Jaxon

It really is true that kids do say the darndest things.  Jaxon really might win the contest in this category.  We went to my sister's house for a few days at the end of March.  It seemed like he was saying crazy things all the time.  For the most part, all of these come in the form of prayer.

While at my sister's house, he prayed that B would clean her room, that we wouldn't throw toys at the walls, and lots of others.  I can't really remember them all.  I wish that I could remember or that I would write them down.  When we got back home, he prayed that we would get rid of all of our pets.  When I asked him what pets we had (none), he said all of the cats that pee and poop in our flowerbeds.  We tried to explain to him that they were not our pets but stray cats.

The above picture are just a small (very small) selection that Jaxon has taken.  Apparently he has a passion for photography or a slight obsession with my camera.  He did this unbeknownst to me.  He is a good kid and keeps us laughing a lot.

I like to call it Enlightenment

I just had what was really a "Duh" moment, but I will call it enlightenment moment.  It sounds better and doesn't make me look nearly as dumb.

All day today I have had to get after the kids.  It has been a continuous round of "stop touching her, looking at him, pick up your stuff, stop fighting and more", all day.  I have had it.  Tonight as I was telling Reagan for what seemed the the fortieth time to do something I had a thought occur to me.  It was this:  Perhaps that is how the Lord feels.  He is constantly beckoning me to read my scriptures, say my prayers, have more patience, be kinder, do more service, those little reminders that we need.  And the kicker of it all, he does it all kindly, no threats of spankens, or no snacks or tv time.

I am telling my kids a lot, that if they would just listen to me and do what I ask them to do, they would get in less trouble.  After all, I am trying to help them.  Isn't the same true of the Lord and us?

Each day we go through life in our various day to day activities and we are being told to stop fighting, be kind, be careful, pray and he will answer, think of others more and the list goes on and on.  Yet, if we would just listen to the Lord and do what he asks of us, don't we get in trouble less and have more time for the spirit to be with us.

The answer is yes to all, both the kids and me.  If we would just listen and do what we are asked, he is just trying to help, to make things easier.  It is so very simple, yet so complex.

Good Things
1.  Knowledge
2.  The spirit
3.  Aha moments

Halloween 2011, just a few months late

Here are the Halloween Happenings.  It was pretty uneventful.  I worked, Brian worked, Reagan wore her costume to school, and well,  Jaxon went to Grandma's sans costume.  When we came home, we went Trick-or-Treating to about 5 houses and came home.  Jaxon proceeded to eat too much candy, that didn't set well with him and well you can guess the rest.  The kids wanted to wear the same costumes from last year and I let them.  All was well the next morning, which was Brian's birthday.  He had a great day too.
Oh yeah,  we carved pumpkins too. 

New Year, I wish for a new me?

On New Year's Eve, we went to Island Park for a fun day at the cabin.  There was a family leaving the cabin as we were coming into the cabin.  I had put all of our snow clothes and stuff in a black garbage bag, because that is what you do right?  I put it behind the couch, in front of the door.  Well, when it was time to go play in the snow, I couldn't find our black bag.  It turns out that the people leaving grabbed our black bag thinking it was their stuff and took it home.  They were too far to turn around so we made do.  Jaxon wore some warm-up pants and cross country ski boots.  Reagan wore a jacket with her legs in the armholes for pants and swim shoes.  They were not happy about it at all.  But we made do.  They had fun sledding still even with their makeshift clothing. 

About a week after that,  Reagan asked me what was stealing.  I told her that stealing was when someone takes something that is not theirs.  In response, she says to me, "Like when the other people took our snow clothes?"  I told her no, stealing is taking something on purpose.  What happened at the cabin was just an accident.  She understood, I think.

Then we came home for a happening evening of games and food.  It was fun.  We watched the ball drop at 10pm and went to bed.

With a new year, comes new goals right?  I think so.  I made up my list of goals that I would like to work on for the year.  And that is just what I doing, working on them. 

Christmas time

Wow,  time goes so fast and it really has been a long time since I have blogged.  I tried to update my blog design and instead made a big mess.  It has been so long since I have changed it, I forgot how.  Oh well, I will figure it out in my spare time. 

Well, since it has been so long, I probably should blog about Christmas first.

Christmas was great.  In our family, we really try to focus on the Savior instead of Santa.  So far it is working. Santa doesn't come to our house.  The kids get it drilled in their heads that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus' birth.  I really like it that way.  For a while I was really mixed about the whole thing and then I decided that I felt like I was telling my kids a big fib, which they get in trouble for if they do that.  Brian told the kids that a long time ago there was a guy named St. Nicholas who went around and gave all the kids presents and they dubbed him "Santa Claus".  But that was a long time ago and he died.  Well, I did not know he told them that, so one day we are driving down the road and Reagan asks me, "Mom, if Santa Claus is dead, does that mean the Easter bunny is dead too?"  Needless to say, I was a bit puzzled.  Well anyway.  One fun thing we did this year was I got all our Christmas related books out and individually wrapped them in wrapping paper.  Every night the kids took turns in opening one book.  We would read the book and the kids really looked forward to it each night.

In the past, I have been very insistent upon having a homemade Christmas, meaning mostly the gifts.  This time, I didn't do that.  I don't know if I was overly tired, stressed, just didn't feel up to it or D.  ALL OF THE ABOVE.  And, it was fine.  I didn't make my kids jammies, church outfits, or anything and Christmas still happened and the kids didn't notice that they did not even get jammies. 

It was good though and very relaxed.  It was nice to go to church on Christmas and enjoy the day and the meaning of Christmas more. 

On Christmas morning, both of the kids came into our room and asked to go downstairs and see what was for breakfast.  I asked them if they wanted to open presents first and they said they wanted breakfast first.  So when we got downstairs and Jaxon saw all the presents he said "um, I actually changed my mind, I want to open presents first".  And we did.

More

Technically, November only lasts for four more days so I really only  have to post 4 more but I will post 7 instead cause I am nice like that.

1.  Thanksgiving Dinner, I love it and I am glad I am not hungry
2.  Such a great extended family on both sides
3.  A roof over my head, a place to sleep that is warm
4.  The newspaper, I love to read it every day
5.  A new room Hooray!
6.  Kids that play together really well (mostly)
7.  For the Christmas season, to teach my kids why we really celebrate

Thanksgiving

Things I am grateful for.

1.  A sister who watches my kids
2.  A great family to spend time with
3.  Handy husband, who finishes our house
4.  A path for school
5.  Remebering all my blessings.
6.  No snow yet
7.  Safe travels