Life Lessons: the Ugly Duckling and the glass half full.

Saying goodbye. Dad and Mace. SLC airport. 2010

With dad being away, I have had to hold down the fort:
Lessons, sports, dinners, homework, Family Home Evening....
It's me. Just me.
It's been tiring and not stop, but it's okay.
It think somehow we rise to the occasion when we have no other choice.
Okay so tonight's FHE:
Webcast videos off LDS.org. They are the BEST.

I love their sweet, simple and quick messages. It hits right to the heart
for the kiddos.
My lesson tonight: Understanding WHO we are as individuals.
Also to understand that we are each unique in our own way.
President Uchtdorf did a story about the Ugly Duckling.
A classic.
The kids watched it and we talked about it after.
Jake said, "don't worry about what others think about you."
Austin said, " It's who you are inside too, that's what counts."
Ashlyn said, "it's important to stay true to yourself."
and the icing on the cake, Mace said, " It's whuz in your heart." Sweeeeet.good job!
I related this whole concept to our move to Colorado:
New experiences, new friends, new schools: It will be tough. It will be hard. But we can do it. And most importantly, the Stott's "know" who they are. We will make friends and stay true to ourselves.
The kids also need to be good friends and be good examples...I went on and on....Bottom line: Our days may be difficult but it will also be a great (growing) experience for all of us. It will all turn out okay! (just like the ugly duckling turned into the swan in the end....)

(wheeler farm. April 2010. Mace, Lexi, Landri, Aus, and Jake)

This past few months, I have been trying to prepare the kids as best as I can for the big move.

As a mother, I know it will be hard for them, but I have to encourage them to keep their heads up and keep going. I can't show the fear or worry I feel inside. I have to stay strong. But also sympathetic, encouraging, and brave.

A few weeks ago... FHE lesson: Optimism. Seeing the glass always half full, not half empty.

They will have so many experiences coming up (in CO) where they will have to see the "good" in each moment, ( Like NOT knowing one person in school at CO! but the good thing: they have each other and make friends fast.) otherwise the half empty attitude can take over.

But thank goodness we have a fab house (in a great neighborhood), new schools (5 yrs old!), new sports facilities (swimming, bball, and soccer all in one), and a big ward (with 110 kids!))
Okay, enough of that.....now go take advantage of the awesome videos on Lds.org!

Good night!

Off to more of LIFE.

homework, dishes, and hopefully

some peace and quiet!

xo!

life lessons

Okay so you know what?

I've been a single mom all week long...

We've been missing the big guy around here (business trip)

A N D you know what else??

(pic taken last March when he came home from a long trip..)

I am pooped!~

It's the first day of school and I am tired.

exhausted. spent. ya know.

Seriously single mom's are amazing to me.
How do they do it?
The amount of energy it takes to get 4 kids fed, dressed, and ready for life by yourself is crazy!

Good crazy , but H A R D W O R K!

Mom's should give themselves more credit for how much we accomplish in

one. single. day. period!

So here was my last night to do list:

~make a good healthy dinner, (brain food for school!)

~help Mace go poop every second,

~organize their back to school homework,

~help the kids with their new outfits and backpacks,

~buy last minute school supplies,

~get them all showered, cleaned and ready for their big day,

~Do a Family Home Evening on getting ready for school.

(I found some great quotes that hopefully motivate them for school)

~and lastly, Family Prayer

oh and this list does not include the daily tasks us mom's do every day:

dishes, laundry, mopping, making beds,

cooking lunch and dinner, vacuuming, potty training, driving,

picking up the house, organizing, yada ,yada, yada

our list can go on and on. Can't it not?!

(and it repeats the next day!)

Anyway, here are a few of the quotes I had the kids

read for Family Home Evening.

They each got one and had to explain what it meant.

(And sorry to bore you with them, but I want them for my blogging journal!

At least my kids will know I tried ha :)
(And yes, kind of cheesy but the kids soaked it all up like a sponge.)

Ashlyn's quote- "God ever works with those who work with will."

her serious response: God wants to help us and to have us succeed, we just have to have the DESIRE and ASK to be helped. perfect. I didn't need to help her...

Jake's quote-"If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old." Lord Chesterfield (I told him to think of a tree...)

his funny response: My tree won't grow if I don't try to learn every day. I will stay a small tree with one leaf and get no shade. PRETTY GOOD Jake! I told them every year their tree of knowledge will get bigger and grow stronger every year until they are a huge tree! They have to try hard each day, but it will be worth it. They will be a big strong tree with strong roots that will thrive on this earth.They totally got it.

Austin's quote-"know thyself means this, that you get acquainted with what you know, and what you can do." by Menander

His thoughtful response: 'Like learn what I am good at and work on it every day. Try to always do the best at what I do.' Ha pretty good Aus! I added that they each have gifts and talents they were born with, USE them and they will bless your life! They are each special in their own way. Heavenly Father will help them if they do they do all they can do for themselves.

I know, I know, kind of cheesy but the kids really listened to it. They really thought it was cool.



Mace's quote-"every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow. " Doug Firebaugh

His crazy response: (and no I did not expect him to get it, but the youngest always wants to feel included right?) "Mizzz Thompson is my schooool teacha mom. Yup. When I am a big boy I am going to have a boy too and Landri my cousin will be with me and have a baby girl." Alright Mace, good try! Really I told the kids to always strive to do their best in all they do: school, sports, homework, everything! Just try your hardest and you will become a better person each day.


All of the kids- "follow your honest convictions, and stay strong." William Thackeray.

Their excited response: CTR. Choose the Right. Always. Austin said also to do what's right and not listen to peer pressure. Wahoo he said peer pressure...he knew what it was! As a mom I felt proud some of my life lessons have been sinking into their little minds.


AND as mom's, don't we all worry we are

never doing enough

to prepare them for life?!

I know I do.

Life is tough and it is a crazy world out there. I feel so strongly it's our job

to direct and guide their little hearts to what's true,

and equip them with all the tools they need to survive out there! I need to try harder and teach them more life lessons....!

so enough of that:

ON TO THEIR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:

Last years pic of the first day of school. Aug 28, 2008

(how I loved my yard on 8125. We put it all in ourselves. )

This years pic today: Aug 26, 2009




Off they go...it takes about 10 seconds to walk to school. Really! And yes we are lucky to be one house away from the pathway to the school!






So Ashlyn, Austin, and Jake





good luck to your first day of school,
always do your best,

(and listen to my life lessons alright?! )

and yes dad will be home tonight! no more tears Mace! yay
Loves always! mom