how the west was won

Ashley: Calli, can you check on Luke for me?

Calli: Okay. He's asleep.

Ashley: He's what? Asleep in his high chair! That's silly.

Calli: Yeah, that's the silliest thing I never heard.

Later....

Calli and Luke are gathering toss pillows and blankets from all over the house and lining them up on the living room floor.

Ashley: Calli, what are you doing?

Calli: We are making a splash park. See this blue blanket is the river.

Ashley: Oh.

Calli: Mom, do you want to play splash park with us? (After several requests I give in.)

Calli: Okay Mom come stand on the stool by the ottoman.

Ashley: Okay.

Calli: Now say 1, 2, 3, credit card! And jump into the splash park.

Seriously, where does she come up with this kind of stuff!!!

One creative sleeping princess...

President Monson has spoken several times about the importance of our children touching and feeling the temple. Though I couldn't find the direct quote, his words played in my mind and served as motivation for our Utah trip.

I wanted to impress upon my children the significance of the temple, even though they are small. I wanted them to feel of the reverence and peace you can find there, particularly at Temple Square. I wanted them to connect with and appreciate their family members who live by the temples we were visiting. So even though this trip meant we would be going again just days after recovering from our cross country one and that I would be flying alone with my little ones (Dan was gone on a High Adventure activity with the scouts), we went away. We went because family and the temple mean that much.

We were caught off guard with torrential rain, Luke slept terribly and the sacred grounds often appeared to be playgrounds, but I still think the trip was a success. (This is largely in part to my mom and sister who were immensely helpful and patient.) I think that my children can look back on these pictures and remember and know what is important.

I was deeply impressed as I walked around the temple where Dan and I were married. Just a few years after the fact, now with my precious children. My heart just swelled and overflowed with love almost more so than I can describe. I was warm, calm and happy. I felt our family was an eternal unit, that this is what it was all about. Truly, my joy was full.

The rain...