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.

Gender Reveal!!

As many of you already know, we are expecting our 4th child. HOLY COW!! Am I really gonna have 4 kids?!
Well - when I scheduled the ultrasound, I scheduled it for the 3rd of September (thinking that the kids started school the following week). The kids and I were excited that we were all going to be able to go to find out the gender, then lo and behold, I found out that the kids started school on the 3rd! BUMMER!! The kids were disappointed for only a short time because I told them that I would surprise them in a special way when the got home from school. I think they were more excited about that. :)

While the kids were away at school, Brian and I found out the gender then went to the store to get some balloons and decorations for the house.  We  filled a box up with some of the balloons and decorated the living room in the typical color of that gender.  

When the kids got home, the box was sitting outside waiting for them to open it up. I should have decorated the box in some cute way but....I ran out of time. Oh well..... they all suspected that it was a girl and were very hopeful for a girl...so much that their excitement for finding out wasn't as big as I had imagined it would be.  Haha...maybe I was just more excited than they were and I expected them to show just as much excitement.  And of course....Jackson had been saying he wanted a girl up until he found out it really was a girl and then changed his mind, saying he wants a boy.

After opening the box, the kids dashed for the door wanting to see what was inside.  (I hadn't let them go inside after school until we had opened the box so they were very anxious.) I think we got more of a surprise reaction when they walked through the door than when they opened the box.

See for yourself their expressions!  Needless to say, I am excited I'm having another girl and cannot wait to see what she looks like and the personality that she has.  I can tell you now, that she will be VERY active and a HUGE blessing to our family.

Here was our after our gender reveal party!!

I LOVE THESE KIDS!!

Bedside conversations.

My favorite time of day has become bedtime.  WHAT?!! Did I seriously just say that? Yes.  I did.  The longest part of bedtime is getting the kids READY for bed.  However, after that stressful part is over, the magic begins.  I take a few minutes to cuddle with each child. As I cuddle, I of course tell them I love them and they return the affection. With my boys, I stroke their faces and often sing them their favorite song.  I ask them what their favorite part of the day was and they sometimes ask what we are doing the following day. My love grows for them tremendously during this time.  I'm not sure what it is about that time, but something happens.
Now, with KennaDee....I completely treasure the bedside conversations with her.  It is during this time that she expresses how she feels.  Her troubles at school.  Her fears.  Her concerns. I listen as I hold her tiny hand in mine.
Last night, she expressed to me how she feels alone at school sometimes because everyone likes Stephanie.  And how everyone wants to play with Stephanie.  How the kids play this game at recess and she doesn't know how to play so she always gets out first.  How she tries to initiate play with some of them but they always choose Stephanie over her.  She then started to compare herself to Stephanie.  I frantically was looking for words to say as I was a little dumbfounded that it's starting so early.  I helped her think of good qualities that she has and helped her think of someone that she feels good around.  She then told me of a good friend that always listens to her and always will play with her.  Her name is Noor.  Yes - the friend that called her after school. (see previous post.) I helped her realize how she feels with Noor.  She kept going back to Stephanie and then finally I gave her 2 choices.  I said, "KennaDee you have 2 choices.  You can continue to go to school, play with Stephanie and feel alone. OR you can choose to play with Noor and have fun and not worry about the others.  She looks at me, smiles, and says, "I choose the second one."

When she came home after school the following day, I asked her how her day was and she smiled, as she always does and replies, "good."  I always give her a few minutes before I try and dig deeper to see if she tells me anything else in detail.  She continued that her and Noor sat together today at lunch, played at recess, and sat together during library.  "I told her to call me, mom. Can she come over and play?" I didn't think she'd actually call.  I thought, again, that I would be calling her mom the next day.  Little did I know...... (see previous post.)

Anyhow - Bedside conversations is where our trust builds.  Bedside conversations is when we open up. Bedside conversations is when we grow together.  Bedside conversations are a time of reflection and growth. Bedside conversations are my favorite time of day.  It's priceless.

an unfamiliar phone number

About 4:00pm today, my phone rings.  It's an unfamiliar phone number, but nonetheless, it has a Virginia area code so I answer it.  It's an unfamiliar voice and he's staggering a little bit as if he is nervous and doesn't know exactly what to say.  He manages to get out, "Is there a KennaDee?  I s..l..o..w..l..y, said, "yes." He replied, "oh ok. She has a friend that wants to talk to her."  As I'm talking on the phone with this boy, KennaDee comes running down the stairs, "mom, who is it? Is it for me? Is it Noor?" Noor is a friend in class that she's become quite good friends with.  She told me a couple days ago that they exchanged phone numbers and they are going to hang out after school one day.  I didn't think much of it at the time.  I assumed I would be the one to call Noor's mom or Noor's mom would be the one to call me.  NOT NOOR HERSELF!
Previously to this phone call, I was deep in thought as I was catching up on some organizing.  After KennaDee took the phone and ran upstairs to her room....I could not get back into my zone.  I kept replaying what just happened in my head.  To some of you readers out there, you may be thinking what's the big idea.  Here it is.

SHE'S ONLY SEVEN YEARS OLD!!!!! I do not remember getting phone calls from friends in second grade.  Does it really happen that soon? My little girl is growing up and I am not ready for it.  The phone calls behind closed doors. My heart was pounding quickly. I debated on running upstairs myself to eavesdrop,  but is that the kind of mother I want to be?  What are they planning? What are they talking about? Sigh.  I had to come write my thoughts out or I would never be able to get back to my organizing.

I guess the positive part of this, is that the boy who was on the phone, was Noor's brother.  At least the phone call was a female friend and not a classmate of the opposite sex.  Right??

Tear.. Tear..

I just keep repeating to myself.... I'll love you forever, I'll love you for always..as long as I'm living, my baby she'll be.