holiday mingle

We're ringing in the holiday season already this year. On Saturday, Jill and her boys, me and my kids and Jan went to the firehall for pictures with Santa, cookies and crafts. Pictures with Santa went surprisingly smooth this year--I was sort of expecting havoc with Janelle and her newfound "stranger anxiety" but she was awesome! After that Kandace was very eager to get her face painted and Stetson very carefully colored a puzzle Christmas tree. Kandace was very specific on how she wanted her little glove painted (halfway through she asked the painter to make sure it had purple in it). Stetson got a penguin painted right before we left. Little get togethers like these are fun for the kids but always a little stressful for mama. I'm always looking around doing a headcount to make sure they're all still there and behaving themselves. For a second I couldn't find Kandace until another mother pointed out to me that she was under the table right next to me. Sheesh. In other news, I've been singing with the stake choir for a few weeks now getting ready for the stake Christmas concert. I LOVE it. I look forward to it each week and am so glad to have a hobby that is fun and fulfilling that I can still do amidst the craziness of our lives. I was just released today from being the beehive advisor (sad to leave those girls) and am now the 2nd counselor in the primary. I'm grateful for callings and the chance I get to serve and somehow repay my Heavenly Father in a very small way for all the blessings I have. I'm excited to spend time in primary with Stetson but hoping he'll still behave well with his mom in there.

The weather has recenly turned frigid, and I'm never ready for it. :( Wish I was in Cabo. I ask Michael when we're going almost every day. Really I do. Brenda's youngest boy Dane reported his mission today. I love hearing from returned missionaries and feeling their strong spirit. He talked about repentance and the enabling power of the atonement. I loved it and am so happy for him and his family.

We recently got some exciting news for Michael. More to come on that later.

Lately

Lately my kids have been making me a little crazy. Stetson is almost ALWAYS asking me questions, wanting to play games, wanting me to guess something, wanting me to watch something, you get the picture. I love that he is so inquisitive and enthusiastic, but sometimes I just need some peace and quiet!! Kandace can hardly get a word in because he's so vocal. Tonight after prayers he asked me why we say prayers. I saw this as a perfect teaching opportunity and tried hard not to mess it up. I said because every night we need to tell Heavenly Father what we're thankful for, like our warm house, our clothes, food, etc. I then told him its a chance to ask for things, but that Heavenly Father doesn't always give us what we want, but that he gives us what he needs. Ironically, Stetson said he needed Jesus. He asked me if Heavenly Father would give Jesus to Stetson, and I said yes. I said we can't see him, but we can feel him and see pictures of him.

I went to YW in excellence tonight and I am SO SO glad I did. There was a special spirit there, and I thought about how I need to share the gospel with others because who wouldn't want THIS for their daughter? These girls shared a variety of talents from quilting to self-defense. I was especially touched when I saw a very tall, pretty girl with dark hair stand up to present her project. I thought to myself, one day my girls are going to be standing up there presenting projects, and they might look a little like this girl. It made all my crazy, hard days worth it. I have been so in the moment, forgetting that these days will pass, and one day I'll think, "wow time has flown by."

4 months

My precious Janelle turned 4 months yesterday. She is a dream. I go get her usually around 8 or 8:30 for her first feeding. After that, she's awake for about an hour, and then I simply lay her down. I don't rock her or anything. Now rocking your babe to sleep can be a special time, and I've loved the times I have, but lets be honest, I have 2 other kids to take care of, a house to clean, bills to pay, etc, so its a blessing to be able to lay her down. After like a 1 1/2 hr nap I simply go wake her up again and feed her. We follow this cycle throughout the day, so she ends up with 4-5 feedings and about 3 naps. During her wake time she is amazing, I say amazing because it truly amazes me that she hardly cries, she just kicks her feet and "talks" to me. I usually put her in the bouncer on the kitchen counter so she can watch my cook breakfast for the kids if its in the morning. Other times of the day she usually kicks on the floor, sits in her bumbo, bouncer or on my lap. She is independntely happy and usually doens't need us to constanly bounce or entertain her. I find myself going to pick her up and enjoy her just because I want to, not because she's crying to be held. She sleeps almost 12 hrs a night. I've been pumping and giving her bottles, which is good. It helps my supply stay up and gives me freedom. Like last night, I pumped a bottle and gave it to Jan to give her when I was with Michael.

Janelle if you are reading this I hope you know you are an angel and everyone here loves you like crazy. :)xoxox MOM