Pics of the week.

I know you are missing us on Facebook. Funny thing is that I am not missing Facebook. Sure, it's fun to post and see what you all are up to, but I feel like I have more time for other things, like texting, and being more with Ellis. And I'm not missing the politics at negativity. 

Here is my week in pictures:

A photo I texted my sister earlier this week. 

Ellis entertaining us while waiting to get taxes done. 

From my Twitter feed.  Astronaut @StationCDRKelly on the international space station posts cool pics. 

Lots of deer by my school. 

He's so big, no?

Lunch with friends Saturday. 

Polar Express for the millionth time. 

Ellis is the master of the selfie. 

Reub is the master of Valentine's

This is what happens when E refuses to nap all afternoon. Sleeping at 6:30. 

Good week. Glad to have tomorrow off. No plans. Maybe a road trip. Maybe a nap. The possibilities are endless. 

. 

 

Lent

So. I once was Catholic. It seems like a long time ago, yet not that long ago. I now have been a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints(Mormon) more of my life than I haven't been. That is quite a milestone. 

I was reminded of that special change in my life as I was able to be at the baptism of a dear friend and co-worker this past weekend. As he was lifted out of the water, I had a flood of memories to the day I also came out of the waters of baptism a new person. 

Now, I was only perfect for probably a few minutes that day, but really I was a different person when I came out of that water than I had been when I entered it. 

Life seemed to be better and easier. Sure, life is never perfect or always easy, but I felt as if life has always been more manageable and bearable since I made sacred covenants with God and have accepted His help and guidance in my journey here on earth. 

I don't speak a lot publicaly about my spiritual philosophies. I think this has a lot to do in this politically correct society that we now live in.  See, often times faith and beliefs are put down because they may seem to some as old fashioned, silly or "offensive." People who happen to be Christian and faithful are seen as not with the times and weird, even though I feel we happen to still be a majority in society, it just isn't politically correct anymore to talk about it. 

Talk of religious acceptance these days seems to only include those who are practicing anything other than Christianity. Please don't mention Jesus Christ or God in our schools or government but feel free to spend lots of time and energy teaching about religious minorities. (I won't get too political here, even though I really would like to.)

Easter has been big to me ever since I figured out the role of my Savior in my life. It isn't about the delicious Peeps or Cadbury eggs, but rather about that empty tomb and the fact that Christ died so that we may live again.  This life isn't it. It just can't be. The sorrows and pains just don't seem justified, if not to teach us something and prepare us for something better and richer after this life. That is why I celebrate Lent. 

I give something up to make me remember the sacrifice that Christ made both in the Garden and on the Cross. Now, giving up Facebook may seem like a big deal but Christ took upon him all our pains, sorrows, disappointments and sufferings so that if we choose to turn to him, we don't have to suffer nearly as bad as we could. He also made it possible for us to be able to live eternally and make it back to our Heavenly Father even though we are imperfect and always fall short. 

This is why I will sacrifice reading my news feed every morning and do other things instead like meditate and ponder the greatness of God!

So, sorry if you will miss my silly posts and quotes but this is bigger than that. Forty days isn't anything when you look at this bigger picture, don't you think?

I'll try to post on here videos and pictures of Ellis. He's really the star of my posts anyway, right?

Maybe you will be inspired to give up something for the next 40 days, even if it is as simple as trying to be nicer or more positive. You might even try to swear less or eat less chocolate. Just remember that you are a blessed person and that life really is good. 

Bless you my friends. And Happy Lent!

A little poem.

I wrote this last week for a writing group I had planned to go to. Unfortunately, I got the plague a few hours before and wasn't able to go. I wanted to post this last week but ya know, had the plague. Sorry. But here, enjoy: 

Please, Please, Slowly Grow Up

I won't remember every moment 

Time seems to fly by,

Like a rocket at supersonic speed

Every giggle makes me smile

Every pat on my leg

Leaves a lasting impression on my heart and soul

Reminding me how much I love you

Sometimes filling sippy cups 

And giving baths 

Seem taxing and like too much

But I need to remember the thank yous

And the sound of pure pleasure 

Radiating from you as you splash and splash 

And how you won't always need me

Soon it will be handing over the keys 

And parent-teacher conferences

You not so interested in cuddles, hugs, or kisses. 

So now, I sneak extra minutes each night 

Holding you while we rock

Imprinting your tiny face on my memory. 

For too soon

Memories will be all I have. 

Sleep softly tonight 

And please, please, slowly grow up!

      

One Little Word...

Ellis and I were just having a little fun with the camera on my computer.  Blog exclusive photos:

Life has been great around here lately.  As I always say: "Just livin' the dream."  It is rarely a nightmare, so that is a good thing.  Winter is here and I never know what to do with myself during the winter.  Walks don't happen, it's cold, and I'm tired.  Okay, so I am probably always tired because of the little human growing inside of my body, but hey, winter is tiring!

We found out that we are having a baby girl, she's due on May 30th, which is four days after my school's graduation.  Let's hope that baby girl doesn't come that exact night.

I am thinking that I am going to make a goal to do better at posting on here regularly.  I had that last little meeting with my writing class from last summer on Friday night, it was definitely bitter-sweet.  Sweet because I loved getting to see all their faces and being able to write and share with them. Bitter because it was our last get-together through The Central Utah Writing Project.  Going there made me think about how much I love writing and how I need to do lots more of it because it makes me happy. We all should be doing more of the things that makes us happy.  We are often surrounded by things that are distracting and really don't make us truly happy.  I want to be less distracted.  So, each week, expect a post.  But, if I get bad at it, I am not going to beat myself up.  I am just going to re-focus and try again for the next week.  Wednesday is officially, Writing Wednesday.  Posts will come on that day.

So, now you have something to look forward to, don't you?  That always helps out with Winter Blahs too, I have found!

Today,  I thought I would post one of the things I wrote at my little writing get together.  We were to pick One Little Word that we wanted to focus on this year.  Here is what I wrote:

I'm not one that commitment comes easy to, and one little word seems like much too little to have for the whole year.  A word that comes to mind, though, is Relax, which comes to mind from my ever so wise and good looking "friend," Aaron Rodgers(he's the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, for those non-sporty spices among you.).

See, the Packers went 6-0 at the beginning of the season and then took a three game losing nose dive. In press conference after press conference, this captain of the team would say: "Relax."  And it was not just in a lower-case kind of a way, but in an upper case, speaking volumes kind of a way, still with a gentle calm in his deep voice:  RELAX.

I think about this now because I have a very rowdy 8th period Health class, that I am teaching and any word comes to mind that is the exact opposite of relax.  Words like: annoyed, agitated, and tense come to mind, when I think of that crew.

This was demonstrated as the nurse at my midwife appointment took my blood pressure this past week.  She was talking to me while the cuff was expanding and asked the dangerous question: "How was your day?,"  just after I had one of my worst days at work in a long time and just forty-five minutes after I was with the hoodlums of 8th hour.  186/100.  High for me and definitely out of athe healthy range!

She was sure it was a fluke, after checking my chart.  After realizing that the conversation we had just had was a bit much, she told me: "no talking this time."

So, I took a few slow breaths and cleared my mind.  119/70.

I definitely think I need to learn to commit to R-E-L-A-X this year.

Ellis is Two...What?

This is how we celebrate birthdays!

The time has flown since having Ellis.  It is like yesterday I was pregnant with him and now poof he is two.  What a great adventure being his Mom truly is.  I am so blessed to have him here with me on my journey.  Here is the letter I wrote to him:

Dear Ellis-

Happy birthday!  I cannot believe how fast the past two years have gone.  It is as if I blinked and you were suddenly two. The past two years have really been the best. You bring so much light,and happiness into our home. You bring life to us, your parents, through your curiosity and energy. Simple things like using a spoon is exciting and new to you. I get to teach you so many things. Even just this past week, I got to show you a snail for the first time, which reminded me how we are surrounded by interesting and amazing creations that I often take for granted. Thanks for reminding me to stop and be in awe of these “little” things.

Fun with Cousin Isaac!

You have grown so much recently.  When we first got to Grandma and Grandpa’s in late June, you fit nicely into the Pack and Play you have been sleeping in while there, but by the time we left at the end of July, your head hit one side and your feet the other.  Daddy says it must be because of all the good cheese you ate in Wisconsin.  I think you have also grown in the past few weeks while being back home here in Utah.  You just keep going!

You are a very fun little boy.  You love people and always say hi to everybody, including perfect strangers.  You also love all animals and making kissing noises to them because we have always tried to teach you that you must be soft.  You are a bit bashful these days with other people, but you warm up quickly and by the time we part ways with anybody.  You will give them hugs or send kissing noises their way!  I love your kind little heart. You help me remember to love everybody and not judge any person by how they may look.  You love to go and play in the nursery in church and don’t ever have problems with the other kids or the leaders.  

Talking to strangers! 

You are still obsessed with slides.  You always call out to them whenever you see them, whether it is at a park or in the back of somebody’s yard.  I always have to promise you that we will stop when I’m done with my walk or run or you go on and on for blocks about the slide.  It is very hard to get you away from the park once it’s time to leave but you usually do okay when we tell you to say goodbye to the slides until tomorrow.

You say goodbye to everything.  “Bye, bye, wa, wa” to the water after the bath.  You even said “Bye, bye, car” as we left the car after church today.  It is so cute.

You are still a video junkie.  You already can run an iPhone or iPad better than most adults I know.  You not only can get to the videos you want but you know also how to get to the next one by bringing up the right video that contains the list for your next in line.  You rarely watch videos from start to finish, but you do have a few favorites that you always visit.  One is Hulyan and his Thomas adventures, and another is about a family with a little boy named Michael. You also love educational videos with “The Wheels on the Bus” and "The Alphabet Song" being your favorites. You also have loved watching a DVD of real trains that your cousin, Rebecca gave you for Christmas. You watch between playing with your wooden train and tracks.

Train Museum in Green Bay

You are starting to count.  You counted to three this week.  You also can do the first part of the alphabet(and LMNOP because Daddy always does it in a loud gruff voice and you follow his example!).  Your vocabulary is growing daily and you love the word UP, lately.  I think that started because of our recent plane travel.  Everyday, you talk about your Aunt Andi(Anni) and how she flew in an airplane(Shoosh) with Grama.  You love them so much.  

Mom and Andi are dedicated to being here for lots of memories. This is at Gardner Village in Salt Lake. Halloween visits are best!

You still love sports, and cheer people on while they play tennis as we pass on our walks.  You also cheer at the UVU sports complexes everytime we pass them to get onto the highway going North toward Salt Lake.  I find it funny how you will often sometimes cheer “GO, GO, GO!” just when you see some tall lights.  This sports loving Mommy is sure you will love going to events with her in the not so far future.  

Baseball game in Phoenix

You still love to dance and get your groove on when you hear music.  I am slowly trying to convince you that Kelly Clarkson is awesome and that you should love her like I do.  You have had a hard time with that.  Maybe it was because it was too loud at her concert when you were still in Mommy’s belly at the Stadium of Fire.

Just before Ellis was born. 

You still love to go and get excited whenever we offer an adventure to you.  Whether it is a walk or run in the stroller, or a ride to the store, you want to go and go NOW.  I am slowly learning that I need to wait to offer it to you until we are completely ready to go or you get really disappointed.  

One of many hiking adventures!

You love to be chased and tickled and recently have started saying tickle and also moving your fingers around to tickle us or pictures in the books we read at night.  You think Reno, our dog, is going to tickle you all the time when you get him riled up.  You also make various toys tickle you.  I always am making you Play-Doh! airplanes(because you are fascinated with airplanes recently) and you always tell me the plane is going to tickle you.  You say: “Tickle”  then “shoosh”(which means plane).

Tickling Daddy!

I can’t envision my life without you.  The past two years have solidified the fact in my heart that you are meant to be mine and that you were always mine.  I am so glad that I get to figure this whole mommy thing out with you as my child and cannot wait to see all the adventures this next year will bring.  

You made me a mommy and part of an eternal family, which is the most important thing and greatest blessing!

Know that I love you to the moon and back and will NO MATTER WHAT!  

I often gaze at your face as you sleep and tell myself that I need to rock just a little bit longer after you fall asleep because you are growing much too fast.  These moments won’t last forever and I need to bask in them so I will not forget how special this time with you is.  

Happy birthday, Ellis! I love you so much,

Mommy