Where in the heck are The Jorgensens?

Last year at this time we had just begun our family trek to the Southwest. It was a fabulous time visiting friends and relatives and enjoying nature’s beauty as we drove across the western states. I remember our trip with such fondness and wish we could do it every year. Dance with me down memory lane . . .

Bonus points awarded to anyone who noticed Eric getting bitten on his backside!

Click  here for our inspiration . . . for both the  impressive dance moves and the shameless conceptual rip-off.  :)  Imitation (no matter how bad) is the ultimate form of flattery, so I am told . . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

David . . . The Unpaid Intern

Lately around our home—usually during chore time—we’ve been hearing the phrase “YOU’RE the Unpaid Intern . . . YOU do the work!” quite often . For some reason it always makes me chuckle .

David has landed an internship, albeit unpaid, this summer with the Snohomish School District ,working on their websites. It’s been challenging and rewarding and he really seems to enjoy it.

I finally asked my kids where this funny phrase came from anyway. They explained to me that it came from a Sponge Bob episode and proceeded to relay it in the best character voices they could muster. “That’s MISTER Dr. Professor Patrick to YOOOOUUUU!!! . . . YOU’RE the Unpaid Intern! YOU do the work!” I REALLY don’t know why I think this is so funny—but  I do.

The scary thing is . . . we don’t even have cable. What would it be like around here if we did!

Mario Kart Love Song

My boys showed me this song weeks ago and I still find myself humming the tune. I, personally, don’t know much at all  about video games but I guess I know enough about Mario Kart to appreciate this clever singer/songwriter. It’s quite sweet, really.  Yes, that IS yarn taped to his face.

My very own Mario Bros.—Mario and Luigi . . . Halloween 2004. Fun Times. 

Yes, we were just a tad bit excited . . .

So the new Harry Potter movie is out. We were beyond excited that it was rated PG and we were able to take our family to the theater to see it. We are big fans of the series . . . we read each book aloud as a family as soon as we can get our hands on it. It usually takes a week or two—during which time we have to hide the book so no one, Eric and I included, will read ahead! It’s been a fun family tradition and something we all enjoy.

The movie was a hit with our crew.

To make it extra special we decided to make some “Muggle” tees to wear to the show. It was David’s idea and we had a great time making them together and wearing them as a family—a very fun and unifying experience for us all.

Freja decided to dress like a Muggle-born—like her dear friend Hermione.

Our Baby Muggle got to stay home with Mackenzie, our cute babysitter, having lots of fun playing dress-up. Mama Muggle got to focus on the movie. Win-win, I say.

So Glad I Gave Up . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hs5PjSn1-iI

This ‘Queen of What Ifs’ is ever so grateful I decided to give up . . . thirteen years ago today, in fact. Happy Anniversary Dear.

p.s. I am still working on those “half-empty glasses.”

Have you seen the hand of God in your family’s life today? If so, write it down!

I was blessed to teach the combined Young Women in our ward again this month. The topic was Personal Records. My favorite part of the lesson was the story and quotes from President Eyering. I just love him.

In the November 2007 Conference President Henry B, Eyering gave a talk entitled “O Remember, Remember.” He described an experience he had in which he felt inspired to begin writing down daily family experiences. He was feeling particularly blessed by the service of a family member and as he was pondering on the service provided for them he heard in his mind—not in his own voice—these words: “I’m not giving you these experiences for yourself. Write them down.” He immediately went inside and although he was very tired he didn’t go to bed but instead followed the prompting and began to write. He said, “And as I did, I understood the message I had heard in my mind. I was supposed to record for my children to read, someday in the future, (someday when they would need it), how I had seen the hand of God blessing our family.”

He went on to say, “I wrote down a few lines every day for years. I never missed a day no matter how tired I was or how early I would have to start the next day. Before I would write, I would ponder this question: ‘How have I seen the hand of God reaching out to touch us or our children or our family today?’ As I kept at it, something began to happen. As I would cast my mind over the day, I would see evidence of what God had done for one of us that I had not recognized in the busy moments of the day. As that happened, and it happened often, I realized that trying to remember had allowed God to show me what He had done. More than gratitude began to grow in my heart. Testimony grew. I became ever more certain that our Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. I felt more gratitude for the softening and refining that come because of the Atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ. And I grew more confident that the Holy Ghost can bring all things to our remembrance—even things we did not notice or pay attention to when they happened.”

I have a testimony of this.

My Beautiful Mama

As is often the case with me, I am behind on things . . . I wanted to share this photo of my mom for Mother’s Day. I love this photo. Isn’t she beautiful! I love my mom so much and am so grateful for her many teachings and years of service to me and our family. It’s hard to fully express the gratitude I have for my dear mama. . .

Thanks Mom! Thanks for teaching me to work hard. Thanks for helping me understand, from the youngest age, that my most important role is that of a mother—that this is where I would find true joy. Thanks for coming to visit and helping out when our own babies arrived, sharing confidence and expertise with me. Thanks for helping me understand that I deserved better and that I had options at a very crucial crossroads in my life. Thanks for teaching me to be kind and to serve others. Thanks for teaching me homemaking skills and for introducing me to Mary Kay. Thanks for praying for me. Thanks for loving me. Thanks for teaching me how to smile. I love your smile and I love you!

Happy Mother’s Day Connie Sue!