Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends,
I truly hope this message finds you all happy, healthy and enjoying this wonderful time of year.
I know it can be a busy, stressful and at moments-purely chaotic, but I hope that somewhere in each day you are able to sit down, relax, reflect, reminisce and just take in the spirit that fills the air. There is rare a time like it and to let it pass by as being only a "crazy time of year" would be so sad, so it is my wish for everyone to enjoy the season for what it tryuly is.
I will be honest that there are times that when I hear the word "christmas" I instantly think of presents- Who do I need to buy for? What do they want? How much do I need to give? How much do I spend? etc...How grateful I am for those times when I am quietly invited by the Spirit to stop and think of the true meaning of this holiday-A gift given out of pure love from a loving Heavenly Father to His beloved children that would bring them peace beyond their pain, joy beyond their sorrow and love beyond their understanding. How grateful I am for the birth, life, Atonement and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Just as He gave, we are able to give. Our offerings will be ever so small compared to His, but within each of us is the ability to share what we can with those who are in need. My family has been blessed by so many of your offerings and I thank you for those. Some of you have let us give to you and I thank you also for that- for you have taught us where real happiness comes from.
So while I wish I could give gifts to so many of you to show you that I care and appreciate you, I will wish for each of you this year and always-the gift of peace. Peace from your troubles, trials, sorrows and peace that came in a lowly stable so many years ago. Merry, Merry Christmas!

Friday Ramblings....

I had something all typed up and being the genius that I am, erased it but still managed to post the title. I am no longer in the mood to retype, so it will have to come later.....sorry!

OH BOY!

That's right....a BOY! We went in for our ultrasound today and without a doubt we are having a boy! We are so excited! He looks healthy and is very, very active. I am measuring a week early, so my doctor may even move my due date up a week....I am very OK with that.

My Little Girl

So, lately my 3.5 year old has been coming up with some rather funny things. Some too funny not to share. Here are a few:
*I was singing Jingle Bells and she said, "Mom, be quiet! The whole neighborhood can hear you!" ( I will be the first to admit that I don't have the prettiest voice, but that cut a little...)
*We were playing babies and I asked her what her babies name was. She replied, "Argentinasauros." (we have been learning about dinosaurs, and believe it or not, the argentinasauros is a kind of dinosaur)
*It was my husbands birthday this past week. While he was out running some errands, we hurry and put candles on his cake. I just grabbed a handful of candles, and some happened to be pink. My 3.5 year old's mouth nearly dropped to the floor as she exclaimed, "Mom, you can't put pink candles on his cake!' "Why?" I asked. "Because he just doesn't like pink!"
As I would love to share more, I better run. The kids are being awfully quiet and that is never a good sign at our house!

Why oh Why?

Why oh why can't some foods have a greater nutritional value?!?!? Of course, when I say some foods I am directly talking about those that are 99.9% sugar. It would make my life so much easier as a mother and even as a wife sometimes. I battle with my son wanting popsicles for breakfast accompanied with a sippy-cup of sprite. Now if they had a better nutritional value, my mornings would start out peaceful rather than tears and screaming, and me wondering why I ever got out of bed. My daughter thinks that ramen noodles should be served at every meal. She loves them so much that it is no wonder that she told me she wanted to be one for halloween. Again, if they had a greater nutrional value (all the healthy stuff that say, a bowl of broccoli had), my mealtime problems would be solved. Now we can't discuss something like this without mentioning the absence of nutrition and vitamins in candy...everyone raise their hand if candy being healthy would bring a smile to your face (both my hands are raised!) I wouldn't feel like such a bad parent if everytime we saw a gumball machine or vending machine and before my kids even had a chance to ask, I was already mid-reply of "no"! It would be nice if I said, hey kids want some healthy candy? I think there would be a lot less crying in stores, malls, restuarants, and everywhere else you go that decides to make parents cover their children's eyes so they don't see the candy machine....don't we have enough tantrums to deal with?!?!?
Well, since I am sure that candy companies, soda companies and even the ramen noodle company try daily to improve the nutritional value of their products, I as a loving and concerned mother will continue to have to come up of creative ways to make the food my kids love, even dream about sometimes, healthy. We will continue to pretend that carrots, broccoli and cauliflower are spaceships that even princesses eat. Some days it does just the trick!

Just One of Those Days

I know that I am not the only one out there who has had "One of Those Days", and I know that I am not the last to have them. Today was just my turn. It started out great and I am sure that it will end great (going to bed). I guess what has gotten me down is to see my husb dealing with a lot right now. He has so much on his plate right now and I am completely helpless. That's right, his wife...for better or worse...is helpless. It's hard to see one of my family members have so much to tend to and worry about and I can't do much to help. The kids and I sat down and talked about ways that we can help Dad feel happy and at peace when he is home with us. Of course no whining was first on our list of ways to help, we also thought of no TV, no fighting, saying prayers for him, giving him hugs, singing songs to him and the list went on and on. Well, our first attempt didn't go as I had imagined, but the kids are great and will keep trying. Dad got home late from work, hugged the kids and me, settled a fight between the two small genders of the home, made two or three phone calls, changed his clothes, hugged the kids goodbye and was out the door-20 minutes tops. No dinner, no relaxing on the couch or even sitting down for that matter, no reading his paper (his favorite thing to do), no playing with the kids or hearing their stories. However, one thing that I do KNOW is that when we are on the Lord's errand we are entitled to His help. I know Jason isn't completely alone in dealing with this load. He has a greater helper than I could ever be. Jason knows this and for that I know we, or should I say that he will make it through. We are grateful for the experiences the Lord gives us to grow, learn, teach and help others. We certainly have our "days" around here, but they don't last long because somewhere in the middle of them we stop and realize that really, we have been blessed. Thanks for being my listening ears. I hope I haven't come across as complaining or murmuring. I just needed a friend or two to express some feelings and I am glad that you are there to listen. Good night. Tomorrow is a new day!

15 weeks

Slowly, but surely, time goes by. Atleast that is how I feel when I am pregnant. I find myself sighing that I am only 15 weeks along. It sure beats 5 weeks along though. We go to the doctor today for a check up and I have decided to take the kids along with us. I want them to be a part of this. I thought that they might enjoy hearing the baby's heart beat. Ashley is always telling the baby stories and is ever so willing to sing it a song with me. It is fun to see how much she understands about another baby joining our family. Jackson on the other hand, still feels that he is my baby and he is. He is my tender-hearted, sensitive and yet still rough little boy. He has really developed a huge preference for his dad lately. He only lets Jason hold him when we go out together. Only Dad can push the stroller when we go for walks and Dad is the all time best ever person to go look for spiders, crickets and other bugs with (Jack's obsession right now).
It hasn't taken me long to realize that I love what I am doing. I may not have a college degree, or read a book every week or be able to carry on a highly intellectual conversation, but I can understand a 2 year old, I can do several voices when reading a story to my kids and I can even make up a pretty good princess story on the spot. I may not be remembered by most people, but to two, almost three, people, I am the world!!! And I am soooo fine with that.

This made me laugh....hard!

"My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being, hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.” -Erma Bombeck

Just stuff

Yesterday...Jason came home from Colorado
Today I...finally showered at 11:00am
Tomorrow...is one day closer to the weekend
I love it when...I smell something that reminds of Christmas (Today that was some lotion from Bath and Body Works)
I miss...the smell of homemade bread and baked apples on a chilly Autumn day
I enjoy...looking at magazines
I don't like...plugged ears or snakes
I have a fear of...sharks (it is a very real fear)
I get annoyed at...people who let their dogs go to the bathroom on my lawn (my kids play there!!!)
I like it when...I get to visit with a friend

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

I took a few minutes today and thought about all the silver linings I have experienced the past week or two and I thought maybe I would share a few.....
*Jas made it home safely after a four day work trip to Santa Rosa, CA*I saw my friend's beautiful new baby...absolutely perfect*I enjoyed a 45 minute phone conversation with my sister; I loved and needed every minute of it*I overheard my three year old describing ice cream to her little brother, as if he had never had it*watching my 20 month old scream with delight as he ran through the sprinklers...the neighbors enjoyed it as well*a great walk with a good friend and her little girl*waking up to the sound of my husband doing the dishes*a Mr. Pib soft drink*A wonderful talk on gratitude by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin and realizing that God DOES speak to us today*singing songs with my two beautiful children; their favorite is the Hokey Pokey...they love to "put their whole bodies in and shake them all about"*seeing friends deal with adversity and come out shining*and something that will always put a smile on my face or a silver lining in my darkest clouds is to hear my children tell me they love me*

Lucky Jack

With Ashley being gone, I have had nothing but one on one time with little "Lucky Jack" (as he is often referred to around our house). I have discovered new things about this little mystery boy. Depsite all the teasing he gets from his big sister, he misses her too. Yesterday morning and this morning he has gone around the house saying, "Ash, Ash" with a very, very sad look on his face. He has, however, eaten up all the attention that he has gotten from Dad and Mom. He has gotten the water hose all to himself, along with all the toys (including Ashley's) without a fight. It has just been so fun to see him kind of bloom into his own little person without being in the shadow of an older sibling. He is a strong willed little boy with a fun personality that could melt your heart in milli-seconds. We sure love both him and Ashley!

Missing my Little Ashley

After seeing how much fun Ashley was having with her "Idaho" cousins (that's right, I now how to refer to my sibling's children with a state because they all moved out of state on me). So after seeing that she was having so much fun, I just couldn't say no when my mom asked if I would please let Ash spend the week with them down in Teasdale. That was 72 hours ago and I am missing her like crazy. I miss the coming into our bed in the middle of the night, the begging of her to eat her food, brush her teeth, wear shoes, stay inside, get dressed, stay in one outfit per hour, stop teasing her brother, stop screaming and all that comes with my little bundle of Ash. I do know that she is in great hands and that she is having a fun time. That brings me peace of mind and helps me relax a little better. I still can't wait to see her in T minus 29 hours...till then wish me luck!

A Runny Nose

Way back when, before I had children of my own, I vowed I would never let my children run around with runny, dirty noses....oh, how vain I was! I never knew how children could be endless producers of snot (for lack of a better word there, sorry!) Well, the other day my little 18 month old started getting a runny nose. I went through the usual drop of my shoulders accompanied with a sigh of "here we go again!" However, those feelings didn't last as I thought of my cousin and his little girl, who at age one was diagnosed with cancer. I also thought of my sweet, adorable niece who had some health problems at age 4. Soon my runny nose seemed so trivial and so small. Well, the runny nose at our house has nearly reached its end, and I have to admit that he did run around with a dirty face, though I did my best to keep it clean. But this go round I find myself grateful it for just a runny nose.

Thankful for...

I am thankful for...Jas (he made it home safely, always a relief to me)
I am thankful for...Jacks (he is always ready to give me hug, drops everything to give me one)
I am thankful for ...Ash (she informed me today that she was a woman, I am not sure where she picked that up)
I am thankful for...my mom and dad (they are always doing so much for me and my family, I don't think they will ever know how much they mean to me)
I am thankful for...people who read my blog (yes, that means you!)

Love is...

Love is...7lbs. 10oz.
Love is...now 23lbs.
Love is...big, brown eyes
Love is...sensitive, very sensitive
Love is...needing his space
Love is...a momma's boy
Love is...a climber
Love is...laughter coming all the way from his toes
Love is...a ball lover
Love is...always wanting to be outside
Love is...a little jump in his step
Love is...18 months and 9 days old
Love is...heart melting
Love is...ticklish
Love is...so, so cuddley
Love is...a little water dog
Love is...a friend to his big sister
Love is...finding ants with Dad
Love is...little Jacks

Love is...

Love is...8lbs. 5oz.
Love is...now 35lbs.
Love is...a little best friend
Love is...crazy, everywhere hair in the morning
Love is...a little chatter box
Love is...changing clothes every 90 minutes
Love is...hugs and kisses for no reason
Love is...loving to read books
Love is...cuddling
Love is...spunk
Love is...marching to the beat of her own drum
Love is...carefree and spirited
Love is...very dramatic
Love is...3 years, 3 months and 13 days old
Love is...wrapped around my little finger (and her dad's)
Love is...the best big sister
Love is...friendly
Love is...forgiving
Love is...tender, in her own unique way
Love is...Ash

Growing Pains

I had another moment where I realized my little girl is growing up right before my eyes. I am not sure I am ready for this. She is the one growing and I am the one feeling the pain. The pain of coming to grips that with each passing day she will be that much older. I am so happy that she still loves to cuddle with me whenever she can, that she will let me rock her to sleep and I secretly love it when she comes into our bed in the middle of the night because she "missed" me. Regardless of her growing up and getting older, I will still call her my baby girl...as long as she will let me!

Yesterday...I did laundry. What's the saying...."laundry today, or naked tomorrow."
Today...I cried because my sister is moving "far, far away" in just four days and I already miss her. She is my best friend.
Tomorrow...I have a date to play Barbies with my three year old. She informed me that I get to be the "blue one". I am looking forward to it. I also get to go to the dentist. I am not looking forward to that.
I recently read...a book called 'The Message' by Lance Richardson. It is a book about a man who was able to visit the "Spirit World" or the life after this one and lived to tell about it. Lots of thoughts; no comments yet.
I am thankful for...my little niece. We just received news today that her tumor was benign! I cried again...out of gratitude to My Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers.

Change can be a Good Thing

To those of you who have visited my blog previous to this, you will notice an "obvious change". Reasoning for the change you ask?... Something new, a place for me to share my thoughts or maybe just to vent. Throughout the day I have a lot of things on my mind and well, lets be honest a three year old and a one year old won't understand most of them. So I am hoping that those of you who read this will feel free to share your thoughts, ideas and opinions on the things that I feel are blog worthy or that are just itching to get out of my brain. Thank you and please come again.....