Two of a kind

My mom always had a half eaten Snickers bar in her purse. Now granted, to a young child something only has to happen a few times to make it feel like always, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't just my imagination. She loved Snickers, and I loved rummaging through her purse to take little bites of it from time to time. I don't have many memories left of my mom that are my own, but this is one, and I hold it very dear.

Segue to tonight.

I had to stop by the grocery store at 11:30pm (every Saturday night at 11:30pm) and I heard a little voice calling me from the candy aisle. When I looked to see who it might be, I noticed a Milky Way waving furiously at me. I also noticed that it boasted more caramel filling. Well, who am I to object to such an offer. I threw it in the basket and tried my best to ignore it. The cashier was kind enough to let me know that they were on sale 3 for a dollar and asked if I wanted to grab a few more. I laughed, "no thanks, one will do me just fine!" He rang it up and put it on the counter next to me so I could stash it in my purse. On my way out to the car I pulled it out, opened the top and took a bite. I only needed a bite tonight, I thought. I'll just save the rest for later. It wasn't until I got home and had to get something out of my purse and saw my partially eaten candy bar that it hit me.

I am just like my mom!!!

I laughed to myself as I imagined my mom shopping late on a Saturday night and noticing the florescent lights shining from within the Snickers bar that I'm sure were just to hard to pass up. I could just see her walking back to her Honda and just taking a small bite, because that's all she really needed and then stashing it away in her purse for later.

So here's to you mom! Thanks for helping my justify keeping a candy bar ready at a moments notice. Because you never know when your going to need a bite!

I'M the next American Idol!

Look at me! I'm in a recording studio. It really isn't a good thing that I'm so into American Idol right now, because I for sure thought I was Carrie Underwood the whole time. You know how I am about wanting to be famous! : ) I have to say though, it was an awesome experience. You stand in this little soundproof room, all by your lonesome, while you listen to yourself singing in headphones. And you know what? It really didn't sound half bad! I was recording for the musical I'm a part of, With Mine Own Hand, and the CD will be sold at the BYU bookstore. So if you're ever at BYU after August, head on over to the bookstore and buy my album! Okay, so it's not MY album, but I am on it. I felt a little silly asking for someone to take my picture in the booth, but the desire to blog outweighed the desire to be cool, so here they are!

This is really hard

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Happy Easter!

I had no idea she could be so cute!!!

My favorite part about Easter this year was being able to share with Jaxon the real reason that we celebrate. As we talked about Jesus and his death and Resurrection, he made many references to his favorite superheros (Batman, Superman, Green Lantern) and now Jesus is one of those superheros. What a fresh new way to think of Christ! He has power over death, he saved us all, he is perfect and as Jaxon is always pointing out, he wears a cape. : ) There is such a beautiful simplicity to the Easter story when seen through childs eyes. I am so grateful to be able to learn the gospel all over again with my sweet children.

Happy Easter everyone!

Cute Cake

Jaxon's Pictures II

Here are some pictures I found on my camera. I didn't even know he had taken them!

In case you were wondering,

this is what a week of no sleep (okay, 3 days...out of 7) and finals will do to you. Good thing for Spring Break! Great job Jake.

(he is still currently on the floor, and I'm not sure what to do about it. I've tried waking him up 3 seperate times. I guess I get the bed to myself tonight!)

Potty Training

I have a dear friend, Kelsey, who wrote an email to myself and some other moms for any advice we had on potty training. Here is a list of reasons why I should never give anyone advice on potty training.

1. It took Jaxon nearly 9 months to be completely potty trained after he was 3
2. I went through 3 different toilets to try and potty train
3. I hated the hand washing part and sometimes "forgot" to. (I know, gross)
4. I used every threat known to man
5. I got my internal patience meter from my dad, and it tops off REALLY fast
6. I read every book on the subject and it was all nonsense (ONE DAY potty training? Puh-lease!)
7. I loaded Jaxon with candy at the mere thought of using his potty
8. I eventually threw his beloved binkie into his poop filled diaper and told him he would not have binkies until he could go potty in the toilet. (that's what finally did it)

So I don't know that my way would sell many books, and I really wouldn't want to pass it on as good advice, but at least it worked! Poor Sage

I've joined the crowd

I guess I want to be an online scrapbooker! Thanks to all you bloggers out there who inspired me!

Just because she's cute

I absolutely can not rid my heart and mind of sadness for the boy who lost his life this weekend and his family. Ross Barfuss, a 16 year old in my ward, was at the beach when he swam into the ocean to save the life of an 11 year old boy who he did not know. He has still not been found. I lost my mother at a young age, so I have felt the pain of death, but now that I am a mother it just doesn't seem possible for life to continue after losing a child. I haven't been able to sleep, and my mind has been clouded with thought of sadness and death, until tonight when I saw his mother on the news and she said

"We'll miss Ross, we always will, but home is not a building, home is in your heart, and that's where Ross is."

What courage and strength this amazing woman has, and what faith in our Heavenly Fathers plan for families to be together for eternity. My sister also helped me realize that there should be no sadness for Ross. He is in a better place. The prayers that have gone out to this family have been numberless I'm sure, but please join me in continuing them.

I just still can't believe that the words of the mother who lost her son were the words I needed to hear to feel comfort. Here is the link to the video of this amazing woman and family.

This made me happy.....

There's nothing like 63 degree weather in February

A few things

Here are some pictures from Jake's Sunday party that I haven't gotten around to putting on the blog. As a quick side note, Sunday is the best day for a birthday. You go out with your significant other on Friday night, have a party with friends on Saturday night, and a family party on Sunday night!!! It's the only way to go!

Here's Jaxon and the birthday boy. I love this picture of Jax. Look at those eyes!! I let Jaxon take over the job of decorating Jakes b-day cake. I made it from scratch and it tasted like cornbread. Blah. Heather on clean up crew. This is now the 3rd picture I have posted of her in this same spot doing dishes at Heidi's house! What a good sister.
This picture is cool. Look closely and you can see Jake ready to take on the 30 candles single handedly. Okay, Jaxon helped a bit.
Jake's got this super neat-o coat for his birthday. (at what age did birthday presents start getting so lame!)
Connor got a hold of the camera at this point. This is Abbie and Jaxon's best mad face.

Okay, are you sick of birthdays? Me too! On to other things. These 3 boys are in preschool together that I teach with two other moms. Here they are hammering golf tee's into Styrofoam. They LOVED it! Little boys in their element.And here is a not so great shot of the music group I teach Friday mornings. We were singing some cowboy songs in this picture. I love teaching these kids music and seeing how well they can learn it and how much they love it. It is very rewarding to hear Jaxon start singing one of the songs I've taught that week.
Jaxon and Jake had a little party last night watching Batman and eating popcorn and chocolate milk! Fun fun!And here is a picture from today before church. Sage is obviously not so happy in the picture, but look at her cute little outfit! She is so fun to dress. I sure love these crazy kids. I read on my good friend Melissa's blog a quote from Sister Hinkley that said,

"It is the mothers of young children I would like to address first. These are golden years for you. These are years when you will probably do the most important work of your lives. Don’t wish away your years of caring for small children."

I'll do my best!