Sweet, Unpredictable Moments...

Last night I experienced a very sweet moment between my two boys.  It made me smile and all warm and fuzzy inside.

Owen was running across our kitchen floor and slipped.  He scraped the side of his stomach pretty good.  He cried really hard and I comforted him the best that I could.  I had just gotten Aidan out of the bath, so I finished dressing him and then went to see if Owen was alright.  We put a big Band-Aid on his scrape to make it feel better.  Then I gave him a big hug and kiss.  Aidan in turn gave Owen a big hug and then reached up to give him a kiss (he doesn't give those out very often).  Then with Aidan's hand on Owen's back, they walked together to their room and Aidan kept saying, "It's alright, Owen, It's alright."  It was so sweet!!!  I love moments like this when they show innocent compassion and love towards each other.  It touched my heart and I was reminded that they really DO love each other--some days I wonder.

Then we went to read books before bedtime and I hadn't made it through the first book before Aidan told me, "I hurt," and that he needed a Band-Aid.  He had bumped his eye in my bathtub earlier this week and had a little cut on the corner of his eye, so that's where he needed his "sympathetic Band-Aid."  I didn't think the Band-Aid would last very long, but he still has it on tonight.  It was a cute, unpredictable moment where I wish I would have had a camera rolling.  Something to write in my journal, so I can read it back to them and hopefully remember it vividly in my mind.

Happy New Year and Merry Christmas, too!

I hope that everyone had a great holiday season this year...I know we did!  I helped Owen's class make candy houses (simple and easy!); we had christmas parties & a program to attend; a Polar Express to catch; family to visit, especially our newest little additions to our family, Cadence (Tailona & Chauncy's baby girl) and Ashley Ann (Christopher & Emily's baby girl); snow to drive in & shovel; kids to keep on the nice list ;) and projects to make (Aidan finally has a Christmas stocking--2.75 years later!!) We have a Christmas card this year!!  Clark's have a beautiful calendar, Angela & Robb have some fabulous decor, and the sisters I visit teach have some cute blocks!).  I can't believe we made time for it all!  

It has been a good Christmas season.  I've reflected on Christ, his birth, his life and what he has done for me.  I have been very, very blessed and I know that he watches out for all of us in all that we do.  Thank you, all of you, for your love, prayers, and your goodness.  God bless you and may your next year also be full of His goodness and His love.

Reverse Psychology and Doing It Together

OK--I thought I was patient until I had kids.  My biggest challenge these days is getting Owen ready for school.  He is distracted very easily and I get very frustrated telling him 10 times to get his clothes on.  So I decided NOT to get frustrated and try to get him ready for school in a way that we could both be happy.  So I used reverse psychology.  I told him that I wanted him to listen to me and that I wanted him to stay in his PJs all day--don't get your clothes on at all.  He started giggling and went and got his clothes on BY HIMSELF!  Then I told him that I was disappointed that he disobeyed me and that he needed to listen to me and NOT brush his teeth or comb his hair.  So he giggled and did it all.  IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!  We were both happy and both ready.  He told me, "mom, you're being wierd". 

However, I tried to do it today and he wanted to stay in his pjs.  So I worked calmly on convincing him to put some pajamas clothes on (comfy pants and t-shirt) and then we brushed our teeth and combed our hair-together.  It worked.  I wish I was a little quicker and smarter.  I might have to use a new technique everyday, but it sure saves me a lot of stress and frustration.

Pres. Uchdorf in his talk at the RS broadcast told us we innately needed creativity in our lives and being a mom and nurturing children requires being creative.  So it is!  Good luck to all of you and good luck to me as I try to get Owen dressed and ready for school every day!!

Santa's Nice List

I did this for Owen and he thought it was pretty cool.  He kept asking, how did you do it mom?  If you want to do it for your kids the link is:  Santa's Nice List.

Jared wanted to know if there was one for the Naughty List.  If anyone finds anything, let me know.  It might be some motivation to be GOOD!

Have fun!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all you friends and family.  I hope you all had a wonderful day.  We had a nice and somewhat relaxing day.  Jared and I hosted the dinner, but all helped with the food.  Jared made the turkey, potatoes and gravy and I whipped out a couple of pies ;).  The kids had so much fun playing together that there was a lot of bribery to get them to eat something!  Football was on and then the day was over.  It seemed to go fast.  But it was nice to have a low-stress holiday.  The second picture is of the boys and their cousin Siatyl (Nash is in the back) watching Kung Fu Panda.  The other pict is the train track we built in the boys' room the other day.  Aidan and Owen have had a lot of fun playing with Thomas, again.  (It's been in the basement)

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of two little girls (one from Jared's sister and the other from my brother & sister-in-law).  They could be here any day and we are very excited to add girls to the family.  Good luck you two!!  We are excited!!

I am such a pooper and so not into the day(early am)-after-Thanksgiving sales.  We had to take our car into get fixed this morning by nine and that was early enough.  We pretty much have our Christmas figured out and done.  The boys are pretty easy this year.  Thank goodness for that.  Maybe I'll have to sacrifice one day in order to get a great price, but until that day comes, I will enjoy sleeping.  Good luck to you shoppers!!  I hope you get all the super-buys  you need.

Good luck with all your Christmas preparations and hope your holiday season is fabulous!!!