Updates...

As you can see, I am updating my blog - I hope! I am so not savvy at this kind of thing and Ryan thinks he is too busy to do it - seriously! So ... if I am missing a link to your blog and you would like one on here please let me know and I would be so happy to add it. I know I am missing some now and I know that I was behind in adding people as it was, so let me know! Thanks so much!

The "throws" of motherhood

A friend of mine recently said in passing, "you are in the throws of motherhood." As I wrestled four kids out the door at church on Sunday. Little did she know how literal that was.
As I have been thinking about that statement a lot of things have come to mind, most of them experienced within the last two weeks.

• children "throwing" up
• cleaning "throw" up
• "throwing" snowballs
• "throwing" in the towel each night at bedtime
• "throwing" out garbage from countless school projects being brought home (as a side note, elementary schools must be the biggest money maker for loggers)
• "throwing" dirty clothes in the hamper, then in the washer, then the dryer
• "throwing" dinner together (pancakes tonight)
• "throwing" tantrums and trying to deal with them and discipline them
• "throwing" arms around each other each day to welcome the day and say goodnight
• "throwing" clothes on and breakfast in so we can get out the door on time
• "throwing" kids in the car and seat belts on
• "throwing" birthday parties (okay I am slacker at this one, but we did just celebrate McCall's first birthday)

So, if the "throws" of motherhood is more of this, bring it on, I love it. I have been finding motherhood to be the most wonderful full time job ever, and I am not just saying that. I really love the stage of life we are in, I love having all day with the kids and seeing them learning and growing and still willing to snuggle, give hugs and kisses and tell me they love me. I love being in the "throws of motherhood." Thank you for that blessing and gift.

McCall at One!

Wow, a year old. A whole year of fun bows and bracelets, dolly's and dresses. A year of snuggling and consoling. A year of memories and moments never to have again. A wonderful, beautiful, grateful year.

McCall has been such a fun addition to our family. We have thoroughly enjoyed having her in our home and a part of our family. The boys can't get enough of her. They have come a long way from when they found out they were getting a sister - their first comments included:

• Connor, "well, I'm not going to touch her!"


• Tate, "sick, I hate Barbies, I am NEVER going to play Barbies."

• Gage, "I love pink!"

But they have all played dolls with her, they have each taken turns picking out outfits for her, including bows, bracelets, tights, shoes, matching blankets, and they love it. They all fought over who would wear the pink tie in family pictures so they could match their sister. They wake up first thing in the morning to play with her in her crib, they have been known to change diapers without being asked - not always that helpful in the end, but they want to anything they can for her. Each of them willingly gives up anything they are playing with or eating for her when she screams for it. She has them wrapped around her tiny little fingers.

McCall is a very particular little girl. She has always preferred mom or men. But the last several months her very favorite has been grandpa. He dotes on her and gives her more attention than anyone and she eats it right up, of course she can melt his heart with her quick smile and huge dimple.

She loves to play with her "baby" and swords all at the same time. She can be perfectly content playing with her stacking cups and see one of her brothers with Legos or a car and scream until she gets it. Only to drop it and go back to her cups.

She is a great sleeper and napper, for which I am very grateful. She loves to have a schedule and stick to it. She tolerates being wrestled with and bounced around by her brothers. Her least favorite thing is being told NO, something that will have to be said more and more I am afraid. She is joy and we just love the little stinker.

Blink

How did this happen? How did my baby girl already turn 1? Where did the last year go? This is not possible is it? What a great year it has been, so grateful to have her in our hearts and in our arms.

White House

Connor informed me that he would like to one day live in the White House. I thought, wow, good luck with that. He wanted to know how he could do that so I told him that he would either have to be the president of the United States, marry the President of the United States or get his father elected to the office of the president.
He thought on that awhile and asked me, "Mom, do you think people would vote for dad to be president?"
My reply, "nope, he is too nice a guy and has way to high of values."
He thought longer, "well, I really want to be a scientist and inventor when I grow up. But, if I am not smart enough to do that I guess I will be President instead."
Don't worry America, our future is in good hands!

Thanksgiving 2009

I really love Thanksgiving. It is probably my favorite holiday - well, almost because I really, really like Christmas too. But back to Thanksgiving - there are so many things I really love about Thanksgiving. I love that Ryan gets to take TWO days off work and be with us. I love that we take the opportunity to remember the things that we are thankful for and all the blessings that we have.

But my favorite part of this Thanksgiving was my boys. They took some time to make lists of what they were most grateful for this past year.

Connor was especially thoughtful in his thoughts. He was grateful for Jesus Christ, his mom and dad, his home, the temples and that his mom and dad were married there so that the family can be together forever, and his brothers and sister. He never ceases to amaze me. That boy is so very loving and kind and thoughtful. We have been reading Christmas stories each night before bed and without fail he has gotten teary eyed and been touched by the kind things people do for one another. I love that about him and I love that he is such a big part of our family.

Tate was grateful for McCall, primary and our home. Maybe he was grateful for more things, but I don't think he could write them! Tate is also a kind little boy and shows it each day with his sister. He plays with her all day and dotes on her, giving her everything she could possibly want/need. She is so very spoiled by him and her other brothers as well.

We aren't sure Gage got the idea of the activity - he was probably just grateful to be able to stay up late and have candy.

But I have much to be grateful for in my life. The first being our Savior, Jesus Christ. I can't imagine what my life would be like without the Savior. It's just not possible. I also have the most wonderful husband, not sure how I scored that, must have done something right in the previous life or really tricked him, but I'm so glad I did. Of course, our children. They are amazing and I love them so very much. Some days they drive me crazy - but it's a short drive, but mostly I just am in awe at the things that they can accomplish and do, at their sensitive spirits, at the kindness and thoughtfulness they exhibit. The truth is, I have so much to learn from them and I am so grateful to be a mother - their mother. Our family brings me so much joy and gladness.

I am also very grateful for my family - my mom and dad, siblings, in-laws, nephews and nieces. We are a big crazy group, but I love them all and I love that we get to add more all the time. What an amazing life we have. Heavenly Father truly loves us, knows us and wants us to be happy. Trials come and go, we all get them, but everything we have denotes the existence of a Divine, Supreme Being who loves us and delights to bless us. I am very grateful for that knowledge, to know that I am a daughter of God, that He loves me, and He wants me to be happy. I am truly blessed, we all are. Thank you for the gift of life and everlasting happiness.

BYU vs. Utah - Rivalry Week

We had the time of our lives this past week - it helps that BYU squeaked out the win against the (stinky) Utes. We are die had BYU fans and always have been. Our boys LOVE BYU and everything about it. Gage is recent convert to the team and is probably our most outspoken child about how much the Utes stink and how awesome BYU is, thanks to aunt Jana.

But this past week we had a little fun with out Ute fan neighbors, thanks for being such great sports and letting our kids believe that they were so sneaky!

We started out Monday by dropping off treats to the Gustafsons (aka bishop) and Kassings (aka Gage's girlfriends). The boys had so much fun picking out blue treats from the store to drop on their porches and doorbell ditch them. They hid behind the porches or on the side of the house and thought they were extremely sneaky.

Each day was a repeat of the last, new treat, but same old trick. Until Saturday when the boys geared up in all blue and BYU. The tied blue ribbons and taped up "Y's" all over the porches and garages. They were thrilled to be involved in so much fun and sneakiness!

Even more fun for them were the treats and tricks that they got back. They checked our porch and doorstep about 20 times a day, so excited to see what they got. My personal favorite was a can of air freshener with a note that read, "you're going to need this because BYU stinks!". The boys were appalled that anyone would think such a thing and were very quick to cross out BYU and replace it with "the Utes".

Seriously, a very fun week. Oh, and did I mention that BYU won? Not sure if I passed that on yet or not, but BYU did in fact win that game. In overtime BYU won. BYU won, final score 26-23. BYU beat the Utes in a very close game, but in the end BYU won, and the Utes lost. I love it when BYU wins. I really do love BYU.