Three Weeks With My Brother

I don't know how many of you have read Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks, but it's a good one. It's the true story of his life; in particular the close relationship with his brother. I loved the book because it details the inspiration behind so many of his books, and he is one that has bounced back from so many obstacles.

The point of this post, however, is that there is a part in the book where Nicholas Sparks talks about how his mom used to make all of three of the siblings, say something they love about each while being tucked in bed at night. I loved the idea and so that has become a bed time routine for Thais and me. So far nothing profound has come out of this little exercise but boy do I love it when a big smile creeps across Thaisy's face and she says, "What I love about Sky is I love to play with him"! Same answer every night. Hands down, playing with her brother is the best thing about him.

This picture melts my heart because I think one of the greatest joys I have experienced as a mother is watching my babies interact. I love to watch them play. I love how much they adore each other (don't get me wrong they fight and tease with the best of them) but they are still always friends.

One night Skyler fell asleep at 4:00 in the afternoon, so at about 7:00pm Thais and I snuck in his room to check on him. As we were slipping quietly out of the room, Thais got a big smile on her face and said, "Oh Man, we just love that boy"! We do. She does. That makes me happy.

I even love that Skyler "tattles" now. His whole goal is to get Thais sent to her room, and then the minute I put her in he runs and unlocks the door for her to get let out. It makes me laugh because I used to do the same thing with my little brother.

I just have this sense that close sibling relationships don't always happen by chance. As their mom, I have to foster it. Like Nicholas Sparks' wise mother,kids need to be asked what they love about each other. I want to teach them that we're a team and remind them that friends come and go-but their friendship is one that lasts forever. I want Thais to look out for Sky at school and instill in them a firm sense of loyalty ....

But for now, I just love watching their frienship develop! Seriously, It's the best.

Summer Fav's (a few months behind)

Just a few highlights of our summer:

Eating oranges on our lawn

Power of Moms Motherhood retreat with these Bff's!

I will have to blog about this retreat later. It was amazing!

Meeting Linda Eyre (same retreat as above). I was in awe, a bit star struck, but mostly just so inspired by her life's work. For more info about her go to valuesparenting.com

Thaisy with her friend Ella at her very first dance recital.

Lexi's traditional 4th of July visit. Love this girl!

Visiting the Ostrich Farm. It was really cool. It reminded me that I've actually tried ostrich meat. In case you're wondering it tastes like an incredibly tender beef fillet. Apparently there are restaurants all over Tucson that serve it. So if you're ever in town....

Six weeks of swim lessons. Doesn't her teacher look a bit like Harry Connick Jr?

Visiting a new Temple: Los Angeles, Ca

A trip with dear friends...

Meeting my newest nephew for the first time. How cute is the kid?

Celebrating my Jenny-poo's 29th birthday at the Cheesecake Factory (i'm drooling just thinking of it). I sure love my sis!

Having Neveah come for a few weeks. Crazy girls I tell ya!

My Birthday in Cali! So much fun to be with my family!

(The birthday kiss wasn't bad either)

Disney Land: The Happiest Place On Earth??

This post is a bit late, but I wanted document our trip to Disney Land this past Spring. We went with all of my siblings and had a great time but, as all parents understand, there is always a little bit of melt down action in, "The Happiest Place On Earth"! My favorite picture is the one of Thais trying to bend Sky's leg over his head in a moment of frustration. Classic!


But of course we still had a blast! Here are some happier moments:

Finger Puppets

My Mother in Law asked me to come up with a way to make finger puppets as a craft for the kids over Christmas. Thaisy and I decided to gjve it a whirl and here is what we came up with...





Thais made the black and white cat...what a crafty girl!

Reflections on this boy...

Have any mothers out there noticed that when you are working with a kid a little bit you tend to have a soft spot for them and it makes you just want to love them harder?

That is how I feel about my Skylee boy! Looking at these pictures just makes my heart burst with love for this little guy-bruised face and all.

When I say "working with" I want to clarify that it isn't that Skyler is a terrible kid or anything, it's just been over a year now that I have had to worry about this little biting phase he's in. He has been doing SO much better, but the other day we had a little episode where he bit another little guy his age five times on the back. I was pretty devastated. I was done. I felt a little bit sorry for myself because I thought what am I doing wrong where I haven't been able to solve this the last 12 months. But those feelings passed fairly quickly and in their stead I have this new resolve to just bask in a really great word: PERSPECTIVE!

For example,I read Skyler's baby blessing today and I got teary eyed as I basked in the caliber of his spirit. It told me again that he is strong, he is pure, and he will be a leader for good. What more could a mother ask for? It almost makes me laugh that I have been so caught up in this insignificant phase of a one year old boy (if he's biting in junior high then we'll worry!) Lately I can't get enough of how stinkin' adorable this kid is. He is talking more and more every day-and man he has a lot to say! The other day I was getting ready for church and he pointed to my chunky pearl necklace and said, "Oh. Dat a Basketball Mama? Cute!" It was priceless.

This kid is tough as nails. Yesterday he fell out of a wagon and scraped up his face pretty good in the dirt. He cried for only a minute while saying, "bleed. bleed!" But then we cleaned him up and he was good as new, ready to play with our neighbors dog again. It seems like nothing phases this boy.

I love the twinkle in his eye. I love the looks he gives me just beaming with mischief. I love how the very minute we get in the car he starts asking for the "hey hey hey song" (Hey Soul Sister by Train). I also love it when he says my name. Skyler didn't say mama until after he was a year old, and so I just kind of melt when he wants something and says Pease mama!

And I have to mention that he already has his own little fashion sense: basketball shorts and flip flops are a must around here. He howls like crazy if I even think about putting him in jeans. He says, "no! Ba-tet-boll shorts"! It makes Jordan so proud.

So despite my tendency to worry and struggle through a tough phase, I simply just love this kiddo more...

Sure glad you're mine, Sky!

It's Not Just the Challenge That's Making Me Better :O)

I think it's been a while since I have been able to watch all of conference in it's entirety (I even watched most of the priesthood session today). All of the talks were so good, so uplifting so inspired that it's hard to say which one was my favorite..

It's been a great experience this week doing the 8 Week Challenge. I am drinking more water, getting more exercise, eating better and the results are I feel energized and just better overall. Conference was a perfect way to finish off this week because it did all of those things for me spiritually. I feel rejuvenated and more ready to commit myself to the spiritual things that make me better overall. I love partaking of the palpable strength that is in the gospel and in the leaders of the church. Conference is a great reminder that there is still a lot of good in the world. Sometimes I feel so scared for my babies and scared for the world we live in, and then to see President Monson radiate optimism...Well it's infectious!

So I am happy to report that it was a good week....

Bring on Week #2 of the challenge baby!

I think It's Worthy to Mention....

And can I just say I had SO MUCH FUN doing it (note the pics above)! For those of you who are approaching the big"three-o" here is my tip: just start telling everyone you are 30 like 6 months before your birthday and then when you actually turn 30 it doesn't even phase you a bit. You might even actually feel younger on your real birthday because at that point you would feel months into your thirties(It's kind of like when you set the clock forward 10 minutes with the hopes that you'll be tricked into being on time) Hey, it's worth a shot!

I actually love being 30. I mean, don't get me wrong, sometimes I miss the metabolism of my 20's but I wouldn't trade where I am at right now for even that. I like how I feel right now, I love what and whom I have in my life and I like my perspective at this age. What's more is, this decade will bring about so much change. By the end of it Thais will be 14 and my Skylee boy will be almost 12 (yikes! I don't know that I love that thought) but hopefully there will be a few other members to add to our little family (unfortunately this is not an announcement :O)) but I can't wait to know what our family will officially be. Hopefully this decade will bring us some insight as to what we are going to do when we grow up! I wonder where we will live and oh I hope we can plant some roots. I would love for our kids to have one place they call home.

I also like the thought of Jordan and I in our thirties together. Already I have seen the growth and maturity that has taken place up to this point in our marriage and my feeling is that with more wisdom and experience we are just going to keep getting stronger. I have to say, I am a little bit feistier now that I'm 30 and although that can create some solid disagreements, we are also becoming better people. There is no one else I would rather grow with and grow old with than my Jordy!

So here is to this new decade in my life. I can't wait to know what the 30's have in store for me..

So far so good :o)