I Already Know

This boy loves me more than any other Mom.

Do you know how I know?

He told me so last night after he snuck out of bed for a drink.

I reminded him of what we had going to do today.

And as is his usual response was

"I already Know"

I said "I was just reminding you"

Noah said  "Mom, you know something?'

"What?"

"I love you"

"I know, buddy,  I love you too"

"Well, Mom I was just reminding you.

I love you more than any other Mom"

"I love you more than any other boy and do you know why?

because you have a huge imagination and you use it everyday.

And you have a huge heart and notice how people feel around you

and try to make them feel good and happy.

And not every boy know how to do that."

"Really"

and he puts his hand up to his heart

"Mom,  that made my heart pound really really hard."

Mom,  I love you cause you always help me all the time

and you have a big heart for your kids.'

Hugs and snuggles all around and he promptly went back to bed.

Makes it all worth it

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

Well,  the weekend did not turn out as I planned.  Which is not saying much since we did not have any really specific plans to speak of.  We wanted to spend time together, work on the yard and the playset for the kids, Noah's report on Bluebirds is due tomorrow and I wanted to paint the wood alcove in the bathroom.  Anything, that was on my list got scrapped on Saturday afternoon, when my stomach lost all it's contents.  I babied myself the rest of the night, watching Avatar with my family and then going to bed early.   And by dawn I knew,  my body, said no more.  You are going to be in pain as if acid were running through your veins.  One very wonderful trait of my husband is that he is amazing in a crisis.  It is his time to shine and he always pulls through in more ways than I can count.  I am grateful everyday for this attribute of my husband.  My first thought and request when my family woke up Sunday morning was to have a blessing to get me well much faster and to also stay out of the hospital.  I have great faith in blessings from my Heavenly Father.  I have seen them work miracles in my life time and again.  My husband arranged everything and stayed close, just in case.  This can go downhill fast. I laid in bed writhing and wiggling to get comfortable and finally I received a blessing which immediately calmed my spirit.  I needed to listen to my body and I knew that I was loved. My body said to sleep.  So I slept and slept for 5 hours.  I woke up and ate jello and sprite.  Read Sookie Stackhouse and went back to sleep.

I woke up this morning feeling more myself.  And as I knew would happen a miracle.  I stayed out of the hospital and I could manage from here.  My daughter snuggled with me all morning, kissing my face, rubbing my hair and saying over and over "I love you, too"  even if I had not said it and "Mommy, I missed you."   We played dancing Cinderella guys in bed and hung out with me all morning while my husband mowed the lawn.  I took a shower and collasped in exhaustion after lunch and slept the afternoon away.  I awoke to hammers and drills working on the playset just like we planned and happy children.

I went outdoors for dinner as I was feeling quite ornry.  (A sure sign of continuing to get better).  I really needed a change of scenery.  We had a wonderful BBQ at my in-laws.  I mostly ate watermelon and laughed as we watched the kids play soccer with Uncle Isaac.  And Fia yelling over and over  "Look, I pay soccer"  and Noah was yelling "Pause" at the top of his lungs cause he was the 'wEf"  or the Ref and we had to explain that he is suppose to yell "Time out" if he wants a pause in the game.  It was hilarious.

It really is an interesting fact.  Last Memorial Day I had pneumonia  and did not leave my bed for a week..  It's a good thing that we were living with my sister at the time or my kids would have been very neglected.  Kersten and I have been teasing that this is our new Memorial Day tradition.  I hope not.  I want to do much more fun things on our long weekends.    I did not mean to make this blog a venting forum but it sure feels good to get this out.  Now I must go to sleep if I will keep getting better.  Since Noah and I still have a report to finish before school tomorrow. Yes, that is me,  I am already teaching my son to procrastinate to the last minute.

Cabin Anniversary 2010

Last weekend for our anniversary

We went to the place of our honeymoon.

We had so much fun just being together as a family. 

here is our family at the park.  

This is our normal.  

We went on lots of walks

We tried to take a family picture of our shadows,

This is the best one of all four of us.

Sofia was not cooperating very well.

We read lots of books.

Colored lots of pictures.

Ate lots of food 

and watched lots of movies.

Nik and Lena came up to visit.

We went to the park and played.

Colored lots and ate nachos.

We love playing with our aunt and uncle.

We even ate lunch at Granny's.

Swings were a huge hit.

I was amazed how high Fia would go.

The time to clean up came to fast.

I love this old vacuum.

It has always been there.

The Cabin is a sacred, wonderful place.

It makes me feel calm and loved.

It always revives me to go there.  

12 Years Ago Today........

12 Years Ago today

I married this Man.

He still is so so so Hot and Sexy.

He still is my best friend.

He still makes me laugh everyday.

He has exceeded all my dreams.

He astounds me in what a great father he is.

We certainly have gone through a lot.

We have had some struggles.

I would do it all again.

Life is good.

I Love You, Kersten

My Love today and forever.

Her Reflection

Children's Book - Chicken Cheeks

 
Chicken Cheeks
Author: Michael Ian Black
Illustrated By:  Kevin Hawkes

My sister Emilee gave this book to me and all my sisters for Mother's Day.  What a thoughtful and wonderful gift.  Since then we have read this book at least a couple times a day.  And we giggle, laugh, and exclaim over the illustrations and the words.  I mean really there is not much funnier than different kinds of animal bottoms.

My daughter Fia just sat on my lap and laughed and said "Read it,  Read it,  Please...."
Now a pause to read the book

It all begins with a bear wanting some honey at the top of a very very tall tree.   His friends come to help him and each animal climbs on top of the other and you see their rear, tushy, derriere, cheeks, caboose,  I bet you get the picture now.
Speaking of pictures they are delightful and full of fun and laughs.  Each time we read the book all we hear is
"Again, Again."
It is a very fast read and the best parts of the book are the illustrations and if you are into a little "bottom" humor this book is for you.

NOT my Body

Drawing by Travik Frantisek Simon (1877-1942)

I was watching Nie Nie's New Life video  for the first time today.  It amazes me what she has accomplished through her faith and trials.  We all go through different trials and challenges through life and we never know who we will bless or help through our own experiences.  The thing that hit me today in this video and other days,other things have hit me,  is when she said

 "I am NOT my body."

 And my mind started racing and speeding through all sorts of different crazy.  How often I have and do feel like all I am is my body.  What limitations it has set on me, my emotions, my abilities and my desires.  And what I go through is not even a quarter of what I know Nie Nie does and others have to also.  I loathe what my body does and what it makes me think about and what I have to be conscience about.  I loathe how I feel judged and misunderstood by my choices and different challenges.  I am reminded every single day how blessed I am for my body to be in the condition that it is in.  I rejoice each day that I get up and play, hug, wrestle, clean and succeed.  My children in an of themselves are miracles.  I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the opportunity to be their mother.  I know I may not be doing all that I should or want to.  I am doing all that I can.  And no one can ask more than that.