Lainy’s lucky #7

***Lainy’s birthday post quite a bit late!

Lainy turned 7!!   She started piano lessons nearly a year ago and sits at the keys every time she passes by.  She sings every chance she gets.  I had to remind her that the whole congregation could hear her continuing to sing after they had finished the song.  Lainy speaks her mind whether you would prefer her to or not. For example: I asked her if she knew if her teacher drank coffee so I could get her a gift card.  She said yes.  I said, are you sure?  Her reply, “Yes, I was talking to her and I smelled her breath and said, ‘ew! You’re breath stinks!’  She said it was her coffee.”  Lainy adores her brothers. And is a great balance between a big brother who likes to be in control, and a soft spoken little brother.  If there is an adult around who even remotely tolerates her, she is quite literally a magnet.  Tucked up under their arm, or plopped right on their lap if they let her.  She has been that way since she could make a decision to like or dislike someone.  Actually,  she likes everyone.  Except the scary lady with the giant black drawn-on eyebrows and witch voice we saw at Fuddruckers when she was only a baby…  she did not like her.   But other than that, she can find something she loves in just about everyone.  She let’s me yank,twist, and twirl her pretty blonde hair into any fashion I choose.  She is my sweet little princess and I am grateful for the gift of being her mother.  Love you Lainer. 

 

Christmas Traditions 2011

• Reindeer Food on the porch
• Act out and read the story of Jesus birth on Christmas eve
• Give and write down 3 gifts of bettering ourselves to Christ and put them in Christ’s birthday box
• Candles on the table for Christmas eve dinner
• Make scissor candy
• kids get an ornament every year
• read a Christmas story every night in December

Some of our traditions have started and ended or phased out, and some that we never planned have stuck around.  I love our traditions and the memories that come with them.  If I can remember to see through the craziness of the season, and enjoy the time spent with family and friends it really is the best time of the year. 

My gratitude post… a month late.

I finished reading the Book of Mormon in 30 days earlier this month.  Boy, did I need it.  A woman teaching an auxiliary training meeting mentioned that she had taken a BoM 30 day reading challenge and that if we felt like we needed a kick start spiritually, she recommended it.  If I ever needed a kick start, it was then.  Did I have life changing visions, or answers to questions I had had for years?  No.  Did I feel as though I could move mountains or part seas?  No.  Here’s what I did have;  A clearer view of what my blessings were.  A strengthened relationship with my Savior.   I hit my knees more often in those 30 days then I can ever remember doing in my 32 years of life.   Life was as filled with trials and craziness as it was before I began.  None of that changed.  It was my perspective that changed.  I mentioned to my sister more than once that life just felt richer.   I am grateful for that holy book.  I am grateful for those who were faithful enough to do what was needed to allow me to have those words in my home.  I am grateful for my Savior and for this season to be constantly reminded of His birth and the life He lead and gave for me. 

Merry Christmas!

Jared talk for the day

Jared has taken to talking quite often about fighting bad guys. And letting me know what he will do to them if they come around.   Today was quite a bit more interesting than the typical, beat ‘em up business.   He mentioned he would kick him where it counts and I hadn’t been paying attention so I asked whom he was referring to.  A bad guy.  I told him he was too young to fight bad guys.  He said, maybe when he’s 10.  I told him he probably should wait until he is a daddy’s age to worry about that kind of thing.  Silence.  But mom, I have the scripture Power.  (this is a song they learn in primary)   And mom, I am  growing a bump on my arm.  Jayce has a bump on his arm too, to fight bad guys. 

Later this afternoon he began talking about how much I like him, (and I do!)  and that for that very reason had he been born.  He said that we liked him so much, we liked him into this world.  So I asked him how he thought babies did get here.  Well, first um, it’s a tiny brain.  Then it um, grows into a really big brain.  Then it um, goes as a really tiny rainbow, then it gets to um, a really big rainbow (hands rainbowing through the air) and then it makes a tiny baby and it grows and grows. 

I love this boy.