I miss everything about you.

In getting sentimental about leaving MN, I came across this classic. suffice it to say Ethan loves to play with my iphone as much as he loves music.

It's nice my children document themselves for me. Bad Mom. I know. (I can't tell you the guilt I have over missing taking photos the last day at their school....)

Long Board Science Project

Easter Weekend in Atlanta

In our excitement over being in Atlanta last weekend, I completely neglected the traditional Easter photos. (I think we were pushing our luck asking the Easter Bunny to find us as it was) Besides, you can't take Easter pictures without everyone, and since we left Susannah and Reed with kind friends (who are no doubt ready for us to leave after) the weekend, we can forgive ourselves, right?

The kids were very impressed with the cool trains from the terminal to the rental car facility. They were also very impressed it was 76 degrees and GREEN.

And while I don't have photos, Olivia was completely sold on the place once she had her first taste of Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. Her love only increased for Georgia as we passed one on practically every corner. That girl is easy to please.

Next stop was the open house for the Atlanta Temple. A definite highlight of our trip. You can watch about it here. I can't describe how touching it was to be in the temple with my children. Just lovely.

Of course any stay in a hotel requires a dip in the pool, even if it is 11:00 o'clock at night and you were all up at 5:00 am for a flight. (And for mom who didn't get to bed 'til 1:30 the night before because the baby had an ear infection) The Easter Bunny will totally be able to be awake and able to wait for you all to fall asleep before leaving the loot.

Dad's new office! Bonus is that it's part of the distribution center, so bringing home frozen confections will be much easier than it is now. The kids can also gear up and see the ginormous freezer kept at -20f anytime they choose. In case we get to missing Minnesota winters.

The highlight for me of course, was having a perfectly legitimate excuse to eat at our favorite family restaurant (Maggiano's ) for Easter Dinner. We told the waitress we had to move from Minnesota because they closed the one in Minneapolis. (Atlanta has three :)

Of course there was more to love than Chick-fil-a, Maggiano's and Easter Candy. (What more could you need though, really?)

We met some very nice people, went to church, and even got the kids fantasizing abut a gorgeous SEVEN bedroom home we looked at. (Not in the area I think we'll end up, but it got them excited) Jared and I will head back soon for the heavy lifting of house hunting.

Did I mention it was WARM and GREEN? *sigh*

(34 today. fyi)

In the meantime, I'm busy, busy, busy, making our house here irresistible.

(more on that later)

I'll try to keep you posted.

Georgia on my mind

Our Minnesota House

(uh...NOT in Winter)

I was planning on doing a nice long post on my (OLDER) friends 40th birthday, but things took a crazy turn when I got home.

Jared had a "surprise" meeting on Tuesday letting him know his position was being "eliminated" company wide. *gulp*

BUT, the great news is he was offered a promotion in Atlanta, Georgia, starting in June.

*gulp* We feel very, very, blessed that we have such a great opportunity, especially in this economy.

I should have seen this coming since I've been going on and on about how much we love Minnesota (despite the crappy weather) and how we hope to stay for a good long time. I guess when I joked we needed to move because the kids were getting midwest accents the Lord agreed.

And while there are many wonderful things here, bundling up my kids in their snow gear in APRIL and putting on a pot of chili to warm our bones TONIGHT WHEN IT SNOWS, are not on the "miss about Minnesota" list.

Besides, I think having my kids learn to say "Yes, ma'am" and "Yessir" will be positively adorable.

The Devil is in the Details

Susannah, carefully folding rags to put away.

Reed, not so carefully un-putting them away.

I hate details. Hate them. I am a big picture kind of gal. I can even think up big pictures in great detail. I notice details. The little things that make the difference between excellence and ordinary. I make great judgements about others based on exacting details. I am constantly harping (pretty much everyone) about details. ("Put your shoes in your cubby", "Did you call the lawyer about that yet?", "Start with a capital, end with a period.", etc)

But ask me to be the one to execute the details, and I'd rather execute myself.

Doing a budget is like torture to me. Not because I'm opposed to a budget, but because I hate details. Planning my primary songs to teach from week to week? I have to FORCE myself to sit and focus on it for an hour to plan a month at a time. It makes me break out into a sweat. (I once knew a primary music leader who planned out the entire YEAR in advance. I'd stroke out)

I married under the assumption that if one of you is not a detail person, your spouse will be. Again, I didn't bother to check the details on that one. Apparently, neither did he.

I've had people they tell me they admire my ability to do "big" "courageous" things, like say, act as general contractor on our first house ever, or waltz into a school board meeting and tell them why their reading curriculum is hideous and what they need to do fix it. (and then personally oversee that it happens) I don't mind getting up in front of a large group and talking about pretty much anything. I'll even sing for them. No prob. Ten minutes notice to speak in church? Okay. Might not be the best talk ever, but I could do it. Sounds kinda fun actually.

I don't see what's so difficult.

But please don't ask me to plan out the next 10 years of family vacations. (I'll need a vacation to recover from all that planning.)

I've been very fortunate to have been blessed with at least 1 child who loves details. She keeps us all on task. Hands me the coupons at the grocery store checkout line. Reminds me to give people their medicine. Let's me know I promised them ice cream 3 months ago. Tells me how I'm 3 miles over the speed limit, etc.

Very helpful.

It's a curious thing that we admire and envy those who can so easily do what torments us. It's even more curious that we give ourselves so little credit for what comes easily, and question why others can't "just" do the same.

It makes me very glad for this scripture.

Building up my parenting self-esteem

A short while back we had a really fun family night.

It was so touching when Jack brought down a certificate for me just before bed that read as follows:

"Parent Award for (fill in the blank) for being the Best of the Best parents anywhere

To mention only a few of your many honorable qualities: (fill in the blank)

You will be held in honor forever by your loving and dutiful (Son/Daughter) (fill in the blank)

Signed and delivered (fill in the blank)"

I looked at it, and though he had not taken the time to fill in the blanks, (he is a 13 year old boy), it was so sweet that he thought to retrieve and present it to me. I mentioned that maybe I could put it on my desk and he could fill it in for me.

((hugs)) and off to bed he went.

Fast forward a few days. Said (blank) certificate is still on my desk.

We come home from an outing which had apparently stirred some affection for me from Olivia. Having taken notice of the blank certificate on my desk, she was inspired to fill it out and present it to me.

She filled it in thus:

If you can read through the scribbles, it says: "To mention only a few of your many honorable qualities: WHEN YOU YELL AT US"

(It wasn't scribbled when she handed it to me) Puzzled, I asked, "You like it when I yell at you?"

Olivia responded, "That's one of your horrible qualities"

Thankfully, when I told her the word was "honorable" not "horrible", she quickly crossed out her remark.

I guess the good news is, even if I yell (sometimes), they love me, right?

Our Last Baby's First

Is it just me, or does this one look like the E*Trade baby?

So excited for his birthday!

Just plain handsome.

Looking pensive. Or pooping.

"Ha Ha Ha. Mom said 'pooping'!"