A Lego Temple

The other day Julie and Andie were hanging out at our house (I'm not allowed to say "play" anymore.)

Eventually they got bored so I said, "Why don't you two make the Gilbert temple out of Legos?"

So, off they went and designed their own Gilbert temple. Pretty impressive!

Complete with Moroni and all! At one point, the roof kept caving in so Andie and I built a "foundation" in the middle of the temple to keep it upright. Andie said, "Now I know why they always tell us to build a foundation. I will never build something without a foundation."

So not only are Legos creatively stimulating, they teach gospel lessons too!

The 5th Of July

This is what's happening in the Carling home on the ever important day, the 5th of July.

This morning I woke up at 5:30 (Haley calls waking up early my disease.) I read my scriptures and said my prayers. A great start to any day!

I put on my walking clothes and headed out into the lovely, hot, muggy weather that is Gilbert, Arizona. Oreo had a rough night with all of the fireworks so he decided to stay home and not go walking with me.

I came home, put laundry in (holidays really mess me up, Thursday is normally laundry day), cleaned up the kitchen, straightened the back patio, folded the whites, and sat down to have breakfast.

I then went to my computer to see what bing.com had up today. Andie and I love to visit bing.com each day, they almost always have a really neat landscape or amazing wildlife on their site. For example, Wednesday's picture was of Gettysburg, PA and now acts as my wallpaper. Yesterday was a cool picture of a city center in Colorado lit up red, white and blue. Today it's a Kermode bear in Canada. Check it out! It's awesome.

Of course no morning would be complete without checking emails, missionary blogs and FB. Here's what greeted me on FB.

They're cute. Brooke is getting very creative with her new camera. We should have put "Rylee" in the picture too but we can't find her face. Of course on FB Brooke also posted pictures of me and I'm not really sure I like having pictures of me posted on FB. All pictures must be approved before they make an appearance and they rarely are. Oh well.

As I reflect on yesterday's events (we had a really nice day) I can't help but think of something Haley said yesterday morning as Andie was opening her presents. I was admiring the lovely streamers Haley and Brooke had put up (staying up until 1:30 a.m. to do so while Steve and I slept.) I thanked the girls and Haley said, "Well I was feeling like Andie was losing her childhood since I heard her say the other night that she would have to wait for the tooth fairy to go to the bank before she put her newly lost tooth under her pillow. So I decorated for her birthday, you guys used to do that for us."

Ouch.

At first I felt like a failure but then I realized it's okay for siblings to step up and serve each other. Andie knows I love her, it's important for her to know her sisters love her too. Haley and Brooke took the time to make her birthday special. Brooke even made her her requested ice cream birthday cake.

The other night Andie wanted to play on the Wii and so Brooke accommodated, here they are playing Just Dance.

More than anything on this day I am grateful for the blessings we have as a family. I am grateful for my family. Things aren't always perfect but I am learning to count my blessings and be content and happy with the things I do have. The proof  is in the pictures!

Happy 4th America! Happy 12th Andie!

This is my baby...turning 12.

Haley and Brooke worked late into the night to create this balloon waterfall.

This is what it looked like after she opened her door and all of the balloons descended upon her!

And this is what her Young Women leaders and fellow Beehives left on the lawn last night.

So today it's fireworks, free lunch at Joe's BBQ, movie and dinner at Freddy's!

Perfect birthday decorations.

This is Andie's breakfast request, thanks to Steve and the girls for a yummy breakfast!

And one of her favorite birthday presents: BYU/Avenger's t-shirt, courtesy of her sisters!

Happy birthday Andie! We love you!

Last Sunday in Primary

As a Primary President you see children leave Primary all the time when they turn 12 and it truly is sad to see them go.

This past Sunday the last of our four girls said goodbye to Primary. It's very bittersweet. I'm grateful for the opportunities she'll have in Young Women but I will miss very much my little one in Primary.

This past Sunday she sat down to play some hymns before we left for church. She looks so grown up in the outfit Haley picked out for her.

As I was looking at her Ipod the other day, where she reads her scriptures, I noticed a note for one of the colors she uses in her highlighting. Next to the color pink she had a note: "All scriptures about people and their descendants."

I looked at her and I said, "Really???" The fact that she knew what descendants were for starters shocked me. I mean come on, she's only 11! (Until tomorrow.) And to go even further and mark her scriptures so she could keep them all straight. Heck, I just started doing that myself.

I think she's more ready to graduate than me.

Man of Steel

So these girls made sure their outfits were color coordinated to match Superman, Man of Steel, for the midnight showing.

Only girls would think to dress in the colors of Superman. But they're sure cute.

Andie's shirt was supposed to be a birthday gift but I thought it appropriate that she wear it to the showing. This was her first midnight movie! They had a lot of fun.

Nathan, Andie's buddy, got to tag along with the girls. She doesn't look thrilled here but the two of them are like two peas in a pod.

Missionaries

Saw these cute missionaries at Walmart.

The neat thing about this is that the missionary on the right, Elder Parker Bronson, is Haley's friend from BYU. He was called to serve in the Tempe, Arizona mission and was to arrive in Arizona on June 19th.

Last week I was at Walmart and I saw two missionaries buying their groceries. I quickly called Haley and said, "What's Parker's last name? I think I see him standing in line."

After we hung up I slyly walked over to the elders, saw Elder Bronson's name tag and said, "Elder Bronson, I'm Haley Carling's mom."

He said, "Sister Carling! I was just telling Elder Cook about Haley and how she lived in Gilbert and here you are!" He was so shocked and surprised! We both were!

We talked for a bit and I soon discovered that he had been transferred to the Gilbert mission and was assigned to two neighboring wards in our stake!

It's so neat to see her friends serving. I told the elders we would have to have them over for dinner one night if they were allowed to venture over to our ward.

Since that day, Haley was able to say hello to Elder Bronson at the historic missionary fireside last Sunday.

Young Women Camp III

We finally made it toYW Camp and back! It was so fun to be there with my last two girlies.

I had a picture taken of Haley, Rylee and me when I was there with them several years ago and knew I needed a picture in the same spot with Andie and Brooke. (Haley even texted me and asked if I got "the picture.")

Taken in 2005 and 2013. Brooke's a bit taller than Rylee : ) but love, love, love the pictures. I am so grateful I have been able to attend  camp with each of my daughters. (Looking at the picture, Haley and Andie look alike and Rylee and Brooke look alike. Never noticed it before!)

Andie enjoyed her first year at camp despite not getting enough sleep.

So excited on the bus ride to Camp Lomia!

Julie, Andie and Lexi Mousser.

Had to give my first year a squeeze!!

Taking lunch to the cabin. The food at camp is very yummy!

Andie and Brianna Porter from the Higley Groves ward.

The three musketeers.

Playing Twister by the zip line.

The theme for camp was Look Up, encouraging the girls to look to the temple.

Andie loves her Batman shirt.

My girlies! Fourth year and first year.

This bridge has a camp story behind it.

Me and my friend Becky Mousser. It was so fun to be at camp with her!