Snow bunnies

It would have been a crime not to go out & play in the 4-foot snow drifts that we had in our backyard. We ran, jumped, snow-angeled, and pretty much had the time of our lives together in the snow.

Christmas Morning

Enough said.

Christmas Day

Did I mention Lil' Jesse is home? I didn't? Well, Lil' Jesse is home. It seems like forever ago that we were dropping him off at the MTC. It's so good to have him back. So good to just hang out on Christmas Day with the whole fam. Loved it. Loved it all.

Merry Christmas blogging world

What do you do...

...when you're 2 & it's your birthday? Why, jump on Mommie's bed, of course!

Mine.

Two years ago today, I was looking at your beautiful face for the very first time. And I still can't believe you're mine.

Whack!

As parents, we all have parenting pet peeves. Nose-picking, whining, spitting, etc. Among mine are screaming, taking toys away...and hitting. Oh, I can't tell you how much it annoys me when my kid hits. Which means I'm pretty much constantly annoyed lately, as that is her new preferred method of expressing frustration. Please, please tell me I'm not the only one whose child has gone through a hitting phase. Please? And if you would be so kind as to tell me how in the frick did you get them to stop.

Close to the spirit

Do you ever have times when your heart feels so soft & the slightest tickle from the Holy Ghost makes the rivers run down your cheeks? When the tears aren't because of a trial you're facing or anything in particular, but simply because your heart is close to the spirit? I love those times. Those are the times when I feel closest to my Savior. Sunday was one of those days. Hollie was amazing through all of Sacrament. We didn't have to take her out once. I don't think that has happened in many, many months. With so much time on my hands, not wandering the halls or frantically whispering "shush" every 30 seconds, I actually got to listen to the talks. I found myself in tears as one of our sweet high council members talked of enjoying each moment & finding joy in the journey. I was uplifted & my heart was touched.

That was nothing compared to the emotional overflow that would occur in our Sunbeam class later that day, however. It was the Boy's turn to teach & the lesson was on the scriptures. Sam was telling the story of Christ coming to the Americas & asked the class if they remembered what happened to the Jesus when he died. When Noah began telling the class about the nails in our Savior's hands, the most profound silence came over our group of 4 year olds. I know that they could all feel the spirit as strongly as I did. It was almost palpable in our little classroom. I could not ebb the flow for the remainder of class. They ran freely.

Apparently today is one of those days, too. It began like any other day. I got up, got ready, edited, posted a session, then decided to read some blogs. I first read the inspiring story of my friend Lindsay & her little Andrew. So moving. I was in tears by the 3rd paragraph. Afterwards, I figured I was already bawling, so I might as well see how Stephanie Waite is doing. I don't know her. We've never met. But she is the strongest woman I've ever seen or heard of. I can't adequately tell her story. But she has strengthened my testimony. She does every time I read her blog.

I have many more things to post (you'll die when you see Hollie in her Halloween costume), but today I had to express my gratitude. For my Savior. For His gospel. For my Sam. And for her.

Clinique.

I really tried to be mad when I found the little twinkie like this. I tried to conjure images of all the money she wasted in my Clinique make-up, but I came up dry. All I could do was laugh...and grab my camera. Indian war paint it up, little one, because you're only a toddler once.