waiting...and waiting....and waiting...

Ok so my due date was yesterday. It was not the best days ever. I had a Dr. apt and the dr said I wasn't progressing. I could have told him that. Kinda annoying because I have been having contractions but they aren't strong enough to dilate me. Anyways I have never had a baby early or on time so I don't know why I always think it night happen this time. So I spent the day sitting around, crocheting, eating, we even went to Burger King so the kids could play...not to eat. Today...I only got up once in the night! Hooray!!! I feel a lot better then I have been feeling. I hope that the sun stays bright because I want to clean the house then enjoy the rest of the day. Nix has preschool and I am hoping that they ask me to volunteer but they usually don't ask last minute. Oh well. OH! Maybe I'll bring my new camera out side and take pics of the kids!! That will be really fun! Either way...I'm glad I'm in a good mood because Brandon won't be home till 8:30 tonight which means I am single mom yet again today! Maybe I'll have a playgroup. Maybe we'll have a picnic. We'll see....I guess a shower comes first!

NEW CAMERA!!!

Yesterday we went and got a new camera! I was wanting to get the Nikon D3100 but I felt like if I got it I would be settling to save money I ended up getting the Nikon D7000. I LOVE IT!! The pictures are all coming out so nicely.

There is a lot more to learn then with the D70 and I'm a little intimidated but I have learned a lot from reading the manual. The sales person at Best Buy was GREAT! We knew his manager so we got a really great deal on the camera and accessories! I can't wait to go for a walk with the kids and get some pictures!!!

The BEST part...I can start taking pistures again for friends and I don't have to say no anymore!!! Ok...so the BESTEST part...we will have a camera for the baby's birth!

Dear Brandon

Dear Brandon, I love you. I love everything about you. Really. I love you through and through. I just watched Eat Pray Love and I realized something. We don't have to go to Bali to make it work. We don't have to have therapy or split up a few times to realize how much we love eachother. When we met we became friends. We are still friends and I love that. I think we are more friends then anything else. You know why we're so happy though? Because we don't want to hurt eachother. We both do all that we can do to make eachothers lives easier. I love that. I can't believe that next weekish we will have our 3rd baby. I love where we are. I love being a part of something do big with you...our eternal family. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love you. Thank you for loving me...us. Forever, Brittany

Our Easter Lesson/Activity

I have been trying to come up with a way to teach the kids the true meaning of Easter. I am so excited about what we are doing. We already did candy baskets and an egg hunt but we did it the first week of spring. I gave a FHE lesson about the Resurrection from the Sunbeam manual - click here Then I found this in the Friend Magazine. Easter Week Saturday, April 16 An important holiday called Passover was only six days away. Many people were coming to Jerusalem so they could offer sacrifices in the temple on that day. Jesus walked to Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. He would stay there for five nights with His friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Mary anointed His feet with oil. See John 12:1–3. Sunday, April 17 Jesus walked from Bethany to Jerusalem. He rode into the city on a donkey, as a verse in the Old Testament said He would. People recognized Him as their King, shouting, “Hosanna,” and laying down palm leaves in front of the donkey to keep dust from getting on the Savior. Jesus visited the temple and then returned to Bethany. See Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–11. Monday, April 18 Jesus saw people buying and selling things in the temple. Because He wanted the temple to be a “house of prayer,” He made them leave. Then He healed people who were lame or blind. The jealous priests were angry with Him. See Matthew 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19. Tuesday, April 19 Jesus taught people in the temple and on a nearby hill called the Mount of Olives. The priests plotted to kill Jesus. One of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, agreed to turn Jesus over to the priests in exchange for 30 silver coins. See Matthew 25:31–46; 26:14–16. Wednesday, April 20 The scriptures do not say what Jesus did on this day. He may have spent the day with His disciples. You could read the parable of the ten virgins, a story Jesus taught to His disciples to help them prepare for His Second Coming. See Matthew 25:1–13. Thursday, April 21 Jesus’s disciples got ready for the Passover meal. During the meal, Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray Him. Then, to help them remember Him, He gave them the sacrament for the first time. Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to suffer for our sins and to pray to God. People came with swords and arrested Him. The disciples ran away in fear. See Matthew 26:17–29, 36–56. Friday, April 22 Jesus was taken to the high priest, Caiaphas. Jesus’s disciple Peter denied that he knew Him. Jesus was questioned by the governor, Pilate, and by the king, Herod. He was condemned to die on the cross. Jesus was crucified. A rich man named Joseph laid Jesus in his tomb. Jesus’s mother, Mary, and Mary Magdalene visited the tomb. See Matthew 26:57–72; 27:1–2, 27–37; Luke 23:44–46, 50–56. Saturday, April 23 Jesus’s body lay in the tomb. A large stone was put in front of the door. The wicked priests asked Pilate to have guards stand outside the tomb to make sure no one went inside. See Matthew 27:57–66. Easter Sunday, April 24 Jesus was resurrected! He had risen from the tomb. An angel descended from heaven and rolled away the stone. Jesus told His disciples to teach and baptize others and promised to always be with them. See Matthew 28. I printed them up and put each day along with a few pieces of candy into a balloon and blew it up. Now every day we can pop a balloon and see what Jesus was doing the 8 days before his Resurrection. I am so excited to share with the kids the true meaning of Easter.

The Atonement Covers All Pain

The Atonement Covers All Pain Kent F. Richards Of the Seventy I just listened to this talk given at General Conference this month. I have often thought that the Atonement of Christ was given for those who have serious sins. I guess I have been prideful in thinking that. This talk teaches me that I need the Atonement for my sins but also more then that. He suffered all pains for all people. I can turn to him in my trials, physical and spiritual afflictions. I often struggle with feeling down and I feel like I have no where to turn, no one to talk to. During those struggles I don't really know why I am down so there's nothing to talk about or to fix. I love knowing that my Savior understands me because he experienced just that. He loves me. He will never turn away from me. He will never judge me. This talk is a keeper for me so that I can turn to it when to strengthen my relationship with Christ.

YUMMY!!! Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Minis

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Minis Ingredients Crust: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 4 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted 12 bite-size peanut butter cups Filling: 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or almond extract 2 eggs Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup of a standard muffin pan. To make crust: In a bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter until crumbs are moistened. Press crust into bottom of each muffin cup. Put 1 peanut butter cup into the center of each crust. To make the filling: Beat cream cheese with a handheld electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar, flour, and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Spoon cream cheese mixture over peanut butter cups and graham cracker crusts. Bake until just set, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Atti's Words

Atti's vocabulary is growing so quickly. We are having a really hard time understanding him a lot of the time even though he knows a lot of words. He can carry on a whole conversation and I'm very impressed! Here are a few of his words... Eye-cus : Atticus or Phoenix (Yes he calls her by his name) Buck : Stuck (I tries to teach him to say is and then he started to say sssbuck) mammich : sandwich muggits : nuggets (chicken) bock or fock : sock

Follower of Christ

Lately I have been feeling like something is missing. I am usually excited to read my scriptures and go to church but I havn't been. I have been getting easily offended and also putting off responsibilities. A few days ago I was thinking about this and realized that I have become very selfish lately. I want to talk about me and I want everyone to help me. I feel so badly because I havn't gone visiting teaching in 2 months. So I decided to make a change. I am reading my scriptures more and getting ready to visit teach this week! In just a few days I am finding that I feel so much better. I just listened to this talk and I loved it. It is just want I need to hear. Followers of Christ Walter F. González Of the Presidency of the Seventy Followers of Christ pattern their lives after the Savior to walk in the light.Last October my wife and I accompanied Elder and Sister Neil L. Andersen for the groundbreaking of a new temple in Córdoba, Argentina. As is customary, a press conference followed the ceremony. A journalist, not a member of our church, commented that she had observed how well the men treated their wives. Then she unexpectedly asked, “Is that real or fiction?” I am sure that she saw and felt something different among our members. She might have perceived the desire of our members to follow Christ. Members all over the world have such a desire. At the same time, millions who are not members of the Church also have a desire to follow Him. Recently my wife and I were impressed by the people we saw in Ghana and Nigeria. Most were not members of our church. We were happy to see their desire to follow Christ expressed in many of their conversations in their houses, on their cars, on their walls, and on their billboards. We had never seen so many Christian churches next to one another. As Latter-day Saints, ours is the duty to invite millions such as these to come and see what our church can add to the good things that they already have. Any person from any continent, climate, or culture can know for himself or herself that the Prophet Joseph Smith saw the Father and the Son in a vision. He or she can know that heavenly messengers restored the priesthood and that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. In the words of the Lord to Enoch, “Righteousness [has been sent] down out of heaven; and truth [has been sent] forth out of the earth to [testify of the] Only Begotten [of the Father].” 1 The Savior has promised, “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” 2 Followers of Christ pattern their lives after the Savior to walk in the light. Two characteristics can help us recognize to what extent we follow Him. First, followers of Christ are loving people. Second, followers of Christ make and keep covenants. The first characteristic, being loving, is probably one thing the journalist in Córdoba noticed among our Church members. We follow Christ because we love Him. When we follow the Redeemer out of love, we are following His own example. Through love the Savior was obedient to the will of the Father under any circumstance. Our Savior was obedient even when it meant great physical and emotional pain, even when it meant being whipped and mocked, even when it meant that His enemies would torture Him while His friends abandoned Him. The atoning sacrifice, which is unique to the mission of the Savior, is the greatest expression of love ever. “The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” 3 As Christ followed the Father under any circumstance, we should follow His Son. If we do so, it matters not what kind of persecution, suffering, grief, or “thorn in the flesh” 4 we face. We are not alone. Christ will assist us. His tender mercies will make us mighty under any circumstance. 5 Following Christ may mean forsaking many dear things, as Ruth the Moabite did. As a new convert, out of love for God and Naomi, she left everything behind to live her religion. 6 It may also mean withstanding adversity and temptation. In his youth Joseph was sold into slavery. He was taken away from everything he loved. Later he was tempted to be unchaste. He resisted the temptation and said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” 7 His love for God was more powerful than any adversity or temptation. Today we have modern Ruths and Josephs all over the world. When Brother Jimmy Olvera from Guayaquil, Ecuador, received his mission call, his family was struggling greatly. The day he was leaving, he was told that if he walked out the door, he would lose his family. With a broken heart he walked out that door. While he was on his mission, his mother asked him to stay longer in the field because they were receiving so many blessings. Today Brother Olvera serves as a stake patriarch. Truly loving Christ provides the required strength to follow Him. The Lord Himself showed this when He asked Peter three times, “Lovest thou me?” After Peter reaffirmed his love for Him out loud, the Lord told Peter about upcoming difficulties. Then the admonition came: “Follow me.” The Savior’s question to Peter can also be asked of us: “Lovest thou me?” followed by the call to action: “Follow me.” 8 Love is a powerful influence in our hearts in our effort to be obedient. Love for our Savior inspires us to keep His commandments. Love for a mother, father, or spouse can also inspire our obedience to gospel principles. The way we treat others reflects to what extent we follow our Savior in loving one another. 9 We show our love for Him when we stop to assist others, when we are “perfectly honest and upright in all things,” 10 and when we make and keep covenants. The second characteristic that followers of Christ have is making and keeping covenants, as He did. Moroni pointed out that “the shedding of the blood of Christ … is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” 11 The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that even before the organization of this earth, covenants were made in heaven. 12 Ancient prophets and patriarchs made covenants. The Savior Himself gave the example. He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness by one with the proper authority. Through His baptism, the Savior witnessed unto the Father that He would be obedient in keeping all the Father’s commandments. 13 As in days of old, we also follow Christ and make covenants through priesthood ordinances. Making covenants is something that millions who are not members of our church can add to the very good things that they already have. Making covenants is an expression of love. It is a way of saying to Him, “Yes, I will follow Thee because I love Thee.” Covenants include promises, “even of life eternal.” 14 All things will work together for our good if we remember our covenants. 15 They must be made and kept to fully receive the promises they provide. Love for the Savior and remembering our covenants will help us keep them. Partaking of the sacrament is one way to remember them. 16 Another way is to attend the temple often. I remember a young married couple in South America who wanted to separate because they could not get along. A priesthood leader counseled them to attend the temple and pay specific attention to the words and promises of the covenants made there. They did so and their marriage was saved. The power of our covenants is greater than any challenge we face or we may face. To those members who are not active in the gospel, please come back. Feel the blessing of remembering and renewing covenants through the sacrament and temple attendance. Doing so is an expression of love and shows a willingness to be a true follower of Christ. It will qualify you to receive all the promised blessings. To those who are not members of our church, I invite you to exercise faith, repent, and qualify to receive the covenant of baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. By doing so, you will show your love to our Heavenly Father and your willingness to follow Christ. I testify that we are happier when we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we strive to follow Him, the blessings of heaven will come unto us. I know His promises will be fulfilled as we make and keep covenants and become true followers of Christ. I testify of His great love for each one of us, and I do so in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

34 week prego pics

These are Prego pics my freind Jennifer took when I was 34 weeks. (I am 37 1/2 weeks now) I love how they turned out!

If you can't say something nice...

Let's Play a game...shall we? It's called "Helpful or Hurtful" If the statement will enlighten/action someone then it is helpful. If not then it's probably hurtful. Let's play..

Wow, time is getting close for the baby to come. How are you feeling?

VS

Wow, you look tired, being pregnant sucks.

The names you chose for your baby are dog names.

VS

Where did you get the names you chose for your baby?

When can I come over and help out with the kids?

VS

Your place is a mess...you need a maid!

I don't think today is a good time to visit, I am not feeling myself.

VS

I don't really feel like being around a crazy pregnant woman.

You really should have spaced your kids out more.

VS

Your kids are young and learning so quickly, can I take them to the park for you?

See...there are nice ways to say things. I think I will start trying to help more then hurt.

Progress...

At the dr apt yesterday I learned that I'm progressing and getting ready to have this baby. I am excited that the time is coming near. We went for a walk last night and I had a lot of contractions during the walk and all night long. Every contraction I get more and more excited that my body is doing its job. I am trying to learn how to breath and relax my body as well. I think these practice contractions are really good preparation for me. I hope that I will have the baby on or close to the 26th. Other then that I am feeling the nesting bug but I don't want to overdo it and be sore all night. I hung up some pictures, got rid of Brandon's bike that he never rode (it was free), cleaned the kids room, cleaned and redecorated the bathroom, cleaned the carpets, cleaned the kitchen, did laundry, and cleaned and organized our room. Funny though...I still feel like this place is a cluttered mess!! Haha I know it can't possibly be as bad as I feel though. I have been looking into upcycling clothes so I have lots of clothes that we don't wear that I want to turn into little dresses for Nix or the baby if it's a girl. I really want to work on those but don't have the time to finish a project so I don't want to start. I want to cook like crazy!! Oreos dipped in brownie mix, Apple pie, mini peanut butter/chocolate cheesecakes, Make a cake and decorate it, lemon bunt cake....funny though...I don't want to eat them I just want to make it. All I want to eat is oranges and salad with honey mustard dressing. I am drinking tons of water and milk. Amanda, Melody, Trinity, and Melodie Jackson are coming over tomorrow and I'm so excited to see them. It will be fun to catch up with my (twin but not really) sister and her kiddies!! I am Excited to see Melodie because I love to visit her. I'm glad it's her spring break so she can come! We'll see what fun we have!

Me Me Me

So I have 3 weeks and 1 day till I'm due!! I am getting so excited to see this little sugar! I am trying very hard not to get ancy and I think I'm doing all right. I was talking to Brandon about things yesterday and I realized that I don't really have anything for me. It's kids and him. I want something for me to work for and toward. here are some examples of what I'm talking about... When I buy something I have to see what he thinks and I return it if he doesn't like it. When I cook I make what they want and will eat. When we make crafts it's kids crafts...not ones I like. I never go to the store without the kids. I don't have a book club or anything like that. Nap time is not even my time because I have to get in a nap these days. What can I do for me? We decided to change the way we do our financed so that I have a budget that includes all household things including food and clothes. That way I can be in control of something and I can save up to buy things I want or even go visit my sister when I want. I am excited to see what happens. I also thing this will save us money because I will have the money for my moments of weekness instead of just spending. We'll see how it goes!