Quiet

Today, I am grateful for quiet. Right now my kids are taking a nap. It is so quiet in the house. It is so peaceful, so calm. I love it. I should probably take a nap, but I wont, too much to do. That is one of the best things about going to the temple. The quiet. I am a person that doesn't like silence a lot. When I clean or do projects, I turn on a movie or an Office episode to have background noise. I like background noise I guess is what it really is. But right now, with no noise (especially not tantrums) it is really nice and I am really diggin' it. Maybe I will try to have more of these quiet times in the future. I am grateful for quiet.

Motivation

Today, I am grateful for motivation. I have been recently reminded of some projects that I have never finished, but need to. Some have been sewing projects, others are organizational project. With an upcoming week at my mothers, I think I am going to try to finish some of my projects. One of those being my temple apron. I got the kit for that the Christmas before I got married and it still sits in my sewing box, waiting to be finished. That is 5 years! I can't believe I have not finished it. What a procrastinator?! And if the reminders of what I haven't finished isn't enough of a motivation, I have now thought up some new projects to do next week. I am motivated to get them done though. Only time will tell if this motivated feeling actually gets me to do something, but I really want to get these projects done and out of my "to do" pile. I am grateful for motivation

Fresh

Today I am grateful to start anew. I just got home today from watching my brother's children. We had a lot of fun and I learned a lot about what it takes to be a mom of six kids and if I really want to do that. If I can be as organized and my children as disciplined as those four were, I think I can make it. I just need to do it gradually, not all at once. But now that I am home, I am excited to start anew with my schedule (even though it will all get messed up next week when I staying with my mom while Matt is on a road trip with his brothers). I guess it is really going to be implemented in two weeks, but I am going to spend the week planning it out and making it something the children and I can do. After watching the supernanny for a couple of months now, I have realized how much I really need to do this. I have two very great kids, and in order to keep them great, I need to step up to the plate a little more. I am looking forward to planning out a learning schedule for Beckett. I have a friend that started a blog about this very thing. I love it! It has really helped me to come up with how to teach Beckett, which has been something that I have really struggled with. I have been asking my mom for ideas as well. If any of you other moms or elementary teachers have any ideas on teaching toddlers or creating a routine. I would really appreciate it. This will be a good step for me as a mom. I am grateful to start anew.


P.S. I am sorry to disappoint you all, but I am not going to make up all those days that I missed. I know, it is horrible news, but I can't really remember the last few days, so I am just going to let it slide.

Sisters

Today, I am grateful for my sisters. I am very close to my sisters. They are my best friends. I do a lot with them. I always have a blast with them. We can be so silly sometimes and just laugh our guts out. We love to watch the Cosby Show together and Pirates of Penzance. I totally trust them with watching my kids. In fact, when they can't, I always have trouble thinking of who I can call next. Not that there isn't anybody I could call, I just can't think of any because I am so used to calling my sisters. I feel like I understand them and they get me so well. I didn't always have a good relationship with my older sister and that was hard on me, but now we are so close that I it makes up for all of those years we didn't get along. It is probably one of my dreams that have actually come true. My little sister and I have just always gotten along and that has been great too. I was her 2nd mother for a long time, which I think is one reason why we get along so well. Also, where I am not like one sister, I am like the other. It is so nice to be so close to both of my sisters. Earlier today, I went to a sealing of a cousin and got talking to my other cousin, the sister of the one getting married. She was saying that she was crying in her sleep because she was going to miss her sister so much. It reminded me of the night before I got married. All three of us slept in my older sister's bed. It is one of my favorite memories I have of us together (not to mention the fact that I had to sleep on the end of the bed with my face half off because our reception was the night before and I couldn't mess up my hair). I am grateful for my sisters.

Missed again

Yesterday, I wanted to say that I am thankful for spring time. I love all of the seasons for different reasons. Each one has its own beauty. What I love about spring is what is going on right now, when everything is in bloom and the trees have popcorn all over them, especially the pink popcorn trees. (I just have to say when we bought our house, I was so excited that we had a pink popcorn tree in our yard) I love how green and refreshing everything is. I love all the pretty flowers and their bright colors. I love the feeling of stepping outside into the sunshine and the goosebumps I get because of the warmth. I love the smell in the air - blossoms, flowers, fresh cut grass. It is like the whole world is clean after the snow has melted and the spring rains are gone. It is so beautiful and it renews my soul to look outside at it. I am thankful for spring time.





Today, I am grateful for my husband. I guess it is about time I got sappy again. He has worked so hard since I stopped working to stay home and have kids. He loves me no matter how bad my mood is. He understands me so well, even when I don't think he really does. He has taught me so much about faith and that things will always work out for our best (there have been times that his faith has gotten on my nerves and I just wanted him to worry a little, but in the end it always did work out). He still finds me sexy after two kids. He listens to my ridiculous questions that he knows he can't answer, but still humors me. He puts up with the fact that I start talking to him mid-thought instead of giving him a little background about what I have been thinking. He even tries to figure out what I could be thinking about instead of acting like I'm a loony and getting upset with me. He has a true passion for cars. Even though it does get on my nerves from time to time, I do appreciate it. I admire his desire to learn all he can about cars. I can't think of any hobby that I am that interested in. He tries to do what he can to help me when I am stressed. He takes the kids upstairs to play to give me a little "me time". He loves me all the time (even the stinky times). He tries to make me laugh when I am upset or angry. When he apologizes, he means it. Anyway, this list could go on and on. I am grateful for my husband.

3 in 1

Okay, so this last weekend was a little crazy. We started watching my brother's kids yesterday while they are in Hawaii this week (lucky dogs), so I was running around getting ready for this week. That is why I haven't blogged for the last few days.

So on Saturday, I was grateful for Beckett sitting on his potty. No, he didn't "go", but he did sit on it, with his pants off. The diaper was still on, but the pants were off. We have been reading a Kermit the Frog potty training book to him for last week or so, and Friday night, he asked to sit on the potty. So we all jumped up and ran into the bathroom. When we got in there, he wanted to get into the tub. The only reason I can come up for that is that he has pooped in the tub a couple of times (and yes, it was disgusting) and so he thinks that is a potty. Then I tried to get him on the big potty, but that didn't go over well. Luckily, we had purchased a little potty like a week earlier, but I hadn't opened it yet. So, naturally I ripped that sucker open and put it together as fast as I could. He loved it. He thought he was pretty hot stuff. On Saturday, after he woke up, he wanted to sit on it again, and then he wanted to take it in the living room to sit on while he watched a movie. Of course I had to put my foot down on that. The potty has to stay in the bathroom. (I never thought I would have to make that one our family rules, but it is now) So, we are a step closer to potty training. I am a little excited to get started on this. I am not looking forward to the accidents, but only one child in diapers is a big plus. I am grateful for Beckett sitting on the potty.

Yesterday, I was grateful for a new apostle. We had stake conference and the new apostle, Elder Neil L. Anderson, spoke at it. He did a wonderful job and sounds like he is going to be a great apostle (not that anyone called to the position wouldn't be great). He sounds like such a loving man and very encouraging. What a blessing to have a new apostle called after one passes away?! The church doesn't die just because the apostles do. It lives on through continued revelation and calling new apostles and prophets. How wonderful! I am grateful for a new apostle.

Today, I am grateful that my brother's children are so easy to take care of. This morning, I got out of bed at 7:30, the time my sister-in-law told me to get up. I was expecting a chaotic is morning, rushing around getting the kids ready for school. I was so wrong. I knew that Ben's kids got up early on their own, but I didn't know that they would get completely ready all by themselves. I was amazed. I only had to straighten Brookelyn's hair. I didn't even have to fix breakfast. And the children were totally ready way early. I think I might be able to handle being a mother of 6 for a week. I might be singing a different tune later on, but right now I am thinking I will be able to do just fine. I am grateful that my brother's children are so easy to take care of.

Cuddling and snuggling

Today I am grateful for cuddling and snuggling. I am a lazy person. I'm not going to lie. I love to stay in bed as long as I can each morning. I could get up with Matt and start my day before the kids get up and get some dishes done or straighten up the living room before the kids mess it up again, but I don't. I would much rather stay in bed. I do justify my laziness by the fact that Belle still wakes up in the night and so I need to sleep in to make up for it. Part of that is true, but I only get like a half hour more. But there is one major perk to my laziness. Beckett comes in my room after he wakes up and cuddles with me in bed for like 10 minutes. Some mornings when Belle wakes up early, I cuddle with her in my bed too. I love it. I can see myself in the future with all of my kids snuggled down in my bed. (If so, I think Matt and I are going to have to get a King size bed, which I have no problem with) Cuddling and snuggling is such a great way to start the day. I do love to do that with Matt too, but most mornings (as stated earlier) I am not alive when he wakes up. I get that in at night before we go to sleep. I don't like going to sleep without it. I am grateful for cuddling and snuggling.