Doing Laundry

It is that time of the week again. Okay, so we are a few days late, but the clothes are getting cleaned. Our sweet children are such wonderful helpers and today their help was actually helpful instead of the usual undoing of whatever Mom is trying to accomplish.

Bekah helped sort the laundry into the correct baskets (whites, lights, darks) by asking Mom where to put them and following directions. She even helped push her dirty clothes basket into our room for sorting and pushed back to her room after we had finished sorting her clothes.

Benjamin helped empty the dryer, load the dryer, and load the washer. After we were done switching loads Benjamin helped fold clothes and put them away. He folded all of his own clothes and sorted them into to piles to put in the correct drawer.

Today we experienced one of those special moments when I actually felt like my children are actually learning some of the things I am trying to teach them, and that asking them to help with chores around the house is worth. Such hope means I will keep trying. Oh what am I getting myself into?

The Need to Blog

I feel the need to blog. I don't know what to blog about and I don't feel like downloading the pictures off of my camera. I am typing one handed, definitely not the fastest way to type.

Anyway, I'm alive just being lazy about blogging. I'll be back when I can more fully use my two hands.

Who's Here with You?

I had surgery earlier this week and everything went well. I even have souvenirs I 'll post later after I take pictures. When I was waking up from anesthesia, the nurse says the following conversation took place.

Nurse: Who's here with you?

Charlynn: My dad.

Nurse: Your dad?

Charlynn: No! My husband, Michael. I love him sooo much!

I don't remember any of it, but I do know I have a tendency to say strange things when "under the influence."

Mom, Do I have a Testimony?

A few months ago we were attending our monthly testimony meeting at church when Benjamin leans over and asks if he go up to the stand and talk. Our conversation went something like this:

Benjamin: Can I go up and talk?

Mom: Do you have a testimony?

Benjamin (with concern): Do I have a testimony, Mom?

Mom: Do you know that Jesus loves you?

Benjamin: Yes!

Mom: Then you have a testimony, and you can go up there and share it with everybody.

Now, when testimony meeting comes around each month, Benjamin insists on sharing his testimony with everyone. Michael and I take turns escorting Benjamin reverently to the podium and "helping" him bare his testimony and then sharing ours with the congregation. I guess you could say that "a child shall lead them" definitely applies to the frequency with which we find ourselves sharing our testimony with others because if not for Benjamin's eagerness to share I doubt Michael and I would share our testimonies of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His life, and His atoning sacrifice with other as often as we do. Thanks for your example, Benjamin.

Aloe Vera Plants Don't Like Sunshine

My mom gave us an aloe vera plant in November. I didn't water it for at least six months. I forget it was in the living room, honestly. After I rediscovered it while rearranging the house I took the plant down to the kitchen so that it could get some TLC. I even put it on the windowsill to make sure it received plenty of sunlight and made sure I watered it every ten days or so. My poor aloe vera plant did not like the treatment it was receiving and turned a yucky black. Worried that I had killed the poor thing I pulled it off the windowsill and put it in the shadows on the counter. Slowly, but surely, the plant regained its vibrant green color. Thus, I have learned that aloe vera plants can survive with next to no water, but they will not do well in direct sunlight. An unplanned, scientific experiment that taught me an unexpected lesson.

The Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

I tried to take some pictures of the sharks but they were moving so fast I couldn't quite catch them. Benjamin and Michael were brave enough to touch the Manta Rays but Bekah and I just looked at the animals through the aquarium glass.

Piranha

Paris Hotel

We took the children to the Paris Hotel so they could get a taste of what Dad's mission was like. Michael says that the shops in the Paris Hotel remind him a lot of walking down streets in Europe.



This is a picture inside the Paris Hotel. The question is, where did the toliet go? I went in to use the bathroom and found myself facing a row of doors instead of bathroom stalls and had to think for a minute to figure out where the toliet was. A little elaborate for a bathroom, but to each his own.

The Bellagio

While we were waiting for the water show at the Bellagio to start we discovered that we had a celebrity with us. A bus load of Oriental people had to keep stopping to gawk at Bekah and call her Shirley Temple. They took her picture so many times that Bekah started pointing to Oriental people and telling us she wanted her picture taken more.

We were able to catch two of the Bellagio's fabulous water shows. Michael really enjoyed these.

Just off of the lobby at the Bellagio there is a wonderful garden with jumping water fountains, animals made from flowers, and an antique ferris wheel filled with sunflowers.

"Tiger" birds as Benjamin called them

Adventuredome at Circus Circus

What have Mom and Dad gotten us into?

Bekah riding the "balloon" ferris wheel with Mom. She was too little (by 1/2 an inch) to ride most rides by herself.

Can you find the dinosaur? Benjamin spied it before the rest of us did.

Have we mentioned that Benjamin likes pirates?

Or is it obvious yet?

This was Bekah's favorite ride, the "Roadrunner."

Bekah wanted to ride the train but wasn't quite sure about it as it kept going around and around really fast. Benjamin had to tell us that the train was one of his favorite rides.

Benjamin riding the frog hopper. When he first saw the picture he said he didn't like that ride, but after he tried it once he wanted to ride it over and over again without interruption.

Here we are in the 3-D theater. The kids weren't big fans but it was a unique experience.

Dad riding the "Roadrunner" with Bekah. Michael did all of the big rides by himself, I decided I liked my stomach better in my gut than the bottom of my throat, and couldn't get enough of the roller coaster. I think he ended up going like 10 times.

We took the whole family on a ferris wheel ride so Bekah could share with Daddy and Benjamin how much fun she had on it.

We even caught a clown act while we were there. The kids thought it was hilarious.

Benjamin "driving" a helicopter.

We completely wore out the kids by playing so hard, but I was sure glad they took an afternoon nap, even for a brief time.

Top of the Stratosphere

Admission to the observation decks at the top of the stratosphere came complimentary with our room. With two very busy children, we stayed on the floor with windows and did not attempt to go to the outdoor observation deck. I think the stratosphere was over 100 stories high (at least the elevator said we were on floor 108) which was a little scary with my fear of heights. The children thought it was great to be so high in the sky and Michael liked taking pictures of the strip from that high up. It was an adventure, that's all I have to say.