Normal Rockwell

We have all seen the paintings of Norman Rockwell, and I assume have all wondered what a perfect life would be like. Some of you may know that Jesse's Grandmother has just "entered the Gates of Heaven." This to some may not seem a blessing...loss is difficult and also very hurtful. Imagine if you were one of those paintings...so perfect; so simple...you wouldn't know love or loss. God has given us "Faith, Hope, and Love," and if we did not feel loss of any kind, we would not appreciate the love that we have felt. What do you consider to be normal? Is it one of those "American" paintings; or is it real life, hard as is may be at times?
We all have many things to be thankful for...just some of us don't realize just how thankful we should be until it's too late. After the death of my Uncle, my Aunt had shared a poem about loss and sharing kindness. The author was Unknown...probably because what he had to say was hurtful, but true. He simply states that it is better to tell someone today how you love them, how thankful you are for them, and how much you'll miss them NOW, rather than sit in sorrow after they have gone to be with our Savior.
Without the grief of loss, how can we be empathetic or how can we console our grieving friends? Without sorrow, how can we know real happiness?
After my 30 days of thankfulness, I realized that I found it difficult to find things that I was truly thankful for...I found that there are many things that I take for granted. My family is one of those things. Jesse is one of those people and there are too many others to list...but when we need a shoulder to lean on most, are we really there for our brothers, sisters and spouses like we could be or should be? Do we learn from our mistakes and use them to teach others and ourselves? Do we embrace our hypocrisies and turn from them, our do we continue with "what works?"

I challenge you and myself to try to show appreciation, love, and sympathy more often. I sometimes would rather sit back and feel more sorry for myself...inflate my problems to BIGGER than the "next guys." In the grander scheme of things...life is difficult enough so why should we go about alone, and why should we allow our friends and family to do the same?

Friendly Reminder

Sometimes when you seem to need it most your children say or do something that just leaves you laughing. Last night Jesse and I both decided to have some "snuggle time" with the two girls. We went in and started to "sneak" into their beds when Ella yells out...I mean whispers..."Cassidy don't wipe your BOOGERS on Daddy!"
I have to say I'm thankful that Ella reminded her sister so kindly...but WHY exactly did she have to remind her!?

Self Disciplined...

The other day, after Christmas, Cassidy decided that the whole behaving and acting appropriately was just too much for her...it seemed to "cramp her style" a bit.

So this is how it all went down...from my perspective anyway, I'm sure in a few years there will be some spin and somehow she was framed...but for now this is what happened.

Brody let out a whale of a cry...Cassidy starts running toward Me..."don't worry, I'm going for a time out!"
I couldn't even get her to stop to tell me what she did at first...but I did see her standing over her brother with a long neck dinosaur! After getting an explanation...it seems that the gratification of hitting her brother with the present she got him for Christmas FAR out weighed the punishment of a "time out!"

Isn't she soo cute! Oh... by the way, Brody didn't sustain any injuries in this particular attack.

Do You Believe In Magic?

This year we certainly found out that there is definitely a REAL "Magic" in Christmas....We made to church on time...actually early! The girls are learning why we celebrate...and why it is MORE important to give than receive, not that they don't really enjoy the receiving better.

I hope and pray that all of you are resting right now or getting ready anyway.

Today I need to remind myself that everyone is tired and cranky...so I'm annoying them as much as they are annoying me. I need to remind myself to focus on our Savior. I need to remind myself that the cookies I'm eating probably are not fat free, and I can no longer blame the pregnancy for the extra pounds.
I think I hear Santa...remember he won't come unless you're SLEEPING...I wish i could just get Joseph and Jesse to believe that.

GOD BLESS and Merry Christmas!

Dinner Conversation...

I started with a simple question.... "what are you most looking forward to this Christmas?"

Ella: "All the presents I asked for!"

Daddy: "What if you don't get any?"

Ella: "I was good some days."

Cassidy: "I was Good."

Daddy: "Oh Yeah...When?"

Cassidy: "Was is Friday...What day was that?"

We are all getting excited for the Holiday...No matter if we were naughty or nice we've already received the best present already...A SAVIOR! Merry Christmas!

Jewelry for Ella...

The other day we found that our little Ella is now really becoming our BIG girl Ella. She announced her first "loose" tooth. Could it really be that she is coming to an age that she will start to lose teeth, and look like she comes from someplace north of Route 49.
I'm Hoping that it is not the never ending flow of "soda in a sippy cup," or the extra piece of Mommy's Birthday Cake, or the Milkshakes that she requests while going through the Drive-Thru of that nutritious restaurant "Old McDonald's," or could it be the candy that Mommy uses to bribe her for picture taking purposes.
Isn't great that God gives us "baby" teeth...who cares what we do to them, they're all going to fall out anyway...Guess it's time to invest in Crest and Oral B!
But all of that aside...Ella is not quite sure that she wants to leave her teeth for the "Tooth Fairy"...which is not me by the way so don't even bother making any "FAIRY" jokes... I don't look good in tights and they are quite uncomfortable (from what I've been told), and I'm way TOO MANLY to be called a FAIRY. So back to Ella not wanting to leave her tooth out to be stolen by some strange intruder in our home...she has decided that maybe instead she will use it for a "Necklace or something."

Motherly Advice.

The other day I was lying in bed resting, while Jesse and the kids were getting ready to shovel I heard some very GOOD advice. As I was trying to sleep I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Jesse: "Don't eat the YELLOW snow!"
Kids: "Why Not!?"

I'm ALIVE!

I know that I haven't been all that great about my Blogging, but it really is a lot about nothing anyway. I'll be returning soon...just as soon as I start to feel a little better!
Hope you are all having Blessed CHRISTmas Season!

B.R.A.T.

Bananas, Rice, Apples, and Toast! Over the past few days we have been on a "B.R.A.T." diet. As most of you know children may only be really good a sharing one thing...sickness. It all started with Cassidy spewing all over Jesse and seems to be ending quite peacefully with Ella.
We've tried to keep sippy cup sharing to an extreme minimum.
We have added Ginger Bread Cookies to our diet as well as Ginger Ale...allowing them to have soda in a sippy cup once again.