Benefits

When they were placing us somewhere for seminary, one of the main places we did not want to live was in the SLC valley. Of course we realized that we had the highest chance of being placed here and we also wanted to be closer to family. We just didn't want to deal with ALL the people! It's fairly congested here (in our love-small-towns opinion) and I'd have to say that is a downfall of living here. But there are also some wonderful benefits to living in an area with lots of people, including your family!

For instance, you get to have play dates with cousins whenever you want! We went with Makenna and kids to temple square last week because all the trees were in bloom and we wanted to check out the church history museum. We couldn't do that in Idaho now could we? Temple square was dressed to the nines and at it's spring finest. Then we went across the street to the church history museum and it is so rad! I was very impressed with the kids museum section, and it's all for free!


That weekend, I was able to get together again with my friend Jenna from high school that lives up here now. We took some selfish time to ourselves and ate at Moochies (as seen on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives", and it was actually very good. Then we headed over to City Creek Mall since I haven't really checked that out yet. We came up with the crazy idea to get us some free makeovers. We stopped at Sephora but they charged $50 bucks. So we went to Nordstrom at the Mac counter, but they charge $50 bucks. So we made our way to the Clinique counter and Jenna, the smooth-talker, got us makeovers for free! After getting all dolled up, we went and ate cake of course. Another couple of benefits to living here.

Probably one of the best benefits to living here is that we have a home, as in an actual house that is ours that we can do whatever we want to (in our dreams, right?). Over the past week, we had to get new tires on both of our vehicles, so I asked if I could save one and take it home. Here's why.

Yup, it's probably my favorite thing about the house now. We couldn't do that at any of our apartments in Idaho. The kids have a blast on it, and every time I see it out the window, I feel at least a little transported to a small town, in the middle of the SLC valley.

More

Sometimes (read: most of the time) I wish I was more. I wish I did more, created more, read more, gave more, and perhaps ate less. It all starts with a little nudge. Someone says to me, “Oh Rachel, you could make millions if you just ________.” Or maybe I happen upon a blog and something that someone wrote really inspires me. I think to myself, “I could do that!” Or more accurately, “I wish I did that!”

Once I saw a documentary on BYU TV that talked about a woman in downtown SLC who became known as the bread woman. She simply realized that grocery stores got rid of a ridiculous amount of food at the end of the day because it wasn’t fresh. So she decided she’d go pick it up and put it on her porch so that anyone who needed it could come and grab it for free. “Genius!” I thought. Such a simple idea, yet it’s impacting who knows how many homeless people and people who are simply down on their luck. I wish I did something like that. And then I thought about having all sorts of homeless people, perhaps of the unsavory variety poking around my porch. It would be a lot of work anyway, so I stopped thinking about it. That’s usually how it ends up. And then something perks up my noble thread or taps me on the back and the cycle starts over.

And so I start planning. I write the bare bones of that book I want to flesh out one day, or at least think about it as I go to sleep. I plan a clothing drive in place of exchanging neighbor gifts at Christmas time, on paper at least. I watch a movie about a teacher who helps underprivileged children and I make plans to find some kids on the street and educate them. But what would I do with my kids during the day while I am saving the world one crack-baby at a time? Oh yeah, I have kids.

It all stops, and I am brought back to the reality that I am living my greatest dream right now! I am a mother of two beautiful children. It’s all I really ever wanted, so why do I find myself being so discontent, EVER? I should just be basking in the dream that is my reality. I get to snuggle with my kids in the morning and make them breakfast. Since I’m the mom I get to have the final say in the great debate between cereal or pancakes, oh the power! I get to blow bubbles and write with sidewalk chalk and read books upon books on an old blanket under the shade of our globe willow tree. I have magical kisses that make owies all better and I am a rock star comedian as long as I play peek-a-boo with them outside the car while I fill up the tank. I get to peek in their rooms at night before I go to bed and see those chubby, warm cheeks resting on their pillows.

Of course, I realize I’m painting a pretty rosy picture of motherhood. We all know it’s not always like this. In fact, the majority of the time I’ve been writing this I’ve been fending off a little girl who thinks it’s her life’s mission to put socks and shoes on my feet, and I just finished wiping her bum after she went #2. Yep. Reality, right? And I think it’s in the more routine moments of motherhood that I think to myself, “What am I doing here?” I forget that right now, what matters most is the mundane things. My kids need me to do the laundry, not write a best seller. They need me to make them dinner and then do the dishes after, not create a non-profit organization. They need me to stop whatever I’m doing and cuddle them without interruption for 20 minutes, not anything else. Why is this so hard to keep in perspective sometimes?

"Need that desert air in my hair"

We got to go down to St. George for conference weekend and it was glorious. My mom's cooking, sleeping in, warm weather, adult conversation for us and cousins for the kids to play with. We were so glad we were able to be there for my nephew Paris' baptism! Our kids sure look up to him, so I'm extra grateful that he's a good example. We were able to listen to all of conference, but I'm still looking forward to the printed version so I can really delve into it. I met up with 2 of my best high school gal friends ( wish I would have snapped a picture), and between us 3 we had 6 kids running around. Not much commentary this time. I'm just grateful for good family, good friends, good weather and St. George.

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

My neice Taysom went into the MTC today! She's heading to the Santa Rosa, CA (Spanish speaking) mission. We were able to drop her off at the MTC today, curbside style. In my experience dropping siblings off at the MTC, and comparing it to this one, the curbside is way better. They just do it all quickly, like a band-aid. They don't get you all emotional watching movies and stuff and then tear you apart between 2 doors anymore, not to say I didn't get a little emotional though. Miles had the toughest time with it. They were so happy to see her yesterday after picking her up from the airport. We tried our best to explain that we were taking Taysom to her mission, and when Miles replied that he wanted to go with her on her mission, we told him he'd have to wait till he was as tall as daddy. :) So when she left on the mission without him, he was a little upset to say the least.
Taysom was definitely full of the missionary spirit and just glowing! Thanks Wallace family for letting us be a part of this wonderful experience!!

"Easters"

We had a fantastic Easter this year. All week we learned more about Christ and the last week of his life, all on a child's level mind you. By the end of the week, I was surprised at how much actually sunk in. Miles can tell you all about the resurrection without any help, and Gwen points to her hands, feet, side and head and says, "Owie!" When we say, "But then he was alive again and all his ouchies were gone!" She shouts "Hooray!!!"
We did make time for some "traditional" Easter fun, don't worry. Makenna and the kids came over to celebrate spring with us. We made bird feeders, played outside, played with spring time play doh and spring time cookie cutters, hunted for glow sticks and had bunny rolls with lunch. :)

On Saturday we dyed eggs and the kids thought that was pretty cool. I think Gwen's outfit in this picture is pretty cool. :)


On Sunday, they got Easter baskets when they woke up and after they got all dolled up in their Easter outfits, they hunted for eggs in our backyard. They even got to find eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house after dinner. 2 lucky ducks I tell ya.