A wonderful conference!

This past weekend we had an awesome opportunity to go to the Conference Center for Stake Conference. The Prophet, Elder Packer, Sis Lant and Elder Anderson spoke beautiful messages. I'd love to include photos of the event, but I left the camera in the car and there wasn't much scenery in the parking lot. The temple and all the grounds were beautiful though, even if there had been a minor blizzard the night before.

We took these two with us, of course, and though the prophet was hard to make out from the terrace, they knew he was there and they did a great job listening as well as 4 and 1 1/2 year olds can.

The thoughts that stuck with me most are:

-"Daddy, Jesus says slow down." Elder Anderson's daughter told him that after seeing a sculpture of the Savior w/ His hand outstretched. Take more time to meditate and ponder and pray. Just slow down.

-"Full hands now, full hearts later." A "Grandma" shared that advice w/ Sister Packer as she sat alone trying to keep all the kids quiet in church. It made me really grateful for life. I mean my heart is full now as well, but so are my hands at times. When our hands are full, with anything righteous and praise worthy, it means our hearts will be more full as the years pass. Good things bring good rewards. "Be not weary in well doing...." Eat up every moment, don't worry about spills and schedules etc. I also hope that I can look back w/ a full and grateful heart when my hands and my house are emptied, "for all the life we had."

-"Women who know...." Sister Lant echoed the sentiment of Sister Beck from General Conference about doing LESS, spending less and focusing on family and the gospel more. Loved both talks!

-President Hinckely shared his '4 pillars of a happy home' talk with us. Marco and I received that advice the day we were sealed for time and all eternity nearly 7 years ago, and I'd hear it a million times over! Love it!

-Respect

-Family Prayer

-The Soft Answer

-Financial honesty (both w/ God and our spouse)

Correct me if I was off on any of those, my hands were full and so I couldn't take notes as I would have liked to. :)

He reiterated the old marriage--steam engine comparison about experiencing bumps and smoke and delays, but also thrilling bursts of speed and majestic vistas. He said the trick is to give thanks for being able to take the ride. All wonderful advice from a man married for over half a decade to his sweetheart who has recently passed on. You could hear how much he missed her and how much he wants all of us to give all of ourselves to our own sweetheart while we have them there beside us. Life is rarely predictable. Carpe Diem.

I came away feeling a renewed dedication to my growing family; Marco did too. Sweet guy.

Sorry to get so sentimental, the meeting was just that good.

These are the reasons my hands (and heart) are full.

Love that face!

Enzo thought it was hilarious to find Marco through the handle in the box. Who needs toys, right?

We made an attempt to go w/ our ward playgroup to Gardener Village. I don't know how we missed the meeting time/place, but we didn't find anyone at the church and so we ended up settling for our front porch and pumpkins for a photo op. Not nearly the back drop I'd hoped for, but we'll get there another time.

Firetrucks and Paintings

Arianna's preschool class took their first field trip this fall. They went to the fire station and the kids loved it! Enzo and I got to tag along and he got a kick out of it too! First we had the tour of the living quarters and offices and then when they announced we'd go out to see the fire truck Enzo just about jumped out of his seat and grunted in approval. He loved it as much as the rest of them. Arianna enjoyed herself too, though her face here says otherwise. She is always cautious w/ new people and places. She chose the shades for the day; gotta love her free spirit!

Then for family night we had a painting activity after our lesson on animals. Arianna got to paint a bird house Grandma Jane gave her a while back and Enzo worked on a finger painting masterpiece of the same... I guess.

Fall Fun

I love this time of year! The fall brings so many wonderful colors and smells and changes. We took the kids to a little Halloween FHE last week and they were thrilled to be able to wear costumes, even if they were last year's. They enjoyed making Halloween crafts and playing Halloween games etc. Arianna started off a bit hesitant, as usual, but warmed up as she watched her brother take the lead.

Then we went to the Pumpkin patch for a playgroup on Wednesday and they were BOTH thrilled. Enzo couldn't get enough of the 12 or so tractors that were there to play on and Arianna loved the mini corn maze. I just had fun taking pictures of it all and laughing and playing along with them. We took Marco back this past weekend to actually get our pumpkins and they loved a take two.

Enzo is going crazy w/ his vocab!! We were trying to teach Arianna that she needs to give him space when he starts grunting or crying for it. We tried to explain that he can't say 'please don't' the way big kids do, then sure enough, he said it. He cracks me up! He says too many new words each day to keep up w/ him, but some are hard to forget! He learned his friends name is Jack and calls him that, then he started to try and call other boys that, but it didn't go over so well. :) He'll catch on.

As for Arianna, she is still having wetting accidents almost daily, or sometimes more. I am soooooooooo out of ideas. Please, offer your suggestions. Yes, she IS four now, and I am sure that this means I am a terrible mother, but please go easy on me. I have tried my best! She is otherwise such and angel and such a helper, it is strange. I think she is caught in a limbo still, big girl or baby??? She can't decide.

Well, hope this new week is a great one!! Let us know what's going on with you!

Crowns, boas and bugs

Here are some catch up snippits from my camera. Arianna's sunday school teachers made her this crown for a lesson they taught last week. Arianna didn't want to take it off. She still has it two weeks later and refers to it often. The very monday after she got the crown the three of us headed out early to run some errands. She chose to wear the crown out and about. She is such her own person.

This morning I found her sitting at her table, boa and all, studying her copy of the Book of Mormon, pen in hand. She noticed that my scriptures were all marked up so she thought that's how hers should be.

Then she must have asked Marco and I a hundred times tonight before bed, "now who were the bad guys?" and "who were the good guys?" She is trying to get a grip on the whole history of the Lamanites and the Nephites. We didn't think it the best time to tell her that there is no clear-cut answer to that question. Next year maybe.






I told her at lunch today what our plans would be for Family Night tonight. I noticed that she stopped eating and dazed for a while. Then she said, "I kind of feel like I want to go right now, I don't want to eat." She had such a suspenseful excitement about her and didn't quite know what to do with herself. It was funny to see.

Enzo climbs on everything, we have already established that, I know. One of his favorite past times is climbing onto the stool at the island in the kitchen (Yikes!), another is to climb up to the computer. He says, "Dada, dada!" as if Daddy is trapped inside or something. He likes to be like his daddy already.






Enzo also loves bugs!! Arianna spotted one outside the other day and led him to it. When he sees something he really likes he claps his hands, case in point. I love his excitement for life!




We had the wonderful opportunity this past weekend of hearing from the leaders of the church, apostles and prophets in our day! Arianna listened quite well to three of the four sessions. She napped through the other which was good too. At one point she went to the drawer and pulled out a pad of paper and a pen and started taking notes because she saw mommy and daddy doing the same. She is so much into mimicry. Enzo napped through two of the four sessions and then did his best to lay low for the others. I was impressed with them both.

More importantly, I loved the words of the prophet and apostles. In particular, President Eyring's words about looking for the hand of God in each day. So many blessings go unnoticed and ought not to. Yesterday the blessing that stood out to me as note worthy was when my big sis came by. I don't know if Aunts and Uncles or Grandma's and Grandpa's realize what joy they bring not only to the children, but to the parents of those children as they look on. We had enjoyed the day previous to my sister's arrival, but tears filled my eyes as I worked at the sink, my ears filled with the squeals and laughter of my little ones. She elevated us all. They sure love Aunt Lorri, so do I. Thanks to all of you who add so much joy to our family and to our lives! We love you!

Surprise!

Thought you'd like to know, we're having a BOY!! Marco never let on, but that is what he suspected since I was sooooo sick. Arianna says she thought it would be a boy too (only after Dad said that), even though she hoped for a little sister. She asked us if we'd try for a sister next time but is excited about another brother.
Marco and I are thrilled, we just wish we had somewhere to start with names. Ugh! That is a killer. His heart, kidneys, brain, legs, abdomen, lip, palate and boy parts all looked healthy, so that is the biggest relief!
Now we are on to house projects. Enzo gets a new room so the office is moving downstairs into the kitchen. I am thrilled about having the computer more accessible! Cabinet maker comes in a couple of weeks so we just have to figure out how to wire the area for electricity and internet before he arrives...and paint. Then I can get busy on a new room for Enzo. Can't hardly picture him in a big boy bed, but I think he'll really like it. He is pretty conviced that he is already a big boy. I think we'll invest in some bunk beds since we'll be needing them before long now, I know, I know, don't rush it. But you know what I mean. I just won't attach the ladder for a while, Enzo would be climing up and playing Geronimo jumps and nearly killing himself, or at least giving me a heart attack, so we'll hold off on that. I am SURE he'll find a way up to the top bunk either way though. Just a matter of time with him. He cracks me up!
And THEN we can tidy up the nursery a little and get it ready for a new one. Too fun!
Of course there is the whole, need-a-bigger-car project too. We are on the hunt for a mini van. Un cool as they may seem, to a mom, they are soooooooo convenient! Can't wait for more space!
Hope that all is well. Drop us a line, let us know how you are!
Love,
The Poggio's, all 4 and 1/2 of us!