Something Cute

The other day I was driving down the freeway and came upon a couple riding a motorcycle. They looked a little rough -n- tough, as motorcycle couples sometimes do, but as I got right next to them, I saw the woman in the back reach up and put her arm around the man's waist in an affectionate way. The man immediately reached down and patted her leg. It was only a quick thing, but I could tell they were expressing some tender feelings. It was super cute.

Words of Wisdom from a Child and some other thoughts

So I kind of have a tiny bit of a temper. OK, so I know some of you are thinking that this is an understatement but just go with me on this one. I have good intentions, I really do, but I try so hard to be the nice girl for so long until one day it just all blows up in somebody's face. Unfortunately, these days my poor children are the lucky ones who get to deal with the improper channeling of my emotions. But today was different. I had been praying all day long for patience and for the ability to react with calmness and it was working. I even called Jeff to tell him how good I was doing. But when I got up from feeding Lane on the couch and turned to walk into the kitchen and saw Cade with his hands in a big container of salsa (which was gotten out of the fridge by his older sister - unbeknownst to me) I kind of lost it for a second. He had been enjoying his snack for a few minutes already and had thrown salsa across the kitchen several times and it was all over 3 chairs, the table, the floor, part of the wall, and some blinds. I got a little upset with Maddie but then quickly regrouped and started cleaning it up. But then when I heard Cade screaming in the living room and turned to see Cole and Cade pushing each other, all the while being basically on top of Lane, I really lost it. It was not my proudest moment, that is for sure. I will spare you the details but when I realized my good day was quickly becoming a bad one, Cole & Cade were taken to their beds until "Mommy could calm down"and be rational. I went back into the kitchen to clean up and Mads came into the kitchen to help. By then, I felt really stupid for getting so upset about nothing. Maddie started talking to me and this is about how it went:

M: Mom, I'm sorry I got the salsa out.
Me: Well, it's OK if you want to eat salsa, I just want you to ask first. And then please put it away when you're finished.
M: I will. But ya know, it's not the end of the world. (mind you, I have said those words to her dozens of times)
Me: You're right, Madlyn. It isn't. Sometimes Mommy gets a little too upset about things.
M: It doesn't matter how big of a mistake you make, it's not the end of the world.

I immediately felt the truth of her words and I was so happy to think that maybe she was internalizing that concept and realizing that no matter what mistakes we make, it doesn't diminish our value as a person, and we can always repent. After that, I went and made my amends with the boys and recommitted myself to working hard to be a more patient wife and mother.

Also while we were cleaning, Lane started to get fussy. Madlyn asked me,

"Do you want me to help clean up or help take care of Lane?"

She is such an amazing girl and is always so willing to help out. I almost feel like I ask her to do too much because she will actually do it. The other day we were making homemade applesauce (after a few days of her asking to do it) and it was taking a while for me to get the apples peeled, cored, and sliced. She said,

"I'm sorry this is taking so long, Mom. I really don't want you to get exhausted."

We are so blessed to have such a special little girl and I definitely don't feel good enough to be her mother - maybe it should have been the other way around.

I am proud to say that I held my temper for the rest of the day and even bedtime was successful. Now all 4 kids are in peaceful slumber and life is looking good. Wish me luck for tomorrow!!

Camera Incompetent

For those of you who were wondering, I am well aware of the fact that I have no clue what I am doing with a camera. First off, I have no natural ability or interest whatsoever in photography, and secondly, I have no training at all. I guess I did take a Humanities class at Ricks, where I learned to divide my photo window into thirds and to position things in one of the thirds. But that is absolutely the only thing I have ever learned when it comes to taking a picture, beyond pointing and clicking. So I sincerely apologize to all of you pros out there who might be stopping by to visit my blog. I have seen your blogs and I know the amazing things you do with your cameras and I'm sure it pains you to see my pathetic attempts to capture our lives on film.

With that being said, know that I am {now} completely comfortable with my incompetency in this area. I have come to the realization that while I do not possess the photography talent, there are other areas of expertise that I can claim. So, just in case you wanted to know, here's what I do instead of taking pictures:

I am a baker - I make a mean chocolate chip cookie, chicken pot pie, and homemade bread

I am a fast reader and I'm a good speller

I remember things: dates, phone numbers, trivia, etc.

I can sing

I can play the piano

I am a fast typer

In general, I can keep my house pretty clean

I am good at math

I like to write and have sometimes turned out some pretty decent words

I can shoot hoops with the best of them (including my brothers, dad, husband, and father-in-law, who still holds the record at his high school for most free throws in a row)

I am a mom (whether I'm good at it or not is irrelevant, I think there is talent in just the being)

So there you have it. Just in case you were wondering.

Thankful Thursday

I have been feeling overwhelmed lately with the many blessings that are abundant in our life. There are too many to list, but I'm going to at least document a few (in no particular order):

• our extended family members, who always give us so much love & support, even though they don't live near
• my mom, who came & stayed with us for a few days after Lane was born and basically saved my sanity by making meals, playing with the kids, cleaning my kitchen, and being my listening ear
  
• Jeff's mom, who has also helped us out by making meals, watching the kids so I can do homework (and also a ton of babysitting while I went to my testing at the hospital & other doctor's visits), cleaning my kitchen, and being on the lookout for decorations for my AWESOME Christmas tree that scares me to think about decorating by myself
• these cute dimples, because they help me to stop thinking about all the messes that have been, are currently, and will be created by this kid
  

• good friends & neighbors (including 2 who have recently had babies of their own) who have brought meals to our family - I have really been spoiled
• good friends & neighbors who have spent countless hours watching my kids while I have gone to doctor's appointments, hospital visits, and just so I could have a little bit of time alone to get things done
• these four amazing children who give me lots of reasons to smile & laugh every day
  

• my good health & speedy recovery - I feel really good and was actually thinking about going running this weekend (we'll see)
• a beautiful new baby boy, who is just an angel and we love him to pieces!
• Halloween is almost a year away; although I love the kickoff to the holiday season, it is not my favorite holiday by any stretch of the imagination and I feel badly that I don't have more fun dressing my kids up...but aren't they cute anyway?
  

• 

• my thoughtful, charming, amazing, hardworking husband: not only has he been dealing with the craziness of a household with a newborn, he finished studying for and took a huge professional exam 2 weeks ago, he goes to work early & often comes home late (today he put in about 15 hours), and he still manages to be the best dad to our children and the best husband to me
• the Gospel of Jesus Christ that makes it all worthwhile

HSM3

Yesterday evening, we took the kids to see High School Musical 3 at the Gateway IMAX theater. We were literally the ONLY ones in the theater, it was so nice. We had all 4 kids with us so it turned out to be a big blessing because by the end, Cole & especially Cade were a little restless. They ended up running up and down the stairs and down the rows for the last 15 minutes or so. Maddie loved the movie and even moved up to the 2nd row so she could be a little bit closer to the action. Little Lane did amazingly well and slept through the majority of the movie.

We didn't like this one as well as the 1st and 2nd, although it was still good. The music wasn't quite as catchy or fun but the costumes and choreography were way over the top. I left the theater wanting to do what I always want to do after watching musicals: learn how to really dance and dance with Jeff. Unfortunately, every time I ask him if it looks like 'so much fun', he answers with a resounding NO. One of these days I'll change his mind, I just know it!

Anyways, it was a fun night and I'm glad we got to take the kids - they definitely love going to the movies!

Tuesdays with Tressa

Here's the post where I let you into my mind for a few moments and you get to see, if even for a moment, what goes on in there. It promises to be boring for some of you, but it is a good outlet for me, so read on...or not.

We live in a scary world. And today has been a little more frightening than most. Over the entire course of this past year, the one recurring thought that I've had is: 'What happened in the scriptures when there was a ruler who ruled unrighteously?' The answer that I've come up with is this: 'Either the righteous become wicked or they are persecuted for their righteousness.' So, as one who strives hard to be counted among the righteous, I'm a little concerned about our newly elected leader.

I had a little conversation with my 15-year old brother today and I was impressed with him. He expressed his own concern about the election results and had some very mature insights about it all. We talked about how we will not be forsaken, no matter how difficult times may be, as long as we remain faithful.

A person could really fall into the 'depths of despair' about the world today. There is uncertainty and wickedness all around us. But...as we have always been admonished by the prophets and other Church leaders, we need to be optimistic and have faith in a Heavenly Father who loves us and will not leave us comfortless.

"To despair is to turn your back on God."
- Marilla Cuthbert, Anne of Green Gables

Our Little Man

You were worried that I wouldn't even be able to do two days in a row, huh? Well, here it is. Day 2 of posting, and you might even get lucky and get another post today...we'll have to see how lucky you really are.

So here's Lane this afternoon. He has really started to be alert and loves to watch everything that's going on around him, and let me tell you, that is a lot. The poor guy must be wondering what kind of place he came to :)

My little stud muffin...don't you just want to kiss those cheeks?

I was holding him today while he was sleeping and Maddie and I were just laughing at all of his funny faces he was making. He would do this huge grin, then he would crinkle his nose, then he would scowl, etc. etc. etc. It really was about the cutest thing ever.

I feel so blessed to have this precious little boy in our home. I am really trying to treasure these moments with him as a baby because I know that one of these days I will blink and he will be a 20 pound toddler...and the next time I blink he will be starting school...and on and on it will go.

We are so grateful that Lane seems to be healthy and thriving, although the little worries keep coming up. Lane is just the sweetest little angel boy and we all adore him! It is so fun to watch all 3 of the older kids try to take care of him; even Cadeson is learning how to be a good big brother. We just love him so much & are so thankful to have him in our family!!

Monday down Memory Lane

Since my posting has been a little sporadic lately and I haven't been good at getting pictures up, I have a new goal to see how many days in a row I can post something. This post won't have any pictures but I promise to post new pictures as soon as I get my camera batteries charged.

Today's chattering is dedicated to my wonderful husband Jeff. It was 8 years ago today that we officially started dating. On that night, Jeff picked me up from work and we went back to his house and watched Pure Country together. We realized on our first date that we had a mutual fondness for George Strait but I had never seen the movie so Jeff made it his duty to introduce it to me for the first time :) I thought it was very thoughtful and loved it.

It was that night that Jeff held my hand for the first time (he maintains his position that I had been playing hard-to-get on our other dates - I wasn't). After the movie, we sat in his parents' basement and talked for a few more hours, until 3 in the morning. It was all downhill from there. From that point on, we basically saw each other every day until we were married, and it has only gotten better since then.

I will say that I did not expect to fall so hard for Jeff. In fact, I didn't even want to go on the first date with him (it was a blind date so that had nothing to do with him personally) but I knew he was special the moment I saw him. And I am so glad that he felt the same way, even though I pretty much made a fool of myself at the end of our date when I said something stupid. (If you really want to know what I said, you'll have to ask me in person...it's a little too dumb to let the whole world see).

So, to the best friend and husband a girl could ask for: thanks for the best 8 years of my life and I'm looking forward to an eternity full of memories with you!!