Who IS Who

Do my boys look alike?  A question that I get asked often.

You tell me....Who is Who

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How do you think you did?

I am actually surprised.  They look more alike then I thought.

Of course I know all of the secrets that give each picture away.

PRESSURE

Lately I have been feeling pressure.
Pressure about being a mother.
Not in the sense that I am not like other mothers.
I don't care about that.
I have always known that I am happiest only doing what I can handle... being true to myself.
I am feeling pressure about everything I need to teach my children.
It sometimes seems like an overwhelming responsibility.
I need to teach them to be responsible.
I need to teach them to obey.
I need to teach them to be kind.
I need to teach them to become functional with out me helping them all along the way.
I need to teach them about God.
I need to jump start their testimonies.
Not to mention reading, tying shoes, and potting training.  
I need to teach them to be respectable men that work hard, respect women and are honest in all their dealings.
I am feeling pressure and it doesn't help when my son laughs in my face every time I try to discipline.
Seriously.  Laughs in my face.
Then I feel like I am failing him.
That makes me feel pressure.

After one particularly long night of putting Thomas to bed.  I was annoyed to the point of tears.  Daniel told me not to let my emotions get involved.  How can I not?  This is my job.  This is my responsibility.  This is what I do day in and day out.  I love it and want to do my best.  For myself and for my children.  This is why I am feeling pressure.
He mentioned that because this is what I am on earth to do.  That as a woman I have the divine responsibility to bear and raise my children in righteousness.  Maybe Satan is putting that doubt in my mind.  The doubt that I am already failing.  The pressure that I am feeling.  The pressure that my LOVE for them isn't enough.

When I was in Hawaii on one of my frequent Sunday trips to the temple visitors center I watched a video presentation.  I remember one thing that they said and it will forever stay with me.  As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children that they are loved.  That families are forever.  That they are children of God.
Today in response to the pressure that I am feeling.  I am going to focus on the three things I heard in that video.  I will love my children all the more.  I will teach them that they are children of God and that we as a family can be together forever.  I will try not to get discouraged.  I will try not to get overwhelmed.  I will try not to feel pressure but recognize it as a divine responsibility.  Because it is a divine responsibility I can ask for the Lords help.  I can receive personal answers to my questions and worries.  I will do this with Faith because I believe that my divine work as a mother wont go in vain.  I believe that these things I am teaching them will produce a certain outcome and that is why I will continue to do them day in and day out.

the boys

LEWIS BARNLEY PACKER

(excuse the blurry pictures... the cutest ones always happen to be blurry)

2 months 13 days old

13 lbs 10 oz

24 inches long

smiles the best gummy smile ever... his eyes even smile

dark blue gray eyes

Hunk of Love...bulldog.... baby buddah.....brother.... Lew

loves to eat

loves to sleep with me in bed.. still not sleeping through the night

doesn't usually like his car seat.. unless he is asleep

likes to hear dad talk and sing

sleeps through church

takes a binki with some encouragement

when he gets mad... he is mad

I could sit and snuggle him all day long

wears 3-6 month clothes

loves to be outside
daniel's ears and nose
not enough hair to determine exact color.... light straight hair that feels like velvet

THOMAS ANDREW PACKER

2 years 4 months 27 days old

28 lbs 8 oz

36 inches long

Tommy... Thomas...Little Man.... buddy

best bright blue eyes and eyelashes

fun to talk to... holds great conversation... funny sense of humor

he calls me babe

loves to play with kids and is learning how to share

likes super grover, elmo and mickey mouse club house

loves to play with balls any type of balls 

kicks left footed

dribbles left handed

eats, colors and throws right handed

still naps once a day 
sadie's ears and daniels nose and eyes
curly blonde hair when grown out....straightens out after a few days of no washing 

loves helmets, riding his trike and sliding

wears 2 toddler pants... 4 toddler shirts...size 8 shoes

today at the grocery store we were walking down the baking aisle and as we passed the boxed brownies he said, "I want to eat poop mom."  It totally took me by surprise and as he said it again he pointed to the boxes of brownie mix and I understood what he was trying to say.  A little gross, but hilarious that he related the two


LOVE YOU more everyday
xoxo 

Harvest Fall Fest... Dinner

Saturday night was our second annual Fabulous Harvest Fall Fest... or Delicious Dinner (whatever you want to call it)
Last year it was spur of the moment... and it turned out so much fun.
We had to do it again.
We spent the day preparing for the festivities.
It was good to spend time as a family just having fun.

MENU

Broccoli and Cheese Chowder in Soup Bowls

Garden Salad

Sparkling Soda with Frozen Grapes 

ACTIVITIES

College Football games

Carving pumpkins

DESSERT

Donuts

Apple Cider

The food turned out so yummy.

If you have never had frozen grapes.  I highly suggest them.  I like them way better then normal.

Soup bowls remind me of the Nordic and corn chowder tuesdays before devotional.  So good.

Garden Salad... healthy and absolutely the best zucchini I have ever had.  Besides zucchini bread full of chocolate chips.  I am not sure if that counts though.  

Homemade apple cider. Perfect way to warm your belly and soul.  Plus it feels your house with the best smell ever.  

There is just something about yummy warm food to make a fall night complete.

We all took our turn with the pumpkins.  Thomas cleaned the pumpkin/ punkmen off.  Daniel did most of the hard work and I just did the finishing touches.  

They  turned out simple yet perfect and classic.  

Our Fabulous Fest was just as Fabulous as expected.  It is definitely going to continue to be an annual event in the Packer house.  Now I just need to get costumes ready for my little trick-or-treaters.  

Fire Engine

As I typed the title of this post I could hear Thomas say, "Fire engine"
I wish you guys could as well.
He loves them and it is super cute when he says it.

A few weeks ago we saw one in the parking lot of Home Depot and had to stop.
They were doing some sort of awareness..I am guessing fire safety?
Thomas wasn't interested in anything but the fire engine and the helmet.
He sat in the drivers seat.
Put on the seat belt.
Tried to shift it into gear and drive away.
Tried on a real helmet and didn't want to take it off.
It was Thomas Heaven.
I am pretty sure if Thomas knew when it meant to have a job he would say, "I want to be a fire fighter when I grow up."  He would get to be manly.  Say fire hydrant all the time.  Maybe get a spotted Dalmatian dog.  Play with water.  Drive a big fire engine and wear a helmet.  All things he loves.
If he decides to take that route I would be proud. If not then I will just be proud of how cute he looked the day he got to act like a fire fighter!

Fabulous fall

We have had amazing fall weather.
I honestly don't know what the temperature has been.
All I know is that my family went swimming on October 1 and 2!
We have been spending tons of time outside in shorts and t-shirts.
We ate otter pops yesterday to cool us down.
We are riding our trikes.
Playing on the playground.
Going on walks.
We live in Utah and are having fabulous fall weather, and WE LOVE IT!
"Not to hot. Not to cold.  All you need is a light jacket."  (name that movie)

A few more cute pictures of the boys.
They are growing up so much every day and I can hardly believe it.

Cheesecake

I laid Lewis down in his crib and went to the bathroom.
I was gone a total of a minute.
I could hear Thomas in the kitchen taking full advantage that I wasn't with him.
I hurried out to see what awaited me...
I found him at the kitchen table with the rest of my birthday cheesecake.  Wearing his swimming shirt and a grin covered in cheesecake.
He probably knew that he had limited time and didn't even bother to get a fork or a plate.  He just dug in.
I also dug in... only I used a fork.  Yes we finished all three pieces.
The cheesecake was just as delicious without a plate and a lot more fun to eat.
Then we snuggled up with full bellies and watched "Follow that Bird" (even though he was determined to lay on my head and not beside me.  I don't know if you can call that snuggling or not.)

Each Life

A few days ago I got to talk to a really good friend of mine on the phone.
I haven't talked to her in person in over a year.
We chatted about our children, being moms, pregnancy, and life in general.
I was so happy and rejuvenated afterwards.
I am so lucky to be her friend.
It made me think of the song.... Each life that touches ours for good....

Then I thought about how I come into contact with people all day long that touch my life for good.
At the park, at church, the grocery store even Wal-Mart of all places.
For example.  I was at Wal-Mart about a week ago getting boring but essential things like diapers, toothpaste, and shavers.  I had both of the boys with me and it was almost nap time.
They had been really good but like I said before it was almost nap time.  They were on their last straw.
We were standing in the line and my card wasn't working.  The strip on the back is worn out.
After the 6th time of trying to swipe it I told her that I could write a check.
By this time Lewis was hungry and starting to cry.
Everyone started staring and I became self conscious as I felt their glances on me.
Then Thomas decided he was going to climb out of the cart and push the buttons on the card machine.
As I tried to calm Lewis, write my check so I could get out of there I reached for Thomas and as I did a lady next to me in line gently grabbed Thomas and in a clam and grandmotherly tone told him that he could fall and get hurt as she sat him down in the cart.
I finished writing my check and as I walked out of the store with my purchases I turned to her and thanked her for helping me.
She smiled at me and and said, "Honey, we have all been there."

This lady who I have never met before became my lifesaver that day.  She was calm.  She saw a person in need and she wasn't afraid to help.  She was the life that touched me most that day.  She taught me a lesson and I am better because I came in contact with her for only a brief moment.  Just like the brief contact that I had with my dear friend yesterday whose laugh helped to rejuvenate me.  My day was better.  I was better because her life touched mine for good.

Muscles and a photo-shoot

My boys are in bed.
Daniel is out taking a walk.

I am sitting on the couch eating delicious ice cream and loving the fall breeze blowing through our open window.  I am just thinking about life as I download some pictures from the last few weeks. 

I found this photo-shoot of these priceless muscles.