"If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."
-Pres. Thomas S. Monson

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Day to Day

Yesterday I was sitting at my table after my kids had gone to bed and I was thinking about how my day is full of hundreds of insignificant things.  My life involves: scrambled eggs, story time, building forts, going on "hikes" through the house, playing Nintendo, putting my feet up for a minute, snuggling, napping, carpooling, peanut butter and jelly, picking up shoes, folding clothes, brushing and flossing teeth, saying prayers, reading scriptures, singing songs, telling knock-knock jokes, squeezing in a run...  these are things I do on almost a daily basis.

I was thinking about how all of these little things add up to one big thing- every day, I get to raise my family.  Every day, I get to be the one to kiss the owies and wipe the noses.  I'm so grateful for this.  There is absoulutely nothing that is more important than what I am doing right now.

This was yesterday.

Today I was cranky.  We call it "Blumpo the Grumpo" in our house after a show we watch at Grammy's.  I'll admit that I have been short on sleep after dealing with some very sick kids for the last ten days, and it has left me very short on patience.  I threatened.  I lost my temper.  It was one of those hard "mom" days.

Then my big brother James posted this video:



We have a Father in Heaven. He knows that it's hard to parent.  I long to be perfect like Him and to love my children with a perfect love, as He does me.

It's so hard sometimes, but I wouldn't change it.  Not for anything in the world.

The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only― and that is to support the ultimate career. ” ― C.S. Lewis

Monday, January 28, 2013

Winter Wonderland

This year we have been reminded about how lucky we are to live out of the inversion in Salt Lake.  I take my blue January skies for granted until I go for a trip down to the valley and realize that they have to live with a sky that's brown.  It's awful.  No wonder so many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder.

We had another decent storm last night and I couldn't wait to take the kids out to play after school.  After all, January calls for snow angels and hot cocoa!









Friday, January 25, 2013

I think we'll call her Paige.

I am 30 weeks pregnant.

Real honest here- I wish I were 39 weeks pregnant.

This pregnancy has been hard!  I don't remember being quite so uncomfortable and quite so anxious to get my babies here as I am with this one.  It's a new experience and I've gained some new found empathy for those women who have such terrible pregnancies.

Sometimes I wonder if this pregnancy is more difficult just because I am trying to do more with this pregnancy.  I'm still waiting tables two nights a week, I run 3 days and try to bike 2 days- all of which adds up to be more physically exhausting than sitting on the couch 7 days a week like I did with Will and Annie.  Are active pregnancies really easier?  I'm not so sure.  In spite of the bulging discs, varicose veins, frequent heartburn, pelvic and sciatic pain, I'm grateful that I get to have this little baby in my belly.

Something about creating a miracle makes me feel happy.  And really, really blessed.

Although we can't say her name is official until she's born, at this point we call her Paige.  I love her name.  I love that it means "servant"; every time I think of this, I think of the Savior- our Ultimate Servant.  I love how it sounds when it comes out of my kids' mouths.  I love that Will knows how to spell it already.  I can't help but smile when I think of my sweet little Paige, growing bigger and stronger every day.

The best part of pregnancy is feeling the baby move- I think every woman will tell you this.  She rolls and wiggles, hiccups and sticks her little foot out of my side.  I have to stop myself from telling people every time I feel her move (which is a lot!).  I even lay awake at nights because she has literally kicked me from a dream filled sleep.  I don't mind- it's nice to have quiet time with my girl.

Only 2 1/2 more months until we get to meet this little Paige of ours.  I can't wait.

In the meantime, can anyone think of some good middle names that go with Paige???  As of now we're thinking of Lynn, Morgan, Grace, and Alta- feel free to vote for your favorite :).

***Sorry about the terrible quality of the pictures.  They're all from my iPod.  It is what it is.
22 weeks and 4 days pregnant after a particularly good run- and a shift of work, as a matter of fact!

Baby girl clothes!  The jellies make me most excited.
30 weeks!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Things They Say

After getting Annie out of the bath...
Dad: Annie, aren't you going to get dressed?
Annie: No. I'm going to shower with the moms and babies at the baby shower.


After leaving above mentioned baby shower...
Mom:  Did you have fun at the baby shower?
Annie:  Yeah, but I wish we would have given the baby a bath.
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Last December the kids played Joseph and Mary in Grandma Nicoll's Nativity.  When I told the kids what part they would be playing, Will replied with, "I can't be Joseph!  I don't even have a mustache!"
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"Mommy, you look so beautiful I just wanna snuggle you and eat your teeth and then pop your eyeballs out." - Annie
 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Snow Day

We have been waiting for a big snow storm for YEARS!  It seems like the last big snow we really had was in December of 2010.  This year I've watched as the Salt Lake Valley gets covered and somehow Heber gets skipped.  Finally on Thursday night we got hit!  After Dallas got home from school that night I could stop worrying and start enjoying the fresh blanket that was being thrown over us.

The kids were ecstatic to see the snow and couldn't even wait to change out of their pajamas before the jumped in the powder.  Dallas towed them around on a sled behind the four wheeler until their little noses were beet red, then it was inside for hot cocoa and a movie.  I hope this winter is filled with lots more days like today!








Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Twenty-Thirteen

Welcome to the future.

It seems like just yesterday I was in elementary school talking about what it would be like in the future: flying cars, space suits, living on Mars.  The year 2013 seemed like an eternity away.

Now it's here.

I'm not in elementary school anymore.  In fact, I graduated from High School over ten years ago.  I have a husband.  I gave birth to one big boy, one big girl, and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new baby girl in a few short months.  I am sitting in the middle of my future, and I don't want to ever forget it.

That's why I blog.  I think so many times that "I'll never forget this moment."  But you know what, I do!  I forget all the time.  I forget until I sit down at my blog books and remember how Will thought Jesus was making sugar cookies one sacrament meeting, and that Annie used to think a monster lived in our basement and she would feed it by throwing toys down the stairs to keep it out of her room.  I blog for me- because my kids are growing up entirely too fast, and I don't want to forget all of the little moments that add up to my greatest treasures.

This year I've made goals to focus more fully on my family.  I want to say yes to my kids.  I want to spend more time in the scriptures, having Family Home Evening, and writing down every little moment that made me smile that day.  My family is so precious to me.

So, twenty-thirteen, I'm excited to see what is in store for us!