We're Back

So this is my new house and now, I feel like I need a fresh start with my blog. I am so excited to be back to blogging. I have missed it so much. Not to mention that it has been the replacement for my journal for so long and I have missed things with my kids that I would be sad to not mention. So for the next little while I will work backwards and forwards at the same time to cover all my bases.

Isn't it pretty!! Yes, I know!! Joe and I spent the last several months searching for our home. And when I say searching I mean that. We spent hours on line and in our Realtors car. We set our budget low and our expectations high. That set us up for failure after failure after failure. We fell in love and ended up in second place and then kept looking. After a while we decided that we would increase our price limit. We did that and the next day headed out once again. At the end of a very long day we pulled up to this house. Joe was frustrated and I was frustrated. We pulled up and it looked great, but we had seen lots of houses that looked great outside and when we got in it was just plain scary. So when we walked into a beautiful kitchen the updated, really lovely home just kept getting better. That night we made our offer. It was at the very top of our first limit. We did not have to increase our budget after all. We moved in the week before Christmas and it was lovely. And it did not spring a leak under the concrete slab till the second week we were here. And then it waited another week till the kitchen sprung another leak and now I have no kitchen sink. We get to beat through my beautiful kitchen floor while my bathroom and hallway are still full of holes down to dirt. YES!!! that's right folks dirt. However, in case you are feeling like we are not happy you would be wrong! We are so happy! the first leak was such a blessing because without it we would never have seen the second worse drain leak! It could have leaked and drained into our foundation until the back of the house just slid right off, which granted, as fun as that would be, we are incredibly grateful for. We have learned a ton and we are so happy to be here. The next fifty years are going to be awesome!!! It will be amazing and wonderful! As soon as we finish all of this work we will have a blast finding all the other fun things to explore while we live here.

Easter

If you remember from last year we love Easter here at the Short house!! Holy week is something I try hard to make a great tradition for my kids. I want them to understand that without Easter Christmas would not happen. This year Holy week was Awesome!! And Easter Sunday was a little bit crazy. I was teaching in Gospel Doctrine and Young Women's. I think in the end I liked teaching both lessons because I was able to really bring the Resurrection to my day. I love hearing people in my ward talk about the Savior and the reasons they love him. Young Women's was awesome!! I purposely under planned my lesson and was able to experience it in a way that I left feeling uplifted and ready to bring that feeling home.

We got home sent the kiddos down to the basement to play while we hid eggs and put out the baskets.

We bought baskets at D.I. this year and painted them as part of Holy Week! It was something I think we will do often. The kids loved having the baskets they made themselves.

Out they came! Ora found a pair of boots in the basement that don't quite fit her yet but it was fun to see them come out in clothes they picked. They were done being in the church clothes so they hunted in whatever they wanted to wear. Even if it will be embarrassing someday!!

Abby found the best thing of all.... The peep inside her basket. I think Joe put a couple of eggs in her basket but, she could have cared less.

This was the first year that Jordan really got into the hunt. He even found the famous frog egg that everyone wanted to find!

This is the egg I did for my Dad I think I will do an egg for him every year.

I could not be outside without showing you guys a picture of my peas! They are growing so well. I can't wait to get a trellis out there to help them along. If it stops raining this week I am going to get out there and get that done.

My kids! How cute are they!! I made the girls dresses this year. It was fun. Abby got into the process and was so excited every time I pulled her in for a fitting. We just had a blast and I think they turned out pretty cute. I learned a lot with Ora's so Abby's turned out a little bit better made that Ora's. But, I think I will keep on making their dresses as long as I can.

Silly picture

Jordan

Abby

Michael

Ora

OOBLECK Attack!

Spring Break is upon us and that means I hear "MOM!!! What ccan I do now, this is boring!" So when my kids get bored what do I do.... Yeah we figure out how to make the biggest messs possible!
On Thursday, our first day of break, we did Ooblek. We are a little Dr. Suess crazy at our house. I do not think there is a Suess book out there that we have not read and loved! But, Bartholomew and the oobleck is one of our favorites because we can play out our own versions of the story!

Abby was a HUGE mess after she was done so we had to go right into the tub and of course after the smaller kids were gone...

Michael and Ora went to town! Oobleak everywhere!! IT was awesome!! Probably we will pull this one out again before we go back to school.

Let Christmas be over!

Just in time for Easter!??
Oh well, even if I'm late we had such a great Christmas in 2010 that I could not simply ignore it. I made our pj's this year! Which was awesome!! I loved it! My mom usually buys Christmas Eve Jammies for all my kids and this year she came up in enough time to come with me to pick out fabric and help get notions for pj's!! It was awesome! And not at all easy for me. I had never sewn from a pattern before and had a tom of fun working and figuring out how to do that. I could not let it go un-noticed so My friend Natalie came by (On Christmas Eve) to take our family pictures. We have not done pictures since Michael was about three months old, which is pathetic I know, but I hate staged family pictures and put mostly candid snap shot up around my house. Anyway, I thought they turned out so great!!





We got a wii! Finally and we played it most of the day




All of the kiddos got scooters as well, which they love and we were so happy we did not have a white Christmas and they were able to get out and ride them for a bit.

It was such a great day. We love being our little family just sitting inside our little house for Christmas. We make treats and eat and play with toys all day.

Hooded towels

Backing up to Christmas....

Which I no realize I never posted much of anything about (can I blame facebook)

So for the next few days I will post some of what we did here at the Short home for Christmas 2010!! I did a bit of sewing! I am trying to make something for my kids for every gift-bringing holiday. So I made my families P.J.'s this year and some hooded towels for each kiddo.

But, first you must understand the towel and why I need them in my life.

All my life I never thought I would be a Mother. In fact, I never even wanted to be a Mom.

So when the time came to become one and I realized it is probably all I ever wanted to be, I kind of lost control. I became so weighed down and guilty for not ever wanting mother hood I made some promises that I would be the best mother I could ever be. I got overwhelmed, read every book, took classes, tried to understand all I could about being the very best. I did not feel up to the challenge at all! I was feeling like a total and complete failure before I ever had the baby.

Then one of my favorite people in the world sat me down and gave me a very much needed talking to. My Aunt Nancy explained to me how being a Mother was about trying to get through every day with as much grace as possible. That is was the best thing I could do and as long as I did my best and put my kids first I would be great at it. I needed to hear it! I needed to understand that I could be a great mom even when it was hard. I did not have to understand all the intricate moments of growth and development to track their years. I did not have to make every decision for their whole lives before they were born. Potty training would come in time. And right now I only had to focus on the best part of being a mother. The connection between the powers of Heaven and my body. I was working with my Heavenly Father in the most intimate way. He was using my body to create a wonderful home for one of his spirits. I left her kitchen feeling comforted and happy. And finally ready to take on the challenge of Motherhood full of grace and beauty.

For my baby shower this same Aunt made me the most wonderful gift. I hooded towel to wrap my babies in. She continued and give me one for Ora when she was born. Then when Jordan was born we wrapped him in the boy towel. When Abigail came Ora's pink towel went around her little head. I have always adored my kids at bath time. The splashes and the giggles and the fun are probably my favorite part of being a mom. Then when I pull my kids out of the tub all wet and smiling we do "snuggle dries" inside of their hooded towels. We tickle and tumble until they are all dry and ready to put on jammies.

Well, the towels are ratted and worn. Several years of use have rubbed them raw. It was time for new ones. So this year made one for everyone!!

The initials on the new ones are made from the old towels.

Abby and Jordan like to spend lots of time in their very own towels. Joe even did a lot of the sewing and I can say it was kind of a healing moment as I sat back and realized that I had come a long way. From a never going to get married book worm. To a wife and mother of four beautiful kids. I am the most blessed woman on the planet. Some day the guilt from not "wanting" this from birth will go away for ever. But, for now I still wrap my babies in these and remember the word grace! That is all I can do. Try to get through every day with grace.... And a LOT of fun!!

Ice Fishing

As proof from this picture...

The Short family had one of our best days ever last weekend!! Our plan was to wake up early set up dinner in the crock pot and head out on the ice. The alarm clock went off at 5:30 and then I said five more minutes and I woke up at 15 minutes to 7. Oh well. I got up and put dinner in the crock pot packed up the car and headed up to Schofeild resevior to dig in the ice and fish!!


This is the veiw of the lake as we drove up.


We put Abby on the sled for a ride out to the spot for the tent. The snow was almost a foot deep so she probably could not have walked out by herself. She had a blast eating the snow that would pile up against her the whole way there.


Joe in his element!




Everyone took a turn scooping out the slush from the hole we made. I think that was maybe the most fun part for the kids.


Imagine me in there with them and you would see us all in the tent snuggly and warm.


Abby taking her turn with the fishing pole!


Jordan hung out at the auger all day he would put a little bit of snow at the top and then pretend it was a car and slide it down to the snow.


Ora and Michael spent their time with the snow shovel. Michael dug all day long! Ora kept coming in and out of the tent to warm up but, Michael just dug! I would ask him if his feet were wet and he would say no. By the time we got to the car at the end of the day I took off his snow boots and his feet were soaking wet. I am not sure at what point he probably stopped feeling them but, he must have just kept going because he was having too much fun.


Jordan and Ora on the other hand kept coming in and out of the tent to get their feet warm. Next time we will bring a few extra pairs of socks for everyone and then we won't have to waste play time drying out socks.


We did not catch any fish, our theory was that we were too close to the shore, So I decided we should make a snow fish!! After we were done with the fish the kids took turn throwing "flaming snowballs" at it to cook it. Then they ate pieces of it for a while until they kicked it to peices and we were packed up and ready to go.


While packing up the tent Abby, of course, fell and her whole arm went through the hole and she got pretty soacked. So we had to strip her down and wrap her up in one of Michael's coats and then in Joe's heavy jacket. So, yup! She's naked under there! But heppy and smiling to be on another ride on the sled.


Ora tried to push the whole way back. We were a good few hundred yards from the shore. I was pretty proud of her!!


The Mountain was beautiful!!


We stopped for hot chocolate on the way home and we all just laughed and talked and sang songs the whole way. Jordan and Abby tuckered out before we were all the way down the mountian. We came home and it smelled fabulous! The stew we made was the perfect way to end the day I haighly reccomend it! We ended the day all together wrapped up in the living room watching a movie. It was truly a perfect day!!!! They don't happen all the time but we live for them, it was so wonderful, I will never forget it. I hope the kids don't either.

Christmas talk

I am so excited to speak on Christmas Sunday I have always wanted to and am way excited to be able to teach out of the Old and New Testament today!

Christmas cay pulls a very close second place to Easter for me. My family has gotten a little obsessed with the celebration of Easter and we do a very fun whole week long celebration for that holiday! Gordon B. Hinckley said “There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the resurrection.

I believe it is a FACT that Christ was born of Mary in Bethlehem and he came to fulfill all the prophesies foretold of him. He came to redeem the world because he loves all of us.

Isaiah prophesied many things about our Savior. In chapter 7:14 we find that a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.

Russell M. Nelson gives one of my favorite thoughts on scripture when he says “Fulfillment of that prophesy was not just unlikely it was humanly impossible. Incredible! Everyone knew that a virgin could not bear a child. And then for that child to be given such a pretentious name was doubly daring. The Hebrew name which Isaiah prophesied Immanuel literally means “with us is God” That name was subsequently given to Jesus in the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants”

This seemingly crazy prophesy did come true when in Matthew 1:8 Mary is found a virgin caring the Savior of the world.

Isaiah gave many names for Christ in 9:3 he listed a few. Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace.

Elder Nelson also teaches us “Each of has a responsibility to know the Lord, love him, follow him, serve him, teach, and testify of him.”

WE must learn and understand what the Savior is for each and every one of us. The many names given to him can help us throughout our whole life, and may change with what we need him to be. Are we struggling with our children and family and we need a comforter. Are we a young teenager who is struggling and making mistakes and he is our loving judge? Have we wandered from the path and he is our redeemer. He is always our Mighty God. He is our Everlasting Father because he is the creator of all things. He is our judge, our shepherd, our brother and our friend. I hope we can all come to find out who is for each of us and draw strength from who we need him to be.

Micah declared “But thou Bethlehem... but though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.”

How significant is it that the one who calls himself “the bread of life” came from Bethlehem which translated means “House of Bread.”

Joseph and Mary were compelled to Bethlehem. A five day journey, 30 miles each day. The end of which from Jericho’s desert to Bethlehem is a 3,500 ft uphill hike!

I gain strength from the very pregnant Mary who probably suffered much to fulfill this prophesy. I must then ask myself. What am I doing, what climbs am I willing to make to fulfill the Fathers plan for me? There are things foretold of me. Am I fighting my way toward and through those things? Am I embracing my struggles so my Father can make me what HE needs me to be? What am I doing to bring to pass the Immortality and Eternal life of my fellow man? Am I doing all I can to bring my brothers and sisters to knowledge the great plan of Happiness.

In Isaiah 61:1 says speaking of Christ “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tiding unto the meek. He hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to them that are bound.”

In the Sermon on the Mount our Savior teaches more (Matt 5:2-12)

“Blesses are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the poor in sprit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the poor in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven… Rejoice and be exceedingly glad; For great is your reward in heaven

The glad tidings proclaimed to the shepherds who swiftly departed to find their Christ is such a perfect reminder to those of us who were brought to earth for our own purposes to feed the Saviors sheep.

At Christmas time I issue this challenge to us all… Is Christ our Savior, the babe of Bethlehem, born in you? In all of us who are filled with glad tidings, does the world notice that life can be full of joy even through sorrow? Does the light of Christ shine so bright in our eyes that strangers will follow our example like the shining star did for the baby? Are we proclaiming our glad tidings with the joy and kindness on our homes?

I know that we must! We must shine for this ever increasingly wicked world. We must stick out and be a beacon of light for those who need to know the Savior. We must proclaim the truth of all things. We must read and understand our scriptures, and know the warnings the prophets proclaime to our day.

I have a testimony that the babe of Bethlehem was born among the lowest of men, he lived his life a wanderer, and man who did all for his fellowman. He gave his life for those who even do not believe in him. I know that he lives and loves me. I know his greatest joy will be to see me enter the kingdom of heaven with my family. He wants me to come home. HE loves me so much and gave his life for me. I will do all I can to live my life for him!!

(pardon the pictures I cannot find my USB cord for my camera so I had to use my camera on my phone for the pictures)

I know it has been so long since I have updated my blog. To be perfectly honest I hvae not felt like doing it when we did not get our new house in Salem I was heartbroken. I got really sad, and I will admit that I got depressed and hid in my home for a while. Finally, I cam eout of my funk and decided that if I was staying put in this house for a while longer that I needed to spruce it up a bit. My mom came up and helped me tons.
We found this Perfect painting for my kitchen, I had almost as fun with my mom shoping for it as I have had looking at it each day in my house.





The next day she was here we went over to IKEA and found some shelves to put on this huge empty wall in my living room... They are so cute. I do not have pictures in them yet but, that is a whole different story!






I have also been crafting a bit latly and have made some fun things!
Here is one of the magnet boards I made for the girls room.



These are some luminaries... They are so cute at night when we light them at night.




I painted the window next to my front door.



Here is the cork boards in my boys room!

These are the magnet boards in the hallway, I will no longer have a million peices of paper all over my fridge. They have a cute things they bring home froom school all the time and now they have a few different places they can put them up.