Noah is 5 years old

My Boy is 5 years old.   

The night before his birthday we were packing up our scrapbooks

We sat and looked at all the pictures 

of my first sweet baby boy.

I told him about the day he was born

and explained that he was born in the middle of the night

when the stars are shining bright in the sky

and everyone is asleep.

He said he was born in a galaxy like Star Wars

That is right buddy 

You are a hero and an amazing son.

He has grown and worked so hard this year.

I am excited because now that he is 5, 

he is going to like a lot of the food he did not like when he was 4.

I love being your mom

Grateful Sunday 4-12-09

Happy Easter!

After such an emotional and trying week I have so very many things to be extremely grateful for this beautiful Easter Sunday.

Love - It is almost overwhelming to comprehend the love we have felt this week. It is a amazing reminder of not just our Heavenly Father's love but how much the people in our lives love us. The reminder has been nice. I think I have cried this week more than I have in years. I don't even know how to express it to the magnitude I have felt it.

Easter -  This is one of my absolute favorite holidays.  I know that Jesus died for us and he is risen.  The sacrifice he made so that we can return to our Heavenly Father is just to magnificent to take in.  I have loved talking about our Saviour with my children.  His love surrounds us.  The festivities are a bit more low key and the beautiful dresses and clothes,  the promise of spring and the beauty around me, have filled my soul.

Doughnut day-  Today is doughnut day.  Every day for 18 years I have gone and eaten a doughnut today. A doughnut was the last thing I ate before I went to the doctor. This is the day I learned that I had type 1 diabetes.   It has changed, shaped, molded and made my life so much different, richer and beautiful than I could have imagined at 14.    It has made me more aware of my blessings and the beauty of my life.  And since I cannot change it,  I might as well try to learn what I can from it. 

Moving- Okay so to be honest I am not entirely thrilled with the prospect of this move.  It has stretch me beyond my normal limits for sanity.  The timing is  just so wrong.  But it has really shown me how much my Heavenly Father loves my little family.  Blessings have been raining on our souls.  So many generous friends and family have come forward with offers of help and ideas.  We believe we have found a solution to our temporary housing problem that will be loads of fun, a bit stressful and an amazing oppurtunity.  Thank  you to everyone who has talked with me, comforted  us and all the support you have given us.  

My Grandma Blanche "Billie"-  If anyone frequents my blog they should know how much I admire and love my grandmother.  We were at a bridal shower yesterday for my cousin Liliana and she had a bad fall.  It was really scary.  It really made me grateful for her strength, elegance and ability to love everyone. And the amazing example she has been to me in my life.   I am so grateful for my Aunt Sharon who lives and cares for her.  It was evident that she knew what to do and what to say to help and comfort my grandma.  That peace of mind is very comforting.  

Noah-  I just love his curious mind and nature.  He has to know the "why" to everything now.  It is nice that he is old enough now to explain what is going on and the reasons behind it.  We have made him a part of the decisions and he loves to give his opinions.  At speech therapy on friday he worked the hardest he ever has in a session and is making such huge strides.  He searches me out now and asks me just to be with him.  How can I say no to such a sweet request.  

Sofia-  She is so cuddly lately and I relish in her sweetness and her little body.  She loves to give kisses to everyone and tries to get us to kiss each other after we have smothered her with kisses.  She is so beautiful and a delight to have in our family.  And of course with her Easter candy she has eaten more than her brother this morning.  

Shhh,

Miracle, My husband Kersten has actually posted something new on his blog

My Sister in Law is Engaged

My sister in law Christel just got engaged tonight.  When she called to tell us that she was officially engaged.  I was so excited I insisted she come over.  Her ring is gorgeous and she looks so incredibly happy.  I could not be more thrilled.  And her fiance Isaac is so nice and they really do bring out the best in each other.  The wedding is set at the beginning of September.  Hooray... Happy Day!

Forced Moving

We found out this afternoon that we have to move by the end of the month.  The joys of renting I guess.  I wish he had just given us until June.  It does not do much to wishWe were on track to buy a house late fall and this puts a big kink in this plan.  Oh well,  now on to plan B.  So off to the next adventure.  This could not have come at a more stressful time.  Kersten is out of town for a couple days in the next weeks.  Noah is turning 5 and we planned a fabulous friend birthday party.  Kersten is doing school work every night until wee hours nad this is his most stressful month at work.  So please wish us luck over the next couple weeks.  

Grateful Tuesday

This is how my kids  spent most of Sunday

I know this is not Sunday but I really need to right what I am grateful for with all the stuff going on

My sister in law Lena was just diagnosed with Lymphoma 

She is having surgery today.  She needs prayers 

so if you could please pray for her

She is one amazing lady and the perfect wife for my brother Nik

I feel like she filled a void in our family.

I love talking with her,  we talk about everything.

Books, music, tv, our men, decorating, kids,  and anything else you can think of.

I really do love her.  I hope that everything turns out well.

General Conference was amazing this last weekend.

It filled my soul with  a desire to do better.

I loved talking to my kids about the talks and what they meant.

Their innocence and simple strong faith is inspirational

I was explaining to Noah what an apostle was and the quorum of the twelve.

He looks up at me and says "Yeah Mom,  

I one of Heavenly Father's special helpers too.  I work really hard for him"  

My favorite line Noah said was when I told him the next speaker was David A Bednar

He said it sounds like Admiral Ackbar from Star Wars.  He is in the original trilogy.

At least he is getting his rhyming words down.

We rearranged the basement on Saturday.  

It was a very satisfying day.  We got a lot done downstairs.  

It looks and feels so much better.  

Thanks honey for all your hard work.

There really is nothing better than working together. 

My kids went to the doc on March 31st.  

Noah's Stats for his official 5 year old well ck

36.4 lbs or 16.5 kg in the  25%

41 1/2 inches in the 25%

and he is too big for them to measure his head

but he did pass the visual eye exam

Sofia's Stats at 15 months

21 lbs 8 oz or 9.76 kg in the 25%  

30 1/4 inches in length in the 50%

head cir.  46 cm in the 50%

They are both doing so well and just joyful and wonderful kids.

Twilight Box

My husband really does love me a lot.  Today he bought me a present. It had nothing to do with April Fools either.  And not just any present but one just because I am me and he loves me a lot.   He bought me a boxed gift set of the movie Twilight.  He surprised me with it today when we met at lunch at Costco.  I told him he doesn't have to buy me presents,  which he knows.  But I secretly think he likes to spoil me a bit.  He saw this movie with me on my birthday last year.  That alone gives him a lot of husband good points.  So I told him that he doesn't have to watch it with me again.  
When you open it up, there is Edward behind a shadow box.  And it is tied in ribbon with the Cullen family crest.  It is so beautiful it make my heart hammer, not patter, but hammer in my chest.  

It comes with the two disk DVD, the Soundtrack CD,  6 Collection Photo cards, a charm bracelet and a watch. He teased me asking if I was really going to wear the watch,  I said "of course everyday."  It reminds of childhood days when I would wear a Swatch.  It is green and silver my old high school alumni colors.  The Charm Bracelet has an apple, a lion, an antelope, a sheep and a charm that says Twilight.  

It really is so very sweet and I love him for getting this for me.  What a good husband