A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theater

Nana and papa took the girls to see A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theater in DC. I’m so glad they got to have that experience with their grandparents, although im a little bummed I had to work and couldn’t join them. 

Luray Caverns

Amelia’s second grade class went to Luray Caverns on their school field trip. Amelia asked if I could help chaperone and I was excited that I got the chance to join her... except for maybe the bus ride over the mountain... I wasn’t too excited about that part. But I hadn’t been to Luray Caverns since I was in grade school, so it was fun to go back but this time with my daughter. The Caverns really are beautiful! Just another testament of God’s great designs. 

Fa La La La Festive

The Christmas Season is in full swing in our house. We are enjoying the beautiful decorations all around us. I love the twinkling lights of Christmas. They remind me of the light within each of us, and the power to do good. May each of us enjoy the beautiful lights of Christmas, on our trees and within one another, as we remember the precious gift of the ultimate light, the Light of Christ! 

Thanksgiving 2017

Holidays are always so exciting! This Thanksgiving has been no exception. We had a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner with nana and papa.

 Shaun made his first turkey and it was juicy and tender and perfect. I’m just glad I didn’t have to make it.i can take credit for finding the recipe so there’s that. Friday we did all of our shopping online, thank you Amazon ✅, so we took the afternoon and enjoyed a girls day out. The girls and I took nana and went to see “Wonder”, a beautiful movie. It was very well done and had me on the verge of tears and laughter many times. It’s a movie I’d highly recommend. Then, in keeping with tradition, we went Friday evening and got our Christmas tree at Meadows Farms. We picked a beaut this year!

 But of course none of our lights from last year worked, so today’s task has been to get new lights while papa took the girls to ANOTHER movie, Cocoa, which I also heard was good. I know, my kids are so super spoiled. But I also love that they are building so many memories with their grandparents. I never really had that, so I think it’s wonderful! Although it does get a bit ridiculous at times. They are taking them next week to the theater. Shaun and I didn’t get invited 😩, but it’s in the middle of the week when we both have to work. 

So this beautiful picture I’ve painted of this holiday sounds great, right? And it has been, but I’d be lying if I said that in between the great moments, the priceless memories that will go down in the record books, there’s equal parts frustration, fatigue, and relentless bickering. Between kids, between kids and adults, and sometimes between adults. The bottom line is life is tough. Even when it’s great, it’s hard. I learned a long time ago that with children you have to appreciate the moments when they come. The moments everyone is playing together without fighting, the laughter and giggles, the sweet and spontaneous hugs and kisses from sticky faces (aka my three year old). Those moments come and they are beautiful, but in between them are the toys braking, the fighting between two girls who are very different, the realizations that you’ll most like not get that time to yourself you were desperately hoping for. So that’s life. Good moments, bad moments. I guess it’s what we choose to focus on that counts the most. So I choose gratitude. Gratitude for the good moments, and a hope that the bad moments are teaching us something. In the end, parenting is super hard, but today as we decorated the tree and the girls pulled out ornaments that brought back memories for them,I saw that we are building beautiful traditions that they will hopefully take with them wherever they go. Parenting is tough, but worth it! We’re building beautiful lives filled with beautiful memories. And I hope my kids are strong enough to look back at the good and the bad moments and know they were fiercely and completely loved. 

But true to real life, before there was this picture, there was this picture.

😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

And this was before they decided to dump all of the rest of the toys out too... all over the hallway... where we needed to walk back and forth frequently. What a fantastic idea kids🤨. Like I said, moments. 

My Thanksgiving Pilgrim

My cute little pilgrim. I love that I’m at the top of the list of the things he’s grateful for, and it’s so sweet that the dog made the list too, one spot ahead of daddy. Shaun you better up your game. And Noah is his best friend. His sisters didn’t even make the list 😂

Pet Owners: Week Two

My top ten thoughts after two weeks into being a pet owner:

1. I might need to invest in new carpet.😩

2. 3 year olds don’t understand “gentle” very well.

3. I’m definitely investing in a dog door.

4. He’s helping me keep my goal with my fit bit and getting my steps in. 👏👏

5. It’s every bit as much work as I was anticipating. 

6. My daughter hasn’t asked for anyone to fall asleep by her now that she can fall asleep with Toby. 🤗

7.  My kids are so in love. 

8. I might be a little in love too.

9. Toby is gentle, sweet, playful, and smart! 

10. Toby is one of the best things that’s ever happened to our family, and I will remind myself of that when I’m cleaning up His accidents, although he seems to be getting the hang of it. 💙💙💙

I Love to See the Temple

Shaun and I have been able to attend the temple the last two months to do work for my side of the family. In October for our anniversary we went with my parents and did dealings for my grandparents and great grandparents. It was so tender and sweet to be there with my parents as they did the work for their family.  The spirit was very strong. There was a strong sense that the veil was thin, and perhaps some of those family members had come to join us and kneel with us at those holy alters.  Oh how I love the temple! I couldn’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon.