Perfectly Chilled

Today I am chilled to the bone and warmed in my heart.
I am perfectly chilled.

We took family pictures.
I am so excited to see how they turned out.
It was cold outside.
Bone chillingly cold.
I thought it was fun to pick out outfits.  I don't think the boys cared.
We threw leaves.  The vibrant yellows glittered in the sunlight.
Acted shy?!
Smiled.  Made faces.
Ate marshmallows.
Held hands... even kissed.
It warmed my heart to make memories of "my men"
I cherish all of the small and simple things about them.   
Someday my memory might fail me... but I forever want to remember.  I loved capturing some of these things on film.

Then we came home.  All of my men snuggled under blankets and drifted off to dreamland.
I sat up to the sewing machine with my trusty old rice pack and worked on some "lovelies" for the Boutique this weekend.  I am super excited.  (check previous post for more info)
Now I am off to go and make some nice hot soup to devour for dinner.  I wish it would make itself.  I would like to drift off to dreamland as well.  To dream about his absolutely perfect chilled day that I got to spend with my men.

ATTENTION LADIES in CACHE VALLEY

Our apartment complex is going to have a 

HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE

Friday November 19, 2010

10- 3 pm

Oak Meadows Club House

351 W 1600 N 

Logan, Utah 84341

*There should be some awesome things there  

*I personally am going to be making skirts and aprons

(wish me luck!  my first Boutique.  skirt pictured above)

*GREAT PERSONALIZED GIFTS

*Fun ladies day out

I am so excited and I hope to see you all there

Beautiful Life

Today I went running for the first time post babe number two.
It was tough.
I would say that I made it 1.5 miles consistently running.
My whole life before this no matter how long it had been in between runs, I could always go at least three.
I felt like I had to re-teach my legs to stride out.
I felt like my lungs were going to burst.
I felt like my pelvic bone was crushing.
I kept spitting every other step. (thanks Morgan)
I wished that I had someone to run with.  If they were talking to me it would help me to take my mind off of my "OLD" body.
I say "OLD" like that because I know I am not old.  I should be in the prime of my life.  Physically.  Mentally.  But, after two children I sometimes feel "OLD"
Then as I wogged (that is what we like to call a jog that is as slow as a walk) along, the song, "Beautiful Life"  by none other than Ace of Base came on my little Mp3 player that Daniel got me for Christmas a few years back. (he was sick of me borrowing his Ipod and sticking it down my bra while I ran... because I didn't have any other place to put it)
Anyway, back to "Beautiful Life" and wogging.  My feet didn't miraculously pick up quicker.  My lungs didn't stop burning.  But in my mind I stopped complaining about them and that made all the difference.
My road back to being considered a runner is going to be hard.  I think the hardest part is going to be going again.
But for now I am super proud of myself.
Thanks Ace of Base.  You are right.  It really is a Beautiful Life!

*Note:  that is a picture of me on top of Table Rock last summer.  I was proud of myself then as well!

Dear November....and then some

Dear November.
Today was the first.
You were oh so good to us.
Thank you!

We played outside for hours and hours and didn't freeze.
We actually took off our jackets and basked in the sunlight.
We jumped in a few puddles and made footprints after.
We went down the slides and made new friends.
We ran up and down some hills and away from some dogs.  Even with a leash dogs can be intimidating when they are your own size.
We snuck into the halloween candy and ate carmel apples.

and then.... I fell in love with this video today.



The pictures of the kids with marshmallows are perfect.
So is this quote.
"Patience means staying with something until the end.  It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings.  The work of patience boils down to this.  Keep the commandments.  Trust in God our Heavenly Father. Serve him with meekness and Chrislike love.  Exercise faith and hope in the Savior and never give up."
-Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Today I will be more patient with my children and fully enjoy this season of my life.
Because of days like today, November first.
It was oh so good.

xoxo-  S. T. L

Happy Hauntings

Halloween is such a fun holiday.
Treats.  Costumes.  Treats.  Scary Movies.  Treats.  Family.  "Punkmens". and more Treats.
So fun right?!

We started off the week visiting the pumpkin walk.  Also known as the Punkmen walk.
It was freezing cold.
We took pictures in cut outs.
We got hot cocoa from Mcdonalds.

We spent the week making costumes.
Picking out patterns.
Picking out fabrics.
Sewing... Sewing... Sewing

We had a delicious dinner Friday night with family.
Then off to the ward Trunk-or-Treat.
Thomas and Lewis dressed up as clowns.  Cute Cute Clowns.
Thomas loved saying trick or treat.
He was excited.
But didn't shove or push his way through with excitement.
He stood back and watched.  Waited his turn.  (where did that patience come from?)
Some costumes scared him.  Almost paralyzed him.
Then he ran around with some other kids.
His little curly head bobbing on top of his giantly plump clown suit!
Lewis helped daddy pass out candy and was content being outside.
The weather was perfect.

Saturday we headed to Honeyville for a family party with the Jones's.
For chili and homemade root beer.
Fishing ponds.  Cake walks.  and another Trunk-or-Treat.
We came home with new trucks and motorcycles to add to our collection.
It was raining outside so Lewis, Becky and I stayed under an umbrella as we followed the others around.
Daniel, Thomas and Lewis dressed up as clowns.  I put on face paint.
There was a pretty double rainbow.  Donuts in the fire house.
We got plenty of candy.  Plenty of candy to last us hopefully longer then a week.
We finished the evening watching Hocus Pocus.

Sunday we made the traditional Ghost cookies.
Delicious.

Halloween is such a fun holiday.
Even if I buy candy every year and have never once had trick or treaters...
Halloween is such a fun holiday.  

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.