What I'm most thankful for.

It was a tough day, but at the end of it all, James always comes home and everyone is always happy. I'm so thankful these kids have such a wonderful daddy. He really is the best. 

FIELD TRIP!

 This was Lucy's first field trip with her preschool group. James came home early from work so I could drive her and a couple of kids and attend with them. We went to The Pumpkin Patch. It was super hot and dusty and not my idea of a good time, but the kids, they LOVED it. 

Caitlyn is Lucy's best buddy. We drive carpool with her to preschool. Lucy LOVES Caitlyn. I'm so glad she has such good friends around here. 

The whole class. Such a fun group of kids. I'm so glad she has preschool and I know she loves it too. 

The Zoo

Traci invited us to visit the zoo. We took Lucy to the zoo when she was 5 or 6 months old, but other than that, the girls had never gone. It was fall break for James so he was kind to stay home with the baby and let me go with just the girls. Scott and Jake had Lego camp, so it was just Traci's two youngest as well.  I packed lunches and we headed out early Friday morning. It was busy, but the girls had a great time. Mostly because Traci had an AMAZING wagon that all the kids could sit in. They got to see everything with out even touching their feet to the ground. I also brought a stroller that held my bag pretty much the whole time and that was it.
They loved to see all the animals. We got to see the Rhino's up close and personal, and the they loved the Sea Lions. Another highlight was the gorillas and the train ride at the very end. Overall the day was a success. We all had a good time and the girls talked about the trip for days after.

Molly was captivated by the zoo train. 

Lucy hates loud noises and plugged her ears the entire time. 

I can't sleep. So I write.

Molly's ability to steel the boys was mentioned in a
previous post. Here's proof. 

It's late and I really should be sleeping, but I was in bed and had too much on my mind so I decided to just get out of bed and type it all out in hopes that I will be able to fall fast asleep when I am done. I also wanted to give my mom something to read, as she is sick in bed for the next couple of days and probably needs something restful to do along with some cheering up.
I really was just thinking about all that I have to be thankful for right now. I really have a great life, and as tough as some days seem to be, I know that they do not compare to many others out there. So I have decided to try and be more thankful for what I have in my life. It helps me to stay more positive and to combat the postpartum blues. In no particular order:

Wishful dreaming. (Not gonna happen) 

1. I am so thankful for the WIC program. Breastfeeding has NEVER come easy for me and really just never worked. I think with each baby, "okay, this is the one that is going to click and everything is going to work right." With each baby, those hopes have failed me. Formula is expensive and I am ever so grateful for the WIC program for providing my child with the formula they need at no cost to myself. This is a great blessing right now as we have just started a job and have tightened our budget and spending. Formula was taking away at least half of our food budget every month. We didn't know that we still qualified but found out and have been so grateful for the help ever since. Such a blessing.
2. I'm so grateful for healthy children. I say that with hesitation. We are coming up on cold and flu season, but they are healthy right now and I have to be grateful for it while it lasts. They are however very healthy in a more general sense. James works with kids everyday that will experience certain developmental challenges through out their entire lives. I can't complain, that the three beautiful children I've been blessed with have been able to meet all developmental milestones with out too much trouble.
3. I have a warm home, beds, clothes, and food in my pantry. There are so many that do not have that. I wish I could take them all in. Honestly, I do. Every child deserves that, and it absolutely breaks my heart when I hear of so many that do not.
4. I am grateful for the great family I was raised in. My brother Spencer showed up today on his way home from Laynee's cross country meet to shoot up my aching arm with pain killers and steroids. My shoulder always gives me trouble in the cold weather and this always gives me relief for at least a couple of months. I am so thankful that he was so willing to go out of his way to help me out. It not only provides physical relief but also emotional relief from the anxiety of a pain filled winter. I know any one of my siblings would be there for me if I needed them. It's a comforting feeling to know that I have at least four people who always got my back.
I also had the opportunity of having a bunch of my cousins, that live close, over to my house on Sunday. When we were younger, we met every Sunday at my grandma's house for cake and icecream. We would sit on the porch and talk and laugh the evening away. We had countless inside jokes and built friendships that extended way beyond our school rivalry's. Many of my fondest childhood memories come from our time spent together. Years later, the feeling was much the same as those Sunday evenings at my grandma's house. It's as though no time had passed at all. We laughed a lot and enjoyed each other's company over grandma's chili and cake late into the evening. I think my grandma knew what she was doing when she started that tradition so many years ago. I had the opportunity to make her cakes for her all summer long while we lived in St. George, and so I learned all of her ways, and how to make all of her different cakes. Thank you grandma.

Joshua and Lucy. If they get married one day,
there will be a wedding video just because
we have this picture. 

I come from really great parents and grandparents on both sides. It says that in my patriarchal blessing. I hope to live up to and leave a heritage worth keeping up for future generations.
5. I'm thankful for fall. Up here, fall does not last long enough but I vowed a long time ago, when I lived here before that I would be thankful for Fall while it is here. That's all a part of living in the present, and I think that's important.
6. I'm thankful for Alicia's cupcakes. Eric Sullivan told me about this place on Sunday when he was here. He couldn't believe how close we lived to it. Of course I had to try it and I didn't waist anytime. As soon as the opportunity came up, I jumped on it. I haven't been able to stop thinking about those cupcakes, and plan to only go back on VERY special occasions.
7. I'm thankful for Lucy and that she has siblings. She is such a big helper to me all day long. She is the ultimate "go-fer" and is always willing to keep Louis company when I am busy with other things. When we had Louis I never imaged how much he would be loved by his sisters. His smiles and presence seems to capture their hearts immediately and so often. It is so fun to watch. Molly LOVES Lucy and I think is often times regulated by her presence. When Lucy is not around, Molly almost seems lost. Many times she will wonder the house and shout, "Lucy, Where are you?" Molly shows her love by tackling Lucy all the time. It really is the funniest thing to watch because there is no rhyme or reason to her timing. She will just come up behind her, grab her by the neck and pull her down. She will then continue to roll over her. They both laugh histerically, and Lucy rarely ever reacts or tackles Molly back. It's though she appreciates and accepts the gesture of love. As they get older and older the 19 month gap between them is  seeming to fade. They are becoming fast friends, and I am so glad to have them.
8. I am thankful for sleep. I don't get a lot of it right now, but what I do get, I am very thankful for.
I am sure the list could continue. I am ever grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and everything included in it. It makes me the person I am in every way. I hope this is enough to calm my nerves and allow me to rest peacefully through out the night. Goodnight.

Queen birthday bear, and Prince Kitty paid
us a visit today. Their company is always
welcome. 

??? I actually asked Lucy to explain this one to me.
Lucy: "I put Kippy to bed. The book is his pillow and his blanket."
Me: "What are the other books? Is he reading?"
Lucy: "No, they are just there."
Me: "Okay."

Halloween costume reveal.

A lot of people have been asking what the kids were going to be for Halloween. I hadn't thought much about it at all, but after the 6th or 7th time being asked that question I thought I better figure it out. So we spent the afternoon pulling out the costumes we had and seeing what fits and what each of the kids liked.

 Lucy: ELMO. We bought this costume last year at the after Halloween sales. She picked it out and actually wore it around everywhere for about a week. It was awesome. I pulled it out and she was all about being Elmo again this year. I actually have a princess dress for her that I bought with Molly's but she is not interested or persuaded.

 Molly: SNOW WHITE. I actually bought this dress for really cheap and a couple others for Molly's birthday months and months ago, because she was so into princess's and dressing up. I thought she would be so excited to put them on when she opened them, but quite the opposite. She wouldn't touch them until this day (when i pretty much forced it on her). She was instantly in love, of course, when she saw how cute she was. She couldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror.

 I always wanted to be, (and thought I would make a great) Snow White, with my dark hair and light complexion  but never went through with it. She gets to live my dream, and she does it very well.

Louis: THE DUCK. We bought this costume for Lucy's first Halloween. It was also a clearance item like the day before Halloween. I heard a crazy statistic once about how we could fill the earth with all the costumes people buy each year. And so I am a big believer in recycling costumes,... although that really isn't going to work for Louis to be a princess next year. I'll have to come up with something else. 

My life is blessed.

There have been so many nights that I have desired more than anything to sit down and just get down some of my thoughts and would regret the fact that I didn't but the alternative was sleep. The consequence of more sleep is that I'm a
decent mother to my children the following day. My kids always appreciate that.

This was after a really difficult day figuring
out formulas for Louis. We made it through.

Actually parenting has been quite a challenge this week. I have had so many days when I was at my wits end. James is always the hero, and comes home and saves the day or goes to work late and also saves the day. I wish that I was able to handle it all better, so that he didn't have to be the hero so often. I know he loves me because he is always so willing to give everything he has to my children and me. I constantly worry about him not making it to work on time, and tell him just to leave even though I may be crying historically, but he always says, "My family comes first." I know he means it. I know there will be a point when life with three kids gets a little easier. I knew before I had Louis, the first 6 months would be trying and difficult, but I knew if I made it through I would be just fine. Six months is the magic number for us, because we sleep train our children at 6 months. That will mean that I get to add a few more consecutive hours of sleep into my sleep bank. Most days I'm living on 4 consecutive or less and maybe 5 to 6 hours total if I'm lucky. It actually isn't all Louis' fault. In the past month, we have cleaned up more vomit, spit up, bloody noses, poop, and dried scared tears than the last three years combined. I'm not really sure why it has all come at once, but we have worked together and so far we have made it through... (somehow).

Making themselves comfortable in IKEA. 

After one of these particularly trying days I was headed to bed and just skimming Facebook. I had been following (not closely) the story about the couple in Pennsylvania, I think, that was waiting to deliver a baby that they knew would only live a few hours after he was born. They spent the weeks before delivery fulfilling a bucket list of things they would have wanted to do with there son in his lifetime. They went to baseball games, and the beach and other places and events and the story continued. It was just last week that they were headed to the delivery room waiting to meet their baby and spend those few precious hours with him before he headed to a much holier safer place. The next day I was reading.. they had pictures posted of this sweet spirit and said that they spent the few hours with him making sure he was baptized, and taking a few pictures and holding him ever so close. Then he was gone from this earth. I'm probably not doing the story justice, but you can read it here. The part that struck me was in the comments there were dozens of pictures posted of other people who had lost their babies in a similar way, saying "Braxton is waiting for his friend up in heaven." and so on. I was touched and given a little bit of a reprehend. I have three healthy children, who have a lifetime (however long that is) of experiences and moments to enjoy. I have never dealt with a loss like that. I know that all of those sweet babies are in a much better place but the sting of death always stings, no matter the knowledge or testimony you have of what is to come.

James thought potty training Molly would
be a good idea. That's poop all over the floor.

I love my children so much. They teach me so much everyday. Currently they really are my EVERYTHING. I spend my entire days and nights making sure they are fed, rested, educated, and enjoying their life in our family. It is hard but extremely rewarding. I forget that a lot. I know that I am doing God's work when I am in the home with my children.
Just a few updates I can think of. Lucy is learning sooo much at preschool. I got to go with her on Thursday and see what that part of her Tuesday and Thursdays is like. I was impressed with her teachers and more impressed with her. There is a three year old group and a four year old group that meet at the same time. She was actually bumped up with the four year olds because she is so smart. As I sat there listening to the four year olds during "show and tell" I know that she still has a lot to learn to be at their level but I appreciate the teachers allowing her that opportunity for a little higher learning.
Molly is a hoot. She is a show stealer and a girly girl beyond my wildest expectations. The other day we were at a friends house and all the kids were sitting around the table for lunch. The boy that is older than Lucy that Lucy had been playing with the entire time was sitting across from Molly. Molly was making noises and faces and cracking him up. Lucy was constantly trying to put her face in between him and her and get his attention. That made me a little scared for the future... I have mentioned several times before about her dress wearing, clothes changing habit. It hasn't changed although I am getting so much better at getting her to think that what she wears is her idea, even though it is what I have picked out for her. I have lots of tricks up my sleeve. I have to with that girl. She keeps me on my toes.

Molly loves to put on her backpack too.
This practice usually ends in tears when
she realizes she doesn't get to stay. 

Louis, is getting so chunky and smiley. He is a mover and a shaker. He HATES being put down, even if it is in a lap. He wants to be standing and bouncing. He LOVES his bouncer, more than any one of the girls. I guess this is the difference between girls and boys. I can't wait for him to crawl or walk or just be able to get a round. It is going to make him so happy to be able to get a round a little more. He brings me so much joy. He sleeps pretty good, but can't wait for him to sleep even better. We have a had a hard time finding a formula for him. So far, I have had three kids, and each has taken a different kind of formula. It's been difficult. But I'm ever grateful for lots of good formulas to choose from. It makes my life so much easier, even if there are haters out there.
We love the area we are living in. I have really enjoyed the smaller space for our family. It is so much easier to keep track of the kids this way. We have really worked hard to make our space our own and I love it. My brag wall is probably my favorite part right now. I love to hang the girls art work where I can see it all the time. They love to show it off.
I have really enjoyed trying lots of new recipes and think I might start my recipe blog up again. I had kinda given up hope of ever being able to do more than simple recipes that I was already familiar with but I have tried at least 3 or more new recipes each week for several weeks in a row. I'm excited about cooking again, and even get a thrill of cooking with a budget.
That'

I turned around and these guys butted in on my
DWTS watching. 

Self adoration. 

s our life. How's yours?

General Conference

This post is being written by James. I know that Lauri typically writes the blog posts, but every once in a while I will feel the urge to write something. Tonight, I am mainly writing this for my children for when they are older, but I love that others can read this, too. I hope that you may also feel inspired by what words I will write.
The past weekend was General Conference by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where the leaders of the Church (including the apostles and the prophet) address its members as well as the rest of the world regarding the things that God would have us know at this time. If you would like to watch, here is the link: General Conference. I love when General Conference comes around two times each year. I always feel so inspired and changed by the messages that I hear. I know that each speaker has sought the inspiration of God and that by attentively listening, I can also feel that inspiration for my own personal and family life. There was one particular speaker, Elder Quentin L. Cook, who asked this question (and I paraphrase): when we boil down to the substance of everything we do, how much of it actually pertains to the eternal goals we have?
This question hit me pretty hard. I started to think of all the voices in the world that beckon to us, asking us to turn our attention in their direction: social media, apps, blogs, smart phones, internet articles, youtube videos, movies, TV shows, etc. Most of these things are not inherently bad and most can be used in a good way. But then I should ask myself, are they being used in such a way that aligns with my eternal goals? Above all, there is One voice that should be heard above all others and that is the voice of God. I have realized that I have listened to a lot of voices that have provided me with their opinions about what I should do, about what is right and wrong, about what they think is best. Some has had elements of good; however, I have never felt more sure, more compelled to do good, or provided with more true understanding of the way things really are than when a servant of God speaks through the power of the Holy Ghost. All confusion is washed away and all the misty clouds of darkness dissipate. And the darkness is replaced by a sharp clarity of light. It is in these moments when my eternal goals of returning to live again with God and helping others along in their journey (including most importantly my family) come right into focus. That is when I want to change my course and follow in the path of the Savior Jesus Christ.
So for my children, I want you to know how deeply grateful I am to have a living prophet and apostles who are guided by Jesus Christ. I know they are men of God, for they would not have been called into that position if it were not so. I know they will always lead you in the best path, the path that leads back to God. I hope and pray that you will ever listen to and follow their counsel. If you do so, you will never be lead astray and the blessings of heaven will be yours.