day of Love" made sense. History has shown that non-violent protests have been very successful.

Sadly, non-violence is not what Pakistan got. Instead the action turned brutal, with 15 people killed, two theaters ransacked and burned, along with numerous other damage and injury done.

This is my problem with the protesters. They are upset that their religion was portrayed in a negative way. They do not like being deemed as evil or "bad" people. However, their actions showed that they were exactly that. If they could carry on a protest without killing their own people and causing destruction, maybe the Western world would start viewing them in a more positive light. If you want people's respect, stop proving that you are a violent religion and start doing some good in your own countries.

I have nothing wrong with someone who lives a different religion than I do. People have their freedom to do so. However, I disagree with violence and any religion that uses it to prove a point.

Something's afoot

I am pretty sure there is a magic force field around Anna's bed that makes it physically impossible for her to stay in bed. As soon as she gets into bed, it must just bounce her right back out. I know this because I can hear the creaking of the floor above my head almost every night when I try to relax after the kids are in bed. Somehow the other children have escaped this phenomenon.

The force field must also have magical powers that trigger the investigative part of her brain because Anna always comes out of her room with questions to ask. "What is for school lunch tomorrow?", "Where all the cats?", "Why were you so mean and got upset when I repeatedly disobeyed you at dinner?", "Why are you getting angry now?, and so forth. It is amazing the amount of questions that come out of her mouth.

Surely Anna isn't stalling going to bed. I mean, it is almost a nightly occurrence. There really must be some mystical powers at work. There just must.

Primary Program

Today was our ward's Primary program. I am so proud of the kids because they did a great job participating. Anna even gave her first talk in Sacrament meeting and did a fabulous job. She spoke clearly so that everyone could understand her. I told her that if she can give a talk in Sacrament meeting, then she can do anything! I caught Jimmy singing songs, even though he won't admit it. And shy little Rachel also has found her voice. Jacob was just happy to be up front and survived being on the stand for an hour. I love my little monkeys and am so proud of their good example.

Never Forget

I still get goosebumps every year when we watch videos about September 11th. All those emotions go rushing through me. I remember being scared. Scared about what was happening and what the future would hold. I had barely found out I was pregnant with Anna and wondered what kind of world she would grow up in. I was so glad no one I loved was hurt and cried for those who had lost dear ones. I could not imagine being pregnant and losing my husband, like others did that day. I just wanted to hold Marshall tight and never go outside again.

But years have passed and times have changed. Things may not be perfect in this country, but we're still here kicking, proving that we are made of something stronger. Something that cannot be taken away by those twisted men who attacked our country all those years ago. 

Last night for Family Home Evening, we talked about September 11th with our children. We watched some videos of the coverage of that memorable day. And we talked about all that happened. It shocked my kids to know that there are people out there who hate us and are raised to hate us with such insane passion that they would do something like fly airplanes into buildings to kill thousands of us. But I loved what my sweet 10 year old daughter said in return to such anger. "But they can't knock us down. We're stronger than that. We're Americans!" So very true. If history has proved anything, it has shown that Americans are tough and we will fight for our freedom. We WILL not forget!

Following a prompting

Today after Relief Society I had a very sweet older sister come up to me, take my hand, look me in the eyes, and say, "I don't know why I feel this way, but I just have to tell you to stand fast and carry on. The Lord loves you and will help you." She then went on to tell me that all during church she kept getting the prompting that she needed to tell these words to me. She told me she was only the messenger and knew the Lord wanted me to know that He is aware of me.

Little did she know how much I needed to hear those words. She had no idea that Saturday night I laid in bed, talking to Marshall and crying over how tired I was of all the craziness going on in our life. How I didn't think I could do one more Sunday with him being bishop and that I just wanted to be done with it. How I wished he could be with us for just one Sunday. That we could just keep him to ourselves. That all we are doing with him teaching Institute and taking a class through the Church Education System was just too much, even though I knew it is what the Lord wants. I went to bed feeling discouraged and tired and woke up with the attitude that I would try to make the best of the day.

That message from that dear sister just cut through all my emotions and worry and let me know that my prayers are heard and the Lord is aware of my struggles. I needed to hear those words so much and thanked her for being in-tuned enough with the Spirit to share that message with me.

Often we hear how the Lord works through us to bless the lives of others. We have "angels" around us who are normal people that following the promptings of the Spirit to lift up another. I am so grateful to that dear sister and for the encouragement she shared with me. I hope that I can be so in-tuned with the Spirit that I can be a messenger of peace and hope to someone who may need it. I love this Gospel.

Ramblings

- What is up with the "please prove you are not a robot" word verification thing on Blogger? I don't think even a robot would be smart enough to read the silly letters and numbers twisted and faded out. It took me multiple tries recently to leave a comment on a friend's blog because I couldn't read the jibberish. C'mon, folks! Just have the words easier to see. One sure way to keep people from commenting on your blog is to have word verification!

- So things have gotten busier with Marshall being gone three nights a week with non-bishop stuff and then having his normal bishop stuff on top of that. I want to tell people that they are not allowed to have any drama between certain hours and days of the week. Nope! I need to have my hubby to myself sometimes. Ha! Sometimes I feel like Mr. Incredible and want to tell the world to stay together for just a few minutes, please.

- My knee problems are not stress fracture related. Yippee! They doctor took an x-ray and my bone is whole and looking great. It is from weak hips, which cause misalignment while running. That ended up pulling on my femur and causing pain at the end of it. To treat it I need to so more quad intense exercises, like biking and squats, to build up that thigh muscle. I am so glad it is not bone related and that I can still exercise. I ran 2.5 miles the day after my appointment and it was wonderful. Wonderful in that it was great to run again, not in that my endurance or time was amazing. But now I can get back into it! And what is up with the weak hip thing in women? You'd think after giving birth a few times those hips would be tough.

- Sometimes I can understand why kids randomly smack each other out of nowhere. I know we are adults and know better, but sometimes there are people in this world who are just annoying enough that you really just want to smack them. It's a good thing we don't, but sometimes . . . 

I just can't help myself!

Um, so I am pretty much banned from going to PetSmart anymore. Not because I have misbehaved and been kicked out, but rather because I have the strong urge to save every homeless cat. (I really would if I could. I just need a much bigger home.)

See, this past week I rewarded Jacob by taking him to PetSmart to see all the fish, gerbils, and cats. Big mistake. I saw one cat, Riley, who I just fell in love with. Like our cat Bella, he was an underdog. Riley is almost 6 years old and has been returned to PAWS 3 times. Once because his owners lost their home, once because of allergies, and once because he was "too affectionate". (I have no idea what that means.) I felt so bad for Riley and was so intrigued by his loving nature. When we got our first two cats, I thought there would be lots of snuggling and lap time. But Penelope is young and independent and loves to run around outside. Bella is shy and can be loving, but only when she wants to. So I was excited about an affectionate cat. Plus I have read that having a male to the dynamics can be a very good thing.

As the week wore on, I couldn't get Riley off of my mind. I didn't want anything to happen to this sweet cat who has had such bad luck. Well, you know me and by Friday I found myself adopting another cat and bringing him home. Let's just say I have a very kind husband. and I promised him this would be our last cat. 3 is enough! I will no longer go into PetSmart to see any other homeless loveable cats.

But I am so glad he got Riley. He is very mellow and very affectionate. He loves to be around us and will come rub up against us. He'll jump into our laps and meow to us. He is so very sweet. The kids love him and his tender nature. And I do too. I am so glad we could give him a good home.

My knee revisited

Grrrrrrr. I am annoyed because I am not invincible. Shoot! I am not even whole. It's not that I am THAT old, but my body thinks I should still be having issues with my knee. And I do not agree with this agenda.

I behaved myself really well while recovering from my stress fracture and followed what my doctor told me I could and could not do. Then when we felt the time was right, I very slowly and cautiously began running. In time I decided to train for a half marathon. Why I curse myself with such lofty plans is beyond me because every time I say I am going to do a big race, something goes wrong. And it did again.

I took my time and worked up my mileage slowly. I didn't even get past 3 miles and then I started to experience some pain and discomfort in my knee. It would go away, but it became more frequent so I decided to lay off running for a bit and stick to speed walking and biking. Still, I had pain. Grrrr.

Now I am doing nothing and nervously awaiting seeing me doctor next week, wondering what we will find. Did my fracture not heal all the way? Has it been aggravated? What? All I know is that my knee hurts, even when I walk. Not as bad as it did with the fracture, but more than it should be at all. And I am going nuts trying to be good and let it rest. I am so bummed because I really truly did behave myself and eased back into running when I had the "go" from my doctor. So not cool!

First day of school

Today was the first day of school. My kids were so excited. Anna has been preparing for a few weeks now, brushing up on her multiplication tables and reading. Rachel and Jimmy were also anxious, but spent every final minute of summer playing Wii. And Jacob just wanted to have Mom to himself again. This morning came and everyone did a wonderful job of going to their classes. I have a little job this year at school as a playground monitor so I had the chance to see all my kids half way through the day. It was fun to check in with them and see how they were doing. So far so good.

Anna really is excited for her year with Mrs. Patton, who also likes Broadway plays. She is looking forward to her last year in elementary school and being the "top dog". She can't wait to learn about different countries and the Civil War.  I cannot believe she is in 5th grade. I remember that grade!

Rachel is happy because she has Anna's 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Hatch. Two of her good friends are in her class. She is looking forward to learning how to do cursive writing. I think this will be a good year for her.

My 1st grader! When did that happen? He had a great first day of school and did well being gone all day. It helps that his best pal Spencer is in his class. He is doing the dual-immersion program, learning Mandarin. Half the day he spends with his English teacher Mrs. Thorton and the other half is all in Mandarin with Mrs. Chen. He told me he didn't learn anything today, but then started to tell us the Mandarin words for different colors at dinner. Go Jimmy!

Jacob gets Mom all to himself. He is excited about this and kept me running all day playing games with him. But he did periodically tell me that he missed "his" kids and that school takes too long. Hopefully things will be better for him once he starts preschool in a few weeks. It's hard to be the one left behind!

Sad to say "good bye" for another 4 years

I don't know what we are going to do in the evenings now that the Olympics are ending. We have  cheered, laughed, yelled, and gotten chills as we have watched these amazing athletes over the past two weeks. Sometimes it hasn't even mattered if the person we wanted to win was from our own country because we were cheering for the first timer, the underdog, or the retiring athlete. Remember the high bar performance by the gymnastic from the Netherlands? Crazy amazing!

We've learned about the perserverance and sacrifice of many participants, and a little too much information about others. Good times! I've learned that at even my best sprint, I would by easily lapped by the Olympic distance runners in a matter of one second. If I blinked at the wrong time, I missed the 100 meter races. Just turn on the tv and watch the Olympics if you want to see what a six pack on a woman looks like. Also, there is no way I would be able to do a handstand on the edge of a three story high diving board. You couldn't even get me halfway up the thing in the first place. Walking in a straight line is hard enough, let alone doing flips frontwards and backwards on a two inch wide piece of wood. Male gymnasts have arms that are bigger than my thighs. They could harm someone just by flexing their muscles. Swimming means something very different to me and Michael Phelps and we'll just keep it that way. And when you have 0% body fat and 100% muscle, you could care less about appearing on world wide television in skimpy lycra uniforms.

I have loved every minute of the games. How cool to be right there to celebrate the triumphs and feel the losses of these amazing athletes. I am left in awe with their skills and die-hard endurance to be their best. What a great example they are all to us of dedication. Goodbye Summer Olympics for another four years! I will miss you!

Locthe Revisited

Okay, so Ryan Locthe has clarified that his mom's comment about the "one night stands" was misquoted. Ryan told USA Today that, “[Ike Lochte is] new to the whole media [experience], so she didn’t really understand that they were going to twist it and make it bad. She definitely was like, ‘Why would they do that?’ She is so oblivious to everything.” She did say "one night stands", but that wasn't what she meant. I am not sure how she didn't know what a one night stand was or how that would impact her son's public image, but whatever. She's new to the whole media thing and as her son so bluntly put it, "she is so oblivious to everything". Ouch.

Perhaps Locthe is not a male slut after all. But he is still a pretty nasty man and he only has himself to blame for leaking (hee hee) that information out. In a recent interview with Ryan Seacrest, Locthe admitted to peeing in the warm-up pool. “ I think there’s just something about getting into chlorine water that you just automatically go. [I didn't] during the races, but I sure did in warm-up.” Um, thanks. TMI again, buddy! Did we really need to know that?

Michael Phelps backed up Locthe and said that he had gone in the warm-up pool as well. His defense was that when you are in the pool for two hours, sometimes you just have to go and can't get out. He said with all the chlorine, the germs get killed. Okay, still gross, but I can see where Phelps is coming from.

However, we wouldn't know any "secrets" of the trade if Mr. Locthe hadn't just kept his mouth shut. And if Ryan Seacrest hadn't asked him the question in the first place. I still think Locthe is nasty, but I am also annoyed at Seacrest. Really? You are interviewing an amazing athlete and you take the time to ask if he pees in the pool? Why is that important? Why do we need to know that and how will knowing that bit of information benefit the rest of us? Ask him a question that I actually care about, okay? Do you really get paid the big bucks to ask people about their peeing habits?

Go USA! Thanks for making us look really good, guys, by taking something as incredible as the Olympics and turning it into a discussion about bodily functions. Nice.

My promise from years past

I remember when I came back to the LDS Church, really truly was converted, and decided that I wanted a life with the Gospel in it. I was willing to do whatever was needed to make that possible and took some big lonely steps to do it. I knew I couldn't change my past and my childhood. I couldn't take away the heartache and pain in my life, but I could make a better world for my own children who would come one day. And I knew that a big key to having that happen would be the integrity of the man I married. Over months of praying, fasting, and changing, I made a promise, a deal, with the Lord that if He would find me a righteous husband who had a solid foundation in the Gospel and would never waiver, I would spend the rest of my life serving the Lord. What mattered most was having a husband who was as committed to the Gospel as I was and would sacrifice everything, as I was willing to do and did, to live it.

Well, the Lord took my promise to heart and brought an amazing valiant young man into my life. Someone I would never have imagined being blessed enough to have. Someone who took me to the temple twelve years ago today and made me his wife for time and all eternity. Has the Lord required much service and sacrifice on my behalf since then? You better believe it! There have been times where I have been so emotionally and physically exhausted. Times when my husband would leave for church meetings while I was lying in bed with pregnancy sickness with three little kids running around. Times when I didn't think I could give anymore. But somehow, through the Lord, I have always made it. That is the cool thing about the Lord. Not only did He bless me with a good husband, but also He has helped me keep that promise I made to Him years ago.

Has the sacrifice been worth it? You better believe that too! I wouldn't change it for anything. Bring on a lifetime of service and work for the Lord if that means having the privilege of eternity to be with my husband. I couldn't have asked for a better man to be married to. The Lord took my promise seriosuly and blessed me with an amazing righteous strong husband. I am constantly amazed at his goodness, example, willingness to serve, and passion for the Gospel. He is a good good man, an incredible father, and tender sweet husband. I often look at him and wonder how on earth I got so lucky to have him in my life.

The past twelve years have been wonderful. I cannot imgaine a life without Marshall. I love being at his side, together serving the Lord and being blessed as we move throughout the years. What better joy in marriage can there be?

Ryan Lochte- TMI

I normally don't pay attention to the moral side to most Olympic athletes because we really don't hear about their lifestyles outside the arena. But sometimes the press likes to dig out information or the athlete is open about his choices and the public learns more than they bargained for.

This year I was excited to see Ryan Lochte have a chance at getting some medals. Last Olympics he was overshadowed by Michael Phelps and his amazing success. This year I was excited to see Locthe bring home his own gold.

Um, that was until I learned about his relationships, or lack thereof. Now I just want to puke. For some reason his mother has shared with the press that, "He goes out on one-night stands. He's not able to give fully to a relationship because he's always on the go." Gross. Why couldn't she have just said the latter, that he is too busy, than the former, that he has one night stands? Does she not care for his public image? Does she think telling us about his one nighters will make him look more manly and studly? Is she trying to scare off potential girlfriends? And how or why does she know that he has all these one night stands? What's the deal here? One thing she has shown is that she herself isn't a very classy lady or takes much thought about morals.

Lotche has already told us plenty useful things about himself, in a recent Women's Health interview. He likes his women with fit bodies and has a crush on Carmen Electra. Whoa! Right there is reason to question the man's sanity. Has anyone seen her? That right there tells us a lot about the depth of his character. Lotche also states he likes sex with the lights on, sleeps in the nude, and if he is interested in a lady, he'll "give a wink and come back later because it keeps her thinking." Wow. Um, no lack of confidence there.

I'm sorry, but I REALLY didn't need to know about Ryan Lochte's sexual escapades or how he prefers to sleep and have sex. TMI! I was more interested in his athletic performance as he is representing my country at the Olympics. But now he has made it public and seems to not be ashamed. Talk about EGO. What a horrid job he is doing of being a spokeperson for the USA. Sure, he is a great athlete, but he is showing he has no morals and doesn't care who knows about it. Not only that, but what about all the young fans and children cheering him on? Not the kind of role model I want for my children, thank you.

Mr. Lotche, I am not impressed. I am digusted. We didn't have to know those details about your life. Why couldn't you and your mom find some morals or at least have the sense to keep what happens in the bedroom in the bedroom? I don't think you are a stud, I think you are a slut and am ashamed you have decided to represent my country in such a way. Call me harsh, but you should know better Mr. Lotche.

Keep me obscure

I am so glad I am not a celebrity. My sister-in-law pointed out, in response to my last blog, that Christian Bale has been in the news before for having a "tantrum". I had no idea. The crazy thing was that it happened a few years back and my s-i-l was able to send a link with the words that were said during the drama. The internet is a scary thing. So is being a celebrity.

I don't know about you, but I am sure glad the world is not interested in me at all. No one is taking pictures of me and judging what I wear, how I look, or what I say and do. If you are, that is just creepy and you really need to grow up. But celebrities rarely are allowd any privacy. If your marriage breaks up or your kid is an idiot, watch out because everyone will know about on  a matter of minutes. Ugh! I'll pass.

I don't need the public to document my good and bad moments. My kids do a good enough job of reminding me when I mess up. And I don't want people to be able to search out my mistakes and have them written word for word. My kids do a good enough job of reminding me of when I have messed up. I don't want a camera in my face, following my every move. I can understand why some celebs go whacko on the press. I don't condone it, but I can understand it. Give me obscurity, quiet, and simplicity.

Sure, the paycheck of a celebrity would be nice, but the price they pay in return is just not worth the riches.

Hats off to Christian Bale

I have a soft spot for Christian Bale ever since I saw "Swing Kids" as a teenager and a massive crush was born. He's always been a quiet actor, not one to headline over being quoted for stupid or crass sayings, partying hard, or for being a major jerk/ idiot.  He is an actor with great talent and depth. In 2005 when it came out that he was to be Batman in the new Batman movies, I was a bit nervous. He wasn't one I pictured as having the muscles for the character, but I knew he could play the tormented Bruce Wayne. But never to disappoint, Christian bulked up and has done an amazing job as the Dark Knight. I love his portrayal of Batman/ Bruce Wayne.

I admired Christian Bale before (though I admit, the teenage crush is gone as I am madly in love with a much more amazing man), but after hearing about him visit the victims of the Colorado "Dark Knight Rises" premiere, I am even more impressed. It hasn't been all over the press and internet because of Bale himself, but because of other people. He's not in it for the glory or publicity. He was just being a good guy who cared about a tragedy that occurred at one of his movies. How cool is that and how rare to find someone like that in Hollywood?! He's not marketing himself. He's just trying to be a good citizen.

Major props to you, Mr. Christian Bale. After all, anyone who can survive having Gloria Steinem for a step-mother deserves my admiration.

Lacking Desire

So many ideas and yet so little desire to write anything. It's summer and I just want to play! Besides, I have four children to keep me busy. Jacob's latest adventure involved emptying out the entire contents of both his and Jimmy's dresser right before church. He started to work on the girl's room, but was stopped before he could do too much damage there. Not to mention the death heat that I am constantly trying to avoid. Seriously, if you don't get outside before the sun, you will melt. Some mornings I wonder why I even bother to shower because I am so sweating so quickly after leaving the house. One night we even let the kids play outside until 9:30 at night because the sun was down and it was actually cooler temperatures. Or the bugs. Don't even get me started on the cockroaches. Then the other day while I was cleaning the bathroom I found a tiny scorpion under the scale. What?! I told Marshall it was a sign that we need to move . . . to a different climate. Not cool!

And yet, somehow, summer is quickly passing by. School starts here for us on the insanely early date of August 15th. Less than a month away! The stores are already in "school mode", stocked up with all sorts of school supplies. July is almost over! How on earth did that happen? We've had so much fun this summer and I really have enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere. I'm not sure if I am ready for everyone to head back to school. Jacob is going to be bored with me. And Marshall will be even more busy teaching both college and Institute classes, plus taking a CES training class on the side. Although I am excited for the heat to leave, I am not ready for all our freedom to go with it.

But then again maybe I'll actually find the energy/ desire to write again. Who knows?! It has definately been a fun summer and one of learning and changes. Someday I'll have to write about it all. This will just have to do until then.

All that is Jacob

This picture is from "Western Night" during our family reunion at Aspen Grove. Jacob has a "bad guy" mustache painted on his face and made his "bad guy" face for the camera. They say a picture can say a thousand words and this one speaks volume. This is Jacob to a "t". My adorable mischievious little bandit.

Happy 4th of July!

I love this land and feel so blessed to have grown up here and to live here now. What wonderful freedoms we enjoy because of so many who have fought, died, and carried on for our country to remain free. I am proud to be an American! Happy 4th of July!

Even my food has opinions!

One of my children's favorite books to check out from the library is "Arnie the Doughnut" by Laurie Keller. Arnie is created one morning in the bakery and so excited about being bought and taken home like so many other doughnuts before him. As he is fried, iced, and covered in sprinkles, he converses with various doughnuts about the joys of being selected for purchase. Soon Mr. Bing comes into the bakery and picks Arnie. Arnie can hardly contain himself . . . until Mr. Bing takes him home and tries to EAT him! What?! Arnie screams and is horrified at Mr. Bing's behavior. Arnie calls the bakery to speak to the baker about Mr. Bing, only to learn from the baker that this is the fate of all doughnuts, to be eaten. Well, Arnie decides that is certainly not an option and so he and Mr. Bing make lists of what Arnie can do instead of being eaten. After some humorous suggestions, they decide Arnie can be Mr. Bing's pet since the apartment Bing lives in does not allow animals. Everyone is happy and our story is resolved, unless it ever rains.

My kids love this book because of the outrageous idea of a doughnut coming to life and protesting being eaten. Things like that just don't happen in real life. Well . . . at least I thought they didn't. But then today I learned that one of my favorite cookies, Oreos, has a sexual orientation. Crud. I just thought it was a treat for eating, but now it has a whole story to go along with it. Is there a new set of rules about how I should treat my cookies when I buy them? Are they going to try and throw themselves out of my van on the way home from the store once they learn I am opposed to same gender marriage? Or will they devise a way to crumble and spread themselves all over my kitchen floor, attracting thousands of ants, in retaliation for my beliefs? Am I still allowed to eat them or do I have to let them sit in my cupboard, respecting their lifestyle and not infringing on their rights? Ahhhhh! What do I do? I thought they were just cookies.

I really hope we don't have another "Arnie" situation on our hands. Are the tomatoes in my garden going to protest when I pick them because I am taking away their freedom to grow? How did food get so complicated?

Busy

I really haven't been killed off by my hormonal daughter, who was mentioned in my last post. I've just been busy using every free moment I have to visit with family or draw.

Marshall's oldest sister, and her husband, have had the honor of being called as mission president in California. As they just entered the MTC today, we have been spending the past two weeks partying with them here before they were shipped off and became official. We've had the chance for everyone in the family to get together, minus a few working husbands and the sister who lives in Switzerland. And we've just played, chatted, and relaxed, trying to calm the nerves of the Halls before they head out on their adventure to California for three years. It has been a lot of fun for the kids to play with their various cousins and for them to be entertained. Plus I have enjoyed hanging out with Marshall's sisters because they are so much fun.

As for the drawing, I kind of stumbled upon a job as a free-lance illustrator through a friend who was working on a children's book for a client. She needed an illustrator and I was willing to give it a shot. Why not get paid for something I enjoy? So I spent many hours working on illustrations for the book. However, the bummer is the project has been cancelled by said client. Major lame-o. But the good thing is I still get some pay out of it, have pictures for my portfolio, and a whole new career path that I never even considered before. It's funny that I never thought of trying to be an illustrator because I love art so much and can do it from the comfort of my home, which means I can be here for my kids. Right now I am working on building up my portfolio and then am going to send submissions to various children's magazines and book companies who hire freelancers. It is a very exciting and scary process, but I am excited. We'll see how it goes!

Sorry for not posting more, but it's just been busy. And hot. Really hot. Living in St. George in the summer does make me crabby. One should not sweat as much as we do here. It's just not appealing. I would have been one crabby pioneer.

What happened to my sweet daugther?!

I've heard tales about such a thing called the "tween years", girls becoming overly emotional, dramatic, and completely unreasonable. And whenever I came across such stories, I thanked my lucky stars that those years were far off.

Well, at least those years seemed in the distant future, but now I find myself with a ten year-old daughter and wondering who in the world she is. What happened to my sweet girl and who is this child that is unloved by the world and sorely picked upon by her parents? Nothing ever seems to go her way. Her siblings don't treat her fairly and the cosmos have alligned to prove her utter misery. The other day my poor picked upon girl made out a list of all the things we have done this summer and categorized them according to her desire to do them. There were two columns, one containing the things she had wanted to do and the other filled with the activities her siblings picked that she was forced to go along with. Such horrible unspeakable things like going for a bike ride or the park and even a visit to the newer aquatic center when she had wanted to go out to lunch. Oh the horror! The true misery of her predictament! Someone call Child Protective Services!

I had to do my best to stifle my laughter when handed the above list. I had no idea I had been torturing my daughter in such cruel ways. How can I call myself a good mother?!

If this is what happens at age ten, I am doomed. Thank goodness I have Costco size bottles of Tylenol in my cupboard because I am surely going to need them.

For the Beauty

Today in Gospel Principles we had a lesson on the creation. The teacher, sweet Darci, brought a beautiful spirit into the room that caused many of us to reflect on God's creation. He really outdid Himself with our earth. The beauty of a flower in bloom, a water fall down a cliff, a majestic mountain towering above, an animal running free and uninhibited in the wild, the tiny little perfectly shaped toenails on a new born babe. All of it is amazing and all so inspiring.

It was a great reminder to me of the beauty of this earth and how our Father in Heaven made it for our enjoyment. And I do find great joy in it. So many times a smile has been brought to my face because of the wonderful world around me.  Here are just a few of the things I love, in no partucular order. How blessed we are to have the earth.

Animals- I love animals. Always have and always will. I love to see the cute things they do, how they interact with each other, and their young are so adorable. I love my cats and the life they add to our home. 

Nature- when I first saw Southern Utah, I thought it was very rocky and ugly. Where was all the green? But over the years I have come to appreciate the beauty here. I love the many colorful and intricate rock formations done by Mother Nature. I love the rivers and streams and even the colorful cacti that surround us. It is a gorgeous place to lice with the red dirt and orange rock.

Mountains- I felt so trapped all those years ago when I moved to Provo because I was surrounded by mountains. Now I feel odd if I don't have my mountains around me. I love the mountains here. the colorful ones down south and the snow capped, tree covered ones in the north. They are an awe-inspiring sight.

My children- Each one perfectly formed, arriving with all their fingers and toes, little lips and eyes, working lungs and heart, with that smooth baby skin. They are healthy, beautiful, and unique among themselves. They are the one creation that truly take my breath away and humble me beyond words.



Midnight 5K

This past Friday I had the chance to do my most favorite race of the year, the Midnight 5K. It starts at 11pm and everyone has until midnight to finish it. Everyone has a lot of fun, wearing glow-in-the-dark necklaces, paint, and all sorts of crazy stuff. There are people of all ages and different physical conditions. It takes place on top of "Airport Hill", up and down the runway of the old airport. It is just a race for fun and I love it!

I was able to go with a bunch of ladies from my ward. I wasn't sure if I would be able to run the whole thing since I haven't made it up to 3 miles in my training. But I was determined to have fun and not hurt my knee. Well, I did run the full race and was only 4 minutes slower than last year. Not bad for only having been running once a week in the past month. (This whole recovering from injury is taking way too long than I ever thought it would. But I am glad I am not wearing a boot!) My sweet friend Jackie, who has a few marathons under her belt, ran with me the whole way. It was great! I am so happy to be able to run again!



Happy 10th Anna!

Somehow I have ended up with a ten year-old daughter. This is really odd to me since Anna isn't THAT old. I am not sure how it has happened and where time has gone. Have I really been a mother that long and do I really have a child in the double digits? That's only two years away from Young Women?! That's nuts!

But I am very glad that, despite time escaping me and somehow making Anna ten, she is growing into an incredible young lady. She is very caring and always looking out for the underdog in the class or on the playground. Anna also is very spiritual, being the first to suggest prayer when something bad happens or trying to recognize and follow the Holy Ghost. She's also a very talented girl, playing piano, reading, doing art, swimming, and biking. I am very proud to be her mom and feel blessed.

This past weekend we had a pajama party with her girl friends. We had pizza, painted and decorated our nails, had cake, and watched a movie with lots of candy involved. It was a lot of fun. Happy 10th Birthday Anna!

(Just for fun. Cute Marshall and Jacob)

This past week . . .

Somehow time has gotten away from me and it has been a week since Rachel's baptism. With school wrapping up, life has been busy! Field trips and class programs along with the usual craziness of life. But we have been enjoying ourselves and having Marshall's parents back from their mission. This past Sunday they gave their fabulous "homecoming" talks and we partied with the family who could come down for the weekend. School gets out in a week and then it is time for the real chaos to begin! Here are some fun pictures from this past week . . .

Jacob came into our room this morning and fell back asleep in our bed. When we checked on him an hour later, he was completely out, but in this uncomfortable position.

Grandma and Granddad McConkie with Jimmy at his Kindergarten Program

Cute Jimmy as the "zookeeper" in his end of year program. He said his part perfectly and sang all the songs. Go Jimmy!

Rachel at Cotton Days, learning how to weave like the pioneers

And I don't have a picture of her, but Miss Anna has been riding her bike to school every day. She loves to ride instead of taking the bus and I am proud of her. It's a two mile ride there. Go Anna!

Rachel's Baptism

I vividly remember over 8 years ago when I went into labor. It was my first and only labor that happened naturally. I seriously thought I was constipated until I realized I was having contractions. It was a stormy night when a tornado passed through neighboring Illinois. And Rachel was born. We often joke that Rachel brought the whirlwind with her arrival because she is such a strong spirited girl who has no problem letting her will be known. And yet she has a big heart and a very tender, loving nature. She is Rachel.

Somehow here it is 8 years later and my sweet girl has entered into the water of baptism to become the newest member of our ward. I am so proud of her choice to and excitement about being baptized. Yesterday was a wonderful day that we had the chance to share with friends and family, including Marshall's parents who just got home from their mission to Portugal. And when I say "just", I do mean just that. They were supposed to arrive home Friday night, but got stuck in Salt Lake due to a delayed flight. They arrived in St. George Saturday morning, all the while with us anxiously awaiting at the church all ready to go forward as soon as they flew into town. They headed right over from the airport and the baptism went under way.

Again, today, we all joined together in church as Rachel received the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost. I am so excited for her. I know she is on the path that WILL lead her back to our Father in Heaven. I know that with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost, as her constant companion, she will never be led astray. Her life will be greatly blessed because of the choice she made this weekend. She will be able to have joy and peace throughout her entire life as she strives to honor the covenants she has made and continues on this path. Congrats Rachel!

 My cute kids all ready for the big event!

 Marshall and Rachel

 Rachel and I

Granda and Granddad with a newly baptized Rachel

Why I should be a marriage counselor . . .

In Sunday's "Parade" magazine, there was a feature article on seven tips that help marriages stay successful. I, of course, had to read them. I found most of them good, while a few were a little more worldly than my viewpoint, but one really set me off because it was very much the opposite of what I believe.

Tip #5 stated that having and hanging out with friends of the opposite gender was a good thing because it also helps to keep a little sizzle in your life (or some simliar wording to that.) Can anyone tell me what is wrong with this advice? Anyone? Anyone?

Well, if you're not as smart as my six year old, let me tell you why. Having friends of the opposite gender is not a bad thing. I have lots of friends that are guys, most of them I know because they are family or married to my girl friends. Nothing wrong with being nice to a guy. But here's the deal. Most people who have friends of the opposite gender and spend time hanging out alone with said friends, tend to have affairs. And most people who allow that friendship to have some sizzle to it, have affairs. Call me crazy, I know, but it's true.

The world doesn't think it is a big deal to look at pornography or fanatasize about some Hollywood stud to get one in the mood for bedroom activities with their spouse, but the world is also destroying itself at a rapid rate and more concerned with obesity than teenage pregnancies. So I am not really putting a lot of stock into what the world has to say. It's like the one friend everyone has that always gives really bad advice that people ignore.

It kind of goes along the same common sense of not touching a hot stove. You WILL get hurt. Hang out alone and fantasize about your guy friend and you will have an affair with him. Maybe not physically, but surely emotionally. Stick to the with the stove. It'll give your life a sizzle and actually hurt less in the end. Or be even crazier and try to get that spark back in the relationship with your actual husband. Novel idea!

It's not about the ring

While at the near-by duck pond with my kids, we came across a couple having their engagement pictures done. It brought back a flood of memories as I watched them pose in various locations and positions. What an exciting time of life! Newly in love and committed to each other to enter into a most sacred and wonderful covenant. The starting of a new family unit. It made me think about my own engagement and all the time that has passed since, all the adventures we have gone through and how much closer we are to each other because of life. I was so happy for this young couple.

Those feeling were soon replaced by digust when I heard the photographer say to the future bride, "Don't forget to turn your hand so we can see the ring. It's all about the ring!!!" What the? I just wanted to run up to the couple and say, "It's not about the ring! Don't listen to her. She's whacked! It's about seeing you two so happily in love. Never lose sight of that!"

Honestly, when I look at a wedding announcement, I never look for the ring. And I find ring shots of just the bride's hand cheesy. I could care less about what kind of rock she has and whether it is big or small. Boring! What I am most excited about it seeing a couple who is truly and completely in love. That is what I find the most interesting and important. Who cares about the jewelery?!

What are we teaching young couples when we tell them "it's all about the ring"? I am sure the photographer was just making sure she did a good job and got everything in the pictures. I don't know the protocol for being a wedding photographer. But her comment just really bugged me because we see so many people, of all different faiths and backgrounds, who think it is really about that one piece of jewelery. When we focus on the ring and think that is the most important thing, we miss the whole picture. It's just an object that is supposed to represent eternal commitment, or just plain committment, depending on your beliefs. But if that type of relationship doesn't exist between the couple, then it really is just a ring. A meaningless piece of jewelery.

Why don't we focus instead on what the ring means? It doesn't matter the size or cut of your ring, what is most important is what it represents. Total committment. That jewelery will only serve as a haunting reminder of a failed marriage if it becomes the center of your relationship.

Happy 8th Birthday Rachel!!!

The green velvet cake for the Green Lantern cake

The finished Green Lantern cake. Pretty sweet!

My beautiful birthday girl

The Lego Bat Cave she really wanted.

Blowing out candles at her swim party. 8!

The roller skates she bought with the birthday money from her various grandparents. Whee!

Happy 8th Birthday to my sweet Rachel! Saturday we started the day by opening presents. Her gift from us was the much anticipated Lego Bat Cave. We spent a few hours putting it together and it has been much loved ever since. We had her swim birthday party that day with friends and got Cafe Rio for her birthday dinner.

In two weeks she gets to be baptized and is so excited because her grandparents will be ablet o be there. They get back from their mission the night before! I am so proud of her and her choice to be baptized. We went shopping a few weeks back to get her a new dress for the big event and her own set of scriptures. What a big day!

I love this girl! She is so tender and sweet. So loving and smart. So adorable. And so determined to be herself. Happy Birthday Sweet Rachel!