FHE

Zach was on lesson tonight and about 10 minutes before we started he prepared his lesson. WOW is all I can say. For only having 10 minutes Don and I were very impressed. He traced his foot on MANY different pieces of paper. He had a bunch of feet leading to one place in the house and another path of foot steps leading to another "destination". The lights were turned off in one area and the lights were left on in the second place. He had each of us blind folded and one at a time he would lead us into one of the areas. As he was leading us he would say things like "Rachel, you stole a candy bar from the store (and would start walking toward the dark room) then would say but you decided to repent (then started taking us toward the light). He did this for each of us. Some of us were lead to the dark room and some of us were lead to the lighted room. If we went to the dark room we had to taste some yucky thing that he made with sugar and flour and water. The room with the light had a CapriSun to drink. It was so cute when Zach was leading me around. He mentioned how I read my scriptures but then I started forgetting to read (started taking me to the dark room) but then I decided to repent and read again but then I stole something but decided to take it back. I had Rachel, Ethan and Mayah all holding onto my legs helping Zach lead me to the room with the light. Then Don said, "HEY, that's not fair. I didn't have any angels helping lead me". UUUUMMMM I wonder if that had anything to do with the fact that he ended up in the room with the flour and sugar water. :)

What an imagination. Then at the end he talked to us telling us that when we do what is right we feel good inside but when we don't do what is right it makes us feel yucky. I was so proud of Zach.

SING IT

Don took Caleb, Zach and Rachel to Pittsburgh this weekend for a small family get together. So it was just me and the little kiddos. Ethan and Mayah helped me make muffins for those going on the long road trip. It is really lonely here without everyone. I think I have forgotten how to entertain small kids. The older ones can play soccer or kick ball with me but the younger ones take a little more "thinking" on my part. Saturday I took them to Tigonderoga Farms. It was alot of fun. They had HUGE slides and hay rides and goats and just all sorts of cool things. Plus the guy didn't charge us because it was the opening day and it was a little muddy. Kids didn't mind that at all. It was cool to see the place where many of the soldiers from the Manassas Battlefield died. It was where the soldiers were treated for their wounds as well. There was still remnants of the original house built there in the 1700's. The hayride took us around the farm and every once in awhile the driver would stop and let us in on the history. It was kind of funny when the driver of the hay ride came to a point and couldn't go any further. The gate was locked and he attempted to back up the trailer but No such luck. I know how hard it is to do. I have tried to back up a small tractor that had a trailer hooked to it and there is NO way I can do it. SO I felt his pain. He was probably embarrassed. Dad and Dan and "MAYBE" Ron----yes we know you would have been able to do it. He had to go up a hill and turn it around that way. Made me a bit nervous but it worked.

Well it was alot of fun and the boys working at the slides were amazing. For highschool aged boys they really surprised me with how nice and caring they were toward the kids.

Then after I got the kids to bed on Saturday I was able to watch the womens conference on the computer. It was good (as usual) and I really enjoyed Elder Uchtdorf's talk. I love the Prophet and his counselors when they speak to the women. They really put women on a pedastal. They are just truly awesome. And they always make me feel like I am doing a good job even though I know I have a LONG way to go.

Sunday morning we all got ready early. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? SO we had lots of time to sing. Yesterday at a garage sale I got a brand new Karoke machine with three cd's all for only $15. There are some good songs. Can't wait till the other kids get home so we can have some contests. Mayah and Ethan sat together and sang "I got you babe". They loved it.

I forgot to take my camera to the farm. I HATE THAT. Oh well. The memories will have to be in our minds. That's scary.

Now we just wait till our other halves come back from Pittsburgh.

OK OK here is what you have been asking for

So here are a few pictures of our house. Let me know any and all ideas on decorating. I was wayyyyyyyyyy in the back of the line when God was giving out the decorating talent. I tried my best to cut in line but I kept getting pushed to the back. By the time I reached the front God had shut the door. :(

So for all you that camped out the night before and who wouldn't let me cut in............give me your ideas. I really need them. I know there are a bunch of very talented people on here and I would love to hear your ideas. So this post will be all about how to HELP LISA. Well there may be no hope for me but let's just talk about the house. Ok so what about colors and things?

P.S. AND YES CALEB WON THE RACE. WOOHOO


This is the walk in closet in the Master bedroom.


This is the kitchen. It really has a lot of cupboard space.


This is the family room.


Here is the opposite side of the kitchen.


This is taken from the sitting room (we will us it as the office) looking into the formal dining room.


This is right when you walk in the house. The stairs going up or you can just go a little to the left and that will take down a short hallway to the kitchen and family room.


You know your bathtub is big enough when you can fit FIVE kids in it.


This is the entry way when you walk in. It was taken from the top of the stairs.


Front of the house.


Finally the back of the house. No deck or stairs yet so we will just have to jump out the back door into the back yard.

The race is on

The scouts are doing a cub-mobile race this Wednesday night. So Don and Caleb got their box and worked and worked on it. It isn't quite done yet but getting closer and closer. It was so cute to see Caleb use the staple gun. The pressure in his face was quite amussing. Caleb picked out what he wanted the car to look like and they got a picture from the internet and they are trying to make it look at close to the picture as possible. You will have to wait to see the final touches after it is complete. But I know Caleb is very excited and he really wants to win. But as long as he has fun..........wait who am I trying to fool. I am VERY competitive. HE BETTER WHEN DANG IT. :)

Yes it is TRUE

Ok so now you will all know for SURE. Yes we are moving. It has gone a lot faster than we had planned but that is a good thing. I really KNOW that Heavenly Father has done some pretty miraculous things in order for us to get this house. We are moving about 1/2 hr away and are so excited. We will have 2 acres. The kids will be in heaven and Don and I can have a garden and do a ton of things outside to keep us busy for a LONG time. It is a small town with only a post office. YEAH. No more getting stuck in traffic for me. We have about 2-3 weeks before we are gone for good so you will all have to put up with us for a bit longer. HEHEHE I know....painful. But really, we are leaving an amazing ward with wonderful people. I hope our next ward will be just as wonderful. The school sounds great too. Caleb is excited that they offer guitar for grades 3-5. Hope we are not too late getting in to have him take lessons. That would be cool.

How many flags is that?

YES that's right.......IT IS 6. Now I really think Don's new job has great taste in where they decided to hold their company party this year. We all went to six flags on Saturday. We got great deals on the tickets and they even fed us and gave us free soda throughout the day. We thought it was going to storm and I told the kids to pray and pray that it wouldn't and it ended up being HOT HOT HOT. The lines were quite long and so it made it hard to wait with all the kids but they had sooooooooooo much fun. I think their favorite ride was the ride that (can't remember the name) is sort of like a roller coaster and it slams down into the water and you get soaked. Don took everyone but Mayah on that. They loved it. Then the other favorite was a huge round tube that slid down an enourmous water slide. It went in multiple circles and then ended in a pool of water. I took the kids on that and it was FUN. If the line wasn't so long I would have gone on that one multiple times. The kids really wanted to do something a little scary so I took them on a roller coaster. It actually HURT. It whipped you around so hard and Zach hit his ear on the side. I had to hold on so tight and I was laughing so hard because it was so uncomfortable. I couldn't imagine anyone liking that ride. I mean I like scary rides but I don't like PAIN. We went on a few other rides and let the little kids ride some kiddie rides. We didn't make it over to the water area. Caleb and Zach wanted to go on the half pipe soooooooooooo bad but Rachel ended up getting a high fever and the double jogger ended up breaking as well so it was time to go home. I would have loved to stay a bit longer and take the kids to the water park... but oh well. Maybe another time.

Attitude is everything.......RIGHT?

So Don told me today that he has to travel again. My first reaction was anger. But then I realized that being angry will not change anything so why use up the energy. So I decided that if there wasn't anything I could do I might as well have a good attitude. It isn't easy and I have to keep reminding myself not to get mad or be irritated. I already cried (only slightly though----that's pretty good for me). I think I am growing up FINALLY. :) So after getting kids to bed I decided to read from a few blogs. This was awesome and I am just so grateful for Pres. Hinckley. He is probably the most optimistic person. Plus he reminds me a little bit of my Grandpa Rush. I don't know what it is but maybe it is just the "old look" but still there is something about him that I remember seeing in my own grandfather. I just can't pin point exactly what it is. But he is so so cute. Don't ya think?


In my ninety-plus years, I have learned a secret. I have learned that when good men and good women face challenges with optimism, things will work out! Despite how difficult circumstances may look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out. ~ Gordon B. Hinckley.
~OR~
Of course there are times of sorrow. Of course there are hours of concern and anxiety. We all worry. But the Lord has told us to lift our hearts and rejoice. I see so many people. . .who seem never to see the sunshine, but who constantly walk with storms under cloudy skies. Cultivate an attitude of happiness. Cultivate a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine. ~ Gordon B. Hinckley.

Jam and Bread

I made a small batch of blackberry jam today. Don and I have been looking for a good 100% whole wheat recipe that could be eaten and not used as a door stopper. FINALLY I found one online and it is so easy and so yummy. Don ordered a wheat grinder that attaches to our kitchenaid. As soon as we received it he took it out of the box and put it on the kitchenaid and starting grinding some our wheat. He even ended up making bread that night. He has made bread 3 times in the last two weaks. The recipe only makes 2 loaves so for our family this will be a constant thing. We are really TRYING to do away with store bought bread but the kids are not too wild about this idea. I did, however, finish our last store bought bread today. So from now on everyone will have to eat the homemade stuff. The kids prefer not to even have a sandwich if it is on the homemade whole wheat bread. But they LOVE when it first comes out of the oven. WHO DOESN'T? So maybe I can convince them to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the new jelly and the homemade bread. So who thinks I can convince the kids that this will be YUMMY? I have some pretty picky kids. Must be from the Puhlman side. :)

HAPPY AND SAD NEWS

Want to wish my mom and very Happy Birthday today. Can't say how old she is but I am 33 and she had me when she was 31. I love you mom and want you to have an awesome day. You deserve the best. Now that is the happy news.

The sad news is that our ward got split today. We are losing some amazing families. Even though I am not actually moving to the other ward, there are alot of great people who are. I am actually fine with change but I just felt bad for all those people who are having a hard time with it. I was asked to give the closing prayer in Relief Society and I broke down and I prayed for those people that were having a hard time. I know it will be hard for some. It will be hard for those that have been in the 1st ward for a long time. It will be hard for those who don't do well with change or who just don't like to change. But I honestly know that change is good. Change helps us grow and become stronger. I know our Heavenly Father knows each of us and knows our fears and troubles. He will be there for those who struggle. Sometimes change ends up being better for us than we think. I will miss those amazing families that move on to the Manassas 2nd ward but that 2nd ward is getting some great and hard working people. AND they need you. They need your compassion. They need your service. They need your hard work and dedication. The Lord is in charge of all and He knows what He is doing.

Gene R. Cook says "Trials and difficulties that many of us resist are the very elements which refine us and make godly men. The Lord will try you in every attribute possessed by man and at all stages of development in your life. He will try you again and again and again until you know that you are able and will serve Him at all costs."

HELP

I was all proud of myself for finding a cool back ground for my blog. Then I realized that it made all my contacts go away plus my music. Is there anyway to get all that back without having to start over? It is too overwhelming for me. PLEASE guys help.

First day of school

Caleb (10) 5th grade

Zachary (almost 8) 2nd grade

Rachel (5) Kindergarten
WOW. I didn't even cry. The kids were too excited to cry. Rachel was so happy to be able to ride the bus. Her little hand waved and waved for the longest time. It was so cute. So here are their first day of school pictures.

THOUGHTS

So I just about starting crying today thinking about Rachel going to school for the first time. The kids just grow up so fast. Only one of our kids went to preschool and I just have always felt that my kids needed to be home with me until they started public school. Now that it is time to start I am getting a little nervous. HECK, they are at school with their friends and teachers longer than they are at home. Rachel is so excited and that has really helped me. She is such a social person and loves friends so I know she will do well in that area. I can't believe I will have three in school. Is this a sign of me getting older? NAH. Can't be. Well tomorrow it is. I will post their first day of school pictures in the morning. Don is drilling into me that if I am going to cry -----wait until the bus drives away. I am sure it is that easy. I cried when the boys went to school for the first time. I think I have cried every year for Caleb on his first day because of certain circumstances but I think I am getting better about that. Their school is HUGE. They don't even allow the parents to come into the school to drop the kids off on the first day. That is so weird to me. They stress that the kids need to come to school that first day either riding the bus (if that is their main mode of transportation) or carpool (if that is how they are coming). So I think that maybe that is the hardest thing. In Washington we always took the kids into the school and into their classes and it felt special. I don't know. I guess I am just a baby and I know I will get over it. I am a crier by nature and it isn't something I have been able to control very easy. It isn't like I can just shut it off like a faucet or anything. I am very thankful for my kids. They bring me a lot of joy and even alot of headaches but they are my life and I can't even ever remember my life without them. Was there ever such a thing? I am grateful they have the opportunity to go to school and learn even here in Virginia where they only have ONE 15 minute recess. OH DON"T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THAT ONE. They will be fine. It is me I am worried about. :)