It's a 4 Ring Circus!

be thankful

God has blessed us all with much to be thankful for.  See you after Thanksgiving!

building up the kids

Josh joyfully helped clean up the kitchen after dinner last night, with the promise that Daddy would do some K'Nex building with him.  The sisters got in on the action, too.

"To you who are fathers of boys or who are leaders of boys, I say, strive to be the kind of example the boys need. The father, of course, should be the prime example, and the boy who is blessed with a worthy father is fortunate indeed."     --Thomas S. Monson

Sunday thoughts

We attended our old ward in Encinitas today.  There are some pretty great people there, and they are always so great to us.  One of the speakers today was talking about the importance of mothers and fathers, and it got me thinking about our family's particular situation.  It seems like Heavenly Father has guided me into some strange places and circumstances, but it always teaches me something that I couldn't have appreciated any other way.  Certainly I have been seeing for myself how important the ideal is of a family with a father at the head and a mother to nurture.  We have been managing ok with Ryan out in CA during the week, but it is so much better for everyone when he is home with the rest of us.  (And, AHEM, I can see that he does better with a wife around to make a house into a home.)  It was always meant to be that way.

dad's day

I'm a lucky girl.
Somehow between the two of us,

,

we came up with this

and I've never been happier.
Ryan is a really great father, so tender and loving.  And we've discovered he does a great night shift at the hospital.  He works hard to provide for his family and loves to see his kids happy.

Have you read the report from the Church's February Worldwide Leadership Training -- Building Up a Righteous Posterity?  Really good stuff in there!

After pondering that and Father's Day, I think that one of the lessons my kids will learn from watching their parents is that two people can come together with similar goals, and even though they will go about things in totally different ways, they can work together and with God's help, make something beautiful happen.

Mother's Day

Wow, I actually had a great Mother's Day weekend!  Last year was famously the worst Mother's Day ever (it included burning the brakes out on my brother's van), so I was a little fearful.  However, this year couldn't have been better.  Saturday I got to leave and be out all day with a friend.  We went to the temple and had some funny times there (started by missing our session by 10 minutes, then having the cutest old lady trying to hook us up with her pretty good looking grandson).  Then we went out to eat and shopped for a few hours before she dragged me away to go home to our respective broods.  Then behold, I came home to find that Ryan had finally figured out what the best MD gift in the world really is -- coming home to the cleanest home you've ever seen!  He roped the kids into helping, and they even vacuumed under the couch and, gasp, cleaned out the microwave!

It also included some other goodies:

(Ryan with the mask Delaney made with her girls group at church)

(simple explanations of love)

(my favorite, red roses)

(more goodies from Aunt Karyna)

(and Josh's present, a set of fingerprints from himself and Uncle Ben, "in case they ever do something evil")

And I always get a card from my own mother.  Isn't that nice?  She sacrificed so much to always put her kids first . . . a great model for motherhood.

For me, I always think to myself that being a mother saved me.  It has improved me and shaped me in ways that could not have happened any other way.

I hope you all had the best Mother's Day ever!  If not, there is always next year!  :-D  (believe me, I know -- last year I specifically forbade the holiday from being celebrated ever again . . . )

wild toddler on the loose

Sometimes it's just good to take a little run around the yard first thing in the morning.

Oh, did I say first thing in the morning?  Ahem.  More like 10 am.  Felt like first thing in the morning.

And yes -- that paint on the arm?  Totally from yesterday.

But alas, we did enjoy our "day off" yesterday.  And she looks pretty happy, no?  Awhile after this it was time to start our running around for the day (dance class, doctor appointment, TaeKwonDo testing), and the smile faded a bit.

I think we might need an extended beach vacation or something.

that quote

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is.  It all works out.   Don't worry.  I say that to myself every morning.  It will all work out.  If you do your best, it will all work out.  Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future.  The Lord will not forsake us.  He will not forsake us...If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

Gordon B. Hinckley

That is the outlook I like to have on life, and it really does help me to keep things in perspective.
Listening to U2 kinda loud (the kids are in bed after all) and eating a Cadbury creme egg also help.
Chins up!

HAPPY DAY to my Sadie Sue

(Ava loves to say "Happy Day!" when it's someone's birthday.  Or when she thinks  it's someone's birthday.  Or when she sees a present.  Or something shaped like a birthday hat.  So, HAPPY DAY!!)

Ah, my little Sadie Sue.  Her name is actually Sadie Kate, and when she came home from the hospital as a newborn, Delaney immediately started calling her "Baby Sadie Katie."

I was so excited for her to be born.  I had had some issues between Delaney and Sadie, and was a bit fearful that we were done having babies.  But then came Sadie.  And I cherished every little moment with her, and smelled that baby smell extra deeply.

She was spoiled by her daddy from the get-go . . . he does have a thing for little girl babies.

She has always been the smiliest, happiest little kid.  And who could forget all of that spiky, black hair?

enjoying her first birthday cupcake

I can remember that she never wanted to be put down.  She was the sweetest thing, as long as I was holding her!  I went out of town for a couple of days when she was about 18 months old, and by the time it was time for me to come home, my left hip felt crooked because it missed carrying a baby around!

2nd birthday, the Pony cakes

As she  grows older, she just gets spunkier and more determined every day.

3rd birthday, with her Big Wheels that she wanted

She is actually a pretty good mix of girly princess and dirtmonger.  She managed to bring Delaney around to the girly side, which I was grateful for.

4th birthday, the "Libby Lu at Home" party!

This last year you've blossomed in so many ways.  Even in the face of great suffering, you managed to stay mostly happy and even told your Dad and I on a few occasions not to worry, everything would be OK.

I'm glad that you were right.

Happy 5th birthday to my crazy, fun-loving little sweetie!  Your precious giggle could brighten the darkest of days!  I love you ~~~

inefficiency

I guess I should probably just cave in, and be one of "those" mothers.
A Crust Cutter.

thought for the day

As we were taking down our Christmas tree (prematurely, due to my dang cat not being able to resist climbing it to the top), listening to Three Dog Night really loud, with my girls headbanging in their ballerina costumes, I realized we may not be normal.