Boyfriend blues... and ramblings of a mother.

Apparently, Madisen has a boyfriend.

She declared it so yesterday.

Ummm. What?!  

I was stunned.


Still am.

I didn't even know she knew what a "boyfriend" was?

Either I was being naive to the fact that she knew these things, or I just thought she was indeed naive and didn't know any of these things. (did that even make sense?)

Guess I was naive.

This is how it all went down...

Madisen and Avery were playing together in the living room when I over heard her from the bedroom say, "Avery, you don't even know...."

I walked over and opened the bedroom door a little more to hear her continue to say, "...I have a boyfriend. His name is Trenton C. And he is cute. We even traded Dinosaur cards."

First of all, those that know Madisen well, know she can be very timid. She has been labeled "shy" ever since she was one. She is a afraid to try new things, turns bright red when the spotlight is on her and cries easily when others, especially her sisters get hurt. She is very sensitive and naive...or so I thought, till now. She probably knows more than I give her credit for. 



I wasn't that into boys growing up. I never had a boyfriend until my Junior year of High School. (And I was not considered nearly as shy as she is.) Glad too. They, "boyfriends", really weren't all they were cracked up to be.


So can you understand now, WHY I am stunned by this revelation, that SHE has a boyfriend??




Speaking about being shy, it made me think of another subject. For years Madisen has been asked, "ARE you shy?" OR, they just presume it, "You ARE shy."

Which by the way, I HATE. I hate when people in the store, total strangers, say that to her. They don't know her. They barely met her, 5 seconds ago! Don't presume to label my child when you don't even know her! (I am really passionate about this subject can't you tell?)

It just makes her conform that much more to it, when told it. She is being label "shy" therefore she tells herself, "I am shy"  and acts "shy". 

So to correct this, every time someone tells her that she is "shy" I (politely) correct them by saying, "No, she is not shy. She is friendly and talkative and funny." (Mother bear comes out to protect her cub).

I just don't want her labeling herself anymore as being "shy", just because someone else tells her she is. She can be anything she wants to be, darn it! :)

And that subject makes me think of another closely related subject, (I should probably just write another blog post or make this into essay form...a, b, c...etc.) when talking to other people about your kids whether on the phone or in person while your child is in ear shot of the conversation you should NEVER talk negatively about them or put them in a negative light. It's not healthy.

For example, I overheard a mother one time on her cell phone talking about her child in a very negative way, stating many bad behaviors the child had done, even to the point of using swear words, and calling her daughter names that I would need soap to wash my mouth out with. And the sad part was, her daughter was right there in front of her! How sad. Imagine what that little girl felt and how it probably crushed her spirit and embarrassed her. My heart went out to her. 

I am grateful that my own mom taught me this very important lesson early on when Madisen was younger. As I, too, made the same mistake of doing just that, right in front of her. I said out of anger, "Ugh! Madi is being such a little brat today!"

Oops. I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me. And I am embarrassed that it did that day, but I have learned the importance of this, not only for my kids but for me. It makes children feel bad, worthless and they come to not trust you as a parent over time. 

But one of the best things you can do is say POSITIVE things about them in front of others. As I have done this from time to time, I literally have seen my girls' heads rise in pride, and their self esteem just sky-rockets! We, as mothers have such power! Let's use it for good.


And please don't tell my child that she IS shy. :) But I will allow you to tell her anything positive. :)

OK...so back to my first point of this post...(I know, I am rambling, but I did warn you about it in the title.)

Madisen has a "boyfriend". 

Obviously as a kindergarten-er this doesn't mean the same thing as it would to a 17 year old girl. But I am just not ready for this stage yet and it's here knocking at my door. I thought I would have years to prepare for this knock. 5 years is just not enough time. Especially when I still vividly remember the day we were finally able to bring this bundle of joy home from the hospital, on Mother's Day.

Now 5 years and 10 months later (give or take a few days), she is trading dinosaurs cards with her "boyfriend".  

Pretty soon they will be painting dinosaur characters with hearts around it on each other's cheeks...what's a mother to do? 

Boo-hoo.

  

.

Gangsta "Bub-bas"

I always find it so cute and funny when babies and especially toddlers put on grown-up hats, shoes, boots, shirts and all other clothing and accessory items. I can never take my eyes off them. I even notice I love to watch other kids do this too. I could watch them for hours, seriously. Putting on, taking off, stepping into, stepping out of, pulling over, turning the item upside down, and inside out. Stretching it out, tugging on it, and ultimately strutting around their "stuff" like they have accomplished something amazing.

  It is fascinating to me and I find it so darn cute!

Here's Bubs struttin' her "stuff". Looking pretty cool.

(oh, and her ONE shoe)

Oops! We'll pretend this didn't happen.

 Back to being "cool"..

Reading Scriptures- Princess style!

This video was from a few nights ago. I tried being sneaky with the camera so she wouldn't know I was recording her talking, so all you can see is the mess under their beds. Also if you listen closely, you can hear another sound coming from Madi. Haha!

This video is from tonight's scripture reading. 

It is hilarious that Avery does this from time to time, always catching us off guard when she does do it, but we probably shouldn't encourage her with our laughter...it just makes her do it more! She is such a hoot though!

A picture is worth a thousand words.

On a much lighter note than the previous post I wanted to share this drawing that Avery drew.

Some of you have seen this on Facebook already but I had to share it on here too because I bust up laughing every time I look at it.:)

I asked her, who is that? She pointed and said, "This one is daddy(the tall skinny one), and this one is you (the shorter-larger one)!"

At first I thought, Oh my! I guess I DO need to lose some weight.

I didn't want to hurt her feelings about the drawing but about a half an hour later I had to ask her, Why does mommy have such a big tummy?

Her response: You are wearing a princess dress!

OH!!! 

Self-esteem slowly coming back.

Did you notice too, that my brain is bigger than Ryan's??

YES!

And as I tickled Avery today asking her, "Are you a mommy's girl or a daddy's girl? (And before she peed her pants)  she declared she was a mommy's girl.

Double YES!!

Self-esteem is BACK. 

(Thanks Avery).

Perseverance.

(This post touches on some sensitive issues, deep personal feelings and experiences, and my beliefs. I don't often open up and share things like this because I don't want to make people feel awkward or think ill of me. But then I realized, it's MY blog. MY space to write anything I want. And if they don't like it, then that's fine. They can go somewhere else and not have to read it. Sometimes it takes me a lot longer than most to learn these things. ;)

Perseverance.


Something I need to work on.


Something I want to be better at.


Something I want to be stronger in.




This coming Sunday Ryan and I have been asked to give talks in the Spanish sacrament meeting, which to be honest, I was not too thrilled, as I just gave a talk a month ago in our sacrament meeting.  There is only one ward here in Hunt county which consist of many small towns and cities within a 30 mile radius of Greenville. Well a small part of the ward members are Spanish speaking members so they have their own sacrament meeting the same time we do, just down the hall. Since Ryan speaks Spanish they will have an interpreter for me. The topic that was chosen for us to speak on, "Perseverance". 

"Perseverance is demonstrated by those who keep going when the going gets tough, who don’t give up even when others say, “It can’t be done.”' James E. Faust

It has made me think about the last few month since moving here to Texas. It's been hard, yet, I am learning more about myself and trying to be a better mother, friend, wife and person. I am trying to work on my short comings and weaknesses to make them stronger. But to be honest, it's been hard to change what I haven't acknowledge or pushed down. I have already share some of these feelings with two good friends of mine. I thought it might be good for me to share it on the blog too, because we, as women, moms, humans, all struggle with demons in our lives and to know that you or I -is not alone in this fight is very encouraging and hopeful.

It's been hard adjusting to Texas and this new ward. It feels like we have been picked up by a space ship, dropped from space and have landed in a completely new world! And no amount of preparation prepared me for the impact.


I have been struggling a lot lately with loneliness and homesickness. So much so, that lately I feel like I am turning into a sloth. I feel incredibly tired and everything is in s-l-o-w motion. I feel at times I simply want to give up and just sleep the next few years away until we can move back to Idaho-our home. But I KNOW that's not what I really want to do or should do. I KNOW I need to live life to the fullness no matter what my circumstances are (which really, they aren't THAT bad. I know it may sound like I am in the depths of despair! But I am not.). 


I have had little to no desire to cook, clean sometimes, do activities with the kids, craft, scrap book, call friends, blog, exercise...nothing. I am tired all the time and take a nap almost everyday. I just have no energy or motivation but yet I feel irritable and anxious a lot, which I hate feeling that way. I get little sparks of energy or enthusiasm throughout the day, but it only last 
an hour or so and I am back in "bed" hiding from the world.


Well, I guess I wasn't "hiding" well enough! ;) Because I had one friend call me out on it in an email....


"...I figured something was wrong, I kept checking your blog every day and nothing was popping up. . . i knew something was up!!"


Uh, oh! Caught. haha.


Thought I could just hide and bury my struggles and eventually they would just go away on their own... Right?


So I had to acknowledged that I needed help. I needed advice. I needed validation. I needed an honest opinion. I needed sympathy. I needed a friend. To vent. To cry. I just needed all these things. And by opening up (although, I was at first completely terrified to do so) I was able to release some of my worries and struggles and get all these things without feeling too embarrassed or ashamed. And THAT felt great.


I have had TWO conflicting emotions...


1.- I feel so blessed. I literally count my blessing everyday.


-Ryan has a job. Not only that, but he has one that he enjoys. He loves to help people and it is a good living too. (There are so many without jobs and many don't like their jobs).
-We have health insurance(so many people don't).
-We have no major health concerns with Ryan or I or our children....at this time anyway.  (Again, so many people are struggling with a serious illnesses or health problems that make life really difficult for them and their family).
-One of the greatest blessings in our lives is being members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Having that knowledge and testimony that the church is true and living by the covenants we have made in the temple has blessed our family tremendously as many of you can testify as well.
-Another one of our greatest blessings in our lives is our family and dear friends. We have some of the best relationships in the world and don't take that for granted.
-I can stay home with my children and raise them which I have always felt is so important.
-We have been able to pay off a lot of debt.
-Ryan sees and deals with patients all day that have no family, no insurance, sometimes homeless and are on the verge of dying! How sad and humbling that is to me. Makes me want to take them all in and feed them!


Through all the good and blessings we have why is it then that I STILL feel ...
2. -depressed, lonely, trapped and sad?


Well, as I have been preparing my talk on Perseverance, boy have I had a eye-opening experience that leads me to thinking I am not persevering like the Lord wants me to do.


"Perseverance is a POSITIVE, ACTIVE characteristic. It is not idle, and doing just enough to get by(as I have let myself do over the past few months), hoping and waiting for good things to happen." 

While reading through a variety of talks I came across this paragraph by a talk given by Joseph B. Wirthlin, in 1987:

"Genius is only the power of making continuous efforts. The line between failure and success is so fine that we scarcely know when we pass it; so fine that we are often on the line and do not know it. How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success? A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed a hopeless failure may turn into a glorious success."


Wow. That is powerful. Something I needed to hear and something I want to work on. I have always thought I was one that didn't give up when things got tough. I have always known I am a daughter of God and have a special purpose on this earth, as all of us do, but this made me think even deeper about the meaning of perseverance. Could I persevere through something like what Job went through-losing everything? Or how about Nephi or Joseph Smith? Or the pioneers that crossed the plains? Or even well known people like Florence Nightingale, Abe Lincoln, Beethoven, Hellen Keller and countless others who persevered through some of the most difficult trials.


Of course, it's unlikey that most of us will have to face such trials and heartache as these well known figures had to do. But if we did, would we persevere or give up?


Here's another quote I liked:

 "Perseverance means to continue in a given course until we have reached a goal or objective, regardless of obstacles, opposition, and other counter-influences. What is our course, what is our goal, and what are the obstacles and opposition that would hinder or divert us?

Our course as members of the Church should be in agreement with the principles and ordinances of the gospel. Our goal should be to fill the measure of our creation as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father—that is, to reach exaltation and eternal life. The obstacles and opposition we meet are the temptations and enticements of Satan that are designed to frustrate the Lord’s work and glory: “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39)."

I got another email from this friend after I told her a little bit of how I was feeling and struggling with, she said (and I hope she doesn't mind me sharing this), "Try to find out what you need to learn from this situation. . . maybe Heavenly Father wants you to become closer to him instead of always having a physical friend/family there."


Ah-ha! That's exactly right. 


I have prayed throughout my life that Heavenly Father will help me become the person I need to be and the person he needs me to be to further His work. Being here in Texas can either make me stronger as I learn to rely on Him more or give into the "temptations and enticements of Satan", who is always lurking around waiting to see if we will invite him in. He knows our weaknesses and makes it difficult for us to find our way. There's a saying/quote that I couldn't find but goes something like, When the door is opened the light enters, not the other way around. (anyone know it?)

We are going to be tested in this life. That's one of the main reasons why we are here on this earth. We knew it was going to be hard yet, we chose to come down, to get a body and it is how we persevere through it all that will determine what we have gained in the next life.
My friend also reminded me, "...It seems I am like that the most when my life is going really well. . .which I found odd, so I really searched myself and decided that it was Satan trying to ruin a good thing.  He is always trying to make us feel down. He tries to make us feel like we have to live up to everyone else's standards, that our self worth is based on how much we get done in a day..."


I am so grateful for wise friends! ;)


I am so grateful for prophets that lead us and guide us.


I am most grateful for a loving Savior that holds out his hand infinitely and shows me the light and way to go. And gives me opportunities to learn and grow as I have prayed to do. And contrary to belief, I am grateful for being asked, again, to talk in sacrament meeting:) . 

Avery thought it would be "cool" to stick a popcorn kernel up her nose, after many excruciating minutes, tears and digging it out with a hair dye stick she soon came to realize how "uncool" her choice to stick it up her nose was. Luckily, Ryan is specialized on how to handle these type of things and with the hands like a seasoned surgeon, delicately removed the foreign object from the sinus passage.

We are glad she is ok and that she survived this traumatic ordeal.

We are Alive.

Some family and friends have been wondering if we are still alive down here in the south! And I am happy to report we are alive, and well. However, Ryan and I are definitely feeling homesick for our family and good friends we have left behind. It's been awhile since I have updated our blog and I like to keep up on it as it has turned into more or less our family journal. It's nice to be able to record our happenings and also share it with those closest to us. Not a lot to report on this month but it has been a busy one. We are still adjusting to our new surroundings; our new house, new ward, new friends, new job, new callings, new school for Madisen, and the weather. Although, the weather has been the easiest adjustment for us the other adjustments will come with time I am sure. :) Even though we miss our old ward, friends, and family we feel very blessed to be here in Texas and we know we were meant to come to this part of Texas and be in this ward for a reason. Which reasons, we are already coming to know, which makes us feel even more humbled as we know Heavenly Father is always there for us, teaching us and guiding us in our life. It's amazing to see His hand in everything. 

Anyway, my parents and Ryan's parents don't get to see the girls much, except for on Skype every once in awhile, so these video's are for them. Of course you can watch too, if you dare =).

Warning: This first video demonstrates how NOT to sing. It may cause unpleasant sounds to your ears...

Can't say I didn't warn you!

(And to those friends who say my house is never dirty...LOOK here's proof that it is! haha!)

In this next video Avery caught a bad case of the "sneezes" and well, Emily thought it was pretty hysterical.

These last videos are of Bubbies, I mean Emily, TALKING! She is really starting to talk!!! 

...If ONLY we could understand what she is saying...hmmm.

And I can't forget Pictures! Here's a few recent ones from this month:

This was a really cool scripture book I made for Primary. It's laying down in this picture, but it's six feet tall by 4 feet wide. It has four sides with hinges so it opens just like a book. I really liked how it turned out and thought I would share it. I printed the letters with my Circuit machine. Every month in Primary we have a scripture character come out of the book and share their story with the kids. This month we had "Sam" Nephi's brother come dressed in character and talk to the kids about his father Lehi and his brother Nephi and getting the gold plates. It was so neat! And the kids loved seeing him come to life!

Avery and Madisen love getting in their "princess" dresses. They love getting pictures taken when they are "princesses".

How did this picture get on here? And who's kid is that?

Anyway...moving on....

This is the coolest park I have ever been too! It's got everything a kid could imagine! Castles, walkways, slides, swings, tires, cars, houses, ropes and a prison! The girls love going to this park a few times a week.

 Here they are up above waving to me!

 Emily exploring...

Emily crying as she did NOT want to leave... 

Emily back at home and happy with her ONE shoe....

Hope everyone is doing well! 

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year everyone!!! I am really excited about 2011. I think it's going to be a great year, I just feel it! We partied hard...till 8pm last night. I know, late huh? 

Emily, Avery and Madi bringing in the New Year with Style.

Family bringing in the New Year by playing Wii.

Spare! good job Madi!

Kisses all around

Yay for ice cream!

Emily takes eating her ice cream very seriously.

Everyone make a New Year's Resolution already??  So I gotta be honest here, I have never really gotten into the whole "New Year's resolutions", unless that means just the month of January, excluding weekends, holidays and "I'm too tired" days. haha!

Everyone has made New Year's goals through out their life some year or another, but not many people actually go a WHOLE year keeping that resolution. I would say it's pretty slim that most people do. I am not trying to be negative in saying that, just saying most people I know, including myself, set a New Year's resolution but seem to give up or stop for some reason, usually only a few weeks into January!

For example, if you have ever gone to the gym the first week of January, there are tons of people there, vigorously working out! However, by mid-Jan, not as many and by the end of January you wonder if there was a fire alarm, because you and the tough guy benching 350 lbs were the only ones not notified that the gym was closed. It's almost hysterical...and would be if I didn't find myself being one of the people quiting by the end of January. So why is that? Why do so many people make new "year" resolutions and only get through the first month?

I am also troubled that we seem to have to wait till New Year's to make these "life changing" commitments and promises to do better or to be a better friend, mom, dad, sister,wife, etc. Why do we wait till New Year's Day?

Many New Year's resolutions seem to be commitments of some sort to a diet plan, workout or exercise routine, which only last again through the first few weeks and they are right back where they started from. Discouraged and eating a box of chocolate chip cookies dipped in chocolate while watching the Biggest Loser...oh, wait, that's just me. :)

This post sounds so discouraging, doesn't it!!??

I am sorry, really I am. I will get off my soap box now.

This Year, I will be better, promise. =)

I have to say that my husband has made me a little more optimistic about conquering a New Year's Resolution than ever before. Why? Well this last year, as I have mentioned in a previous post, his goal was to not drink ANY pop/soda for an ENTIRE year. And he did it! I was so shocked. I honestly didn't think he could do it. For his love of pop is as great as my love for chocolate chip cookies! So in honor of my husband who stuck by his Resolution last year here he is drinking his first Root Beer in a year.

wait for it....

Happy New Year! chug, chug, chug...

   Ahhhh!

 His response, "It doesn't taste as good as I thought it was going to."

HUH?

Anyway, I know this post is long enough, but I wanted to share my resolution for this year...this may be easy for some of you but for me it's challenging...

Working out AT least three times a week. (or more if I feel so inclined). 

And my month of January resolution: I am giving up sweets for a month! 

What is your resolution?

"Maybe she grew up!"

Our little Emily is just thriving and conquering new things everyday. It's amazing to me sometimes as I watch her learn how to do things the fight she has in her. I always believed she was a fighter from the beginning as she struggled just to live when she was born. So this morning like many mornings, I watched as she tried desperately to put on her "daily" shoe. (She loves to put a shoe on everyday and walk around the house. But only just one shoe. Even my brother as he was here a few weeks ago, made the comment, "Does she always walk around with just one shoe?") So this morning I watched as she picked out the shoe of the day, which was a black Sunday dress shoe. She tried and tried to put this shoe on without success. After several attempts she would get upset and throw herself on the floor in frustration. Of course as a mother, you want to help your child, so I would call to her telling her to come here and mommy will help. She would get up from the floor, look in my direction and continue on with trying to get the shoe on by herself. Again, after several more attempts and failures she would get upset and throw herself on the floor in frustration. I tried getting her to come over to me but it was as if she was taking a time out, as she would lay there in silence staring at the shoe in her hand. I waited to see what she would do next. After a minute or so, she got up from the floor and at that point I am thinking, "Ok, finally she will come over to me to get help." But no, she went right on to try again. After what seemed like 10 tries, she finally figured it out and slid her foot in the shoe and buckled it with success!!! 

Here she is a few weeks ago, with her red shoe on.

And her white shoe.

Now I know this is a simple thing to many, and to many of you, your kids probably do this all the time at this age that Emily is. In fact, I remember watching my older girls learning how to do this at about this same age as well. But the determination that Emily has just amazes me, especially when I think back on this tiny little spirit and body struggling to survive in the NICU at 1 pound 4 ounces. Having gone through several blood transfusions, heart surgery, getting poked with needles all day for months, being on a ventilator, C pap and oxygen, having multiple tubes down her throat, learning how to suck and drink milk, (which we were told she wouldn't learn how to do and so she would have to have a feeding tube inserted in her stomach), having eye exams with her eyes being clamped open weekly and being told she could be partially blind, finding out she had a grade 2 brain hemorrhage and the effects it could have on her and her future and many more heart wrenching things she had to go through to survive.

Then seeing her today. Blossoming, thriving and learning new things daily...she amazes me. She is our little miracle. And this example of her wanting to put this shoe on all by herself and trying again and again till she succeeded, for me, was just pure joy to watch. I love being "in the moment" with my kids. I have really tried to focus on "being there"with them, living in the moment. I just can't hold them close enough, or long enough and I find myself truly grateful for the moments I have with them. I hate that they are growing so fast. My heart is full of gratitude as I hold my kids and play with them watching them learn new things. I am so grateful to my Savior for his sacrifices for me and the many blessings I have been given because of Him. For we have been so blessed!

Here is Emily playing on a slide at McDonalds. I think she went up and down this thing at least 100 times!! 

Uh oh! Guess who learned how to climb all the way to the top of the bunk bed...Emily!

 I asked, "How did she get up there?"

Avery replied, "Maybe she grew up!"

Please just don't grow up too fast girls...promise!?

Our Christmas Morning

Videos promised for the grandparents...

Merry Christmas!!!

  I hope everyone had a great Christmas! We have been very blessed this year as we are every year. Everything always works out and we know Heavenly Father is watching out for our family and blesses us daily. Thank you family and friends for your Christmas cards, and gifts we have received to make this Christmas a memorable one!

Santa found our new home here in Texas and left us a letter after he ate his cookies and milk...

This year Madisen wanted a dinosaur and Avery wanted a Cinderella and a boy. Yep, a boy. haha. Not a boyfriend, but a Barbie boy. They both got what they asked for and were so excited. Ryan and I also built the girls' a Barbie house and they have been playing with it all morning. We have been working on it every night for the past two weeks, building, making tables, beds, and other furniture, painting, and decorating...

Ryan showing off the house we built together...

I asked my parents if they could please build and make these couches for the house and my mom and dad did a great job on them. My mom even made pillows and curtains for the room too! They turned out so cute. Thanks Mom and Dad!