Need a Laugh?

I just read This article by Hannah Bird.  I usually really hate parenting advice columns.  I have noticed that the ones who really seem to get results in parenting are the ones who are strangely silent when the topic of parenting comes up.  But, I really like her.  She is funny (in my opinion) and she seems real to me.  So, if you want a snarky look at life, check out this post.  And I hope this doesn't offend anyone who loves the Elf on the Shelf.

Ben in Utah - Pictures

A Little Trip

Before this last week, I had spent a total of 6 nights away from my family (I went with Matt over night for our 2nd anniversary, my parents took the kids for our thrd, and then one night in the hospital for each of our children).  This last week, I doubled that.  My friend asked if I would help her drive her family back to Utah, because they were moving there.  She had room for me and Ben, so I said I would.

The drive went really well.  All you naysayers, two women and five kids ranging in age from 6wks to 7 years can do anything!  We made the 31 hour drive (strictly driving, no stop time) in 36 hours!  The kids were great.  Even the tangeant through northern Missouri was interesting.

It was weird at the end of the drive to say goodbye to my friend.  Our kids went to the same school, I was her visiting teacher and we were walking partners before her bed rest.  We worked in the Primary presidency together for awhile.  She was the QC for my fictitious baking enterprise.  I will miss you, Quinn.

Visiting family was a giant perk to the trip.  I spent Friday through Tuesday morning with family and it was wonderful!  I was able to go to my family's monthly FHE and it was loud and chaotic and energetic and wonderful!  I love my family.  We were still missing half of us, but the few that were there, made up for it!  I especially loved visiting individually with my brothers and sisters in law.  I have the greatest people in the world in my family.  It was great visiting family in Riverton as well.  Most of our family had never met Ben, so it was wonderful to introduce him.  My sister in law, Jennifer, thought for a minute that he was Will (Will was just about this age when we came last time).  She jokingly exclaimed, "Your son hasn't grown in two years!"

As great as it was visiting my family, it wasn't home.  Not even Utah.  I didn't belong there any more.  It was more than wonderful to come home.  I missed my babies so much!  I didn't even realize how much until I saw them.  I thought that I would have enjoyed the "break" more, but I would have rather had them there.  I got them some CTR stuff and they were flabbergasted that I got them at the Walmart in Springville.  ("Walmart has church stuff?!")

I took a couple of pictures and I will post them soon.