LATELY WITH THE LINKS

Thursday, April 2, 2009

We love Disney World!!

Spring Break 2009. We kept our plans to ourselves until the morning we were leaving. Each kid came to the table for breakfast...and at their bowl was an envelope with word strips in it. Each kid had a different sentence and they had to piece together their words to make the sentence with words that weren't really words--like Diz Knee Whirled (Disney World). Needless to say, everyone was very excited, especially Maggie. We had actually told her that we were going, because it's so exciting and she loves princesses and Mickey so much--plus I think Surprise is wasted on a 3 year-old. So for a couple of weeks, she talked about Disney World and Cinderella and Mickey Mouse--but no one really listens to a little kid when they say "I'm going to see Cinderella and give her a hug". The other kids just would say "Yes you are" just to humor her. Little did they know.......
I had already packed everyone's things (Greyson was complaining that he couldn't find any of his jeans--he looked in his closet and the dirty clothes and under the beds but couldn't find anything to wear), so we put the suitcases in the car and off we went to the airport.
We spent 7 days (some of them longer days than others) at the Disney World Theme Parks.

The first day was spent at Magic Kingdom--where all of the princesses live. The girls had breakfast with Cinderella in the castle with her and all of the other princesses...Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Jasmine...each of them came to our table to meet the girls. No where else can a little girl feel like a real princess. It's such a magical place.

Day 2 was Epcot--more educational, but they have the best ride there. Mission to Space--it's a flight simulator--and if I didn't know better, I would think we were really taking off. The G Forces...Whoa! Epcot has a section where you can visit different countries. Mexico, Germany, China, Morrocco, USA, France...and others (that I can't remember), but you can eat Mexican or German food while listening to Chinese or Morroccan music being played by Americans or Frenchman. It's really very cool.

Day 3 was spent at Hollywood Studios--It's a cool place. High School Musical parade, Americal Idol show, Star Wars, stunt shows...you name it. Great rides too-- Tower of Terror and Aerosmith's Rockin' Roller Coaster--we each rode those a few times. The Beauty and the Beast musical is also there. The first person on the stage came out and I recognized him. It was my friend from high school. David Houde has worked at Disney for 20 years (18 doing Beauty and the Beast). So after the show we asked one of the workers if they would get him for me. How fun it was to see him. He's is probably one of the happiest people on the planet. So energetic and fun. I guess that's what happens to you when you work at the happiest place on earth.

Day 4, we went to the Animal Kingdom. Cool safari ride--you would have thought that the animals were fake. They were all very active and positioned exactly how you would imagined them..then they moved..they are real. Maybe they know they live on Mickey's land. There's a really fun roller coaster too--Mount Everest--It's a fast, sometimes backwards in the dark, escape from the yettie, coaster--very fun! It closed at 6:00--We welcomed the early closing. By the end of the day, we were exhausted and our feet hurt.

Day 5, we just chilled at the hotel pool. Byron and I got massages at the spa while the kids played and had a great time swimming. Later that night, me and the girls went back to Magic Kingdom and rode the rides the boys wouldn't want to--Peter Pan, Dumbo, Snow White--and the boys went to Universal Studios for a Collective Soul concert. Apparently, they rocked out! Byron's a pretty cool dad, if you ask my boys.

The last couple of days we spent walking slowly and doing all of the things that we didn't get to do the first days or really wanted to do again. We had breakfast with Mickey Mouse and some of his buddies. Maggie LOVES Mickey. She couldn't hold in her excitement when she first saw him and figured out that he was on his way to talk to her. She gave him a huge hug and then got up from her chair to give him another one. I love to see my kids that happy. It was nice to take it easy and just take in the Magic of Disney.

But, I have to admit I'm a little bit selfish. The whole Disney vacation, as fun as it was, was second place to being able to spend time with my family....just us....The Links.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Beautiful!

Last night (Tuesday), I gave a lesson for the young women of my ward. It was "Beauty Night". So I had all of my make-up, hair stuff, facial health stuff, and a framed picture of Audrey Hepburn displayed on a table with yummy looking cupcakes. So I began by telling them about all of the things I did to my face in the morning--all of the different washes, syrum, moisturizers, and so on. Then, realizing that they were distracted by the cupcakes--I offered them all one so that they could concentrate on what I was saying. One of the young women took a huge bite...there it was...the object of my lesson. These cupcakes looked so yummy, but, they were baked with onion powder, dry mustard powder, chili powder, you name it. (Thanks to Stephanie for making them--they were perfect). Even though they looked great, needless to say, they were disgusting. It was actually "INNER BEAUTY NIGHT". So we went on with the lesson and I tried to make the point that you can spend 2 hours on your outer apperance, but none of that matters if you don't have a kind heart and serve others. We talked about being a good friend and being kind to others and what those had to do with inner beauty.
Then, we talked about happiness. If happiness is the most attractive accessory--then a genuine smile is the best lipgloss. Then I told the girls about my sister-in-law, Erin.

Erin is the epitome of inner beauty. Always smiling and trying to cheer those around her. When people say that someone has a glow about them...they are talking about Erin. She is such a great example of optimism. You know...I'm not really sure if I've ever seen her in a bad mood. I'm so glad to have someone so loving, caring and selfless as my friend. I'm so thankful for her.

By the end of the night, I think that the girls "got it" and hopefully, today, they tried to smile and be kind. So, I'll ask all of you the same thing I asked the young women...Are you being beautiful? Because no matter how pretty you look on the outside...The Lord "seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).

Beauty Tips
By Audrey Hepburn

For attractive lips, Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, Let a child run his or her fingers
through it once a day.

For poise, Walk with the knowledge you’ll never
walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored,
renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed;
never throw out anybody.

Remember, If you ever need a helping hand, you’ll
find one at the end of your arm.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have
two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for
helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she
wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she
combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her
eyes, Because that is the doorway to her heart, the
the place where love is.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, But
true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion
that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with
passing years—only grows!

Magdalene--Maggie Mae

Little Miss Sass is actually what we should call her. Lately, she's been "testing her limits" or should I say "her mom and dad's limits"--Just a little here and there. She's really decided that she has an opinion on every single thing and that it's her way or the highway. I guess we can just call her "Miss Independent". No more holding her hand while walking down the sidewalk, or helping her into her stroller. She'll do it "by self". "By self" is just one of the funny little things she says. "Or not" is big in her vocabulary, too. If you ask her if she wants a snack or not, if she doesn't, she'll say "Or not". She's just so funny. Conversations are never dull and always cute.

Brynna-Bel

My heaven's--getting older every second. She's no longer a little girl. She has turned into, simply, a girl. Not little, but not too big either. We are young enough to still love Barbie--but old enough to really care what Barbie is wearing. A good thing, right?
Bel is in the 1st grade now, and love's to read. She really loves school too. She loves her teachers and her friends. Can you say Social Butterfly? Talk-talk-talk-talk. She's never been considered shy. Everyone is her best-friend, you know, even if it's the first time you've ever talked to her. I love that quality about her. She is a friend to everyone. What a good and sweet girl she is.

Caden--C Dog

I just love my little Caden. He is THE sweetest and nicest kid around--and did I mention handsome. He's now in the 5th grade--the year when things get a bit more hectic. He has more work and he's expected to be organized enough to get it all in one day, do it over the next week and then turn it in. We're still workin' on that one. Organization is not a strong point for us. He changes classes too, which is new to him. I tell you what--he absolutley LOVES science. Almost every day he comes home telling me of the experiment that they did in science lab or goes on and on about protons and neutrons and electrons. I have a hard time following because he goes into every single little detail--and he remembers every-single-detail. What a smarty-pants. He's really discovering how funny his personality is lately, too. He now know's he's funny and that he's got the gift of gab. He takes after his dad.

Greyson--G Money

You'd think I was giving this kid steroids at the rate he's growing. He's only 15, but people ask if he's 17. He's very tall for his age. He might think he acts like he's 17--but we know better. Maturity-?-it's comin' along. We'll just say we're working on it. No, really-all kidding aside--he's a really good young man. He's at the age when typical teenage angst sets in. And..we have our fair share of it. But, all in all, I think he really tries to keep a cool head when he thinks we've asked him to take out the trash one too many times. He's just at an age when we can really count on his help. He is a great helper to me. He even folds laundry (don't tell his friends).
Greyson is doing really, really well in school so far this year. He's got and extra load-basically doing two years of school in only one. We thought he'd really have to bust it and be doing work constantly to keep up. But..he hardly has any homework and he's making all A's. He has a 100% in Geometry!? I asked him if he just has never missed any question ever on anything to get that average. He replied by saying, "No--I've missed stuff, but I got a 120% on a project". Whatever--wouldn't it be great to be that smart?