Weekend Fun

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Here is a re-cap:

Sage was drawn to bring Clifford home for the weekend, which was so ironic since Sawyer had just brought him home the weekend before last. She took Clifford everywhere, including to get some Oreo milkshakes with the family.

Friday night, Danny and I went to see Catching Fire. It was really good. I read all three books, so I was excited to see how the movie compared. We got there right before the movie started because our babysitter was running late, and so seat choices were slim pickings. We ended up sitting behind someone with a horrible body odor. When you are pregnant, your sense of smell is as good as a dog's, so this was a little hard for me. I tried to just breathe into the popcorn bag. I'm sure our friends sitting behind us thought we were weird. All well, we still enjoyed the movie.

Saturday night, we had a family movie night. I love our family movie nights. We all cuddle up on our couch together with our blankets and watch a good, wholesome family movie. I still like to take the kids to the local video rental store, because they have lowered their prices so much to keep up with the Redbox kiosks everywhere. Sage (and Clifford) had picked out The Smurfs, so that is what we watched.

My sister and brother-in-law and their kids arrived from Santa Cruz. It will be so much fun to have them around for the week. They are a fun bunch!

We have more family coming into town that are coming to stay with us over the Thanksgiving holiday, so I've been working like a madwoman trying to get the house ready.

We always have two dinners on Thanksgiving. Danny's grandparents have an earlier dinner that we attend, and then we always go to my parents' house later, around 4pm. I try not to eat too much at the first dinner, but sometimes I can't help but stuff my face. Then I stuff my face again at our second dinner.

Friday morning, I plan to park my bum on the couch to shop the online Black Friday deals. I've barely started my Christmas shopping, so I have lots left to do. I've become quite an expert on scoring great deals online, especially since we don't have many great stores to shop from in our little coastal town.

We also plan to take the kids to see Frozen on Friday afternoon. Then, later in the evening, my kids will be on a float for their Dance Studio in the Christmas parade.

I'm excited for this week, needless to say. It's always so much fun when family gets together. And when there is lots of food. And leftovers. And pie.

Guess What?

Want to know why my kids are so excited?

Because we had just told them we are going to have another baby join our family!

Asher's face especially makes me laugh in that picture above because he didn't really have a clue what was going on, he was just reacting along with the rest of his siblings.

I am 14 weeks along, and the baby is due on May 23rd.

I just couldn't shake the feeling that we needed to bring another sweet spirit down from Heavenly Father's presence to join our family.

For weeks, I have been nauseous and tired. That is why I was so lame for the kids during the Halloween month.

Sometimes when I'm talking, I'll be in the middle of a sentence and then I'll dry heave. Sometimes even in public. Good times.

Danny has been picking up the slack where it's needed, which I am so grateful for. Seriously, he is the best. He doesn't hesitate to do the dishes, pick the kids up from school, take them to dance classes, take Payton to 4-H activities, vacuum (all the while keeping so busy with his bazillion responsibilities).

Another thing he does for me is make me homemade mashed potatoes whenever I'm craving them. Mashed potatoes smothered in melted butter is what it's all about for me right now. Oh, and milkshakes. I've always had an organic/real food philosophy, but by golly, during these earlier weeks of pregnancy all of that goes out the window. Bring on the milkshakes and potato chips.

Just like with Asher, we won't be finding out the gender until he/she arrives. It is pretty fun that way.

Sage reeeeeeally wants this baby to be a girl! She wants to have a little sister to play girly things with.

Children are such a blessing. Danny and I are privileged that we have been trusted to raise these precious children. It certainly isn't always easy. I have had many moments where I have felt like I fall short as a mother.

I know that these years go by so fast and we have to cherish them.

Family is precious to me.

I am so grateful for the fact that I can be with my family forever. Not just during our time here on earth, but after this journey here on earth is done. I know that when I lose a loved one, it is not the end. I will be with them again. This is so comforting to me. Heavenly Father loves us all so much and has a plan for us.

Please, take a few minutes and watch this video about families. I promise it will uplift you :)

Groceries

The more my kids grow, the more they eat.

It seems like we never have food in the house, even after I've just gone grocery shopping.

We just spent $250 at Costco last Saturday, and I still feel like we don't have any food. I'm trying to figure out how this is possible.

Danny ran to the store this afternoon to get some of the basics that we were out of. One of the things he brought home was a bunch of lunch meat! I commented on it, and he replied…

"This is how we have to shop now!"

And he is right!

I guess I still have the mindset of shopping for Danny and I and our "babies." Only, they are not all babies anymore. They are growing into ravenous little children who like to eat. They inherited that from me. Back in the day (especially when I was playing sports), I could eat a burrito the size of my face and still be hungry afterwards.

I am learning that I need to change my shopping ways. I remember my mother-in-law telling me that the most she ever spent at Costco in one trip was $1400. Albeit, that was when she was doing childcare, but I remember thinking how crazy that was.

I fear for our grocery budget when our kids are teenagers!

A Weekend Away

Last weekend was so much fun. I had really been looking forward to it all of last week.

We also had an unexpected guest join us - Clifford the Big Red Dog!

Each Friday in Sawyer and Sage's Kindergarten class, their teacher draws a name out of a basket to see who gets to take Clifford home for the weekend. The whole weekend, they get to have fun adventures with Clifford and can take pictures and record it in his book. Then on Monday, Clifford and his adventure book go back to school and their teacher reads about all the fun adventures he had with the student over the weekend.

Last Friday, Sawyer's name was drawn to bring Clifford home. It was the perfect weekend, because it meant Clifford got to come to Medford with us and stay in our hotel for a night.

Sawyer was so excited!

Sage was bummed at first that it wasn't her name that was drawn, but I reminded her that we are lucky because we get to have Clifford TWICE in our home because he will eventually come home with her, and that no other student in their class gets that privilege. That cheered her up really quickly.

Friday night after we got to Medford and checked into our hotel, we left for a Japanese restaurant called Oh's Osaka where you sit at a grill and watch your chef cook your food with many fire tricks along the way. Danny and I had been there before, but we wanted our children to have the fun experience of a dinner out like that.

After dinner was some shopping at Target, then to the hotel to get the kids tucked into bed since it was already late.

The next morning, we woke up bright and early so that Danny and I could attend the temple. Because my parents were there also, they stayed with our children so Danny and I could go. Going to the temple is always like experiencing a slice of heaven, and is so uplifting. That was the main purpose for our trip to Medford.

After our morning at the temple, we headed to Red Robin for lunch. The rest of the day was filled with a quick trip through the mall, buying groceries from Costco, and a two hour long car ride home.

It was so nice to spend time with the family and have fun together, creating memories. And it was especially fun for Sawyer to be able to bring Clifford along with us for the adventure. I love these Kindergarten traditions!

Pumpkins and Laundry.

Today was the only day this week that I didn't have something on the calendar. I wanted it to be a day where I didn't go anywhere, and just focused on getting things done around the house. It was also raining out, so I stayed in my new fleece pants all day with a fire going in our wood stove. That was so nice.

I filled a lot of my day with catching up on laundry and canning the pumpkins that have been sitting on the kitchen counter. The whole morning was one big pumpkin-fest. There were 7 total. I always forget what a chore it is to cut up pumpkins into 1" pieces! Asher helped me put the pumpkin rinds into a bowl as I chopped.

The largest pumpkin, I roasted and pureed so that I could use it in these different recipes over the next week...

Pumpkin No Bake Energy Bites
Pumpkin Creme Brûlée with Maple Sugar
Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Crumb Bars
Homemade Pumpkin Butter
Pumpkin Butter Oat Squares with Candied Pecans

'Tis the season to start munching on all things gooey, rich, savory, and delicious!

The rest of the night will be filled with the latest episode of Downton Abbey and Trader Joe's Chocolate Macadamia Lace Cookies. Thank goodness for husband time after the kids have gone to bed!

The Kindergarten Shot Caller

Sawyer and Sage are in Kindergarten.

Sawyer has been telling me stories about this boy that he plays with. We'll just call him "Skippy." From what Sawyer has been telling me, Skippy likes to call the shots on the playground.

One day at recess last week, Sawyer was playing on the jungle gym bars and fell off and bonked his face. It made a nice scratch across his chin. That afternoon, as we put a band-aid on it, he asked me if anyone would make fun of him for wearing a band-aid on his face. I told him not to worry about what other people thought or said about it. {I might add that Sage also found a "scratch" on her chin in the exact same spot as Sawyer's scratch and so she "required" a band-aid on her face as well} I sent them both to school the next day, each with band-aids across their chins, chuckling inside at the fact that Sage felt the need to have a matching wound with Sawyer. When I picked them up from school, I noticed that Sage still had her band-aid on, and Sawyer did not. I asked him what happened.

Skippy is what happened.

Skippy told him to take off his band-aid, so he did.

Skippy also likes to say mean things to Sage and her friends on the playground. Remember this story? We found out that Skippy was the culprit.

A few days later, Sawyer was sent to the treasure box for good behavior to pick out a toy. Skippy whispered to Sawyer to grab an extra toy for him. Sawyer told him no, because he didn't want to get in trouble and he knew it was wrong.

Skippy is a Kindergarten shot caller.

I was so proud of Sawyer for choosing the right. I commended him for being honest and making the right choice, and assured him that if he would have been caught, he would have gotten into trouble and probably would have lost treasure box privileges in the future.

It bothers me that at such a young age, they are already experiencing bullying. As a mother, I think it is very important to help build my children's confidence and self-esteem so that when they are faced with these kinds of situations, they have enough confidence to stand up for themselves and those around them that are being bullied.

I told Sawyer that he should find some new friends to play with. No thank you, shot callers.

Isn't that a handsome, sweet face?

A Sweet Realization

A year ago, I attended Time Out for Women in Portland, Oregon. Hilary Weeks was one of the speakers performing for us. Not only did she perform many of her songs for us at the event, but she shared some personal experiences as well as her testimony. She is such a talented woman, and I'm grateful I was able to see her in person.

There is one thing in particular that she talked about that I don't think I will ever forget. It has always stuck with me.

She said,

Several years ago, I was on a mother-daughter dinner date with Calli, who was nine at the time. Through a mouthful of macaroni and cheese, Calli giggled as she recounted a game of freeze tag she played during recess that day.

Then it hit me…

I will spend eternity knowing Calli as an adult. But tonight, right here, right now and for the next few precious years I have the rare privilege of knowing her as a child.

What a gift to experience the children in our lives as children!

For a brief moment during the journey of mortality, we get to watch them laugh, learn, experience, grow.

Her experience with her daughter during that dinner date was the inspiration for her song, "Stand Still."

Good luck listening to it without crying.

You can also find a blog post where she wrote about it, here.

There are hard days when whining and bickering are worse than other days. But this knowledge can change my whole attitude towards my children as I handle the situation. I am so lucky to be a mother. I am so lucky to have the children that I do.

It is just a great reminder to slow down and enjoy the precious moments and days that we have with our small children. They grow up so fast.

Gratitude

We went to Corvallis, Oregon over the weekend to attend the baby blessing of our newest niece, Alice. It was a spiritual occasion, and I am grateful we were able to be there.

I love the city of Corvallis. It is home to Oregon State University, where my brother-in-law is currently working towards his Master's degree. It has so many fun things to offer. One of my favorite things about Corvallis is that it has many places where the trees hang over the streets that are lined with well-kept craftsman style homes. It is such a pretty sight. Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market, which is always a favorite pastime of mine because I am all about eating organic and supporting local farmers and artisans. We munched on some of the best homemade chocolate donuts, dried apples, and homemade bread. I also brought home some honey I had bought from a local beekeeper there.

On Sunday, after the sweet blessing of our niece, I went to Relief Society. The woman who taught Relief Society chose to teach about Gratitude. It was an amazing lesson. Towards the end of the lesson, she shared this video that really touched me.



This is the whole purpose behind this blog. I started it to share my spiritual experiences and blessings that I recognize in my own life. I want to uplift others. I try each day to recognize the love that Heavenly Father has for me and my family, as well as everyone around me. We are all sons and daughters of God. He loves each one of us equally. I know that when we ponder about our day, we can recognize the Lord's hand in our life. When we notice the miracles that occur in our lives everyday, we are filled with peace, comfort, and the spirit of gratitude.

At the end of our Relief Society lesson, the woman who taught asked the class what ways they had seen the hand of God in their own lives. One woman shared her recent experience of receiving a blessing while she was enduring a difficult labor, and almost lost her baby due to complications. She was overcome with gratitude for priesthood blessings, and the love that Heavenly Father has for her and her family. One woman shared how she was observing her daughter interact with her friends and she became overwhelmed with gratitude over the fact that she is able to be a mother and raise her daughter. Another woman had shared how she had just had a funeral for her mother. She recalled sweet memories of her mother as a woman of God, never speaking a harsh word, and always there to nurture and love her.

These stories that those women shared were inspiring to me. We are all so special and loved beyond what we realize. Surround your thoughts with gratitude, and happiness will abound :)

Halloween and a New Month

I'm glad it's a new month.  For some reason, I feel like October was the longest month.  I wasn't into Halloween this year, and normally it is a holiday that I really enjoy.

We didn't carve pumpkins.

Danny reminded me last night that we didn't even watch Hocus Pocus, which is a family tradition of ours.

We didn't go to the Pumpkin Patch as a family, but that was mostly due to the fact that we were given many pumpkins. Payton, Sawyer, and Sage all went on field trips to the Pumpkin Patch with their class where they each got one, then they had a parent at their school donate a pumpkin for every student. We also received some from our sweet neighbor.  Sometime next week, I plan to can up all the pumpkin so we can enjoy it year round.  I like to add it to muffins, sauces, breads, etc.

I did make Payton's costume.  She was a gypsy.  I bought her shirt and cut slits on the bottom and tied washers to it so it would jingle.  Then I sewed her skirt together with strips of fabric.  Sage had her heart set on being Aurora from Sleeping Beauty.  That is her favorite Disney princess. She opted not to wear the blonde wig that we borrowed from a friend.  Sawyer and Asher were lumberjacks, which made it easy because the only thing I had to order for them was their suspenders.  And I figured they could also wear them to church.

Aren't those the cutest little Lumberjack's you ever did see?  Asher's beard is my mascara smeared onto his face.  And of course, I'm partial to that sweet Gypsy and Sleeping Beauty.  

We squeezed in an hour of trick or treating with our friends before we headed to our church Halloween party.  It was a good night, and I know my kids had a great time.  

We still got them to bed early enough, which was nice.  I don't like messing with bedtimes, especially when they are so young.  

I am glad October is over.  I know November will bring a lot of fun and excitement.  We will have family staying with us for Thanksgiving, which will make it extra special.  November also means Christmas shopping and planning, which I always look forward to.