ELIZABETH…. You are at a time in your life where your watch every princess you love and try to emulate their kindness and beauty. I’ve met a lot of girls in my life. Some were as sweet as could be while others thought they were showing me they were better then me by being rude or bratty. Sweet Elizabeth I hope you never think rudeness is beauty.


I pray you go through out your life with your heart on your sleeve because such a beautiful heart you have. I hope you are an open book for all to read because you have so much to offer this big wide world. I hope you share everything that is dear to you with your friends and let them grow from your beauty. I hope you treat everyone like a sister or brother and give all that you have to others because that’s how you will find happiness. Go out of your way to make others feel happy or special or important. As your grandma Gina would say, “pretty is as pretty does.“ Sweet Elizabeth while I sit here as your momma hoping that you never grow up, at the same time I cant wait to see you grow and bloom into your full potential. I know great things wait for you, just please remember I am always here, and always on your side. XOXO my sweet baby girl

                                  Halloween 2010.... halloween post will come later this week

Let's just pretend....

Oh my Elizabeth. Her little imagination is in full bloom.One minute she is a princess with the evil stepmother after her and the next thing I know her and her best friend Bryson, who isnt even over, are playing in her room. She is amazing. I could eat her and her excitement about life up all day long.
      Last Tuesday I had someone stop by in my ward unannounced. To be honest I love these types of visits because I want to come across as someone who would welcome anyone at my door. I obviously would love if it occurred when I was ready for the day with my kids dressed and with the house in order but whatever, its life so that doesn't happen.....ever.
    When I answered the door last Tuesday at 11am I was in pjs, my son in a diaper, my daughter naked with a mess stuck to her  bum cheeks, a dirty diaper in hand ( I realized later it wasn't even wrapped well so you could see all the inners) and my house a DISASTER! But I opened the door, and we chatted for a while.
     After she left I felt a little embarrassed about the way we must have appeared. I thought what I could have done differently that day to have things together a bit more when she stopped by. I thought about that morning how I sat with my children at the breakfast table all of us in our jammies. How we sat and read books, how we played in the backyard, watched butterflies, and I listened to Elizabeth play pretend. How I chased my rowdy son and tickled him until I heard that belly laugh of his that melts my heart and then it occurred to me that there was not one thing I would have changed in that day. It was a messy day, it was a lounging day, it was a perfect day. My children will not remember if I had make up on every day or not but I am sure they will remember the time their momma spent with them....

She is her mothers daughter.....

 Recently I have been going over the idea of putting Elizabeth in preschool. She will be three in December and is smart beyond her years. She also is starting to get bored around the house and trying to test me to see what she can get away with (more than usual). My thinking was that she would get some education, but more importantly she would be happy having some time with me not always saying no to the new adventures she thinks she is old enough to take part in... ( painting her fingernails by herself, putting in her own dvds, cooking with real food in her play kitchen....). I was at a loss and was thinking as soon as she starts preschool she is now not in the home and with mommy full time. So I just sat on it for a few days and then tonight mr. husband and I read a talk by Elder L. Tom Perry titled "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home". And voila here was my answer. This talk spoke about how we as mothers are our childrens greatest teachers and how teaching and learning in the home is most powerful. I sometimes forget that I am the most powerful influence on my children at this age. I was reminded by reading this that I only have this small window of time to have my sweet babies all to myself and under my little momma bird wing before they are off in school, sports, with friends. This is my chance to instill in them simple but essential things, like how special they are and not to doubt it no matter what, wrong from right, how hard work pays off, to be kind and loving, how to choose the right, manners, and so many small but important things. I have come to conclusion that I need to take this time for all it is worth and cherish it and use it to the best of my mommy ability. And that I need to remember that my example teaches her more than anything. I have found that this is not her time to start school but my time to put forth the extra effort to teach her while I still have her in our home full time. I will say it is rewarding when I see her caring for a baby doll the exact way she saw me caring for Reed. Or knowing all her knowledge in knowing letters, numbers, shapes has come from her parents hard work or more importantly seeing her grasp Gospel truths and concepts.Here is to another yr at home:)

to read this talk I was talking about in its fullness click HERE

as of late......

I have not been much of a blogger unfortunately. I miss it. But more importantly I know years from now reading this I will most likely wish I had written down more. So I'm hopefully back to writing more frequently. Sometimes I feel like I'm going through a bit of a transition phase of life. That is kind of how I have been feeling these past few weeks. Sometimes when in those transitions periods of life when I am going from one big event to the next I tend to just go through the day to day things without really focusing on them. Having a list of things to do and accomplishing them just because it's part of the day. Or days where I try to cram as much into a day like cleaning, crafts, an outing with the kids, lunch with the hubby, homemade dinner, yadda yadda yadda, and those are the days that FLY BY so quickly I don't even remember much of what occurred that day.  After listening to a general authority in our church council us to "slow down" and "simplify" our lives I have been trying to keep that in the front of my mind. But it's hard. I am one who trys to do a ton in a day. I think I need to always be picking up toys when let's face it I could just sit and join in the fun and pick them up at the end of the day. Or that I need to be doing 10 things at once while the kids are calmly distracted with their fishy crackers. And after listening to the talk last week I have decided to do things a little differently. I do not need to fit everything into one day. I can have a freezer dinner some nights and spend that extra time with my kids and that's okay, more than okay its wonderful. I can include them in folding the laundry even if it takes all day as long as they are involved. I think sometimes I worry too much about my duties as homemaker more than my duties as a mother and I obviously know what is more important. Another quote I heard that I loved was that "love is spelled T.I.M.E." and how true it is. Several times I have referred back to my writing on my blog to remind me of the things I have learned and the person I am striving to be. I guess this is one of these posts..... and speaking of slowing down, a little update on my children...

Reed: 15 months!

This boy is CRAZY. He is always trying to get into trouble or pester his sister. The only words he says is "momma" and "eeet"(light). He loves fruit and can be found usually walking throughout the house in just a diaper, eating a whole peach, plum, or pear. He is SO entertaining. He laughs at everything and will make the cutest faces all the time. If he falls off the couch he laughs, if he runs into something , he laughs, and there is nothing this boy is afraid of either. He is all boy and we love it!

Elizabeth: will be 3 in two months! She is my gem that girl. She can make or break my day, but usually makes it:) She is talking so much and loves to tell me everything that comes to her mind. She loves baby dolls, barbies and princesses right now and the color pink. She is pretty much potty trained except for when she sleeps and we are so proud of her. She tells me these days things like " I'm so excited" or " momma don't be mad" if I get after her. She is still my little cuddle bug and I pray she always is.

so I'm thinking about doing my hair chocolate brown? yes or no? not that anyone comments much these days but I thought I woulds throw it out there?