Remembrance

Since my last post, I've been thinking a lot about the word I wrote in bold: remember. And then I thought of this talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. And while he is speaking solely about the sacrament, I would like to suggest that his emphasis on the word remember applies to many other situations, many other circumstances and principles and even our day to day thoughts and actions.

I recently started watching 19 Kids and Counting again. Those Duggar parents make having 19 children look almost effortless, and it seems to me as though it is because they never forget what the purpose of this work is - that they wanted and still want each one of their children, that they are precious souls with an eternal mission and purpose, that the Lord has entrusted them with a marvelous work - and so the rest comes easily. They seem to always have this at the forefront of their minds, so naturally all of their words and actions are simply an outward expression of this belief, and they are wonderful parents.

If we keep HIM in remembrance, He will lead our thoughts, our words, our actions, and that will inevitably lead to our becoming as He is.

Enjoy:

"In the simple and beautiful language of the sacramental prayers those young priests offer, the principal word we hear seems to be remember. In the first and slightly longer prayer offered over the bread, mention is made of a willingness to take upon us the name of the Son of God and to keep the commandments he has given us.

Neither of those phrases is repeated in the blessing on the water, though surely both are assumed and expected. What is stressed in both prayers is that all of this is done in remembrance of Christ. In so participating we witness that we will always remember him, that we may always have his Spirit to be with us (see D&C 20:77, 79).

"If remembering is the principal task before us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precious emblems are offered to us?

"We could remember the Savior’s premortal life and all that we know him to have done as the great Jehovah, creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. We could remember that even in the Grand Council of Heaven he loved us and was wonderfully strong, that we triumphed even there by the power of Christ and our faith in the blood of the Lamb (see Rev. 12:10–11).

"We could remember the simple grandeur of his mortal birth to just a young woman, one probably in the age range of those in our Young Women organization, who spoke for every faithful woman in every dispensation of time when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).

"We could remember his magnificent but virtually unknown foster father, a humble carpenter by trade who taught us, among other things, that quiet, plain, unpretentious people have moved this majestic work forward from the very beginning, and still do so today. If you are serving almost anonymously, please know that so, too, did one of the best men who has ever lived on this earth.

"We could remember Christ’s miracles and his teachings, his healings and his help. We could remember that he gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and motion to the lame and the maimed and the withered. Then, on those days when we feel our progress has halted or our joys and views have grown dim, we can press forward steadfastly in Christ, with unshaken faith in him and a perfect brightness of hope (see 2 Ne. 31:19–20).

"We could remember that even with such a solemn mission given to him, the Savior found delight in living; he enjoyed people and told his disciples to be of good cheer. He said we should be as thrilled with the gospel as one who had found a great treasure, a veritable pearl of great price, right on our own doorstep. We could remember that Jesus found special joy and happiness in children and said all of us should be more like them—guileless and pure, quick to laugh and to love and to forgive, slow to remember any offense.

"We could remember that Christ called his disciples friends, and that friends are those who stand by us in times of loneliness or potential despair. We could remember a friend we need to contact or, better yet, a friend we need to make. In doing so we could remember that God often provides his blessings through the compassionate and timely response of another. For someone nearby we may be the means of heaven’s answer to a very urgent prayer.

"We could—and should—remember the wonderful things that have come to us in our lives and that “all things which are good cometh of Christ” (Moro. 7:24). Those of us who are so blessed could remember the courage of those around us who face more difficulty than we, but who remain cheerful, who do the best they can, and trust that the Bright and Morning Star will rise again for them—as surely he will do (see Rev. 22:16).

"On some days we will have cause to remember the unkind treatment he received, the rejection he experienced, and the injustice—oh, the injustice—he endured. When we, too, then face some of that in life, we can remember that Christ was also troubled on every side, but not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed (see 2 Cor. 4:8–9).

"When those difficult times come to us, we can remember that Jesus had to descend below all things before he could ascend above them, and that he suffered pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind that he might be filled with mercy and know how to succor his people in their infirmities (see D&C 88:6; Alma 7:11–12).

"To those who stagger or stumble, he is there to steady and strengthen us. In the end he is there to save us, and for all this he gave his life. However dim our days may seem they have been darker for the Savior of the world.

"In fact, in a resurrected, otherwise perfected body, our Lord of this sacrament table has chosen to retain for the benefit of his disciples the wounds in his hands and his feet and his side—signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and perfect. Signs, if you will, that pain in this world is not evidence that God doesn’t love you. It is the wounded Christ who is the captain of our soul—he who yet bears the scars of sacrifice, the lesions of love and humility and forgiveness.

Those wounds are what he invites young and old, then and now, to step forward and see and feel (see 3 Ne. 11:15; 3 Ne. 18:25). Then we remember with Isaiah that it was for each of us that our Master was “despised and rejected … ; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). All this we could remember when we are invited by a kneeling young priest to remember Christ always.

"We no longer include a supper with this ordinance, but it is a feast nevertheless. We can be fortified by it for whatever life requires of us, and in so doing we will be more compassionate to others along the way.

One request Christ made of his disciples on that night of deep anguish and grief was that they stand by him, stay with him in his hour of sorrow and pain. “Could ye not watch with me one hour?” he asked longingly (Matt. 26:40). I think he asks that again of us, every Sabbath day when the emblems of his life are broken and blessed and passed.

How great the wisdom and the love
That filled the courts on high
And sent the Savior from above
To suffer, bleed, and die!(Hymns, 1985, no. 195)

“Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!”"

And while this post has become about the Sabbath day as much as about remembering, I would like to remember all these things that Elder Holland listed on many other days too, on every day of the week. I think that thinking about - remembering - Christ - is what brings Him into our hearts and lifts our spirits. That the very thought of Him can bring us spiritual and physical power and renewal and healing.

I am ever so grateful for the Savior and for what remembering Him can bring my life, even when that is all I can do amid the chaos. His power is immeasurable and within reach of every hand, and His comfort understands all affliction.

Forgiveness

If there is anything I hope Grant knows about me, it is that I am trying. And that I'm praying for his forgiveness. I am impatient, I am irritated that Grant doesn't yet know how to answer the question "What's wrong" when he's upset, I let his messes get under my skin and I get soooooooo fed up. But I am trying. Trying to be patient, trying to let things roll off my back, trying to remember that he is still so very little and has so much to learn. I am trying not to view him as an antagonist who is purposely making more work for me, although it is especially challenging when he throws food on the floor just because he knows it is wrong, pulls movies off the shelf for no reason, or pours apple juice all over the carpet.

Those irritants make me forget. I forget how precious his childhood is, how his self-worth is being shaped, how his respect for others is being born, how my tone of voice sounds to his little ears. I forget how fragile his spirit and his psyche are, and I forget that being loved and cherished when you are two years old is more important than a clean kitchen.

So I am renewing my resolve to remember that my children only have one childhood, and that it is more important for me to be kind, patient, and respectful to them that it is to have a clean floor. And although most days I think I will still be determined to have both, I will remember which one matters in the long run.

So please, please, please forgive me - and let me join you in your world of wonder and happiness. I will bring juice and cookies.

Also, I want to share a sweet story that makes me happy. When I put Grant to bed a few nights ago, I snuggled him in his bed until he fell asleep and I dozed off for a few minutes too. Then, I went to my own bed and went to sleep. In the middle of the night, I heard Grant saying "Mommy, where are you?". I went in and he was standing in the middle of his room saying it over and over, "Mommy, where are you?". I asked him if he wanted me to get back in his bed with him and he said yes, which I did happily until he fell asleep again. I would have probably even stayed all night, but I can't turn over and I still need my space, so I left again once he was asleep, but it was so sweet and special. It's a good thing they go to sleep (eventually), turn into sweet little angels, and remind me why I love them and that I can keep going in the morning.

Sweet little loves... childhood slips by far too fast and I spend most of it wishing the kids would stop being so messy. Shame on me. Forgive me.

Dress

I just bought myself this fabulous dress today. I fell in love with it when I first saw it months ago, but just thought, No way. As in, it won't go on sale, they won't have my size if it does go on sale, I'll miss the sale, the sale price will be too much anyway.

Not this time! I went to the sale today (even though Trevor's out of town so I had to take the kids), it was 15% off, I get a little extra spending money this month thanks to Trevor's overtime/out-of-town work, and Grandma Baker (a close family friend) was there and said I had to get it. And - a final push from the cosmos - it was:

the very last one!

And the very last one did happen to be my size. That's good enough for me.

Daddy

Just a quick post and a picture of the sweet daddy of my little bebes! I helped Grant make a card for him with his handprints on it, I made a banner that didn't look anything like the one I drew my inspiration from (scroll down a little and you'll see it), we bought him some chocolate and a new tie - the most token Father's Day gift ever. But he does need some ties. I'm always pushing him to get a new tie since I feel most of his are unworthy. They were 50% off at Sears for Father's Day weekend, so I bought two - one of which has yet to be altered to fit Grant - but MAN is it going to be cute. (Here is the tutorial I've used before if you want to make one!)

Grant and Rachel just adore their daddy. He tickles them, plays with them, sings songs to them, cuddles them, feeds them, and although they don't know it yet, provides everything they have by going to work every single day and bringin' home the bacon!!! So THANK YOU!!!

Unfortunately, Trevor had to go back to work at 2pm to drive to Lake Louise without being too tired, so his day wasn't all that special - but he's gone all week, so all three of us will be extra happy to see him when he gets back and we are going to love him to pieces!

Photoshoot

I know this is SO long overdue, I don't even want to discuss it. Click to see it bigger!!! (Look how white these kids are! There is absolutely no non-European blood around these parts!) And thank you to Lindsey for the little black and pink outfit that I LOVE! Obviously I didn't spend any time editing these, and some of them could really use it, so just try to overlook that fact!

Photos

The kids are both sleeping, so I am desperately trying to get our pictures folder organized. Here's some pictures of the kids being cute back in March. (March 24th to be exact). Guess the token Father's Day post that I've seen on every other blog will be coming soon...

And you really should click on each photo individually to see it full screen, the thumbnail version hurts my feelings. These are really good photos, if I do say so myself!

Girlthings

I have already starting planning what to get Rachel for her first birthday. You may think it's insane. But I am a lover of all things girly, pink, frilly, flowery and sparkly, and every day I love having a little girl more - and her birthday is a chance for me to spend a ridiculous amount of money on things that I would only consider buying for a special occasion. And with how fast time is flying by these days, I figured I better get a head start on asking opinions from friends, because I simply cannot choose on my own what to get her...

I already bought her a backpack:

I also want to get her an outfit. Be prepared that my madness might be much too over-the-top for you. You can even say so, I won't be offended. I want to order her this skirt - with a matching headband - and maybe even a matching skirt for me! Now maybe you don't want to match your kids, but hey, we can still be friends, right?

I can even pick from the fabrics she had posted on her website and choose my own! Seriously, look how insanely cute these are:

You can see my dilemma! They are even cuter in person, and the picture just cannot do the headbands justice! There are just too many possibilities. I could even get her one of the dresses - although I was thinking skirt because they are a little more casual, and I'm not totally as in love with the dresses. And the skirts are cheaper, which is why I started considering getting one for myself too. 

I believe every girl is a princess and should have at least one princess skirt to prove it! 

And to wear when doing the worst housework. (My cousins and I on my mom's side all have princess skirts - it really picks you up when you're feeling down. I know my older sister sometimes wears hers to do chores like packing. It's an instant mood booster. If you don't believe me, you've never worn a real princess skirt.)

AND if that weren't enough, I've been drooling over these since before Rachel was born. Here are some of my favorites - and keep in mind that she can do any color or design that I want, making the possibilities totally endless. I want to get some that will be neutral enough that she can wear them with practically any outfit, every day of the week.

Now it is time for YOU to tell me what your opinion! 

What would you pick for my little Rachel's first birthday?

Go ahead and give me your two cents in the comments below!

Thank you in advance, and a big thank you to those of you who voted on my diaper bag dilemma - it's back here if you missed it. And thank you if you voted on my backpack decision for Grant! I think I've decided... so stay tuned. Once I buy it I will post. It was so fantastic having friends give their input that I thought I'd do it yet again!!!

Backpacks

I've decided to start celebrating half-birthdays, and the main reason is that Grant's birthday is immediately after Christmas and then he has to wait another entire year for new toys and games. At his age, I want to always having age-appropriate toys in the house, but I don't want to buy him gifts, particularly toys, for no reason - bringing me to the conclusion that we will celebrate half-birthdays from now on. Besides, I know how lame it is to have your birthday right close to Christmas and then have to wait and wait to get something new... so we are also celebrating my half-birthday - hurray!

But to the point: I need help deciding which of these adorable backpacks to get Grant. I simply cannot choose! He has a smaller moose backpack from my Aunt Pat (thank you!) which is very cute, but it has some damage from something being spilled inside and the liner is ripping. We all love it, but it's just time for something a little bigger.

Tell me which one you would choose for Grant, and I will be eternally grateful! Your votes will go a long way towards my decision!

Thanks everyone! Here is a little tidbit: from the beginning, some of the decisions in Grant's life have been determined by a vote, including his name. For those of you fortunate enough to participate, you were right, it's perfect! And, by the way, can you believe our little Grant is about to be two-and-a-half! I can't!

Bribe

I've found that bribery works great with kids. When Grant hated the bath, I would give him little gummy candies that looked like fish while he was getting his hair washed - he couldn't cry and eat them at the same time - and after doing this two or maybe three times, he was cured and now loves the bath. The hair washing thing still not so much, but it's okay. No more screaming-as-if-he's-being-tortured type of behavior in the tub.

Now yesterday I stopped by a garage sale and found THIS:

Or maybe I should say Grant found it. He is totally crazy about lawnmowers and I knew it would be an awesome gift for him - then to top it off - the lady said "It blows bubbles." My head almost exploded. Did she realize what she just said? Seeing the realization of all your two year old's dreams coming true  generates at least as much happiness for me as for him. I could have shouted for joy. Now, give me some credit, I knew these existed, but I hadn't thought about them in a while or seen them in a store. And now, she just offered me all that happiness for only $5? Too much, I say! If I could have imagined a perfect gift for Grant, it would include: a) bubbles (what toddler doesn't love bubbles?), b) wheels (lawnmower, tractor, bicycle, etc), and c) a handle so that he could push it, or a seat so he could ride it. 

I was really excited but I had to run it past Trevor first, and his response was, "You HAVE to get it!" I went back to the garage sale later. I know it seems crazy that after my little rant I would take the chance of someone else buying it, but Grant was good about leaving it at the garage sale, he's not a brat, so it would have been no big deal if someone else had already bought it. I don't want to give him everything he wants... BUT seeing as how the garage sale was way down a side street, and on a tuesday (who does that?), it was still there when I went back after a Costco run. 

Grant is not yet allowed to play with it, because I told him that he can have his new toy if he is reverent and folds his arms for family prayer for FIVE DAYS. Usually it's a bit of a power struggle at bedtime to get him to sit still and fold his arms - but when I reminded him about the deal last night and this morning - WOW! He's a whole new kid. He sat there for the entire prayer with BOTH arms folded, said Amen at the end, and then said "Lawnmower." Cheeky kid. So on Saturday, if he's been good every day, then he will have his reward!

And on another, mostly related note, Grant has chores. He doesn't earn anything for doing them (I didn't want him to earn the lawnmower for doing his regular chores, I want his chores to get done just because they are there and they are his), but he knows what is expected. I plan to make little cards with pictures and words on them to remind both him and me of what his chores are, but I haven't as of yet - here's where I got the idea. 

I want to get them laminated, which might actually make it cheaper to buy them from that website, but they can't seem to provide me with a shipping quote so I'll have to wait to hear back from them. 

Grant's chores right now include:

1. Making his bed in the morning

2. Getting dressed, putting dirty clothes in the hamper

3. Combing hair (I always forget this one)

4. Say family prayer (is this a chore? I don't know.)

5. Put toys away

6. Put on pajamas and put dirty clothes in hamper

7. Say family prayer

8. Say personal prayer

9. Read scriptures

10. Get hug and kiss

Ten might sound like a lot, but it seems to me that Grant appreciates being given the chance to be responsible and loves being expected to do things like this. He does lots of other things too that maybe I should add to his list, such as sweeping, vacuuming (he pretends by moving the vacuum around the house, but it'll be a while before he can actually do that one), setting the table, etc.

And one last thing, the whole chore thing was inspired by a book (the website is by the same people) called The Children You Want with the Kids You Have. I've only read the first chapter and I feel as though it's already changed my life; it provides ideas and charts and guides for different ages and so far I love it. Grant has responded so well to doing chores that I highly recommend starting some chore routines for your kids, especially if you've been thinking about it! As soon as my other kid(s) turn two, that's when I will start them on the program, they just eat it up at this age. I will post again once I've made the little chore cards! =)

Cover

This was an enormous project, and I'm warning you, before you look at these pictures and really want to do your own carseat cover, you must be 110% committed and really ambitious!!!! It is a ton of work ripping out all the stitches on the old carseat, pinning, cutting, pinning, sewing, unpicking, re-sewing, fighting with the sewing machine, rethreading the needle, breaking the needle, spooling the bobbin, fighting with the fabric, stabbing fingers with pins... etc. But in the same breath let me also say that if you want to do one, I will totally help you with every step along the way, because it is SO worth it. This was my first one, and there are definitely things I will do differently next time (because, yes, there will be a next time), I'm not thrilled with the sides - but I am ABSOLUTELY positive that this is THE hardest carseat cover I could have done. It was very complicated, but gave me a good challenge - it was like a jigsaw puzzle. A jigsaw puzzle where I was deciding the final picture. And believe me, it is FAR from perfect. But if I can do it - you can too.

This....

turned into...

THIS:

I may still add some fabric in the bottom front corners - the final cover was, of course, slightly smaller than the original so the bottom corners don't quite match up. I don't know if I care that much, and I need a break from sewing. But all the snaps match up, and that's the important thing. 

And if I can do a cover this complicated, then I can definitely help you do an easier one (or any one, because this one was CRAZY), like an infant carseat. I even have a piping foot for my machine, which makes me insanely happy. Also, as with anything, the more you sew, the better you are at sewing, so get crackin'.

Upgrade

I've been dreaming about her - the Other Woman, as I call her - for years... Now here she is. My Mother's Day gift. I've been dreaming of her for years. Since using my mom's so often in her kitchen, I fantasized about the color, the shape, what I would make for my family. Now it's finally here!!! I actually thought I would have to wait a few more years before she would become my very own. We bought a hand held mixer just after we were married, and of course that died quickly. One attempt at whipped cream and that puppy was finito. So for three years, give or take a little, we've been using - I kid you not - a mixer attachment that we saved and Trevor's cordless drill. I have been the laughingstock of anyone who has seen me mix. And still no whipped cream, thanks to the fact that the battery doesn't last long enough. It's all very comedic, really. And I thought the drill would be by my side for a while longer... but the battery no longer charges, and it's cheaper to buy a whole new drill than an extra battery. That's planned obsolescence for you. Our world really is a messed up place.

But on a brighter note, I got a smokin' good deal on the all-steel-gear transmission 575 watts of super mixing POWER (take that, planned obsolescence!) from amazon.com (ordered to the border). Only a couple of the models actually have steel gears and gear housings in them, and there's no way I'm buying a mixer with plastic moving parts.

So now, without further ado...

Eight

My baby girl Rachel is EIGHT months old today! I can hardly believe it. I KNOW eight months of my pregnancy did not go by this quickly. Time really does fly when you're having fun. And when you have a baby AND a two year old.

I've got to be quick, the kids haven't had breakfast and the TV can only hold them for so long. A quick recap from April and May so far:

Rachel is doing baby-led weaning - NO MUSH FOOD!!! She feeds herself real-people food. Let's see if I can remember what she's had so far (not in this order!): banana, avocado, bacon, Baby Mum Mums, cheerios, veggie straws (before you get on my case about the salt, you should know that she only gets ONE when she eats them), bun, orange, rice, peas, carrots, green beans... barely anything makes it into her stomach, because with this feeding method she learns to chew first and swallow later - most of it just falls back out of her mouth after she's chewed it for a while. But it is fantastic for me not to have to spoon feed her, she loves feeding herself, and because so little of it makes it down, it introduces the food very gradually. I will probably never go back to the puree way of feeding a baby.

Grant goes on the toilet sporadically, but nothing serious in the way of potty training. I'm waiting for the summer, when he can just run around in his birthday suit.

Rachel is not crawling yet, but she can scoot herself backwards on her tummy. She hates it.

Grant finished his gymnastics class and received his first ever medal! He wore it ALL day.

Rachel has her first tooth! It is just barely coming in, but it's definitely there - her right front one on the bottom. It's insanely cute, of course, but I'm wondering where the other bottom one is?

Grant loves singing "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam". Last night we went to dinner at Trevor's grandma's house and he was pretending to play it on the piano.

Rachel has started tracing/pointing and things with her pointer finger, and it is so sweet I could just burst. I forgot how cute it is when they do that. She likes to touch my wedding ring, and I told her she could have one of her own but not for at LEAST twenty years.

Grant is CRAZY about being outside. We don't have a backyard and he NEEDS one. He'll only come inside if I promise he can go "outside again" later, or bribe him with candy. He got his first skinned knee leaving Moms and Tots on Thursday! I told him it was the first of many, many skinned knees. 

This weekend we are going to see Thomas at Heritage Park! I hope Grant loves it!

Weekend

I got in last night around 8 from a wonderful no-kids, no-husbands, mini-vacay weekend. I don't know if I've ever had so much girltime fun. The drive to and from Calgary was at LEAST as fun as the actual conference itself.


Five of us piled into my van Friday afternoon to attend Time Out for Women. Really, what Mom doesn't need a time out? I remember a woman speaking at General Conference a couple years ago and mentioned that her daughter was at the time in her life when "her greatest blessings were also her greatest challenges" - and I knew exactly what she meant. Sometimes, I ask Grant if he wants a time out when he's done some naughty and sometimes he'll reply with an enthusiastic "Ya!" My feelings exactly. Well, in spite of repeatedly trying to teach my toddler that time outs are a bad thing, I LOVED my time out. I am very grateful that I have a husband who could take some time off work for me to leave on time, and was actually willing to watch our kids! This was, of course, his first time being with two kids overnight - a big step, if you ask me! Way to go honey!


All of the presenters were amazing, I absolutely couldn't pick a favorite. It surpassed my expectations on every hand. I have gone to Women's Conference a few times before, and there are inevitably some speakers I liked more than others when it's over. But not here! It was like a Best of Women's Conference sort of deal. But I do have one thought that I can't shake to share with my blog readers (if anyone is still out there reading this!).


Hilary Weeks mentioned that she was out to dinner with her daughter Megan, on a mother-daughter date. Megan was happily telling her about a game of tag she had played that day, giggling as she recounted it. And Hilary thought (I'm paraphrasing here) - this is the only chance I get to see my children as children. We will all know each other eternally as adults - so this is our honor, our privilege, our sweet, exquisite piece of heaven - to see our children as children!


President Joseph F. Smith, in Gospel Doctrine (pg.455) taught that all spirits are in adult form - they were adults before their mortal existence, and they are in adult form after death, even if they die as infants or children.


What a tiny speck of time that they - and we - experience as children in the grand scheme of a Heavenly Father's plan. The eons and eons of eternity that have been and will be are so vast that we cannot even begin to measure how short this lifetime is - and childhood is a fraction of that life. How I love that am a mother, that I get to live in a home with my little babies who are, by all accounts, most likely eternally wiser and grander than I. I love their innocence and their purity. A wonderful friend who is a fabulous example to me said something on her blog a couple weeks ago that I also cannot shake, and I hope she doesn't mind me quoting her sweet words that echo my sentiments so precisely: I adore the fact that I'm merely their guardian while on this earth, and eternally we're equal and old souls.


I feel an increasing urgency to protect, teach, encourage, correct, and love the heck out of my children as I try to give them the very best of myself. I often hear the spirit whispering "Your children only have one childhood." There is no going back, no rewinding the clock, once the day is done it is gone, never to return. Rachel will be 8 months old tomorrow; she'll never be seven or six or five or four or three or two months old ever again. Grant will be two and a half this summer, the years go by so fast and then they're gone.


Our children chase after us for our attention for only a short, short time - and then they move on with their lives and we spend the rest of our lives chasing them - a lesson I know my father-in-law has learned the hard way. 


I don't know how best to end this post, it just seems to keep going on and on. But I do know that this weekend has strengthened my resolve to take care of myself, my husband, my children, my home, and given me the lift I need to continue when I'm elbow deep in poop and puke and I wonder what was I ever thinking having children.


Next year I'm going to go to Women's Conference, maybe you'd like to come?

Easter

Loveys

Every night when I look at my children sleeping, I realize...

The Sweet Love Affair I have

with this little boy

and this little girl.

God really gave me the pick of the litter when he sent me these ones. My cup runneth over.

Tour

After a long hiatus...
here is an artsy tour of my house. The pictures would be better but I just took them in jpeg. Here they are.

Number 3... and no, I did not do ANY cleaning prior to doing this series. Continue if you dare.

Front door view.

Grant has the cutest little mini hoodies.

Grant adores his new boots. I bought them to remind myself that spring is coming... someday.

Toys. Lots. 

Our classic willowtree statue.

Token photo of the photographer. So cheesy. So necessary.

See above note about cleaning. This is why no other kitchen pics.

Busy-ness.

Powder room.

Pink Alien Bees. So fabulous.

Baby Grant. Was he really that small?

Fun shower curtain - Ikea. Cradle cap shampoo - Beaners. Potty - Ikea.

We only have one crib sheet for Rachel, and it was laundry day for her. This watermelon blanket has a matching green hat that I will simple HAVE to get a picture of before she outgrows it.

Snoozy head.

Ikea curtains. Match his duvet cover.

LOVE the paint job in Grant's room. It's just so FUN! Plus his new bunk bed is great too.

All things girly.

New sock monkeys from Aunt Robin. Grant LOVES them.

More toys...

King bed = nighttime bliss.

Memory book, also from Aunt Robin. Probably the best gift I've ever received.

Ghetto TV has found a new home in our room since our upgrade to the flat screen. Grant loves watching "Eggo" (Diego) and "Ess Me" (Sesame Street) in our bed.

As always, the inverse real-life/blog-life relationship applies. When I'm busy, happy, etc, the blog is neglected because I'm off living my life. So it's been nearly TWO MONTHS now that I haven't written! I'd love to be more regular and blog about our life, post more pictures, etc, but I am so darn busy that I can't sit down and write about it all. 

Rachel's six month pictures are coming now that I have my studio set up temporarily. Great shots of Mr. Grant are coming too.