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.
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
and 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 a "real man" who puts 
meat in my freezer.
I am thankful when I go into my baby's
room and he is still awake.
I am thankful that Jex 
tries 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.
I 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 
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 
forever family.
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?
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.
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
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.
