What Turns a Girl On??? (Viewer discretion advised)

In the early days of our courtship and marriage, I'd have to say I really enjoyed Joseph's Greek God physique, complete with his full head of blonde hair, his dimples, rippling abs and the absence of snoring. I loved that he would find peach colored roses for me on our anniversaries, as beautiful and sentimental as the fresh ones I held in my wedding bouquet. But fast forward 12 years, 50 pounds (I'm rounding...get it?) and four children. What raises my estrogen levels these days? I'm betting it's what endears most other women to the father of their children.

I love it when my husband doesn't desert me after he clears his dinner plate. I love it when the man has soap suds on his hands. I get endeared when I see him passing the sacrament or conducting a meeting. I get twitterpated when I see him wrestling the kids after work and bonding with them. I get sweaty hands and a racing heartbeat when I hear him accurately name each of Emma's dolls. What got me really goin' last weekend, ahem, was when he came home from work and while I was preparing dinner, he quietly scrubed all 3 toilets in the house. WITHOUT BEING ASKED! AND THE GUY WAS SICK! AND IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT! He amazes me. So the secret to intimate longevity? My man knows how to be tender with his children and he helps me around the house. That's what does it for me, ladies. His Greek God girth is a wee bit wider than it was in the days of '97, and my profile now resembles Mrs. Doubtfire, and the guy's snoring could put Iran into a hostile fire frenzy, but we bond deeper than that. And honestly, I don't know what I do or not do that gets his engine revving. (After all, men are wired differently), but in the end, the greatest aphrodisiac, for me, I would have to say is time. And thank heaven, he gives it. Bottom line: a man with a spatula in his hand does more for a girl's libido than a Sports Illustrated physique. Trust me.

Then and Now...

Even I can't tell their toddler pictures apart...Emma and Elizabeth bear such a striking resemblance, don't they? Emma is in the first, then Lizzie, then both in a picture taken yesterday, and then Emma in the last two. It is fun to have girls...

A Few Random Thoughts... and a favorite recipe

It's been a bittersweet Sunday. Today, I learned that two dear friends in the ward are moving. I will miss them. I have looked up to them (literally to Buffy!) since I met them. Also, I missed my other good friend who wasn't in church today. I wanted to lean over to her in Relief Society and ask her if she had any yummy kid snacks in her bag and have a laugh about it being Fast Sunday. I felt a sweet Spirit in our meetings today. I love Jesus. I want a heart like His. I am so far off, it's discouraging.

Josh willingly fasted one meal today. I was so proud of him.

Joseph did P.P.I.'s with the kids today (he does this every Fast Sunday usually) and when I asked him how it went with our oldest, 9-year old Josh, he said it went better than most, but that Josh was still trying to slither off of the couch and find something more exciting to do. When I asked Joseph about the content of their interview, he mentioned that after talking about what it means to have a tesitmony, he talked to Josh about intercourse. Yes, that's right. You know, how men and women are different and how babies are made. No wonder the kid was trying to roll out of the room:) Emma, on the other hand, loves her interviews with her Dad. She volunteers all kinds of information, like the cool assembly they had on Friday at school, how far she has read in her Junie B. Jones book today and the yummy snacks her Primary teacher brought for 'reverent kids' today. No anatomy conversations on his agenda with her today. Thank heaven for that.

Josh informed his Dad and me yesterday that instead of spending money on finishing our basement, he thinks we should purchase an anti-gravity chamber to put down there. It made me laugh. I needed a good laugh. I wonder where he thinks we can purchase one.

The home teachers came Friday night at 6:00. I asked JP (Joseph Paul) "Who comes home teaching on the last Friday of the month at 6 p.m.?" He smiled and replied, 'the ones who home teach the EQ President who's been pounding this principle over and over the last few months...' I'm so glad they come though:) Caleb said to them, "Do you guys know I like you?"

And last but not least, one of my favorite crock pot recipes:

CROCKPOT SWISS CHICKEN

6 boneless chicken breasts
6 slices Swiss cheese (I like extra slices)
1 can cr. chicken soup
1/4 c. milk
6 oz. Stove Top stuffing dry mix
1/2 c. melted butter

Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Arrange chicken in pot. Top with cheese, layering if necessary. Combine soup and milk. Stir well. Spoon over cheese. Sprinkle stuffing mix next. Drizzle melted butter over stuffing mix and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Is good served over rice.

Enjoy!