Christmas Lights!

Logan has been asking about putting Christmas lights up for weeks. (We only go all out with them every other year since we travel and don't look forward to coming home and taking them down along with the tree and all the unpacking.) Well he finally got to help Craig put them up today! He couldn't have been happier.

 

And because he was such a big helper, Craig told him he could plug them in tonight. He was so excited! I don't know how many times he was outside looking at them after dark...

 

I wonder if he'll be able to contain himself when we put up the Christmas tree!

Coming Soon!

I am not usually one to be out among the crowds the day after Thanksgiving. I worked in retail for many years and have had my fill of "Black Friday" shopping.

However, I made an exception this year. Sort of. I went shopping, but not Christmas shopping.

I have a goal. I have a plan. And now I have the fabric!

 

Thanks to Maren for going to JoAnn's with me and to Carri for looking through my selections. I'm really excited to get going on my quilting projects!



To those of you who think you may be needing baby gifts in the future, let me know and I'll be happy to direct you to my "store". Opening sometime next year!

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

There have been a few occasions when it seemed that with all the panic and preparation, thoughts of gratitude were low on my Thanksgiving list. Unfortunately this year was one of them.

I didn't take time to ponder my blessings before the big day or to write anything down.

Growing up we weren't a family who went around the dinner table taking turns sharing what we were thankful for. I have kept a gratitude journal of sorts though and like to refer to it every once in a while.

Some of the things I'm grateful for are:
my family
a loving husband and happy children
the gospel
a warm home
humor
health and strength
good parents
wonderful friends
faith and forgiveness

I found my thoughts turning to my mom this year; it being our first Thanksgiving without her. And as always I reflected on what a grateful and gracious woman she was.

My mom taught me to be thankful. I remember hearing when I was young how one of the biggest things that attracted my dad to my mom was that she always said "please" and "thank you". Oh how I wanted that.

Gratitude is one of the most important attributes I would like to see develop in my children.

I recently received one of the most touching compliments ever. Someone noticed that Logan and Bergen say thank you -- often. That I have been overheard saying those words and that my example is where they learned them.

Nothing makes me smile like an unprompted expression of thanks. Bergen has started saying please and thank you without being reminded and it fills my heart with joy.

I believe that gratitude is the mark of a great person. It is important to develop a grateful heart. I want to teach my children to be thankful. I want them to see gratitude in me. I want them to remember that the way we make others feel is what they will remember of us. And I want them to be remembered for their gratitude toward others.


Also, Thank You to all those who have shown love and kindness to our family. We know who you are. And your words and actions have not gone unnoticed.

Bunny Ears

Logan has learned how to tie his shoes!

All it took was Craig being tired of tying them for him and fifteen minutes of practice after two or three minutes of instruction. Oh happy (Thanksgiving) day!

 

 

Getting with the Program

We knew Logan was working on a Thanksgiving program at school, but whenever we asked him about it he wouldn't say a word. Today we got to see what the secrecy was all about.

It was fun to be one of the families crowded into the classroom. I loved seeing Logan wave and call out to us from the stage.

The program was great! The kids had made costumes and cornbread. There was also fruit salad. They sang songs and told stories. And after the program they shared their feast.

When it was Logan's turn to come down from the stage he ran to tell us that he had to serve us before he could eat. Then he went to fill our plates. After three trips to the table he finally got to sit down and have something to eat himself -- all the while asking why he had to serve us first. It was precious.

 

 

 

 

Thank you Mrs. Black and Mrs. English, for all you do for our preschooler. He loves learning and we are truly grateful for you!

100th Post Prize Winner

Congratulations MINDY! You are the big winner of the most fabulous 100th post giveaway prize ever! I'll be sending your print out soon.

Thanks for your comments everyone.

Kindness Begins with Me

Logan gave his first talk in Primary yesterday.

We discussed the subject (being kind to others) off and on all week, and by Saturday had things pretty much put together.

He knows what it means to be kind to others and I'm pretty sure he understands why its important. He knows what not being nice is like from the other side too. He's had a couple of incidents at school where boys have told him they don't want to be or aren't his friends anymore, only to be his friends again the next day. (I know he's only four, but it still hurts.)

So he talked about how in Ephesians 4:32 it says that Heavenly Father wants us to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving of others.

We need to be nice to everyone! It doesn't matter if they're "tall or small, skinny or fat, have red or blue eyes..." he didn't want to finish that part.

He said that we learn from the scriptures to treat others the way we want to be treated.

Lastly he repeated the words to a Primary song. "I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right you see. So I say to myself remember this, kindness begins with me."


I hope Logan will always be the tenderhearted boy I know him to be on the inside. Even if he doesn't look it on the outside.



You did a great job Honey Bun.
Love you,
Mom

Logan's Loves

That boy of mine sure does love his cars!

Little Miss No Nap!

Bergen has decided that she no longer needs to take a daily nap. I think that's a big decision for an almost two-year-old to make.

I admit that our schedule hasn't been very consistent for the last month or so, but that can't be all of it. I think she's learning.

It seems that any suggestion of a diaper change during the day is an automatic trigger for her to run the other way. She's figured out that there's a certain diaper change sometime in the afternoon where she is placed in her crib afterward. She's just not sure which one it is so she tries to avoid them all.

I think Craig has given up on trying to get her to "rest", as we've started to call it. Maybe he thinks if we just let her wear herself out she'll sleep longer during the night. (Meaning he'll get a little more sleep in the morning.) I disagree. I'm home with her after he leaves for work and I can tell you that letting her wear herself out just makes her (and her mom) cranky!

So I've started trying something new...


Shortly after Craig heads out the door I ask Bergen if she wants to snuggle with me. It has taken some coaxing on occasion, but after we read a few books she usually lays her head on my shoulder without resisting. Sometime later (after I wake up from my own little rest) I put her down on the couch and go about my business.

 

I think it's a win/win situation for now, giving us both a little break in the day. And she isn't napping every day, but a couple of naps a week are better than none. I really hope she keeps it up! Besides, this way I get to watch my little sweetie sleep.

Who'd Have Thunk It?

It's hard to believe I'm writing my 100th post. Especially when I think back to the time I questioned blogging altogether. Thanks to those of you who have inspired me and those of you who have visited. It's been a great ride so far!

And now on to the fun...


I've noticed a trend for bloggers when they post the big 100. It seems that almost every blog I've read has some sort of giveaway when this milestone is reached. So without further ado, here's my big giveaway:

Comment on this post and tell me some of the ways you're Enjoying the Ride -- this one called life. What makes you tick? What inspires you? What works for you? What are some of your favorite things to do? Etc.

I'll have Logan draw a name out of a hat (he practiced just today!) and will let you know who the winner is on November 26th. Here's a sneak peek of the fabulous prize.

 

It's an 8 x 10 print. Nice don't you think? (Oh yes, it's very nice.) And appropriate. You know you want it! Even though it may not be your style. Because it's a prize!
Am I right? I think so.

Good luck. And enjoy!

Midnight Movie Madness!

I did it! I went to the midnight (okay 12:01am) showing of Twilight. It was good. I read afterward that it didn't get rave reviews, but it definitely did not disappoint! I'm glad I went. It was exciting to be among the first to see a new movie. I haven't been able to do that for a long time!



If you haven't seen it get out there NOW! If you haven't read the books (remember I hadn't until very recently) you need to read them.



In my opinion James was by far the best portrayed character. Can you say scarier than scary? Yikes.

And that's all I'm going to say.

"The Talk" - Part 1 1/2

Logan is a snuggle bug. He likes to get as close to me as possible whenever I'm sitting on the love couch and today was no exception.

This afternoon he snuggled up really close and pressed his head into my chest. After a minute or so I had to push him away because he was still trying to get closer! I told him he was hurting me and that it wasn't nice to push on girls like that.

Then we had a talk.

Logan knows that only mommy's and daddy's and doctors check him in certain places. His doctor tells him every time he has an appointment so it's a well known fact. He knows what privacy is and sometimes even closes the bathroom door when he's in there! Of course he's only four and a half, so he'll still run around naked after a shower and get dressed in front of an audience (our family) on occasion.

I let Logan know today that girls have private areas too. I explained that my chest was one of them and that he needed to be careful not to touch it. (He's been known to pat me to get my attention. Silly kid.) We talked about respect for our bodies and others'.

I was a little caught off guard when we finished our discussion, although I shouldn't have been. Logan completely understood the concept and after asking some questions said, "Girls don't touch a boys' penis and boys don't touch a girls' chest."

Smarty pants.



So why was this the talk - part 1 1/2? Because we've already briefly gone over why he and Bergen don't have the same body parts and where babies come from...

Heaven help us.

Welcome Mr. Potts

Logan is obsessed with Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! He's been watching it for years. (Okay two and a half.)

 

He knows the plot. He knows the characters. He knows the songs. He even knows some of the dance moves -- particularly the ones for Me Ole Bamboo!



Logan watches "Chitty" several times a week and loves to pretend to be Mr. Potts. Needless to say Caractacus visits our house on a regular basis. And he's a great guy! He's always happy and he likes to sing and dance. I really enjoy having him around.



Well Logan's Grandma Lynne is pretty observant and quick to get things going when she has an idea. At the slightest hint of enthusiasm a person has for something her wheels start turning. Not too long ago Logan told Grandma Lynne about his love for Mr. Potts and wouldn't you know it, not a week and a half later he became the man! The boy is in Heaven!

 

Thanks Grandma Lynne, for all you do for our kids. You and Grandpa Don are wonderful grandparents! Logan and Bergen know you love them and Craig and I appreciate that you both go out of your way to make them happy.

 

By the way, Bergen might feel the need to become Truly Scrumptious one day! I doubt Logan will share his clothes with her forever.

 

Hmmm, maybe I should have saved my "Doll on the Music Box" Halloween costume...

It's a Date!

It's pretty rare that Craig and I go on a date. Since he works 2nd shift he isn't around during usual evening dating hours. Yes we do things during the day and we spend a lot of time together on a regular basis, but once in a while it's nice to go against the norm.

Craig and I had plans to go on a date by ourselves last night. We ended up taking the kids though, and had a great time!

We went to dinner at El Rodeo and filled ourselves to the brim with tasty chips and salsa, diet Coke, and what Craig said may have been the "best burrito he's ever eaten"! The kids chicken and french fries and my chimichanga were delicious as well. And I couldn't have been more proud of the way the kids behaved. Can you say good manners? Yessiree!

Then we ran an errand.

I talked Craig into the latter because we needed a few things before today (Sunday) and I had a coupon that was about to expire. Otherwise I'm sure we wouldn't have gone to the store. My dear hoosband is not a fan of shopping.

Throughout the shopping experience I had to laugh. As soon as we walked in the door Craig got me a wheelchair! He had me ride in it instead of driving a scooter because he thought it would be faster if he pushed me. Bergen sat on my lap and Logan held my hand as he walked/ran/managed to stay alongside me. He also took a turn at pushing... Needless to say it was a wild ride!



Tonight we had another date. Two, if you want to get technical.

First we went to a birthday party for Logan's friend Caida, where we had fun eating cake and ice cream, visiting, and watching kids play. Thanks for having us guys!



And second we watched TV. When we got home from the party Craig built a fire, I popped some popcorn, and after Tiffany brought over a plate of brownies (Heaven), we all sat down on the love couch (as Logan calls it!) to see "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." Bergen was mesmerized. Logan told us he remembered seeing it last year, but he still kept his eyed peeled.



I love movies. I love watching movies. Whenever we watch movies as a family we all race for a spot on the love seat. Snuggling is a favorite pastime for us so it's imperative that we all sit close together. Yippee for me!

So not only did I have a date this weekend, I had three! Complete with hugs and kisses! With my three favorite people in all the world! What could be better than that.

Christmas Shopping

I like Christmas shopping even more than I like grocery shopping! Imagine that. Really. Is there anything better than choosing the perfect gift for someone you love? I think not.


I'm getting anxious about not having done any of my Christmas shopping. I would normally have things well underway by now. Oh I do have a few little things I've picked up throughout the year, but it's not the same as being out and about now.

We give to everyone in my family and draw names in Craig's so I have quite a bit of shopping to do. Needless to say I'm a little worried. I have ideas for some, and am stumped on others. And since I can't go out and wander the stores until something inspires me, I may have to do something drastic. I just don't know what that is yet.

I know I could shop on-line or through catalogs, but I'm a tactile person. I want to be able to touch what I'm buying and choose the best one of whatever it is I find. I may have to make a new list so I can see what I'm up against. Then I'll have to work on getting out there.

I can't wait for the excitement to begin! Wish me luck. And watch for another post once I get going...

Pity Party

I enjoy grocery shopping. It was especially nice when I was single. I was one of those middle-of-the-night shoppers, and relished the time I was able to relax while wandering the aisles in the wee hours of the morning! In fact, oftentimes a big night out wasn't complete until I'd done my shopping... I looked forward to it.

I have found it extremely difficult to do my grocery shopping since having knee surgery. I went with my family once (after being stuck in the house for a week) only to find that I didn't want to go that way again. So I have been venturing out on my own.

Here's the thing: I don't normally like drawing attention to myself. But when you're riding a scooter through Wal*Mart it's not easy to be inconspicuous.


I feel stupid. I feel like people are looking at me thinking I should be on my feet. I am used to being on my feet. I carry my crutches with me (even though the cart is small) because I don't want people to look at me without knowing about my knee and wonder what I'm doing riding a scooter. It's embarrassing. But I can't help it. I'm proud. And not very good at accepting help -- even from a scooter. I know it shouldn't bother me; that it's not a big deal, but it does and it is.




After my surgery Craig suggested that I ask the doctor about a getting a temporary handicapped parking pass. (Yeah, right!)

It's been three weeks since then.

Today I got one.

It's valid until May 2009.


I'll be starting physical therapy soon and have discovered that walking a long distance on crutches isn't easy. It also takes a lot longer to get from one place to another when you can't use both of your legs. Enough said.


I feel broken.


I'm trying to focus on the positive. I'm attempting to do what I can. It's hard though when I can't even walk out to the curb to get the mail. And not because I can't walk, but because I can't carry it back to the house while I'm walking.

Logan has been so good to set the table and get little things for me when I need them. I told him I'm going to get him something special for being such a good helper. He and Craig couldn't be better at taking care of me right now. And despite my self-pity at the moment, I am grateful.

I keep telling myself 'only four more weeks'! Let's see where that gets me.

A Child's Prayer

Bergen said her first prayer before going to bed tonight. Logan usually says it and when I asked him if he wanted to, she piped up and said she did! Of course I helped a little by prompting her, but she did a pretty good job of repeating the words. What a sweet little angel girl.

The "S" Word

It snowed yesterday! Oh the joys of the season.

The flakes weren't big and there weren't many, but they were definitely snowflakes.


Craig will no doubt be in heaven soon. I, on the other hand will be heading to purgatory. So in order to psych myself up for my least favorite time of the year weather-wise, here are a few of my favorite "S" words:

sleet, slush, slip, slide, sniffle, sneeze, shiver, slick, smooth, ski, skate, sore, sauna, snowball, sunglasses, season, storm, shelter, slopes, sip, soup, spark, spices, scents, smells, smiles, saunter, shadows, sunshine, star, secluded, silence, satisfied, sanctuary, scenery, significant, settled, solitude, security, Savior, and snug.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like winter. I just don't like being cold. If only I could stay inside in front of a roaring fire from now until the the spring thaw...

For what it's worth

The world is changing; for better or worse depending on who you are. So here's a little something to think about after such an historic presidential election yesterday.

"You have 100 percent control over your attitude — the way you choose to respond to whatever life hands you."

Think about it

"Asking a quilter to mend is like asking Van Gogh to paint your garage."

I wish I knew where this quote came from. Besides from my niece who sent it to my sister who sent it to me. It had a profound effect on me and really made me think.

So in addition to other things...



Thanks Dad, for doing all of those silly little art (and other) projects I asked you to do while I was growing up. I truly didn't comprehend your talent! And I appreciate you very much.