A sad heart

My heart is so sad today for the terrible tragedy that occurred yesterday in Connecticut.

Everyone I talked to had wept tears of anguish and sorrow for those innocent children.

For their families, the teachers, the principle, the adults, the school and the community.

What a horrible sadness, especially at such a beautiful and peaceful time of year.

It has made me want to hold on to my children and all the people I love so tightly.

Because life is short and we never know what will happen from one day to the next.

After hearing the news yesterday, Kathryn and I said a prayer together.

It was difficult to explain to her, but I did the best I could without taking away some of her innocence.

I woke up in the middle of the night again, snuggled between my two sleeping children.

I thought about it over and over, and I tried to imagine how those families were feeling at that moment.  

Our family is thinking and praying for Newtown, Connecticut.

The sick are sleeping

I read a friends blog this morning.  She'd posted pictures of her sick, sleeping children.

Last night, Kathryn had a high fever.  Michael took care of her while I put Maxwell to sleep.

Then, she came into our room during the night asking for a drink of water.

After she was hydrated, she asked if she could "cuddle up" to me for a while.

Michael had opted to sleep on the couch, since Maxwell was already in our bed (not uncommon these days).

So there I laid, sandwiched between our two sick children.  

I listened to their constant croupy coughs while the humidifier ran in the background.

Maxwell tossed and turned, while Kathryn spooned me tightly.

So, it was only fitting this morning that I read that post and saw those pictures.

After laying Maxwell down for a nap (we'd fallen asleep together while Kathryn watched a show),

I came back out to the living room and found her asleep by the fire.

She was cuddled up in a cozy warm blanket.

They were both asleep at noon today, which is completely out of the normal.

And they were peacefully sleeping.

Sentimental Christmas Things

I broke this Christmas decoration tonight.

It's hard to believe how quickly it happened.

I brushed my hand against it, and watched in slow motion as it fell over.

I hoped it would just bounce against the counter, but it shattered instead.

As I cleaned it up, a wave of emotions passed over me.  I cried a little.

You see, that little vase has been in our family for four Christmases.

It has sat by three different kitchen sinks.  

The colorful, twinkling lights have brightened each of those rooms.

Four years ago, a friend gave it to our family as a Christmas gift.

Michael was finishing his last year of clinical rotations.

We were renting a home from a family in our ward while they were serving a mission.

At the time, Michael was serving as the ward mission leader.

It was a heavy calling for a young student.

But, it was accompanied by great blessings and incredible spiritual experiences.

We fondly look back at that time in our lives.

We remember the amazing love we felt for those we served, and those we served with.

This vase was given to us by a sweet, single mother.

She joined the church while Michael was serving in that calling.

She had a burning testimony of the gospel and had overcome many obstacles.

She and her daughter were examples to each other, and to the members of our ward.

They desired to become like Christ.

They didn't have much, but they wanted to give us a gift for Christmas.

So, they made us that decoration.

While cleaning up the broken pieces, the thought occurred that I could just replace the vase.

It would be easy enough to find something similar.

But, it just wouldn't be the same.  It had become a Christmas staple for our family.

We had a sentimental attachment to that vase.

One (of many) great lessons I have learned from my dear husband is to be more sentimental.

It hasn't been an easy journey for me.

I haven't always valued personal treasures for what they were, and who they were from.

Maybe it comes with time too.  As I grow older, I become more sentimental.

I am learning to value those things that are given to me out of love.  

Things to remind me of a person, a place, a time or a memory.

I am learning to hang on to those precious heirlooms that can be passed on to our children.

Those are things that make Christmas so special.

Today's Ten

1.  We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  The weekend passed much too quickly, but we enjoyed spending the time with our family.  We did a little shopping, a lot of eating, played laser tag and had an impromptu swimming party.

2.  Sadly, Maxwell and Kathryn have been sick off and on since Halloween.  It has been rough in our house.  Max had croup badly enough one night/morning, that we made a trip to the doctors office for a steroid shot and chest x-rays.  Luckily, he did not end up with pneumonia this time.

3.  We pulled out the Christmas decorations and we've been "decorating" for two weeks now.  Kathryn decorated Maxwell's baby Christmas tree for him.

4.  Recently, Max made a phone call on Michael's cell phone.  It was to 911 and the call lasted four minutes.  When they called Michael back to notify him that the police were in route to our home, he embarrassingly told them that the call was placed by his one year old son.

5.  Speaking of phones, Michael ushered me into the technology age a little over a week ago.  Despite my protesting, he buckled down and got us (me) smartphones.  I was physically sick as we turned them on for the first time and navigated through everything.  I was so worried I would ruin it, plus I'm not one for all this technology   But, I like it already.  There will, however, hopefully be no 911 calls made from this phone.

6.  We built a fort one morning, and spent a good part of the day in there (inspired by this post).

7.  And we played school one morning, since Kathryn was too sick to go to preschool that day.  The animals were the other students, but I have to say, Kathryn was by far the best student in her class.

8.  Michael's Christmas work party was awhile ago.  They play a card game every year, and depending on what the employee draws, they get a certain amount of money.  This year, Michael got $100.  When he returned to the table, he immediately handed the money over to me, which everyone around us thought was funny.  We already spent spent some of it on a set of Liberty Bell China we found at an estate sale.  We thought it would be fun to be patriotic.

9.  I set up and decorated a table for our Relief Society Christmas dinner last night.  As we left for the church to decorate, I noticed that Kathryn had a little purse with her.  And when we came home, she started to cry.  She told me that she hadn't been able to decorate with me, and showed me her purse full of yarn.  So, I told her she could decorate our table instead.

10.  The other day, Kathryn brought a bear to me.  She told me it was baby Jesus, she was Mary and Max was God.  I wasn't sure whether I should be proud of her or remind her to speak reverently of Heavenly Father.  Then, she asked me to be the doctor so baby Jesus could come for a check-up.  She proceeded to tell me that he was not growing well, he was so little and that he chokes all the time.  Michael and I had a good laugh later that night.  I guess she really listens at those doctors appointments for Max.

Finishing out October

One of the moms in our co-op planned the Halloween party for preschool.

The kids had fun making crafts playing games and making pizzas.

 We then went to the pumpkin patch for our monthly field trip.

Unfortunately it was too hot, and our family didn't dress for the weather.

But it was fun, despite the heat.

    

Temple Open House

Several weeks ago, we took our children to a Temple Open House.

Michael and I loved showing them the beauty of the temple.

And telling them what a special and sacred place it is.

We told Kathryn many times what a wonderful opportunity it was to go inside the temple.

When we reached the sealing room, we told her that we were married in a sealing room just like that one.  And then, Michael lifted her up, so she could see her reflection in the mirror.

Which symbolizes eternal marriage.  And eternity.

 Yesterday, I watched the dedication of that same temple.

The spirit was strong, and I was reminded of the great blessings that come from attending the temple.

These were some of my favorite messages from that beautiful meeting:

-Remember the covenants we've made and the blessings that are awaiting us.

-Attend the temple more frequently and find answers to questions regarding families

-Focus on the temple and we can weather any storm

-Never be too busy to be the Lord's servant

-Stand in holy places in order to withstand the trials of these latter-days

-We have been given much, therefore much is required of us

-Is the fire of the covenants we've made burning within us?

-Love, patience, tenderness, and spiritually are found in the temple      

-Make room for Christ and time for the Savior of the world

We love...

Sometimes...

When our children (or child) are being crazy

And waking up two to three times a night for the last fifteen months

Usually screaming and crying in pain

And wanting to be held every minute of the day

And basically crying every minute of the day if not being held

And we're all extremely tired and stressed from all the crying and lack of sleep

Michael and I talk about running away together...

But we would never really run away

Because we love our family

And we love our kids 

 And we want to be together forever:)

October was good

There's just too much!  Oh my goodness, October was good to us.

But it's already gone, and there is still so much to share.  Here were some of my favorites:

(P.S.  We did not go crazy during October this year.  It was awesome.)

Row 1:  Michael's birthday surprise, afternoon nap with the boys, preschool Halloween party, family breakfast at our favorite diner with some of our favorite people, fireman Max at the library

Row 2:  Temple open house trip, pumpkin cuties, face painting at the high school football game, Halloween carnival with cousins, mummy bowling at preschool party

Row 3:  Turkey shoot, waiting for Kathryn to get her nails done, preschool at our house the entire month of October, unloading the dishes together, pumpkin patch

Row 4:  My darling boy playing in the tub, Kathryn's big girl Cinderlla bike, at the temple open house, serious Max at breakfast

Row 5:  Kathryn's birthday party, Max the frog for Halloween, fall leaves, new puppy toy for birthday, preschool field trip to the pumpkin patch

CTR Hero

Every Sunday, our primary presidency awards a child with the CTR Hero Award.

They are selected for something special they did that week or that Sunday.

They get to wear this awesome cape during primary, and they are recognized during closing exercises.

I was getting some things done on Sunday, when I poked my head into the primary room.

Kathryn was standing at the front of the room, reverently folding her arms.

She was wearing the CTR Hero cape and beaming.  I couldn't have been more proud of her.  

She has been asking me for months when she would be the CTR Hero.  Love that girl!

Birthday Pictures

My darling Kathryn is growing up.  In fact, she really is growing UP.  

Over the past few months, she has gotten taller, growing out of many of her clothes.

She is sweet and loving and kind.

She is caring and sensitive.

She is always concerned about everyone- her family, her friends and our neighbors.

She makes friends easily and loves to be around people.

  She loves all the colors in the rainbow and all the colors in the world.

She loves to paint, draw, color, dance, decorate, sing and cook.

She loves candy, cookies, ice-cream, carrots, cherries, apples, peas and rice.

She is such a big helper and she loves to serve. 

She loves her brother and is a wonderful big sister.  She is always willing to help me make him happy.

She is funny and smart and she doesn't miss a beat

She has the most incredible memory, and it amazes me the things she remembers.

She loves to play with the girls, but she can keep up with the boys.

The other day, she asked me if she was going to marry one of her (boy) friends when she grows up.

I told her she didn't need to worry about that right now- that he was just her friend.

To which she replied, but aren't we supposed to marry our friends mommy?

She loves to read anything and everything.

She loves to cuddle up and read lots of books.  I love when she can "read" some of her favorites.

She loves to learn.  She is part of a preschool group and she is learning so many new things.

She loves primary.  She loves to learn about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

She is obedient and wants to choose the right.  She cannot wait to be baptized when she is eight.

She wants to live in heaven some day as an eternal family.

    I love you little Miss Kathryn
You are my sweetheart and my darling girl.

Celebrating Four

Kathryn was so excited to turn four.

She asked me every single day for weeks when it would be her birthday.

When the special day arrived, Michael took her to Arctic Circle for a lunch date.

And then I told her I had a secret surprise.

I took her to get a manicure.
All summer, she asked me to paint her nails, but I sadly never got around to it.
So she was more than thrilled when I told her where we were going that afternoon.
She was such a good girl too.  She sat very, very still and was so polite.

On the way home, we stopped at the toy store.
She begs to go there on a regular basis, so I thought it would be a nice treat.
We played for a while and looked for a new toy to pick out from Grandma Woodland.

After dinner, we had cake and ice cream.

And then she opened presents.

She got some new books and a giant coloring pad.

But the favorite gift of all was her big girl Cinderella bike.

Michael took the garbage outside and came back inside with her new bike:)

She was ecstatic (and so was Max)!

Kathryn's Birthday Party

Kathryn had a super wild, crazy and fun birthday party.

Party Agenda:

Rainbow salt coloring activity

Face (and hand) painting 

Rainbow coloring page

Rainbow Says (Simon Says)

Presents

Rainbow cake and ice cream

Party favor scavenger hunt

Thank you to the sweet twin sisters who I hired to paint faces and plan the scavenger hunt.

And thank you to my wonderful mother in-law who helped corral rowdy children (and boys).

It was so much fun and I think Kathryn was pleased at the end of the day!