Fashion Show

When I first found out I was having a girl, I was filled with emotions. I couldn't wait to dress her up in dresses and curls and makeup and glitter and dance to our hearts content. 

Well--those moments didn't last too long. Once KennnaDee was old enough to dress herself, she prefers sneakers to high heels, she prefers jeans to dresses, she'd rather not brush her hair at all than for me to fix it up all cute. 

Sigh...

My girly girl just isn't a girly girl but I'm okay with that. 

UNLESS.... I mention the words "fashion show." THEN my girly girl comes out in dresses, heels and makeup galore. 

I love my girly girl. 

Little boys

There's just something to be said about little boys in underwear and jammie shirts that are a size too small. 

Sorry Nicholas, I just couldn't resist. 

Like mother like daughter

Every face I made. She made. Children watch us ALL the time. They learn from us ALL the time. Even when we think we aren't teaching. Sigh. Parenting. 

Sure love this girl though! 

Somethin special

I'm not quite sure what it is. I'm not quite sure how to explain it. But there's just something about coming home after date night and seeing our oldest three snuggled up in the same bed. It just tugs at my heart knowing they find comfort with in each other. 

Operation Cars

One of Nicos favorite things to do is play games when the older kids are at school. We played Operation Cars. I was told as we try and get the things out, if it buzzes then our turn is over. And so it went, we kept taking turns. I started to get more out than he did. So when it was his turn, he kept getting buzzed and he responded, "ya know, sometimes it just does that. I don't know why. But it doesn't mean I'm out. It just does that," and continued to get the item out. 

I know my pictures aren't great but the only way I can keep my blog updated is if I post from my phone pictures. He was trying SOO hard. LOVE him! 

Scripture study

Right now our family is reading the Book of Mormon together each night. I can not say that every night is a successful spiritual event. I mean, let's get real, more often than not, we have little boys climbing on top of each other or one person complaining that they are hungry or a little boy rolling all over the floor. I could go on with what goes on at scripture study. Needless to say our spiritual, edifying scripture nights don't happen too often but when they do... I embrace them. 

It's the little things

Why do we buy toys and dolls and such for our young ones to play with? Their 

interest and curiosity is much more focused on household goods like Tupperware, dishes, spatulas, or things like... Pulling silverware out of the dishwasher while mommy is loading it. 

How can you not just let her do it? I mean.. I just can't say no to this cute little smile. 

I need a cuddle

One of our favorite things to do is make forts. 

The kids made forts in each of their rooms this past week and have been wanting to sleep in them. We convinced them to have a sleepover on a night that's not a school night. 

Tonight.. We sent them to bed and I told them I would cuddle after Reagan was asleep. 

20 minutes later, we hear the inevitable footsteps trotting down the stairs and into the living room. 

KennaDee says, "Mom- I made a bed in my fort and Nico came in because he wanted to cuddle with me. He fell asleep on my floor."

My little boy just couldn't hold on any longer for cuddle time so he went to his sister. I love that she can give cuddles just as good as mama.

Best 3 words ever

Today my 4 year old calls out from the living room, as he's waiting for his older siblings to play wii, 

"mom?!"

"Yeah bud?" Im thinking he's gonna ask for a snack as he always does or for help in the game but no... 

"I just love you," he says. 

My heart melt. 

A simple act

It's inevitable that our kids will grow up. My worry as a mom is if I'm teaching them enough to become good, caring, genuine, loving people. 

Today was a day when I witnessed just that. 

Our bus comes at 8:33 every morning. Our neighbor friend, also a classmate of KennaDee's, knocks on our door every morning between 8:28 and 8:30. 

Today was raining. KennaDee and Jackson both grabbed their umbrellas. Our neighbor didn't bring one. 

As they started down the driveway, KennaDee looked at her friend, took one step closer to her, and put the umbrella over her. 

An act of kindness. An act of love. An act of consideration. A simple act. 

And there's just something about watching my children walk down the street. 

She's only 9. But it's time.

So I picked up the kids from school today and our conversation started out the same as it always does, "how was school today?" "Good," said simultaneously by both kids. Then the conversation between my oldest and I suddenly took an unexpected turn. 

Somehow KennaDee got on the topic of games she had seen on the iPad and this is how it went:

KennaDee: I saw this comment on the iPad that said a 15 year old girl wanted to have a baby. That is NOT going to be my life. I will not choose to have a baby at 15. No way. I'm gonna wait to have a baby until 2 years after I'm married. Wait- when did you have me mom?

Me: you were born 9 months after we were married. 

KennaDee: oh. I'm gonna wait 9 months after I'm married to have a baby. But... You don't really get a choice do you? The baby just comes? Or can you choose? 

Me: well, yes. You can decide when and if you want to have a baby. 

KennaDee: what? You can? How do you choose? Do you just go get a shot? 

Me: no. You don't get a shot. Well I guess in some cases you don't choose to get pregnant but it happens as a surprise but for the most part you choose. (As I'm not thinking this through, I realize I've just confused her even more.  YAY! Mom of the year award already won this year!) I finally say, as I have 3 other kids in the back seat, this really isn't something we can talk about right now but when it's just you and me I can explain it to you. 

KennaDee: you can't tell me in front of the boys? (She got a sheepish grin as if she gets in on a little secret. and is excited to find out. Haha!! Wonder if she'll be as excited after she finds out how it happens!)

She's only 9. But it's time. To have the talk. The talk about how a girl becomes a young woman. And the talk about the birds and the bees. 

I always thought the second coming would happen before I had to face this. Sigh. 

My Jackson

As I sat here nursing my youngest I couldn't help but to snap a couple pics of my Jackson. 

My kids often have a hard time sitting at the table through a whole meal. They will eat a few bites then feel the need to get up and go do something then come back for more. They don't always do that but occasionally they do. 

Tonight... Every time Jackson returned to the table he popped up on the bench and tucked his feet underneath him. It's a little hard to put into words the thoughts and feelings that went through my mind but how interesting it is that he just plops up there and pulls his feet underneath him. Such a boy little move. This little guy has SOO many characteristics of our Savior that stand out so clearly. He LOVES pleasing others yet he STANDS for what's right. He LOVES helping others and lifting them up when they are in need. He SACRIFICES for the happiness of others. He FORGIVES so quickly. He is OBEDIENT. 

I love my Jackson. 

There's always one

How it really goes with our family photos:

There's always one......

Eyes Closed

There's always one...
Looking Off

There's always one...
Hand gesture

We get quite a few of the funny faces

We have to have some regrouping time

 There's always one..
"I AM SMILING!"

 And there's always an...
I'M DONE photo.

But a midst all those personality shots, we do seem to catch a few great ones...

Although sometimes it's stressful to get family photos done and although they never seem turn out the exact way you see it in your head, I wouldn't trade any of these photos with anything else. I LOVE this family.

Cleaning.... Old style

Jackson spilled water all over the floor so I gave him a towel to start cleaning it up. He got down on all fours and started wiping. He commented, "I can't believe I'm cleaning like in the old days."

My super hero

My little Nico is so full of personality. He loves playing with his friends and his siblings. He knows what he wants and when he wants it. He has his own set meal plan. He thrives on sticker awards. He often changes his mind faster than a pin can drop. He loves learning. He loves singing. He was three different people for Halloween this year. Captain America, spider man, and an invisible spy. Thank goodness we already had costumes for all three! He often does not like the center of attention but as he walked down the aisle for the Halloween parade at school, he showed no fear. My little nico is my little super hero. He knows how to push ALL my buttons but he also knows how to tug on my heart. 

Where did the time go?

Today was just another day. The kids came home from school and we were piling in the van on a Wednesday afternoon to take KennaDee to her dance class. All of a sudden, time started to slow down. KennaDee walked in front of the car and swung her hair over her shoulder. Time stopped. "She's growing up so fast," I thought. I grabbed my phone to try and capture a picture of how  beautiful she is becoming. I couldn't quite capture how I felt in the pictures. So I took more. I think I took pictures all the way to the studio. And then as she climbed out of the car, waved good-bye, shouted "I love you," time stopped again. So I took pictures up until she went into the studio classroom. I did notice that even though she's growing up, she ran to the classroom like she's still a child. Eager and excited. She'll be 10 years old in 6 short months. My baby girl is growing up and I don't know how to truly make time stop. 

I just keep repeating in my head, "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." Thank goodness for eternal families.  

A second chance

Wow. I can not believe that it's been over a year since I have posted anything to my blog. 

I have a friend who posts all the time to her blog and it is so inspiring. I wish I could write like her. She truly pulls you into her life at that moment. Although I may not write like her, I do want to capture the special moments that happen in my life. 

My goal for my blog is to capture the moments in my life when I want time to stand still, the moments that tug at my heart, the moments that matter most....and probably a little of everything in between. 

To be honest- I think I've set this goal to be a better blogger before. Ha! Heres to a second try at it! 

3rd grade, Kindergarten, and Joy School

Well, here are my 3 little angels.  I can't believe how they've grown.  Time goes by way to fast.  Brian took off this day and we took pictures just outside our house before we took them to school.  All three of them starting today.  KennaDee, 8 years old and going into 3rd grade.  Jackson, 5 years old and starting Kindergarten, and my little Nico, 3 years old, and starting Joy School. What will I do with myself?!

Bedside Conversations part 2

In a previous post I reflected on my bedside conversations with KennaDee.  This post I will reflect on my bedside conversations with Jackson.  It is a completely different experience.

Here's how our conversation went the other night and each night it is not much different. Jackson starts out, "Mom, I've been wondering if people walk by us when we are praying.  Sometimes I feel like people are walking by us."

Then he changed the subject and said, "maybe it's monsters.  I think monsters leave the room when we are praying and go to another room."

Immediately after saying that, he engaged in imaginary play and talked about parachutes dropping, which turned into his stuffed animals having ninja frog powers, then his parachutes turned into rockets crashing, and then we were back at the ninja frog stick power, then the animals were fighting and growling at each other. Then he said goodnight.

I listened. I didn't say a word. (I didn't really even have a chance to.) Just listened as he created his own story.

The difference between boys and girls at bedtime.  Interesting.

I LOVE bedside conversations.

Rising Generation

So this post is going to be more like a journal entry...

Today at church, the theme for our first block of meetings was The Rising Generation.  There were 3 youth speakers this morning and each touched on a different aspect of our rising generation.  The third speaker is who I am writing about today. She shared a great talk about the importance of standing firm and immovable, however, it is her presence and the kind of person I see in her that I wish to share.

Let me introduce you to Arlee Richardson.  She is the oldest of 4 and a senior in High School.  She has beautiful, long auburn/red hair with fair skin.  She's gorgeous.  She's kind. She's humble. She knows who she is. She loves the Savior. She loves her family. She stands tall when she walks.  She's proud of who she is and happy to be Mormon.

Now that you have kind of a visual of what kind of person I am talking about, you will understand the rest of my post.  As I watched her give her talk this afternoon, she constantly was smiling and at times, her smile got bigger.  She would sometimes pause during her talk.  I couldn't tell if she was pausing because she was getting emotional or pausing because her smile was so big that she was about to laugh.  As I looked one row behind me, I could see her younger brother and sister sitting in the pew, both leaning forward, with just as big of smiles on their faces.  I can see how Arlee might have struggled with this, I probably would have giggled myself but she kept her composure.  Let me just add...they were sitting straight ahead of her so every time Arlee would look out at the congregation, I'm sure they were the first people she saw.

Then my thoughts turned toward their family.  What a great support system they have. Every time I see them, they are always kind towards each other and showing love for each other.  They seem to be best friends. I couldn't help but smile myself when I saw such love, encouragement, and support among siblings.  Every member of the Richardson family exemplifies our Savior Jesus Christ.  I see it in their demeanor, their actions, their words, their smiles.  As all of these thoughts went through my head as Arlee was speaking, I thought of their mother.  What a great job she is doing in raising her family to have such strong faith in our Savior Jesus Christ and to love those around them especially those in their family.

Now, whether or not Audrey and Grant were trying to make her laugh or trying to disturb her, I know not but what I saw was encouragement and love.  I love that family.  I love that they are so devoted to the gospel.

I hope that I can raise my children to love each other, to support each other, to be happy for one another as they achieve things in life, to encourage each other as they attempt to do things out of their comfort zone, to love our Savior, to smile at one another as they give talks in Sacrament Meeting. If we had more "Richardson families" in the world today, it would be a better place. I was recommitted this day to live better, live happier so that others might see that happiness as well.  That others might see that if we could all show love towards each other, the world would be a happier place.

Thank you Richardson Family for your example and helping me catch a vision to what I hope my children will be like.