Warnick Happenings: General Conference Weekend

Today has just been one of those great days! I feel so blessed! Last night we put up the tent (bc we have a yard now and can do that) and watched a movie with the kids and slept out there. The kids loved it, and when they all woke up this morning I was so happy just watching them cuddle and giggle together. Children really are precious!

Nothin' like eating breakfast on your front porch in your underwear after a night of camping out!

Good morning, Sunshine!!

Then we had Dawson's Soccer game at 9. It is so cute watching all those kids running out there in a little group that follows the ball everywhere it goes. Dawson scored another goal today. Addy loves going to the games because she always scores a snack and drink afterwards. The parents who have snack duty are always nice enough to bring extra for siblings.
After soccer we had brunch at my mom's. I made puffed french toast, which is one of my family's favorite for breakfast on special occasions like General Conference. I also made bacon and my mom made eggs, grits and a smoothie. It was so yummy. Afterwards we watched the first Session of Conference at my parents house. I have to admit I was a little worried about how that was going to go because the kids always get pretty antsy trying to stay quiet and still though. They all did awesome though! Dawson and Addy fell asleep after the first little bit, and Brooks was happy to sit on laps and crawl around.
My favorite talk was by Sister Linda S. Reeves. Among other things she told of how when her and her husband were the parents to four young children they were struggling to meet all the demands of parenting along with everything else. She said they prayed about it and got the answer that it was ok if the house was a mess and some unimportant tasks were left undone. The most important thing they could do was have daily family scripture study and prayer, and weekly family home evening. That was so comforting to me because I feel overwhelmed all the time with everything I need to do. Like sometimes it just seems impossible to finish my to do list, like ever. The house always needs to be cleaned, meals need to be made, weekly menus made, grocery lists made, and grocery shopping done, and the million little things that always come up, and all this while having three small (mischievous) children that need to be cared for, and a hubby that I love so much would like to to talk to without feeling like I have turrets (i.e. Hey babe how was your -wait, Dawson! please don't pick the chicken up by it's tail- day? That is awesome that you got four- Addy hold on, I am trying to talk to dad, what do you mean you pooped on the ground?- sales, you must have worked hard today- now the baby is crying and up from his nap. You get the idea). When I listened to her speak, it was reconfirmed to me that the most important thing I can do is teach my children the gospel. I have a reeeeaaaaallllly hard time leaving my house a mess. I just really like a clean atmosphere. But I know there will be more time for that later,and that right now I need to focus on my family and helping them and myself build strong testimonies.
Sister Reeves also spoke of how important it is that our children be able to come to us and talk to us if they have a problem. It made me think of something I once heard someone say. I can't remember who it was but I remember them saying that if you listen to your children when they are small, even if what they are telling you seems insignificant, they will come to you with their big important things later. Because it was always big stuff to them anyway.

Cuddling with my little guy after conference. Except he doesn't look so little with that new hair cut!

After that session we came back to our house, and Savannah and Isaiah came along. Tyler and Isaiah were outside doing manly things like fixing the chicken coop. The house was a mess because of my busy morning and I was itching to clean it. But then I thought of that talk. And I also remember that I had some water balloons left over from a play date we had on Wednesday. I told Savannah we should fill them up and then sneak around the side of the house to attack the boys with them . We got Dawson and Addy to help us and they were just so excited and giggly. Dawson could hardly control his laughter as we tried to be sneaky so the boys wouldn't hear us. Our water balloon attack started an housr long water fight with buckets of water, more water balloons, and water guns. Taht was the most fun we have all had in a ling time. And guess what? When I came back in the house, there was water on the floor, and and it was still messy. And it was totally ok.