We May Not Have It All Together...But Together We Have It All

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Magic

Kamden: "Mom, daddy's magic".
Me: "Really? What does he do that's magic?
Kamden: "He puts stuff in his mouth and it disappears".
chuckle...chuckle...
(an hour later when Ira's home for lunch)

Me: "Dad, Kamden says your magic, because you put things in your mouth and it disappears."
Ira: Takes a bite of lunch
Kamden is observing. Then says, "Open your mouth dad, let me see."
Ira opens up
Kamden with a look of wonder on his face, "See Mom, he IS magic - it's gone!"

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Pre New Years Eve party

My sister Kelli and her family came for a couple of days during Christmas break. It was so relaxing to just hang out and take it easy. At one pathetic moment, I looked around and there were 6 of us sitting on the couch, all with our tablets or phones! Not to mention that the little kids were all downstairs playing Play Station! Seriously?...that's pathetic. BUT, isn't that what Christmas break is...to just waste time doing whatever...guilt free?

We called my brothers family to come join our party. At about 11:30 at night (it wasn't New Years Eve yet, so technically we should have all been asleep), mom and dad called. We couldn't figure out who would be calling at that time of night, when we would normally all be asleep. When we answered it, it was mom and dad - what a great surprise! They had no idea we were all together. They had just gotten their internet hooked up and wanted to test it out. So we also tested out the Skype. It was so great to have them at our party with us, and they are half way around the world. Their other mission, this wasn't possible - so this is a real treat. Only problem is that when we're sleeping, their awake. Oh well, they can call anytime of day or night - it is still a treat!

The Big Day

Christmas morning starts out with a family prayer. A tradition that I grew up with and am so glad that we have carried on in our family. And no...I wasn't taking pictures during the prayer. I snapped this of Kamden just as we were all getting ready! :) I don't know if the kids pay attention to a single word being said, because they still have visions of toys dancing in their heads. Actually I do know, and no they aren't paying attention, just like I wasn't paying attention at their age. But I'm so grateful that prayer begins our Christmas morning. That we pause and take a moment for Him, whose day this really is.

This years family line up to get to see what Santa brought.

Santa brought just what Kamden wanted!

Jarin didn't know he wanted this, but he loves it (if only it weren't too cold to go out and play on it).

Thank you Brayden for the cool remote control car

OOO...weeee - santa was good to Brayden with new clothes and skis

And Emilie finally got a bike that "wasn't a piece of junk". She couldn't wait to ride it.

Temple Square and more

It has been many years since we have gone to Temple Square during Christmas with our children. So we decided to make a mini vacation out of it. We went and saw the lights and went to the visitors centers. As always, it was spectacular.

I loved taking this time to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas and the meaning of our lives.

I am so grateful for my Savior, for the miracle of His birth. For the example and teachings of his life. And for his sacrifice for each of us. And that He lives again.

We stayed at a hotel, where we swam and could watch cable TV! (Big deal for our kids who think they are so left out without cable tv!)

And we also went bowling. The three younger kids had never been bowling. Our poor deprived children! (said with sarcasm :) ).

And searched everywhere for this guy, without waiting in a 2 hour line! Finally...we found him and ONLY had a 1 hour line (also said with sarcasm).

It was a fun weekend with our family.

Gettin' Ready for Christmas

December is such a busy, busy month. But to me it's a fun busy. I love spoiling the people I love, especially at Christmas. I love the holiday spirit that abounds. I love the lights, the snow (for a little while anyways :) ), the treats (thank goodness it's only 1 month a year!), the kids programs, the music, our friends and family, the focus on our Savior. I love all of it. It's a magical time of year.

Picture overload, but how am I supposed to take any out? Can't! So skip 'em or look at 'em....

Kamden had his preschool program that he had a small speaking part and lots of songs. It was priceless...LOVED it!

It occurred to me as I was watching him that Kamden is my third child I've seen do this same Christmas program, with the same preschool teacher. I can still see Emilie sitting in those chairs with those little props. Wow, how time flies!

Kam's cousin, Ryan is in preschool with him. They have lots of fun together. It will be interesting to see how my shy Kam does in school next year without Ryan by his side.

Jarin also had his first grade Christmas program. It was also priceless. This is a picture of his class, and his teacher that is moving. It is so sad, because she is a fantastic teacher!

Brayden had a choir concert (which I don't have a picture of. Yes family, you heard me right - NO PICTURE! - ha ha).

Emilie had an Orchestra concert. She's been learning violin this year, and she really likes it.

We even had a little down time once in awhile. I caught this photo of Kam watching a movie with his "friends".

Cookie making time. Jarin wanted to make cookies for his Grandpa and Grandma and for Roger.

Kam waiting.....

Can't have Christmas without some countdowns! When Jarin brought this one home, I admit that I rolled my eyes a bit. It was a service countdown - which involves me when I'm already busy. Well, I changed my attitude really quickly when I saw and felt the effect that thinking of others had on our Christmas holiday (making those cookies was one of the services). I'm so grateful for that cute countdown that involved our family and helped us to focus on what's important.

The tree is up!

"Buddy the Elf" showed up to keep an eye on our family and report back to Santa if we've been naughty or nice. He also gets into a lot of mischief during the night when we are sleeping.

I used to love getting a Christmas coloring book out of the Preston newspaper. So I printed a bunch of pictures off the computer, and Kamden was happy as a clam. I didn't realize before this just how much he loves to color.

The Little cousin Christmas party tradition (three years strong :) ). Wish we could have all the little cousins, but those who live further away just can't come for a small party. :(

My little nephew Bronco

Desmond

Making candy christmas trees

Looks like some sneaked some tastes of candy (and frosting).

Others didn't even sneak - they (she) just dove right in! ha ha

Love my sisters-in-law (even the ones who couldn't come).

A small gift exchange

Even the not-so-small cousins benefit from the party. You can't beat electronics and pizza!

painting crafts

It was so much fun, and I look forward to next years already.

Kute Komments!

Jarin: "I've been waiting all day for Kamden to grow up...when will he grow up like me?"
4-2010

We were driving by a farm which was being fertilized. Jarin sniffs a big sniff and says, "Mmmm...that smells like my strawberry nose" (the strawberry nose was a yummy smelling gas mask from the dentist)!
Jarin: "Is is "fat man or bat man"?
Jarin "My heart is dirty and needs to be cleaned." Then I wash his face, and he says, "My heart is clean!" (He watched me put lipstick on once, and thought my top lips looked like hearts. Now he thinks that lips are hearts). Which makes me wonder what he thinks when he says, "The Holy Ghost makes our heart feel good."
Jarin asked with a great big smile that melts my heart, "Mom, are you being grumpy with me?" (yes, I was - but that started us both laughing instead!)
We were having a family home evening helping Emilie to prepare for baptism. We talked to her about making good choices and right vs. wrong. We were trying to prompt her to give an answer when Ira asked her, "What's opposite of right, (he asked it in the context of right choices), and she answered, "Left." (you should have seen the look Ira and I gave each other - it spoke volumes!)
Same family home evening... we were talking about the Holy Ghost. Jarin (being very tired and very sensitive at the moment anyways), started going balistic on us. Not only did he say he was scared of the Holy Ghost. And not only was he crying because he was scared, but he was SOBBING, and it continued for about an hour (which is when he fell asleep still crying)!! Then first thing out of his mouth when he woke up was that he was scared of the Holy Ghost! We think we are doing the right thing by teaching our children, but really - we have taumatized Jarin! I can only imagine what was going on in his little imagination. Did I mention that FHE finished earlier than planned?
Ira was feeling the baby move at a particularly active time. He said, "Is he moving furniture around in there?" (some days it sure feels like it!)
There was a baby being blessed in church Sunday, and Jarin saw the priesthood men in a circle, and loudly proclaims "Look mom, their playing ring around the rosies!"
Emilie asked me, "Since our eyes are blue, how come everything doesn't look blue to us?" I explained how we see through the black circle in our eyes. She said, "Then the blue is just for decoration?"
Jarin walks around the house constantly saying, and singing "I am a Child of God, and He has sent me here." And when anyones voices get too loud, he sings, "Love at home... Love at home..." I'm not sure he even knows the meaning of what he's singing, but it stops the contention and usually starts a few giggles.
Ira was talking about leap year, and Emilie asked, "What is leap year? Is it when we leap to school?"
Ira asked Emilie if you put plastic wrap or foil over a pan going in the oven. She said tinfoil. Ira said "Good thinking Emilie." She responded by saying, "No, I didn't think...my teacher told me." (thank goodness for teachers, so we don't have to think!)
Jarin asked me if he could have something, and I had told him no. He responded by asking again, then answering his own question as if he were me, "Of course you can sweetheart." (it's no wonder he gets whatever he wants - how cute is that?)
In church today, a half a second before the sacrament prayer was being said, (so it was very quiet in the room), Jarin observed that his dad was sitting on the stand, and calls out in his loudest voice, "That's my daddy up there!"
Brayden said, "I've learned to never mess with a pregnant person."
Today I told Jarin he was a sweetHEART, and he said, "No, I have a beautiful HEART, and mommy is beautiful too." (a comment like that, he can have whatever he wants!)
This one was said a year or so ago, but it was one of the best we've had ever - so it bears repeating! Emilie said to mom, "Someday I am going to marry my prince, just like you married your prince."
Jarin said, "We don't say 'monkey butt' do we?"
Jarin see's a bumble bee and says, "It's a bum-bum bee".
Emilie singing, "Loose, footloose, kick off my church shoes."

Hmmmmm...

I copied this from my sisters blog, but it's just too perfectly perfect to not be reminded of as often as possible!

Hmmmm....
There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today!'So she did, and she had a wonderful day.The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today!'So she did and she had a grand day.The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.'So she did and she had a fun, fun day.The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.'YEA!' she exclaimed, 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

INSPIRATION

"A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation." Joseph Smith

"The things you do for yourself are gone when you are gone. The things you do for others remain as your legacy."

"Fix it up...wear it out... make due...or do without!" - Gordon B Hinckley

"In righteousness there is great simplicity" - William R. Bradford

"The most important thing parents can do for their children is to teach them to feel The Spirit and recognize when it is no longer with them."

Elder M. Russell Ballard: "There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children...What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

The adversary would keep us busily engaged in a multitude of trivial things in an effort to keep us distracted from the few vital things that make all the difference."-Ardeth G. Kapp