So, for those of you who spend a lot of free time on the internet, I have found something amazing. Maybe you already knew about it, and maybe you didn't. But I am super excited about it so I wanted to share. It is a website that e-mails you your daily scripture study program. You can set up all the criteria, you can start where you are currently at, and you can study much more than the BofM. It even sends you the audio to that scripture study so if you are too lazy to actually read it, it will read it to you. You can click on the link that will take you to the site and you can highlight verses and leave notes. It will save all the information for you under your account name for future references. And here is the best part...it will only send you an e-mail every day if you actually read what is sent to you. At the bottom of your scriptures sent there is a "complete" button. You have to actually click it in order for them to send you the next e-mail. So if you don't happen to have time that day your inbox isn't going to get full of e-mails and overwhelm you with chapters to read. I love it! And wait...there's more. If you are feeling especially spiritual that day and would like to read more, there is a "send more" button, and it will send you the next days reading. I am so glad that I live in this age where it is possible to do this! Last but not least, it keeps track of what percentage of reading you have done. It told me today that I have read 28% of the BofM. I can even see how many days it will take me to finish. I know you can't wait to get started so here is the link :) Enjoy!
The mom I was never going to be.
It is funny how everything changes when you have kids. I am amazed everyday at the things that I once thought were so important that really aren't. Growing up, it was so easy to judge the way moms raised their kids. I had it figured out...at least I thought. Here are just a few of my pathetic LONG list.
My kids faces were always going to be clean. Specifically noses.
Their hair was always going to be done.
Their clothes were always going to match.
They were never going wear dorky Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, or action figure clothes.
They were never going to sleep in my bed.
They were going to have 3 healthy meals a day.
I was going to be a "hot" mom, always dressed and ready for the day-never shop in my pj's, etc.
You know the list. Everyone had one, and maybe we still do. But here is one thing I have learned in my 3 short years of parenthood. As long as my kids are happy and healthy none of those things matter. I bought Logan a spiderman sweater that lights up for Christmas, and I couldn't wait for him to wear it. I gave both Logan and Dylan a bath this morning, and couldn't get their faces washed the rest of the day, at least they started clean...right?!? Logan had chicken nuggets for breakfast, after he got in bed with me at 5:30 when he heard his Daddy leave for work. I didn't comb Logan's hair after his bath, and Dylan's looked great after her first nap, after her second nap...not so much. I thought I was going to really care what I look like, and try to be that "hot" mom, but I read once that when you become a parent every time you walk past a mirror you look at your kids reflection and not your own. It is so true, I looked in the mirror at my own reflection twice today. When I got ready for the day, and when I just brushed my teeth for bed. I probably looked at Dylan's reflection 5 times today. She even left a bunch of fingerprints on my mirror in the kitchen (fingerprints was another thing on my long list-but after President Monson said I didn't need to worry about them so much because someday I would miss them, I am getting over it) Anyway, this doesn't sound like I thought it would in my head-I really try to be a good mom, (and I do get ready every day) But what I am trying to get at it is what was so important to me before I had kids is not at all what I want for them now. All I want for my kids is for them to know that I love them, and that their Heavenly Father loves them. That is really all I want/need to accomplish. I could have fought with Logan about having nuggets for breakfast, or just compensate and give him something better for lunch. I am definitely learning to pick my battles because almost always the things that I argue with Logan about are usually so pointless when you look at the big picture. So here is my new list.
I want my kids to know I have a testimony.
I want to always be able to feed my kids by being prepared and working on my food storage.
I want my kids to always be comfortable enough with me that if they feel insecure, sad, or scared they can still crawl in my bed-even as teenagers.
I want them to know that I care about my body by being a good example of eating and dressing appropriately, and working out. But I also want them to know that there is much more to life than what you look like.
I want to have no regrets, and always be a positive example for them.
There are alot more things on this second list as well, but I will spare those of you who have even made it this far. I want to be a good-patient mom, and am learning that patience is something that I need to always be conscious of. I sure love my kids, and want to do everything I can to provide a bright future for them. So here is to a new year, and a new list.
New Year's Ugly Sweater Party!
This picture speaks for itself. I had a great time at this party. I don't know about everyone else, but I think this should definitely be a tradition. The picture made my sweater glow, but I looked even worse than the picture proves. Jayne and Don took our kids for the night, so we were free to do what we wanted. Logan was so excited to have a special sleep over at Grandma's house, when Keith dropped them off Logan said, "have a good time Dad." We were happy that he was okay with us doing our own thing that night.
We set up this nasty eagle backdrop with the Poinsettia and had a fun photo-shoot. I don't even dare post the other pictures. I caught people staring at me in disgust the entire night. I don't think I have ever looked uglier, but I sure had fun! It was a great way to bring in the new year.
Hanging with the Gramps!
We had the opportunity to go sledding with both Grandpa's. I love the way Logan thinks that he is for sure the favorite, and that his Grandpa's would do anything and everything for him. He doesn't ask anymore, he just expects that they want to do whatever he wants. He was having so much fun sledding in the freezing cold at Grandpa Don's house that he wouldn't come in. Jaden was even too cold to keep tubing. But Logan just assumed that because he wanted to keep going strong that Grandpa would let him. And he did. Same with Grandpa Hoggan, he wanted to ride the four wheeler and that is just what he got. Of course he didn't want to ride with anyone but Grandpa Hoggan. I love that he takes so much to the Grandpa's. Perfect role models for the little man.
Christmas
I love Christmas! I didn't think anything could be better than the feeling of excitement I always had growing up. Getting new pj's on Christmas eve, then not being able to sleep because I was so excited for Santa to come. Opening all of my surprises to the light of the Christmas tree, and eating my very own box of cold cereal for breakfast. But, I found something better. Being Santa. Not the buying or wrapping part, but feeling more excited about watching others receive than actually receiving myself. The anticipation of seeing Logan's reaction, and hearing him say "thank you Santa!" was better than any feelings I got when I was young. Maybe I should rephrase that, because I loved it just as much then as I do now. It is an awesome feeling to see your kids happy and excited about something. I want to create for Logan and Dylan those same feelings I had as a kid. Although he was a little overwhelmed when he saw all the presents under the tree and realized that Santa really did come, he warmed up to the idea and loved all the presents. We didn't get any very good photos because every time he opened something new he had to show Grandpa Hoggan first. He piled all his presents at Grandpa's feet and gave all his Christmas ooh's and ahh's to Grandpa. But it was fun to see him excited and process it all. I look forward to more Christmas's with my little family. We tried really hard to let Logan know that we celebrate Christmas because the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. His relation to the whole thing is that Jesus loves Santa, and Santa loves Jesus. I guess it is a start. When we got home from Delta I put all of Logan's new cars and trucks on his new car rug and rolled it up to take them down stairs. It was heaping and Logan said, "mom, I am so lucky, look at all my stuff." "You are so lucky," I said, "actually you are so blessed." "Your right mom, I am so blessed."
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