Monday, November 24, 2008

Little Cherished Moments

So my family and I have been under the weather for the last few weeks. I can’t believe it has lasted this long! Anyways, the other night I finally had both kids in bed sleeping and I sat down to relax and have some "me time". Have you ever been doing something and everything just feels so peaceful and nice, that you just want to be in that moment and enjoy every last second of it. Well during my “me time” I found such a moment. I was watching the Hallmark channel enjoying the holiday movies, and crying with the movie, covered in a warm blanket and knitting. It was a wonderful feeling that I just enjoyed every second of it. So have you ever had these moments? What were you doing? I’d love to hear.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Books and Memories

Those who know the family I grew up in, know that it was a book reading family. Where I grew up books were cherished, loved, and read often. And as a result I have such fond memories of books and have carried the tradition over to my family. I however specialize in children’s books (being a elementary teaching has influenced that one).

When I was around 7 or 8 I fell in love with the Clifford series of books (you know the Big Red Dog) (back then there was no TV show). I loved animals and this was a wonderfully way to get me into reading. My dad quickly figured this out and randomly when he would come home from work he would have with him a Clifford book that he bought from the used book store. I LOVED it. It was the best surprise in the world for me. I would take my book and read it over and over again until my dad would bring home another one.

As I got older I have held onto my Clifford books. They had such special memories attached with them. In our last move I have finally been able to unpack all of my books (YEAH!) and with them came out the Clifford books.

So Michael is just starting to be interested in TV and started to watch the Clifford TV show. So for our reading time I picked out two of my Clifford books to read to him. He LOVED it! He now calls them “my Clifford books” (typical of every two year old, it all becomes his). Every reading time he wants to read his Clifford books. I love that he loves them so much and I am so happy that he finds joy in reading the same books that I enjoyed reading.

I wish my dad was still with us and I would love to tell him how much it meant to me for him to bring home those books just for me, and how awesome it is that my son loves reading the exact same books. It is times like this that I really miss him. Luckily I have the gospel perspective and know that if he doesn’t already know, I will have the chance to tell him someday.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

"Time is of the Essence"

Now is the time to get things done...
wade in the water,sit in the sun,
squish my toes in the mud by the door,
explore the world in a boy just four.
Now is the time to study books,
flowers, snails, how a cloud looks;
to ponder "up" where God sleeps nights,
why mosquitoes take such big bites.
Later they'll be time to sew and clean,
paint the hall that soft new green,
to make new drapes, refinish the floor-
Later on... when he's not just four.

-By Irene Foster

Thursday, November 13, 2008

The Best Is Yet to Be

“There are cycles of good and bad times, ups and downs, periods of joy and sadness, and times of plenty as well as scarcity. When our lives turn in an unanticipated and undesirable direction, sometimes we experience stress and anxiety. One of the challenges of this mortal experience is to not allow the stresses and strains of life to get the better of us—to endure the varied seasons of life while remaining positive, even optimistic. Perhaps when difficulties and challenges strike, we should have these hopeful words of Robert Browning etched in our minds: “The best is yet to be.” We can’t predict all the struggles and storms in life, not even the ones just around the next corner, but as persons of faith and hope, we know beyond the shadow of any doubt that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true and the best is yet to come.” (Elder L. Tom Perry “Let Him Do It with Simplicity”)

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Poems

So my visting teachers came by and with a message and also gave me a copy of two wonderful poems. One goes so well with my previous post that I thought I would post it here. The other I ABSOLUTLY love and so I am putting it on my sidebar so that I will see it often.

"Of Children"
Little toddler,
You mimic me.
I stand, I sit,
Alike
I am your model;
What I am, you'll be
At least
Partially.
Dear Father,
Iam the babe
To you.
Can I be as this child
And learn to mimic too?
-Beth Stephenson

The Things They Pick Up

So yesterday I watched my two nephews for most of the day. It was fun and Michael had a good time. And then this morning Michael started calling me Christina. After all day of hearing his cousins call me Aunt Christina he decided to call me Christina too. After a few corrections of “you call me mommy” he has returned to calling me mommy. Also, Michael has many times called Kent “Hon” as I do.

Little ones truly are mirrors of what we do. I didn’t realize that I was saying “I’m so exhausted” so much, but apparently I was, and Michael quickly picked up on it. It made me laugh so hard the first time he said it. And he says it in such a cute way. At least I know I am expanding his vocabulary. Listen to him say “I’m so exhausted,” it’s cute.




This morning Emma woke up and Michael went into her room with me to get her and he said “hi gorgeous.” It was sooooo cute! I had to get a video clip of it.




And last, many times my cell phone rings and I am in the middle of a diaper change, or feeding Emma and so Michael will run to get the phone. He use to open it up and just listen so the poor people calling would think it was really weird and hand up. So I taught him to say “Hello, Michael speaking. Here’s my mommy.” And now it really works. Some times I have to remind him to say it, but he does. And when I know that it is my mom or Kent calling (thanks to different ring tones) I prompt him to say “Hello Grandma” or “Hello Daddy”. It's nice to have such a helper, and so cute too.

It is incredible how quickly little children pick up on things. It is so adorable and yet makes me nervous. He is watching everything I do; I’d better be a good example. Also, makes me super cautious about what he watches on TV, and who he is around.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Cute Kids


Ok, so of course every mom thinks their kids are cute. I am no exception. And thanks to the wonderful world of blogging everyone else who reads my blog (ok so there are only 3 of you :) get to enjoy me loving and being proud of my kids doing the exact same thing that everybody else’s kids do. Sorry, but can you just indulge me on this one?


Here is just a cute clip of Michael dancing to Brad Paisley,my favorite country singer, playing his new song. (he just came in from outside, which explains the hat and coat)



Here is Michael being cute wearing his Fireman hat while he brushes his teeth.

(We just had a dentist apointment too, and no cavities, Yeah! Plus Michael got a new toothbrush, kids floss, a toy car, and a balloon! They really are good with the kids and make it fun for Michael to go there. I sure am glad he likes to brush his teeth)

And just a cute picture of Emma, she’s so adorable! (unfortuantly she still has to wear a bib everywhere, but at least the spit up has lessened since I stoped drinking milk.)

Thanks for indulging me. Now it’s your turn, show me the cute pictures of your kids doing everyday things. :)

It’s a Hairy Place


The nice thing about having church start at 1pm is that we have so much time in the morning to get ready. I do really enjoy taking my time in getting ready and enjoy the morning with the family all together. This morning we did have to do some necessary things to be ready for church, HAIRCUTS! Kent needed one badly and since I had all the stuff out, Michael got one too. Michael has really been a good one to sit still and let me cut his hair, I think because he always sees his dad do it too. However, now he is complaining more and more about the cut hair bugging him. He constantly tries to brush it off and is afraid it will get into his eyes; nonetheless he sits there and lets me cut it. I am very glad about that. So after Michael’s haircut I couldn’t resist to take some cute pictures.


I commented to Kent that “I never thought Michael would have such a hairy back so soon.” Kent just replied “he gets it from your side of the family.” Which if he really does get one, I would have to agree, my brothers have the hairy gene for sure.
And the end result. Now doesn't he look hansome!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Much Rejoicing


So those of you who don’t know we have been struggling with Michael and asthma. Each time he would get a cold he would end up in the walk-in clinic for treatments because it would progress so fast and strong the medicine I had at home would not work. At times we even ended up in the ER and were once transferred to Seattle Children’s hospital for a 2 day stay as Michael recovered. Michael has had a cold at least once some times twice or three times each month, ending with emergency care. Yet finally at the one year mark this October we had a major celebration. Michael got a cold and no asthma!!!!! Needless to say there was MUCH rejoicing! Finally to not have to see my son struggle to breath, to not have the sleepless nights monitoring his breathing with a baby monitor by his side.

The answer came as my wonderful sister-in-law, Nancy, encouraged me to seek a specialist on my own and get Michael seen. Then my other wonderful sister-in-law, Beth, was able to watch Emma as I took Michael to the specialist at the hospital. The specialist ordered tests and gave me Prevacid to try. The tests came out all fine, but it seems the Prevacid did the trick. At one of Emma’s well baby check ups the pediatrician asked how Michael was doing. I told her we have him on prevacid and the pediatrician said, “oh yes, that does sometimes work, I wonder why I didn’t give it to you myself.” Frustrating… but oh well, we have it now.

So we still have Michael on his maintenance inhalers, we don’t want to take him off until the cold season is over just to make sure. But the fact that we are able to handle everything at home and don’t have to run to the walk-in clinic or ER is wonderful. I never doubted all the priesthood blessing that said he would get over it, but I just didn’t know the Lord’s time table. I have to admit I was afraid to blog about it, just worried I would jinx it. But one month down with no asthma, there has to be MUCH REJOICING!!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Fun of Halloween



So this year we went to Trunk or Treat as well as trick or treating on friday night. I loved the trunk or treat because I got to see everyone I know from the three wards that meet in our building (which we have been members of all three!). Michael went in his Rooster costume and Emma was in her teddy bear jacket (it serves two purposes, Halloween costume and cute winter coat:) We saw Grandma Brown and Steve there dressed up as Pirates, as well as Kent's family. I wish I would have gotten pictures of Michael with his cousins but everyone was too busy getting or eating candy. ;)


Kent's sisters at the Trunk or Treat


Halloween night I thought we would have lots of kids trick or treating, but saddly not to many. I took Michael around our neighborhood. Only about every 3rd house was welcoming trick or treaters. But still Michael got loads of candy (people were giving him handfulls either because he was just so cute, or because they had less trick or treaters than they expected and wanted to get rid of their candy). Anyways Michael got loads of candy! When we got home I let him pick three things to enjoy before he went to bed. His choices; a Halloween puzzle (24 pieces totally awesome idea) a can of apple juice, and fruit snacks. I guess he has not yet got the idea of the candy, but as a mom I am happy with his choices. :) Each day I let Michael pick one piece of candy after each meal, we'll see how long that last, I may just end up putting it in the pantry and save it for christmas stocking stuffers (ok so I know I'm cheap, but might as well save where you can). So how do you deal with Halloween candy? Do you let your kids eat it when they want? Do you put it in a pile for community family candy? I would love ideas for next year.
Michael in his Rooster costume
Michael discovering the joys of a tootsie pop
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