Christmas and Mother's Day!

I remember when I was little and played barbies, my barbie had a camera. I always loved pretending I was a photographer. I always told myself that when I grew up I was going to be one. After waiting quite awhile, I finally have my camera. Jim was going to try to get it for me for Christmas, but that wasn't possible for us last Christmas. After finding a good deal on the one I wanted and talking it over for a few weeks, he ordered it for me!!! I have had alot of fun taking pictures (especially of my girls). Here are a few of the several hundred that I have taken already.

Mother's Day

I am so thankful that Heavenly Father gave me the blessing of being a mother. I love my daughters so much. I love watching them grow and learn new things. I love watching them experience joy. I love watching them being sisters. They have taught me so much. I am the luckiest mom ever!

This Mother's Day it was Jim's weekend to be gone. I planned my menu and thought it would be fun to let the girls help me prepare my Mother's Day dinner. After a pitty party on Friday, I called Jim to share it with him. In our conversation Jim said, "I know you don't want to hear this, but would you call and cancel the plans we made for the 16th?" (The weekend he was supposed to be home.) He continued, "I won't be home that weekend." My emotions got the best of me and I couldn't speak. I was hoping he would say what he then said. After a long pause, he said, "I will be home tomorrow. I thought it would be important for me to be home on Mother's Day." I still couldn't speak.

Thank you Jim for coming home. It may not have been just for Mother's Day, but for a time that I needed you most. I love you!

This is my "Breakfast in Bed!" A donut, a glass of chocolate milk, and fake flowers that I had in the basement. It made for some good laughs to start the morning out.

For dinner Brindley was so determined to help. She kept telling me to write the instructions down so she could do it. Jim helped her with the chicken while Karissa peeled potatoes. Lexie made a yummy green salad. As I was showing Lexie how to tear the lettuce I told her to tear it small enough that it would fit into her mouth. Not a good way to tell her. She started to put the pieces in her mouth to see if they fit.

After dinner the girls gave me several pictures that they drew and colored. They are so thoughtful!

Brindley, Karissa, Lexie, and Samantha, I love you so much and I am so glad that I can be your mom. Thanks for having patients with me and for loving me back.

TO MY MOMS!

Yes, I am a little behind, but I still wanted to tell my mom and Jim's mom Happy Mother's Day! I wouldn't be who I am today if it wasn't for both of you.

Mom, thanks for being one of my bestest friends. You are always there and willing to listen to me and let me cry to you. You are so willing to help me in whatever I am doing even if it has been hard on you. I look at you today and am so amazed at how far you have come in the last several months. I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate you.

Connie, I'll never forget the day Jim proposed and the hug you gave me. Yes, such a simple gester, but a very meaningful one. You have been there for me when my mom couldn't be. You are a very patient and understanding person. You are always putting others before yourself. It will be difficult to move away from you guys, but I know it will help us appreciate you even more. Thanks for everything you do for us. I love you!

Why I Love Mom

Amber sent this to me and I had to post it. I soooo feel this way today, trying to get the house ready for the realtor. I have wiped the kitchen counter off three times in the last hour. And as I type this I hear the kids in the kitchen again. Here goes the 4th time.

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Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, 'I'm tired, and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed'.She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches.Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for supper the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning. She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer ,ironed a shirt and secured a loose button.She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry..She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom. She stopped by the desk, wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip, and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chairWrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her purse.Mom then washed her marykay face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her night solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and filed her nails.Dad called out, 'I thought you were going to bed.''I'm on my way,' she saidShe put some water into the dog's dish then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and TV's, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. 'I'm going to bed'And he did..without another thought.Anything extraordinary here? Wonder why women live longer...?Cause we are made for the long haul....(and we can't die sooner, we still have things to do!!!!).

After the start of a very nerve racking day, I wanted to post some of the funny things Lexie has said. She knows alot more than I give her credit for. I couldn't help but laugh at these.

Conversation #1

A few weeks ago I was looking at the paper and she saw a toy add. Here's our conversation:

Lexie: I need that (pointing at the add).
Mom: No you don't.
L: Yes I do! I don't have enough toys.

With that being said, here are the pictures I took a month ago of their playroom. Yes, I know it is a wreck and I wasn't going to post them, but after her supposedly not having enough toys, I had too.

Before

During

I don't have an after picture, but they have kept it pretty clean since.

Conversation #2

Last week I spent several hours cleaning in the kitchen. When Brindley and Karissa got home I told them to not leave crumbs around and to take care of their school stuff because I had worked very hard to get the kitchen clean. Lexie added by telling them that she had worked "Very Easy"! I think her working easy was what made my working hard.

Conversation #3

I was reading the paper the other morning and Lexie sat down with me and picked up the previous days paper. She opened it up just like we all do and pretended to look at it. She was looking at the comic section when she said,

Lexie: Is that Pres. Obama?

Mom: Ok, Hello! What did you just say?

L: Is that Pres. Obama?

Later that night Lexie and I were laying on my bed when the news came on. I wasn't watching paying attention to it when she said:

L: That's him....Pres. Obama! He's for us isn't he!

She obviuosly knows who Pres. Obama is, but I don't know where she is getting he is for us!!!

Conversation #4

Lexie said the F word the other day....Yes, she said Farted! I may be a little old fashioned, but I would prefer my kids not say certain words. I lightly spatted her on the bottom and she said to me, " You need to spank harder. That didn't hurt!"

Conversation #5

Lexie is very thoughtful when she is praying and she makes sure that we say certain things when we pray, like "thank you for the snow, thank you for our hearts, thank you for Grandma and Grandpa." As she said the blessing on the food the other day, she said all of the above, then added, "Please bless that no one will break into our house." At this time I looked up at her to see her hold her hand up like a gun and say, "If they do we will get a gun and shoot them!" So beware, Lexie let Heavenly Father know what we will do if you break into our house!

Conversation #6

Karissa and Lexie had been arguing and fighting all evening. They both kept tattling on each other and I was getting very tired of it. I finally went into their room and told them to fight!!! I really wanted to see what my 3 year old could do to my 6 year old. They started slapping each other the whole time giggling. I told them that wasn't fighting and I wanted them to fight. They continued the slapping with a little more intensity. I just kept telling them, "Come on, fight!" Pretty soon Lexie (my 3 year old) steps back, folds her arms and says, "Karissa, this doesn't feel very right." Holy cow, I didn't expect it to end this way. I thought for sure I was going to have to lecture them. They both through their arms around each other and hugged! Once again I was brought to tears by the inspiration of my three year old.