Showing posts with label Moments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Moments. Show all posts

Monday, December 21, 2009

A Few Happy Moments

Sometimes things get a little ugly around here. That is when I know it is time to slow down and enjoy these little rascals and all of their quirks.

Seems like there is always a fight to see who can get closest to Mom. I do not enjoy being crawled on, jumped over, and injured in the process, but this day, there were no bruises... Just a lot of giggling.

After church, I often return to my home and find the remnants of a very hectic Sunday morning; I find the milk sitting on the counter, the fridge door open, or any other number of other signs of a frantic dash out the door. However, one Sunday afternoon, I arrived and found this. Such a relief to know Katelin and Seth are responsibly caring for their dogs.

Katelin loves making, wrapping, and giving gifts lately. I told her that if she wanted to keep these bows for future use, she needed to find a place to keep them. An hour later, I find these attached to the wall in our entryway. Yes, that is a very handy place, just in case you need a bow.

Usually silence at our house equates to trouble. On this particular afternoon, it was too quiet. I discovered nothing more than Katelin "reading" to Seth. So refreshing.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Today

Seth


Katelin

I am happy to have days like today. My kids played with the nativity sets. I talked to my Mom, did laundry and made lunch. Katelin cut up her own carrots and attempted to teach Seth how to "sew". Seth laughed a lot (laughs I treasure), bonked his head, tried to bite me multiple times, and wiped away most of my kisses. Katelin managed to step in the poopy diaper I had just removed from Seth, then mashed it into the carpet. I cleaned the carpet, and later ignored my kids and the unfolded laundry while blogging. Nothing amazing about this day, but I am happy to be here, and hopeful that being here and taking the moments to teach and focus on my kids is making a difference. I really believe that it is.


Thursday, September 24, 2009

Rainy days



The best company

It has been a long day. When Trevor suggested he forego the rental car this week, and leave me home for a couple of days carless, I quickly agreed. With the pool, the playground, and Walmart all within just a few steps, I knew we would be okay. What I didn't count on was the rain. And the mud. So today we have been trapped inside. It's too wet for a walk, and walking is our only option. Not that I'm not thankful for the rain. I really am thankful.

But with the day worn away, and pizza on the way, I think we will be fine. Seth is napping soundly (in spite of the wisdom that suggests you never let your toddler sleep past four... It is now 5:10). Katelin is singing and chattering away in her bedroom -- the quiet time alarm went off, but she is enjoying herself too much to want to leave her sweet alone time. I love listening to her.

"I want to stay in quiet time for a long long time because I'm having too much fun," she is explaining to her toys right now.

My kids saved me today. Like I said, it was a long day. But I just couldn't keep keep from letting a little bit of their happiness creep in. It is just too hard to resist. Bless their happy little hearts. Not even a rainy day stuck in a small apartment can get them down.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

When Katelin Went to the Temple

A few weeks ago in her sunbeams class at church, Katelin learned all about what she needs to do to prepare to go to the temple. She reported everything back to me. She would need to eat healthy food, obey her mother, be kind, and so forth.

A day or two later I asked Katelin to do something. She responded, "Yes, because I want to obey you. I want to go to the temple."

By the end of the week, she was begging us to take her. I explained to her that until she was older and ready to participate in temple worship, she would only be able to see the temple from the outside. "But can Iplease just have a peek?" she asked.

Well, a week or two went by and we found ourselves in Dallas helping my sister-in-law move into their new apartment. In the middle of this visit, we found time to go to the Dallas/Fort Worth temple so I could attend an endowment session.

When I had finished my session, I met Trevor and the kids outside on the lawn and discovered that Katelin needed to use the restroom. Normally, we would take her to the distribution center bathrooms (kind of a temple bookstore) nearby, but they were closed. We thought we would have to head down the street. Then I realized something.

The Dallas temple is set up with a very large lobby and waiting room. This area is available to those who aren't yet able to go inside and participate in temple ceremonies. In this waiting area there was access to a restroom. When I told Katelin she could walk into the temple with me, and take a quick peek, she was elated. She was also pretty excited to use the temple bathrooms, which, by the way, were baby blue. Very memorable.

Katelin getting reverent so she can enter the temple.

I think Seth was a bit mad that he couldn't go inside.

But Katelin told him all about it afterwards.

Overall, a very nice day at the Dallas temple. I'm happy to see Katelin understanding how important the temple is to us. To learn a bit more about temples, you can go here.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Artistic Expression

We are a family that embraces arts and culture. We like to give our children the opportunity to enjoy the arts in any way they like.


This is Seth's version of a self-portrait. Better than eating the crayons!


Katelin made puppets the other day.

They started out very traditional.

Each one was a bit more unique than the last.

What is this, you might ask? A dragon. Katelin felt she had made it just a bit to scary. I see her point.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Fun Week Highlights, continued....


Okay, let me add one final highlight. This is a memorable moment for any parent. It doesn't happen too much around these parts.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Don't You Just Love it...



when you discover that your 15-month old son knows how to remove his diaper??? Oh, and do his business on your carpet?

After scrubbing and re-scrubbing the carpet for 45 minutes, I realized, (in case I ever had any doubt) that I could never house-train a dog.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Airport Reunion

Katelin greets Trevor at the airport.

This is what happens AFTER Mom and the kids return from their visits with Grandmas and Grandpas and Dad returns from his two-week tour of China. It was a sweet day at Austin-Bergstrom.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

How to Get Married

Katelin talking to Seth: And Seth, you HAVE to get a ring, okay?

Me to Katelin: What are you doing?

Katelin: Teaching Seth how to get married.

Katelin continues talking to Seth: Then you get the ring and say, "Will you marry me?" And she puts the ring on her finger, on any finger she wants...

Seth: blank stare

Katelin: Then she wears a white dress... or a purple dress... or whatever color. And you wear something very handsome. Like black. Kind of like this shirt (note: the shirt is actually navy), but without the basketball on it. But you have to look soooo handsome. Okay?

P.S. I'm back in the office and ready to blog again... Happy Wednesday.

Monday, June 29, 2009

The lives that touch ours

from left to right Nathaniel, Allison, Brad, Lance Winward, Lance Jensen, Mike
from left to right -Lance Jensen, Lance Winward, and Brad several years later

Both pictures courtesy of www.lancejensen.org

It is strange how different people touch our lives. Less than a week ago, a friend of our family's died while swimming at Henry's Fork near Rexberg, Idaho. Lance Jensen was just twenty-one years old and engaged to be married.

My associations with Lance were limited. I remember the little kid in the above picture. That's the boy who took Shorty's bus to school with us all those years ago. He was the other Lance, born the same year as my brother -Lance Winward. He was part of the 8th West crew, and a friend to my brother.. When my parents ward boundaries changed, and they were back in the Third Ward (long after I moved away), Lance was part of a great group of boys that made Scout camps and mutuals and other churchy type activities enjoyable for my brother. My parents watched him grow up alongside of our Lance, and I observed him from a distance. He was just a great kid.

So this week, I mourn with Lance's family. With his mom and dad - his brother and sisters. I mourn with his fiancee. I mourn with my parents and my brother and with countless others whose lives were touched by his. But I celebrate also. He lived well. He served well. He touched the life of our family and of many others, and we know he can return to his Father in Heaven and be reunited with friends and family once again.

If nothing else, this week has reminded me that in life, there are no guarantees. Our Father in Heaven hasn't promised us life without sorrow or pain. He hasn't promised us unlimited breaths nor any guarantee that we will live to do all we desire. He has only promised us that through it all, He will be there to guide us - to lift us. And in the darkest moments, He's promised he will come, bringing comfort and light.

I can't mourn and celebrate the life of Lance Jensen, without mourning and celebrating the life of Trevor's uncle, Cort Budge. It was just over a month ago when his life was taken, and we think of and miss him. We mourn his passing, and celebrate his limitless kindness. He was the uncle who treated me like a relative, before really knowing me. We are sad that he is gone, but grateful to our Heavenly Father for blessing our lives through his. And grateful to know that Sunday will come... (see here for more on what that means).


Monday, May 11, 2009

One Dollar's Worth of Fun



Mother's Day Kite Flying

My Mother's Day brought a sick Katelin, or at least a recovering Katelin so we spent the day at home, while Trevor headed off to church, where he would be speaking on what a wonderful mother I am... or something like that. I was particularly disappointed to miss his talk and what would have been Katelin's debut with the Primary children singing "Mother I Love You." So sad.

Nevertheless, in the evening we hit the park with some heavy duty kite-flying -the highlight of my Mother's Day. I just can't help but love watching something soaring so high. Oh to be a kite...

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

My Baby

One Year Old and Oh So Proud!

Both of my babies (I use the word baby loosely here) have the same cry. Last night I heard the sound I so dread, the "Heh, heh, heh," stoccato waking cry coming from my childrens' bedroom. I stopped listened, ready to spring into nightly emergency action, but I, the mother and expert on both of these little beings, could not discern which child had woken. I waited. Listened again. But still could not decide. Just another sign telling me that Seth is not a little baby anymore.


I have been trying to deny that this was happening -to believe in my heart that his recent birthday (last Saturday) was simply a day of celebration and NOT the milestone of passage into toddlerhood. There have been lots of clues reminding me that his babyhood was winding down. There were baby steps, then lots of steps. His newfound word (and obsession) - dah, dah, dah (translation: dog). His clinginess and stranger anxiety. His ability to climb right over the back of the couch. But most striking of all - his sheer will and determination when he wants something.


This was evidenced last night at dinnertime as we participated in the nightly dinnertime guessing game. The game is simple. He whines. I jump and run trying to guess what he wants. I put something on his plate. He cries, throws whatever I have provided onto the floor and the whole thing starts over again. So after doing this for a while last night, I gave up on guessing and sat down to eat (ignoring Seth's pleas to appease). He continued whining and pointed to my plate.


I offered him tortellini. No Thank You, he expressed by throwing it on the floor. Green Beans. Nope. Potatoes. Out. A bite of applesauce. Definitely not. Then I must have had a bit of inspiration. I handed him my fork (okay, probably not the best item to give to a 12 month old, but I was desperate). He smiled, took the fork and began using it to pick at the bits of food that were left on his plate.


He was even more delighted when I gave him a small bowl full of Oatmeal baby cereal and a spoon. He globbed spoonful after spoonful into his mouth (and onto his hair, arms, down his shirt, all over his nose, etc.). By the time I was finished eating, he had almost finished the entire bowl. He looked at me and smiled proudly as if to say, "See Mom. I am big."

True enough. But in my heart, I responded, You might be big, but you're still my baby.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Living Simply?


Freshly picked for me from Katelin


It's hard to live a simple life. It's hard to allow only the best things in. I know because I'm trying, and sometimes even succeeding. I think it will get easier.

You see I found this list of 72 ways to live a simple life. And all of those ideas kept multiplying in my brain. I started planning and listing (if only in my head) all of the things I needed to "get done" so that I could say, "My life is now simple. I live simply."

But it doesn't work that way. I've been doing all the normal things I do. I set a goal. Work towards it. Check it off. Move on. I'm always so focused on the future, on the next moment. The way it will feel when it is "done."

But I never get there. I'm always reaching for the next thing.

I've been doing this my whole life (at least since I can remember). My Young Women are doing it. They don't want to learn about the newest Young Women Value, virtue, because they have already done the Personal Progress thing. What about the process? The learning? Do we all only do the things that help us check it off as done?

The thing is, sometimes I just stop. I stop reaching and start breathing. Start watching. Start enjoying.

It happened yesterday. I was folding laundry. The window was open with light pouring in, and I was thinking about sacred things. It was a beautiful moment.

It happened again today. I sat on a blanket watching Katelin pick me a bouquet of dandelions while Seth tasted a few rocks. My kids remind me most. They find joy in the moment. That is what I want, what I am reaching for.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Morning Sounds

Loving those teeth!

We woke up to lots and lots of rain this morning. It was a nice addition to the sounds that come as we wake up each morning. This mornings sounds start with cries from Sethie. I pull him out of bed to feed him, hoping he'll nurse back to sleep, but he never does. Once he's done, he sits straight up and smiles at me in the darkness. I want to just pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep, but you really cannot ignore that smile.

His chirps fill the quiet of the rest of the morning. Trevor left early for work. Katelin is recovering from her first rough night of Project Bedtime, something I'll have to discuss at a later date. I'm on the computer listening to the rain, the Seth's chirping, and the quiet.

Katelin wakes up grumpy, but the rain cheers her. Her excitement for the rain, for preschool, for the projects of the day bring our quiet morning to an end. I hear pounding with the toy hammer and tool bench as the two kids play. Then Katelin disappears and I hear opening drawers and doors. She is proud to get herself dressed and ready for the day. Seth's happy chirps soon turn to whines. It's time to get off of the computer. This day will be full. There might be crying. There will definitely be a runny nosed baby, and a tired Mom at the end of the day, but somehow that will be okay. A good Monday to start a good week.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Library Day

We picked this book up at library day today, after a recommendation from Ms. Celia who is much more interesting during baby story time than she is during preschool story time, in case you were wondering.

Anyway, after doing quite a bit of clapping and singing, picking out a few books, offering my perpetual donation (a.k.a. fine) to the library, and picking up my reserve items, we were back at home to read all about The Napping House.

I've been meaning to try to quit reading annoying books to Katelin, and this one, which definitely is NOT annoying, might help me in that task. It is a bit reminiscent of the story - This is the House that Jack Built, and it in no way makes me feel like burning it (which is an urge I usually have to fight after reading any adaption of a Disney Princess movie).

On a side note, I really wish I lived in a napping house, but I don't want to live in this napping house because a flea is involved here. I like napping, but I really, really, really hate fleas.

Back to the story - after reading The Napping House, and ALL of the other library book to the kids, we enjoyed a few minutes of quiet reading. By quiet, I don't mean quiet at all, as Katelin interrupted me about 17 times in that fifteen minutes and I only made it to page three or so of Teaching Montessori In the Home: The Preschool Years (which is, by the way, very interesting - a whole new discussion).

Then Seth went down for his nap (okay we do have a little napping at our house), and Katelin & I headed outside to absorb some much needed vitamin D. Several circles on the tricycle, a long chat with Tracy, a short game of hide-and-seek with Mia and Belle (our cute 8-year-old twin neighbors), some lounging on the blanket with Seth (after he woke up), and several more attempts to read MY book later -- we tromped back to the house.

Overall, a pretty good day.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

I Love My Life!!

Life is pretty good.

These pictures, taken a few weeks ago when we biked to Trailhead park, really show how I am feeling about life and my family. I really love my life, my kids, my husband.


Nothing like sitting in a tunnel upside down, right?


One more kiss for good measure.

Trevor's lifelong quest: feed the kids just one more bite.


My constant sidekick.

The joy of the swing.


Flying high.


They're happy here, but wait until Seth gets his helmet. Yikes.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Searching for Balance

This morning while I attempted tree pose with Seth pulling on one leg, and Katelin hammering me with questions about her Lucky Charm marshmellows, I wondered if Rodney Yee had this in mind when he designed this little workout video. Probably not, but thinking about what I must look attempting yoga with both kids crawling all over me did make me laugh out loud.

This I do know - finding your "center" both in yoga and figuratively of course, is much, much, much more challenging when you add kids to the mix. Still, I think it's worth trying.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

How to be a good parent - Part 2

Just say "good job," when your three year old runs to tell you that

1) she has just gone "peeps" all by herself and

2) that her baby brother is now playing in the unflushed toilet.

Then clean the bathroom while you give your kids a bath.

Disclaimer: This one time event resulted in what I consider to be good parenting behavior. In no way to these type of events always result in such behavior.



Monday, December 1, 2008

Today...

Sethie's Purple Swollen Teeth - taken just over a week ago

  • Today Trevor woke up just 20 minutes before he was supposed to be at the dentist.
  • After Trevor left I realized that we forgot to pull out the carseat so that Katelin could get a ride to preschool with a friend.
  • Today Sethie's second upper front tooth finally made an appearance.
  • Today I felt like I had accomplished nothing during the 2.5 hours Katelin was at preschool.
  • Today I looked at the mold growing the cracks of my tile in the bathroom and simply COULDN'T take it anymore.
  • Today Katelin & I fixed the wooden letters that make her name and re-hung them in her bedroom.
  • Today Katelin "spelled" silly words on my back while she procrastinated going down for quiet time.
  • Today the phone lines went down and we couldn't make or receive any phone calls any phone calls.
  • Today my kids managed to make three big messes in less than two hours.
  • Today I spent what felt like the ENTIRE afternoon cleaning the bathrooms while my kids destroyed the rest of the house.
  • Today Trevor rescued me by helping at least straighten up the rest of the house and suggesting Rudy's instead of a home-cooked meal
  • Today Seth and I bonded with a few grins and laughs during dinner
  • Today we caught up with an old friend while the AT&T repairman fixed our phones and our internet line (I hope).
  • Today it is late. I am tired. I will probably wake up with Seth three times between now and six in the morning, but today, life is good.


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Creating

I can't say enough how much I loved President Uchtdorf's talk in General Relief Society Meeting (you can find it here) and the emphasis he placed on finding happiness through creating and compassion. So here are a few of the creations from my house that are bringing a little joy to my heart.I've been wanting to make whole wheat pizza (loaded with veggies) for a while now. It felt so good to do it, though it still needs a few improvements.
A few preschool supplies. Prepping for 6 preschoolers is surprisingly fun and flashes me back to my teaching days. There isn't a lot of difference between preschoolers and adolescents.

Katelin's hay "H" was a nice creation, but the big deal was her name written on the bottom of the page! She can write it if I tell her the letters.

I love Katelin's mini-buns! It's a succes when she lets you comb her hair. I love Seth's do too!
Trev created the perfect spot for cuddling and vegging!

More vegging and snuggling.

Seth just does a great job of creating smiles and laughter.
Life is so sweet (especially when you remember the good moments).