Day to Day

It's funny how your children can remember something you said or did forever ago and still forget the things you tell them every single day like: "don't jump on the bed"

So Garrett brings in these "air planes" that he has in made out of blocks and tells me "look at this plane mom. It's an American one. And President Obama is inside!"

Embrie wearing daddy's glasses, what a little cabbage patch!

They may look pretty sad here, but really they were just watching a movie. I thought it was cute that they were sitting so contently by each other.
(and no worries, Embrie is not completely naked, just in her underwear)

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

It is a hard thing to thank the mother's in your life. This is because there is no way to do it properly. I think I always fall short of doing it justice. I picked up some quotes that help me express the feelings that I have about the women in my life who have inspired me so much!


My mom Sheri . . . .

"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." ~Honoré de Balzac

I admit it. I am not the perfect child (shocking right?). But no matter what I have done or said in the past I know there are at least 3 people who have forgiven me unconditionally. My Father in Heaven, Jesus Christ, and my Mother. And to be honest I don't know how she does it sometimes.

"If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?" ~Milton Berle

She has to be and always has been one of the busiest people I know. She never turns down anyone who needs help. In fact she is one of 3 people who have taught me the most by example how to serve others.

"A mom reads you like a book, and wherever she goes, people read you like a glowing book review." ~Robert Brault,

My mom has a habit of thinking the very best of me no matter if I deserve it or not.
(on a side note: isn't she such a fun Grandma?!)

"I cannot forget my mother. She is my bridge. When I needed to get across, she steadied herself long enough for me to run across safely." ~Renita Weems

I know the some of times she has sacrificed her own needs for mine or my brothers. But I know I don't know all of them!

My Grandma Judy . . .

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." ~Tenneva Jordan

This quote instantly brought my grandma Judy to mind. She does for others all the time without giving thought to herself or what she wants. In fact, she'll read this right now and say "Oh that's not true." But I tell you it is!
(This is another one of the 3 who have taught me the most about service.)

"A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled." ~Emily Dickinson

She has always been there for me when I needed to talk about anything. I have gotten some of the best advice from her.

"Now, as always, the most automated appliance in a household is the mother."~Beverly Jones

I am amazed at how much energy she has! With 4 great grandchildren she never shows to them how tired she is as they are asking her to play.

She always has your favorite drink in the house for those times when you stop by. Since she has two children and 5 grand children plus other people she knows, loves and takes care of, it's a good thing she has more than one fridge.

My Grandma Watson . . .

"There is an instinct in a woman to love most her own child - and an instinct to make any child who needs her love, her own." ~Robert Brault

My grandma Hila passed away shortly after Garrett was born. And so I cherish this last picture that I have of her holding him.
(Last but not least in the trio of people who have taught me most about service.) She always welcomed all as her own.

"Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together." ~Pearl S. Buck

She would let you know if you were out of line, even if you didn't want to hear it. But she also gave you praise and love whenever you needed it.

"There's nothing like a mama-hug." ~Terri Guillemets
She gave the best hugs, put on some great parties, was a great cook, had lots of life stories to tell and did more genealogy work than anyone I know!

My mother-in-law Peggy . . .

"Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials." ~Meryl Streep

My mother in law is another one of those mom's who takes little thought for herself. She has been known to send us home with extra groceries even after she has spent the week feeding everyone in the family.

"Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries." ~T. DeWitt Talmage

I am so glad that she raised my husband. She has helped make him the wonderful man that he is today.

"It's not easy being a mother. If it were easy, fathers would do it." ~From the television show The Golden Girls

My kids love her. She is always thinking of her grandchildren and picks up something special for each of them.

What about my mother-hood? Well I have a lot to learn still. Another thing that I don't do well enough is appreciate every precious moment with my children. They are the most amazing little people in my world.
I can only hope to take away a piece of each of the lovely women in my life! To make me a little bit like each of them would help me be closer to the mom I want to be.

Here are some quotes I liked and a few pictures of good mommy moments.

The phrase "working mother" is redundant. ~Jane Sellman

me and Garrett

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." ~Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest, 1895

I used to think that I didn't want to be like my mother. It might surprise her to hear . . . I take that back.

"A mom forgives us all our faults, not to mention one or two we don't even have."~Robert Brault

I keep finding that just when I think my kids have done something wrong, it usually stems back to something I have done, not them.

"A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done." ~Author Unknown

I love these kids and the one on the way soooo much! They give me more purpose in life, and more reason to improve than anything else!

And an extra shout out to all the women in my life, friends and family. I have been blessed to be surrounded by the very best of women in the world!

Tractors and Cupcakes

Who says that your birthday only comes once a year?

Since some of the kid's birthdays happen after the school year ends his teacher picked a day this month for each of them to celebrate their birthday.

Today was Garrett's "school birthday-day".
He was very excited to take cupcakes and drinks to school to share with his classmates. He got to wear a cool Cat in the Hat -hat and be the special teacher's helper!
This year's birthday theme ? Tractors :) He is so random, or original, take your pick. But definitely 100% cute.

*he wanted me to take a picture of him making a few different faces so . . . we did*

happy

surprised

mad

Dance Class

Embrie had her first dance class today!
Of course, when getting dressed this morning she said she needed a skirt. That seems to be a requirement in her mind for dancing.

These tiny girls all gathered around teacher Susie to stretch and learn their first dance moves!

they each got to pick out a small beanie baby to hold (props to help them with the stretches). Embrie had a red bird. She is pretty instant that this red bird is now her sole property for dance class. She loved it.

Learning how to point your toes, a task that is more difficult than you'd think
. . . for a 2 year old :)

and doing kicks across the floor

Yay! She had so much fun, I wish I would have gotten some pictures of her doing her ballerina hands and twirling, but I am pretty sure those photo opportunities will come up again. Can't wait to keep going!

(and yes teacher Susie is pregnant and fabulous! not to mention a good friend of mine.)

"I'm Like a Big Girl"

We've had some unexpected changes. By unexpected I mean that I hadn't planned on doing any of this stuff just yet but the opportunity presented itself and we found ourselves jumping in!

Embrie tells me all the time "I'm like a big girl!" (she adds in the "like" for whatever reason). My little baby girl is growing up so fast!

1. Potty Training
Ok . . . so the last time I potty trained was a rocky road, I won't go into details. But I figure this might be my fault for being so strict and stubborn about it. My Pediatrician told me back then ( a little too late) that a child can only really control two things: what goes in & what goes out. Since I am a control freak this is a hard concept.
About 1 1/2 weeks ago I decided on a whim to try potty training with Embrie. I figured this time around I wasn't going to get my expectations so high, I didn't start as early as I did with Garrett and I wasn't even sure if I should start now, but the main change was my attitude. I decided that we would try it out, if it wasn't going so well then so be it. I am having a baby in 3 months so no big loss we can try again after. But I wanted to give her the chance to see if she was interested or not. So . . . we've only been at it for 11 days, but she is doing really well! I am pleasantly surprised and excited for her! She is telling me when she needs to go and the last 3 days has had no accidents! Good job Embrie!

Her Potty Chart

2. Big Girl Bed

Now this really wasn't planned on yet. I've been waiting for the basement to be finished so that I can move some toys out of Embrie's room (baby ones) that won't let the closet door shut, in order to take the side off of her crib and let her be in the toddler size bed until we buy bunk beds and move Garrett and Embrie in together. BUT, we got very lucky to have someone offer us a toddler bed for free. Although we will still have to buy the bunk beds eventually not having to do it right now when we have so many other expensive things coming up is a big relief! So last night our nice neighbor brought over a new toddler bed for Embrie. We weren't thinking that she'd be sleeping in it that night but she was soooo excited about it that we decided "what the heck". I pulled a couple of big things out of her closet (they now reside in the hall :( ...) and the crib is still in her room for now but we just slid the bed right in. And she stayed in her bed all night without a worry! And this morning when she started calling for me she didn't even get out of the bed until I told her she could, ha ha ha! I just can't believe this is all happening so fast! My baby isn't a baby anymore! which is a little bit sad, but I am proud of her and excited that she is doing so many fun new things!

a little more of Easter

In the afternoon on Easter Sunday we went to Papa & GG's house for a bbq and Easter egg hunt and to spend time with family. The day was nice and we spent it all in the back yard. The kids hunted for eggs and had a blast!

Its all about the hunting!

dividing up the spoils

After lunch and playing hide'n'seek, Little doggie (won't bite you), lawn bowling and telling the crazy stories of our youth and laughing our heads off. The kids decided that all of the hard playing deserved a snack.
Nothing like sitting on the porch with your best buddies and a PB sandwich and milk!

I'm so grateful for my Savior. He spent his pre-mortal existence creating and planning how he would help us all, how best to serve our Heavenly Father. He spent his life here teaching and healing, showing us the way. He suffered and bled from every pore for my sins and the sins of all the world, He knows the pains and sorrows and trials of us all. He did all of this. Then he was betrayed, spit upon, beaten, crucified most painfully, and He died for us. But then He rose again. He triumphed over all of this that He had to suffer! And once again He did this not only so that He could live again proving that love and right will conquer all, but this He did for us also! I wish I were closer to being grateful enough for Him, to understand this better. But even if I am lacking I have faith that it is true and I believe it with my whole heart.