saturday

This morning started early with our stake service project, at the Temple grounds. The ground keepers were there directing people to various jobs. Our family was put in charge of pulling weeds, tilling the ground and then replacing the beds with new mulch. At one point, Taylor and I were working together in a decent size flower bed and after 10 minutes or so, we both looked up and the whole bed was pretty much done. Taylor commented, "WOW, I can't believe how fast that went.... with all these people, we are already finished with this huge flower bed!" I thought it was the perfect opportunity for her to recognize the principle of team work and unity. We talked about it for a little bit and I realized how much our family lacks in this simple concept. The concept of service and the pure love of Christ, towards the ones we love the most! We struggle with this around our house. Sometimes I can't believe how selfish we become with the attitude..... I didn't do it, so I'm not cleaning it up, so and so did that, that's not my job!

I think I know what our Family Home Evening lesson will be on this week!

What a great lesson for our kids and an eye opener for me.

Austin and Ty working hard

and Cannon and Sophie excited that the job was done and more excited that dad was treating them to chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast.

Good job guys!

Cooper missed out on the service project this morning. Instead, he was with his deacon's quorum, camping in the snow and building ice caves. He got home this afternoon and everything he took was sopping wet. He said he was freezing, but it didn't stop him. He had a blast and had lots of stories. I couldn't stop thinking about him, as I laid in my warm bed last night and hoping he wasn't freezing in that 20 degree weather!

All I know is.... there is a special place in heaven for scout masters and deacon leaders.

I couldn't do it.

Here is Cooper after a warm shower and all thawed out.

Okay. So, my youngest sister {who is only 9 months older than Austin} got her license yesterday. It's hard to believe how time flies. Yesterday her and Austin were all over the town! SCARY.... I know. They already had their first experience of running out of gas! UNBELIEVABLE. They were lucky enough that it happened right in front of the fire station and they were able to get a gas can, to get them where they needed to be. WOW... is all I can say! Then later that night, they were out on the town with all of Austin friends. They were in hog heaven with all that freedom!

Today these girls all went and got pedicures and then out to lunch and who knows what else. Taylor was loving this freedom as well. I was a little nervous about the whole idea, but they were in a safe car, with their seat belts on and they returned home alive! I am so glad they have each other, our kids love their aunts!

And yes, I had to capture this moment of them coming home. I would have loved to of been a fly on the wall in that car.

They sure love their aunt Ashlyn

And those were the highlights of our Saturday!