Changing My Name!

"Mom, she took my paper!"
"Mom, will you get me Colla (chocolate) milk?"
"Mom, can I call a friend?"
"Mom, she hit me!"
"Mom, can I have ice cream?"
"Mom, do I have to clean my room?"
"Mom, she ate my eraser!"
"Mom, Sissy won't help me get my shoes on!"
"Mom, can I please have ice cream?"
"Mom, she spit at me!"
"Mom, why can't I call a friend?"
"Mom, you are so mean!"
"Mom, GET ME COLLA MILK!!"
"Mom, I want a show!"
"Mom, when can I call a friend?"
"Mom, can I sleep in your bed?"
"Mom, please please please can I have ice cream?"
"Mom, can I just walk over to their house then?"
"Mom, she is gonna punch me!"
"Mom, your not my friend anymore!"
"Mom, GET ME A SHOW!"
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!"
"MOM!!!!!"
"MOM!!!!!!!!!"

"Mommy..........I love you."

On second thought I kinda like the sound of it, maybe I will keep it.

Flashback Friday In A Flash!

Well this is a quick one because I am limited on time but I found that amazing picture of Mary, OK OK I know I can't fool you guys it's not really Mary, although I know she was young when she had baby Jesus but perhaps not that young and probably wasn't in a house, and there were most likely not any cameras around but anyway this would be me dressed up as Mary. We did this several years in a row and for some reason they always let me be Mary, I think my name helped a bit. The little boy was our friend Brett Boren and we still actually keep in contact with their family to this day. Well with it being December and Christmas fast approaching I thought it was appropriate to post this picture. I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season so far and that maybe this year we can all be a little more like a child in remembering the true meaning of Christmas!! Love to you all!!

TODAY IS THE DAY!!

I had to post today because it is a huge day for our Grace!! Today was her first day of Pre-School! We have been working since May to get her into this program and here 7 months later after evaluations and meetings and transfers and shots and registration and bus schedules and more meetings I would do it all over again for this sweet girl that I love so much.

She was so excited as we picked out her backpack and I let her choose anyone she wanted, she chose this one because I tell her that she has cupcakes in her arm pits so I have to check them (I love cupcakes and I love even more to tickle my children).

I have been a bit nervous because Grace has had struggles and I wasn't sure how the children would treat her. You see when we go to the park Grace will bring buckets and shovels and other toys so that the kids will want to play with her. She often gets teased because she can't say some words very clearly and so she uses the toys as a buffer. Well I nearly lost it this morning when she walked onto the play ground two little girls went over and took her hands and they began running around together. Grace saw me behind the fence and came over and asked if I would take her picture with her "new friends"! I managed to keep it together until I got to the car. My sweet baby is growing up and I am so proud of her.

Forgive me for the just woke up look.

Check List!

So this week I have had a mile long list of things to get done or do, and I have been quite excited to have been getting them checked off! I have only a few big things left to do before I will feel the weight off my shoulders totally, at least for a minute anyway.

• Get Grace Immunization Shots- CHECK
  
• Get Grace Registered for school- CHECK
• Get Grace's bus schedual- CHECK
• Have Grace's hair cut- CHECK
  

• Get new outfit for Grace- CHECK
  
• Get my haircut- CHECK
  
• Take Evan's family Pictures- CHECK
  
• Edit Evan's family pictures- CHECK
  
• Go to PTA meeting- CHECK
  
• Finish 1 & a 1/2 aprons for winners
• Get finished aprons and blanket sent to winners- CHECK
  
• Write Christmas Letter
• Design Add for School T-shirt- CHECK
  
• Get Christmas Letters Sent out
• Finish Kids blankets for Christmas-CHECK
• Finish other sewing projects
• Start Training for 1/2 Marathon (or maybe just a mile fun run :) )- CHECK
  
• Get Lexi to Eye Appointment- CHECK
  
• Pick up Lexi's new glasses (Long story will blog later)- CHECK
  
• Get Grace to Eye Appointment- CHECK
  
• Make sure James is fed during all of this!- CHECK
• Help my sister Emily with her school assignment- CHECK
  
• Last but not least BREATHE!!! (Although my Mom has always taught me that breathing is not important, so maybe that can wait)

Sunday Scripture

Well I decided to today that I would attempt a new addition to my posts! Sunday Scripture, I thought it would be a great way for me to remember some of the scriptures that help me. Last night we were fortunate to have the missionaries for dinner. They were your average missionaries by all appearances but the spirit that remained in the house when they left was unlike anytime I remember in the past. They shared a scripture with us before they left from Mosiah (One of my favorite books), it was

Mosiah 24:14

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage: and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God do visit my people in their afflictions."

This particular scripture is in the context of Alma and his people as they are in bondage to the Lamanites. Now the interesting thing is that before they were in bondage to the Lamanites they were doing quite well, they were prospering and building a nice city and being pretty good people. They had wished that Alma would be there King but Alma knew that was not what the Lord wanted so he led them as a High Priest teaching them of the gospel. Well the Lord decided to chasten them and "trieth their patience and their faith" and allowed the Lamanites to surround their city and when Alma and his people realized they were surrounded by this mighty army they prayed to Heavenly Father that their lives would be spared and the Lord did allow their lives to be spared but they were still taken into bondage by the Lamanites but rather than them being bitter and upset for being taken bondage they showed their gratitude to the Lord for sparing their lives by praying. Now while the Lord allowed them to be put into bondage he did ease their burdens and gave them strength to endure them.


I love this because it shows what a loving Heavenly Father we have, He knows enough to test us and try us but while at the same time making them lightened because He loves us. He allows us to make the choice that when we are in rough times to either pray to him for help and guidance or will we choose to lean on our "own understanding".

For me right now and I believe many others these times are very trying, and I know that while I am being tested the Lord has made these burdens lighter through family, friends, visiting teachers, the scriptures and a sweet reminder from an Elder who is on the Lords errand and was led by the spirit to read that scripture to us.

I hope to include more scripture with my blogging, so perhaps we can learn them better together or maybe you can share scripture and stories from your life that would help me.

Happy Sunday

THANKS & GIVING!!

Well as it is officially Thanksgiving I decided that a post giving thanks would be appropriate!! This year seems to be going much faster than anticipated and it also seems that the older I get I find myself saying that EVERY YEAR! I have much to be appreciative for and no where near the words to express it but I will try.

I am blessed and grateful for my Husband and his job, grateful that he has a job in these slow times and blessed that he works so hard for our family. He is good to me and loves me and lifts me up when holding the world up seems too heavy.

Alexis, she is such a great girl. Her heart is pure gold and would defend her entire family to the death if needed! I love watching how doing what's right comes very instinctively for her, I am grateful for that and hope that it will stay with her always!

Grace, aww my Grace, yes that little girl has me totally amazed by her! I am grateful for her humor and her sweet singing. She brings added spice to our family and I am so proud to be her Mom.

James, my little man, he melts my heart with that smile of his. I am grateful for his patience and quiet presence, he brings a great deal of peace to our family. He waited a long time to come to our family and the Lords timing, as always, was impeccable!!


I am grateful for the county we live in, regardless of who might be elected to office (still working through that). We do have so many freedoms and even more men and women who are willing to fight for them.

I am grateful for the gospel and all that it allows me to understand and to know that the things I don't understand can be lived in faith.

I am grateful for all my extended family, Mom, Dad, Janna, Alyssa, Jack, Emily, Chet, Dave, Amy, Carli, Carson, Ethan, (my side) & Bonnie, Mark, Danny, Rachel, Sara, Anna, Will and baby Will (Jimmy's side). Of course there are a million other family members that I feel grateful for as well but that list is really long.

Last but not least I feel so grateful for this blogging world, for those that allow me to know you better and for those that think I am worth their time to read about me and get to know me. I hope you all have a wonderful Turkey Day, LOVE TO YOU!!

James 10 Months!!

My little man is 10 months and I can't hardly believe it! Pretty soon his first birthday will be here and the next thing I know it he will be leaving on his mission!! These are just some of the milestones that he is reaching!

He has seven teeth and uses them VERY WELL!!

He pulls himself up to just about everything and has started to climb them!

He loves to wave and clap!

James LOVES music, he will sing to the radio or at church or to any music that speaks to him.

He has begun to help get himself dressed by putting his arms through the arm holes in his shirts.

He mimics all sorts of noises like sneezes and coughing.

James likes to fake cough just to be silly

He is happy most of the time with lots of smiles!

He loves his Daddy to put him to sleep at night.

He seems to be getting closer and closer to walking but finds crawling much faster at this point!

His favorite foods are bananas, apples, green beans, pirates booty, Ritz crackers, rice, or anything that we are eating!

Climbing the stairs or getting into the dog food is on the top of his to do list.

James enjoys the bath, he will use the wash cloth to get a drink by dunking it under the water and then sucking on it to get the water out.