Happy Birthday to Brielle & Braden!

We had a little birthday party for Brielle and Braden this last Saturday. Brielle turned 2 on the 9th and Braden turned 1 on the 6th. We had a great time with friends and family who came to celebrate with us. Thanks everyone for coming! We had yummy food and it was fun to watch the kids dance to some kids' music. We do a lot of dancing and singing around the house so Brielle was ready to show off some of her skills! (I do have a video but I'm trying to figure out how to shorten it so I can post it.) I can't believe my babies are growing up so quickly! Brielle is getting to be such a big girl. She is talking so much and it is a lot of fun. She says the cutest things and my favorite is when she calls her daddy by his first name. Mr. Braden is already walking and has such a tender little personality!!! They are fun little kids and I'm grateful to be their mommy.

Brielle and Hyrum dancing to the Hokey-Pokey.

Brielle doing the Itsy, Bitsy Spider

Scott feeding Braden one of his birthday cupcakes.

Brielle opening her presents! She loved that part!!!!

Temple Dedication, Grading, Silly Children and Good Times...

This last Sunday Scott and I found out that we were getting tickets to go to the Rexburg Temple Dedication and actually be in the temple!!! I was involved in the Public Affairs Committee translating some documents for them to Spanish. I honestly didn't expect anything, I was serving the Lord happily and I was happy to give of my time and talent without any recompense...but I guess, it never works that way with the Lord...he always blesses us. Before the prophet passed away I thought that would probably be the last time I would ever be in the same building with him...but I'm sure he will be watching us from up above. I have been blessed during my time here at BYU-Idaho with many opportunities to be in the presence of our dear prophet Gordon B. Hinckley and I will forever be grateful to Heavenly Father for that priviledge!!!

So...this is the HUGE pile of papers I have to grade this weekend! Yeah! How exciting is that?!!! The joys of being a teacher!!!! I shouldn't let it get this big...but at the end of the day when the kiddos go to sleep I am NOT in the mood for grading!!! I'd better start getting in the mood because this is all I'm doing this weekend!!!!

Silly children!!!

Scottie, the kids and I went bowling tonight and this is how good I am at this game!!! I'm a champion!!!!!!!!! Yeah right!!! I did soooooo bad...it is embarrasing...Scott did better...even though I stink at it, we still had a fun time!

Since we can't go outside to play because it is so cold, we decided to go have some fun at the REX in town. We are just so sick of being in the apartment all the time...we had such a blast!!! The kids loved all the fun stuff they had there and the awesome thing was that it wasn't that expensive. We spent $3 and we did a lot! I beat Scott in air hockey!!!! Yeah! I finally beat Scott at something!!!!:)

This is Brielle's new thing...she pulls a chair or her toy basket to the counter and starts looking for pens, gum or other things she knows she can't have...oh well...I get a kick out of how creative she gets with the things she finds to stand on...a basket...I just have to laugh...

I've been trying to teach Braden how to drink from a cup. He's been doing ok...we still have some work to do. Most of it ends up on him...hopefully it'll get better.

Motherhood...

I have been feeling discouraged lately...sad and upset that I'm not meeting the expectations that I have for myself. I don't know if my expectations are too high or if I'm just being lazy and not meeting them? Sometimes, I don't know how to find joy in changing diapers, tantrums, throw up, picky eaters, cleaning up 10 times a days, messes, dirty dishes, getting woken up at 4 in the morning from a crying teething baby, not being able to do what I want to do, when I want to do it because I have to worry about hauling 2 children out the door...the list goes on and on...being a mom is hard. My whole life revolves around my 2 children! I find myself losing my patience more often than I would like to admit...and I become this grouchy, selfish mom...SELFISH and MOM...what an oxymoron!!!!! I guess, I miss the days when I was free, when I was my only responsibility, when I didn't have to feel bad if I wanted to go to a movie or even take a looooong shower...but those days are NEVER coming back...Why can't I just be the mom who never complains and embraces the dirty dishes in the sink or the messes that my kids make? The thing is that I love my children, I love being a mom to them, but I'm not in love with all the extra stuff that comes with being a mom and the feeling of confinement that I sometimes feel.

This morning my best friend Timber called, as if she knew that I needed her words of encouragement...I guess Heavenly Father sends us angels when we least expect them...she was my angel this morning...she understands and I don't ever feel judged when I'm sharing how I feel with her. She shared with me a few articles from the Ensign that she had recently read that had given her encouragement. "Mothers Who Know" and "What Latter-day Saint Women Do Best: Stand Strong and Immovable" both given by Julie B. Beck. There were quite a few points given that touched me deeply and comforted me in my role as a mother...I tend to get caught up in the little things of life and I forget to have an eternal perspective...

"Home is where women have the most power and influence; therefore, Latter-day Saint women should be the best homemakers in the world."

"Faithful daughters of God desire children." (and everything that comes with having them!!!) These 6 words touched me deeper than anything else I read...it's interesting how it says faithful daughters, not just daughters but faithful daughters, sometimes faith is what I lack.

"Their goal is to prepare future fathers and mothers who will be builders of the Lord's kingdom for the next 50 years. That is influence; that is power" (Is there a greater job for us women? Is there a greater task out in the world for us to do than being a mommy to these children? I realize right now that there is not. This is the greatest job we can have, to shape a life, wow that is powerful)

"Families mean work, but they are our great work-and we are not afraid of work. This is what we do best; no one does families better than the sister of this Relief Society. We uphold, nourish, and protect them." (WOW!!! This is so powerful is making me cry!!!)

"Women find true happiness when they understand and delight in their unique role within the plan of salvation."

When I start pondering these things, I realize that there is purpose for the things I have to go through everyday with my children. I guess that I have to ponder these truths more often so that I have this eternal perspective always. It is too easy to lose that perspective...But the gospel encourages in our motherhood, what a great support we have! "The only place Latter-day Saint women will learn the whole and complete truth about their indispensable role in the plan of happiness is in this Church and its doctrine. We know that in the great premortal conflict we sided with our Savior, Jesus Christ, to preserve our potential to belong to eternal families" Julie B. Beck. I feel much better now...thank you for reading!

This is Braden saying, "see mommy... I told you I am here for a reason!"

First Steps...

Braden took his first steps on January 9th and then decided he didn't want to do it anymore for a while...he took a few steps here and there since then, but yesterday and today he's really been getting into it!!! He's getting better and better everyday! It's sooo cute to watch him!!!! We are so proud of our little guy!!!

Reminiscing on 2007

I can't believe 2007 has come and gone! What a year it has been! It seems like forever but about a year ago I was pregnant with Braden and about to have him!!!! And now my little boy is almost 1 and my Brielle is almost 2! Wow! I have to say that 2007 was a good year for us! Starting off with Braden's birth...and Scott getting into medical school!! We have been so blessed! I think those are the 2 events that stand out the most! Both of them life changing! Applying to medical school was the most excruciating and expensive process of our lives!!! Thank heavens he got in!!!!! For me...2007 was very exhausting! To all the moms out there, YOU ARE AMAZING!!!! To my mom, I say you are amazing! Women out there make motherhood look WAY too easy! No other experience in life can bring so much progress and joy. I guess the highlight for me this year has been motherhood!!!! I feel truly blessed! Heavenly Father has blessed us so much! I can't tell you how many miracles I have seen in my life this last year!

Looking at this pictures makes me feel VERY grateful I'm not pregnant right now! Oh man! I was huge!!!!!

My little Braden a few hours after he was born!

Mr. Braden about 3 weeks old.

Almost 1!