Saturday, November 29, 2008

What I did this week....

Isaac on Stairs

Finally Walking....

                                  Standing up in

the middle of the

room.

Opening all the doors... and escaping

                      Up and down the stairs countless times a day

          Laughter

                                        Snuggles

                                                    Finding buttons to push on any household item

                        Learning new words

 

BUSY BUSY BUSY..... 

LOVABLE LOVABLE LOVABLE.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Count your many blessings.. Name them One by One... and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

I am Thankful for a greater understanding of PRAYER, and what it can do for me.

I am Thankful everyday when I understand my little

Stella

CIMG3946and her needs,(an answer to one of those prayers.)  I am even more grateful when Krysta quietly told me; she said

"I am thankful for my momma.", without hesitation. Krysta wrote it on her leaf, and Stella so perfectly hung it on the Thankful tree.  I must find ways each day to be thankful for her, and understand her better.

I am thankful for a "real man" who puts deer meat in my freezer.

I am thankful when I go into my baby'ssnuggle room and he is still awake. 

Why?

you ask... because then I get one more

snuggle.

I am thankful that Jex jex with friendstries so hard to be honest, and has the best personality ever.

I am thankful for wheelbarrow races that make me laugh so hard that I almost pee my pants.

I am thankful for good parents who taught me good values, and more importantly standards of strength. 

Me and KrystaI am thankful for a best friend who gets me, and completely understands me.  WOW!! A girlfriend who doesn't judge you, that doesn't come along very often.

As I was watching a Matthew McConaughey flick tonight the comment was made about how hunky he is... then I was politely reminded of one of my greatest blessings; "I bet he wouldn't set the tent up and have a camp out with the kids in the backyard."(I am thankful jonathan

for an attentive dad, and a HOT husband!!)

I am thankful for eternal marriage, and more importantly my good sense to marry this hunky guy.

I am thankful for my Family Squeeze

forever family.

Andrea

Thursday, November 20, 2008

What to do with all that scrapbook stuff?

In January of 2008 I switched from paper scrapbooking to digital scrapbooking. When I told people, the first sentence out of their mouth was; "What are you going to do with all that scrapbook stuff?" Well here is an example of what I will do with all that stuff. I had so much fun making this, and I created it in just a few hours.

I hung it in my kitchen window to adorn it during the holiday season. It says believe, and I think it is a wonderful word to ponder over this time of year. The night we put up our Christmas tree, I am going to talk to the kids about this word and let it be our theme for Christmas this year.

I specifically want the children to believe that a baby was born in a manger, and that he lived and died for us. We will talk about this as they unwrap their own Nativity that I had my mom buy them for Christmas. It is so cute. I wanted them to have a Nativity of their own that they could drop, pick up, and play with. After they unwrap the Nativity, I am going to let them tell us the story of the Savior's birth using the Nativity figures.

Christmas is such a magical time of year.... I BELIEVE that we can all choose to make it a memorable one as we focus on what the true meaning really is. I want my children to BELIEVE more in magic of the season, and the true reason for the season. Don't get me wrong, I still want my kids to BELIEVE in that man with the beard who comes down the chimney. I am not ready to give that up yet, but I hope to put less emphasis on that this year.

My Holiday goals are to:

1. Make the Holidays relaxing and joyful as we share them with our family.
2. Create meaningful traditions, that put more emphasis on the Savior's birth.
3. Make sure my children understand why we celebrate Christmas.


What are your Holiday expectations?



Friday, November 14, 2008

Today... I want to be a cowgirl.

My cards fell in place for me yesterday. I was mother of the year. Stella woke up and said, while eating breakfast, "I want to be a cowgirl when I grow up."
Well, the girls in our ward had arranged for us to go ride horses at the RS President's house.
Stella was in heaven! Isaac enjoyed it, but he loved watching the dogs, cows, and chickens even more. It was a fun day.

I love when my children think that it was me who helped fulfill their dreams, not just a lucky chance.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

This is where I have been...

I have been missing in action, but I got to be in attendance of this:
Doesn't she look beautiful? I am so happy for both of them. I love my sister,(I love both of them)
and I am so grateful for their happiness.

As I was sitting in the Salt Lake City Temple, watching my sister and her new husband be sealed
for time and all eternity; I couldn't help but be grateful for Temples and their significance.

I had a card with me that had this quote on it; I feel like it sums up my feelings about Temples and how I am thankful that we have them on the earth. They truly are a magnificent place, and they serve such a wonderful purpose. "God intended the family to be eternal. With all my soul, I testify to the truth of that declaration. May He bless us to strengthen our homes and the lives of each family member so that in due time we can report to our Heavenly Father in his celestial home that we are there-father, mother, sister, brother, all we hold dear. Each chair is filled. We are all back home." -Ezra Taft Benson

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Fulltime Job? No...a lifetime job.

Here I sit in an airport, all alone, by myself. Wow!! How do I feel? I should feel energetic, happy, and anxious to tackle the things I normally do with 3 kids in tow. As I sat eating my lunch, I couldn't help but feel sad. I heard a little boy say to his mom, "It's hot, hot, hot hot! I eat it?" I sat thinking about Isaac and the things he would be saying in a few short months. Although it was just minutes since I left him driving away in a car with my dear friend, I already miss him. I miss all of them. How is it that as desperately as I want to... I can't stop thinking about them? Everything reminds me of my beautiful children.

As I ponder these thoughts, it makes me realize that my job as a mother is a 24 hour job, but it's also a job that will go on for a lifetime. I will never stop thinking about them, no matter how big they grow. Even when I am away from them I still think of, and of course, worry about them.

It also made me stop and ponder those mothers who have lost children. I am sure they are always thinking about their loved ones who have passed on. It would be hard not to, just as I sit here thinking about mine who are just 20 miles away. And then, what about those mothers who are just beginning with an empty nest? I am sure even though their children are not in their home they are still on their mind.

Does mothering our children ever stop? As I thought about this, I thought in my mind, "I hope not." I don't ever want to stop thinking about my children, or being reminded of something. I hope little memories are constantly brought to the forefront, and some of my memories sparked by random events or small tokens noticed along the way.

I am so proud that I have chosen motherhood as my full time and lifetime career. I wouldn't have it any other way.

There is one other little thought that came to my mind as I pondered these thoughts. Yes, I do have too much quiet time right now. I don't experience these quiet moments very often. I do enjoy being alone with my thoughts. I also enjoy taking the time to write them down. It somehow gives me more perspective. Any how.... on to that other thought. I couldn't help but think about how our Heavenly Father must feel daily, as he is still "mothering" us. He really has a BIG BIG full time job. What a wonderful example we have. Isn't it great to know that we have someone to turn to when we are stumped in our role as parents. He has experienced all of this numerous times with an infinite amount of children. Children that he loves, thinks about, and ponders over, just as we do our own. WOW!! I just got the chills. We are all loved.

It's about time for me to board my plane, and enjoy my stay without my kids. I will do this, but it doesn't mean that I have to stop thinking about them.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Halloween Pictures for our loved ones...



....that are far away!!

I just wanted to share our Halloween adventures. It was a great day. I went on a field trip with Jex(pictures to come later) Then the kiddos could not wait to go trick or treating. We went in our neighborhood, and then down to be with some friends from our ward. The kids made a haul. They agreed to sell it to me again this year. The kids picked out their 10 favorite pieces and then I bought the rest for $5. They will still get to eat it, except it will be on my terms. It will be part of their after school snack.

It was so warm... not like many Halloweens we have had. We were sweating until the sun went down.

Jex was batman. I made the costume from a dollar store find, and a pair of sweat pants. We already had the mask. Stella was Fancy Nancy.. which is her favorite story book character. I made the tutu. It was so easy. Isaac was the beloved frog that all 3 of our children have worn.

I was once again a witch, and Jonathan was a very sleepy dad who diligently went out with his kids that he loves in spite of just getting off a 37 hour shift. We love you daddy!!



I have decided that Halloween is a lot of work. It is even harder when you have a kiddo that throws up all over your carpet at 1:30am because they ate too much. This is the 2nd year this has happened. You think I would learn. Oh well, you can't monitor everything. That is why they sell me their candy.

Happy Fall!!

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