PI day

Every year I forget about this special day. I really shouldn't because I am married to a mathematician and I am proud to be married to him! This year I told myself to not forget, and guess what? I forgot until this morning. Luckily, there is still plenty of the day left. I made a chocolate pie for dessert, and I will be making a chicken pot pie for dinner. YUM! I think Dustin will be surprised.

Happy PI day!

Funny Amy

Every time my girls say something funny I think to myself that I will put it on the blog, but I always forget. Well last night at dinner time, Amy said a funny, and I am writing it down darn it!

I was making grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner, and there was a lot of excitement in the house because of this. I think Dustin was the most excited. We had been enjoying the nice warm weather outside, and everyone had come inside except for Dustin. I was cooking up the sandwiches and Dustin came in the room and asked excitedly, "Can I have a grilled cheese sandwich too?!" Amy jumped from her seat into Dustin's arms laughing and declared, "No Dad! You can't have a girl cheese sandwich because you're a boy!"

Oh were we laughing at that one! I'm still laughing to myself this morning.

Hallucinating?

I just went through a terrifying 20 minutes, and this is how I am de-stressing: Amy is really sick today. She slept in until around 8:30 this morning and had a fever. I gave her some medicine to break the fever, and she was fine the rest of the day. Aurora had an appointment (her 18 month) at the doctor, so I decided to take Amy along and have her checked out because last night she started coughing, and she's been complaining about her ears hurting her and had fevers for 4 days last week. So Amy was checked out at the doctor, and she was given a clean bill of health. The doctor said to bring her in if her fevers or coughing gets worse. So we came home and Amy was definitely not feeling well, but she played outside in the beautiful day we happened to be having. She was definitely listless though. After a while she just sat at the table and put her head on her arm. So I took her inside and she fell asleep on the couch. Around 7pm I checked her temperature and the thermometer (undecided if it is a completely reliable one) read 104.4 degrees! Holy Cow! So I made her take some tylenol, which she did reluctantly. Then she fell back to sleep. I checked her temp at 7:30 and it was down to 103ish. Amy woke for a bit and played on Dustin's iPad. But she didn't play much before turning it off and going back to sleep. Around 9:15ish I checked her temp again and it was at 100.2. Shortly after checking her temp, she cried out and I went to the couch and sat beside her. She had a blanket on her (and no shirt), and she was crying and pushing the blanket off of her and saying, "I'm wearing too much...." she didn't finish the sentence and so I said "blanket?" and she looked at me and gave a little smirk, like she thought that was funny. And that's when I started feeling like something wasn't right. She was looking at my eyes, but not really looking at me, kind of a glazed look. I asked her if she could see me and she didn't answer so I held up two fingers and asked her how many fingers I was holding. She answered "two" and smiled at me. Moments later she was holding out her hand, which was shaking, and she was crying, "I, I, I colored too much!" It was hard for her to say the words, and I was confused. I tried to comfort her and said that she didn't, its okay. But in my mind I was starting to freak out. Then she was quiet for a moment. Then she was pointing at me, but kind of behind my shoulder, and crying out like she was scared of something. I wasn't sure if it was the lamp behind me or not. She did that a couple of times with moments of quiet in between. And just before the end of this experience she said while kind of looking around, "I felt something, I felt, I felt, you on a bus.... with, with whales." ?!?!?!?!? All of this happened within about a 10 minute time period. And yes, the last one is a bit funny, but I was FREAKING out. I was telling myself to stay calm, I was trying not to cry. I didn't know what to do. Dustin was on campus administering a test, but I tried to call him (at the beginning of Amy's hallucination). He didn't answer, so I texted him a 911. I didn't hear from him. I decided to call Amy's doctor's office, knowing that I would get an answering service, but I was hoping they might page the doctor so that I could talk to her--that didn't work out. I didn't know what to do, so I just sat beside Amy and tried to keep her calm. I would put my hand on her chest and I could feel her heart just racing. But Amy's last weird comment was the last thing she said, and now she is sleeping calmly on the couch again. I am all prepared to take her to the ER if her fever spikes again, or if she hallucinates again-- if that's what you would say she was doing, would you?

Christmas 2011

I barely slept at all after going to bed on Christmas Eve. Dustin and I were up until 1am chatting with my family on ichat, and getting ready for Santa to come. And then once we were in bed, I was just so worried the girls would be up at any moment to see if Santa had come, and I didn't want to miss their faces, (nor did I want them out of bed before six in the morning). And Dustin and I had failed to tell the girls that they had to come wake us up before going to the living room. And then Aurora woke up at 3:15am crying and I was worried she would wake her sisters, so she came to bed with me. Around 6:30am I heard one of the girls cry out in her sleep, and I figured that they would be up at any moment, so I woke up Dustin and told him to get ready for the girls to wake up. We both got up and got the cameras ready and then we waited... for 45 minutes. The girls did not get up until 7:15am. Ha! I guess we could have slept a little longer. But I am so glad we captured their faces as they saw the treasures Santa left for them. Everything was worth it for those moments of astonishment and joy on their faces.

I included a picture of their fancy nails which was one of the things that Santa left in their stockings. They are just the stick on kind, and the girls were excited to put them on, but they didn't leave them on for very long, not even an hour. They sure looked fancy though!

My beautiful girls in their beautiful Christmas dresses made by my amazingly talented Mom. So many people gave such kind compliments at church, and I try to give my Mom all the credit she deserves. I also think everyone should know, that my Mom not only sews for my three daughters, but she also sewed these dresses for my brothers three daughters, and she also sewed a vest and bow tie for my nephew! !!!!!!! AMAZING!! And no, I do not sew like my mother does, although I think in the future I am going to have to improve my skills.

I love love love this picture. It makes my heart melt with joy and gratitude for these three precious daughters of mine. I am truly blessed to have them in my life.

More heart melting:

Heart is complete mush at this point:

After church we came home and opened presents with my family over ichat. It worked out pretty well, the girls loved their Christmas presents, and we loved our family gift that my parents and brother spoiled us with (an xbox kinect)! This is our first family game system. (Unless you count an old nintendo 64, which we got rid of a while ago). We have all been having a blast with our new toy. Aurora loved unwrapping gifts too. She wanted to unwrap all of them, well all except the ones for her. I'm not sure why, but she really didn't want to unwrap the ones for her, just the ones for everyone else. She was very entertaining. We really had a great day.

The whole week was a lot of fun. We really didn't do much but stay home and play with our new things, but I loved it. I loved the lazy days just playing together.

And now, Christmas is over. I am actually very very sad. I love Christmas, I love the anticipation of Christmas; the mile long to-do list including the baking of sweets and treats, delivering goodies and caroling to friends and neighbors, writing and sending Christmas cards, making, finishing, and sending Christmas gifts, Christmas music played over and over (have you heard the song, "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas"? I love it! And Adelynne found me a Christmas card that plays it!), and playing Christmas music on my clarinet and violin. AH! I love it! I get stressed out, but it is a fulfilling stress. Oh, and I also LOVE my Christmas card holder filling up throughout the weeks. Thank you to all who sent us such beautiful pictures and cards. All of my Christmas decorations are put away, EXCEPT, my card holder. I will take a picture of that and put it on the blog because it really brings me happiness to see it so full of those I love.

Christmas Eve 2011

My girls in their cute Christmas jammies from Grandma Biggs.


We had a great day! In the morning after taking baths and doing a few chores we headed over to the church to help our friends do their cleaning assignment. Then we delivered some Christmas goodies to our friends. When we returned home Dustin and I commenced doing cleaning around the house. Poor Dustin had been feeling so lousy all morning with an allergy attack, but he is such a trooper and helped me out so much despite the fact that he felt so miserable. I tried to convince him to go rest, but he would not. Aurora napped for about 3 hours (!), and Adelynne and Amy had a blast playing together in the stair well. (With all of our stair well neighbors gone for the winter break, I decided that the girls could play out there, and they LOVED it. It was like I added on another room to the house). With all three girls busy, Dustin and I were able to get so much cleaning done! And then I made up two large trays of sliced vegetables, spinach dip in a sour dough bread bowl, cheese balls and crackers, and salami with cream cheese. I felt as though I was expecting a house full of friends and family to come eat and talk and laugh with me. But no one came over, and I was sad that I was not with my family. But then I put on Miracle on 34th St (the old classic one), and crocheted and cat napped a bit, and then it was time to start working on dinner. We invited a very nice couple from our ward that were spending Christmas on their own. They don't have any children, and they seemed excited to come over and be with us. They arrived and were immediately entertaining my girls. All three of the girls were having so much fun with them. We enjoyed dinner and conversation. I really enjoyed their company, and I'm glad that we invited them over. For dessert I made a chocolate cream pie and a pumpkin cheesecake and Adelynne was anxious for the chocolate pie. She was nearly done with the pie when we could tell she was very full and I let her know that it was not necessary for her to finish the pie. Then a little later I was braiding her hair and she was suddenly in a lot of stomach pain. She went to the bathroom and I could hear her crying. She was so upset and was just sobbing for her stomach to stop hurting her. She eventually threw up the piece of pie that she ate, and was as happy as a clam. Dustin and I were concerned she had the stomach flu, but as soon as she had finished throwing up she came out of the bathroom all smiles declaring that she felt SO much better! I wasn't sure how long that would last, but she never did throw up after that and she slept very well. I guess it was just a result of overeating for her. Dustin and I were talking later that a similar incident happened when Adelynne was 17 months old at Christmastime. She ate too many m&ms and got sick during the night. I feel bad that she got sick, but I think she learned a very good lesson from the experience. Unfortunately, Adelynn's sudden sickness seemed to cause our guests to leave sooner than I expected, but I understand. Dustin and I were able to get the girls in bed and we enjoyed setting out all the gifts for the next morning while chatting with my family on ichat. We were up to about 1am. I ended up having Aurora in bed with me all night because she kept waking up and crying and I was afraid she would wake up the big girls and then they would be up at an unacceptable hour to view their Santa gifts. But I was so excited for the girls that I barely slept. I wanted to make sure Dustin and I would be up to see their faces when they saw the gifts so every noise I heard during the night woke me up. Just before 6:30am I heard one of the girls cry out and I woke Dustin to tell him that we should get up because the girls would be up soon. Well, Adelynne and Amy didn't get up until 7:15am. HA!

Drawing

Aurora took a late nap on Sunday and woke up after her sisters went to bed. Dustin and I were working on some things, and when I looked over at Aurora she was laying on the floor drawing in the coloring book. Dustin got out the camera and she started smiling for us. I know she's a mess, but I still think she is the cutest with her messy cookie face and her drool soaked shirt. She's getting so big!

Gingerbread Houses

December 18th, 2011: We made gingerbread houses! I bought two kits from Aldi, and Amy and I worked together, and Adelynne and Daddy worked together. I had a lot of fun, I think the rest of the family did too. I cheated a bit and hot glued the house together, but I just didn't want to risk it not staying together. The rest is icing glued. They turned out very cute.

My baby doll

ADORABLE.

She's a little baby doll, the best kind.

Aurora is show casing a coat and bonnet that I wore when I was a wee little lass. Isn't it adorable? I just melt when I see her wearing it. And boy do the little old ladies at church do as well! And as a bonus she is wearing her sister Amy's 1st Christmas dress, the one with the pantaloons, which again, makes just about everyone melt, even the little old men. I also must point out the picture with the srunchy nose face. (I only caught the tail end of the face, but its still a cute, CUTE face). Rori does that all the time and it is the cutest face!!

Wonderful friends

December 16th 2011. I had a little night out with my dear friends Mary and Doreen. We went to Indian food at Khana Khazana's, and then we went to the Twighlight movie. We stuffed our faces at the buffet. One of the best things about these wonderful friends of mine is that they can put away as much food as I can and none of us care one bit how much the other one of us ate! We talked and talked about life. Our conversations were interesting and stimulating, and no, we don't always agree with each other, but we still get along, and we still love and respect one another. The movie was fun to see together since none of us are fanatics, but we've all read and enjoyed the books. Mary is just a hoot to sit next to during a movie. She's always making me laugh with her sarcastic comments. I knew when this movie came out that I would have to see it with Mary and Doreen. After the movie we talked in the car for two hours! I didn't get home until about 2:30am. I definitely know I'm getting older because the morning after was really rough. But it was worth it.

Mary and Doreen have been my friends since moving here to Indiana. They are both amazing and strong women that are such a huge example and strength to me. They have helped to shape and mold me into the woman I am today. I am forever grateful for their love and friendship and patience. All of us will be moving from West Lafayette/Lafayette this next year, and I will miss my dear friends. Thank you for the memories Mary and Doreen!

Little mimicker

Aurora is getting into that mimicking phase, and its pretty darn cute. She's been folding her arms for a couple of weeks now, and we love encouraging her to do it at our meal and family prayers. She will even fold her arms while eating a pretzel.

She's cute and she knows it.

Chef Adelynne

The other day I was doing some baking, and Adelynne wanted to help out. So I put an apron on her and then she ran off. When she came back she was sporting my shower cap as her chef hat. Her creativity makes me laugh.

Missionaries

We often have the Missionaries over for dinner, and we have really enjoyed getting to know this set of Elders. Elder Carlson (next to Dustin) has spent the last 5 or so months in our ward, and he has been the one to help Dustin do his calling as the ward mission leader. Elder Judkins began his mission in our ward, so we are the ones breaking him in! The girls have really enjoyed getting to know these missionaries, and EVERY time we see them (and we always saw them on Sundays), the girls would point and tug on my shirt and say in a hushed whisper, "Mommy! The missionaries!" This was our last night with Elder Carlson in our home. We miss him already, and we look forward to getting to know more missionaries.

Ward Christmas Party 2011

It was a great night!
Adelynne asked Santa for a Christmas book. Every year her Grandma Belt has given the girls a Christmas book, so they have a nice little collection. I think she really wants to add to that. Amy refused to go and see Santa. She claimed to be scared of him, and she doesn't care for candy canes, so that wasn't a good enough reason. My Mom made and sent the Christmas jumpers (they are reversible)! and they arrived the same day as the party, so they had a perfect arrival time!

When it was Aurora's turn to meet Santa, she approached him warily, eyeing the candy cane in his hand. She didn't want anything to do with him, just the candy cane. She kind of circled him like a vulture waiting to get the candy. And when Santa offered it to her, she snatched it up so fast. But I wanted to see her on Santa's lap, and as you can tell, she was NOT happy about that.

Halloween 2011

Better late than never! Here are my cute girlies all dressed up for some candy gettin'. We went on two different nights to the nearby dorms for Trick or Treating. The girls' costumes were a hit, most especially Amy's Mike costume (which I got for 10 bucks on ebay). Very proud. Adelynne's Sully costume we have owned for about 3+ years now. I found it at Once Upon a Child for around 20 bucks. Not bad. It now sells on ebay for over 100 buckaroos! CRAZY!!! We won't be selling ours though, it is too treasured. I wanted to find Aurora the Boo costume where she is disguised as a monster, but I couldn't find one for less than 30 (plus shipping), and although I really really wanted to get it anyway, I decided it wouldn't be an intelligent investment. Some of those Boo monster costumes were selling for about 90 bucks. So Aurora was dressed in Boo's pjs. We grabbed a t-shirt and leggings from Adelynne's drawers. And then I SQUEEZED in some cute little pigtails in her hair. It was lots of fun to watch Aurora trick or treating. Once she figured out that she was getting candy, she was pushing her way to the front and grabbing as much candy as those chubby little fingers of hers could grab. She even carried her little bucket around for a while too. Irresistibly cute! Aurora also dressed up as Eeyore for a few events, just so she could follow the traditions of her big sisters. My mom made that Eeyore costume for Adelynne's first Halloween, and now each of the girls have worn it at least once.

I have the CUTEST monsters!

And here's a little snippet of Aurora pushing her way through the crowds for some candy:

Thanks Giving

For Thanks Giving we went to Ohio to be with my cousin Joel, his wife Jen, and their 6 wonderful children. We had a fabulous time, minus my very ill-behaved children. We participated in Joel and Jen's family tradition "Pie for Breakfast." They invite neighbors and friends, church members, school friends. There were so many people there, it was really fun to meet so many good people. Then when the crowds went home, Joel and Jen and most of their children prepared a delicious feast for us all to enjoy. At nights when the children were put to bed, Dustin and I enjoyed talking with Joel and Jen. The day after Thanks Giving, Joel and Jen loaded all 13 of us into their "bus" and drove us out to Hirum County to the Johnson home where Joseph and Emma Smith lived with the Johnson family.

All 9 kids in the bus: L to R, front to back: Aurora, Thomas, Gideon, Sammy, Joshua, Adelynne, Spring, Mary, and Amy.
Just above, Aurora was a little naughty and went under the rope. bottom right corner picture is our group in front of the Johnson home on the doorstep where Joseph Smith preached the morning after he was dragged from the home by a mob and tarred and feathered. The exposure to the weather from the mob breaking into the home caused the death of Joseph's infant son. The picture of Dustin holding an upset Aurora and Spring standing beside him is the room just inside the front door where Emma and Joseph slept with their babies. Yes, the floor is original, the bright colors and feathered painting on the mantel in the summer kitchen were very modern designs.

Below left is a picture of the Kirtland Temple. The early Saints sacrificed so much to build this temple. They did it because they had great faith and believed that God would bless them. And He did! Jesus Christ himself appeared in the temple, and many other ancient prophets. I love the accounts of the Saints who were present on the day the Kirtland Temple was dedicated, they truly witnessed miracles and blessings from the heavens. Below right, Dustin and I and our uncooperative daughters sitting on the porch of the Newel K. Whitney Store. Here in this store Joseph Smith received revelations from God, one of which is the Word of Wisdom, a commandment to refrain from tobacco, alcohol, and teas and coffee, and also to eat healthy to take care of our bodies.
Above Right: oops! I already posted this picture above. But above Left, Dustin in the room of the School of the Prophets, where priesthood men gathered to study and read from the scriptures and learn the will of God.

Thank you for a wonderful week Joel Biggs Family! We loved the time we spent with you all.

Reading

This is a video of Aurora "reading" books, back on October 13th. She is just so cute.

Aurora's 1st Birthday- September 2, 2011

Okay, I am finally writing a post on Aurora's 1st Birthday! I had a very difficult time with my precious baby turning one, that I didn't plan a thing for her special birthday. But last minute, I called up our wonderful friends the Walker's, and asked them if we could come swim at the pool in their new apartment complex. They said yes, and then they even joined us for subway sandwiches for dinner, swimming, and a cake I baked last minute. It was a pretty warm day, and the water was so refreshing. All of the girls had a wonderful time, and Aurora seemed to especially enjoy the water. After some swimming we sang to Aurora and ate cake. Aurora did not hesitate one bit. She pretty much inhaled the cake (or at least the part she got in her mouth). And she was pretty upset when it was time to clean her off.
I do feel a little guilty that I didn't invite more of our close friends, but I wasn't being exclusive, I just really did NOT plan anything for Aurora. I really was in denial that Aurora had reached the age of one, I wasn't ready for her to not be my new baby anymore. Sometimes I still feel that way. Aurora's present was an Aurora baby doll with birthday party accessories. Her sisters might have been more excited than she was, but Aurora was still excited about the doll. She really loves baby dolls. If she sees one, she fusses to hold it. She also loves cars, balls, and things that play music. She is a girl that knows what she wants, and she lets you know it! We love our chubby girl, tongue sticking out or not.

2011 Christmas card

I just made this today on Shutterfly! I want to make sure my family and friends get one, so please send me your address! Merry Chirstmas!!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

BELT family mission statement

I have been wanting to make a family mission statement for a while, but just kept putting it off. Well tonight my little family sat together and discussed making a family statement. First, we took notes on what is important to our family. Adelynne and Amy were very involved and helpful throughout this step, and it was fun to hear their answers. Amy was the first to reply to the question, "What is important to us?" Her answer, "The gospel!" Our other answers were: going to church, happy family-- "not grumpy pumpkins" (from Adelynne), love one another, help others, comfort each other, missionary work, be a good example, follow the prophet, listen to the bishop (church leaders), be modest, go to the temple, go on a mission, save our family, watch movies (i.e. family together time).
Throughout the day I had been thinking how I could create our family statement in a simple way that would involve the girls and keep their attention. And then while I was feeding Aurora, the answer came to me; a family acronym. BELT. We would make our family statement with the letters from our last name. Belt is a short name, so it would be the perfect length for our young family. And I think when our children are a little older, we can add more to it by using the word FAMILY added on to BELT. So for now this is our family mission statement, and I am very pleased with the outcome.

Thoughts on my mind

I haven't posted anything in a while. Its not that I don't have anything to post, I do, actually some really cute girls in monster costumes. But those pictures are still on the camera and not on my computer. Life is just rolling forward and when I do have time for such activities as blogging, I often find myself reading Facebook statuses, or trying to catch a nap on the couch. But I am trying to do good things with my "free" time, like read the scriptures, make/finish crafts, and doing housework. Actually something I've been working on lately is making up my own aerobic routine. I will be taking over teaching aerobics on Friday mornings in a few weeks, and I decided to create my own routine. I'm having a lot of fun making it. The day I started creating it, I was so excited about the songs I had completed that I called my mom and told her to watch me do the routine on ichat.

I know I don't normally write things spiritual, but I feel the need to write about the experience I had this morning, and it is simpler for me to write it out here. This morning, before church, I was reading in my scriptures (something that I never do, seriously), and I was reading one of my favorite passages from the book of Alma. A man named Almulek is talking to the people (the Zoramites) about how prophets in Old Testament times prophesied of Christ. The prophet Moses talked of Christ and also did things that were a type, or representation of Christ. Alma Chapter 33, verse 19, "Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea, and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live." This verse refers to when the children of Israel were in the wilderness and poisonous serpents were sent to plague the people. Moses made a staff with a symbol of a snake on it, and he told the people that if they looked upon the staff, they would be healed from the poison of the snakes that bit them. Verse 20 goes on, "But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them." Sometimes I read this verse and I think about myself and if I had lived at this time, would I have believed and looked, or would I have been too prideful? But as I read through the passage this morning, it was verse 22 that moved my heart and stirred my emotions the most. Verse 21, "O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?" And verse 22, "If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works." I guess I just felt at that moment of reading those words, that if I had lived at the time of Moses and believed I could have been healed by looking upon the staff, and that I believe now, so my eyes, my heart need to look to Christ, because He is the only way I can be healed.

I don't know why this particular passage reached out to me, I wasn't searching for it, but it came to me, most likely because I needed it, but I didn't know that I needed it. I know the Holy Spirit was with me and gave me that assurance, that testimony that Jesus Christ is the One that I must look to.

And then today in Relief Society a beautiful lesson was presented by my friend Emily Z, about the second coming of Jesus Christ. Emily asked the women what our feelings are when we think about when Jesus comes again. Her question made me remember how a month or so ago, Adelynne and Amy started talking about the world ending, and they asked me, "Mommy, will it be scary when the world ends?" I know as a child and teen that the thought of the world ending was very scary to me. And sometimes it still is, but then I remember that the Savior is going to come, and that will not be scary. That will be joyous and wonderful. So I told my girls. "Its not going to be scary because Jesus is going to come and we will be so happy to see Him, and He is going to take care of us." I want my daughters to look forward to the Savior returning. I know that if I live my life the best I can, and keep the commandments, and be kind to others, that when the Savior comes again, I will be happy to see Him. That is what I want to teach my children. There are definitely things that scare me about the approaching days leading up to the Savior coming. I not only have that worry, that my children will stray from their Savior and His church, but I fear that if they do stay faithful, that they will be harmed or killed by the wicked. But I know the Savior is in control. God gives and God takes away, and He will make it all okay. I hang onto my faith and I hope for the best for my children and their future. I know it is more important to live my life as faithfully and diligently as I can each day than to worry and focus on what might happen and when it might happen. I am grateful for my faith, I am grateful for God's mercy.

Today after church, Adelynne and Amy played together so well. They were so kind to each other, it was so nice to hear them playing. They even happily cleaned their room together. They were so excited to clean their room (!). They turned on their cd of songs and decided that if they finished cleaning their room before the music they would get a prize. Then they came to me and asked what the prize was going to be. Ha! Adelynne asked if it could be a pie, or a cake. Um. I came up with something to make them happy, and they went back to cleaning their room, and they REALLY cleaned it. All the toys put away, they even cleaned under the rug and swept and vacuumed. They were so darn proud of themselves, and Amy came out several times to tell me in her excited little Amy voice, "Cleaning my room is so much fun! Its not fun when you only pick up one thing, but when you clean all of it, its fun!" HAHA! Then after they finished cleaning their room, they wanted to decorate their room by making hearts and hanging them on strings around the room. (That has been delayed until tomorrow), but they did make a poster (by taping pieces of paper together), and Adelynne wrote L O V E on one part, and Amy drew hearts and wrote her name. And then they taped that up on the wall. They are just so excited for people to see it when they come to their room. Then they wanted to sleep on the same bed tonight. And then I told them to pick out their clothes for tomorrow, and they decided that they want to be twins tomorrow and they are just so excited to wear the same thing. It just all seems to good to be true. They fight all week long and are mean to each other, and then its overload be nice to each other. Cracks me up, but I love it! Oh, and the girls got brownies for their prize.

On Friday, I ran out of gas in the car for the very first time in my life. I was less than a block away from the gas station. I had been waiting to get gas in the car until I could make it out to Sam's Club, and Friday I was finally able to make it out to Sam's. But not really, because the car didn't have enough gas to get me there. I had just driven through one stop light when the car started decelerating and I told Amy, "Start praying, Amy, start praying!" She asked why and I told her the car was out of gas. Then of course I started praying. Just let us get to the gas station, please. But it was very apparent that the car wasn't going to get me there, so then I just

started praying that we could get off of the main road and be safe. The car barely made it onto this little turn down into the strip mall that is across the street from Sam's Club. I had my hazard lights on because the car was going so slow and I was worried a car would come up behind us going too fast and rear end us. Luckily this little turn goes down a little hill so that the car was able to cost down it into a parking spot behind the Walgreens. I was a little startled how the car lost all power and how difficult it became to steer the car, but we made it safely into a parking spot. Amy kept asking me what was going on. Then she started saying, "Its going to take forever for us to get home. What if Daddy is home and he's all by himself and it gets dark. We're gonna die!" No Amy, we're not going to die, no Amy its not going to take us forever to get home. Don't worry about Daddy, he's at school. Sam's Club is just across the street. She was definitely concerned, but she was a good little trooper. After taking a breath I got out the stroller and Amy and Rori and I walked over to Walgreens hoping to buy a gas can, but we had no luck. So we went across the street to Sam's, but no luck there either. We made one last try at Marsh's grocery, but nope, they don't sell gas can's either. So I called a friend who was able to come to my rescue. And then we got gas and went home. Next time I won't wait for the gas light to let me know that the car is empty. I guess you can't rely on the indicator lights (because they don't always work)!

That's it for now.