"We are all part of it, it does not matter what your responsibility is. You have just as sacred and compelling responsibility in terms of your calling and activity, whatever it might be, as I do in terms of my calling and activity. It is incumbent upon each of us to live the gospel, to be loyal to the Church and loyal to the very best that is within us."
-Gordon B Hinckley
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
November and Vyla Turns Two
November was pretty uneventful, for the most part. Having a newborn has slowed us down in some ways, and I'm grateful for that. Here's a few random moments from our past month.
Vyla took a flying leap off her brother's bed and into an open dresser drawer. She had quite a bruise on her eye and forehead for a few days.
Hinder did some work for me and earned a trip to the bowling alley a few weekends ago. This was the first time we've been bowling in New England and we learned it's not the same. Instead of the curvaceous pins and large balls, this alley sported skinny matchstick pins and little balls without finger holes, just the size of a grapefruit. It was pleasantly perfect for little kids. They could hoist the balls without any help. I think Hinder even ended up beating Riley's score.
Ledger is growing and getting humongous. I can't believe he's only 8 weeks. He's getting more smiley and expressive, and likes to be talked to and 'talk' back. He's an inconsistent sleeper at night, but a pretty chill baby overall. He has constant entertainment watching and listening to his two rowdy sibs.
Here he is around 7 weeks
Five weeks ready for church
And we finally got a picture with our entire family together. This was taken right behind our house at Prouts Neck.
On the 27th of November, Miss vivacious Vyla turned 2! We celebrated first thing in the morning because we had a busy day and I had to work that evening. She was spoiled with many gifts from aunties, cousins, and grandmas.
Riley did the balloons. The lack of coordination or patterns had my type A self twitching, but it was so nice of him to take care of it so I didn't dare 'fix' it.
I thought this was a good year for Vyla to get a new baby and stroller, along with other baby doll accessories. She's always wanting to help with Ledger these days.
Riley even fashioned a balloon hat and sword for the kids to find at breakfast that morning. Fun dad!
The only thing Vyla ever asked for was a birthday cake. So a few days before her birthday, she and I looked through pinterest at some different cakes. She was less enthused about the princess and My Little Pony cakes and searched, but her eyes lit up when I showed her this Ninjago cake. She loves watching this show with Hinder. I love her.
(This was my first attempt at working with fondant...Not as easy as Cake Boss makes it look!)
We're so so grateful for the spunk and laughter that Vy Leigh adds to our family.
Happy Two Years, Sweet pea!
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Counting Our Blessings
Like most people this time of year, my thoughts have turned toward the multitude of blessings and reason to be thankful I see in my life. There are so many, and sometimes I just feel overwhelmed that I've been given so much. Of course, if I let myself, I can easily think of 10-15 things that aren't going my way right now, but with just a little effort, I'm reminded there is just so much GOOD in my life that I don't deserve.
So here is my Top Ten Thing I'm Most Grateful for Now- In the Fall of 2013. The things that, as of late, bring me a feeling of genuine gratitude.
1. Where are now. I mean physically where we live. If I had the challenges I have today, just last fall, I feel like it might have overpowered me. Or I at least would have been popping a few more Prozac. Living in the city limits of Portland had it's benefits, but as a introverted person, it was draining. The open space of where we are is like therapy for me, and I can't help but think someone knew I would need this and helped it come true.
2. Vyla. Of course, I love each of my children. But lately this girl brings a lot of smiles everyday. She brings lots of tantrums, messes, and meltdowns...but I feel like she's my kindred female spirit in this house full of boys. I'm grateful she has wild hair and a raspy voice. I delight in how tough she is with Hinder and the neighbor boy. I feel gratitude that she's capable of doing a lot of her own, but still wants to be obedient and helpful. I love that her smile, over simple things reaches to her giant eyes and turns them into half moons. And I love that she's forming broken sentences and telling me about the world around her. I hope she continues to mispronounce the /k/ sound with /ch/ for a few more months, because it's cute to hear her ask to "read a booch", listen to "moosich", or fix things when they don't "worch".
3. The generosity and thoughtful gestures of our ward friends has been so appreciated. The meals, flowers, and gifts for the new baby always seem to come at the right time. The small acts of service, a phone call, email, or play date for the kids eases my burden significantly. Thank you!
4. General Conference talks. I missed listening live, but listen while I nurse to the podcast. Especially President Uchtorf's talk from the Priesthood session. It's literally modern day scripture for me! (to listen for yourself, go here)
5. Hinder. He's offers the closest thing to adult conversation that I get on most days. And it's not too shabby. He's inquisitive and excited about small things, which helps me notice the wonder in the everyday. And I'm so grateful for the help he gives me with V- especially in the mornings when I just need 15-20 more minutes with my eyes closed before another day starts. I appreciate that lately I've heard more "yes mamas" and a few less outbursts when he doesn't immediately get his way. (I'm knocking on wood as I type this...)
6. I'm grateful that for the past month or more, I've watched the sun rise over the ocean. I have a perfect view from the armchair in the nursery, and little Ledge makes certain I never miss it. It's fantastic, and without a morning wake up call I might never had chosen to get up and see it for myself.
7. I'm grateful for morning walks around a beautiful neighborhood. For the stroller and carriers that fit the kids just right, the length of the path, and the beautiful area that interests them, as well as makes me feel like I've stepped into a novel or magazine. Never mind I'm always making this walk with second day (or third, fourth, fifth...) day hair and sweatpants.
(pics from our most recent walk down Winslow Homer road)
8. Family. And getting so see family soon! Our parents are flying us home for an almost four wonderful weeks at home. Our feet are itching for western soil, and honestly...the thought of another round of holidays with our mamas and papas was too much for me. Riley and I have pillow talks about how wonderful it will be to do the simple things at home...look at mountains, shoot hoops with the sibs, sleep under the same roof, play a round of cards, etc. We're extremely blessed to get to see these people sooner than we ever anticipated.
9. Riley. He works really hard, and we don't see him much, but how grateful I am that he IS hardworking and he DOES put the time into getting the grades that will lead to graduation.
10. And lastly, how GRATEFUL I am for a snuggly, healthy baby! One that is recently smiling and keeping his little eyes open. It's hard work, but anything worth anything is work. Our little Ledger is loved! I'm thankful that he's here and that he's a constant reminder of keeping my priorities straight.
Lastly, it's evident to me that keeping an attitude of gratitude truly makes all the difference. Now, how to remember this all year long and not just in November!?
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Fall Preschool Photos
Two other moms and I do a preschool co-op of sorts. I love having this little group of three boys to teach every third week, and I feel like H gets such a personalized preschool experience. We're so grateful for this arrangement. They've been have a blast this fall learning and seeing some new things.
During the week we learned "F", another mom took the boys to the fire station. Look at those faces! So pleased to be there.
One cool and different thing about being on the coast is the fire station had a rescue boat. H couldn't wait to tell me all about it.
During the week we learned 'B', Hinder did some cute, 4-year old work. Here's his drawing of a bumblebee...
And I told the boys to decorate this letter B with something that starts with B. I thought this was cute and clever.
Practicing the letter 'C' in whipped Cream.
Masks for Circus day
Circus elephant art project.
H was for Halloween. For snack we had ghosts made from bananas and pumpkin clementines.
These kids are pretty easy to please.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Ledger Photo Dump- One Month
Little Ledgie is a month already!
Isn't this onsie idea cute? My sweet neighbor made these for him, an entire years worth. So cool!
The picture didn't turn out so cute. Not only am I not a great photographer, but this baby was a total grouch. I discovered the reason for his foul mood just moments after this photo- unfortunately it produced something else foul..and destroyed the onsie in the process. Haha...oh well. Mothering moments. :)
So here are my phone photos of our sweet number 3 from the past month. I love my little buddy. He's such a good, patient baby. I realize things change with every stage, so I'm enjoying how much he sleeps right now and his wonderful immobility.
(Three Weeks)
He's a pretty typical sleeper for this age. We put him in a swing for the night, and that seems to help. Some nights are terrible, but he seems to be getting into an every 3-hour schedule lasting from about 9-6. As long as I get a couple 2 hours stretches of sleep in a 24 hours period, I seem to do okay. But I am certainly grateful when he gives me a random 4 hour block of sleep.
He's becoming more engaged with our faces and voices. I've caught a few smiley moments. Those are the best! Totally melts me.
He's got a screechy little cry, but unless he's really mad (which hasn't happened too often), he calms down really quickly and doesn't really commit. The biggest problem in this 11 pound humans life is gas. Ha! Isn't that a funny thought!?
We're so grateful to have this snuggle-bug in our family!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Halloween Festivities
This October has been calm and easy-going when it came to Halloween festivities. In years past, we've overdone it with parties and crafts, etc. The great thing is that the kiddos are just young enough to appreciate any holiday fun and don't feel the least bit bad that we missed actually carving a pumpkin or bobbing for apples.
Weeks before Halloween, we decorated spooky gingerbread houses and watched Hocus Pocus with Aunt Davi.
And the kids were so lucky to get a fun Halloween package from their far-away cousins, full of fun trinkets and treats. Nothing makes them more happy than receiving something in the mail!
The church Halloween party never disappoints, and it gave Riley and I a chance to get a little dressed up as well. We decided to go for the old-fashioned, classic, what-really-scares-you Halloween costumes this year. Hinder was a vampire, Vyla a bumblebee (who doesn't get a little nervous around bees?!) , and I was a (last minute) witch.
While trying to take her picture, I asked her to show me her antennas and this is what I got...
This chubby baby donned a skeleton costume.
And Riley was the scariest thing imaginable in our lives right now....
a Failed Pharmacology Test!
We thought it was pretty clever. Pharmacist humor...haha No one else really got it.
(thank you, Phineas and Ferb for the idea)
H and V painted pumpkins the night before and had a lot of fun.
I'm still finding smudges of blue paint.
And here they are on the big night!
Dad came home for a couple of hours to watch them trick-or-treat around outside. The weather wasn't so lovely, but these troopers went knocking door to door through the rain to earn their spoils.
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