Tagged!

I was tagged by my friend Cristina. Here goes:
EIGHT

8 TV shows I like to watch:
1- American Idol
2- Dancing with the Stars
3- ER
4- My Own Worst Enemy
5- Bachelor(don't judge me!!)
6- The Amazing Race
7- The Today Show
8- The View

8 Restaurants I like to eat at:
1-Cafe Rio
2-Olive Garden
3-Brick Oven
4-Spaghetti Factory
5-Chilis
6-Subway
7-Taco Amigo
8-Gandolfos

8 things that happened today:
1- Went wedding shopping with my sister
2- Met with caterer for my sisters wedding
3- Primary Presidency Meeting
4- Email, email, and some more email!
5- Did homework with the kids
6- Did NOT clean my house--it really needs it!!!
7- Fixed dinner
8- Enjoyed quiet time during naps and bedtime!

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1-Thanksgiving
2-Christmas
3-Seeing my mom
4-Being done with Christmas shopping
5-Spring-I am already sick of the cold!
6-My sister's wedding
7-Having all of us healthy again
8-Twins upcoming birthday

8 Things on my wish list:
1-Finishing our basement
2-Good health for me and my family
3-Having a maid to clean my house everyday!
4-To be a better mom and wife!
5-A tropical vacation
6-Shopping Spree
7-Family out of state could live closer
8-Kids would clean up after themselves!!!!

8 people I'm tagging:
1-Kim
2-Amy
3-Lisa
4-Heidi
5-Kylie
6-Sherylen
7-Shannon
8-Michelle

The Invisible Mother

I just received an email from my mom with this great story. It really touched me as a mother, and also made me think of my own mom. My mom put up with ALOT from me--especially during my teenage years. She never gave up on me and now we have a great relationship. She is a great example to me as I am trying to find my way through this world of mothering. I just had to share this story with all of you and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for the inspiring story mom. We LOVE and MISS you!!

The Invisible Mother........

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ... Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing pieces fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Engagement Excitement!!

I got a call last night, one I have been expecting any day. My little sister Laura called to announce that she is ENGAGED!!! We knew this was coming, we just weren't sure when. We were so excited to hear the good news and wish the happy couple congratulations!! A date has not been set, but I think it will be early next year. The kids were so excited for Laura and even more excited to have a new uncle!! Since my mom is serving a mission she won't be able to do much with planning the wedding, so my poor sister is stuck with me. Congratulations Laura and Jon, we love you guys!!

Happy Halloween

We had a great, but very busy week of Halloween activities! We kicked off our Halloween celebrations with the first annual Atwood Family Halloween Party. My MIL hosted the party and it was so much fun. She really went all out. The house was decked out in halloween decor, and all of the food had some sort of halloween theme to it, and there were tons of games and activities for everyone to participate in. And of course prizes for everyone(just what we needed was more candy!!)

All the grandkids dressed up in their cute costumes

Decorating halloween sugar cookies


Enjoying the finished product

Decorating pumpkins

Donut eating contest


We were kept busy at the school on halloween between the parade and helping with class parties. The boys were in the costume parade at school. The parade is only for K-3 so Cassidy wasn't able to participate this year.

My handsome Clone Tropper and Darth Vader



Halloween is also my MIL's birthday. She comes down every year to see the kids in their costumes and to take them trick-or-treating--as long as it isn't too cold!! We always celebrate her birthday too!! We always have pizza together for dinner and I make some of her favorite snacks and some type of birthday dessert for her. It has become a fun tradition to have her join us. My sister and her boyfriend Jon came over to surprise the kids on halloween too. They were dressed up as Cleopatra and King Tut. I thought they looked great!! The kids got a big kick out of their costumes as well.


We had a great halloween this year!

I'm the best mom ever!!!

At least that's what Cassidy told me Friday night. My good friend Jenna and I decided it would be fun to surprise our kids and take them to see High School Musical 3 on opening night. We bought our tickets weeks in advance, they were starting to sell quickly. We surprised the kids and met at JCW's for dinner. While we were waiting to get our food Jenna handed each of the kids their ticket. As they looked at their movie ticket and read the words they got so excited. Cassidy immediately gave me a huge hug and told me that I am the best mom ever. Just wish that feeling would never go away!! So, after dinner we headed over to the theater. Thank goodness for reserved seating. The place was packed! When the movie started and Troy was on screen all the girls were screaming for him and yelling "I love you Troy", "Troy you're so cute", and other funny things! Jenna and I couldn't help but yell too. It was hilarious!! Fortunately my kids are still too young that they weren't embarassed by me! The boys weren't very into the movie, at least not as much as Cassidy. She is obsessed with HSM and LOVES Troy Bolton!!! We had a good time and it was so much fun spending time with great friends!

Ethan Misses Grandma!

I've mentioned it before but Ethan really loves my mom. She was one of the few people he would go to over me! It was sad when she left because we knew that he probably wouldn't remember her when she gets home from her mission. Well, I was in charge of printing a picture of my mom, cutting it to the right size, and getting it to the person in her ward who does the missionary plaques. I printed a few extra pictures just in case I messed up. I gave Ethan one of the extra pictures in hopes that if he sees her everyday he won't forget her!! Well, he gets super excited whenever he sees her picture and even gives it/her hugs and kisses!! He is so sweet!! I guess the picture will have to do until he gets the real hugs and kisses from Grandma herself.

HUGS!! The picture is in his hand even though it is hard to see.

KISSES!!

Grandma even got to watch some TV with Ethan!!

Tagged!

My SIL tagged me. . . .

Give one word answers with no explanation, then tag five bloggers with the "i love your blog award"...

1. Where is your cell phone... purse

2. Where is your significant other... work

3. Your hair color... brown

4. Your mother... spiritual

5. Your father... organized

6. Your favorite thing... quiet

7. Your dream last night... forgotten

8. Your dream goal... mom

9. Room you're in... loft

10. Your hobby... cleaning :)

11. Your fear... spiders

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years... here!!

13. Where were you last night... BFF

14. What you're not... thrifty

15. One of your wish-list items... patience

16. Where you grew up... everywhere

17. The last thing you ate... apple

18. What are you wearing... t-shirt

19. Your tv... off

20. Your pet... none

21. Your computer... lifesaver

22. Your mood... mellow

23. Missing someone... mom

24. Your car... guzzler

25. Something you're not wearing... jewelry

26. Favorite store... Costco

27. Your summer... busy

28. Love someone... family

29. Your favorite color... pink

30. Last time you laughed... friend

31. Last time you cried... personal

I am not going to tag anyone specific, just tagging anyone who feels like doing this! Have fun!