What you create doesn't have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don't let the fear of failure discourage you. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you--whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.

--President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage"

At 6:14 pm, when the kitchen is totally quiet, the table not set, and I'm on the couch typing, Peter asked me cheerfully, "Mom, did we already have dinner?" Guess that's a good hint. OK, time to get up off the couch...

Anna brought me a cup of water. "I'm the water server," she said. I took a sip. "It's not from the toilet," she continued,after I swallowed.

When invited to go to bed, Sarah commented quietly, "As far as I'm concerned, sleeping is just a waste of time, except for in the morning."

Julia came in from playing outside with the boys to watch a movie with us. After a minute Peter burst in: "Julia! It's 'prepare for battle'. Aren't you coming?" Julia, hesitating momentarily as she deliberated, gave way and headed back out into the fray. Moments later, we heard the conch shell sound. The battle must have begun!

"So is a jicama kind of like a Spanish version of a potato?" Sarah, making me a special salad for Mother's Day, and cutting up jicama for it.

"When you die, are you gonna leave the car at home? 'Cause I really want Dad's car." Peter, reflections on growing up. (And totally out of the blue. Love how they think ahead.) 

"I'm just really happy!" Anna, joyfully, while munching on a carrot in the car and going shopping with Mom.

"If silence is golden, talking is platinum." Nate, our avid conversationalist, during our car trip over Easter break.

(Climbing into the car, Anna in the second row, and Sarah in the front) "There's enough spot for you by me, Sarah." Sarah obligingly got out and went to the seat next to Anna. What a sweetheart.

"YOU said I could go play [after dinner]!" Peter argued as he walked in the door. "No, Peter, I did not," I countered calmly. "How do YOU know?" he demanded.

"Hey! Look at this!" I said, scrolling down to show a photo from a blog. "Yeah, yeah, it's all WORDS!" (Peter) 

Anna came downstairs with her shirt on and a pair of tights on backwards, the rear stretched down to her knee caps. Peter took note and said, in a parenting voice, to Anna, "If you want to play with friends, you have to get clothes on." 

The mere stuffing of the mind with a knowledge of facts is not education. The mind must not only possess a knowledge of truth, but the soul must revere it, cherish it, love it as a priceless gem; and this human life must be guided and shaped by it in order to fulfil its destiny. The mind should not only be charged with intelligence, but the soul should be filled with admiration and desire for pure intelligence which comes of a knowledge of the truth. The truth can only make him free who hath it, and will continue in it. And the word of God is truth, and it will endure forever.

Educate yourself not only for time, but also for eternity.

Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine (269).

"Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid." John Wayne

(Nathan's favorite quote from a John Wayne movie)

Julia was drinking a Hansen's Cream Soda. "It says there's no high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, or flavors. What isthere?"

Anna arrived on the beach, her toes covered in sand. "Where is the sandbox?" she asked.

Nate dumped some "American Cheese Powder" sprinkle onto his pasta at lunch today. "You're going to be so sick!" Sarah said. "What?" I intruded. Sarah: "That expired the year Nathan was born!"