random

These pictures are a good summary of the dates in January I haven't blogged about yet.  My boys were off track the first 3 weeks in January, which ends up being such a LONG winter break.  We do love it though!  One of the days off track Grandpa Ock and Grandma Patty took us to Chuck E. Cheese.  The boys loved it...especially when Grandpa and Grandma bought them 500 tokens (or something ridiculous like that). 

With all the holiday festivities and the boys being off track, Cooper got out of the habit of taking a nap.  He doesn't think he needs one anymore, but we frequently find him like this in the late afternoon.  (As I'm typing, Cooper is napping under my chair.)

The last week in January the boys went back to school.  I really do love going out in the freezing cold to walk Payton to the bus stop.  I also love capturing these moments that I don't want to forget.  Payton immediately turned around and said, "What are you doing?  Delete that right now!" 

Another picture Payton wanted deleted immediately was this one.  I don't blame him, but can you blame me for wanting to freeze these images in time?  Soon enough there is no way these three boys will be showering together.  I really am not ready for these days to end...
 

This is one image I don't want to forget, but am ready to put behind me.  This is what my life looks like these days!

More to come...

raingutter regatta

Payton had so much fun helping Tim working with his Dad to make his boat.  He was also happy that he did well at the event.  It's always fun to see how excited the kids (and Dad's) get at these events.  Payton really enjoys cub scouts, especially when they do activities like these!

potty trained

Cooper found these underwear in his drawer.  I placed them there in anticipation for potty training.  As soon as he discovered these gems there was no going back to diapers.  He put them on, peed in them twice and then finally realized that he probably should get to the bathroom instead of having "water" running down his legs.  It was seriously that simple!  This kid potty trained himself.  We've had a few accidents, but for the most part it's been a breeze.  AND, he wears underwear at night and has never had an accident.  We're so proud, but mostly just happy that we don't have to change his diaper anymore!

grandma ann's birthday celebration

The Jones Family

close up of Grandma Ann clearly loving her party!

more dinner conversation

Grandma unwrapping presents with LOTS of help

If one gets in, they'll all want in!

Cooper, Eme & Gigi

Eme, Cooper, Gigi & Dax

Love those blue eyes, Dax!

And those big browns on Gigi!

Now bedtime...

Eme making a phone call

Not quite ready for bed, let's have a dance party instead!

We had a nice dinner and, as you can tell from the pictures, quite the celebration for Ann's Birthday.  She is always so kind to feed us every other Sunday so we thought we'd take a turn and serve her for once.  It was so nice that all of our family was able to be together.  I love looking at all these pictures.  It makes me so grateful that we have such an incredible extended family (on both sides).  I love that we always have so much fun together.  I can't believe how big our family is getting, but it is so much fun!

my writing career

 

This past September, I got an e-mail from my cousin suggesting that I submit some of my stories that I write on my blog to deseretconnect.com.  I was flattered that my Communications Professor-Published Writer-Very Successful-Cousin had so much confidence in me.  However, I was busy and left the message lingering in my inbox.  Each time I cleaned out my inbox that message haunted me.  It felt like something I should do, but I didn't have the same confidence or drive I did when I was actually pursuing my journalism degree and career.  So I disregarded the message every time it caught my eye.

During the month of December, I set a goal that I would simply get on the website and fill out my profile.  Once I got logged on and made it through the application process, I started playing around with the site and was surprised at how easy it was to pitch a story.  Thinking that nobody would ever respond, I pitched a story and made my deadline the next day.

To my horror, dismay, demise sweet surprise my story was immediately accepted.  As they say, the rest is history.  I threw together a story {based on the title I had pitched}.  Found out it would be published the following Monday in the print edition of the Deseret News and was an overnight success story as shocked as everyone else when they saw my families picture in the paper.

I was so excited that I immediately began writing more.  I loved that I had this new creative outlet where my two lives of journalist and mother could meet in the family section of the Deseret News once a week.

Below are links to the stories I've had published (for those of you asking if I've written anymore).  Also, the pictures featured above were from the first assignment that my editor gave me.  Exciting!  I really felt like a real journalist with my notepad, asking questions at the Church History Museum Press Event.  It was fabulous because I got to bring my family along too.  I'm excited for this opportunity and can't wait to write more.  If any of you are interested in writing, this same opportunity is available to you too.  Go check out the website!

Teaching Children the Joy of Giving, Deseret News, December 13, 2010

My Favorite Christmas Tradition, Mormon Times, December 24, 2010 

Post-Holiday Survival Tips for Parents, Deseret News, December 26, 2010

This Year, Try Slowing Down and Enjoying the Ride, Deseret News, January 2, 2011

Ex-Planner Converts to 'Just Do It', Deseret News, January 2, 2011

5 Things Families Can Expect to Find at the Newest Church History Museum Exhibit, Deseret News, January 23, 2011

 

homework confession

After being off track for over a month, my two oldest headed back to school today and I'm just trying to gear myself up for it!

Payton, my oldest son, is in third grade, which means that he's been in school for 4 years.  Up until this year, we've never done homework.  Go ahead, gasp and judge me.  I told you it was a confession.  It's not something I'm proud of.  In my defense, he has always been a great student and he's an extremely independent child.

I thought I was living it up while I could.  I'm sure he'll have more homework when he gets older, let's take advantage of this down time while we can. I'd reassure myself.

He's always had spelling words, daily reading and math papers that would come home, but Payton would complete his math papers while on the bus ride home so that he wouldn't have to waste his precious play time once he got home.  He also spent so much time at school working on the spelling words that he never needed to practice them at home.  He does his daily reading with the lamp beside his bed after we've tucked him in for the night.

My point is.  I've never been involved in the homework process...until this year.  Two things happened:

First, Payton started getting homework.  Not just do-on-the-bus-homework, but needs- to-be-done-at-home-redo-that-assignment-because-it's-too-sloppy-need-your-parents-help-buy a tri-fold-for kind of homework.

Second, Parker started kindergarten.  He gets a packet that he needs to complete each month, a book he reads daily and sight words to practice, which is easy.  The issue is that he LOVES homework. (I'll explain why this is an "issue".)  He always has.  Even when he was in preschool he was begging to do "homework."  (Honestly, I have no idea where he learned the word...not at our house!)

So, after 4-years of no homework, we are now required to do homework.  Like everything else in life, I had to make it a priority.  And I did.  The past few weeks I've had to set weekly goals.  Help boys with homework - daily.  Since I'm being honest, it hasn't happened daily (just like my exercise goal), but I'm trying.  I want to get in the habit of learning in our home daily.  I want to develop these skills that my boys will need for the next bazillion years of their lives until the graduate with their PHD's.  (A mom can dream.)

When I first began trying to implement homework daily it was painful for ALL of us.  Payton has never been in the habit so he thought I was torturing him.  Parker never wants to stop doing homework once we start because he loves it so much and gets angry when I tell him we're done for the day.  For me, I've struggled to find a good time to help two boys, without pulling my hair out!

We don't have a set routine yet, but I think we're getting there.  My only goal has been to do something, anything daily.  I've realized there are so many fun ways to do homework.  These scrabble tiles (pictured above) have been perfect for Parker to spell out his sight words.  AND, he can do this for hours without needing my help, just a quick glance of approval every so often.

Payton is really competitive and loves games.  We use this website aaamath.com.  Payton loves doing the timed tests.  We play another game together with flashcards.  We lay the multiplication flashcards down on the table and the first person that can say the answer gets to keep the card, until the stack of flashcards are gone.  Whoever has the most cards wins.  Honestly, he's beat me a lot of times without me letting him win.  We are both having fun and we're learning.  Better than that, we're doing...HOMEWORK!

All this time, I thought I was being so smart, but now I'm realizing how much I've missed out on.  Luckily, there is always time to change a habit and start something new.  I'm grateful that I am finally making homework a priority.

Do you have any great homework suggestions for me?  As you can tell, I still need a lot of help!

resolutions

It's that time of year.  A time to reflect.  A time to set new goals.  A time to have a fresh start, a clean slate or a "do-over."  Now matter what our past has been like, we have this opportunity to create a new future.

My mind has been swirling with ideas about the accomplishments we've had over the past year and also the exciting times we have ahead of us.  As I look back on my life over the past year and previous years, I see that I really am evolving into someone I want to be.  I'm molding myself into the woman of my future.  Some days I can't get there fast enough.  Other days I'm grateful for the learning moments in my life.  Most days I wish time would slow down and I can reverse the clock. 

I finally got my first blog book published and received it as a gift for Christmas.  My sister was looking through it and in shock asked,

"Do you still do all of this, everyday?"

She was referring to my routines in 2007.  As I took the book from her and looked it over, I was in awe.  I was in awe of the person that I was (or wanted to be) and the person that I am now.  Everything was perfectly planned down to the second.  While I did have some great ideas and formed some lasting habits from those routines, I couldn't help but laugh...hard...at my crazy self!

As I've perused through my past blog posts and thought about my life, I relived my "back to work" stunt that I pulled last year.   Great ideas.  Great intentions.  Right?  Yes, I still believe that they are, but somehow, somewhere I was missing something.  I would start with these wonderfully mapped out plans and intentions, but I would inevitably throw my hands in the air and cry, "I can't do this anymore!"

I can't live up to the perfect standards that I set for myself.  I STILL want perfection so bad that I can almost taste it, but that's the problem.  I get so, so, so close, but never achieve it.  You know why?  IT'S IMPOSSIBLE.  Nobody is perfect nor can be perfect nor ever will be perfect.

 Obviously, I've already made a resolution to, "Just Do It" this year.  You can read all about it in the Deseret News.  I always have the goal to simplify my life, which I also discussed in another article I wrote for the Deseret News.  I was impressed that the editor changed the title to, "This year, try slowing down and enjoy the ride."  I love that, but can I do it?

I've been so conflicted about my resolutions this year and haven't been able to quite pin down what I would like to do.  I've thought about a long list of goals {since I'm really trying to be more goal-oriented as opposed to task-oriented...more on that to come.}  However, I wanted to simplify, right?  I needed something more simple.

As I was doing some reading, I came across a talk by President Monsen, that will be the guideline for my 2011 resolutions.  I loved that it already fit in perfectly with the other resolutions I had already set for myself.

The talk and my resolution this year is, "Finding Joy in the Journey." 

Here are some of my favorite excerpts:

I begin by mentioning one of the most inevitable aspects of our lives here upon the earth, and that is change. At one time or another we’ve all heard some form of the familiar adage: “Nothing is as constant as change.”

Throughout our lives, we must deal with change. Some changes are welcome; some are not.

 I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. 

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

 Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us.

 Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows.

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.

Said one well-known author: “Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present—love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]—the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.” ⁶ 

Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed.

This next year there will inevitably be much change for our family.  Life is always full of stress.  However, I know that I can find joy in the journey, serve more and be grateful for the many things in my life.  I can make 2011 one of the best years of my life...if I can follow the above counsel.

Wish me luck!

fun day with nortons and i am THAT mom

It was my sister's last day in town and we planned to take the kids to Discovery Gateway.  However, Parker woke up at 7:00 am and threw up.  Then Cooper woke up at 7:30 am and threw up.  I was bummed that our plans would be ruined.  But, immediately after hurling, my boys were running around, playing and acting totally normal.  They ate breakfast and seemed 100%.

I talked to Erika and she told me that Harper had been throwing up all night.  Fabulous!  She was going to see how she was doing and we'd talk in a few hours.  After a few hours, all the kids were doing great so against my better judgment we decided to carry on with our plans.

We met Brian, Erika, Harper and Brian's Dad at Discovery Gateway (which we now have a membership to if anyone would like to join us for a play date).  The kids all had so much fun.  You would have never known that just hours before they were hurling.  My kids hands were thoroughly sanitized, but I did keep looking at the other parents and feeling so guilty.

After being there for over an hour, Parker said his stomach was hurting and he wanted to lay in the stroller.  After resting for a bit, we then went to the restroom where he threw up.  Luckily, nobody else was in the restroom.  I took out my wet wipes and wiped down the seat after he barfed.  I also scrubbed his hands better than any surgeon ever would.  Then sanitized his hands (and mine) really well.

We left the bathroom and Parker was immediately bouncing around and back to his normal self.  This is the part I'm most ashamed of.  After, he threw up in the bathroom we continued to stay and play.  THAT is so wrong.  I never thought I would be THAT Mom, but I was.  I am. 

I told myself he was thoroughly sanitized and not spreading germs.  Also, after paying that much money and being that far from home, I didn't want to leave.   I really am embarrassed and ashamed.  I don't blame you for reporting me to Discovery Gateway and having my membership revoked.  What I did was wrong.   

But, look at the great time they had POST-barfing...

I'd love to promise that I'll never to do that again, but how can I?  Once you're THAT Mom, can you go back?  I hope so.

I also should tell you that Cooper began throwing up again that night.  It gets better.  After throwing up Monday evening he never threw up again UNTIL he was at playschool Thursday morning with 8 of his friends.  3 days he doesn't throw up.  3 days we don't go anywhere and then he throws up with 8 other toddlers.

Carma!

(None of the play school friends have reported being sick...yet!)

Parker also threw up again Friday night and Saturday night following the Monday adventure at Discovery Gateway.  Is that the craziest virus you've ever heard of?  We thought it was! 

We are all healthy now and not throwing up.  I hope you'll still be my friend!

a letter from the past brings hope for the future

About a year ago, I discovered a gem among the bookcases in my parents home. My Dad is an avid reader, lover and collector of books. The walls of their home is lined with books.

One evening, after a Sunday dinner, I made my way downstairs to the den that resides just outside my childhood bedroom door. I was searching the Parenting-Help section (yes, they are organized just like a library). There were many old, tattered and torn books. I grabbed about a dozen books that caught my attention. I packed them in a bag and headed home.

About a week later, I found some quiet time so I began sorting through the stack of books I had plopped on my office desk. The first book that caught my attention was this one:

As I opened the front cover, my heart started pounding so fast I thought it was going to jump out of my chest. I couldn't read the words fast enough, but also didn't want this moment to end. I had just discovered a letter to my Mom from my Grandma (her Mother-in-Law). This was a priceless gem from the past that I was so happy to discover. I now knew how paleontologists must feel as they discover hidden treasures from the past. You see, my Grandma passed away over 9-years ago. This discovery was a huge blessing to me. As I read the words, I was instantly weeping and felt my Grandmother's spirit pour over me.

In case you can't read it,

Patty,

You're doing 'great' in my book, but just being great doesn't help those areas in which we have problems and don't have answers.  This book may not have all the answers but it's down to earth, practical and fun reading.  But, remember when you get all your knowledge stored - and something upsets the apple cart - the Holy Ghost is the comforter, Jesus Christ is the Physician and Heavenly Father works through them.  Since you know those things the books are a re-enforcement.

"Ige"

As I sat reading her words over and over again, I felt so blessed to have this incredible advice from my amazing Grandmother who raised 8 incredible children.  I now had her testimony, sealed in ink, right here on the pages of this book.  As I read the book, with my Grandma's testimony in the front and my Mother's highlights on the pages, I felt so much inspiration as a Mother.

While this book has some wonderful ideas (that I have since implemented in my life and will share more of that later), I realized that I already have a legacy of truly amazing women to learn from.  As this new year is beginning, my goal is to learn from my past in order to create more hope for my future.