tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55138295536216783992024-03-04T23:31:24.420-08:00Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)Outnumbered...but wouldn't want it any other way!Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.comBlogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-40747905831227528252014-09-25T19:24:00.000-07:002014-09-25T19:41:34.789-07:00Life is messy!(this is based on my experience and in no way judging others who have different experiences... once again, I truly believe we are all doing the best we can).<br />
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So my friend and neighbor in passing while talking about kids and school, etc mentions to me, "that's why I am against the stay at home thing... kids need structure and they just can't get that at home." At first I was going to make a joke pretending to be offended, but didn't b/c I didn't want to make her feel bad b/c she knows I'm a stay at home mom. But it's been two days and I'm still thinking about that comment not pretending anymore to be offended. Maybe I really am....<br />
I am not one who gets offended over much- especially comments made by people I don't truly love or value their opinion on, like family, but this has crept up in my mind a time or two for those two days so I thought I'd process...<br />
Of course I want what's best for my children. I believe every parent does. So in the long run am I hurting them by keeping them home with me other than the 2 yrs of preschool with short hours (9-12pm)? Am I being selfish wanting them home with me? <br />
This mom was talking about how her kindergartener is so advanced and they are only learning letters, etc at this point and wondering/considering having him skip kindergarten to the first grade.<br />
I shared my opinion about how I think school is to teach children not only academically, but socially, foster independence, etc.<br />
I was thinking more about this concept yesterday and Bryce's soccer practice. For the hour while Bryce plays, Logan and Aubryn like to collect "treasures" AKA small rocks and feathers and sticks they find at the field and specifically in the dirt of the baseball diamond right next to the field. I lovingly watch them and revel in the blessing and freedom of being young and living in a world full of wonder. I get excited as they do over the small shiny rock, or the gross feather that's been found.. grateful that in a world full of technology and social media and screens that they are still so innocent and protected finding the joys of earth and just being present.<br />
I then notice other parents around me yelling at their children to "stay out of the dirt! You'll get dirty!" or "what's the matter with you.....? You've got all this area and you choose to play in the dirt?!" My heart breaks for these children just wanting to be children. <br />
This brought me back to my point of structure vs supposed chaos of staying at home. How much structure is important? Morning time- we run errands, read and/or play, lunch, nap, play some more... both with me and independently or with siblings. I think play is important. I think that childhood is important. Why are we in such a rush to have our 2 year old learn their letters and be able to spell their name? Why are we in such a rush to even potty train them if they don't care? Is it our own ego as parents? That somehow we base our worth or get validation through our children?<br />
Or can we just love them for where they are. For who they are? Not WHAT they do or what they KNOW.<br />
More than structure, I can teach my children how much they are loved, and worthy or love. I can teach them how exciting life it by trying to catch a grasshopper or butterfly. The value of teamwork by emptying the dishwasher together. What about teaching them flexibility? That life isn't always structured? In fact, many times it's not. It's messy, just like the dirt they were relishing in yesterday. The dirt I was happy to wash off their feet, out of their hair and off (mostly) of their clothes. Logan wants to run on the dirt without shoes? Great... feel the earth. Be grounded. Live and enjoy life. Not providing my children with structure has given them so much more.... a childhood. Something they will never again have the opportunity to experience. Even at the early age of 5- children are gone all day and when they do come home in the afternoon exhausted, the have homework. So why "prepare" them now? Why can't we just let them be? <br />
My children have not been the top of their class academically, but teachers have always commented on how compassionate, and kind and well behaved they are. (Not that I'm taking the credit and filling my worthy b/c my kids are so dang awesome;) But because they learn at home. They love at home. They are children at home. The rest can come later...<br />
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<br />Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-12760661347906875552014-03-02T19:47:00.000-08:002014-03-02T20:08:30.587-08:00Healing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivccudBa_ImtCyUZCH44bT7W6947a1TbFd3uKEyDElyxb3CVR-pXUs0UaUn___jRcqP4NCUreXDZpGOPZsgCKb4XZFvHy1KzOLHWtrauuN81RDr9mTWdJ3hrmhEa6Gv_nIIKJZBlrtR-cI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivccudBa_ImtCyUZCH44bT7W6947a1TbFd3uKEyDElyxb3CVR-pXUs0UaUn___jRcqP4NCUreXDZpGOPZsgCKb4XZFvHy1KzOLHWtrauuN81RDr9mTWdJ3hrmhEa6Gv_nIIKJZBlrtR-cI/s320/photo.JPG" /></a></div>We had a great night tonight over at the Petersens house. My mom gave me an Elsa doll with a very touching note I will cherish forever admonishing me to "let it go" meaning the past pains and hurt I've endured. It will forever be symbolic to me. Especailly since I've been online and looked at prices which are a bit crazy right now. 50.00 bucks for a doll or more. And this Elsa is the perfect one with the glittery dress and all. :) Yes, I'm a kid at heart. But more than the love I have for the movie and music and joy it brings me seeing and hearing my daughter dance and sing to the songs, I love the thought, the gift, note and message the doll and note are expressing to me. It's time I "let it go." And I think like forgiveness it is a process. At times I feel like I've completely forgiven those who have let me down, hurt or betrayed me, and other times (although rare) those emotions are at the very surface threatening to to bring me down to the depths with them. I know how strong I am and what I've endured and learned from, however, those moments of pain are real. And I feel like that little girl, or that teenager, or young adult that was alone, neglected and forgotten.
I am not her. She is not me. The future is mine and it is bright. I have so much to be grateful for. My family that I've created with a sweet husband. For the smiles, the laughs, the sweet and tender moments of hearing them sing primary songs or bear their testimony either over the pulpit or in private with me. Watching them master something they've been working on and holding them through the tears... it's all beautiful and it's mine.
All the cousins sang and danced to all the "Frozen" songs tonight (ok and me too), and we had a great time. Family is such a wonderful blessing and having us all close to create memories like that even if it is just for this year is amazing.
Carter and Emma acted out the parts and Eliza and I sang different parts. Aubryn did it all. lol. She is a little ray of sunshine. She danced around with my doll and sang her little heart out. It was a beautiful thing.
I feel fiercly protective of my children, especially my little girl. I fully expect them to all have struggles and insecurities and stumble and fall. That is part of life and although not looking forward to that, know that is how they will learn and grow and become the people and adults God intends them to be. Withough trials, none of us can grow and progress. What I am refering to is protecting them from others around them who put their interests above those of my children. Who might use and abuse. Who won't treat them as the treasures they are. I wish I could protect them from these people. From the world at times. It really does take faith to raise children in this day and age with so much wickedness.
My desire for them is to hold fast to the knowledge that they are literally princes and a princess. As they are direct desendants of God, the Almighty, our King. They are His children and He knows each one of them. Their likes and dislikes, their strengths and weaknesses, their joys and hurts. And He just loves. He created our spirits and is rooting for us to make correct choices so we can return to live with Him and our families forever in joy.
Family brings joy. And tonight mine is full.
Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-53202736099015274852014-02-25T19:10:00.002-08:002014-03-02T20:11:03.504-08:00Walls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Walls. What do they do for us? How do they hurt us? Hurt me? The tricky thing about putting up walls around your heart is that it protects And it hurt you. But not only you- the people close (as close as you'll let them get)to you, you hurt too.
I often find that I am misunderstood. I've been told by family on more than one occassion that I'm very opinionated to the point that I won't allow others to express their opinion if it is not the same as mine. When in fact, I crave dialouge with differing opinions. To get to know how others view the world and hear why and get to know them through those opinions often form by their personal experiences. I would love some push and pull feedback on differing opinions to help broaden my horizons and open my eyes to things I am not seeing or aware of. And yet I hear that I come across to some as "my way or the highway." And it hurts.
My walls are not fully constructed. Over the years, especially this past year as it's been safer to, I've let those walls come down. I haven't sent in a wrecking ball to completely destroy them however. Maybe that is the trick. You need to either destroy the walls and be completely vulnerable, real and open and feel with your whole heart OR you get that sucker as high and build it as strong as you possibly can. Because the wall half built is not serving me well.
To afraid to let it come down and yet not willing to have it be completly up for the hope and desire to connect more with myself and those around me. To deveop more meaningful and real relationships.
The half wall is down just enough to "try" out but not down enough for those to see into my soul. This is probably what leads to misunderstandings. Trying to voice my opinion (because that is a vulnerable thing especially if what you are sharing is something you've thought and prayed a lot about and possibly might be disreguarded by those you share with), and yet not having it down enough to listen to their opinions in turn. That that extra little bit of effort might throw you off the already unstable emotional line you are walking.
Unstable emotional line? That's a bit dramatic eh? Most of the time on a daily basis, I am fine. I am happy and content and I laugh and play and I live. I guess where that emotional line comes in when I try to reconcile who I am today and who I was in the past. That little girl, or teenager for that matter that felt brushed under the rug or not heard. That i was not and am still not worth hearing. So I overcompensate.
Why are the "easiest" relationships the hardest? Family who is supposed to love you unconditionally... can they really love you if they don't know you? How can you let them know you fully if you don't trust that they really love you? That they will continue to love you?
How can you stop the hurt? Build a wall... but how can you feel the love? Bring down the wall.
Not fulling willing to commit to either, I am at an impass...
A song my beautiful daughter sings daily (several times daily in fact) is the song, "Let it Go" from Frozen.
"Don't let them in, don't let them see... be the good girl you always have to be. Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know..." What if I let them know?
What if I let them in and they don't like what they see? What if they doubt the person I have become? I have tried to say, "I feel..." and they don't buy it. Or profess that I am not a certain way and it's not believed... then what? I feel stuck sometimes and want to run away to a place where no one knows me. To cut all ties and just be me. To discover who I really am and to be allowed to be that person. To be free.
Feeling and identifying with Elsa in that movie is so real for me. To be all alone in her cold castle, and yet to be so relieved to be free. To stop trying to be perfect and always falling short. To not worry about hurting anyone you love or giving off the wrong impression in what you do or say or even how you say the "right" thing. It's weird how being alone is lonley and being in a room full of people who are "supposed" to love you is more lonley.
Elsa sings, "No right, no wrong, no rules for me... I'm FREE!" How do you get there without building those frozen castle walls around your heart?
I find I even try to hide my vulnerability from the Lord. I thank Him. I am strong. I repent and try to do better. Even with Him I don't listen. Maybe scared of what He would say... what is He does not love me if He truly knew me? If He can't, how can anyone?
I long to be free. I long to be real. I just am not sure how.
I suppose it comes with being real with myself first. To allow myself to feel everything as it washes over me. To somehow find the time to do that and not tune out those thoughts and feelings at the end of the day when I am just so tired and done.
So who am I?
A wife. A wife who loves her husband and the good man and the good heart he has. Who has been hurt by past actions, words and lack of action and words. And yet, I know he loves me. I must continue to allow him to love me. To open and soften my heart to that love because I fear sometimes I am missing it and it's right there in front of me.
A mother. Not a perfect one which I hate and yet know can't possibly be. I know that my mistakes will allow my children to find their inner strength. To not be everything to and for them because only God and our Savior can be that and it's ok and important for them to know that.
To just be an example to them of Christlike love. To teach them it's ok to make mistakes by making my own and yet loving through it all.
A daugher. That's a tricky one. I know I am loved as any parent loves their child. I am constantly being served by my parents, especially my mom- another example of love. Calls, constant thought given,smiles, visits... all these things say love. Then where is the block? Why the wall? Guilty feelings for being a difficult teenager and causing them worry, stress, financial burdeon and not being able to move on? Being that stubborn teenager in their minds and somehow stuck there because I am not showing them another side of me? WOuld they believe it if they saw it? Have they seen it and just disreguarded it? Not allowing myself to embrace the love they offer because I feel hurt and misunderstood as if they don't really know me. And yet, that's my fault. I don't let them in. I don't know how.
A sister. Sigh. Those relationships are not what I want them to be either... I'm stuck there too. I'm the stubborn opinionated my way or the highway sister, the mean big bully sister, the furniture nazi, the cold and mightier than thou sister.
A friend. I am such a great friend. I uplift, I encourage, I listen, I empathize, I serve with my time, energy and advice. They view me completly differnt than my family does. I hear, flexible, easy going, funny, positive and optimistic, a good example...
So who is the real me? Do I act all that different around friends than family?? I must. Just so puzzling.
A few things I know about me for sure...
I love the outdoors. I love the sunshine. I love the water. To play in warm rain or just lay outside on the driveway in it as it washes over me. The light warm breeze before a storm that smells so fresh. I love and appreciate others authenticity. I feel so drained when others put up a front trying to be clever or funny when really I just want to see their heart and who they are and what makes them tick. I suppose I am a drain on others as I attempt to keep myself at arms distance. I am what I detest at times.
I love music. I love how it makes me feel and lifts my spirit when I am down. I love being able to sway and dance to the rhythem as it goes through my soul and connects with my heart. I love hugs. And yet, I don't always allow them or if I do, I don't FEEL them. I love allowing myself to feel them and the love and acceptance that they provide when I am open to them. I love to help where and when I can. I will be there at the drop of a hat should someone need or want my help. For both friends and family. I desire to uplift those around me and to feel of God's love as I try to love them.
I want to "let it go" "let it go" so it won't "hold me back anymore" I want to be as free as my daughter who sings this song at the top of her voice with such passion and emotion in her face and through her little body as she twirls on her heels and flys through the house. I want to be able to honestly say, "I don't care what they're going to say..." more from a place of it is what it is and I am who I am more than a place of screw you if you don't like me. To be okay with myself enough to have others not be okay with me. And if I am really real and they are still not okay with me. I should be ok with that.
As for now, I suppose I am in such a panic to not hear or feel rejection, I don't give others around me (family usually)the chance to discredit what I feel.
I also suppose becoming more real and taking the chance with that, I need to allow others to do the same. To open myself up to uncertainty and hurt. But as it is, I am uncertain and hurting with those interactions so why not just let the rest of the wall down and see what happens?
Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-11040388477565928232014-02-24T08:10:00.001-08:002014-02-24T08:10:09.968-08:00Thoughts...So... been two years since I posted last. Good greif! Been trying to figure out ways to document our family events, my thougts and feelings and everything in between. I've tried several differnt methods- each child having their own journal I keep for them in a document, facebook, just taking several pics with our nice Nikon SLR camera and letting the pics tell themselves promising myself I will do yearly picture books (right after Bryce's baby book- he is SEVEN!). Needless to say, it's just not happeneing. I think I have felt overwhelmed wanting to document every good thing that's happened and every precious memory or funny things my children have said or done, but what can I say? I am too blessed I supposed because there is just TOO MUCH of all that stuff. So I am just going to start from today and hope it's not two more years until I post next.
There is really no "point" to my writing today. Just to clear my mind and my heart or thoughts, feelings, ramblings that need to go somewhere.
I read a lady's blog last night until almost 2am. It was a horrific story about her husband being killed by the husband of the lady he was having an affair with. They had 5 small children from 5 to 6 weeks old. They met and attended Utah State University, the same place Brady and I gradutated from and lived for 3 years just after we got married. So mentioning the Logan temple, the University, and everything was so real to me. Although we've been married almost 13 years, it seems like only yesterday we were just starting our life together in that beautiful, peaceful place. Some of my best and happiest memories happened there. It was our first home, first time I had bought a car, graduated, our first child was born there. The first time I was a "grown up" so to say. Married to a man I promised and covenanted to spend eternity with.
This couple had done the same. Made the same promises to each other and God. And he is dead. She is a widow at 28 and a single mom to 5 babies. I makes me ponder and think... how do you get to that point? What can I do to continue having the life that I have and love. Not to say I love it everyday. There are certainly more times than I'd like to admit that I feel like I am failing. As a wife, as a friend, daughter, sister, mother... failing as a person. I have felt overwhelmed with the mundane tasks and chores that I allow to become my world instead of the people inside my world being my focus.
I have never wanted my children to feel like a burdeon in any shape or form. I remember feeling that way when I was growing up. Feeling as if I wasn't there, my parents life would be more simple, easy and they would have more peace. And I would have more peace. Those are heavy feelings for a child, and as I type realize just how heavy as tears fill my 32 year old eyes.
I feel like sometimes I do that to my own children. Children I love so dearly. Children I would give my life for in a second. Children who are so precious to me I would take pee all over the bathroom floors and walls and dirty socks and dishes and mud stains and toothpaste on the carpet over ANY of them not being here. Do I tell them that enough? Do I show them that enough? With my words, deeds, and especially tone and energy I carry around our home? Not as much as I would like to. Not consistantly enough anyways...
I have to remind myself however, that I - just like my children are God's children. He created our spirits. Mine and theirs. He is our Heavenly Father. One that loves us perfectly. That teaches us... if we listen. I want to learn and be better. I want to have love spew through everything I say and everything I do. Not only so my children (and husband) know I love them. But more importantly to allow them to feel of God's love for them.
Even in my failings, I am loved. Even when I don't deserve His love. It is there. I want to emulate that perfect example. Not that I am perfect. I know I will never be perfect. But if I can learn from the perfect parent how to love then myself and my family will be ok.
Love is a funny thing... we all want it. And yet sometimes when it is right there in front of us, we don't take it. Why is that? Pain from the past? Walls we have built? Fear of getting hurt? Not feeling worthy of that love? Self preservation? YES. For me anyways...
I hesitate writing the thoughts and feelings as they come to my mind and heart. Perhaps too personal? Too vulnerable? Too real? That's what I desire to be though... real. That's what I want my kids to learn and understand as they become adults. That it's okay to doubt, to fear, to question... it's part of life. Because with all of that also comes hope. And that hope is through the Savior. I know that I am never alone. I also know that all my thoughts and feelings have been felt before- by Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane- not only the sins were suffered, but the uncertainty, the self doubt, the lonliness, the inner turmoil humans will inevitably feel and face because we are mortal. As long as we don't loose hope- we are okay.
I have had a great morning so far. Playing with Logan, spending that one on one time while the others are in school (for a couple hrs at least. I have been cheerful, happy and grateful to be a mother and wife to look beyond the mountains of laundry, and dishes in the sink (again), and the toddler eating toothpaste and playing in the toilet to really just cherish those moments. Because that is what they are- moments. Moments I am going to miss. Those little pony underwear in the mountain of laundry will someday be no more, the toys, and plastic sippie cups will be a thing of the past. The toilet will be clean and the smell of pee will be gone, but so will the moments of trying to get my son to pee INTO the dang thing in the middle of the night when his alarm goes off or my toddler emulating his father by "plunging" it and then flushing down a plastic toy fish...
Oppostition in all things. It's all about our attitude and attitude is a choice. Shall I look at my blessings with resentment because those blessings also bring a lot of work? Just like my attitude is my choice, so is my decision to be a stay at home mom. If I worked outside the home I would miss the blow outs and the spills and the stained clothes... but I would also miss all the laughs, hugs, kisses, stories, books, and just the day to day minute to minute. I would not want to miss a minute, not a moment of those things for ANYTHING in the world! Bring on the laundry! I am blessed...
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vDkgnxzt4gZ_tnsBKnHD4X4gvITDsmQtPDTX3PadO1G-VtgUjMPAu3soZWq2Ses0eqHALvUn8Oif97j2Vx7rKme57puXqddzI7SBjJy-LMMqO51An3TSWzBCzBH3r0kPONxsMyABaR7R/s1600/DSC_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vDkgnxzt4gZ_tnsBKnHD4X4gvITDsmQtPDTX3PadO1G-VtgUjMPAu3soZWq2Ses0eqHALvUn8Oif97j2Vx7rKme57puXqddzI7SBjJy-LMMqO51An3TSWzBCzBH3r0kPONxsMyABaR7R/s320/DSC_1179.JPG" /></a>Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-71437346217836529922012-02-14T09:42:00.000-08:002012-02-14T16:12:29.924-08:00Sing a little sick tune...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxAZ0c-Z7FBebW2fBRMd4YjlwDzzXmlOaXtTStuJXT7EN4XBJhueECRYwnfUlDOL6Ooh_nOHLUkFR6yRuQo40gWRaTHTx_MQWhuTlWMnhSpDgUnIOmAjsAF606UNXuDAUewAtUZ7_4v8P/s1600/DSC_0688.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDxAZ0c-Z7FBebW2fBRMd4YjlwDzzXmlOaXtTStuJXT7EN4XBJhueECRYwnfUlDOL6Ooh_nOHLUkFR6yRuQo40gWRaTHTx_MQWhuTlWMnhSpDgUnIOmAjsAF606UNXuDAUewAtUZ7_4v8P/s320/DSC_0688.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709084450295560242" /></a> (Taken at a healthier, happier time...)<br /><br />Poor Bryce has been sick for a couple days with a stomach bug or something. He spiked a fever at my parents Sunday night and proceeded to throw up through the night. I became part of a bedtime sandwich as he was in and out of our bed all night... climbing in on my side, squeezing me in the middle between him and Brady.<br />He ended up wetting our bed, throwing up the next night, and maintaining his fever. (104). He cries every few minutes wanting me to make his belly stop hurting and I totally would if I could! Now it's coming from both ends...<br />I feel bad for him... and myself too. I'm got a queasy stomach as well and it's just tiring not feeling well yourself, exhausted and caring for one sick and two well children. I sat down this afternoon on our second full day (has it really only been 2 days?) and wrote this poem to the tune of "My favorite Things..." It helps to find humor in these "fun" times. Enjoy!<br /><br />Vomit on carpet at midnight that first day...<br />followed by crying, whens it going to be May?<br />Back aches and fever and crying some more...<br />vomit again by my bedroom door.<br /><br />Up every hour to whining and moving,<br />snoring by husband- man, now we are grooving!<br />Wake to soaked bedsheets by boy not the man,<br />stomach still hurting, go and sit on the can.<br /><br />Didn't quite make it, now floor is unclean,<br />so are the blankets, we'll need the machine.<br />Gross yellow splatter appears on the wall,<br />Diarrhea everywhere - oh what a ball!<br /><br />When your son cries,<br />when he pukes too,<br />when he's feeling sad...<br />I simply remember how much I love him,<br />and then I don't feel so bad (or mad)!Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-73599829948025523952012-02-12T17:58:00.000-08:002012-02-12T18:33:21.458-08:00Quiet momentsBaby girl had a fever a few days ago and wasn't sleeping. I had just laid my head down around 11:30pm and of course, almost as if she can sense it, she wakes up crying, "ma-nee!" (Not sure why she says ma-nee for mommy, but I can't bear to correct her b/c it's so stinkin cute)! Ok, almost everything she does is cute to me. :) Anyways... I drag myself out of bed, stumble down the hall and pick up my feverish baby and plop in the rocking chair. The exhaustion left my body as I began to sing some of her favorite songs. I began to trace her face watching her eyes slowly close and open in rhythem to my caress. Overwhelming love consumed me as I held this beautiful baby girl in my arms. "She is so beautiful..." is what I kept thinking over and over as I held and rocked her. "I can't believe she is mine! I made this sweet thing...." I felt so grateful to the Lord for my baby girl. For all my children. I felt so undeserving of such blessing... so inadequate and humble to be a mother to these choice spirits of God. I wanted so much to not let them down... to let the Lord down... to let myself down. I am all too aware how imperfect I am, how much I have to learn. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sacred responsibility of motherhood. How much it influences, impacts and molds their personalities and view of the world. I don't take that lightly. I know that I could never do it on my own. I am grateful to God and his Son to help make up for my failings. To have the ability to learn and improve each day. To teach my children, the Lords grace is available to them as well. As is Christ's redeeming sacrifice and unconditional love. <br />I love being a mom. It's in quiet moments like the one I had with Aubryn the other night that it hits me like a ton of bricks... I am everything I've wanted to be. Although not perfect, I am a mother. I am so blessed.Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-40351175077813948102012-01-25T18:37:00.000-08:002012-01-25T19:37:45.905-08:00Trick or Treat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBaC4_nW_oBQ6tW1k832-2g4_6EGJNpu4j83b9fIPg4LXFwilq3nI5H6_mn0YGsSDIDPAUR5Gmg4BGkXqrWa4QT3JB49c7LduNME1M6EujsD3k7xFiVOk18X6rrZxkfFX-VCWRHj5uIby/s1600/DSC_1136.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjBaC4_nW_oBQ6tW1k832-2g4_6EGJNpu4j83b9fIPg4LXFwilq3nI5H6_mn0YGsSDIDPAUR5Gmg4BGkXqrWa4QT3JB49c7LduNME1M6EujsD3k7xFiVOk18X6rrZxkfFX-VCWRHj5uIby/s320/DSC_1136.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701773710516801026" /></a><br />Seriously one of the best holidays ever! Gotta love Halloween and everything about it! The weather, the costumes, the parties, the pumpkins, hayrides, and who can forget the candy?!<br /><br />Also making Halloween extra special this year was grandma and grandpa Darrington visiting from Idaho! We love having them here- and the kids love the extra attention, hugs and kisses and being spoiled. :)<br /><br />Our kids (ok, and me too) love the idea of dressing up as a family. We decided to go with the theme of Peter Pan. Of course Bryce being Captain Hook since he is our Pirate man, Carter the main man, Peter Pan as he never slows down, has so much energy and moves about so fast it almost seems as if he really is flying... Who could be a more adorable Tinkerbell than little miss Aubryn leaving myself to be Wendy and Brady... hmmmm.... well we've got Smee or the Crocodile. We thought the crocodile was the best bet wearing all green and I would somehow make a snout or something and hang a timer/clock around his neck.... until I heard someone in Bryce's class doing the same theme and their dad going as Peter Pan's shadow. Easy and simple. Right down my alley and Brady's comfort level. Although I still think other trick or treaters were a bit concerned seeing a 6'5 man dressed in all black walking around the neighborhood... we got it. :)<br /><br />To begin the day, we all went to Larriland Farm thinking we'd do the hayride, get cider, eat some apple fritters and pick some apples.... turns out...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcMUoTLxfup0J6rzkBR6sp3GFT9wpEqscyAKmzoyXs5rNdAPzh_NOv7fAIiDCVMBVulWCc0zrTvnaMOQq3VzTcDwjnXo8pW1Ttk0IBAhTq0vW8Tpik8yVlcl0EYkx96aam87d6YPGandB/s1600/DSC_1154.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYcMUoTLxfup0J6rzkBR6sp3GFT9wpEqscyAKmzoyXs5rNdAPzh_NOv7fAIiDCVMBVulWCc0zrTvnaMOQq3VzTcDwjnXo8pW1Ttk0IBAhTq0vW8Tpik8yVlcl0EYkx96aam87d6YPGandB/s320/DSC_1154.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701769795653220802" /></a> <br />With an early snow... apples weren't lookin so hot... pretty though right?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhiBn5Z-KiZUB7Gvg41tJnqq6YCXgELMw34UpZa9cv8-wgdI3z-Bm97TzI3FgtOhS2f6k5DrZbMcffTi0avdr9NzkfTHS-zGJ4C3SJ-JWBK0F_EZn4KB-kW80YZIDE85QI7WA__SHaj1E/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhiBn5Z-KiZUB7Gvg41tJnqq6YCXgELMw34UpZa9cv8-wgdI3z-Bm97TzI3FgtOhS2f6k5DrZbMcffTi0avdr9NzkfTHS-zGJ4C3SJ-JWBK0F_EZn4KB-kW80YZIDE85QI7WA__SHaj1E/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701771002692608562" /></a><br />Brady with his three kiddos...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovXqa98KLqng-6OQpXdWbNgy6Xa0gCHK-1GCH9R2m5d-YfJzbndIMm2TV1hNy31GSYJyCPIcCySkxZXpmDS-JMFz_hoT-zgM2MqxH2RIqhjY59iQwI2dDo8nJtDuZKzyWb6Z1qOCogLak/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovXqa98KLqng-6OQpXdWbNgy6Xa0gCHK-1GCH9R2m5d-YfJzbndIMm2TV1hNy31GSYJyCPIcCySkxZXpmDS-JMFz_hoT-zgM2MqxH2RIqhjY59iQwI2dDo8nJtDuZKzyWb6Z1qOCogLak/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701770147885117394" /></a><br />And Bryce did love making and throwing snowballs...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkoPWuU3BZo2gpfunxFeRJ4hgEWTq5rE9lNZqQzvtsFTXytYRpm_yRcsXBAmYEEP3DlQ-AjaOV2R36WoUNLNeXEd1JzeNntccaU_rVsZTIkMuxXbQohZHR9NLvF-TY1D-b8khzsqPt4Yk/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkoPWuU3BZo2gpfunxFeRJ4hgEWTq5rE9lNZqQzvtsFTXytYRpm_yRcsXBAmYEEP3DlQ-AjaOV2R36WoUNLNeXEd1JzeNntccaU_rVsZTIkMuxXbQohZHR9NLvF-TY1D-b8khzsqPt4Yk/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701770410251266754" /></a><br />Watch out Grandpa!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ghM0nnzaQ6OfjZ8zF3nVrbRJnsAn6lC_a35I0vZW4bS7Qu3-keVPuaDRwnLci0f2J7Nvsdjf2Eu3XBq4sJoWYsADtVUqDoX5EEuYkAzd7TxT2ziPtyljwPHlwaUaXNQ5RO63Q-GX_NOZ/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ghM0nnzaQ6OfjZ8zF3nVrbRJnsAn6lC_a35I0vZW4bS7Qu3-keVPuaDRwnLci0f2J7Nvsdjf2Eu3XBq4sJoWYsADtVUqDoX5EEuYkAzd7TxT2ziPtyljwPHlwaUaXNQ5RO63Q-GX_NOZ/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701770698397599138" /></a><br />I enjoyed being the one being pushed for a change... :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHfvBPBUwHgvH6dJVmZTtue4HJ8fi_xpcdcHk-PXZThZEFUT2MEh7-oA69PKqTGHxj0WxnZ78w6QWJvwAM_oMrGsDY_fxSQgQ5Xt9HvTxDJ5fp0qM19uFpN6nYqNrdeBlAbuVLySYT4Ji/s1600/DSC_1158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHfvBPBUwHgvH6dJVmZTtue4HJ8fi_xpcdcHk-PXZThZEFUT2MEh7-oA69PKqTGHxj0WxnZ78w6QWJvwAM_oMrGsDY_fxSQgQ5Xt9HvTxDJ5fp0qM19uFpN6nYqNrdeBlAbuVLySYT4Ji/s320/DSC_1158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701771367616781458" /></a><br />Slim pickin's...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFNEstMfFjE1a4koitHm4HdilEJ5eTLr4xVLyd6peF3FuEyMEIxCEdEvfI2fE3q9v1oQFRO6IkotClnoGugvUqYE8qUtAc89TrJtzKKxEeIOvKp8BERwwKiBP7oLKbEhBz-02JV4Cw_NZ/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFNEstMfFjE1a4koitHm4HdilEJ5eTLr4xVLyd6peF3FuEyMEIxCEdEvfI2fE3q9v1oQFRO6IkotClnoGugvUqYE8qUtAc89TrJtzKKxEeIOvKp8BERwwKiBP7oLKbEhBz-02JV4Cw_NZ/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701771651976566930" /></a><br />Good thing for Grandpa. He was determined... I was enjoying being pushed through the aisles of apples holding Aubryn, Carter pushing and Bryce throwing and eating snow... Grandpa walked up and down the apple orchard finding one or two here and one or two there until we got half a bag full...lol. At least we didn't leave empty handed. :)<br />Especially since pumpkins were so expensive! We decided after looking through them, to buy them at the grocery store closer to home. The boys were disappointed b/c they brought their dump trucks ready to find the perfect pumpkin... but I think they got over it and we were still able to have some fun.<br /><br /><br />It was our first year trick or treating in our new house as last year was Sunday. I wasn't sure how I'd like it as townhomes we got a lot of candy in a short amount of time as the houses were so close together. I seriously debated driving to our old house and trick or treating there. Turns our, it was great here! Still got more than enough candy and didn't feel so crowded and squished- kids could run around more. It was great! Oh, the kids had fun too. <br /><br />Aubryn quickly got the hang of it! She mumbled her ick or eet and a-ooo (thank you) and toddled off to the next house. In fact, now that it's January and the boys still have a couple pieces left on the top of the fridge in their pumpkin buckets, she will point to it and say, "ween?" Or recently, "candy- ween?" Made an impact... :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkL5Ae8F4u0lh_TCeFkFlzS9cpEeQp_Zp5t5bKqc6GZ0_LtMe8IWP5LmTu7Kkv0TPGTFL12q_iK6UqSCc5p1lBRoPo6boL52WELgFpENgYxkJEgW0h7tsIhFRfBhX3Hk4HcBdLAj3GFYL/s1600/DSC_0029.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXkL5Ae8F4u0lh_TCeFkFlzS9cpEeQp_Zp5t5bKqc6GZ0_LtMe8IWP5LmTu7Kkv0TPGTFL12q_iK6UqSCc5p1lBRoPo6boL52WELgFpENgYxkJEgW0h7tsIhFRfBhX3Hk4HcBdLAj3GFYL/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701774794374991122" /></a><br />Our awesome cosutmes. I found my nightgown at the thrift store... although no one knew who I was... I think I totally look like her! Same color night gown, sash... come on now! At least our family knew as was excited about it... and of course no one got who/what Brady was. No, he is not a stalker... ;)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW80aLcUwOy7PZget07t7ZkU1fPpLAEzkRBM-v9-pECZQ4IGxGbTQoegIthMmn4NELuc6FWHar9V4apF4AJoZiGQW6dws8TGadI_TaX8Vm0qj70qKYQG3WcYWwyVVjqI_J1HKoC_KhIC69/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW80aLcUwOy7PZget07t7ZkU1fPpLAEzkRBM-v9-pECZQ4IGxGbTQoegIthMmn4NELuc6FWHar9V4apF4AJoZiGQW6dws8TGadI_TaX8Vm0qj70qKYQG3WcYWwyVVjqI_J1HKoC_KhIC69/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701775442926510050" /></a><br />Arrrggg! Let's get goin mateys!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk1erD-PmqBhrEC4DhMLzYpsQohQ-zQs_J5IsbhBCNDNroRtHYGCCHkTQJeyIlIndoJuVcGq2e_7oY0Js52pZzlN9pBCwXgIMAO0tIulHrXgIWneDQ1lmGNmHNYqInHwPI4nZaGQIj3K4/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk1erD-PmqBhrEC4DhMLzYpsQohQ-zQs_J5IsbhBCNDNroRtHYGCCHkTQJeyIlIndoJuVcGq2e_7oY0Js52pZzlN9pBCwXgIMAO0tIulHrXgIWneDQ1lmGNmHNYqInHwPI4nZaGQIj3K4/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701775742151941506" /></a><br />The trio!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQDi3R7TlvFyGLEQYzooHNCsMNHv5A48JJqLas7tFpIlVNXJvyc9fmRjwm4L9IWwxBNJGn1mzFPNHTdlHI3Evf0isN2w20bJ6B61ornPPHZum30qF_Xw-op_v8Cq11O7Huk96mOFmWV3d/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQDi3R7TlvFyGLEQYzooHNCsMNHv5A48JJqLas7tFpIlVNXJvyc9fmRjwm4L9IWwxBNJGn1mzFPNHTdlHI3Evf0isN2w20bJ6B61ornPPHZum30qF_Xw-op_v8Cq11O7Huk96mOFmWV3d/s320/DSC_0042.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701776710298956018" /></a><br />Trick or Treat!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEutKAJsM7ClngqxsJuPLW6iwJ4WPo8Tcl8KRsNv32_fKuCi13JXWxe5u-kOjJoYZmBoWt6Qlh3Ju8b0ZabT8fN005xqdmRhO8rAwLzd29DErno6VX5GxAPXdNrDw43-ftpYfHxh2PZ04d/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEutKAJsM7ClngqxsJuPLW6iwJ4WPo8Tcl8KRsNv32_fKuCi13JXWxe5u-kOjJoYZmBoWt6Qlh3Ju8b0ZabT8fN005xqdmRhO8rAwLzd29DErno6VX5GxAPXdNrDw43-ftpYfHxh2PZ04d/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701775995303248674" /></a><br />After gathering the loot, home again with the candy passer-outers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsPvLesQ3_EIZ-evHmgEJKZj6B4elm1ZC5kpM8Oab21EdRexJIoaaTCus3YYRFopuCq1Z4nRIb_P8E93UEwy0nx-66Gbn0ouoiObIedx1mNyr0_eBMxNRZ_8eEyS8bpNZDJpMWef6I3Uz/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsPvLesQ3_EIZ-evHmgEJKZj6B4elm1ZC5kpM8Oab21EdRexJIoaaTCus3YYRFopuCq1Z4nRIb_P8E93UEwy0nx-66Gbn0ouoiObIedx1mNyr0_eBMxNRZ_8eEyS8bpNZDJpMWef6I3Uz/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701777311214521362" /></a><br />Grandpa helping Carter find (or stealing) the best pieces... :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepwYEaEUX_ChrpEL9OajdSjxXCLZzXPIq1zw6-3QNEn0tZWeDcQ7fapfehQFyz76sC5wuxPku9VNCEugV8NemEoXQgwnxIPXj6V4oTw39dsyoysPqbHQgnVWRqIQBdWBc4fhMcumQYXhr/s1600/DSC_0098.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepwYEaEUX_ChrpEL9OajdSjxXCLZzXPIq1zw6-3QNEn0tZWeDcQ7fapfehQFyz76sC5wuxPku9VNCEugV8NemEoXQgwnxIPXj6V4oTw39dsyoysPqbHQgnVWRqIQBdWBc4fhMcumQYXhr/s320/DSC_0098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701776993797235922" /></a><br />Of course need to trick or treat and the Petersen Grandparents house and show off our cuteness!<br />Notice how in almost every picture Aubryn has a lollypop in her mouth? And no, it's not the same one... she must have had 6 or 7... <br />Maybe it was the candy high that led to this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bzsPv-0fWUUUWF4vpfT9ZDdiGp0qVUkLbE7uWq43beihY9_ZCB7yYWcxoHyd2lZDmRcxwDbqtD2Cce5UZ-bRCDWrOVXkxPJ4T8ejhecC5rUfMZNIqIWosd2Sasbpdj1kMaxSohu9mln1/s1600/DSC_0113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4bzsPv-0fWUUUWF4vpfT9ZDdiGp0qVUkLbE7uWq43beihY9_ZCB7yYWcxoHyd2lZDmRcxwDbqtD2Cce5UZ-bRCDWrOVXkxPJ4T8ejhecC5rUfMZNIqIWosd2Sasbpdj1kMaxSohu9mln1/s320/DSC_0113.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701777682658319314" /></a><br />Aubryn trying out her wings...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPamV0eHJRhuFM6nU34SFiJaUrnPmYc0hj3VVfhlFqaAz2XJcXWHFggf9qlLX6DF5tL_eOHGgXoKktRV0kkMM-yas1enQqGFtnMmxXLYtiAnfiZJIQmFYir8QoDmPy4nNbMpwMD1YF4bM4/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPamV0eHJRhuFM6nU34SFiJaUrnPmYc0hj3VVfhlFqaAz2XJcXWHFggf9qlLX6DF5tL_eOHGgXoKktRV0kkMM-yas1enQqGFtnMmxXLYtiAnfiZJIQmFYir8QoDmPy4nNbMpwMD1YF4bM4/s320/DSC_0114.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701777956826360594" /></a><br />All you need is faith, trust and pixie dust!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqAEmKbiZUKhyJ-ipexWIVLd3EnOg9w2GChgi0wKCoSqTmcJBbHO4ZDIe6Fpz0xTdQXl4HTZVCM7APAv41FfeLj2IrKJWaSclSAAlPVvQWGDmVFf7qKVaEKiPvVqTJUdcqokaDFlGwxss/s1600/DSC_0115.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqAEmKbiZUKhyJ-ipexWIVLd3EnOg9w2GChgi0wKCoSqTmcJBbHO4ZDIe6Fpz0xTdQXl4HTZVCM7APAv41FfeLj2IrKJWaSclSAAlPVvQWGDmVFf7qKVaEKiPvVqTJUdcqokaDFlGwxss/s320/DSC_0115.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701778257090366898" /></a><br />Gotcha!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2Zj2BVwKzlnzeUo4zCa9QsGzL3-WTdrlNXQl1tIwBmTGnLqLynoveKmghY0AI00fVwOgSpUiNhl7yEvwuFSHQCtgmASO4zH-ZiheDi4HmX8pzV45rGBlAdIlVkYXt4At9wsG6V-OgeYH/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2Zj2BVwKzlnzeUo4zCa9QsGzL3-WTdrlNXQl1tIwBmTGnLqLynoveKmghY0AI00fVwOgSpUiNhl7yEvwuFSHQCtgmASO4zH-ZiheDi4HmX8pzV45rGBlAdIlVkYXt4At9wsG6V-OgeYH/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701778575493429858" /></a><br />Ok, maybe it takes faith, trust, pixie dust, laughter...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eqjA2uiaJcSBRLUreAifvLfyxWC_CM27oPSYOxe8_nhcNB6PpSnSpjqSqsIcIMjOFl6mJ4j3z7DKMwWgEbP-27D494hnPnNDjcu7LA0G6aolsLQfGY9Y0Sz7uXgV5nitbbTCievi1MZx/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eqjA2uiaJcSBRLUreAifvLfyxWC_CM27oPSYOxe8_nhcNB6PpSnSpjqSqsIcIMjOFl6mJ4j3z7DKMwWgEbP-27D494hnPnNDjcu7LA0G6aolsLQfGY9Y0Sz7uXgV5nitbbTCievi1MZx/s320/DSC_0118.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701778976040624594" /></a><br />...and kisses!Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-52799543643275185852012-01-25T12:47:00.000-08:002012-01-25T13:11:08.807-08:00Pirate Bryce's 5th Birthday!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzMOVyR2X6vvyb-i72mSVg1u94VD1qk18bFRpnQG87T11HCYK0fbyDjn5vQX8QEr4qnIhtsx_5okyGN4Iu9w6BFX8R_QNrV4U4lHpcIJlL8H1ggplZdlaCpatxNp85NVXh0vzMvBTd8gf/s1600/DSC_0580.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzMOVyR2X6vvyb-i72mSVg1u94VD1qk18bFRpnQG87T11HCYK0fbyDjn5vQX8QEr4qnIhtsx_5okyGN4Iu9w6BFX8R_QNrV4U4lHpcIJlL8H1ggplZdlaCpatxNp85NVXh0vzMvBTd8gf/s320/DSC_0580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701679178499676002" /></a><br /><br />Happy 5th Birthday Bryce!<br />Bryce is still loving pirates. We even did a mural painting on his wall of an island and "X" leading to the treasure. It's super cute. I'll have to post a picture of it. <br />He had about 14 friends (most from church and a few from preschool and a couple of friends from the neighborhood) over for a "pirate party" and it was so fun. The weather was unseasonable warm for October (yes, his birthday is Sept. but with soccer and other conflicts, the party was October). <br />The best part was the treasure hunt at the end leading them all over the house- inside and out finally to a clearing woods with Carter as "Pirate Pete" standing in the wagon trying to protect his treasure. The kids threw "cannonballs" at him, knocking him off his "ship" to get the treasure. Inside the treasure box was the kids treat bags with tatoos, silly bandz, candy, necklaces, rings, gold chocolate coins and silver bubble gum coins.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDAaIGtrfDIRmkjhdHOfQKfA2dddDiwa0B2Hg3hSDcizp2HcDoU2uits-5fAnnxMX2_9nQIJ0grdyoEh4MAMdTk3KslgYrR0uOEOES_KyG8SAu_zWA9mFf0TY0VtnOwL29-UegQfCQEYQ/s1600/DSC_0547.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTDAaIGtrfDIRmkjhdHOfQKfA2dddDiwa0B2Hg3hSDcizp2HcDoU2uits-5fAnnxMX2_9nQIJ0grdyoEh4MAMdTk3KslgYrR0uOEOES_KyG8SAu_zWA9mFf0TY0VtnOwL29-UegQfCQEYQ/s320/DSC_0547.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701680042141323650" /></a><br />ARRRRGGGGHHHH!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSvBCs5NWrO7JaIYOhMnFIrIPzgE1MGWWwphQ0sVlmiS_dMLgs-6xwpJaM8_aIcKcQzn1416HD7vTp2d4wKujZpnaETQ4qcykKMnswwGHaIK13m6jc5T-3J5HfAAUh7HbgGxR-6T1uaAH/s1600/DSC_0548.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSvBCs5NWrO7JaIYOhMnFIrIPzgE1MGWWwphQ0sVlmiS_dMLgs-6xwpJaM8_aIcKcQzn1416HD7vTp2d4wKujZpnaETQ4qcykKMnswwGHaIK13m6jc5T-3J5HfAAUh7HbgGxR-6T1uaAH/s320/DSC_0548.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701677629972086834" /></a> <br /> <br />I went out of my comfort zone this year and made a super cool cake if I do say so myself. It was awesome! Best part was that Bryce thought it was aweomse too. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0erznftnxMacG5pcL08ciDfIUljqe2lkqqNpLvR5ZfTK3CKeec9J16ycABBhRV6OvGddID_jckam3jVSSxzUbN_LJBctZ_3gg5PlLQSitPpWYTTsY_Th6Ge7WXjvWeNF1x_bhGeZc27ab/s1600/DSC_0556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0erznftnxMacG5pcL08ciDfIUljqe2lkqqNpLvR5ZfTK3CKeec9J16ycABBhRV6OvGddID_jckam3jVSSxzUbN_LJBctZ_3gg5PlLQSitPpWYTTsY_Th6Ge7WXjvWeNF1x_bhGeZc27ab/s320/DSC_0556.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701677353305443186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ea65qXoD5p0pTHn7MZFRkOWoa54Mg0JRz9hZrp4SGVJlyu0Pl17n3bVzWOGJOpLSiTd2en2oIiB3mjkcHSMwMEu6qaaqgHAisk3VywG5i3cZTkwV7Tl1k1-EmR11zh1gJOIiaoeyRFvn/s1600/DSC_0564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ea65qXoD5p0pTHn7MZFRkOWoa54Mg0JRz9hZrp4SGVJlyu0Pl17n3bVzWOGJOpLSiTd2en2oIiB3mjkcHSMwMEu6qaaqgHAisk3VywG5i3cZTkwV7Tl1k1-EmR11zh1gJOIiaoeyRFvn/s320/DSC_0564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701677930291623682" /></a><br />Aubryn was part of the clean-up crew eating left over cake and ice cream off guests plates... not to mention the top of the ice cream containers lid. Those little pirates better have a firm hold on their treasure with this little one around!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6HISm-76g7r5A9LC2YGdh2vTwxSo5Sr_Si366FNRt1-co8GLbWCTvTBMRb9a3T6-7NEJr9CSHDaVRKXZc6kwW5cKedgb34dFgi_Skxm9yfc8zQ8gKDmsskHu5P6-iGKplDPUREEToTB_/s1600/DSC_0568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6HISm-76g7r5A9LC2YGdh2vTwxSo5Sr_Si366FNRt1-co8GLbWCTvTBMRb9a3T6-7NEJr9CSHDaVRKXZc6kwW5cKedgb34dFgi_Skxm9yfc8zQ8gKDmsskHu5P6-iGKplDPUREEToTB_/s320/DSC_0568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5701678168687507538" /></a>Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-30951797387855147672011-10-27T10:55:00.000-07:002011-10-27T15:45:49.848-07:00FriendsWhat a blessing good friends are in my life. I just spent this past weekend with a good friend at the Time Out for Women Conference. I think having her there really made the experience more special and I got more out of it. We were able to "process" the things we heard, learned and felt at the conference together at dinner and on the drive home. I had so many moments of feeling like the Lord was speaking directly to me, I didn't just want to go home and get lost in my responsibilities and roles and not DO anything about the messages I heard and felt both through the speakers and the music. She is a safe person I can talk to without judgement, condemnation and loves me regardless of my shortcomings and at times I feel like I have more those than strengths.<br />Another friend just yesterday went clothes shopping with me FOR me. She came over to my house first to go through all of our closets to find outfits for family pictures. I am notorious for doing the classic white top, khaki pants and bare feet. This year, a different good friend is going to take our family pictures outside with this beautiful fall weather and scenery, so new venue, new outfits. After combing through shirt by shirt and talking about several possibilities, she loaded up her preschooler, my toddler and drove to the mall and target to help me color coordinate. This great woman is a mother of 5, wasn't feeling the greatest fighting off a cold and having a problem with her tooth, and still came over and then shopping JUST for me. AND she OFFERED to do so the few days before when we spoke on the phone getting her opinions about how she did pictures for her large family.<br />Good friends help me see the Lord in my life and feel of His love because just like this friend was so selfless or her time and energy - even though she didn't have a lot to spare. God is so willing and <em>wanting</em> to give us His love and His help if we chose to ask, seek it out and listen. Christ was the greatest example of all about selflessness. He came to the Earth entirely for our benefit and good. His life was one of service and love up until the ultimate sacrifice as he pleaded for each of us in the Garden of Gethsemane atoning for the sins of the world, MY sins... sins I hadn't even committed yet. God loved us... loved ME enough to allow his ONLY begotten Son to suffer so and not 'rescue' Him. Christ himself could have freed himself from such agony, such humiliation, such pain. Gotten Himself off the cross... but didn't. Why? Because of love. Love for me... for us all.<br />I'm grateful for friends to show me the love of Christ and love of my Father in Heaven through their sacrifice and love. <br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpKKyNEPprlr4V-tj2x97xfSzkamEznsgh5xT0RbqnqsFRfyXmWpRQkXaCfhyphenhyphenEkSJJ44PhWQTkuYgAHepLd2JOi9kfxogaPRzTIcOpLh9z6obcvyWqHDZPyCbFGQD7mwfv5iFOXegd1NR/s1600/20101222_0970.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpKKyNEPprlr4V-tj2x97xfSzkamEznsgh5xT0RbqnqsFRfyXmWpRQkXaCfhyphenhyphenEkSJJ44PhWQTkuYgAHepLd2JOi9kfxogaPRzTIcOpLh9z6obcvyWqHDZPyCbFGQD7mwfv5iFOXegd1NR/s320/20101222_0970.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668239735160621954" /></a> (Last years family picture in Hawaii... yes, white tops, khaki bottoms... but I LOVE this picture!)Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-50358326666795570812011-10-25T11:58:00.000-07:002011-10-25T21:14:56.292-07:00Brady<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E32DZrrbMdwaB0Kxrzcl8WqHeHFjn6NFT0R2HRhZXl4dpD3fW_09RiKKTDyTDns_hnx7YgVC6yKz1TVz5b8luFGgvzszy-SfTkvwbFzfXZpATj-9i1Amh5HpalsbrP7s3qHcW0wGry27/s1600/20101222_1336.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E32DZrrbMdwaB0Kxrzcl8WqHeHFjn6NFT0R2HRhZXl4dpD3fW_09RiKKTDyTDns_hnx7YgVC6yKz1TVz5b8luFGgvzszy-SfTkvwbFzfXZpATj-9i1Amh5HpalsbrP7s3qHcW0wGry27/s320/20101222_1336.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667510174000998162" /></a><br />Seeing God today in my life I'd like to write about my husband. He loves and cares about me enough to sleep on the couch with his long legs hanging off the end because he has a cold. Not just any cold... this cold results in him sniffing/snorting/snoring... loudly! He knows I'm a light sleeper and was not sleeping b/c he was not sleeping. He sacrificed himself for me. I love the whole bed to myself and the quiet, but love him more and hope he gets well soon so he can come join me again in each others arms.<br />He is an amazing father and I rarely see as many dad's enjoy their children as much as he enjoys ours. He will wrestle with them, hold them in his arms (all <em>three </em>of them at once!) and go in circles singing "I've got the whole world in my arms..." as they crack up and get dizzy. <br />He initiates family scripture study each night at dinner and family prayer at night and in the morning before school and work.<br />He is always looking to "become" himself. He is able to take a hard look at himself, see where he may be falling short and acknowledge that, make a plan and move on. He works hard at communication and loving us all the way we feel and need it best... even if it might be foreign to him.<br />He is a good man. A God fearing man who respects and honors his role as a husband and father and respects and honors his family who depend on him so. <br />Brady is how I see God in my life today. To feel of His love and see His wisdom in ordaining marriage between a man and woman. To have this union be essential to His plan. Without each other it is harder to "become" the individuals He would have us be. To grow, and learn in love through our spouses. Thank you Lord for loving me enough to send me such a great man to love.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrQ6UyKQL1EasoPzVGEH8NPqQ4UHu6_BsNYjXHLcAjS-2aWr0B2aPQcKfSdvT6Q5F5h9NxMQvmaedSm4w3C0acoYVR1v6hLmQ-_7cZtX5jsdQpEzzGaIcPaGYqUjMQ2os9MyGftNDcYcV/s1600/20101222_1109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrQ6UyKQL1EasoPzVGEH8NPqQ4UHu6_BsNYjXHLcAjS-2aWr0B2aPQcKfSdvT6Q5F5h9NxMQvmaedSm4w3C0acoYVR1v6hLmQ-_7cZtX5jsdQpEzzGaIcPaGYqUjMQ2os9MyGftNDcYcV/s320/20101222_1109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667510399929056578" /></a>Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-51831191247049406132011-10-25T11:29:00.000-07:002011-10-25T21:15:13.055-07:00Each new daySo one of my new goals in "becoming" (see previous post) is that I'm going to find God's love everyday. I know it is there, but sometimes I don't stop to notice it, or if I do, quickly move on to the next "to-do" on my list. <br />But I'm hoping to use this blog to take the time, notice and then record the hand of God each day in my life in the hopes of becoming more grateful, slowing down more, being present, and acknowledging the huge role He plays in my life even when I am too busy, tired or cranky to notice.<br />I didn't do yesterday yest so I will today.<br />I see God in my children. I see God in their smiles and in their eyes. I hear Him in their laughter, words of encouragement and kindness to one another. I feel it in their warm embrace, and as they take the other by the hand to lead another down the stairs, give each other hugs and kisses and work together to accomplish good. They are constant reminders of God's love for me as we share love for one another. What precious gifts he has given me. What sweet, glorious, active and mischievous spirits I have been entrusted with which allow me to never be bored and to always find humor if I chose to look.<br />Here are some examples from the day.... <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hyGmsZZ1EW-rE_4z2xEqHR_gZl-DDxmovyi5r_2B1J8vpXP47-oyIHNMw17lxysMphEEeo_vdKuHFsPvbYH5zXBvXF8DFVYm15D1oEBnozuzUbDowW1qUdAN2mEI9M7glVa-ikj2Yc4G/s1600/DSC_0817.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hyGmsZZ1EW-rE_4z2xEqHR_gZl-DDxmovyi5r_2B1J8vpXP47-oyIHNMw17lxysMphEEeo_vdKuHFsPvbYH5zXBvXF8DFVYm15D1oEBnozuzUbDowW1qUdAN2mEI9M7glVa-ikj2Yc4G/s320/DSC_0817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667501083608672514" /></a> (she might need to join (or start)a self help group "binky's anonymous" as she is now not only trying to stuff in <em>two</em> binky's at once while holding<em> at least </em>one in each hand, but this morning she went for <strong>three</strong>...pretty talented I have to admit)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HT5LS4cNtT9DHnCcjxdXWmsPS4lavRyXjNPbp1szxPIbrJwdJP-97CRbDph1Nv20JBivgs4aTfXZK0MDY_70t1PWO4cmIeMAQEPp0E_egngBHt1xTbPzFS7xNZEy0EHXw3XVruPiDQq5/s1600/DSC_0829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HT5LS4cNtT9DHnCcjxdXWmsPS4lavRyXjNPbp1szxPIbrJwdJP-97CRbDph1Nv20JBivgs4aTfXZK0MDY_70t1PWO4cmIeMAQEPp0E_egngBHt1xTbPzFS7xNZEy0EHXw3XVruPiDQq5/s320/DSC_0829.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667503994275584402" /></a> (Carter reading to Aubryn before bed).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRMYWdhJ0V8RvCQKMKWAP7OJJs6aMmjga95SnilnCkIB2TeifTO57_KQJ66NEz3ilGONng1N8WrJBLTI7TvZRjxPUpejrw-MlcHEF94pUEDMzRVinG0mLuXP7SX2fJrNquAMcUrFkRZhj/s1600/DSC_0777.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRMYWdhJ0V8RvCQKMKWAP7OJJs6aMmjga95SnilnCkIB2TeifTO57_KQJ66NEz3ilGONng1N8WrJBLTI7TvZRjxPUpejrw-MlcHEF94pUEDMzRVinG0mLuXP7SX2fJrNquAMcUrFkRZhj/s320/DSC_0777.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667504406595629426" /></a> (Bryce and Aubryn walking through a tent of apple trees).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISKsLJNkeZwVIKjC1PJkzY-7xsY41e9t04J0xmTh6PnIHGvFoHb5LE9UKUbAKPfntv-SOE100p17iic805h5dXdDeBYbj0HQ27vyVRFc__BS_lF8G1eHdaIS-oXOURfox-eue3YNRiGpk/s1600/DSC_0818.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISKsLJNkeZwVIKjC1PJkzY-7xsY41e9t04J0xmTh6PnIHGvFoHb5LE9UKUbAKPfntv-SOE100p17iic805h5dXdDeBYbj0HQ27vyVRFc__BS_lF8G1eHdaIS-oXOURfox-eue3YNRiGpk/s320/DSC_0818.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667504980388983394" /></a><br />(Discovering how to do somersaults in her crib).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhPXiO3CmKSqPh-Zq4cUQgiVeAAn3IgL0n7neyFWMTjBdU73C4B9hSsUt63BTyDS4bAniLLD_cu48yV8AkClwq1KRZKGt73DWm1nQpdiYqkOWy-6inPL-frjg7Bv53lEsA_DYOj29Y3vO/s1600/DSC_0819.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhPXiO3CmKSqPh-Zq4cUQgiVeAAn3IgL0n7neyFWMTjBdU73C4B9hSsUt63BTyDS4bAniLLD_cu48yV8AkClwq1KRZKGt73DWm1nQpdiYqkOWy-6inPL-frjg7Bv53lEsA_DYOj29Y3vO/s320/DSC_0819.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667505129793970562" /></a>Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-13641946292449055662011-10-23T05:10:00.000-07:002011-10-23T05:36:44.117-07:00"Becoming"I just got back from a wonderful weekend with some girlfriends at an event called, "Time out for Women." The speakers, the musicians, the company, the FOOD... all amazing! My mom and husband supportive enough to make it possible for me to go by tending to our children, my neighbor even helping out by coaching Bryce's soccer team for me for Saturday's practice, and driving Bryce there so Brady wouldn't need to have all 3 ready by 9am, just the one.<br />Other than the amazing women I was privileged to be around and share a car and hotel room with, something else amazing happened. I was filled.<br />I'm embarrassed to admit that I had almost forgotten that feeling. The feeling of peace and comfort, confirmation and strength. More powerful than any other feeling experienced while at the same time more gentle than any other feeling. I'm talking about the feeling of the Spirit. How it has filled my soul, my being, my heart.<br />I always hear from loved ones, "you need to take better care of yourself" or "put yourself first for a change." I have taken this to mean, "be selfish." So in trying to heed this advice (b/c in taking care of yourself means you can then better take care of others right?) I at times have tried to take the 20 minute power nap which sometimes becomes an hr or 90 minutes before another child comes home from school allowing another to watch a movie instead of spending one on one time like I envisioned or desired. But feeling drained and no energy or strength, I give into the flesh and turn on a movie. This always leave me feeling guilty and less than and not the mom I was intended or want to me. I loathe my physical and emotional limitations as I curl up on the couch.<br />Other times, I chose to catch up on a show that I missed the night before b/c bed time ran too long, or I decided to take the time to talk with Brady or clean the house, do dishes, laundry, etc, etc, etc. This is taking time for myself right?<br />Wrong. Although both those things on occasion of course are not bad things, but when that is what I'm looking forward to as a respite from my "real life" there is a problem. But today is different. Today is new. Today is beautiful. Today I am filled.<br />To stay filled and to truly "put myself first" in a way that is NOT selfish and VERY necessary, I need to take the time to think, to write, to ponder, to read, to meditate and pray. I didn't get any more sleep last night than usual. In fact went to bed pretty late at midnight and up again by 7am. I do feel tired. It was a lovely weekend but traveling makes me tired, talking to Brady last night and sharing what I had come to realize yes has made my body tired, but my spirit strong... and it is the spirit that carries us.<br />My body is sore, tired, tight... my spirit is energized and light and excited once again about my role as a mother, wife, and what I had forgotten, daughter of God.<br />Priorities need to change as my heart has been changed.<br />I need to put myself on that list of "things to do." This doesn't include a nap, or a movie/show I've missed. This doesn't include a huge shopping spree or time browsing facebook. For me, this involves getting to know myself again. To connect with my spirit. To getting to know God again. To getting to know my savior Jesus Christ and put into practice his redeeming grace. I've learned that "redeem" means "to change." It is a process... a journey and one I am now excited to be part of. Not drained at the idea of giving more than I have to give. <br />A light has been turned on. Both in my mind with these different "ah-hah" moments of what I need to do to reach the goals and become the woman I want to be, the mother I want to be, the wife I want to be, the friend I want to be, the daughter and sister I want to be... but also a light deep within me. A light that warms me to my very soul. The makes me <em>feel</em> light. This is the light of Christ and I'm so excited to get to know Him and His atonement better and allow the healing and the love and hope that comes from his redeeming grace. <br />I'm excited to have a personal relationship with both my Father in Heaven and my Savior. I felt at this conference an undeniable feeling of their reality. Which truly I had been questioning. But God is real. He DOES know me. He DOES love me. The same is said for my savior AND redeemer. I know that it is true, because I can not describe or deny the feelings I've felt. The answer I've received. It is a step in the right direction of my journey as I have a <em>desire</em> to know more about the life of Christ and do my best to emulate that life. And I know he will help me on my journey of "Becoming" as it is a process. But I know that I can as God and Christ sustain me, and carry me in my trials. I can have "hope smiling brightly before me" for that is how I want to live. That is how I am 'meant' to live. And with Christ brings new life and I feel like 'new life' has just begun. A life filled with light.Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-26100341644311718092011-09-21T09:21:00.000-07:002011-09-21T09:45:14.198-07:00Back to School!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uE2jRiuFZQMUlAI5F7Mlzh4jYR7BrO7x8ljD77X3jZlqRmZqsWAd7qMz2UaHrgpqPTkfqGA4cDe7CKawSVm3nGo69VvcWDZvugdh1PZTl5Yk8dsZFUsB5s2uKQjnpzhq0_1upNViJhx0/s1600/DSC_0371.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uE2jRiuFZQMUlAI5F7Mlzh4jYR7BrO7x8ljD77X3jZlqRmZqsWAd7qMz2UaHrgpqPTkfqGA4cDe7CKawSVm3nGo69VvcWDZvugdh1PZTl5Yk8dsZFUsB5s2uKQjnpzhq0_1upNViJhx0/s320/DSC_0371.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654853609857604098" /></a><br />Yes this post is very late.... but hey, it's the story of my life at this point I suppose. :)<br />Carter is entering the second grade and has Mrs. Titheringon which I could not be happier about. She is a sweet older woman who (as rumor has it) is a little disorganized but is sweet and loves teaching and the children. She also reportedly doesn't yell which is always a plus and will be a change from his teacher last year, Mrs. Fite. Don't get me wrong, she is a lovely woman, but could and did get overwhelmed quite a bit. Not that I totally blame her. With 28 young children in one small classroom... enough to make anyone a bit nuts.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S08v0pJmXVZO20dVgyPX177JleXjf3eMcI2N78UZlOG4ladqHqqjz6BhOkIPEskbHw5m_Pnw7eTWeqMLUYgFmFsqY-oASvYHeiK3TcAIFeYfMPOlry9ZUyfYFkMM-LqJiFL1Fx-gRqIX/s1600/DSC_0373.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S08v0pJmXVZO20dVgyPX177JleXjf3eMcI2N78UZlOG4ladqHqqjz6BhOkIPEskbHw5m_Pnw7eTWeqMLUYgFmFsqY-oASvYHeiK3TcAIFeYfMPOlry9ZUyfYFkMM-LqJiFL1Fx-gRqIX/s320/DSC_0373.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654853454477557986" /></a><br />Anyways, Carter has been enjoying getting to school on his scooter and sometimes to mix things up, his 2-wheeler. He convinced Bryce to ride along with him and I drive by slowly in the van. When we reach the corner just before the crossing guard, we say good-bye to Carter and Bryce hops in the van to head off to preschool.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYphfkqznPYa2yYu4L2rGf9S6CJOg8xyVoTN8M-C7mIlFuncdaQrkrQCPZjW25ptNP5D1YJxaTClxBnHvfABNni43t8S9Eaz_KUvLRjMQdbd-_yZQR-XMPgHLW3Warqv_B3f8sYy3V0jtx/s1600/DSC_0376.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYphfkqznPYa2yYu4L2rGf9S6CJOg8xyVoTN8M-C7mIlFuncdaQrkrQCPZjW25ptNP5D1YJxaTClxBnHvfABNni43t8S9Eaz_KUvLRjMQdbd-_yZQR-XMPgHLW3Warqv_B3f8sYy3V0jtx/s320/DSC_0376.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654854835644772850" /></a><br /><br /><br />We are at a new preschool this year with Bryce trying to un-do some of the damage done last year. He did not have a good experience and more than once I left him crying after I pried his arms from around my neck or leg. Broke my heart! I am not sure if it was the kids, the teachers, the huge age gap (not quite 3 yr olds- Bryce at 4 in Sept after a week of school... which is crazy btw...), but it was not a good combination which is so sad to me b/c preschool is a time to be excited about learning. To have a positive experience your first time away from home and it just did not happen at Ashton Christian Preschool. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp77dc0Xl7oqNVoKjdKhYrdM8AedSCxAjhyIVxVHpWW2WOXkoTZWAo1lvJ6bCxo2k8L7UiUixN98yfwF1-q9X2e-aHvk8B3bfcHIC-mQiWubj2r7LxnZnXt67pwn7UvGTxOJqvKQo6GL_/s1600/DSC_0418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSp77dc0Xl7oqNVoKjdKhYrdM8AedSCxAjhyIVxVHpWW2WOXkoTZWAo1lvJ6bCxo2k8L7UiUixN98yfwF1-q9X2e-aHvk8B3bfcHIC-mQiWubj2r7LxnZnXt67pwn7UvGTxOJqvKQo6GL_/s320/DSC_0418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654854538414750594" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwJ9bEBDyb_WWc-HMKDifzZdhRB1LvfZqWwV7a-uH080jM_X15kjSfGqkrgJEdOENGcMbZ5wxE1_H6ZUNJp7zKkw3Ju_TaFsVez24_HEWgXM6_gC4twROHxqiSh6VIoBV9-lFiMFkGtUy/s1600/DSC_0413.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidwJ9bEBDyb_WWc-HMKDifzZdhRB1LvfZqWwV7a-uH080jM_X15kjSfGqkrgJEdOENGcMbZ5wxE1_H6ZUNJp7zKkw3Ju_TaFsVez24_HEWgXM6_gC4twROHxqiSh6VIoBV9-lFiMFkGtUy/s320/DSC_0413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654853339194860530" /></a><br /><br />So this year, we are back at Creative Learning Center where Carter used to go. I have full confidence in the teachers Mrs. Pascoe, and Mrs. Splain as they were Carter's teachers when he went there. Also the director is awesome as well. It felt warmer and "safer."<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglw9VEWcg0zebQ7-yP7-a5g4CS6UjaDnInRGoZhVqrio0AFnOFvMCbsiFZ0AQ-8j959PpdQrC4zU12o2GDBOJ9gtntQY-EfrnVEykt90xKJlywOBVTfIXM0Z7c-wSukF22VjtcIFjyA1P0/s1600/DSC_0410.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglw9VEWcg0zebQ7-yP7-a5g4CS6UjaDnInRGoZhVqrio0AFnOFvMCbsiFZ0AQ-8j959PpdQrC4zU12o2GDBOJ9gtntQY-EfrnVEykt90xKJlywOBVTfIXM0Z7c-wSukF22VjtcIFjyA1P0/s320/DSC_0410.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654853198401491890" /></a><br />So far, so good. Most of our mornings have been "I don't want to go to school, I want to stay home with you," but there have been no tears or tantrums. He always seems happy when I pick him up. So I am hopeful that through positive repetition, he will continue to be more confident and comfortable away from home and meeting new friends and trying new things.<br />I do miss them though, and I know Aubryn does too. She walks around the house after dropping off Bryce (b/c she is used to him being home with her while Carter was at school last year), "Biish.... we-ah-oo? Hmmmm...." with her little hand palm up and a confused face with crinkled brows. It's cute... and sad. But it'll give us time to bond just us girls. :)Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-12395230999367013842011-09-08T18:50:00.000-07:002011-09-08T19:04:51.477-07:00IntertwinedI find it interesting how inter-twined the hearts of parents- mothers more specifically can be with their children. My heart is hurting right now for Carter as he struggles in school. He LOVES to read and is "above grade level" in reading (and why again are we labeling and categorizing our children?!) but seems to struggle with math and writing.<br />Other parents I hear saying how easy this and that is in school and how their child is not being challenged, and they are bored... and it makes me feel angry and protective. Boo hoo if your child is not being challenged enough. So what? Challenge them at home, give them more assignments after their homework is completed and teach them yourselves wherever their level might be. For others who are barely getting certain concepts and take so long to do homework and correct it in between the tears or frustration and calling himself stupid and hitting himself in the head and face b/c his brain is not smart feels like it is killing me. It hurts so badly to see your child hurting and suffering so much. I just hold him while he cries and we try again when he is ready. We take breaks if he gets too overwhelmed and he goes and reads on the couch. He loves to read which is such a blessing. We talk about how faith without works is dead and we can't just pray to get better, but need to practice and work at it as well. I hate the curriculum of "below grade level" or "above grade level" or heaven forbid, just "average." Why must we live in such a competitive world where everyone compares themselves to others to get a sense of self, a sense of worth. Why can't we know that we are enough just because we are children of God, we are children or our parents, and good, kind, loving people??? I hate it. I wish his class size was smaller b/c 28 is just ridiculous for more individualized attention. I wish I could go in and help out more and feel so guilty that I can't because I have two young ones at home. I want him to know how important and special he is and who cares what so and so is learning and can do... if you improve then you should be proud of yourself... I know I am. I couldn't stop the tears tonight after back to school night thinking about how insecure he feels about his spelling. Who cares really....? I am a horrible speller. That's why there is spell check- if I ever even chose to use it. The doesn't mean I'm not smart. I graduated at the top of my class both with my BS and in graduate school and that was with two children! Carter, you are so much smarter than you think and what the world might see as "smart" is actually not always right. Just keep learning. I hate to see his desire and curiosity and love for learning be impacted by his perfection. May the Lord heal both our hearts tonight.Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-14653774202905867992011-08-15T11:16:00.000-07:002011-08-15T11:40:59.120-07:00Angels among usJust another morning as a stay at home mom with 3 children carrying on the daily tasks as usual getting ready for school to start in two weeks (gasp!). We were running some errands this morning and somehow, somewhere I lost my keys. I know, I know.... "didn't you just lose them at the metro after getting back from DC?" "Yes, yes I did." But hey, it's been almost a month now, so I'm way over due to lose them again. (Not sure why I just had a conversation with myself but anyways...)
<br />Aubryn had been crying/screaming (she has found her voice and her opinions) the entire time at the last store. I was ready to go, the boys were ready to go, heck, the whole store was ready for us to go. I check out, grab my bags, man handle Aubryn and she kicks and screams and goes limp not wanting to be carried, but she has already kicked off her shoes which have been thrown into a bag somewhere, shout out Bryce's name while we cross the street as he is spinning in circles repeatedly slowly getting farther away from me and I see a car coming, lecture the boys about proper store behavior, tell Aubryn we're going home soon and everything ok as she continues to screaming in my ear and have a limp body, and arrive at our van. I strap in Aubryn, other kids strap in their boosters, strap in myself, wipe some sweat off my face, look for my water bottle which I left at home and get ready to go. Only one thing... we need the keys. BOO!
<br />I get out, continue to tell Aubryn we're going soon and she's ok, look all over the van. Boys unbuckle to help and in the process find lollipops which are more exciting to them than keys. I hand them each one b/c by this time it is 1pm and no one has eaten since breakfast and what's better for lunch than pure sugar?
<br />I unbuckle and carry Aubryn back in, remind the boys we are going in not to look at more toys, but to look for keys, remind them again for proper store behavior, take a deep breath, hold back tears and walk in. I check at the front desk... no keys. I start re-tracing my steps. The boys are actually very helpful. We look all around isles, in the cracks, on the floor, in empty carts... I am even closer to tears starting to think about who I could call to come get us if it came down to it. I think to myself, it's a good think I left my car unlocked. Could we walk home?? The thought makes me want to cry harder.
<br />I start to look around a bit more frantically in the toys isle and look down one Carter has been searching and see his sweet little head bowed, his hands clasped and his eyes closed. He is praying. He knows that God knows where our keys are. He knows that we are not in a great situation. He knows to "be still and know the (He) is God." I can't hold back the tears anymore. Here is my 7 year old teaching me in that moment. I am relying on myself to come up with a solution, and my child knows exactly who has the solution... and it's not me. Immediately I feel calm. I begin to pray too in my heart and continue to look. A lady approaches me and introduces herself as Ilene. She is in her 60's and has on bright pink lipstick. Her hair is white and she is kind. She says she overheard me ask the cashier if she found any keys and asks if she can help look. I tell her I would appreciate it. Some time passes and the lollipops are now just slobbery sticks, it is time to admit defeat. Perhaps it was in the previous store?? Sigh.
<br />Ilene comes over and tells me she didn't find anything but asks if I would be comfortable enough for her to drive us home. She says she has a car seat strapped in her car already for her 18 month old granddaughter. Again, holding back tears. She asks if I'd like to see her license or anything else to verify who she was, etc, but I tell her I am trusting my instincts and heart and feel grateful she is so willing to help. She says she will bring her bags to her car and drive the car to the front entrance so I don't have to carry the baby around anymore. She tells me she has lost her keys plenty of time, but not with 3 small children and can imagine how hard that would be. I leave my name and number at the front counter. We get loaded into her car, then think I should leave my name and number at the previous store just in case it was there I left them. I run in quickly with Aubryn still on my hip and ask if anyone has found any keys, immediately the lady hands me mine. Relief rushes over me and I rush back to the car where this angel is entertaining and talking to my other 2 children. As we switch boosters back into our car, and get the kids re-loaded into the van, I give her a huge hug and thank her for being an angel to me and my family that day. We come home and I give Carter a big hug and tell him how blessed I am to have him teach me and be an example to me that day. How he remembered before I did that God knows and loves us all. How lost keys might not be a very big deal to him, they were to us and because of that, he sent Ilene and helped us find them. There are angels all around us walking about. I pray that I can at some time, somewhere be an angel is someones life as Ilene was to me today.Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-44466253198040843332011-07-22T11:58:00.000-07:002011-07-22T12:04:36.402-07:00Checking it twice...On the way to Layhill gym where I was subbing a pilates class, Bryce and Carter were talking about what they were going to do there instead of just watch TV the whole time. (I HATE that they have it on)! Anyways, Carter brought his catalogue he made in preschool and adds on to periodically to look through and write Santa (whom he knows is not real, but keeping the "magic" alive for his younger siblings)informing him of his wish list. He said he was going to write a list, then he said, "well, maybe not a list because I don't want Santa to think that I'm greedy. Actually Santa knows everything so even if I write a list, he'll still know I'm not greedy and just giving him ideas." I said something about "yeah, Santa knows if you are bad or good, so he'll probably know that too." Bryce said, "Santa knows a lot but he doesn't know everything. He doesn't know when Jesus is going to come again. So, Heavenly Father is smarter than Santa Clause and Heavenly Father is even more powerful than Santa too." True that Bryce.Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-10806964370458780092011-07-20T18:05:00.001-07:002011-07-20T18:27:43.672-07:00Painting the Roses Red!Oh dear... how has my life become a Disney movie? But not the princess and prince live happily ever kind. The one that is all kinds of psycho. lol!<br />The title is of course referring to the song in Alice and Wonderland when they cards plant the wrong kinds of rose bushes. White roses grow, and the Queen of Hearts has little tolerance for imperfections. The cards want to keep their heads so they frantically paint the white roses red in hopes that they won't be beheaded almost knowing this last ditch effort is pointless, but not knowing what else to do. (As I am giving this recap, I am reminded why my children have not seen this movie or many other Disney movies for that matter....).<br />Anyways, I totally felt like the poor cards the other night while trying to get bright red paint out of Bryce's creme colored carpet. We're in the process of painting his room. It's going to be very cool- a pirate theme as he loves pirates and peter pan. The top is a light sky blue (also painted ceiling which I've never done before), the bottom an ocean blue with waves going all around. On one wall we're painting a mural of an island with an X and treasure, palm trees and row boat. I had just completed painting the red X...the ONLY red in the entire room when Aubryn woke up from her nap. I did not close the lid tight enough as I would discover a few hours later at bedtime. <br />Brady was working late and I was getting the 3 kids ready for bed. As I was taking a turn brushing Carters teeth, in comes Bryce running around like a mad man screaming "mommy, mommy... paint spilled!" I turned an noticed red at the bottom of his foot as he ran back from the bathroom into his room. I scream for him to stop which he promptly did. WHEW! However, I see a big spot of red paint and several blotches (footprints) all over his comforter on his bed (the mattress in on the floor right now), and on his carpet, into the hallway, and back again.<br />I pick him up and wash off his feet in the sink, scrub the bathroom so there is no more red paint in there and decide it best to get the kids in bed before I tackle the stupid paint. I am not mad, probably b/c I was in denial mode and just getting the kids to bed. I figured it would be easier to clean without 6 little feet running all over the place. <br />So, it was an hr later I'm laughing about it a bit as I tell Brady b/c hey, what else are you going to do? Brady however was less than amused. <br />In hind sight, I should have tried to sop up the big circle of paint before it sunk deep... and I mean deep into the stupid carpet.<br />I google what to do with latex paint in the carpet and try just about all of them. Laundry detergent, hot soapy water, Windex, this magic potion called "blaze" a door to door sales man sold me a couple years prior... nothing. In fact, it is even worse bc the stupid paint smears and it's been 3 hrs. My fingers are red and raw from chemicals and scrubbing. It is then I am struck with a brilliant idea! <br />Paint the carpet a tan/creme color! I think this in genius although part of me feels a little unsettled about it b/c it doesn't quite seem sane or practical especially since I'm trying to get OUT paint. Why put more IN?? And yet, I couldn't help myself. Totally empathizing with the cartoon cards I share my idea with Brady who laughs and then looks at me like I'm crazy. I grab the stirring stick, get some paint and slop in on. I stir it in singing, "I'm painting the roses red...." which laughing a bit admittedly like a crazy person. It seems to work. I continue to paint the entire large spot, call myself a genius and go to bed satisfied around 1am. It at least was MUCH better 'looking' than before. It was now a slight pink, but mostly creme spot. I am satisfied and go to sleep. I wake up feeling a little less enthusiastic about what I had done the night before. I go in and although looks better than before, it was now thick and crusty tan. When I painted it, it was soft and wet from all the water, chemicals and scrubbing. Of course the paint hadn't dried either. Oh so discouraged. Off with my head!<br /><br />Part 2: Titled: I am a goof-off<br /><br />So, I go to home depot after looking up the cost of rugs, re carpeting and pergo flooring... not in the budget. You know what is? Goof off. <br />It says it's for latex paint in carpet even, and although it says to not directly spray into the carpet, I'm thinking that doesn't apply to someone who gave their carpet a second coat of tan paint. I spray that sucker right on there. Scrub, repeat... a few times. It's working I think.... it's working!<br />A few brain cells less, the carpet is more a pale pink/although still has some creme in it, and less crusty. Much less crusty. I couldn't take the smell anymore as it was potent, but I'm a bit hopeful. I will keep you posted. And looking back on the whole thing... from what I can tell at this point, I don't think that painting the carpet was really that crazy thing to do. It at least made the color not so bright, so the spot will be less noticeable.... if I ever get it out. We'll see... don't hold your breath- unless of course you are in the room with me as I spray the goof-off directly onto the carpet multiple times. :)Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-31758919279683820162011-06-28T12:57:00.000-07:002011-07-20T18:04:40.286-07:00Smile!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJffQ23Vckb3bKcfeUCk1yXYKfpaHMCWsOzqKnU6XIft3MNXeXvE1GGnz6Oq0KlNOb9OUk-fZUnM4HtQXmCBhMaJUCvqE3if86K9Bc6v-frdcX9mBsAX7aLW1BycX_YH9yD29zuIHQ65L/s1600/DSC_0677.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJffQ23Vckb3bKcfeUCk1yXYKfpaHMCWsOzqKnU6XIft3MNXeXvE1GGnz6Oq0KlNOb9OUk-fZUnM4HtQXmCBhMaJUCvqE3if86K9Bc6v-frdcX9mBsAX7aLW1BycX_YH9yD29zuIHQ65L/s320/DSC_0677.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631042585532710354" /></a> (BEFORE)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD5QRDAVJVexBgx7HDuC-2CIIeaF4ApdZD5ErRiWPXJ3EzIpmixfQ2Rm_eoRSP7SUb6hxup8Xv3gcdNyf5mmHOGh-Eg2200XHVoObNUZe9Pdf5Yno6357Ct9lxtqJgoLYq_V5wxTQ4YK6/s1600/DSC_0721.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLD5QRDAVJVexBgx7HDuC-2CIIeaF4ApdZD5ErRiWPXJ3EzIpmixfQ2Rm_eoRSP7SUb6hxup8Xv3gcdNyf5mmHOGh-Eg2200XHVoObNUZe9Pdf5Yno6357Ct9lxtqJgoLYq_V5wxTQ4YK6/s320/DSC_0721.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631042764675507762" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />(After)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Notice anything different between these pics??<br /><br />Our poor little Bryce needs to have his front teeth extracted. :(<br />He has suffered trauma to his front left tooth which also happens to be a fused tooth so it's like his front and the one next to it are one tooth as if cemented together. So, the front tooth died as a result of trauma (and to be honest with you I don't have any idea which one). This past Saturday was his 7th ER trip - 3 being for a split chin. This last time was for that reason. He was making a "pillow ladder" to the top of the coffee table and "surprise" the pillows were not a stable ladder so down he went. By the time Brady brought him, it was swollen too much to glue and too superficial to stich. No big deal, but when the Dr. looked on the inside of his mouth b/c he cut it in there too, he saw a red boil type thing above the front/dead tooth. (It turned like a brownish color about 2-3 months ago). This apparently is a sure sign of an abscess. A what?! Really, I had never heard of that before. I've had but one tiny cavity and always have had healthy teeth, and so have my kids so I did a little research. Did not like the results of the search. Basically, it's an infection in the tooth and the sore is b/c of drainage. To remedy the situation, the person needs to be started on an antibiotic to control the infection from spreading the other parts of the body and affecting the permanent tooth above the baby tooth. So, he was started on an antibiotic with the directions to see his dentist as soon as possible which we did today. She is not able to do a root canal b/c the tooth is fused the the one next to it AND the infection could return and we wouldn't know. Especially b/c it's a dead tooth, he wouldn't have the severe pain usually associated with an abscess. SO.... they need to be extracted. This is not recommended in her office b/c it is a complicated situation having it be fused. So, I called the oral surgeon who said they don't usually do anything on children under 8, but have sedation options so we're going that route.<br />(2 weeks later)<br />So, Bryce was very brave. He did very well through the procedure. They gave him an oral sedative he drank which was supposed to make him sleep in about 20 min. Bryce kept saying, "I'm still awake!" as if he had beat the system somehow the little stinker. After about 20 min though he did start to get calm anyways and just kind of stopped moving so much and sat there. The Dr came in and gave him another dose which in hind sight probably was not the best idea since he had already given him a good amount b/c "he is a big kid." But, he was calm and blinking heavy when the Dr and nurses came in. One by his waist and feet in case he moved, one by his head and then the dentist. He just kept looking around at all the people, then at me by his feet. He did this again and again throughout as if he was seeing them for the first time. They had the IV sedation available should he freak out and need it. But he didn't. He did so great and the Dr was so great! He held still while they numbed his lip, cheek and gums which allowed the Dr to do a series of shots (about 10) in his mouth (gums) before he pulled them out. His teeth started to separate as they came out, but I guess there is only 1 root for the 2 teeth. Interesting. <br />Anyways, that was the easy part. He bit on gauze for a bit and his lip and cheek were all big and swollen. I had to carry him b/c he was so floppy. But he was so out of it and did not like it. He wanted to walk but couldn't, he was concerned that he dropped his teeth but I had them, he wanted to carry them but couldn't get a grip on the bag... so he cried the whole way home. He did not like how it made him feel. I imagine it was like feeling awake, but not quite awake and I'm sure the numbing medicine was wearing off so he was sore on top of it in addition to being hungry since he couldn't eat or drink and it was already noon. He cried at home too- even when we tried to get him to watch a movie. He tried to stand up an hr or so later and fell... it was really sad. He had about 4 fudge-cicles and a couple Popsicles that day and eggs. We kept him on Motrin and Tylenol for the pain. I took him on a walk in the stroller later that afternoon to get some fresh air and he seemed to be doing a little better by dinner time but still cranky and out of sorts. We were supposed to leave for the lake for the 4th of July that day, but held off until the next day. The next morning he was fine. No Tylenol or anything that day. Only thing is is he wasn't allowed to swim for a few days so at the lake he was sad for the day or two but then got to swim after and had a great time. This boy has been through SO much with doctors! He did so awesome though. I have always loved his little smile with those fused teeth and crinkled nose and was mourning the loss of it before hand. But I do have to say, his missing teeth are cute too and he still has got that crinkled nose when something is really funny or he's smiling real big. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee1eN_nEfdDk9A2kvhX6QIDIOyhOGdNxlgqRl-hj9cTp0hEW16Zvy6I4lb-u6e-QOCR6kxVj49SPSWt0qXTQjXgynhyphenhyphenyxauHLdh-RoxpwqpANwAzKK_u7p38A50uNQpdj3H8ybT0CIa8O/s1600/DSC_0676.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiee1eN_nEfdDk9A2kvhX6QIDIOyhOGdNxlgqRl-hj9cTp0hEW16Zvy6I4lb-u6e-QOCR6kxVj49SPSWt0qXTQjXgynhyphenhyphenyxauHLdh-RoxpwqpANwAzKK_u7p38A50uNQpdj3H8ybT0CIa8O/s320/DSC_0676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631043078394884050" /></a><br />(Sheepie there the whole time and after of course...)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirny4gkkJfd7vbwnZ-8hO9ERJg4o_5sjpZdVzkG2wjLopcSyMviK7JJiqfZhpaFCgP8djNt3R9xVQxfTOyPib-AQKeY5HBaxp7Rl7xP6M2DEsSLfLvyOHaK7Z3hASjCkROuEu97Rd8j2Ht/s1600/DSC_0850.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirny4gkkJfd7vbwnZ-8hO9ERJg4o_5sjpZdVzkG2wjLopcSyMviK7JJiqfZhpaFCgP8djNt3R9xVQxfTOyPib-AQKeY5HBaxp7Rl7xP6M2DEsSLfLvyOHaK7Z3hASjCkROuEu97Rd8j2Ht/s320/DSC_0850.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631043720872441154" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />(on the boat a few days after)Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-20705670143182801442011-04-15T10:32:00.000-07:002011-04-15T11:06:13.753-07:00Best Mother Ever...So it's official... I am the best mother ever. I had my reasons to think so before, but after this morning, it's officially official.<br />Started out great- Bryce had a playdate, Aubryn toddling around the house, me getting ready to go and cleaning up some dishes. I agreed to sub a pilates class in Layhill and Bryce and his friend were having fun together so I thought no problem to have him tag along too and they could continue playing at the gym's childcare playroom... which should actually be called the gyms tv room since that's how they decide to entertain the kids while you exercise (or in my case teach) which I think is SO great- esp. when it's shows I don't approve of and if you request the tv be turned off, it's not fair to the toddler already watching it. Boo-hoo. But that is a whole other story for another time.<br />Anyways, Aubryn does not like to be separated from me- at all. Not even to daddy sometimes. So, it came as no surprise when she started becoming frantic and crying when I hugged and kissed her and said good-bye. What did surprise me however is when I could STILL hear her from my class 20 minutes later. About 10 min. into the class I shut the door which usually stays open b/c it was so hard to focus hearing her is so much distress. "Does she have her binky?" "Is someone even holding her?" "Would the class mind too terribly if there is a baby on my hip while I teach?" "Do they have any idea of what they are doing in there or are they too busy changing channels and putting in another movie for the whole 5 kids in there?" (ok, so when I get stressed, I tend to get sarcastic).<br />So, at 20+ min. the childcare workers had had enough and just not able to console her, they come into my pilates class to tell me that I need to just take her back and my workout is done. The girls face was priceless when she saw that I was not a student but the teacher and could not simply come take her. Believe me I wanted to! This was so not worth the extra little money!<br />The girl says, "you're the teacher??" <em></em> I ask if she has tried the binky. Reply: "there's a binky? where?" My reply: "the same place I told you it was 20 minutes ago when I dropped her off!" (but only in my head). Out loud I told her (again) where it was and off she went. Things got a little better from there. I could hear her cry off and on the rest of the time in equal proportions. The class was over 10 minutes early.<br />After that (and this is where the best mother ever part comes in) I took the kids to the McDonalds right next to the gym b/c it has a huge outdoor play place. Bryce always begs to play and eat there when we pass and I always tell him when the weather gets warmer. Today, the weather is warmer. We got some food and got ready to play. With my brain not being what it used to and after the stress of the baby screaming for 50 minutes, I brought the food outside and let the kids eat AND play. Bad mistake. Eat THEN play or play THEN eat. Either one is fine. What I did... not so much. The kids nibbled a bit here and there, Aubryn spilled some things and then the big shake I got us all to share spilled and the staff was none to happy about it. Sigh. Still, not a big deal. Overall the kids were having fun. I realized my mistake, had them sit and eat, and then play. All was well for about 20 minutes and Aubryn even had fun playing in the structures. She loved it -and the french fry I gave her- (1st and possibly last).<br />Time to go. Always the highlight of any event. Getting kids to get on shoes, jackets and getting in the car. Other than putting kids to bed, this has to be one of the least fun things to do... and WHY is it always so dog on hard?!? (deep breaths). Anyways, I even prepared with a 5 min. warning followed by the 1 min. warning which happened to be perfect timing b/c Aubryn fell off the last step and smacked the back of her head on the ground of course resulting in more crying and screaming for the day although I swear she's met her daily quota.<br />"Time to go!" I call up to Bryce in the structure. I wait b/c I know it's big and give him the benefit of the doubt looking for the exit or a slide to take him down as he is anxiously wanting to be obedient. I wait a little longer..... Now I'm done waiting. "Bryce! Time to go... where are you?" "Up here at the top of the slide!" "Ok, come one down it's time to go." "No. I want to stay here all day long." Few little words make my blood boil, but "no" from my kids is definitely one of them. "Bryce, come down here right now." No response. Now my blood is really boiling b/c few things other than a few little words make my blood boil and being ignored by my kids is one of them. I say, "Bryce come out right now or you will go on time out when we get home. You have 3 seconds. One... two.... three." Nothing. "Ok Bryce, now you are going to go on time out as soon as we get home. And keep in mind that I am not the only one at this play place. Other children are watching as our their parents and grandparents at my failed attempts to get my 4 yr old to obey me. And I am very aware of them watching and listening to me. Especially since one lady tells her kids they are not allowed to go up the slide b/c "this mommy" is trying to get her son to come down. And yes, Aubryn is still crying. "Bryce, every minute you make me wait is another minute I add to your time out." This is effective as he doesn't even understand the concept of time. Yes, I am awesome. (sarcasm again). Oh, and everything I say is extra loud since I'm saying it up a long twisty slide that echos all too well. And yes, I realize I am having a full blown conversation with myself since I'm the only one talking and I see his shadow at the top of the slide laying at the top waving his legs in the air with no intention of coming down. I half jokingly say to the spectators in the area, "I wonder if I should go up there and pull that little stinker out." One lady says, "you'll get stuck" and another says, "I'll hold your baby." She is probably the same lady keeping her kids out of the slide on account of mine. Screaming fit number two by the baby as I pass her off to a stranger. She looked nice and I'm sure her kids were in there so she can't possibly be a bad person and kidnap my baby right??" Yes, again... I'm awesome. I start to climb up the stupid brightly colored play structure that is very tall and of course he is at the very top. I try once more, "Bryce, if you don't come out in 5 seconds, I'm coming up there and pulling you out." One... two... three.... thank heavens I hear him coming down the twisty slide- barely though since Aubryn is breaking down for the second time that morning. I turn around to get her and realize she had been passed off to another lady. Oh well, the first one was a stranger anyways, what's one more... awesome. I have a little firm talking to with bryce, something about not coming back and how I was not happy, etc grabbed Aubryn and my purse holding firmly onto Bryces hand, and walked through the door (being held open for me by another stranger) and left with absolutely no dignity in tact. <br />Is it nap time yet?Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-34088741954531615672011-03-06T17:50:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:25:02.865-08:00Panic modeSo, I rarely panic. Actually, I usually work best under pressure. In fact, can't remember the last time I did. Might have been while giving birth to Carter... or Bryce... or Aubryn. Ok, so giving birth sometimes puts me in panic mode with the feelings of "how the heck am I going to live through this?!" Other than that... I'm mostly panic free. Even when Bryce at 2 yrs old... and I mean a brand new 2 yrs old broke his arm, and needed surgery and 3 pins to fix it, I didn't panic. Broken hearted and pain in my gut for days before, during and after the procedure, yes, but panic no. <br />Today, I panicked.<br />During Sacrament meeting at church, I had Aubryn on my lap and gave her an apple slice- peeled to munch on. She has done this a handful of times at the house and does a good job just nibbling off little bits, chewing with her 8 front teeth and swallowing. It has been a while, and she must have been rusty because she forgot the chewing AND swallowing part. Instead, she choked. I'm not talking about a cough it up choke or scrapes on it's way down. I'm talking about a no cough, no cry, awful gasp type sound, no air getting in or out of her airway type choke. I couldn't believe this was happening. I didn't want to overreact... or panic, so I observed a bit, then when it didn't resolve itself and heard the "choke" sound I did a softer abdominal thrust above her naval. Twice. Smacked her on the back. Twice. Nothing... more "choke" sounds. Awful gasping for breath sounds. My mom who is also CPR certified and was an EMT and also broke my dad's ribs while saving his life doing CPR was sitting next to me. I turned to her, said, "mom!" and she took her over her lap and smacked her back. Twice. Nothing. She stood up (I might have first) and tried once more, before going out in the hallway to try again. Once or twice more and she was crying. A kind man in our ward(Dr) was coming down the hall b/c he saw what was happening. Well, everyone did actually. The pew we sit on happens to be the front row. So, out go mom and I, followed by Brady, followed by our two boys. Everyone afterwards told me it sounded like the whole congregation breathed a collective sigh of relief once they heard crying from the hallway. Other than a baby bring first born, crying never sounded so sweet. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjGJ_hOmq0kp7C3l6IGFYBw2UN-DN6E-GxmogKM11lnMrcdbl49NhymqHp2D6kzr1zhhkNrG1pI1Py7sV8W5hBAlwiwONas580dqTd941uQENCoQUnBY_JF8Sam9qs-gxSs54lYsB86hf/s1600/DSC_0273.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjGJ_hOmq0kp7C3l6IGFYBw2UN-DN6E-GxmogKM11lnMrcdbl49NhymqHp2D6kzr1zhhkNrG1pI1Py7sV8W5hBAlwiwONas580dqTd941uQENCoQUnBY_JF8Sam9qs-gxSs54lYsB86hf/s320/DSC_0273.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581188825849191906" /></a> (Super Grandma)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It took her a while to get calmed down... and me too. Didn't realize it until I was rocking her in my arms, wiping her tears and soothing her with my voice that I was shaking and couldn't really feel my fingers. I have to say for the rest of the day, I hugged and kissed and cuddled her a little more. My sweet precious angel, I'm so glad you are safe and you have angels watching over you- including your grandma Petersen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1PyXu3POwHsEzZaxVgiulmwDSNBzzCt9MkfnNa8R6HrVJmWf6ldcZU7ggPz4tK1VyUyisMMcl4lZuUOPsNCkjlGHp96ElBHsjx0xoZSU0sZl-qr07Vo1hYNqPVx5B2StVZrrYeLGW9Ib/s1600/DSC_1001.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1PyXu3POwHsEzZaxVgiulmwDSNBzzCt9MkfnNa8R6HrVJmWf6ldcZU7ggPz4tK1VyUyisMMcl4lZuUOPsNCkjlGHp96ElBHsjx0xoZSU0sZl-qr07Vo1hYNqPVx5B2StVZrrYeLGW9Ib/s320/DSC_1001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581185550860798050" /></a><br /><br /><br />(ice cream makes everything better??)Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-5150202496504324272010-12-02T14:09:00.000-08:002011-03-06T20:06:14.397-08:00Parents Day!This past Saturday, Brady and I are woken up by "Hooray, Hooray, it's parents day!" Each was holding a tray with a very LARGE bowl full of generic Life cereal (they are right, it is not as good as the real "Ee-oo cereal" AKA "Life." Became "ee-oo cereal" when Carter was a toddler it had a picture of Curious George on the front of the box so he called Life, Ee-Oo cereal. The name stuck... and we all still call it that. Anyways... did I mention the bowl was very large? I'm not a breakfast person myself and need time to wake up and hydrate before I eat, but it was parents day like it or not. :)<br />The boys were so excited, had huge smiles on their faces and felt so proud of themselves. Carer says, you are always serving us so we wanted to have a parents day and serve you. So sweet. <br />In addition to the cereal... the very large bowl of cereal and milk, they brought us up a cup of cold cider I had made from Thanksgiving. A cup of very sweet and cold cider. They went back downstairs for a moment and I seized my chance to dump my cereal into the toilet. Poor Brady would have to fend for himself. He was a good sport taking bites little by little. I heard them coming back upstairs and I ran from the bathroom and jumped into bed... just in time. Next, the cider had to go, but how? They boys were enjoying watching us "enjoy" our breakfast. Sip. "Ummm... good" I say. I ask for a napkin, and they happily skip out to fetch me what I ask for. I hurry back to the bathroom to dump the cider. Brady is just cracking up at this point. What sweet boys we have, and I can't wait until next "parent's day." (Didn't realize it would be the following Saturday and every Saturday following. Had to make the rule that b in b was only for birthdays so it could stay special).Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-86354931965058250952010-10-25T08:37:00.000-07:002010-10-25T08:48:05.695-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93SSoOJKCJPexVaeOpyBzCNqezB2swKAkN1GJi1DOcwp-GvuDMIZ7L6FN6QId_fRDEDkZZ1lDVQJkKm_dDx-BFJW5et7I3xv8buYPo7G_c7Jest2Afvf3JRSnTSVKVIRWm-hMX6Sor79R/s1600/IMG_4322.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93SSoOJKCJPexVaeOpyBzCNqezB2swKAkN1GJi1DOcwp-GvuDMIZ7L6FN6QId_fRDEDkZZ1lDVQJkKm_dDx-BFJW5et7I3xv8buYPo7G_c7Jest2Afvf3JRSnTSVKVIRWm-hMX6Sor79R/s320/IMG_4322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532010994689284722" /></a><br />Carter gave our family home evening lesson last night. He said he was going to do it on the scripture, "no unclean thing can enter the house of the Lord," and it went a little something like this:<br />Carter: "So, no unclean thing can enter the house of the Lord. That means you can't come in if your hair is messy... or you have on muddy clothes... or a mustache (Brady <em>usually</em> shaves before church)...or tattoos...or if milk is spilled all over and it's on your clothes and all over your face...So what you need to do is to take a shower or a bath, change your clothes, brush your teeth, and comb your hair. If you made tattoos on your body (my kids had colored on themselves with markers all over their arms and legs the night before)them scrub them off. They might not come off all the way, but do the best you can. When you do all of these things, THEN you can enter the house of the Lord."<br />I added my two cents about how our insides need to be clean too and what that meant and how the temple is also the house of the Lord, etc to be cut off halfway through what I thought was an excellent tie in with "mommy, I feel like you are giving my lesson and it's my turn for the lesson..." He then bore his testimony saying that he knew that we should be "clean" when we go to church but even if we are not, we can still go to church because everyone is allowed there even if they are messy (guess he did hear part of my 'two cents').Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-74271352221445641792010-10-18T15:12:00.000-07:002010-10-18T15:16:43.792-07:00BaptismJust want to remember what Carter told me today in response to my question about baptism. I taught Relief Society this past Sunday in church and the lesson was about baptism. Having it on the brain, that morning while getting ready for church I asked Carter why he wanted to be baptized.<br />He told me that he wanted to be baptized so he could have the holy ghost with him all the time not just sometimes. That the holy ghost would always be with him unless he did something to make Him leave. He also said he wanted to be baptized so that he could live with Heavenly Father again and get the Priesthood.<br />I just thought that was profound for a six year old. He is such an example to me how sensitive his spirit is.Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-61122467874155493472010-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:002010-10-10T14:05:15.233-07:00Happy Birthday Pirate Pete... I mean Bryce!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ2g_2ik_Bynk91fFpMimAcsaOuBbGmqc93BVmVvu4IGn3FoGA4E1uqfiR0CVG0T7WgnKg8ifthL6DjgLcRLK-2n6wI-BVeMtC6LFS4yBDhip4b7zqkWGs7q3FzIdOvuhl3r14tRu3twb/s1600/IMG_4983.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ2g_2ik_Bynk91fFpMimAcsaOuBbGmqc93BVmVvu4IGn3FoGA4E1uqfiR0CVG0T7WgnKg8ifthL6DjgLcRLK-2n6wI-BVeMtC6LFS4yBDhip4b7zqkWGs7q3FzIdOvuhl3r14tRu3twb/s320/IMG_4983.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526523688446653538" /></a><br />Bryce turned four on September 17th. We gave him the choice to have a party here or to go on a pirate cruise with just the family since he is really into pirates. He chose the pirate cruise on the Chesapeake bay. It was great!<br />We first started the day off with breakfast in bed with sausage, waffles and whipped creme- a favorite! He also requested that Carter read to him while he ate breakfast which he did. :) We decorated the house with streamers, and balloons and Bryce and Carter enjoyed decorating the house and their rooms. <br />Grandma and Grandpa Petersen joined us for our adventure. We arrived in Annapolis a half hour early, did face painting, and dressed up as real pirates to go. Bryce got really special treatment b/c they knew it was his birthday. <br />Once we were out on the ship, we had to keep our eyes out for "Pirate Pete" who had the key to the treasure chest we were trying to find. Once we found him, the kids took hold of a water cannon to make him fall off his boat to get the key. Later the kids looked all around the water to find the "X" Bryce was the once to find it and they all helped pull it out of the water and got a handful each. Bryce even got to unlock the chest! On the way back to shore, the kids pulled out of the bay, "pirate grog" (creme soda)and drank up. It was yummy!<br />We came home, had pizza and pirate cake and of course opened presents. We were fortunate enough to have beautiful weather and it was a fun memorable day for our sweet little pirate!<br />Bryce's favorites:<br />Song: I am a Child of God<br />Toy: Pirate ships and cars<br />Food: Hot dogs, sausage, mango, eggs, anything sweet- he loves gum<br />Favorite thing to do: likes to ride his 2 wheeler, jeep, play outside, do artwork- especially watercolor and drawing/painting rainbows. He likes books and being read to.<br />Grows up: When he grows up Bryce wants to be a doctor for children and animals.<br />Favorite colors: blue and white<br />Favorite thing to do at school: ride bikes <br />Bryce loves to dress up! He likes to pretend to be a cowboy, superhero, pirate, knight, tiger...<br />He likes to play with his big brother and they play puppy (Bryce is usually the puppy and prefers it that way, trains, playing with stuffed animals or they are outside running/riding around.<br />He recently learned how to pump his legs on the swing all by himself and ride his two wheeler with no training wheels a few months ago. He is very proud of both.<br />He is learning to write his letter and identify a few. <br />He's been to the ER more times than children should with staples in his head, split open chin (twice), and chest x-rays all within the past year. Truly our Brycie boo-boo. Although recently he doesn't want that nickname b/c he wants to be "Brave Bryce" another nickname given by my mom for the first split open chin incident. This past time he was sad in the ER waiting for the Dr and said, "I really am Brycie Boo-boo...." poor thing.<br />He likes to play in the rain and collect worms. He just started playing soccer and I think his favorite part is the snack they get when they are done and the anticipation of the trophy at the end of the season. He wears his soccer socks around the house for fun and it make it look like he is wearing tights.<br />He just started preschool and loves it so far.<br />He has such a funny sense of humor and keeps us laughing. He is a little jokster and loves to make people smile and laugh.<br />He is such a light in our lives and an awesome big and little brother, and son. We are so blessed he is in our family! We love you so much Brycie!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOodAmaX-qFHkmHgptDRCqKjV961m9MtPis9C2Hd66iUsIrPhmx_hMnB3B4ooXhi2x_hiATllfF3gS5ez-SHOR2B5wLKCPuWEnqPDwFrPIfQhhD-sPBiMXATx6oLiuruLaWjNwdK_poTTT/s1600/IMG_5016.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOodAmaX-qFHkmHgptDRCqKjV961m9MtPis9C2Hd66iUsIrPhmx_hMnB3B4ooXhi2x_hiATllfF3gS5ez-SHOR2B5wLKCPuWEnqPDwFrPIfQhhD-sPBiMXATx6oLiuruLaWjNwdK_poTTT/s320/IMG_5016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526526257754634354" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImDxsZIUQYzCMdNMmitCECecoJQsZdqHsQraUivh7P-8t_ndswfueEiyBcQ9hsKWv8J9zAXQ9o9UxIosZN9Ayj0pjEfHGDn1dFzj8DVoPpYDRV8V8WTT_mmL2_0usal93dcAD2Is2aFMK/s1600/IMG_5013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; 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margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr40o_KVE2kbSMCmXa8Xr0a4K4frHZjTc5hIyDWnIESfZ3gf-M44XMQMdcgUG-XzunRjn0zlkMMHE25SJ0cSwpVUK-O83sRz4Vfcvghm_1n1avbfnSR-6od-oEsVleOj-jwH0Mcs_Ji10x/s320/IMG_4946.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526524867899828050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IT1QYgxYbtvWV1gMH02sTrFXwZvs844dq6AGNVfRqYAsFREZOSQs2LH_jKVuM4lp_HGJPJ7dzy1iYVTDkibhOqHybPG2K1fBCtCZuOISs-sjk9hyphenhyphen14pbAFKpSZIGigxGQdwtsvA2UchE/s1600/IMG_4926.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IT1QYgxYbtvWV1gMH02sTrFXwZvs844dq6AGNVfRqYAsFREZOSQs2LH_jKVuM4lp_HGJPJ7dzy1iYVTDkibhOqHybPG2K1fBCtCZuOISs-sjk9hyphenhyphen14pbAFKpSZIGigxGQdwtsvA2UchE/s320/IMG_4926.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526524497905540786" /></a>Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5513829553621678399.post-15239493262584722882010-10-10T13:01:00.000-07:002010-10-10T13:07:04.158-07:00Bryce's first day of Preschool<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeMK6OKJh6GbUhLXPGyFzwApLgtqam0aL_yeI28GlStnk3fCOGcA2k1OCAbI6IuSzHTTuPFmbqkIqhcigGAi3Ab70oM9dxZn8UeAdKfEzEfutabXPY-6kYFhdqPROqaSonkb6NPPxDQnO/s1600/IMG_4880.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeMK6OKJh6GbUhLXPGyFzwApLgtqam0aL_yeI28GlStnk3fCOGcA2k1OCAbI6IuSzHTTuPFmbqkIqhcigGAi3Ab70oM9dxZn8UeAdKfEzEfutabXPY-6kYFhdqPROqaSonkb6NPPxDQnO/s320/IMG_4880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526511214786888754" /></a><br />Ahhhhh! I'm getting old and my baby boy is growing up! Bryce is now in preschool twice a week at Ashton Christian Preschool. He goes from 9:15am-1:45pm which seems like such a long day to be, but he LOVES it. His teachers Ms. Jane and Ms. Kristy are amazing and have enough energy to keep up with the 16 children. Bryce is the oldest in his class b/c it's a 3's class and he turned 4 one week after it started. He loves the playground, painting and being with friends. He loves that he gets to help pack a lunch like his big brother for himself when he goes to school. He is always so happy when I pick him up and excited to go.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d6F0OZAimB8VsZr5d8gi_aQsvUFLql8KGUCkI0H3pDC_ZtkVT6SiYz1bTVqEcz9J0JSYckpXH68RLz_NRrdJa9zC0E1il-eEnK6at1j7H1kfR9_eDtKSLM4ZociJmwATc-7zo-4mtR4M/s1600/IMG_4883.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2d6F0OZAimB8VsZr5d8gi_aQsvUFLql8KGUCkI0H3pDC_ZtkVT6SiYz1bTVqEcz9J0JSYckpXH68RLz_NRrdJa9zC0E1il-eEnK6at1j7H1kfR9_eDtKSLM4ZociJmwATc-7zo-4mtR4M/s320/IMG_4883.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526511305369853250" /></a>Three Men and a Lady (plus a baby)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06786355028413084330noreply@blogger.com0