Happenings

For those of you that have ever given your child nurse maid's elbow, you know the emotional pain that goes along with it. I fully believe that the parent suffers much longer than the child. On Thursday, I picked Taylie up (she didn't want me to) and she started crying. At first I thought that she was crying because I was making her move when she didn't want to, but a few minutes later, when she was still crying, I noticed her holding her arm. "Oh no," I thought. I've been riddled with guilt ever since. 5 minutes after the Doctor popped her elbow back into place, Taylie was fine. I however, days later, am still upset that I caused my child pain. I suppose it is something to learn from, as all things are. As for me, I'm just glad that Taylie is back to her old self and that she never blamed me for a second!
P.S.
Thanks for the cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com link, Michele! It's fun to be able to add some personality to our blog.

Help

Okay, so I know that I'm probably one of the ONLY bloggers that has yet to figure this out, but will someone PLEASE tell me how you get the cute scrapbooking look to your pages?!? I'm bored with mine and want to add some...sizzle, so please do share!
P.S.
Be sure to check out the sites I like to visit.

The quote

I found this in a news article.

"Listening to Barrack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton discuss their national security credentials, Romney said, is akin to "listening to two Chihuahuas argue about which is the biggest dog.""

I laughed.

The tag

Okay, so here's how this one works. I have one word in which to describe the following. Only one word, and the first word that comes to mind. No explaining. Let's see how this goes...

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your hair? brown
3. Work? hard
4. Your father? Dwight
5. Your favorite thing? icecream
6. Your dream last night? fuzzy
7. Your favorite drink? orange
8. Your dream car? Mini
9. The room you're in? Messy
10. Your fears? failure
11. What do you want to be in 10 years? free
12. Who did you hang out with last night? kids
13. What you're not good at? Procrastination
14. Muffin? Chocolate
15. One of your wish list items? money
16. Where you grew up? relaxed
17. Last thing you did? wrote
18. What are you wearing? jeans
19. What aren't you wearing? earings
20. Your pet? Trixie
21. Your computer? Mike's
22. Your life? deep
23. Your mood? faith
24. Missing? St. George
25. What are you thinking about right now? book
26. Your car/truck? black
27. Your summer? home
28. Your relationship status? love
29. Your favorite color? yellow
30. When is the last time you really laughed with meaning? week
31. Last time you cried? Today
32. School? smart
33. Least favorite weather? humid
34. Soup? clam
35. Movie? Mike

Reflections of a mother

As I sit and look at my children, I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone, and how big they are getting. Amy will be starting kindergarten this fall, and just made her first "big" independent decision. She asked to get her hair cut. I know it isn't a huge thing, but it was her way of expressing who she is and her independence (Mommy had a hard time) and letting us know that she is growing up. I loved her long locks, but I must admit, that this cute short bob is adorable on her and reflects her personality-bouncy. It does make her look older though. I close my eyes and I see her as a baby, rocking her to sleep, and feeling such a profound sense of love. That was just last week (or so it feels). Then I look at Taylie, who is asking more questions and I see her mind developing along with her personality. She is trying to find her way to independence, and I can see that she'll be making correct independent decisions soon. Again I close my eyes and see her as a one-week old baby. I'm trying to adjust to having two children, and I realize that it is possible to love another child differently, but just as much as her sister. That was five days ago (it seems). Macey keeps us so busy, but when I slow down, and try to recapture the past, it isn't so hard. I see her personality shining through even as an infant. I see her smile and hear her laugh as we all play together on the floor. That was only a few days ago (you get where I'm going). Then there's Jack, he's 4 months old, nearly 17 pounds and almost 27 inches. Every day he is changing and doing something new. He adores his sisters and loves it when we (Mommy and Daddy) play with him. I remember so clearly my ultrasound with him. The emotion I felt when she said, "It's a boy." I cried. I love my girls dearly and wouldn't trade them for the world, but I always knew I would have a son. I can't put into words the completeness and joy I felt in knowing that I was going to have a SON. Not a boy, but a son. The emotion I felt was so strong, enveloping almost. I still cry when I think of it. That was yesterday. So as our days get busy with every day life, and sometimes it seems as if there's too much to do in a day, remember, that today, will soon be yesterday, and tomorrow will be today, so we must make our memories, because today, will soon be years away, but with the memories we make, it will seem like only yesterday.

A few of my favorite things...

These are a few of my favorite things...

I love at night when Mike gets home
and the girls all pile on him
and I get to watch them play with their Daddy.


I love cuddling my baby
and holding him while he sleeps.

I love to hear and see my children laughing.


I love the temple.

Grateful

I've decided to make a list of all the things I'm grateful for. I think that too often we take for granted the little things in life that make life what it is, a blessing and a miracle. By making this list, I hope to remind myself of all that I really have been blessed with, and maybe you can take a moment to count your blessings too.
I'm grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the blessings of eternity.
I'm grateful for the sunshine and longer days.
I'm grateful for my four wonderful children and my amazing husband.
I'm grateful for our increased health (we're so very blessed in this area).
I'm grateful for my Savior and the atonement He made for me.
I'm grateful for my good friends that tell me it's okay to cry, and that lift me up (even when they don't know they're doing it).
I'm grateful that the Lord blessed to be born into such awesome families.
I'm grateful for my mother and for the strength she is to me. She's the best.
I'm grateful for my freedom and the men and women that have fought for it and continue to.
I'm grateful for this amazing body that has helped to bring 4 children into the world.
I'm grateful for my mind that I can continually learn, grow, and stretch myself to become better.
I'm grateful for my eyes that I can see my children's beautiful faces, for my ears that I can hear their laughter, for my nose that I can smell the sweet scent of my baby, for my hands that I can hold theirs, and for my mouth that I can tell them every day how much I love them.