Great Harvest

Kaden went on a field trip last week to Great Harvest with his preschool class. He was so excited the morning of, especially since mom was coming with him to school. He asked about 10 times before we left, "mom, you are coming with me on my field trip right?"

Here are two of his buddies at school

Ryker, Kaden, Jaxson

Each kid got a ball of bread dough knead and make into any shape they wanted. Later they got to eat them.

This was the finished product. Kaden decided he wanted to make a snake.

While their bread was baking Miss Kristin read the kids the story of the little red hen. They talked about all the things you have to do in order to make bread. Then they headed back into the bakery to see how things got done.

First they learned about the wheat, and how it was ground up into powder for the bread.

They they got to hold on to the mixing bowls and smell the yeast, taste the honey, learn about the mixer and see the ovens.

He finished the trip by eating his yummy snake bread. I bought a loaf of their cinnamon burst bread to take home. YUMMY!

My Day of Birth

Valentines Day is always a big day at our house because it is my birthday and Chris feels the need to make the day EXTRA special to cover both occasions. This year I told him he was off the hook, and we could just have a low key day. He has been extra busy and stressed at work and I didn't want this to be one more thing for him to worry about.

However, Chris can't just let the day pass. ( Because he knows me to well ;) So here is a small recap of my 27th brithday.

I made cake-balls for Chris for his valentines present.

Chris woke me up with breakfast in bed and then surprised me with a bathroom covered in candles, and a hot bubble bath.

Taycee gave me these beautiful flowers.

Chris sent me over to our neighbor Julia's house for a 60 minute massage (It was heavenly, if you are looking for a great massage let me know and I'll put you in contact)

Then I went out and did a little shopping and came home to this...

Kaden was such a little stud. When I walked in he pulled out my chair and said "Could you sit here please?" Heart. Melted. Chris had a romantic playlist playing on his laptop in the background.

We had Olive Garden takeout and the kids took a late nap upstairs. Then we danced for a little while in the living room and talked about how great we have it.

I took a nap.

We ended the night with the kids laying in our bed and playing with glow sticks.

It was a perfect day with just my little fam.

Chris never disappoints.

I feel blessed, I am blessed.

xoxo- me.

Bears

You know those things your mom did growing up that no one else did? That special thing that she did just for you? Well one of my mom's "things" was rice crispy bears. Every year on my birthday which also happened to be valentines day, my mom would make trays of rice crispy bears and bring them to my class for me to share with all of my friends.

And so when the note came home that Kaden needed to bring treats to his class for Valentines day I saw an opportunity to carry on that fun tradition. I called my mom up and asked to borrow the mold for these little guys...

What I didn't realize as a child was how much work these little bears were. Two batches of rice krispy's a couple hours and an empty bowl later....

I had 24 perfectly formed bears complete with chocolate chip eyes, a red hot nose and a heart belly button.

I felt like it was some sort of right of passage. Like by making these bears I had become a true mom . ( Like 3 babies, thousands of diapers and many sleepless nights hadn't done that.)

I wrapped them up, tied on their tags which said "I am beary glad you're my friend" and Kaden signed each one. Then we packed them up in a box and they were delivered to 12 preschoolers the next day.

I made a mental note afterwards to tell my mom thank you for the many hours she had spent making my bears over the years. :)

Sea Food

A few Saturday's ago I decided to something creative for the kids lunch. We were all a little tired of the routine sandwiches, mac and cheese and chicken nuggets. So we settled on hot dog octopi. Which were actually just hot dogs cut in half with spaghetti 8 spaghetti noodles stuck in the bottom. We boiled them til the noddles were soft them stuck them on a plate with ketchup and relish.

The best part was watching their faces when I called them up for lunch. ( Don't mind that we were still in our jammies at noon.)

I think it was the fastest they have ever eaten their lunches. We should make hot dog octopi every day for lunch!

Amazed

This post is not full of fun pictures or updates. It is mostly all the thoughts that have been swimming through my mind the last month regurgitated into blog form. This is more of a "Journal" entry and doesn't make for fun reading. You have been warned. :)

No pictures for this post. Strange, I know. It is not that I haven't taken any, because if there is anything I do well it is document every moment in these little kiddo's life's. But I have not the time energy or desire to transfer them to the computer and do the other work it requires to post them on the blog. :D Lazy? Possibly. Yes. But strangely satisfying as well. Even without pictures there are some many WORDS floating around my head lately that I felt I should write them down.

Life around our house has taken on a routine. A slightly boring and predictable routine but one that we can all live with and usually end the day in a mostly happy state. Incredibly enough I have found a way to get all 3 of my children to take a nap at the same time. It was not nearly as hard a I imagined it to be. I am anxious for it to be summertime, or even spring time, actually any time when it is warm enough to spend the day playing outside. (The way our weather has been lately who knows when that time will be.)

Addison is thriving, and starting to put some substance on her little bones. I bet she is weighing in at a solid 12 lbs. I know that seems very small for a 7 month old baby, but for her it is big. I am still pinning some of her 3 mo. old clothes with safety pins so the pants don't fall off of her. But she is filling out most of the onsies perfectly. She started physical therapy last Monday. Our hope is that we can get her sitting and rolling soon. She doing well and has already made huge improvements. She is lifting her own legs while she is on her back and she is SO CLOSE to rolling over her right shoulder. ( She has been rolling over her left since she was 4 months old.)

Taycee is such a pill. She is my daughter through and through. Chris often reminds me exactly where her stubbornness and sass come from. Although for the record my mom did say "I don't think you gave me near the grief that she gives you." So it can't all be my fault.... right? As much as she makes me pull at my hair, she also makes me smile and laugh. She is smart, way way way too smart. She is growing up way faster than Kaden did. She puts her backpack on daily and begs to go to school. Princess dresses are daily attire, her purse equipped with lipstick and hair things are a common arm accessory. She uses phrases like "Ok, alright, calm down" "Mom, from now on I will listen." and "Um, no I don't think so" the other day we had a LONG talk about listening before I dropped her off at the "supervised play room" while I donated plasma. When I got done and we were back in the car she said "mom, I did NOT listen to that girl. She wanted me to wear a tag and I didn't want to wear it"

Back during Christmas time when the elf on the shelf was visiting us ( who is magic and can not be touched or he can no longer fly back to Santa) Aunt Cass was over. She went to touch Jimmy (our elf) and Kaden cried out in a panic "NO! Don't touch him or his magic will go away!" After Kaden had walked away Taycee tapped Cass on the back and said in a whisper "I touch him all the time." Like I said WAY WAY too smart.

Kaden is still the sweetheart of the house who is full happiness pretty much all day long. I never know what will come out of his mouth. He new favorite saying is "you are the bestest _____ I ever had" depending on who he is talking to their name goes in the blank, grandma, mom, dad, sister, etc. The other day after scripture study he said " Mom, I think I need a rocket." I asked why and he said "because then I can just fly to see Jesus! But I will probably need a helmet to keep my head safe." Another day while we were playing in the snow he was laying on the ground looking at the sky and said " Mom, I can see heaven! And my Jesus is moving the clouds" I often smile at how simple life is through his eyes. And might be a tad bit jealous.

On Saturday I was up taking a shower and he woke up and came straight into the bathroom. He said, "HI MOM! I slept so good, and now I am going to poop in your bathroom."

He just got accepted into a nearby charter school, and it has finally sunk in that he is that big. He is big enough that I am researching kindergartens and worrying about what school he should be going to. I never thought I would be that mom who thinks about home-schooling, and doesn't like public school. But, I am. It all seems so strange to me, because part of me still feels like I should be the one in school riding the bus in the morning and passing notes to friend ( haha notes, that just shows how old I am.)

How does life go by so quickly?

How did I go from the freshman in college so certain about everything, living on my own for the very first time and ready to take on the world... to the mom with 3 kids who second guesses most of my decisions, and feels like there are few things I will ever be certain of again.

I still remember the very first time I met Chris, I remember where we were standing in the institute parking lot. I remember what I was wearing, the name tag I had on for "meet your bishop night", the first words he said to me...and..... his roommate standing next to him who I dated for the next 2 months. haha. Now I look back and I can't remember what it was like to NOT love him so fiercely. And I am amazed, and humbled, at the plan our Heavenly Father had in place for us even back then.

I have come to realize my "plans" for life are rarely what is best for me. As I sat watching my 4 year old child (who I was determined not to have for at least 5 more years) tell his hot dogs about the awful and excruciating death that surely awaited them inside his mouth. I was overcome with gratitude for a Father in Heaven who knows what I need and is willing to give it to me.

The other day in Sacrament meeting we sang the song "I stand all amazed" and I was overcome with amazement, certainly for the love and sacrifice so freely offered me by my Savior but also by so much that surrounds me.

I am amazed that Chris chose me. I am amazed at the man that he is, the work he puts in, and the kindness he shows. The goodness of his heart is admirable and the amount of support and help he gives me is unmatched. I am amazed at how comforting his arms are and the reassurance his presence gives. I am amazed at the father he is, and the energy and time he has for our kids after endless hours at work.

I am amazed.

I am amazed at how blessed I am, it seems every day I find something new to remind me of just how rare it is to have a truly happy home filled with love.

I am amazed at the evil that plauges our world and the hold that Satan has on so many hearts.

I am amazed at how truly Christ-like children are.

I am amazed at the love I have for each of my little ones and feel I have a glimpse, however small, into the love our Father in Heaven has for each of us.

I am amazed that 5 years ago I passed out at the smallest needle prick and now I give plasma twice a week and calmly read a book the entire time! hahaha

I am amazed that we are nearing the end of this journey through the PHD program. I am amazed that in a years time we will be looking at jobs and making plans to leave this state that is so comfortable and familiar and so HOME.

I am amazed at the kindness, love and support that surrounds us.

I am amazed that no matter what I try to tell myself I CAN NOT stop wanting another baby. RIGHT. NOW. (Not happening though, I promise)

I am amazed at the power of the priesthood. I read my patriarchal blessing today and was so touched by the personal guidance tailored especially to me that could have only come directly from a Father in Heaven who has known me throughout the eternities. Then I read Chris's patriarchal blessing and bawled like a baby amazed at the great man he is and can become.

I am amazed at what a precious gift it is to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The light, knowledge, truth, hope and peace that it gives can not be found anywhere else.

I am amazed that so few have it in their lives.

I am amazed at Satan's determination to do all he can to tear people away from it.... I am amazed at how easily people let him.

I am amazed at the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

I am constantly bombarded with things that amaze me and I am left filled with gratitude and love for a Father in Heaven who sent me here. I know life will continue to amaze me. A phrase I read today keeps rolling through my head "this life is a time of trials and testing". It is true, we will all be tested and tried, our plan will rarely be the plan that is best. Yet somehow I know that when it is all over we will look back and be amazed at just how perfectly it worked out for our good.