Santa...fact or fiction?

At night when I tuck the girls into bed, I always say, "do you need to talk to Mommy about anything?" Well, the other night, Kaycee said, "yes" and so I snuggled in bed next to her and we began THE TALK. No, not the "how are babies made" talk, but the "is Santa real" talk.

So she asked if Santa is real, and since she is 9 years old, (and an honors student, I might add!) I decided it was time for the truth...I responded with, "well, what do YOU think?" and she laughed and said she thought Santa was me and Dad because "how could someone fly around the world, in one night, being pulled by animals that aren't even real." (Aren't reindeer real? I saw some at The Quilted Bear a few years ago!) Well, we had a great chat about how it is fun to believe in Santa and that the IDEA of Santa is real...Then came the next questions...

"The Easter Bunny?"; "The Tooth Fairy"; "Mother Goose?" (That's a Campbell Family New Years' visitor...apparently NOT REAL either!) So we had a great chat about all of them as well. You could tell that she was actually kind of proud that she was in on the whole Santa thing now-you know, she has a younger sister that "still believes" and Kaycee likes the idea of knowing something that her sister doesn't know.

Well, just as I was feeling like a great Mom, and as I was kissing her cheek one more time prior to leaving her room, she blurts out, "Oh! So Heavenly Father and Jesus aren't real either!" Crap! I've got a lot more teaching to do as a mother...

I figured if I changed the background of my blog, everyone would think that I've posted something. Well, I haven't. But I will. I'm too busy reading all of YOUR blogs to update my own. Really!

October 11th...only in Idaho...

Okay, here's proof. We were pounded with snow the past couple of days and boy, is it a mess out there! We have about 18 inches on the ground, on the rooftops, and knocking down the trees and powerlines! Those of you who I've almost convinced to move to Idaho are having second thoughts, aren't you?! I talked to my sister in Boise, and they didn't get any snow. Gup, how about in winter-all-year-round-Montpelier? Did you get it? Church was cancelled for my in-laws ward, 10 minutes away, why weren't we so lucky?! I mean, my, weren't we blessed! Where's St. George when I need it?!

Blah, blah, blah

That's what I feel like my blog has been lately...blah, blah, blah...and I look like a hick in the last few posts...it's supposed to snow tonight...wasn't it, like, 90 degrees just last week?...I need a maid...my camera broke...I need a new one...soon!...my crock pot broke too...I need a new one...soon!...I'm officially a registered voter in Idaho...my ironing board broke too...now that I'm back in the working field, I actually iron my clothes...I didn't know ironing boards could break...I miss my sisters...A LOT...I miss my parents...a little...just kidding...A LOT...I miss Utah and malls...I'm going to bed...goodnight.

HARVEST TIME!

Okay, who wants to come for a visit?! I'll send you home with pumpkins, peaches, plums, corn-on-the-cob, grapes, raspberries, red potatoes and tomatoes! Once again this good ol' Idaho soil has given us quite the abundance! Check it out!

My babies: (Don't tell them I called them that!)

Guess What?! I'm Alive!

Hey, I've REALLY been missing this whole blogging thing, but apparently there are a few things that are really important to me that were higher on my list! If you haven't given up on me, I hope you're still checking with me now and then and keeping in contact, even if I've been MIA! Here's a few highlights from the past couple of blog-less months:

1) School started! All of my children are now in school, so what does that leave me? Well, smart moms would enjoy this quiet time to catch up on housework, renew hobbies that have been put on the back burner, etc. I guess I'm not a smart mom...I decided to go back into the work force. I am now working full time as a secretary at the elementary school...hmmm...750 kids+1500 parents+45 faculty members=1 crazy office chic! I have a greater appreciation for administrators and teachers, I tell you!

2) Church callings! You know, if anyone ever tells you that being the Primary President is much easier the second time around, don't believe them. Oh, and if anyone ever tells you that running a Primary with 50 kids is easier than running a primary with 180 kids, don't believe them. But if anyone ever tells you that Primary is the BEST place to be, believe them!

3) Temple Celebration! Wow! What a crazy, but amazing time this has been! I was a counselor in the Young Women program before this Primary calling and goodness gracious, what an awesome but busy time it was getting ready for the Twin Falls Temple Youth Celebration! If any of you have experienced one of these, you know how time consuming but amazing it is! The Open House was amazing! Brian and I were able to serve as ushers, inside the temple, during this time and Briana (who is now a YW!) was able to serve in the temple too, putting footlets on those who came through. President Monson, President Eyring and Elder Cook came for the Youth Celebration and for the Dedication! It was fantastic! And we now have a temple in our midst! Yippee!

4) Growing Girls! Yes, that's right...I'm officially OLD! My oldest baby is now a Young Woman and in Junior High, my middlest baby is dashing through 4th grade, and my youngest baby is now in school! Oh, that reminds me...I haven't posted from Briana's birthday! It was in July! Crap!

Well, that's just a quick summary of the past month or two, so hopefully I'll "get bloggin'" again! Just so you know, I really DO check your blogs weekly, I just haven't taken the time to post my own! I swear...I saw all the awesome pictures on my sisters blogs from our family reunion...I saw that retarded picture on Catrina's blog from our High School days...I read the frustrating car problems on Karen's blog...I saw that Angela had moved oversees to take on the Philippines...I see that my cousin's blog is now private and I can't get on it...see! I do check yours, and now I'll go and check them for this week! Adios! Hope you haven't given up on me!

We have a temple!

In the past, we've had to drive at least 2 hours to get to the temple. Now, I'm not complaining about that. I realize that MANY people live much farther than that from a temple. Our temple district has actually been the Logan Temple...a good 2 hours from Burley. We also have the Boise, Idaho Falls, Rexburg, and Ogden Temples within a 2 1/2 hour drive radius! Lucky, I know, but guess what!? We now have the Twin Falls Temple 35 minutes away! Yippee!

Well, the great news...ANYONE can go inside the temple right now. Anyone! The public Open House just started and continues until August 16. Then we'll have the huge Youth Celebration with 14 stakes of youth and the Dedication on the 23rd and 24th of August. So exciting! Briana has been practicing with our Stake and is dancing in the Youth Celebration! President Monson will be there! So much excitement going on around here! So, if any of you are in the area during the next month, take some time to go to the Twin Falls Temple Open House (and then I'll feed you lunch or something!).

Oh, and lucky me, I will be "hosting" in the hosting center following the Open House tours on July 22nd so come and see the temple, see me, and have a cookie!

The girls and I went to Twin Falls last week to go school clothes shopping and we stopped by the temple to take a few quick pictures. We're so excited for a temple!