Valentine's Day makes me think about the people that I love... and the things that they love. I try to make the day special (and have probably gone a little overboard cause they expect something cool to happen every minute of the day) but we have fun. I know that I get a little "wordy" with things so I am cutting myself off now and just listing some things that my Valentine's love:
Bryce loves...
*Dirt bikes
*Electronics
*Taking REALLY long baths (2 or more hours)
*Playing with the kids
*Doing absolutely NOTHING!
*Watching movies
*Me and our family (he said to put this one down)...I believe him :)
I love how patient and thoughtful Bryce is. He gives me the best homemade cards with a million reasons he loves and appreciates me. He always opens my door for me and ALWAYS gives me a hug and a kiss before he leaves for work (or anywhere else he is going.)
Abbey loves...
*Gum
*Drawing, coloring, making cards
*Playing school and house (she always wants to be the mom or teacher)
*Doing math
*Baking treats with me
*Riding bikes
*Talking & Singing
*Sharing her stuff with everyone!
*Doing her own hair
*Putting on make-up (when she is allowed)
*Fruits and Veggies!
Abbey is so kind hearted and is always willing to help and think of other people. If we make treats of any sort she usually has a few people in mind that we should share them with. She cracks me up though cause she won't drink the chocolate milk at school cause "she doesn't want to eat too much sugar in one day." What kid even thinks about this???? She is a good helper and is very tender hearted.
Braxton loves...
*Super heros (Incredible Hulk, Superman, Indiana Jones, etc...)
*To pretend to be super heros
*Watching TV - you have to pull him away or he would watch all day.
*Playing sports- especially going to "Itty Bitty Ball" with his dad
*Teasing Landen
*Motorcycles (and going on rides with his dad)
*Sugar - this kid can't get enough treats!
*Wrestling
*Music
*Fruit and veggies (though he will try ANYTHING)
Braxton is full of energy and enthusiasm. It gets hard to focus his energy on positive things sometimes but he has a hug and a kiss that just melts your heart. He looks up to so many people and wants to do just what they do. He told me the other day that he wanted to "quit preschool and work at T-Mobile with Bryce all day." Not going to happen but I am glad that he loves his dad and wants to be just like him!
Landen loves...
*To run and jump on everything!
*Motorcyles (no ride is ever long enough. If he gets tired he just falls asleep riding)
*To dance to music (even constrained in his carseat his head, arms and legs are flying all over the place when the radio is on)
*To talk... though he is really shy with almost everyone!
*Splashing in the bathtub
*Sugar and treats - can't ever get enough
*Bananas- they are his favorite food (along with most other frutis)
*To suck all of his toothpaste off his toothbrush and then suck it out of the toothpaste container. We have to watch out for this one!
*Balls and playing sports
*Light switches
*Shaving with his dad
*Tractors, dogs & kitties
Landen just cracks us up. He is so funny with his expressions and his sneaky little ideas. It is hard to get mad at him when he smiles from ear to ear. He always wants his bumps and bruises kissed better. He can spot a piece of lint from across the room and has to bring it to me to throw in the garbage (a little bit like his mother and sister!) He always wants to be doing what everyone else is doing and hates to have naps or go to bed.
I am lucky to have such great Valentine's in my life! I love them to death!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Awesome Experience!
Last Friday we took the kids to the Draper Temple Open House and it was AWESOME! All of the kids were so well behaved and I wished that I would have been able to get a picture of Landen walking through the temple with his arms folded just looking at everything! They loved it and knew that it was such a special place to be. Braxton kept looking for Jesus while we were there. I told him that it was Jesus' house and he can come to the temple... he wanted to "shake his hand" REALLY bad.
The best part of the trip was being in the Celestial Room with my little family! The Spirit was so strong in there. I asked the kids what they thought and Abbey and Braxton both answered that they had a good / happy feeling there. They couldn't stop staring at the huge chandelier. We sat down in a few chairs and I was surprised at how long they wanted to stay and just sit... no talking... no treats... just feeling the Spirit. It was all I could do to not start crying thinking about how much I loved my family and how I want to be with them for eternity. It was a really special day and I am glad that we took the time to go!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Update to frustration...
Before somebody sends over the straight jacket for me to wear... I figured that I should update you on my mental state and make a correction to my complaint list.
Correction- Bryce says that it isn't him that is leaving the light on in the spare bedroom. Without putting in security cameras to catch the offender... I will take his word for it.
Bryce had no idea what he walked into last night when he came home from his class. When we met at Parent Teacher Conference last night I was fine and then for some reason...3 hours later... I am ticked off and NOT in the mood to talk. He was VERY patient with me, let me finish my blog entry and came upstairs and helped me do the dishes and picked up a few things in the family room. He then let me take a hot bath and read the Ensign. Wow, did that help! I was a whole new woman after that. Maybe it was the fact that he jumped in to help and I didn't FEEL so alone in trying to tackle all of the responsibilities of our family on my own-- cause I know that I am not alone but for some reason there seems to be a short circuit from my brain to my emotions at times (like last night).
Anyway- while I was lying there in bed trying to sleep (sometime after 11 pm) my mind wouldn't stop spinning. I came up with a few things that I am hoping will help me survive:
Problem: Abbey having a meltdown when she comes home froms school cause she just wants to watch cartoons or play with friends. -Braxton is watching cartoons and that doesn't help.
Solution: NO cartoons on at all. I am going to try and have a snack for the kids and get out coloring projects for the boys to do while we work on Abbey's spelling and math. Then after 4 pm- cartoons can come on and friends might be invited over. Also- during this time I need to be aware that I can't plan on getting anything done off of my list cause it is "kid's" time right now. Unless it is an emergency- I probably won't answer the phone either.
Problem: Not keeping my spiritual cup full- not reading the scriptures consistently.
Solution: Since I need time to sit down at night and by the time we go to bed I am exhausted... I am going to try to have scripture study right after the kids go to bed (around 8) at the dining room table (or the office if Bryce is watching tv) so that I won't fall asleep and can possibly really dive into the scriptures. I read a good article in the February Ensign last night about really studying the scriptures and I think that one article alone was the reason I needed to pick up the Ensign to read instead of catching up on my Better Homes and Gardens Magazines.
As far as the house goes... it always works out and some days I have more energy to do more projects than others and I am glad that my house is generally clean- not perfect like I want- but clean.
I also realized that one thing that sent me over the edge was that I found out about something that I should be to on Saturday that I hadn't planned on doing and for some reason when other people try to change my "agenda" that I have planned.. I don't do very well with that. I wouldn't be surprised if Bryce started stocking up on tranquilizers for such random events as this.
Anyway- I am doing much better today and I think that my hormones have come back to planet earth again!
Correction- Bryce says that it isn't him that is leaving the light on in the spare bedroom. Without putting in security cameras to catch the offender... I will take his word for it.
Bryce had no idea what he walked into last night when he came home from his class. When we met at Parent Teacher Conference last night I was fine and then for some reason...3 hours later... I am ticked off and NOT in the mood to talk. He was VERY patient with me, let me finish my blog entry and came upstairs and helped me do the dishes and picked up a few things in the family room. He then let me take a hot bath and read the Ensign. Wow, did that help! I was a whole new woman after that. Maybe it was the fact that he jumped in to help and I didn't FEEL so alone in trying to tackle all of the responsibilities of our family on my own-- cause I know that I am not alone but for some reason there seems to be a short circuit from my brain to my emotions at times (like last night).
Anyway- while I was lying there in bed trying to sleep (sometime after 11 pm) my mind wouldn't stop spinning. I came up with a few things that I am hoping will help me survive:
Problem: Abbey having a meltdown when she comes home froms school cause she just wants to watch cartoons or play with friends. -Braxton is watching cartoons and that doesn't help.
Solution: NO cartoons on at all. I am going to try and have a snack for the kids and get out coloring projects for the boys to do while we work on Abbey's spelling and math. Then after 4 pm- cartoons can come on and friends might be invited over. Also- during this time I need to be aware that I can't plan on getting anything done off of my list cause it is "kid's" time right now. Unless it is an emergency- I probably won't answer the phone either.
Problem: Not keeping my spiritual cup full- not reading the scriptures consistently.
Solution: Since I need time to sit down at night and by the time we go to bed I am exhausted... I am going to try to have scripture study right after the kids go to bed (around 8) at the dining room table (or the office if Bryce is watching tv) so that I won't fall asleep and can possibly really dive into the scriptures. I read a good article in the February Ensign last night about really studying the scriptures and I think that one article alone was the reason I needed to pick up the Ensign to read instead of catching up on my Better Homes and Gardens Magazines.
As far as the house goes... it always works out and some days I have more energy to do more projects than others and I am glad that my house is generally clean- not perfect like I want- but clean.
I also realized that one thing that sent me over the edge was that I found out about something that I should be to on Saturday that I hadn't planned on doing and for some reason when other people try to change my "agenda" that I have planned.. I don't do very well with that. I wouldn't be surprised if Bryce started stocking up on tranquilizers for such random events as this.
Anyway- I am doing much better today and I think that my hormones have come back to planet earth again!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Frustrated....
Today is just one of those bummer days... I like perfection and that doesn't seem to happen anymore around here. I have been trying so hard to let go of some things because they don't truly matter in the long run of life but I am not sure if I am going to make it to the end without going crazy! Since my blog has practically become my journal you will probably just want to skip this entry till my hormones have balanced out and I am back on planet earth... until then... I am going to write down a few things that are driving me nuts in hope that I will look at the list, see how stupid it is and buck up.
1. Bryce keeps leaving the light on in the spare bedroom when he exercises in the morning and I notice is about 1/2 way through the day.. get frustrated that we are wasting electricity and risk my life to get down the stairs to turn it off cause there are a million toys on the stairs from having family over.
2. There are a million toys on the basement stairs (and all over the playroom and spare bedroom.)
3. I need quiet time each day and am thankful the boys take a nap but many days I don't have enough energy to make it through the day without a nap myself. If I take a nap- I don't get anything done and I don't get my quiet time to do get things done. GRRRRR...
4. How in the world do you spend quality time trying to help your kids learn to read and help with homework (while they are having a meltdown about not wanting to do homework) when you have two other active kids who demand attention constantly by fighting, crying, getting into trouble or just plain needing something cause they are little?
5. I don't want to get lost in all of my committments but have no clue what to drop to make time for a hobby.
6. I can't seem to keep track of Abbey's homework sheet. We have to have our own "treasure hunt" around the house to find it.
Ok. So after making my list (which I had to stop typing cause I couldn't ever write it all down and who needs to be so depressed) I have realized that I am frustrated that my house isn't perfectly clean, I am tired of cleaning it to have it go back to messy in 3.2 seconds and there are other things I want to spend my time doing! Hopefully I can go get some stuff done, get some sleep tonight and wake up in a better mood tomorrow!
I wouldn't mind if the sun came out a little bit more and it warmed up to 60 degrees! :) What am I thinking though... it is February in Utah... I guess I need to move to a warmer climate!
1. Bryce keeps leaving the light on in the spare bedroom when he exercises in the morning and I notice is about 1/2 way through the day.. get frustrated that we are wasting electricity and risk my life to get down the stairs to turn it off cause there are a million toys on the stairs from having family over.
2. There are a million toys on the basement stairs (and all over the playroom and spare bedroom.)
3. I need quiet time each day and am thankful the boys take a nap but many days I don't have enough energy to make it through the day without a nap myself. If I take a nap- I don't get anything done and I don't get my quiet time to do get things done. GRRRRR...
4. How in the world do you spend quality time trying to help your kids learn to read and help with homework (while they are having a meltdown about not wanting to do homework) when you have two other active kids who demand attention constantly by fighting, crying, getting into trouble or just plain needing something cause they are little?
5. I don't want to get lost in all of my committments but have no clue what to drop to make time for a hobby.
6. I can't seem to keep track of Abbey's homework sheet. We have to have our own "treasure hunt" around the house to find it.
Ok. So after making my list (which I had to stop typing cause I couldn't ever write it all down and who needs to be so depressed) I have realized that I am frustrated that my house isn't perfectly clean, I am tired of cleaning it to have it go back to messy in 3.2 seconds and there are other things I want to spend my time doing! Hopefully I can go get some stuff done, get some sleep tonight and wake up in a better mood tomorrow!
I wouldn't mind if the sun came out a little bit more and it warmed up to 60 degrees! :) What am I thinking though... it is February in Utah... I guess I need to move to a warmer climate!
Monday, February 2, 2009
A Few Fun Things...
Saturday Bryce went for a motorbike ride with his friend, Rich, so the kids and I were on our own. I drug them around for a few hours and to two different malls in the morning trying to find a dress for Barry's (my brother-in-law) wedding. (We had no luck.) The kids were really good and patient with me so I had to return the favor that afternoon when we went to get groceries at Macey's. They were having a superbowl party (I need to mark those parties on my calander to avoid the store then!) filled with a live band, a bounce house, face painting, fear factor eating contest and much much more. Braxton did the fear factor contest and ate the mushroom that Abbey refused to even try. He downed the whole thing (and it was pretty big) without a problem and won a HUGE Hershey bar. He was VERY excited and Abbey was equally as mad that he wouldn't hand over the candybar to her once he ate the mushroom. Anyway, they both wanted their faces painted and the line was long and really SLOW. Since they were a good sport earlier that day I figured it was my turn to return the favor. Anyway- here is a quick picture of the final product.
Braxton is "Spiderman" and Abbey wanted a butterfly. She was a little disappointed that the lady didn't do a full butterfly on her whole face but she was a good sport. I wasn't complaining either after we spent at least a half an hour in line just for facepainting.
One other fun thing that the kids and I did together was go on a "picture" scavenger hunt. I made up a list of things for them to find outside and then they had to take a picture of it with their camera. I was hoping that it would do a few things: get them outside a little bit, dust off their cameras a little, sharpen their skills enough to actually get the object that they are looking at in the photo and have a little bit of fun. I had this planned for around 3 pm today when it would be nice and warm - above 30 degrees outside--(right after we played the laundry game) but Braxton decided that today he wasn't going to cooperate on folding his laundry today. We finally made it out the door around 5:15. It wasn't quite so warm and I was a bit frustrated to wait so long to go but we had a good time and the kids had a blast! They each showed me their pictures over and over and over that they took once we got back inside to warm up a little bit. I did get a cute picture before we headed back inside.
Landen, Braxton & Abbey with their cameras.
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