Happy Valentines Day

Today is a special day throughout the world, it is a day to look at your whole world and think about all those you love. I tell those I love that I love them, but do I say those words enough? Love is such an amazing action word that can forever be acted upon.

I am in mad love with my husband and thank God that I was good enough to have such a good man granted to me for eternity. I know we have our differences and similarities, I love him more than words can say. I am so glad Josh is the daddy of my children and that he loves them beyond words. He is my everything and I do live for him and hope that I can always be one he is proud to be married to. I will spend the rest of my life falling more in love with him. And I am glad we have Valentines day, the day of love, to be cheesy and extra loving today.

I love love my little son who is my joy. He is my other prince that I have a soft spot in my heart for. He makes me so proud to be a mother and I learn from him all the time. I love his kisses, hugs, cuddles, smiles, words and everything about him.

My sweet Rachel is to die for she reminds me everyday just how much God loves me. He sent this little angel to bring peace and extra love to our family. Her smiles melt my heart and there is no doubt that she loves me in return.

I love my parents , they have always be amazing examples and teachers. They are always there for me and have given me the greatest hope of happiness in my life. They make me proud and happy.

My sisters and brother are the greatest. I am so glad I am so close to them and that we have memories to always go back to. I keep learning from them and some of my greatest times are with them.

Momma Rose (Josh's mom) is an amazing mother too. She loves me no matter what and understands me. I am glad she lives close to me, she is wonderful and a breath of fresh air.

My sister and brother  in laws  are great. I love them for being so warm and for the relationships we develop and for the love they show to my children. I am lucky to have them close to me and that we can get together often.

My girl friends make it so much fun when doing girly things or when I just need some girl time. It is relaxing and always so fun just to talk and craft. I am lucky to have great girl friends who don't expect to much from me, but just listen and talk with me.

I LOVE so many people and here is just a small list saying I love you and thank you for making my life worth it and so much more fun. LOVE is everything!

Hope you all take today to tell those you love that you LOVE THEM!! 

We just never know what tomorrow brings. It may be to late.

Check this out- My Talented and Amazing Sister Does it Again!

MoM's Little Doll/ Children's Hair Accessories

Check out these adorable vintage hair accessories from MoM's Little Doll! They are so fun and modern and are for all ages.





We are having a giveaway for this beautiful hair piece so ENTER now!

You can enter by doing the following:

FIRST ENTRY: please comment on this post
SECOND ENTRY: post a link to MoM's Little doll to FACEBOOK
THIRD ENTRY: Link me to your existing blog
FOURTH ENTRY: become a follower of my blog(let me know when you do this so I can make sure you get this entry)
FIFTH ENTRY: refer this link a to a friend(once the friend is referred make sure they comment on the blog letting me know)
The winner will be announced on FEB 28TH
)
All Hair Accessories are HANDMADE in Airdrie, AB

James' Quotables and Notables

This boy cracks me up!!

There are so many times I hit myself for not writing down something awesome he did or said. 

These are what I remember:

Just the other day James and I went on a date to the library and store. The church is right across the street from the library and he points to it and says "chuch". Then he pointed to the library and said "ibary". He knows exactly where to go when we get there. He never misses getting a stamp and always places his hand down on the counter, points to the one he wants and says "Peas" and Tank Do". While searching for books, I usually grab a bunch I think he will like and then have him look through them and tell me yes or no. It is crazy that the ones he wanted dealt with things he has watched- DINO's (of course- his latest obsession), 101 Dalmatians, Bambi and Buzz.  He reads these with or without us. He just gets lost in books, I love it. 

In the last week, whenever we are reading fiction or non-fiction James will say "nice" or "mean" for each dino and he is 100% correct most of the time about each one. His favorite by far is T-Rex. He constantly "RARRrr's" where ever we go.

For instance when we went to Walmart to go grocery shopping, we were down an isle and there was a couple passing us. All of a sudden I see James look at them and let out a huge :Rarrr! They looked at me and I just said "He's totally into dinosaurs". They smiled and growled back at him a few times. He loved it.

 

 There is a book we have read almost every night (his preference) for the past week and James is now reading it with me. It's called "How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You". He yells out the last word on every page. It is priceless. Yet, the cutest part is the last page when I say " And that's how a dinosaur says I Love......" and he says "Me" (when it is really YOU).

Today I had him sit at the table, I gave him his food and after he said his little prayer(with my help) he took a bite and smiled and said "Yummy Mama." 

Another thing he says a lot is "Hold Me" as he stretches out his arms and looks at me. Sometimes it is when I have Rachel in my hands too and very inconvenient, yet I try to find someway to hold both of them. James isn't the biggest cuddler (besides at bedtime) so I take any cuddles I can during the day.

His favorite songs are Jesus (Jesus once was a little child) and God song (Child of God). All he says is a word and I know which one he wants. He points to the ceiling and says stars when he wants Twinkle Twinkle little star. Whenever we have FHE, he loves loves Ring around the Rosie and usually ends up on the ground before we even reach Ashes Ashes We All Fall Down. Then he says "Again, again" every time we finish. He always makes sure we include baby too, I hold Rachel and he holds her hand. 

Lately when he says his prayer I will start it out by saying "Dear Heavenly Father" and he seems to always say "Buzz". Each time I try, this is the only word he doesn't repeat correctly. Maybe it is a complement to our Father, since James still thinks Buzz is one of the coolest things around. Hopefully our Father in Heaven has a sense of humor. 
I just love this stage of learning and reactions.
James is the BOMB!!! He ROCKS!!

Small.........

Yet so Simple....

To Please.

It's so true, that it is the small and simple things that make us happy.

This last week I had a reality check. 

Sometime I find myself making check lists and trying to accomplish this and that, keeping a clean house, taking care of the kiddos and just doing the mommy things we do. 

Well, the other day I thought I had a great day until  Josh came home and asked me how my day was. I totally let go and cried. It had been forever since I have cried and I really think I just needed to cry for a second and be held. 

Yes, I am a girl!

Josh has great knowledge and at the time it wasn't really what I wanted to hear, yet it is what I needed to hear.

The gist was that he has never asked me to be a certain way or to get anything done or to have dinner on the table, the only thing he usually says when he walks out the door is to do him a favor. And his favor is for me to have fun with our kids. 

Now I look at that and really think, wow I never really realized what he was actually saying. He was telling me to take time and make these moments with James and Rachel really count. Create time for these little precious children to feel their mommy's love. I will admit that I don't go a day without reading James a book or singing him a song or holding Rachel, but the thing that I am forgetting to do is to just be happy when Josh comes home. I need to wrap my arms around him and let him know just how grateful I am to have him in my life. I want him to always be excited about coming home. And he even expressed that it was more important for him to come home to a happy wife than to come home to a clean house with dinner on the table. 

I need to stop having so much expectations on myself and really just smile, be happy and show love whenever I can. 

And while I am cleaning the house, folding the laundry or even crafting just doing it without thinking what else needs to be done. 

I am lucky to have a husband that doesn't expect my house to look a certain way when he comes home, all he expects is to come home to a wife who has spent the day loving his children and is ready to love him. 

This teaches me that my man is simple. He really only needs a few things to be happy and I am one of those. 

My favorite days are the ones I spend still in my pajamas, cuddling in bed with my sweeties, reading books, playing with toys, dancing, tickling and doing anything that brings big huge smiles to this little handsome face....

and this  pretty one

(who is super duper cute when she sucks that little thumb).

 They are only this small for the time being and they enjoy the simple things more than we will even realize. 

Just yesterday I spent my day with dishes in the sink until 4:00 pm, but had a fun filled day blowing bubbles, coloring, playing with his cool cars and track, reading book after book and having a tickle war. James even helped me make dinner (this is one of his favorite things to do- help me out in the kitchen and be right up on the counter with me). You have no idea how much this little guy laughed yesterday. He was so hysterical, that he made me laugh. We were singing and dancing and pounding on the floor (sorry neighbors), but really being kids.

I know it is these moments in life that I will look back at and smile. I will never look back and say- I wish I would have had a cleaner house.

Rachel at 6 months

My little angel is half a year today. 

Where did this time go? 

Sometimes I wish I could freeze the time and just take it in even more than I already do.

Rachel, sweetheart, you are the happiest baby I have ever seen. 

You squeal whenever you are tickled and just have the cutest, BIGGEST smile. 

You love sitting up all by yourself.

You drool a ton all the time and you totally suck your cute little thumb.

It is the cutest thing seeing you just go to town sucking your dainty little finger. I love it.

You love rice cereal and have just started eating your veggies. You don't seem to like the green beans much, but like squash and mixed veggies a lot. I really hope you are a vegetable liker. You are a messy eater and love to grab the spoon while it is entering your mouth.

Your hands are always moving and grabbing for anything you can get your hands on. 

Anything that you can grab goes right to your mouth.

Just today you grabbed for some candy I was eating and once I moved it away from you, you started crying as if I had just hurt you or something. You love food and I can tell that you want to try anything that anyone else is eating now. You don't like being left out.

You are so good at pushing your upper part off of the floor and rolling. You don't roll a ton, but once in a while. But you do get fussy if your on your front side for to long. 

You still love being held more than anything else. 

You love your big brother so much. You get so excited when he comes and lays next to you or gives you any kind of attention.Whenever you cry he is so sweet and always gives you his Buzz blanket or dinosaur, trying to sooth you.

 You really like music and when I sing. 

Right before I lay you down I always sing "I am a child of God" or "Angels Above" and then give you a big kiss and tell you just how much I love you.

 

This month, these little lace leggings have been my favorite thing on you. Your little rolly legs look so so cute in them. You have totally figured out your feet, and am not quite sure what they do, but you love grabbing them and will even suck your bare toes sometimes. It's hilarious.

 

You also have taken on one of daddy's traits. 

His tongue biting when he is focusing. 

You totally bite your tongue sometimes when you are focusing too(or is it just that you have found your tongue and you like the feeling of it?)We will find out later on I guess.

You had Nana as your first babysitter this month, it was the first time away from Mommy.

Nana said you did so well. You took a bottle wonderfully and were happy until you got overly tired. 

Nana always tells us you are so beautiful and just loves staring and holding  you.

You are finally sleeping through the night!

HALLELUJAH!!

Since you now have your own room and aren't sleeping right next to me in your bassinet, you have finally had to learn to cry it out and am now awesome at sleeping. 

You usually sleep around 8 hours on average, it is so nice for your mama. 

You still nurse every 3 hours and you are a pro.

You are BEAUTIFUL in every way!! 

And I am totally in love with you.

Baby girl,

I hope you always know just how special and dear you are to me. You are my angel baby and I look forward to your smile every single morning and I just love love how attached you are to me.You make everyday simply worth it and I feel so blessed to have you as mine!

I'll love you forever 

I'll like you for always

As long as eternity my baby you'll be.

xoxox 

Your Mama
(P.S a few of these are taken with my new camera, but I have not photo shopped or editted any yet. I am seriously just trying to figure out this high tech camera that is freaking awesome. It's one step at a time.)

A New Year, My New Ways

2011 is here!

Yes, I know it is already February and I should have started my New Years Resolutions a month ago. 

You would be proud of me, I wrote them down, but as I sit here thinking about what I should write, I realized something.....

Each year I list the different topics: Spiritual, Physical, Mental, etc and then a goal. 

But my goals are way to broad and you can't measure it, so when the next year comes around- I always have the same goal listed again (as if I never reached it). I feel I am better today then I was a year ago, but this year I really want to list things that I can measure and know I am accomplishing. 

One of my goals each year is just to become more spiritual and physically fit and all in all to be a better person. 

Well, I still want to do this, just this year I want to do it better and differently. 

So bear with me and my babbling of disorganized thoughts at this very moment.

Here are some new things I want to do or be better at:

• Be a happier person and smile more. When my husband comes home I want to make him feel like he has entered a home where he doesn't question if he is loved. Even when I have unproductive days or frustrating days I want him to know that I am happy he is home. Smile at strangers and make a bigger effort to go out of my way to be happier and upbeat around peers and family. Smile, I hear it is contagious. 
• Realize just how good I have it. My life has everything I really need. Don't get down from small, tedious things that really have no significance.
• Know that I am the one who chooses my attitude and that no one else can change that.
• Remind myself everyday that I am a child of God and think of what he would have me do each day. Even if it be something small, make a difference with a text,a phone call or face to face conversation. 
• Be positive always about those you love. Don't try to change someone or have negative feelings, but try to change my own thinking- Just love them! Even if it is hard because of their past or choices.
• Blog with feeling and reality. Let others know I struggle and go through trials and don't live a perfect little life with no ups and downs. ( So be aware )
• Live in the moment and stop thinking everything has to be clean and perfect all the time. Let it slide and hug my babies, read books, play games and be silly more often. They will remember these moments and will  never look back and remember if my house was clean or not. 
• Make my house a haven from the world. A place where you can feel the spirit and others know they are welcome.
• Attend the temple once a month and go with reason. Really search for the comfort and answers that I need. Remember through out the month how I felt with in the walls of the temple. 
• Provide and make healthy and yummy meals at least 4 times a week. I love having dinner ready for Josh after a long day of school and I can only imagine how hungry he is when he gets home. One of the ways to a mans heart is through food. It is a nurturing thing. 
• Have pillow talk a few times a week and only focus on my babe. Give more of me to him. 
• Do something active everyday.
• Come up with at least one new thing every week for James to experience and try or learn. 
• Spend one on one time with James at least once a day
• Spend one on one time with Rachel at least once a day 
• Hug and kiss Josh, James and Rachel as much as I can. Say "I Love you" a lot.
• Be patient with James, my 2 year old who is Mr. Independent.
• When giving consequences to James, stay calm -yet firm. Don't let my frustration show. Always tell him I love him after the consequence is over. 
• Read more good books that help me feel the spirit.
• Become more educated in the scriptures. Instead of just reading to say I read, read with purpose to learn. Read the New Testament (I have never read it before, I have always read the Book of Mormon time after time) along with a commentary to help me understand hidden meanings and purpose. It doesn't matter how much I have read, but it does matter if I learn anything from it and understand what is being said.
• Say morning prayers. Before I start the day realize that Heavenly Father wants me to say hi to him first, just as James says hi to Josh and I first thing in the morning. Make it a priority to really talk to God just as I would my own parents and thank him for specific things. Never say the same prayer twice. Tell God what is on my mind and ask him what I can do to be an instrument in his hands each day.
• Recognize tender mercies and thank him right when it happens. Never think it was just luck, it is always God who has his hand in things. 
• Be content with my life right now, today. Don't think something will make me happier, it is learning to be happiest today, not tomorrow (or I will always be searching).
• Try something new once a month. 
• Learn about my new camera - Canon 40D- and take tons and tons of pictures.
• Sew more things for Rachel (mostly because shes a girl and we all know there are more things out there for her gender) and James with and without patterns. Make whatever my heart desires. Learn from others who are willing to share their talents. Don't be scared to ask for help.
• Get back into oil painting. Paint something to display in my home this year. 
• Call family more often, be the one making a big effort.
• Have my phone more accessible for those trying to get a hold of me. But don't let it become something I can't live without. 
• Be on time for 9:00 church, and that doesn't mean in time to take the Sacrament. 
• Prepare to teach Young Women's in advance and pray for ways to touch the girls. Make a difference in their lives. Really get to know them, laugh with them and become someone they can lean on. Pray and be aware of their needs.
• Visit Teach 100%, take initiative and get it done sooner than later.
• A Clean house is a Happy house ( less mess=more room for the spirit and less confusion and worry)
• Provide experiences where James feels good and learns about Jesus, good choices, how to be nice, manners, etc.  Persistence is key and so is repetition.
• Go the extra mile for those I may not know.
• Recognize who needs help and jump to the chance.
• Have at least 1 couple over per month that we don't know.
• Create memories (dinners, games, movie nights, activities, hang outs, date nights, play dates, crafting,  FHE, etc)with friends at least a few times a month.
• Have family and friends over for dinner a few times a month.
• Make a new meal once a week.
• Have an organized- no clutter home (it's okay if there are toys and minor things like that, but clean as in not dusty, dirty and messy).
• Keep my teaching certificate current.
• Be better at organizing bills and paying them on time.
• Save money shopping for groceries- learn and use Grocery Smarts. 
• Go to sleep earlier at least 3 times per week. (Josh and I are total night owls and go to sleep way to late almost every night- thus, we dread mornings because we are exhausted. Especially with kids who wake up early.)
• Floss everyday- I brush all the time, but slack at flossing.

So these are things that came to me, that I need to work on and make changes. Changes are good, they make you stronger and a better person. Even if I work on just a few of these each month, I will eventually become well rounded and better than I was  in 2010.
And isn't that all of our goals, to be better then yesterday?
It's worth a try.

Happy New Year!

Our little COUGARS!

It was Airforce vs BYU and our little family were BYU's biggest fans. 

 Rachel was smiling almost the whole way through her first BYU game. There was one instance where BYU scored and the crowd went crazy and she just shreeked because of how loud it was- poor little girl- and minutes later she was smiling again. 

James was raising those arms up while everyone sang the BYU fight song. 

He loved the part-

"FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, GOooooo COUGARS!"

(I love watching him and seeing how observant and aware he is in his surroundings, he picks up more than I give him credit for. He is a smart little stud.)

 Need I say more? 

We had a fun day sporting BYU, daddy's favorite team- making it our favorite as well.

I never knew just how invested Josh was in BYU football and basket ball. He doesn't just like BYU, he lives to see them play. He loves BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY SPORTS. So I have learned that I need to show more interst and excitement for when they play. I have always enjoyed going to real games, but have never been one to watch it on TV. 

Josh would LOVE it if I became more of a diligent fan.....maybe one day, after I learn the whole game of football.

After the great victory win, we went and celebrated at James favorite restaurant, Pirate Island and ate pizza, played on all the toys and arcade games. Then we went to the mall. James favorite store is the Disney Store, he could stay in there for hours on end. It is always a struggle getting him to leave. One of his regular things he always does is grabs his favorite stuffed Disney characters and lines them up on the ground and then plays with them. He already has such an imagination. As you can see, he is definitely still into Toy Story, and he has really been loving any type of dinosaur. 

This was a super fun, great and eventful day. I want to create more days like these- where we just hang out and don't have a schedule to live by, or errands to run- just a time to do what we feel like at that given minute. 

Isn't it easy to just watch your child and be completely entertained for hours.

Oh how I love my little man who is always on the move and soaking everything in.

Oh how I love my little lady who is just content and full of smiles all the time (if she is fed and rested).

These small moments are here and I just need to soak it all in before they are over. 

Time is flying by......

The End of 2010

To Brianhead We Go...

We headed to  Brianhead the day after Christmas to spend time with Josh's older brother and his awesome family. It was freezing up there. Oh my gosh, it snowed about 2 feet and snow plows where everywhere. Well we spent a lot of our time in the cabin with the niece and nephews. We spent one night making gingerbread houses. We had a competition and Benny and mine won most creative. Ours is the second from the left, we did a two story town house. James spent most of his time eating candy and going from lap to lap.

 

It has been almost 10 years since I last went skiing, and I am proud to say that I did it and did pretty good considering it has been so long. It was a total blast and I forgot about the adrenaline that rises when you are on top of that mountain looking down. I love the power (or no power) you have when you take off, not knowing where the slope leads or what you will be approaching but just going. It is the snow that is underneath you that you trust or just hope you can keep in control when sliding on top of it. I will admit that my heart kind of skips a beat when I get going way fast, but I just pretend I have complete control and then it seems like I can keep in control better. The first day I went I felt like I caught on so easily, but the next day after the huge snowfall, with a few feet of snow and POWDER everywhere was a big challenge.I just went with Jason, Chan and Carter who are pretty good and seemed to slow everyone down as they would be down at the bottom and I would just be taking my gay old time, being buried under the powder and loosing control. Even though it was way harder and slower, it was a blast. I love snowing and really want to do more of it. We love Brianhead and are so excited Jason and Melissa bought a cabin so we can spend more time there. I just adore these two. They are the most giving, unselfish, loving and accepting people and I am so spoiled being apart of their family. I always feel super comfortable and welcomed around them, plus they know how to have fun.

 Rachel loved Chase and wasn't at all scared of him (or is that just because I have complete control over what she does and where she is?). Her and James cuddled next to the fireplace with this amazing, well trained and friendly dog. One day I really want to get a dog for James, he gets so excited around them and I just can imagine them being best buds.

 

With all the fun we had, eating good grub, playing games and just talking, we encountered terrible nights- probably the worst I have ever experienced. First night I had a crying baby, she wasn't loving the ground and new place. And of course when a baby is crying in a cabin, you don't let them cry it out, so I had her next to me for the majority of the night, not sleeping at all. It was a tough night with James too, he would wake up and crawl into bed with us. When he sleeps he is everywhere- snuggling with you one minute, then his feet end up at your head the next. That night seemed bad, but the next night measured up too. Josh was struggling to breath up there. The elevation was way high and he couldn't adjust. Thus, he ended up scaring me and taking a bath, with cracking noises coming from his lungs, vomiting and just feeling awful and looking like death. He couldn't bare it any longer so we took off the next afternoon and right when we got off the mountain he felt fine. It's crazy what elevation can do to him, we gotta figure something out for him, so our future fun is not ruined. Any suggestions?

Happy New Years!!

New Years Eve was a whole lot different for us this year........

Early New Years Eve was fun with the kiddo's, we went to our favorite ice cream shop- Cold Stone and chowed down. James was loving it- saying "Ice (slurring an s at the end) Ceam" over and over again. He thoroughly  loves ice cream, just like his mama. 

Cake batter ice cream with raspberries and graham crackers-my favorite, unless I am wanting chocolate, then it is cake batter with brownie and camel. 

Yummy! My mouth is salivating just thinking about it.

Am I a bad mom?

I totally let Rachel have her first taste of sugar. I mean I wanted her to have some yummies too.

I couldn't leave her out- right?

Don't be jealous......But at 11:30 pm I left my hubby at home and headed to Salt Lake to pick up my parents from the airport- what better time to fly in, but at midnight on New Years. 

So I watched the clock and at 11:59 I called the love of my life and guess what I hear right next to me, his phone ringing. 

So at midnight on New Years Eve I was talking to his voice mail. Oh it's a great start for a new year. 

Looking Back at the top 5 things that happened in 2010:

#1. RACHEL MARIE was born healthy and has brought so much joy and love to our home every single day she has been with us.

#3. Amber (my sis) had Channing Michael- a miracle all of us prayed for after 3 years of trying.

#4. Josh did his student teaching for Seminary and LOVED it and stuck with school.

#5. James growing into a toddler, he really is a super good boy who makes us laugh with the things he does and the small words he says. His Buzz birthday was a huge highlight, as well as Christmas as he understood more of what was going on and his excitement to bring the magic into these short 24 hour moments of joy.

All in all, the greatest things that happened this year includes being able to go home where I know I am loved, appreciated and needed. 

I have grown stronger having 2 children and going through the hard and sometimes questionable journey of getting Josh through school. We know it will pay off.

So our story continues, who knows what it will bring. 

So here we go into a new year unaware of what may come.......