Enjoying Childhood

I take great pride in watching my children act like children. I enjoy watching them running at the park or blowing bubbles. Yes, I enjoy watching them color in the lines and learning how to read. I enjoy snuggling with them and watching them "perform" their favorite songs. I enjoy watching other people love them and talk with them. But more than anything else, my heart grows with great pride when I watch them enjoy the simplicity of childhood. Playing in sandboxes and flying kites. Eating ice cream cones and jumping in puddles. As we have been busy with "life" as of late, I haven't felt that pride that rejuvenates my soul and helps me to truly enjoy my children and this phase of life. Luckily for me, things changed due to some wonderful friends and their generous gifts. My prayers were answered and I soaked up every second of watching my children be children!

Our first activity was when we were privileged to accompany a family from our ward to Dewberry Farms. They had received some free tickets and were offering to share them with us for the afternoon. Unfortunately, Matt was at school but they were still happy to have me and the girls come along. Megan and Allie absolutely loved playing with their friends and at the end of the day, Megan happily announced, "This was the best day of my whole life!" We went on a hay ride, looked at pumpkins, played on fun things, watched pigs race and enjoyed a crazy afternoon. Thank you Michelle and Shane for a wonderful memory. The following pictures were taken by Michelle. The quality is much better than my own!







We were also invited to attend Disney on Ice with another generous family in our ward. This wonderful family often invites us to dinner and holidays and has helped us feel very loved and welcome. Their teenage girls babysit for us and Megan and Allie adore each of their children. She is a popular blogger and was given tickets to the show. With a few extra tickets, she was kind enough to allow me, Megan and Allie tag along last night. The show was fun and entertaining but seeing the girls faces was priceless! They loved seeing the princesses, although Allie was very sad that Aurora was not able to make it. I was unable to get any good pictures of the show itself but here are a few of their faces.





Thank you to both families for helping me enjoy that aspect of childhood with the girls. As hard and as long as some of my days are, I really do wish I could freeze them time and enjoy it for a little longer. I realized today that Megan is almost 5 and Allison almost 4. That seems big to me! I hope and pray that I can help them enjoy childhood each day. I know they are helping me enjoy my second round.

Things Working Out

Things are looking a little brighter today.

We found a new car for Matt last night. His was a total loss and honestly, we are both kind of disappointed. Him, more than I of course but it was a great little car for us. I'm expecting a new phone today to replace my recently milk soaked one. I was eligible for an ungrade so it was free anyway!

Megan loves preschool and is enjoying learning how to read. She is writing her name in lower case letters and is fascinated by anything new.

Allie is such a joy to be around. She is happy and loving and I truly enjoy the one on one time that I get with her when Megan is at school. She loves to play and laugh and colors for hours!

Rebecca is ornery if she doesn't get her way and throws lots of fits. Yes, we all quickly give in to her and it is making matters worse but she is pretty adorable. She loves to give kisses and hugs and is beginning to talk. She is still obsessed with Dora and watches way too much T.V!

Matt is down to 6 months left in school! Hooray, hooray! He is very busy with work, school, church and family but is amazing at carrying all of his loads. I don't know how he does it.

Knock on wood things can be calm for at least another day or two!

When will it end.....

When I was a newlywed, we were living in Matt's parents basement apartment. I was young, insecure, and naive. During a relief society lesson on trials, I mentioned that I prayed for trials - they made me stronger and I appreciated the knowledge that I gained from them. A women turned to me and in what I felt like was a condescending attitude said, "You don't have kids yet! You won't do that when you have kids." I was taken aback and unappreciative of her response for I was trying to be a good person and I was allowing the Lord to teach me to help me become who He wanted me to be. And I believe, it is through trials that your real testimony and dedication to the gospel comes out. I still don't appreciate her comment and I hope in my years of life I never dismiss anothers desire to learn and be better in the way that I felt she did. However, maybe she was right!
Sometimes life throws you curve balls. You can dodge them. You continue on. They are inconvenient and uncomfortable and annoying, but you fight. You are overwhelmed with A,B,C,D, and then your husband gets in a car accident and his car is totaled. He is okay so he pray with gratitude and you know that things will work out. And then.......
Your 4 year old thinks it would be fun to play with your cell phone while eating lunch and she drops it into her glass of milk. It will no longer turn on. Yet another inconvenient, uncomfortable, and annoying curveball. You want something to blame but it is certainly not your 4 year old. You know that she knows better but accidents still happen. Accidents happen on the freeway, accidents happen that send your children to the hospital leaving you with medical bills, accidents happen and you are left fighting.
And you continue on breathing and caring for and cleaning and doing all things that are necessary. That is what adults do. They fight and they carry on and they figure things out. Will the end result be what my heart wants? Probably not but it is what my mind knows is for the best. I hope with prayer I can make my heart and mind want the same thing. As for now, I smile at my children and know that this too shall pass...
Trials come whether single, married, or having children. Am I still grateful for them and the lessons I learn? Of course I am! Could I live without them for a while? Of course! But if they are helping me to become a stronger person that the Lord can rely on, bring 'em on! I can dodge them!

Allison is in Disneyland with Grandma and Santa Clause.

How wonderful does that sound? If only I could escape my reality so easily!

Halloween Overload

Matt and I are both soooo glad that Halloween is over. We enjoyed the holiday, but enough is enough! We did lots of activities and we are both happy to put the costumes back in the box until next year. We took the girls the Zoo Boo on Saturday morning. The Zoo had a few special activities such as a pumpkin patch, a huge coloring mural, and a costume parade. We had fun enjoying something different at the zoo. The girls loved seeing all of the kids dressed up and the weather was perfect! It was a little chilly at first but it warmed up quickly. Saturday night, we had the ward trunk-or-treat and again, had a fun time with friends. The girls are growing up and becoming more independent. Rebecca however is getting more and more difficult at functions such as this but she is still happy.





At the zoo, they had a hula-hoop contest. Megan LOVES hula-hoops. Of course, being young she hasn't mastered the skill yet but that doesn't stop her. We might have to find her one for christmas.

More Halloween Fun

We have had a wonderful time celebrating Halloween this week. Megan had a preschool party Tuesday morning. Wednesday afternoon, we took the girls to the Houston Children's Museum. They were able to go trick-or-treating and with a small crowd, we were able to play quite a bit. Thursday, we went to Matt's work and had a wonderful time at their party. Matt and his "team" dressed up and did a wonderful job with their production. During the costume contest, Rebecca wondered out and got the biggest crowd reaction. The girls were a hit and soaked up all of the attention. Megan and Allison have different costumes on depending on the picture. While shopping Tuesday night, I found these genie gems at Children's Place for $1.99 a piece with a 15% of coupon! How is that for a deal! They just wanted to be clowns from last year. We are trading off costumes, depending on the day. What a wonderful, fun holiday! Lots of pictures to follow!

Allison's Musical

Allie presented me with a musical this afternoon. Over 10 minutes straight of her own magic. She sang and made up stories and danced. I wasn't sure if this would work or not. This is at the end of her production so please keep in mind that she is wearing thin of ideas. It began with a pumpkin who ate a cake and then she ran away from a cat and the cat got stuck in a cage and the cat took different things in order to get out of the cage. I couldn't believe her creativity and humor. She was even pretty good at the rhyming at the beginning. This is really just for Grandma and Grandpa who love them the way that we do. If only you could spend every day with this girl. She is hilarious!