thankful day approaches

Today I want to give thanks,



I want to give thanks for all the blessing in my life.  I am chuckling as I type this because today I was a little bit of a grump to my kids.  It made me grateful for my kindness and understanding most other days of the month...

I am grateful for Elliott..... He is so obedient and true.  I love talking to him and hearing his ideas and thoughts.  I love that his favorite thing to do is find a quite moment, which there are not many and bring me a book to read together.  It is Harry Potter number 2 currently.  He also is a great sea glass finder, we have a lot of fun looking together.  I am thankful he wants to be baptized.  I always knew it would be his choose when he was eight.  I sat him down a few weeks ago to chat and he confessed to me he wanted to be baptized because he wanted to live with Heavenly Father again.  He will be baptized January 3rd.

I am grateful for Lillian.... a receptionist at the doctors office made a remark today about how much work kids are.... I am guessing that she has not had one yet by the tone of her voice.  I told her yes, but they are the greatest investment as I told Lillian repetitively not to play in the blinds.   Luckily, I was wearing my necklace microphone that goes directly into Lillian's hearing aids so I didn't have to be yelling at her across the waiting area.  We are investing so much into Lillian, but at times I break down upset because what if I could and should do more. Talk to her more giving her more vocabulary, drive her to more appointments for doctors, specialist and Therapy.  Other times I have this peaceful feeling knowing, I am doing great and she will turn out fine. I am thankful I can help her.   I, of course, wish it could have been my burden and challenge to bare on this earth life, but for some reason its hers and she loves life so much she does not seem to mind.  

I am grateful for Jackson..... He is a joy, he is a love and he is a helper.  His latest favorite thing is to make a huge pile of books for me to read to him at nap time and bed time.  When I have a million things to do, I remind myself he will only fit in my lap a few more months.  He growing so fast.  I am thankful I can enjoy every minute of it. 

  I would, however, like to say that his constant trying to twirl my hair is difficult, painful and annoying.  

I am grateful for Steven..... We are coming up on our ten, I repeat, TEN year anniversary.  That seems like forever, but it has felt like just yesterday we were married.  Expect when all three kids are screaming and fighting then it feels like total craziness.  Right honey? Steven works hard, at all he does - always has and always will.  He splits his time between work, Church, family, and an occasional work out.  He is here for us every morning helping us get out the door on time and happy.   

I am grateful for who I am and who I am becoming.  I am evolving in my old age and I like me. Being more sure of what I like and do not like.  Being over protective of my family and our time together.  Trying to help out others, honestly makes me the happiest.  I am grateful for the challenge I placed in front of me this month to write a 50000 word novel.  Its been hard to carve out the time to write, but I have enjoyed  and am at word count of 44,000 so hopefully I will finish soon!  

I am grateful to my parents- My mom and dad really have stepped up and become super grandparents.  They currently both work and are on a mission for our church.  They are busy busy, but always willing to watch the boys when Lillian has an appointment. Or watch Lillian when I need some special time with Elliott.  They also drive Lillian to school the majority of the week and pick her up.  She love it and I love it.

I am grateful to my aunt and uncle.  They moved here several years ago after retiring and took care of my sweet grandmother for many years.  Now that she's back in heaven they have opened their hearts and time to my kids.  Elliott and Lillian get out of school at the same time 25 miles apart.  My aunt and uncle are part of the team when it comes to making sure everyone can get picked up on time.  Their home is like a vacation area for us, swimming, citrus trees, and flower picking are our favorite.  My kids love going over there and enjoy being spoiled.

I am thankful for my friends.  Sometimes, I may complain or feel like my burden it too hard of a load.  They are there with a park day or play date to peep talk me in to a better mood!!  Park days are my therapy!

Photo credit to my talented friend Inga Bowen, who actually got my kids to look at the camera by placing a pez candy dispenser on top of the her camera.  Brilliant!  

Half a decade of Lillian!

October 19th -Five years ago today Elliott meet Lillian.





 I still remember him very very carefully rolling in her bassinet in my hospital room with Steven's help.  He got over the fact that we did not name her Apple Gigi quickly and has always been sweet to his little sister.  Lucky for me he was not intrested in holding her or touching her, just saying hi to her and showing her his toys.
 Five years ago yesterday she entered this world a week late but we forgave her.  She was by far my favorite delivery.

On the night before Lillian's party I was so excited I couldn't sleep.  No kidding.  I had spent a lot of time getting things I knew she would love and I was looking forward to her reaction. Also we were having the party at 5 pm so I knew I had a lot to do.

Of course when I finally found myself in a deep sleep Lillian woke me up a little before 6 begging me to take her shopping Grocery shopping and get her birthday donut.   We hit up the store in our PJs and bought a few more items needed for the party.  Plus the donut which she devoured on the way home.  We live two minute away from the store. She was hungry then not hungry and full of sugar...



She did not disappoint me at all.  Every detail of her party which we took out and got ready for throughout the day was magical to her.  "Oh I love it, Mommy thank you so so much.",  "Ohhhhh so beautiful, I'm so excited for my birthday."

I kept her gifts hidden and let her open one after breakfast.  She opened Lois and Keith's present first, loved the outfit and had to put it on immediately.   All before 7:15 am.

 Next I pulled out Olaf's tea set.  A gift I picked out for Lillian because I knew she would love it.  It was made a little cheaper than I had hoped but she doesn't care.  The kids had a tea party right away.

At 8:30 we began to get ready for Soccer.  Not Lillian's favorite.... so we decided to get it out of the way on her birthday and go to the 9 o'clock club.  She did not want to participate at all.  We played just her and I for a little while and Steven got her to play with the team for a few minutes.

Then we headed home cleaned up the back yard and by noon I was ready for a nap.  I got one and during so one kid walked off with ipad which had the alarm clock I had set.  Woke up.  Elliott had his soccer game, Steven took Lillian and left me home to get ready.  Got Jackson down for a nap.  Started to decorate, cook, clean etc.

Lillian was brilliant this year and instead of inviting a lot of girls her age asked for her to friends who are sisters to come.  We invited their family and another family over for dinner.  It made for a wonderful relaxing party with our friends and hers.

Lillian is such a sweet, caring, loving, thoughtful, spunky, energetic princess.  I am so grateful to be able to be her mother.  I know she will not be held back by the challenges she faces on this earth.
She is so excited to grow up, go to high school (I add college and a mission also) and get married in the Temple.  Love you, Lillian!

Jackson's first day of School.... Play school

With five other mom's in my church group we have set up a play school group.  We have no formal lesson plans, just play and enjoy the kids for one week a month.  It's been delightful.  Jackson was sick the first week and the second week we hosted it.... so here he is the third week getting ready to go to his friends house.

Our Jackson has a giant heart and is a great comforter.  He has a wicked sense of humor and loves to say 'snugglememommy.'  Because of all the classes and courses we have taken to help Lillian develop language, Jackson has been a sponge and is talking better than a lot of 4 year olds.   He keeps me company in the mornings as I try to put things in order.  We make sure to have time for his friends to come over, go swimming or visit a park together.  He is also in love with his Lighning Mcqueen shoes. They are the first shoes I have bought him as he's been living in handme downs from Elliott.  He wears them daily, talks about them constantly, and shows everyone.  It's pretty cute.  

summer-September.

Lillian's Great Aunt and Uncle took her to buy a flower on the way home from school the other week.  Each morning she bounds outside to water it, just a little bit.

Lillian and Elliott get out of school at the same time.  Great right? No their schools are 25 minutes apart.  When I planned on Lillian taking the bus, Nana cried and cried.  So each week we sit down with our team and plan the carpooling to get everyone where they need to be.  

Sunday Photos!

Lillian's Queen Elsa's frozen face

Steven has been traveling most of September and we have defiantly missed him.  

Sunday Photo!

 Nothing like homegrown carrots.

 They make great Little sister repellent.

My youngest kids are into Hot Coco right now.   The 80 degree weather doesn't sway their loyalty to the beverage.  I water it down so much it is more like flavored water than hot coco but they do not mind.

With school starting I have started to get into a better grove of having the house not totally destroyed and actually taking time for things I want to do... drilling sea glass, marathon blogging (like tonight), and visiting with my friends.   I am a huge fan of down time and had to switch it from the afternoon to morning with all the activities going on after school.

soccer - Elliott

Last years soccer team was intense for Elliott they practiced sometimes three times a week.  This year is totally the opposite.  Once a week on Friday evenings.  Elliott blossomed at defense last year.  This year he plays all over and loves it.  Elliott is very very coachable.   He scored a goal and was so nonchalant about it I wasn't sure it was him.  He is not much of a goal score, more of a supportive team player, which we love.  He's maybe scored 4 goals in 4 years of soccer.  

  

Its also been so hot here, in the 80 and 90 (we normally have 75 degrees year round)  Poor kids are melting out there.