Brigham's excitement

Brigham has been looking forward to his birthday since the day after Christmas. His birthday isn't until the 24th of February, but he knows that the next birthday in the family after Dad's is his. So he is especially excited for his birthday. But, it's not just his birthday, it's birthdays in general he is excited about. I brought him home a calandar and the first thing he wanted to do was write down when everyone's birthday was and he had to figure out what day of the week it was on and everything. He was thrilled to find out that Silas's birthday was also in Father's Day this year. Yesterday he made birthday cards for Silas and Adam and he said, "mom, can you save these for Silas and Adam's birthdays?" He watched me carefully when I put them away so he knew where they were too. To show he was satisfied he nodded his head and said,"K!" 

A couple of things I learned from my kids:

Beach and sand toys are also awesome for snow.

Adam has learned how to make a clean room look like a tornado blew through it in just a few minutes.

You do things you don't feel like doing because you love your kids more. (Like go door to door for a fundraiser so your son can earn a remote control helicopter)

Have a great day!

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

A beautiful blanket of snow awaited us when we woke up this morning. It's been so dry and bare this winter that I welcomed it. What a wonderful blessing of needed moisture to be poured down on us. 

What little amount of snow we have received has been too powdery to even make a snowball. There was a little snow a few weeks ago that I thought was good packing snow. I stuffed my three little men in their bibs and boots and coats because they were so excited to build a snowman. By the time we got outside, the temperature had dropped significantly. The snow turned dry and powdery. Brigham and Silas were disappointed. Adam was happy to get out of his snow gear and have his full range of motion again.

Today's snow was sticky!!!! When I asked Silas if he wanted to go out and play in the snow he smiled and said, "yeah!" Adam was asleep and Brigham was still at school. So Silas and I started rolling balls (ok, so I rolled the balls and Silas helped push one of the balls for about ten seconds. He preferred to eat the snow). We finished our three balls for the snowman and waited for Brigham to do the arms and face. When Doug and Brigham got home Silas was screaming excitedly, "we're building a snowman!" I didn't know he was so excited about it because he was just eating snow. 

A snowman is a magical thing to little boys.

My Little Happy Thought

When I was pregnant with Adam and getting close to deliver, I was getting scared and nervous. How could I do three children? Not only was he my third, but he was only 15 months younger than Silas. When Adam was laid on my chest after delivery, I cried and fell in love and all of my fear was swallowed up in the joy of this sweet baby. Adam has been my happiest baby and never needed a pacifier. He has been a rich blessing to me. He also has a calming effect on me that literally soothes my soul. My heart melts and I smile when he is around. It might be his little chubby legs running down the hall or that he carries Silas's potty around saying "bing bing"; it might be that he thinks so many things are funny and giggles all the time; perhaps it's because he mumbles everything and calls his milk "mok", or today he was calling hats "daddy" because he knows daddy wears hats. I love how he copies his brothers and wants to be with them. Whatever the reason, he just is my little happy thought.

 I love all of my children with my whole heart, I just wanted to mention some gifts of Adam today. 

Yes I know Heavenly Father Loves Me

The two older boys were upset after mommy took away the permanent markers that they knew they were not supposed to have.  The younger of the two just dropped to the floor with a tantrum yelling and screaming for his marker.  The older acted just plain rebellious. Finally, after the oldest was pacified with using crayons and the younger had finally stopped crying....Silas ran to me to hug me and cuddle.  This little boy just needed love.  Then, the older boy came in and saw me hugging the little one.  He started hitting me and acting angry at me again.  I was not ready to give this one the love that he wanted; he was not acting appropriately and I needed to feel like I could give him the love that he needed.  I went to my room and closed the door and thought about these two different reactions. One decided to give love and the other chose to try to force attention by doing the opposite. It was so easy to give back love to the one who came seeking it and giving it back.  It was a little harder and needed preparation to give to the one who treated me poorly, but it was given. These children just want to be loved and have attention. I think we all want that. I know I do. For "it is the Love of God which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore it is the most desirable above all things....yea, and the most joyous to the soul." (I Nephi 11:22-23)
There is a person that I have wanted to be friends with and to just know that she cared for me as her friend too.  I have tried to serve her and said a prayer last week about it. Well, I received an answer today :).  Just remember that even if we feel like we don't deserve it...Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally.  We make mistakes (just like my oldest  who is so sweet, helpful, and smart, and loves his mommy very much) but our Heavenly Father will always love us. President Monson said, "My dear sisters, your Heavenly Father loves you--each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities.  It is simply there.  It is there for you when you are sad or happy, discouraged or hopeful.  God's love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love.  It is simply always there." (October 2013 General Relief Society Broadcast, We Never Walk Alone).

Burns, Church, & Monopoly

Sunday mornings. When you read that you probably think of a beautiful, calm morning where all is right in the world. Well, that's not really how it goes at the bitter home, and especially not on Sundays. Silas cried over his spilled milk, Adam pulled down my curling iron and grabbed it with his hand...ouch! My baby being burned is a sad thing. Brigham then bumped his foot against the curling iron. (Mommy, unplug that iron when you are done with it!!!) running late for choir practice, we put Silas into the van without his shoes on. This caused a screaming and crying fit until he put his own shoes on and we walked into church without any tears. 

Church was very nice. It was ward conference. An emphasis on missionary work and the divine role of womanhood. Thanks to Lisa H. for helping with the boys today. I am grateful for that.

We tried playing monopoly tonight with Brigham for the first time. Silas colored while Adam wandered around smearing banana on things (like daddy's Ipad). It was fun; we played a shorter version. Daddy won...he had the boardwalk monopoly.

Happy Sabbath!

Texas Roadhouse...yeehaw!

Howdy ya'll! yesterday was a good old ordinary Saturday, but we put a fun ending on it by taking the family out to Texas Roadhouse. Here are the nicknames I have come up with for us during the dining adventure: 

Adam was the Knife Stealer. You know how they give you those big steak knifes? Every time I put mine down Adam would snatch it! I had to remind myself that I needed to put in on the other side away from him. Soon he started trying to snatch our plates too.

Silas was the Peanut Cruncher! While we were waiting the boys were given crayons, but they much preferred the peanuts over the crayons. Silas decided he didn't want to have to rely on Dad to open his peanut shells, so he decided to crunch them open with his teeth and pull out he peanuts himself.

Brigham was the Line Dancin Head Bobbin man. He loved it when the waiters turned up the country music and did a line dance. He had to watch. All three boys were bobbin their heads to the country beat.

Ordinary dinners can become fun adventures!

These are a few of our favorite things...

A couple of Adam's favorite things.  One of them is the dishwasher. When the dishwasher opens, he magically appears right there and he is grinning ear to ear.  He swipes a spoon or a plate when mom turns to the sink. I look down at him and he is giggling and then he starts saying, "no, no, no" because he knows that's what I am going to say.  It's so funny and cute that I have to just chase him down and tickle him and give him kisses.  He loves the dishwasher swiping game...definitely a favorite.
His other favorite is his "baby" which is his blanket.  His blanket is his pacifier, and his comforter.  He loves laying down on his blanket, holding on his blanket, and sucking on each corner.  So, it literally is his pacifier. It's amazing to see the excitement in his face and hear the excitement in his voice as he says "baby! baby!" when he spots where he last laid his blanket.

Silas: Books.  This boy will sit and look at books for a long while.  He just turns page after page then moves on to another book.  It's funny though, whenever I ask him if he wants me to read him a story he says, "I don't want to take a nap!" Obviously naps are not one of his favorite things, but he loves the books and being read to (as long as he gets to turn the pages).
Another favorite of Silas imagining.  I am amazed at the things this kid plays and imagines.  He takes bites out of a chicken nugget and says, "look, mom, an elephant." Today he imagined that these balls were potatoes and he was loading them up and taking them out of the cellar. (The last couple of days, they have been sending trucks in to take out the potatoes). I asked Silas where he was going to take the "tatoes" to now. He decided he would take them to his bed and have the "tatoes" go to sleep.  He was very upset when Adam decided it was more fun to throw the "tatoes' at Silas then keep them in the bed. Maybe I can have him imagine that they were never moved....no, I don't think that will work, no matter how good of an imagination he has.

Brigham: Coloring. I never knew that he would love coloring so much.  He will sit and color for a good hour straight. (awesome!!!) When mom is busy doing dishes or making dinner and he wants to stay by me instead of going downstairs, he turns to coloring.  He is getting dang good at it too!
Racing. Everything is a race to him.  When I am driving him to school he says, "mom, we are in third place.  Pass the white car, mom."  At home, he races around the little round about that goes through our living room and dining room.

Doug: lately it has been going to the gym.  He comes home very happy and pumped up (sometimes tired, but mostly rejuvinated). And of course spending time with his sweetheart (that's me :).

Shar: Going out with the hubby.  We got to go out last night which was nice.  I am missing him tonight as he is at a camp out.  And watching the favorite things of the kids. 

Why i returned to my blog

After about three years of absolutely not doing anything on my blog, why am I all of a sudden posting every day? Well, it so happens that I was inspired by a woman named Stephanie Neilson.  I do not personally know her, but she was mentioned in a recent conference talk.  She is a burn survivor and has been posting her daily life, struggles, highlights and special moments for several years.  I have felt the need to personally write in my journal and then realized that if I share it with others on a blog, it will become a blessing to more than a mere phew.
 I have also learned an important lesson on perspective.  Being a mother is one of the richest blessings and most worthwhile callings to have.  It is also extremely hard and challenging, not to mention sometimes it is tedious.  The diapers, dishes, laundry, clean-up, lunches, dinner, fold socks, listen to tantrums, "look at me's". Sometimes its enough to drive you to tears or to anger.  But the laughter, the learning, the love, the hugs, the kisses, the smiles, the testimonies, the accomplishments, the "thank you's" is where the heart feels its richest feelings, the greatest love and blessings and joy.  If I know at the end of the day, I want to share what I have learned with others, I look at the tantrums differently.  They now become something I am not bearing alone, but others will read and know they have those moments too.  It's the same with the joyful moments. If I share those with you then you get to experience them as well.  We can learn and grow together. We are all in this together.
Every Sunday there are women watching my family because we have the little children who are crying or yelling, or laughing, playing with toys, or blurting out things.  It is a joy for these woman to watch our family because it brings back cherished memories of when their children were small.  They miss those moments.  I have been told several times that "it goes by so fast" and "enjoy every minute you have with these little ones".  I know that these are precious moments, no matter how hard they are.  I know that these children were sent to me for a reason and I want to cherish every moment.  They will not be this tender age forever.  That is why I want to share daily posts on my blog...I will cherish every moment!

Couple of cute boys today

A perspective on Patience

Yesterday I had a plan to go into town and get a few things done. I wanted to get the kids out the door by 9:30 so I could achieve two goals before taking Brigham to preschool.  Well, Silas is just the right age where he wants to do everything himself.  I need to wait for him to put on his shoes, but he has to wait until he is "ready" to do it.  He also wants to dress himself and zip up his coat and buckle his seat-belt.  All this takes a lot of time.  Frustration builds up inside me when we are cutting the time close and I don't want to be late.  Everyone was all ready, but then my dear little Silas has a package in his diaper (yes, he is still not potty trained).  So, of course I have to wait until he is "ready" and then I have to wait for him to pull his pants down himself before I can get started...then he needs do his pants and shoes all over again.  I was a little on edge...it was already 10:00 and I would not have time to do my errands.  I decided to kneel down in prayer and ask for help that I could be patient and understanding.  I got back up with the reality of my selfishness sinking me into my pit of impatience. I was so worried about what I wanted to do and what I needed to get done.  The thought came to me that I could take them to story time at the library.  Getting them out the door totally changed. It was not "pushing and pulling" them out the door now because mommy needed to do things; it was excited boys who were happy to get their coats on because they get to go to the library! Seeing them enjoy the music and stories brought happiness to all of us.

This was a story of me ending up doing the right thing.  I have to admit, that the story doesn't always end this way...but its OK, as long as long as I am getting better at making it end the right way and I learn from what I have done right and wrong.