Compassion and Gratitude

I have been going through a book of values that my mom gave me. Every week I teach the kids a new value. This week I wanted to teach the kids about being more grateful. Our lessons ended with me realizing we had learned two new values. Being grateful (or gratitude) and being compassionate.
I showed the kids a few different videos of families and children in Africa. We all had tears in our eyes and we saw so many horrible situations. One family lived in a cement room with just one foam pad as a bed. It was full of holes and really tiny. Another family was made up of 5 brothers. There parents had died of Aids. The oldest brother was fifteen. They had no other relatives. He was in charge of trying to find food and shelter for his young siblings. That story really hit Sage. Next we saw a baby in a hospital who was dying from Malaria. If she lives she will be mentally challenged. The kids asked what that meant. I told them she wont be able to talk. Aspen said with tears in her little eyes "Mom I will give her my talking mouth. Can I pack up all my dress ups and toys and can you mail them to Africa?" I was so touched that she was realizing how much she has. Sage made a million darling comments. He decided he wants to "build houses" for a living. He said his plan is to go down there and build nice houses and hospitals for them. He told McKenna that she really should consider being a nurse when she grows up. Then she will be able to go down and help all of the sick children.
I was so happy we had such a great life lesson. As I tucked the kids in bed, they each said the most amazing prayers. There eyes were opened to what we all have. We need to be so grateful. I was so surprised at the amount of compassion that there little hearts could feel. I love these precious moments!

Visiting Grandparents

Its Sunday..our day to visit our grandparents. Today we had exceptional visits. Nate was off work and able to come with us. That made it so much more fun. We went first to Visit Grandpa Ted. He is so sweet and such a wonderful man. His heart is always full of wonderful emotions. He tears up when he talks about anyone in the family. His love is so overflowing. I asked him what is the most important thing he has learned in life. I loved his response, he said "Enjoy the little things, they can grow and become big things. Big things can't grow. So I love and appreciate all the little things in my life, they are the most important." Well said. The kids loved visiting with him. He taught them a wonderful poem about tithing a year ago. He practiced it with them today. It is such a wonderful poem. I cant remember all of the words so I will post it when I find my copy. I am so grateful the kids have such amazing grandparents who are such great examples to them.

Aspen loves all of grandpas "treasures". Her favorite toy is "MickyDonald".

Next we went to see my Grandma. She is so amazing. My cousin Savannah is getting married and Mckenna and Aspen are the flower girls. My Aunt made the girls these darling dresses. My Grandma spent hours sewing on all the little flowers on the bottom. She had the girls try on the dresses and they were in heaven. Aspen keeps asking "when am I getting married?" She is a bit confused, she thinks we are all getting married at Savs wedding.

It was so much fun visiting with my Grandma. I have been to her house almost every Sunday of my whole life. I am so grateful she set up that tradition. I look forward to seeing her every week. The kids LOVE seeing her and she always has a treat or a gift for them. I cant imagine my life without her. She is the reason my whole extended family is so close. We have all gathered together at her house every week. Grandma your the best!!

Cleaning day

Today was an awesome day. Its Nates week off, so we are trying to be really productive. We spent the whole day cleaning. Nate worked on the garage and the kids and I worked inside. We usually have them clean their own rooms alone. But seeing how they complain and dilly dally, I got smart. I had them all start in Aspens room and work together. We turned music on and they had a blast. Aspens room was a boom and I couldn't believe what they did. McKenna went crazy. She emptied all of her drawers and folded everything perfectly and organized her cloths in groups (pant pile, skirts, shorts ect..). It was so good for the kids to see that they can have fun while working. They also felt that awesome feeling of being proud of what they did.

We ended the day with a barbaque. Nate made fantastic hamburgers (I take his word for it because I don't eat hamburgers). They looked good, McKenna and Nate ate two. After we ate, Nate and I watched the kids play in the backyard and jump on the tramp. We all went to bed early feeling good we accomplished so much as a team.

Girls Night Out...

It was time for girls night out again. Emily and Emily have planned girls night out for all of our High School friends. This was our third month of getting together. I was not going to be able to go because Sage has a Bees game with his team, but the weather was horrible so they canceled it. I hurried and took him to grandmas and was off. Last month when we were deciding what to do next and I saw "The Melting Pot" on the list and suggested we go there. So I was pretty bumbed when I thought I would miss it. But hooray, I was able to go. It was sooo yummy. Emily and I LOVE chocolate so there couldn't be a better place to eat. And we had so much fun visiting.

It was so fun to see everyone. Both Emily's and I have made it to all the get togethers. This was the first time Kami and Megs were able to come. It was so fun seeing them, I haven't seen them for quite awhile. Its nice how when you start talking it really doesn't seem like that much time has gone by. I was so lucky to have such great friends in High School.

Emily had some great ideas for conversation. We each told our most embarrassing moments. It was so funny to hear every ones stories. It brought up a lot of great and funny memories from back in the day.

We were glad to hear some of Emily L. good news. Congrats EM!! Its fun to see where our lives have taken each of us. I'm so happy the "Ems" have put forth the effort to do this. It is so nice to have a night out with the people you pretty much grew up with. A lot of time goes by before we see each other sometimes, but I will always think of these awesome people as my great Friends!

Braces

Well Sage got braces today. I can't believe I am in this chapter of my life now, my kids are growing up so fast. Sage was really funny for his picture. He kept doing really funny things. We were laughing so hard. He thought it was sooo cool. He loved being late to school and getting to choose his colored elastics. He called me three times from school. First he wanted me to bring him his tooth brush so he could clean his teeth after lunch. Next he called to see if I would bring him his wax. And last because he realized his teeth were staring to get sore. He told me he "quit candy" while his braces are on. Yeah we will see how long that lasts. But the funniest part of the whole thing was when I picked him up from school. He jumped in the car and showed me his teeth and said "Mom MOM look my space is already so much smaller, I bet it will be fixed by morning and I can get them off". Ha ha little does he know it will be a lot longer than that. Then we got to deal with McKenna and Aspen crying because they want braces. Mckenna cried and told me she hates her straight teeth. Kids are so funny. But I remember those funny feeling. When Laurie and Brady got glasses when I was five, I wanted to lie to the eye doctor and tell her I couldn't see anything because I wanted glasses too. Good times! This picture was taken in the car on the way for Sage to get a hair cut. He kept his mouth open the whole time so he could look in the mirror at his teeth. Sage your darling!!

Today was a pretty crazy day. Sages baseball teem had a pizza party at a restaurant. I was emotionally drained at this time of night. It took two hours to get our pizza. My kids were pretty good but its still hard to be out to eat with kids no matter how good they are. By the end I was just done and ready to go. It seemed really hard to box up the food, go pay the bill, and get the kids out to the car. But all the sudden I looked up and it was the best feeling in the world. I was saved. I saw Nate walking towards us. He remembered where I told him we were eating and when he got home and we were not there he decided to come find us. I was so overcome with the love I have for him. He had been up sense three in the morning and it was now eight at night and I couldn't believe he came to help me take kids home. I stood up and walked to him and gave him the biggest hug ever. I was soooo happy to see him. I was just amazed he would do that. I was just supposed to see him when we got home. I am so lucky to have him. It was a great end to my emotionally tiring day. He was so happy and it really raised my spirits. When we got home I went straight up stairs to change and then came downstairs to find the kids and him. It was so cute, I looked outside and they were all on the tramp wrestling. I love sitting back and watching those special moments. I love Nate and the kids so much!!!

Family dinner...

We were sitting in church Sunday and Nate told me we were invited to dinner at his moms. I was so excited. We had a wonderful dinner. Tasha and Matt and their kids came too. It was a really warm day, so after we ate we went outside. We brought out a rocket for the kids to play with, and sat on blankets and visited. Sage shot the rocket on the roof just like Ed predicted. We were all laughing, so Nate was the hero and got on the roof to get it. It was so fun to be with family and the people who love you the most. The kids loved playing out side in nice weather for a change and we ate strawberry shortcake on the lawn (my favorite!!). Its those little moment, sitting with family when you look around and count your blessings for such a great life.

Aspen told me she couldn't smile good for the camera because it was too shinny. I see her point. Poor Tate is getting blinded


Aspen had so much fun helping grandma with dessert. She kept eating all the strawberries.



I guess Nate thought he would be more like a hero if he took his shirt off. Hey who am I to complain. I should have slipped Sage a twenty to shoot another rocket on the roof! (he he)

Date night with Sage..

It was Sage's turn for date night Friday with Nate and I. It was perfect timing because he had a baseball game at 6:30. Sages teem is the youngest in the league and we thought they might struggle winning any games seeing how the team is made up of mostly kids who are seven. Other teams have most kids being nine years old. Amazingly the Astros have won three out of four games. Last night was so exciting. Sage has improved so much. He stole all the bases, it was so neat. I was jumping up and down in the bleachers the whole game. I surprised myself how into it I got. I have really always loved the game of baseball!
After the big win, Sage won a medal for "best hustle". Nate and I took him to dinner. Then he wanted to see a movie. It was so fun to be with him. He had a million questions and loved being the only kid to get all the attention. We are so proud of the wonderful boy Sage is. He tries so hard to be good and please us.

Conference

Conference was so amazing this year. We started the morning with our traditional "conference breakfast". We had our famous sticky buns, eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, sausage, juice, and hot chocolate. It was great. The only thing I forgot was the fruit and dip. But the kids loved it. I am so happy they look forward to conference as much as I do. We invited Grandpa Ted and Grandma and Grandpa Anderson over to be with us. I could not have been more proud of the kids. We had puzzles and coloring books out for them. They were quiet the whole first session. I was amazed. The best part was cuddling with them. Each one wanted a turn and came and laid by me. We tickled backs and arms, and Sage wanted to brush my hair. It was awesome feeling that connection with them, while listening to such wonderful talks. I loved the talk about mothers. It made me see things I want to do better and things I'm glad that I do. I want to cherish all the "little moments" in life. We can't ever get some of them back. But hopefully we can always remember them.

I feel so blessed to have the beliefs I do. I have seen so many miracles in my life lately and I am so grateful. I have always loved President Monson. I look forward to see all the amazing things he will do and how I know he will lead us. I remember the day I met him and shaking his hand. He was so sweet and he has a light that bounces off of him. He is incredible. I am so grateful he is our prophet.

Grandpa Ted and I ended his visit with a wonderful conversation. He has so much wisdom and love for his family. It was great to see him. Seeing him every Sunday latley has done a lot for him, me and the kids. We have grown so much closer to him.

It was such a relaxing day. The kids and I went for a long walk with the puppies during sessions. After the second session we popped pop corn and watch Bridge to Teribethia and of course we all cried. Then we went up to my grandmas and saw her and my aunts. I have always loved Sundays because it is our day to visit loved ones. But today was ecspecially neat.

Tooth Fairy..

A major event happened for McKenna this weekend. She lost her two front teeth. She was so cute and funny about the whole thing. She had a million questions about the tooth fairy.
Mckenna : Who is the tooth fairy?
Me: A cute tiny fairy that loves to leave kids prizes under there pillows at night.
Mckenna: Where does she live?
Me: Toothopiea
McKenna: What does she do with all the teeth she gets?
Me: She makes her castle out of them.
McKenna: That must be a huge castle if she uses every ones teeth.
Mckenna: But I don't know where my tooth is, I lost it. Now she won't come.
Me: Oh yes she will, shes like Santa. She knows everything. She knows where you lost it and will find it and I bet she will even leave an extra prize because she knows your so worried about it.
Mckenna: (Crying) But I think its lost in between the seats in the car. Her arms wont reach, and she wont get it.
Me: Yes she will, shes magic and her arms stretch.
Mckenna: Does she love me? Does she want to come to my house and get my teeth?
Me: Yes she thinks your darling. And she loves to come and see you and get your teeth.

Feww we had quite the conversation about her. Hopefully I will keep my story straight for the next time she looses a tooth. I love these moments with my kids. They are the conversations I hope I never forget. She was so excited waking up and running to tell me the tooth fairy didn't forget about her.

No school..

Today was a great day! The kids did not have school because it was the end of the term. We were able to sleep in for a change. We went to the gym so I could get my running in, then it was off to the park. We picked up Raegan and packed some lunches and we were set. The kids had so much fun playing together. We stayed for a little over two hours. Its amazing how a day in the sun lifts every ones spirits after having such cold weather lately. I was so grateful for a day with no lessons and carpools or places I had to be. Just a free day to play and enjoy my amazing kids.

Date Night

Nate and I had a great date night on Friday. I am so happy we have our co-op. It allows us to go on a date three Friday's out of the month. Nate and I were getting a little bored with dinner and a movie every week. We were in the mood for something new. It worked out great, some of our favorite friends invited us up to their house for a barbaque and to play our favorite game settlers. It was the best. We had awesome food and they popped my favorite popcorn followed with ice cream. Not to mention the salsa, I think I ate most of it all by myself. We had so much fun visiting and just being with them. It made me really look at all the blessings I have in life. As Nate and I drove home, we talked about how it was one of our favorite nights being with such wonderful friends. It was so much more fun than our typical movie and dinner dates. I am so grateful for the friends I have in our life and am so blessed to know the people I do. Thanks friends!!!