Final Days

Well we are down to the Final Days of Winter, and Mother Nature is holding on to this season for dear life! Who am I kidding, where we live Winter holds on through the first part of Spring too...year after year after year. Yesterday, the snow was beautiful...a wonderfully white day. Everything was covered perfectly, I took a drive with the boys just to look at all the snow.

These are also the final days of Jake being a baby. On Monday he will be turning ONE! This year has flown by, but we'll save the rest of all these sappy heart felt feelings for Monday's post.

Through all this reflection, of the season's changing and my baby growing up and reaching his first major mile stone, there is still funny and crazy stuff happening here at the Hale House...

A few days ago, I was putting Jake down for a nap and the big boys were playing. When I came down, Seth says to me very matter of factly, "Mommy, I went pee pee in a bottle and put it in the garbage." Of course a million things began to race through my mind: I never relined the garbage when I took it out, did he keep it all in the bottle during the process, oh please tell me he recapped that bottle before he threw it away, what was Max's part in all this...was he cheering him on, or tell him this wasn't the best of ideas, etc. I got down to the kitchen, stepped into the scene of the crime (a few splatters on the tile), and opened the garbage to find this:

Thank goodness it wasn't as bad as I thought. I was mad, but laughing enough on the inside, to stop in the heat of the moment and take a picture. They're just too cute to stay upset with them, and here's the pictures to prove it.

Mother Goose

There are few pictures that have me in them. I'm usually behind the camera taking pictures of Ben and the boys. Now don't get the wrong idea...I know I'm looking like mother goose in this photo, but it is definitely a work in progress. I've been thinking a lot about this lately...how much time I actually spend with my boys. By actual time, I mean time I'm totally engaged with them. I know it's a work in progress, it's something I will always work at being and doing better. For now, I'm going to cherish this picture my mom took with me in it and actively engaged with my little ones.

Fast!

I've finally figured out how to download or import some home videos onto the computer in order to burn them onto discs. Of course I got nothing else done yesterday because I would put in a new tape and go to walk away while it imported and would be stuck to the screen while watching every second. The funny thing was, I wouldn't sit down, because I thought I would just be watching for a second and thirty minutes in, it would finally dawn on me that this would be so much more enjoyable if I would stop leaning over my computer with elbows on the desk and just give into the moment. Even though I still have little ones, those few family home videos we did take have reminded me how far we've come in just a short time. It truly has gone by so FAST. It was amazing to see the growth in our family, the growth in the kids, and in our home decorating. I sometimes catch myself thinking too much about the future, or the next project I want to start on the house, and forget that the fun is happening right this minute and to enjoy what's happening today. It made me want to spend more time, plain and simple.

When I figure out how to organize all this footage and burn it onto a DVD, maybe I'll try to share a few clips on the blog. Until then, here's a few pictures that show the growth and how fast time flies!

Ben and I the month before we got married, June 2003

Our wedding reception August 2003

Ben's Graduations, May 2006

October 2007

July 2009

November 2010

Small and Simple Things

Happy New Year! We've picked our family motto for the year...Small and Simple Things. I've added it to my header at the top so that I can try and remember to include that somehow in each of my posts this year. With a busy family of little boys, I find that I don't take very many moments to be still and do something small and/or simple. The small and simple things I'm talking about are and not limited to: reading a story with my boys, looking through the Friend and Ensign, praying by myself, reading the scriptures, turning off the TV, temple work, laughing, enjoying, talking, being kind and gentle with myself and other. The list can go on and on and I'm sure I'll add many more to the list as the year moves along.

I leave you with a few pictures of me blowing out my birthday candles and a shot of me in my BiRtHdAy SuIt...yes, I'm 30 now!

Happy Father's Day!

Many of you know that my folks are in a far away place, China. They have been there since February. My mom did get to come home for a visit in May to meet Jake, but I've yet to see my dad. Since it takes a lot of money and time to get things shipped back and forth from China, I decided to make a digital card with my digital scrapbooking program (pictured above). Love you Daddy! Miss you Daddy! Maybe we'll see you again in December...maybe!?!?! And no, he can't check my blog in China, so my father's day digital card isn't out of the bag.
On a side note, I just finished my second digital family book...I love it! If any of you are interested in digitally scrapbooking, let me know, they've got an awesome deal right now on their software!

Days Before

Nine days before Jake was born, a friend of mine took some amazing maternity pictures of me and my two little boys. I had never had this done before because I'm not one to be in the spot light or have any extra attention drawn my way. But with this pregnancy I tried to do all I could to make it special and one to remember...you never know when your pregnant for the last time (I'm not trying to make any sort of annoucement or declaration), but life is special and I feel like the older I get the more I come to understand that little fact. So, when I was approached by this great photography, I said, "Yes!" I'm so glad I did...I feel so maternal as I look at these pictures of my boys and large belly, and know I will always have something as a reminder of this short stage of my life. In the moment, nine months seems so long and uncomfortable, but it is such a small blink in the sceme of things.
Anyone that is pregnant, I recommend jumping out of your comfort box and let that belly hang out for a few pictures. I did have a few taking of my bear stomach...it doesn't look real...it's kinda cool. And any of my friends or family out there expecting, Congratulations!

Wholesome and Nutritious

I might not be the best at it, but I'm pretty domestic. I love anything domestic and lovely. I'm always trying to learn new things and try out recipes or ideas. Since April, I've had an itch to learn how to make Whole Wheat Bread. You know, grind the wheat and everything. I even traded in my Kitchen Aid for a Bosch since most bread recipes are too over powering for the Kitchen Aid. It took me almost a year, and Santa brought me one for Christmas...I was so excited. So naturally, my "one track mind" kicked in and I was on a mission to learn and conquer whole wheat bread...so much so that once figured out, I would make a batch each week for my family in hopes to not buy the bread at the grocery. I had come across three different recipes since April and I wanted to try all three to see which one I liked the best. One came from a great lady in my ward, another from a dear friend in KS and another from Utah. Each recipe was a little different and each one asked for something a little out of the ordinary. I took my kids out in the freezing cold and snow to find such ingredients as: saf-instant yeast, vital gluten flour, 9 grain cracked cereal, hard red wheat, flax seed, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, wheat grinders from friends, 8.5 inch bread pans, etc. I called friends and bugged them like crazy with questions about each and every recipe. Once I had gathered all I needed and more, I settled in on my adventure.
In a matter of four days I had baked 15 loaves of Whole Wheat Bread, trying to perfect and figure out which recipe I liked and that liked me the best. I failed miserably at two of the recipes and did okay with the third, but it still needs a little work.
As each loaf was baked and eventually put in a zip lock, I began wondering if there was more to this bread than just baking it. Was it somehow filling a hole inside of me? All 15 were wholesome and nutritious, was I feeling like I was needing some nurturing, something warm and wonderfully filling?
Regardless, I've made 15 loaves. I've going to stop now and order my own wheat grinder and finally buy some wheat for my food storage and continue trying to make my recipe work...not like a crazy woman, but a little over time.
I guess there could be worse things I could do to fill some of those emotions!?!?

"Each Life That Touches Ours for Good"

Laura Kirkland

March 16, 1983-March 24, 2008

"Each Life that touches ours for good Reflects thine own great mercy, Lord;
Thou sendest blessings from above Thru words and deeds of those who love.
What greater gift dost thou bestow, What greater goodness can we know
Than Christ-like friends, whose gentle ways Strengthen our faith, enrich our days....."

This was the closing hymn at my cousin's funeral last Thursday. I've always like this hymn, but it really touched me as I sang the words that day. It was nice to be back home and visit with so many family and friends that came together for Laura and her family. As I hugged each one and talked with them, so many memories rushed back to my remembrance. Each one has touch my life for good and has brought me such joy and love. I'm so happy we were able to be together and help support Laura's family. I wish I could have stayed longer and spent more time with them.
It was such an uplifting funeral...my Aunt Gigi spoke tenderly about her and her life on behalf of the family, and Patriarch Boone (he gave me my patriarchal blessing) was the last speaker. He is such a great man and always gives a wonderful message. What impressed me the most during his remarks was that he reminded us of the choice we made in the pre-existence...we chose to come to Earth and we knew we would return...like a round-trip ticket. When we go on a trip, we are excited to go, but even more excited to know that we will return home and back to our loved ones. I think we forget that detail when all we remember is this life. We are experiencing the trip right now...we think we're happy, just wait till we get home. I will always remember Laura, and I can't wait to see her again.

"When such a friend from us departs, We hold forever in our hearts
A sweet and hallowed memory, Bringing us nearer, Lord, to thee.
For worthy friends whose lives proclaim Devotion to the Savior's name,
Who bless our days with peace and love, We praise thy goodness, Lord, above."

Sis. Hinckley

“I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk’s lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden. I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” - Marjorie Hinckley, wife of President Gordon B. Hinckley

I read this quote off another blog and I just fell in love with it. It sounds familiar, but it really hit home this time. If anyone as a great idea of a way to display this in my kitchen (I spend most of my time there), let me know. I was kind of thinking a vinyl letter something or other...I don't know?!? I know it's kinda long, but I love the whole thing. If I had to shorten it...I think the best part is the end, "...I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Pres. Hinkley and his wife just make me feel good, and they have taught me so much...I believe when folks pass on it takes a little while for things to set in that they have really gone...that's true for me anyway...Now that it's been a few weeks, I'm starting to miss them. They will always be favorites of mine...always!