Spring!

I love March.  What a beautiful, lovely time of year!  Especially this year!  Utah had a very mild winter, and it was perfect for me.  The less snow, the better.

I started a new babysitting job last week.  I swore I'd never babysit again since I've done it so much over the years, but this is for a good friend who used to live in the Village several years ago and has now moved back.  Also, the pay is a huge blessing to us right now, so it was a win-win.  It's only two days a week, and the two little boys are such sweethearts.

Cam has been losing teeth like crazy.  I love his smile right now!  My dad took Cameron to Glenwood for a long weekend away.  It's their annual grandfather/grandson excursion.  Workin' like real men do.

It's been pretty quiet around here!  Enjoying some time with the girls.  I love that Claire is at the age where she and Allie can go out on the playground and play together.  For hours.  I usually take a blanket out and read.

Speaking of reading, I've been doing a TON of it lately.  I love it.  I made a goal to read the Book of Mormon before my marathon.  Nine pages a day.  It's been awesome.  I love the added Spirit that the scriptures always bring into my life.  I am also reading "The Power of Everyday Missionaries."  My dad bought it for me, and it is very, VERY good.  We still have no idea where we will end up (more on that in just a sec), but I cannot get the impression out of my mind that the Lord needs good, strong families in other parts of the country to strengthen wards.

Anyway, I have also been reading other books.  I recently discovered that my cutie celeb crush, Apolo Anton Ohno, has written books!  "Zero Regrets" was SO good.  He had such an interesting childhood, and his attitude and work ethic are so admirable.  I love his outlook on life.  I love this quote:

“Zero regrets. It’s a philosophy not just about sport but about life. School, business, academics, love—anything and everything. It’s complicated and yet not. You have to figure out who it is you want to be. Not what you want to be—who. There has to be a vision, a dream, a plan. Then you chase that with everything you’ve got.” -Apolo Anton Ohno

So go read that.  I am also reading Dean Karnazes' book.  Then I'm reading President Monson's biography.  I love reading!

So, no news on the job search.  He has applied to about 30 jobs so far, all over the country.  We aren't worried, we KNOW things will work out.  We have fasted and prayed and attended the temple.  We have both felt strongly to not worry.  So we aren't!  I love being a member of this Church.  I'd be lost without it!

Packet Pick-up & Expo

This morning, Staci and I went to pick up our race packets.  It's here!!!  I'm pretty nervous, but REALLY excited.  The best part of races isn't the running necessarily, it's the overall atmosphere and experience.

We got our packets (the shirts are super cute.  Nice tech shirts.).  We got blue/yellow ribbons to pin on tomorrow.  They had a huge poster for us to sign for Boston, which was so nice.

There was also an expo going on.  Lots of running vendors.  One of the tables was Dane Rauschenberg.  He ran 52 marathons in 52 consecutive weekends.  It was so amazing to meet him and chat for a bit.  Turns out he has also run the Oregon coast, and he just moved to Portland.  He ran through McMinnville recently on a run from Portland to Lincoln City.  He has also written a few books.  Reading, Running & Oregon.  My 3 favorite things in life.  He was my kind of guy!  He signed his book for me, and you all know how I feel about book signings!  LOVE!  It was a great little treat.

Can't wait for tomorrow morning!

Calling Me Home

I stayed up SO late reading this book last night.  I could NOT stop.  It's one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking stories I've ever read.  I can't stop thinking about it!  Read it....with a box of tissues!!  And then call or email me about it because I'm so anxious to chat with someone about it!!  There is a huge twist at the end that I was NOT expecting!

I'm so happy to be back into reading again.  I've lucked out in 2013 so far and read some GREAT books.  This was a random, lucky find.  I stumbled across it on goodreads, and I'm so grateful that my library carried it!  Sigh...seriously, it's a wild ride.  

Sisters, Books, Love

During Claire's little photo shoot, she was being shy, so we had Roo come over and help her relax.  I love these girlies!  Such sweet sisters!  If I would have known, I would have fixed Roo's hair and put them in coordinating outfits, but then again, I love how this picture shows Roo comforting little Claire.

So I have a few more book recommendations for you:

1. Dancing on Broken Glass
This was an emotional book!!  It deals with some very real, serious issues (mental illness, abortion, cancer).  I thought it was very well-written, and the story was so good.  I cried at the ending, and books rarely make me cry!  I'd love to hear any of your thoughts if and when you read this!

2. The Forgotten Garden
I'm not finished with this one yet, but I am enjoying it so much!  It's not my usual type of genre that I enjoy, but maybe it should be!  I don't usually like books that hop around with time & setting (Dancing on Broken Glass did this too), but neither book bothered me this time with that.

So...it's Valentine's Day!  Nate and I never really do much because we prefer to focus on our Anniversary instead.  But the kidders are excited to take Valentines to their friends and classmates.  Hope you all have a great Lovers Day!

Fire of Faith

I LOVE Elder John Groberg's books.  I just finished reading his first two books again.  They are so uplifting and inspiring.  He is a great writer, and he encourages us to do and be better with a gentle, but very real power.  Here one of my favorite lessons from "The Fire of Faith":

"I realized that these Saints displayed an unusual ability to recognize the difference between the important and the vital.  For this man, it was important to get medical help, but it was vital to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and be confirmed a member of the Church.  The Prophet Joseph Smith showed that, while it is important to make a living, it is vital to keep our covenants.  Enos's example taught that it is important to pray, but vital to receive forgiveness of sins.  I thought of the Savior's life.  Through Him, we know it is important to live, but vital to love, so we can really live forever.

The stories I was hearing showed that when the vital is taken care of, the important automatically follows.  If we always keep our covenants (do that which is vital) all else will work out as it should.  

Do we understand that it is important to be a member, but vital to gain a testimony of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice?  Do we know that it is important to feel sorry the things we have done wrong, but vital to truly repent, bring the Savior into our life, cast our burdens on Him, and receive His forgiveness?

These early Tongan saints knew."

As I get older and have more experiences with scripture study and the Lord's hand in my life, the more I am learning the REALITY of it all.  This Gospel, our purpose here, the fact that God is merciful AND just, the reality of our being accountable to Him, the limitless possibilities of love and faith.

I have so so SO far to go, but I am starting to see a more clear picture of what is expected of me.  I am being taught from above as I get older, and I'm slowly learning how to turn my knowledge and desires into actions.  It is VITAL to ACT on what we know.  I am doing my best to pray harder, serve more, complain less, work harder, love more.  It's so hard.  It's not easy.  But it's worth it, and it is what brings true happiness and eternal blessings.

Book Orders!

I love Book Orders.  I loved them as a child, and I love them now.  I remember I used to study each book order catalog and mark my favorites.  Now when my children bring them home, I send them off with a crayon and tell them to circle their favorite choices.  It's so much fun!

Roo got her Book order catalogs today, and I was so excited to see one of my favorite books in it!  About a year ago, Cam and I were at a book store, and we found this book called "Press Here."  We read it together, and we both LOVED it.  It is seriously the cutest book ever!  But it was a whopping $26 at the store (no thanks!) and Amazon didn't have it for much cheaper.  We both forgot about it, until about 6 months later when we were at that store again.  Cam said, "Mom, remember that cool book we found last time?"  We looked again, but couldn't find it.  So I was happy when I found it in Roo's book order for only $12!  I can't wait to surprise Cam with it, probably for an Easter gift.

If you can get your hands on this book, please do!  It's a good one!

My kids are really into I Spy books right now.  Allie got some birthday money, so she picked out a Minnie Mouse I Spy book last month.  She and Cam like to race to see who can find the items first.  Cam also has some 1st Reader I Spy books that he can read now.  It has been so fun to see his reading improve since he's been in First grade.

We haven't been doing a very good job of getting to the library every week lately.   Gotta fix that!  Less TV, more books.  Winter is rough!

I haven't been reading much either.  I spent a lot of time focused more on my scripture study, which obviously has been amazing and well-worth it.  But I do miss my novels and other books.  I'm in the mood to re-read some of my favorites.

What have you been reading lately?

May's Days

May is just flying by, and I haven't been doing a good job of keeping up our little family journal. 

* Of course, because I mentioned it below, I had to get struck with mastitis again.  Murphy's Law, right?  Claire only has about 2 more months until her 1st birthday (crazy!), so I'm hoping to have her weaned by then.  I'm pretty much planning on getting mastitis atleast once more before then....  Everyone keeps asking why I keep nursing if I keep getting it, but with how my body produces milk, I get it when I'm weaning anyway!  I love nursing my babies, and I commit to a full year, no matter what I have to go through.

* I finally went and bought new running shoes!  Unfortunately, the mastitis hit about an hour later, so I haven't been able to test them out yet.  :(  I got the Brooks Ravennas.  I'm nervous to switch from Asics, but the Brooks felt the best on my feet.  We shall see...

UPDATED 6/26: So...I had major Buyer's Remorse, along with a not-as-comfy run this morning, so I went and exchanged these for the Asics Gel 2170's.  I'm a happy girl now.  :)

* Nate and I have started watching Alias on dvd.  It is sooo good.

* My beloved John released another album yesterday.  I have my suspicions that my beloved Nate may have already bought it for me.  He loves me.  I had a dream last night that I went to JM's concert, and instead of being on stage with his guitar, he was swinging over the arena on a trapeze and I was up there with him, haha!  After a song, he'd ask me what song I wanted him to sing next, and then we'd "swing" up and he'd push that song on his cd player and sing along, HAHA!  Oh man, dreams are hilarious.

* I finished reading "Little Princes" by Conor Grennan.  It is about a man who begins a foundation to help trafficked and orphaned children in Nepal.  It was REALLY good, and I highly recommend it.  Plus, there is a sweet love story on the side about how he met his wife.  :)

* Cam's Herbie obsession is reaching new heights.  There are various Volkswagon Bugs around our area, and he has them all memorized and begs us to drive past them all the time.  One of the employees at the Tracy Aviary drives an old black Bug, so every day, Cam asks to go to Liberty Park.  You'd think the playground and splash pad and pond and bridges would entice him....but oh no, all he really wants is to spend 30 minutes walking around that Bug.  He's so funny!!

* Cam had his class talent show and end-of-year party last week.  For his talent, he played basketball.  He dribbled and made about 8 baskets!  I was so nervous that he was going to miss them all, but he was totally in his element.  He was awesome.  I was so proud of him!  They played a slide show of the kids throughout the year, it almost made me tear up!  HOW did this school year go by SO fast???  I did the paperwork to register him for 1st Grade.  I can't believe it.  AND...Roo got her acceptance letter to Headstart preschool!  Next Fall is going to be awesome for Mommy!  Cam in school all day, and Roo gone from 12:30-4.  I'm not going to lie...it's going to be nice!

* Claire is a crawling machine now.  She gets into the older kids' games and toys now, so we have to watch her.  Time to gate off the kitchen again! 

* On a more solemn note....Nate and I attended the funeral of baby Graham.  Our sweet friends here in the Court had to say a heartbreaking goodbye to their newborn son after only a few hours.  He had some heart defects, but we were all hopeful that he would be able to hang on.  It was a really hard situation, but I think it is a blessing to not have to see him suffer and endure surgeries.  He was a gorgeous baby, weighing a whopping 8 lb at birth.  His funeral was very uplifting and positive.  Eternal families are real.  Temple blessings are real.  Sweet Graham received his body and is now spared the trials and pains of this earthly life.  His wonderful parents and big brothers will be with him again.  I know that is true.

* My friend, Becky, and I like to go out without our kids once in awhile.  Due to our schedules (and my budget), it only happens about once a year...for now anyway!  We met up last week and went to the Cheesecake Factory.  We both ordered their miso salmon, and it is by far, the BEST meal at any restaurant.  Ever.  It is a-maz-ing.  We both were laughing about how happy we were sitting there with our salmon in front of us.  My mouth is already watering, and I hope we don't have to wait a year before going again!!

Okay, well I think that's it for now!  Fun Summer plans ahead, can't wait!!

And...Claire was done with pictures.  Making a beeline for Mommy.

Another Wonderful Book Signing!

Tonight I got to enjoy some MUCH-needed alone time at my favorite place, The King's English Bookshop!  There was a book-signing with author, Ruta Sepetys.  She wrote "Between Shades of Gray", which I read a few months ago and loved.  I am excited to have another personally-signed favorite to add to my collection.  Wow, meeting two wonderful authors within a few weeks, very cool!!

It is so fun to hear from the author, especially when I love a book's characters so much.  I love hearing where the stories and characters came from and what the author was thinking.  This particular story is a historical novel about what a Lithuanian family went through during the war.  Mrs. Sepetys found out about her grandpa's past and decided to form a novel around those events so that we can all learn and become aware of what the Soviets put those people through.  It's an important part of history that not very many people are aware of.  She had so much passion as she spoke, and it made me appreciate the story even more.  She talked about her research, all of her travelling and interviews.  So much work goes into writing, and I love supporting authors!  To gain some perspective, she spent time locked in an actual boxcar that was used to transport prisoners, and she also spent 24 hours in an actual prison.  Some Germans were doing a documentary film about the prisons, and she paid to be on it.  She was treated JUST like a prisoner, including being beaten and worked.  It was funny to hear her talk about it now, because she can look back on it and laugh, but at the same time, I always feel a reverence and dose of humility when I think about and learn more about the REALITY of what my brothers and sisters on this earth have experienced.  I have been reading a lot of historical novels and memoirs lately, and they have all hit me pretty hard.  I'm anxious to read 'Between Shades of Gray' again sometime with some new perspective from the author!

Anyway, afterwards there was a Q&A session.  I asked her if she has plans to write more (this was her first novel), and she said she has a book coming out next February, and she is also starting to write another historical novel.  It's going to be amazing, she told us about it, and I cannot wait to read it!!  Too bad I probably have to wait at least a year!  love being a bookworm!  I got my new book signed and was able to visit with her for a second and thank her for a wonderful novel.

This video is a little long, but worth it, I think!  Brought me to tears...

Meeting A Hero

Disclaimer:  This is going to be long.  But I want to remember it all, so don't feel obligated to read!

First of all, remember a few months ago, I read 2 books that I completely fell in love with.  "The Wednesday Wars" and "Okay For Now", both written by Gary Schmidt, soared to the top of my favorite book list. 

Here is what I wrote in November about WW:

I finished reading "The Wednesday Wars" the other day. I absolutely loved it. I cracked up through the whole book, and I loved the little twists and surprises that turned Holling's woes into triumphs. Loved it. It'll definitely end up on my bookshelf. The only problem with reading a book that I personally rate 5 stars is that usually the few books I read after it seem lame, even if they aren't all that lame. Know what I mean? I'm reading an entirely different story now, but I just miss Holling!!

I looked for my review about Okay For Now, but apparently I didn't write one!  Hmm.  I liked it a smidge more than WW, so I don't know why I didn't write about it.  Well, let me just say, that I LOVED it!  Doug is just such a lovable character, and I was so impressed at Mr. Schimdt's ability to weave so many layers into a story.

I told Nate that I'd love to buy both books one day.  We have some credit on Amazon, so I'm not sure why I hadn't bought them yet.  This is going to sound lame, but I kept having a feeling to just hold off buying them. 

Okay, so here's the amazing story that transpired yesterday:

Staci called me at 10 am and asked me if I wanted to go explore a little bookstore she had discovered when she was out running a few weeks ago.  My morning was actually a little busy, but I said yes anyway.  So we loaded the girls up and drove down to 15th and 15th to the cutest little store, The King's English Bookshop.  It's an old house turned into a quaint bookstore.  Every room is a different genre, and there are cute nooks and reading chairs all over.  I'm in love!

We took the girls to the children's section, and I noticed that there were stacks and stacks of the book "Okay For Now" sitting on top of boxes, also filled with the same book.  I mentioned to Staci that it's odd that they have so many copies of my favorite book, and I told her I've been meaning to buy it, so maybe I'd buy it and support this local business.  But then I noticed that written on the side of the boxes in a big Sharpie was "SCHMIDT EVENT".  What?  An event?  I booked it (haha, i'm hilarious) back up to the front desk and said "Um, hi, what is this Schmidt event?"

WELL....turns out that Gary Schmidt himself was going to be speaking and doing a book signing that very evening at the Main Library downtown.  Holy smokes, what are the chances?!?!?  I called Nate and told him he had to get off work an hour early and come with me!  Staci and Kari offered to watch my kids between them, and I am so so grateful to them!

I was so hyper all day long!  I couldn't believe I was going to actually meet one of my favorite authors!  Nate promised he'd buy me both books at the event, so I could get them signed.  My birthday present a week early!

Isn't that crazy how it all transpired?  I don't know if the Lord had anything to do with this, but what are the chances that I'd happen to go to this bookstore on the very day of the event....plus, while we were at the store, one of the employees actually moved those boxes to the back room.  If' we had arrived a few minutes later than we did, I wouldn't have even seen the boxes.

Anyway, so Nate and I got all dressed up for our hot date night downtown.  When we first walked in, all of Mr. Schimdt's books were on a table for sale.  Nate bought me my two books, hardback, beautiful things!  I love being a book nerd.  We went to the auditorium and sat down in the front.  There ended up only being maybe 30-40 people who came.  At first, I felt bad for Mr. Schmidt that not very many people were there, but it ended up being such a fun, personal few hours with him, so I actually appreciated the small group.

A librarian introduced him, and then the man himself took the stage!  Haha, you'd think I was at a JM concert!  He talked to us for an hour.  He was so easy-going and it's obvious that he is good with words.  He talked about how he came up with his ideas for his books and his writing process.  Holling Hoodhood is actually based on his own experience in middle school.  He used to have to stay with Mrs. Baker every Wednesday by himself.  He still hates Mrs. Baker and was being so hilarious about it.  He talked about why the fathers in both books have issues and why he stands by those characters, even though he has received a lot of hate mail for it!  He told us how WW "actually" ends, which he said he has never told anyone before.  Doug ends up as mayor, and in his old age, Holling drives Mrs. Baker to the city hall to be honored for "Mrs. Baker Day."  Haha, it was funny. 

He talked about his writing process, he writes in an out-building on his farm where he has a desk and a woodstove.  He types EVERYTHING on an old type-writer.  He writes no more than 500 words a day on his projects, and it took him 3 years to write The Wednesday Wars, because he threw his first two drafts into his woodstove!  His next book out is a fantasy, but he actually doesn't like fantasies; he is writing it to prove to a friend that not all fantasys have to have a sword and a "wise old man with a white beard".  It turns out that he hates Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, which Nate thought was amusing, since those are his favorites!  Nate actually had brought LOTR with him to read before it started, and so at the end, he jokingly asked Mr. Schmidt to sign it, haha!

At the end, I took my books up to him and had them signed.  It was such a cool evening for me!  Definitely one I will always remember!

Raindrop Plop

Every week at the library, I grab a few random books off the shelf to read to the kids.  Last week, I completely fell in love with one of those books.  So did the kids.

Cutest little counting story about a little girl playing in the rain.  Love it.  It's probably the Oregonian in me.  Allie loves the very last page, it's a picture of the little girl in pigtails on a swing.  "That's me on the Glenwood swing!"

Our very own copy arrived this week from the poor snow-covered UPS man.  And thank you Amazon for your 10 cent books!

Nate and I both won free books from goodreads giveaways this past week.  Score!  Authors give away copies on the site before they are officially published, so that they can get early feedback.  Nate's book arrived already, and it's really cool!  It's not even the official book yet, the cover is just plain, and it doesn't have the dedication or finished title page yet.  It is a murder mystery, but I'm still excited to read it, even though that's not really my type of book.  Nate is starting to get more into reading lately, which I love.  I'm converting him to reading, and he's converted me to miracle whip (this took about 6 years...).  A good marriage is all about compromise, folks!  :)  I absolutely LOVE a quiet evening snuggled on the sofa, each of us with a book, some jazz playing.  So much better than those lame zombie shows he likes.  Love you, honey!!

Let's do a little daydreaming, shall we?  (Lindsay, I know you'll be with me on this...!)

Someday.

I would love a room in my house just for books and reading.

Raising a Bookworm

How do you raise a bookworm?
(I'm actually ASKING this...so please answer!!)

I grew up reading a lot.  I read Babysitter's Club and Boxcar Children and Betsy & Tacy and Amelia Bedelia.  Thanks to my sister Michelle, I read "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "My Name is Asher Lev" before age 14.  I have very few childhood memories of being parked in front of a television, and I'm grateful to my parents for this.

I've always loved to read.  There is just something amazing to me about holding a book, having no idea what journey it will take you on when you open the cover.  But when you finally close the book, the characters and story have become a little part of you that will never leave.  I still get excited opening up a new book.  Especially a GOOD book.  The prophets have always encouraged us to be constantly filling our minds with uplifting knowledge.

Books are my favorite gift to give/recieve.  I wish I could buy all of my favorite books.  My dream house has a huge library.  I hope heaven has books...maybe I'll have more time to read there!

One of my goals as a mother has always been to raise children who love to read.  Cameron is learning to read right now.  He is doing such an amazing job.  We play a new game in the car now, where I spell a 3 or 4 letter word that he can sound out, like N-E-S-T or S-I-P, and he tells me what word it is.  He is getting better and faster at our game every day!  Anyway, now that I am close to having a reading-age child, I am beginning to think about whether or not my children will love to read.  I'm also reading a book about a father who read to his daughter EVERY day for 9 years straight!  Isn't that so cool?  Reminds me of my father, he used to lay in my bed at night and make up stories for me.  Then he'd record them on cassette for the nights he got called to the hospital.  I loved that.

Here is what I would assume would help to raise a bookworm:
1. Read to your child a lot.
2. Let your children see you reading a lot.
3. Keep that blasted tv off!

I'm ready to throw our tv out the window.  I probably would, if Nate wouldn't kill me!  Except for Castle and sometimes The Big Bang Theory (FUNNIEST show ever, I can't believe I've never watched it before!), I haven't watched any tv in weeks.  It has been wonderful.  I hate how much the television is on in my house.  And when we go to the library, my kids run to the DVD section and could care less about the books.  It frustrates me!!  So that's my other question:  What are the television rules/limits in your household?

I'm really trying to do those 3 things with my children as best as I can.  But if you have any more ideas, I'd love to hear them!  I know a lot of you have children who are bookworms, so give me your advice and wisdom!  It's tough....yesterday I tried to read a book to Rooster, and she kept jumping all over the sofa.  And most of the time when we read Scriptures in the mornings, Nate and I look up and realize that we are reading to ourselves.  Lovely.  :)  But we keep on going....every day!!

An Abundance of Angels

This morning I had the opportunity to attend Church at Primary Children's Medical Center, just up the street from where we live.  I accompanied on the piano for a musical number.  The moment you step inside the hospital, you know you are in a special place.  There is a reverence there.  A peace.  Even though you know there is a lot of pain, suffering, sadness, and unfortunately death that occurs within those walls, you also know there are miracles, healing, prayers, faith and most definitely the presence of unseen angels.  Our musical number went well, and I hope the children, parents and hospital staff in attendance felt uplifted.  A member of one of quorums of the Seventy happened to be there visiting his grandchild, so he came and spoke during the meeting.  He told us that President Monson has said that there is an abundance of angels there at Primary's, second only to temples.  It was difficult for me to see those sick or injured children.  Despite their trials in life, they still have such pure faith and an unshaken desire to worship and love their Savior.  I couldn't help but picture my children being patients there, and I obviously couldn't stop the tears.  I pray morning and night that my babies will always be safe and healthy.  Seeing them scared or in pain is the worst thing a mother can endure, and unfortunately I can't keep them from ever feeling those things.  So I'm thinking now that maybe I should change the focus of my prayers to this:  That my children will always be surrounded by and strongly feel the presence of an abundance of angels whenever they are in need of them.  And that when they are faced with hard things during their time here on Earth, that they will turn to their Savior and their testimonies and cling to them with everything they have.  Yes, that's definitely what I will start praying for now.

Our own Church was wonderful today.  Our bishop spoke about reverence in our Church meetings and teaching our children by example.  I had to laugh because our kids were CRAZY during the whole thing, the Wood Family Circus usually makes a weekly appearance.  Oh well.  Atleast our kids know that we attend Church every week as a family.  That is where the Lord wants us.  So that is where we will be.  In Relief Society, Kristi taught a wonderful lesson about the Millenium.  It is so comforting to know that one day, Christ will again reign on the earth.  Righteousness and truth will prevail.  Satan will be bound.  The earth will be cleansed and perfected.  And the wonderful thing that Kristi pointed out is that we don't have to wait for the Millenium to feel that peace.  Righteousness and truth can (and must) prevail in our own homes.  Satan can (and must) be bound in our own homes.  It is a personal choice we can make every day as we do those things that invite and keep the Spirit in our homes and in our lives.  Oh I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It means everything to me.

This evening we had an early Thanksgiving Dinner with Nate's extended family.  So much good food!  Always fun to visit and see the kids run around with their cousins.  Mallory and fam are coming for Thanksgiving Day this week, and we are all excited to see them again.

I finished reading "The Wednesday Wars" the other day.  I absolutely loved it.  I cracked up through the whole book, and I loved the little twists and surprises that turned Holling's woes into triumphs.  Loved it.  It'll definitely end up on my bookshelf.  The only problem with reading a book that I personally rate 5 stars is that usually the few books I read after it seem lame, even if they aren't all that lame.  Know what I mean?  I'm reading an entirely different story now, but I just miss Holling!!

Yesterday was a Snow day.  Nate was home all day, so he took the older two out sledding.  We watched Iron Man and read and cleaned and rearranged furniture and just hung out.  I love days like that.  I'm such a homebody.  We ended the day by eating Indian food with the Centini's.  Nate & Tyler got to visit, which Staci and I were happy about.  The kids had fun together, Claire slept through the whole thing, and obviously the food was just awesome.

Okay, I think that's everything!  Sorry, no new pictures.  Just a new header, courtesy of the talented (and gorgeous, might I add) Noelle.  Thank you!  The kids each look so different now, so I'm hoping to update their pictures maybe in the Spring.

Fathers, Be Good to Your Daughters

Ironically, there IS one John Mayer song that I skip over every time it comes on....I don't know why I don't like it, but I just don't.  BUT I do love it's message and lyrics.  "You are the god and the weight of her world.  So fathers, be good to your daughters.  Daughters will love like you do." 

I'm VERY close to my dad.  Next to Nate, he's my best friend.  I would rather have his love and approval than anyone else's on earth.  If he's proud of me, my self-esteem is sky high.  If I felt like I disappointed him, I want to crawl under a rock.  And because of that, I spent my younger and teenage years clinging to HIS values and beliefs and advice more than I did my friends opinions or especially the 'world's' opinion of right and wrong.  And now that I'm an adult, I am SO grateful for his influence that it almost brings me to tears.  I can't believe how grateful I am for the kind of father is was and is to me.

So as soon as we had a daughter, I began telling Nate how much Allison loves and admires him.  The love and bond between a father and a daughter is different than a mother/daughter or a father/son.  It just is.  I told Nate that she is watching him.  She is going to listen to every word that comes out of his mouth.  She is going to pay attention to his beliefs and values.  She is going to watch how he treats me.  She is going to crave and want his approval and love and attention more than anything else.  And if he gives it to her (which he will...because I married a man who is like my father in that way, which was my only requirement in a husband), she will be much more likely to make it to adulthood unscathed and with her values intact. 

Really, this post is a book review.  I bought "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters" for Nate because I already knew I was impressed with the author (Meg Meeker).  The book arrived and sat on our shelf for a few weeks.  When I finished P&P, I decided to go ahead and read this book, even though it was a book meant for fathers.

Hands down, this is one of the best books I have ever read.  EVERY father needs to sit down with this book.  I can't even describe how true and powerful and well-written this book is.  It has made ME open my eyes to the realities of parenting in today's world.  Even though he hasn't read it yet, it has triggered conversations between Nate & I regarding parenting that we have never had before....but need to be had!  Please, please read it and then invite your husbands to read it.

A few favorite quotes from the book (although I'd type the entire thing on here if I could!):

Your daughter cannot make you love her or think she is wonderful.  She would do that if she could, but she can't.  How you love her and when you show it, is within your control.  -pg 61


If you stay with her, look at her, and listen to her, she'll keep coming back for more.  Her self-esteem will soar, her sense of loneliness will disappear, and she'll become more comfortable expressing her feelings.  Finally, because you, the most important man in her life, obviously like being with her, she will feel more attractive.  She'll think that boys who don't want to be with her have a problem (because you're smarter and more mature than they are).  That's a good attitude for her to have, and one that will protect her in the long run.  -pg 73


You need to set, as early in her life as you can, what the priorities for your family are.  -pg 91


Every day she gets the wrong messages loud and clear about sex.  You need to speak louder and clearer.  And your voice is the only voice she really wants to hear.  -pg 95


You need to move in and help your daughters in a way that your parents didn't have to help you when you were growing up.  Life is different today -- really different.  -pg 110


If you want your daughter to refrain from being sexually active as a teenager, you need to tell her why and how.  You need to stay in the fight for her innocence and her mental and physical health.  It's a fight you can --and that you must-- win.  -pg 113


You need to decide what you want for your daughter and implement a plan to protect her.  If you don't, the testerone-charged boys at her school will implement quite a different plan.  -pg 116


Your masculinity either shines or loses its luster at home, and what you do there can be the difference between keeping a loving family together and watching it drift apart or crumble.  -pg 136


Every father wants a son-in-law who has nothing to hide and whose relationship with his daughter will be founded on truth.  All secrets hurt.  -pg 158


Be the man you want her to marry because chances are excellent that when she is mature, she will look for you (albeit subconciously) in another man.  -pg 166


How your daughter matures will depend on what she sees when she watches you wrestle the big issues of life, when you show courage amid challenges.  -pg 167


One of the gravest mistakes we parents make is blurring the lines between right and wrong for our daughters.  Whatever popular culture does, in your own home with your own daughter, you cannot smudge the lines and rationalize bad behavior.  You cannot allow your daughter to risk her future by not confronting her on issues of alcohol, sex, and drugs just because that's the easy thing to do.  pg 209


One day, when she is grown, something between the two of you will shift.  If you have done your job well, she will choose another good man to love her, fight for her, and be intimately connected to her.  But he will never replace you in her heart, because you were there first.  And that's the ultimate reward for being a good dad.  -pg 237

Okay, I'll stop there.  I just love how she put an end to the obnoxious wordly views of "Oh kids are just kids" and "well, they have to make mistakes to learn".  She puts the responsibility back where it needs to go, which is with parents. 

Last night Nate and I had a wonderful conversation about a lot of these issues.  We talked about the control we are going to have with media in our home.  We talked about modesty with our daughter(s).  We talked about how reading the scriptures and praying with our children daily will arm them with the Spirit as they leave our presence at school and with friends.  We talked about the temple and chastity.  We talked about the importance of monthly father interviews starting now so that our kids will always know they can talk to Daddy about anything.  We talked about how far we've come and how much we feel like we've grown up since we got married.  It was such a wonderful, important conversation, and I hope we have a million more just like it.

I feel so strongly about raising our children well.  I refuse to back down.  I am exhausted a lot, and so is Nate.  But we refuse to let anyone besides us and the principles of Christ's gospel raise our babies.  We don't care if people think we have our kids on a short leash.  We don't care if people think we're too paranoid or strict.  We love our babies too much to not fight for them with everything we have.

To Be Announced

My friend brought me some newborn baby boy clothes of Cam's on Saturday that I had lent her last year.  Looking at the newborn onesies with little trains and tigers on them made me hope it's a little boy.  But I know as soon as I go through all of Roo's newborn clothes it'll just make me want a girl!  Really though...I just want a BABY!!  I'm so excited.  I'm feeling pretty good...the severe hip joint pain has seemed to ease up a tad, although I'm still pretty slow on my feet.  Headed south with the fam for my OB appointment today.  We got to see Baby on ultrasound, and he/she is measuring perfectly at 24 weeks.  We're looking at scheduling the induction on August 3, but obviously we will make that decision as it gets closer.  I just can't believe how fast time is flying by!

I got a little treat in the mail today from the wonderful Sarah Taylor.  I had went ahead and ordered a pearl attachment for my necklace now because I was too anxious to wait until August...and heck, she only charges $2, so why not??  So it arrived today...along with a surprise from Sarah...a little 3rd tag that says TBA!  Sooo adorable!!  It'll be fun to switch it out with Baby's name in August, but until then, I'm so excited to have our 3rd little one represented in such a cute way!!  It made my day, and once again reaffirmed how much I love supporting small businesses where the owner cares more about customer service than anything.  Her giveaway ends in 2 days, so be sure to enter!  And once again, even if you don't win, please consider her cute shop because I promise she is wonderful to work with and goes the extra mile for her customers!

Here's a random picture:

Literally headed out the door to Church.


I finished reading Pride & Prejudice on Saturday night.  Even though I love to suggest good books to other people, I get nervous reading classic books that everybody likes...or is supposed to like.  Because then I feel pressured to love it instead of being able to truly form my own opinion.  For example, I read The Help last month because everyone said how amazing it was....it was just okay for me.  But then I liked Guernsey and Thousand Suns WAY more than I thought I would.  That said, I truly loved P&P!  Everybody knows I already romanticize everything in my life, so I definitely love a good romantic story!  (Although my top favorite love story is still These Is My Words.)  Even though I couldn't understand all of the dialogue sometimes, I kept wishing that I could talk/write like that!  I told Nate he needs to start speaking to me with such eloquence!  I can't wait to watch the P&P movies next.

Even though I bought it for Nate to read, I just started reading Meg Meeker's Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters.  It just talks about the incredible influence that fathers have on their daughters, whether they want to or not.  She says that no matter how strong the pull of worldly influences can feel, fathers always have an even stronger influence.  As a mother, not a day goes by that I don't worry about my children and whether or not they will be strong enough to stand up for what they know is right as they grow up.  I'm so grateful that their father is such a wonderful man who loves them and spends time with them because that will ultimately bless their lives more than anything else we could do for them.

Speaking of daddy, he is the coolest and decided to build Cameron a homemade volcano since Cam is learning about them at school right now.  (He even made the clay himself!)  It was a big hit with Cam and his little friends when it 'erupted' outside.

Fun Friday: My Book List

So today I just wanted to share my top 5 favorite books, as of now anyway.  My list makes me laugh because each book belongs to a completely different genre.  There is no pattern, or rhyme or reason to the books that have really made an impression on me.  I suppose that's a good thing though, because when I read them over and over, I get a good variety.

MY TOP 5 (well, 6) FAVORITE BOOKS

• To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

I have loved this book since I was about 12 years old.  Jem, Scout and Dill are 3 of my favorite fictional characters ever.  I love Atticus and Boo Radley too.

• These Is My Words, by Nancy Turner

This is one of the best love stories I've ever read.
• The Other Side of Heaven & The Fire of Faith, by John H. Groberg


I can't get enough of these books.  They will strengthen your faith and are an amazing reminder to put our trust in the Lord, NOT in man.
• Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey

Oh how we love that Dave!  I promise he'll change your financial life...if you are disciplined and make some real sacrifices to see the results.
• Marley & Me, by John Grogan

This is just a light, funny read that completely captured my heart.  This the only story I can think of that I love the book AND the movie equally. 

I have read all of these books more than once....I never get sick of them!!  Just writing this post has made me want to go line them all back up on my nightstand and read them all again!  If you decide to go check any of them out, please let me know what you think when you're finished!  Also, if you really want to make my day, let me know what your top 5 favorites are!!

And PS...A few more great books that didn't quite make the cut, but I love them:

Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

In Praise of Stay-at-home Moms

Ellen Foster

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

And PPS...We're making this blog private, probably this weekend, so let me know if you'd like an invite.

A Stack of Dusty Old Books

My parents came up to visit us last week, and my dad was carrying a stack of dusty old books.  He handed them to me and said he had found them in their storage room.  Apparently my mother read them when we were all young so she could get through the young motherhood years with her sanity intact.

My wise father must have known that I need them now....30 years later...to keep my sanity intact!

Welcome to a very typical 4 pm hour meltdown brought to you by my babies:

I'm just going down the stack, book by book.  I finished "A Joyful Mother of Children" a few days ago and absolutely loved every word.  It was written by a mother of 7 children.  One of the most real books on mothering children because she knows just how we feel!  She wasn't trying to throw a bunch of psychology or child development facts at you.

My "Read With Me" idea came to me just about 24 hours after one of the worst motherhood meltdowns I have EVER had this weekend (just ask Nate!).  I felt out of control.  I couldn't control my emotions or my anger towards my children.  I didn't want to do this motherhood thing anymore.  I didn't think I could do this anymore.  I felt stuck, depressed and angry at myself for not being the mother I always envisioned I'd be.

But then I remembered a chapter in that book I'd just finished where she talked about how because of Christ's atonement, we can change.  "Progress means change.  The times we grow the most are those times when we are required to change something we don't like about ourselves.  Children provide us with many great blessings.  One is the absolute need to change in order to survive.  It is very comforting to know that we all have a set of weaknesses to work with, and that if we really believe that we can change those weaknesses, they can actually become our strengths.  Ether 12:27: And if [women] come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto them weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then I will make weak things become strong unto them." -pg 122-123

I knew immediately that I needed to turn myself over to the Lord and plead for His help.  I felt impressed that turning to the scriptures was the first step to changing and becoming a different, better mother.  And like I mentioned before, it's already happening.  This has been the best week I've had in a very long time.  I haven't lost my temper, even when the kids have lost theirs.  My heart doesn't start pounding when Cameron deliberately disobeys me.  I feel peace and calmness in my heart.  I'm so grateful for that.

Saturday & Book Review

I love Saturday mornings like these.  Still in pajamas (kids are dressed atleast!), I flit back and forth between zoning out online, playing basketball and tools with the kids, breaking up their fighting and scrubbing my kitchen floor.  Kids are playing with toys, drinking apple juice and making phone calls to Grandma.  Wishing Nate were home though.  Luckily he's off at 3 on Saturdays.  It's just a lazy day with no plans until this evening....Wheeler Farm for a picnic with our dear friends, the Harwards.  Can't wait!  Cambrie & Cameron together again.

We headed outside before Roo's naptime.  I love watching my children laugh and play and wear themselves out.  My approach to parenting is to give my children the same outdoor, carefree days that I enjoyed growing up.  I believe children belong outdoors....running and jumping and discovering and digging and swinging and biking and getting muddy and eating popsicles and playing make believe and yelling and chasing squirrels and chasing birds and laughing.  That's what I did.  And that's what Cam & Roo do.

***
I'm tired today.  Why?  Because I devoured another Khaled Housseini book, "The Kite Runner" in a matter of days again.  No sleep!  I read his other novel, "A Thousand Splended Suns" a few weeks ago, as you may remember.  It took me a few days to recover from the mental and emotional turmoil it put me through.  I made myself read a few other 'light' books before I picked up The Kite Runner, because I knew it would be the same way.  I was right.

A gripping tale of two young boys and their fathers.  Family relationships, trust, loyalty, secrets, lies, violence, heartbreak, power, redemption and hope.  It's all in there.  It was a more difficult read for me than 'Suns' was because of some of the content, but I thought it ended better.  In fact, the last few pages of "The Kite Runner" turned out to be one of the best endings to a story I've ever read.

I wish I was brave enough to start writing more.  It's been a lifelong dream of mine to write a novel.  Nate has been encouraging me for nearly 6 years now.  I keep waiting around for a good idea.  I should just start writing and see how it goes.