Just one more perk...

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE living by family? Or maybe I should say with family? My kids are so comfortable with my Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters that I (for the first time ever) feel completely comfortable leaving them for awhile. We have been able to go to the temple more than we ever have. We have even been on a few dates and are planning a great trip just the two of us in August before we take the big jump into medical school. We left them before but I was always so anxious to get back to them, and now the anxiety is gone. I think a big part of it is that Wilson is such a different baby then Zina.  When we go to Stay'n'Play at the Parent Link Center he crawls away from me to cuddle with the other parents - who he's never seen before and neither have I!!   He has no fear.  Last night we visited Mark's Aunt Kay and Uncle Denny.  At first Wilson was scared of their dog, Cookie.  5 seconds later he was trying to steal Cookies toys and then they started growling at each other.  It was very cute, and I didn't have my camera. So sad.  


Zina and Wilson - 9mths

Indian Battle Park

Last week we had some beautiful weather. It was 25 degrees outside (77 degrees for all you Americans) so we decided to head out for some family fun. Mark has a list of places he wants to visit while we are here and Indian Battle Park was one of them. For some reason I don't have very good memories of this park. When we went as a kid it just was not fun. I think that it had something to do with the fact that we only ever went there after we went to the Dentist on the west side of Lethbridge. Guilty by association. So I reluctantly went and I'm so glad I did. Mark and Zina and Wilson really are a lot of fun to hang out with. (I already knew this - just re-emphasizing how much I truly love it!) Zina really liked the train bridge especially when two trains went across blowing their whistles. We had a yummy little picnic, went on a little hike up the hill, checkout the nature center and found a crow that said "hello" to us - (truly - he did). Then we let Zina and Wilson play on the playground. They loved it. We loved it. Successful family outing. I also have to put a plug in for the last Ensign. There is an article that says (about raising children) that "we now make memories instead of messes." I love it. Who cares if it is a huge mess after (like camping) it will always be a great memory for your kids. I'm grateful for my mom who naturally followed this. I have great childhood memories. (Except for going to the Dentist..) I hope my kids will too.

Conference and a little bit more.

This is the way the Keelers watch conference.  It was SO great. 

I felt so much during conference that I don't know where to begin. I guess I should start by saying a big thank you to all my brothers and sisters and parents for helping to entertain my kids so that watching conference was even possible. THANK YOU!! Living by family is amazing. I loved all of conference and I especially grew to love President Monson & President Uchtdorf. (President Eyring already has a special place in my heart since I have met him personally). It is so obvious to me that God is at the head of this church. It is amazing to love a prophet as dearly as President Hinckley and then watch the prophetic mantle settle onto President Monson and love him just as much. I have had similar experiences when there is a change in the bishopric. Previous to this conference I did not know President Uchtdorf that well and wasn't sure about how I felt about him being a member of the first presidency. Of course I sustained him because I believed his calling was inspired but I didn't feel the same about him yet, and then on Sunday morning when he spoke it happened!! I loved him just as much as the others. He has a great presence about him and of course really great hair. :)

One of my greatest weaknesses as a mother is slowing down and just enjoying the moment. I play with my kids and enjoy it but in my head I'm thinking about the one billion gazillion things that I "think" I need to do. (It's called the interconnected freeway - check it out "Tale of Two Brains" YouTube.  I already knew this but for some reason when Elder Ballard said it it really stuck.  The past couple of days have been a lot better.  When I play with my kids I try to shut everything else out.  Zina and I watched the clouds drift by while jumping on the tramp and changed all of the lyrics to our rhymes to the way she wants them to be (cinderella apparently isn't dressed in Yella she's dressed in pink..who knew?) and I just enjoyed it all so much.  There's more but this is getting long and here are some great pictures from the last couple of days.  

Wilson loves to make a mess (what little kid doesn't?).  He also got his first taste of sugar yesterday when he got into the licorice.  He went nuts and bawled when I took them away.

My Zina lives in a world of adults and wants to be just like them.  Attena and J.B. were playing their violins for Grandma and Grandpa Williams and Zina wanted to SO bad (crying, wailing, big puppy dog eyes).  She was so incredibly happy when we got out the little violin for her.  Even though it sounded horrible, to her she was playing the beautiful music like everyone else.  I love her face in the second picture.  It is priceless. 

Walk down memory lane

Last sunday we all went to my Grandma & Grandpa Keeler's for sunday dinner. The evening was almost magical. It brought back so many great memories from my childhood. My grandparents used to live just down the road from us when I was growing up. Almost every sunday we would go down for games and visiting. Grandpa always made us chocolate milkshakes and popped big bowls of popcorn. We would sing together, laugh together and eat together. It was fabulous! We were able to do the same this last sunday and two of my great aunts were there also telling stories from their childhood. I sat and listened and thought to myself, "This has to be a glimpse of the celestial kingdom, because the room is so full of love, and peace and harmony." Families can bring so much joy! After all the food was eaten the kids (as in everyone except grandparents and my parents) started playing hide-n-go seek. It was fun to act like a kid again. We had so much fun that we played again for family home evening the next night. Zina was in seventh heaven the whole time. Here are a few pictures of the evening.

Zina loves this toy. She will play with it for hours.


Wilson learning about Great Grandpa's hook. He was in a farm accident years ago and has had a hook for as long as I can remember.


This is my little sister Attena. Both her and my brother Jonathon are amazing on the violin.


Listening to stories about the olden days.


My favorite - the guys singing four part harmony.


We love to get together and sing.


Mark got stuck in the laundry shoot so Mark T. gave him a hand.