I decided yesterday that being a mom is really the best job ever. Not like I didn't think that before, but yesterday it really hit me. I was on a conference call with a group of women who were all national winners from one year or another of America's Junior Miss... one of them is the editor of In Style magazine, another one is on broadway in Shrek, one of them is a dermatologist, another one is a pediatrician, one is a broadcast journalist, and another works for an agency in NYC...but none of those I mentioned are moms who stay at home (and only two of those I mentioned are even married and they're almost all over 30). They are a group of amazing women whom I look up to and love being around. So I had been on the call for about an hour generating ideas about marketing and a new direction for the Junior Miss Program, and the kids had been asleep but Bree woke up and I turned on a movie (her new favorite, The Wizard of Oz) planning to get off soon. She was eating peas and next thing I know I hear, "Mommy, could you please help me get this pea out of my nose?" :) I just smiled, hung up the phone and ran over there. Soon enough Gabe was up and ready to eat and as I sat there feeding him and calling the Dr. for a recommendation on how to dislodge the pea (it was way up there!) I just got the best feeling - there was nothing I would rather be doing! I was just so grateful to be doing something that makes a LASTING impact on the world! I would rather "market" how fun it is to eat vegetables than be on some important marketing team. I would rather be "the family cook" then the best chef at an expensive, well-known restaurant! And I would even rather be a "house-maid" then be traveling for business staying at all the nicest hotels. None of that compares really! I get to "work with" the most attractive, wonderful man alive, and get to teach (well, mostly learn from) the most wonderful children...and those children will hopefully grow up to love God, develope Christ-like attributes, live happy lives, and keep on giving to the world. What a blessing to know there is more to life than what's on TV. I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the perspective it gives! AND I am SO grateful for a mother who was the best example of true, successful, motherhood.

P.S. I couldn't get the pea out, but I knew Robbie could...he came home and tried sucking it out with a little infant nasal clearing thing, which brought it down a bit. Then he put his finger over the nostril the pea wasn't in (stopping the air flow) and told her to blow. She blew, the pea shot out into her hand, and she popped it into her mouth!! Oh it was hilarious!

I thought I would share a few of my favorite things about this week:

COSTA RICA!! For those of you who were waiting to hear we found out this week we ARE doing a semester abroad from January-April 2010!! I can hardly wait! If any of you have any tips for learning Spanish let me know!

Grandpa Lon coming to visit! (Sorry for the cheesy picture dad, but it was so cute how excited Bree was to get someone to do play dough at 7:30 AM!)

My children who LOVE each other!

When Bree chooses her own outfits :) (Don't worry, we don't leave the house like this!)

Mary Poppins (This is Bree's FAVORITE movie...it's such a life saver when I need a second to do something for Gabe or whatever...she's always thrilled when she gets to watch it. She goes around the house singing, "Let's go fly a kite" or "Step in time step in time" and kicks her legs up... so cute! :)

Play dates (Cute Mya Robinson... they were sharing

"the sacrament" in this picture! After the water they told me they needed some bread to pass :)

My UNC boys (go Tarheels!! At the moment we are up by 10!)

And my very favorite thing is General Conference! Both sessions today were so wonderful and I know that I will be so sad, as I always am, when tomorrow is over. I am so grateful for such wonderful leaders who are so inspired. I just want to be so much better and am just thankful for repentance! (And I love that my husband will be home from Priesthood Session any minute wanting to be a better husband and father :) He doesn't have much room for improvement though!)

Raindrops on Roses...