Crockpot Cookbook Giveaway :)

NO, you may not enter this drawing, because I am going to win this time. But you MAY check out this great blog all about cooking with your crockpot! LOL Click here to check out the great recipes (but DON'T enter that drawing, you hear? I know where you live...)

Little payoffs that make it all worth it...

Every once in a while, a mother gets a little reward for all of the hard work she does in rearing her children. One of those came yesterday for me.

Michael had a Stake Scout "Pow Wow" to work on the Duty to God program. They were able to meet with their leaders and discuss the program, set goals and make plans to carry out some of the requirements, and pass off other requirements on the spot. Last Sunday, our home teacher gave a lesson geared towards the boys, all about the scouting program and how important it was to participate. The boys seemed very motivated by the lesson, and Michael showed enthusiasm about attending this Pow Wow....until Saturday morning. I couldn't get him up, he was grumpy and didn't want to go. It was a major battle to get him there. But I did.

He didn't say much when I picked him up, but later in the day he began talking about some of what he did. At one point he said, "Mom, they made us get up and say our name, what ward we are in, and who our hero is. I said my hero is my brother, Nicholas". Now, all of you mom's out there know exactly what that did to me...but I held it in and asked him why he chose Nicholas. He said, "Because he is a great brother and my best friend".

Is that not the payoff of a lifetime? I fall in love with my kids more and more every day. The more they grow up, the more I panic at the thought of them changing, and getting closer to the time they will leave home. But I also watch in bewildered awe at these creatures I created, wondering how they are becoming such wonderful, extraordinary people. Michael surprises me daily with his growth, maturity and sensitivity. He truly is becoming a young man, showing so much responsibility and thoughtfulness and leadership. He is increasingly beginning to settle into the role of a priesthood holder in our home, and the eldest child, helping to teach and lead his siblings. He's my hero.

In fact, all of my kids are my heroes. I think they are amazing. Nicholas's tender spirit and extraordinary capacity to love, Emily's talent, open heart and sincerity, and Katie's infectious happiness and her tender, pure love - it's all so wonderful. I think I will go hug my kids now!

CUTE CUTE CUTE TOTE!

My sister found this cute site for those darling tote bags you see nowadays. They are doing a giveaway, so I thought I would post about it here, not so you could visit *this* site and enter to win yourself, but so I can claim an additional entry for ME to win! LOL. So go and check out these super-cute bags!

I've been tagged...and I am giving in...LOL

Ok, so I usually don't do many of the tags in emails, blogs, etc., but this one is from my sister, and I can't say no to her (well, I can, but I won't, LOL)

Here are the rules:
1) Post rules on your blog
2) Answer the six '8' items
3) Let each person know by leaving them a comment.

8 favorite TV shows:
1. Dancing with the Stars
2. The Bachelor (yeah, I know...I only watch it every once in a while, but I have been hooked this season and last)
3. ER
4. Pushing Daisies (though I have missed most of this season...oh well_
5. The Office
6. What Not to Wear (why doesn't someone submit me??? LOL)
7. MASH
8. Golden Girls (yes, lately I have been watching reruns REALLY late at night...shameful!)
(I love how many I had in common with my sister!)


8 Things I did yesterday:
1. Taught lessons
2. laundry
3. cooked
4. computer
5. went to grocery store
6. watched the Bachelor
7. helped M with homework
8. gave kids baths
(there, wasn't that thrilling?)

8 Things I'm looking forward to:
1. sleeping
2. warmer weather
3. spring break
4. hopefully planting a garden
5. hopefully canning tomato juice (you'll have to teach me how, Sarah)
6. being in another opera, hopefully this fall
7. some time alone, coming this weekend
8. having lunch with a good friend on Saturday

8 favorite restaurants:
1. Olive Garden
2. Cheesecake Factory
3. Terreros
4. Big Bun, most definitely!
5. Macaroni Grill
6. Goodwood BBQ
7. Our local Teriyaki place
8. Round Table Pizza

8 Things on my wish list:
1. A clean and decorated bedroom
2. A decorated basement
3. To not have to worry about money
4. To know I am not permanently ruining my children, LOL
5. To lose weight
6. To be happy
7. To land a permanent spot with Seattle Opera
8. A special, secret wish...LOL

8 people I tag:
(do I even know 8 people???)

1. I might have to get back to y'all on this one...I need to check out who has been tagged already.......