Catching Up

We snuck our Back to School Time Capsule in a couple of weeks in to the school year.  The boys enjoyed it so much last year - okay truth be told, I enjoyed it and Nolan merely humored me by participating this year, we decided to make it a family tradition.

Kaye celebrated her birthday with us.  We partied it up and had a great time.

Nolan and his best pal Greg, qualified to participate in cities.  Nolan ran his little heart out and finished strong.

A Womans Strength

I have lots of thoughts bouncing around my brain and heart tonight about being a mother; as I wrote out my thought it sounded like a bunch of whining. So I'll be brief;  Sometimes I wonder if I have it in me to help my kids become all they need to be to make it through this life.  Their willpower seems to be way stronger than mine, their argumentativeness seems to be stronger then my powers of persuasion and patients.  Some days my frustration level doesn't allow me to see all the good amongst the irksome rebuttals I constantly hear.

Today I was so thankful to read the visiting teaching message for this month.  Julie B. Beck always fills me with strength, courage and hope.  I can totally do this motherhood thing!

"Latter-day Saint women who recognize that their strength comes from the Lord’s Atonement do not give up during difficult and discouraging times. As covenant keepers, we excel at upholding, nurturing, and protecting children and youth so that one day we might say of this rising generation, “Never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all"

End of the Season

Jarom's  first season of football has come to an end.  It was a great learning year.  He learned lots, I even learned a thing or two and he made some sweet tackles.  The coach moved the players position around a bit so Jarom mostly played defensive tackle and the odd time offensive tackle.  He did well and had lots of fun.

Jarom played a tournament in Cardston, so after the games we swung by the temple. To do a little photoshoot the kids. It was a good day.

14 Months and 10 Minutes

I'm not sure what happened to month13, but man alive did it ever fly by.  Even weeks after Barrett turned 13 months I kept telling people he was 12 months.  I was stunned the day I realized he was almost 14 months. 

All these pictures represent about 10 minutes in Barretts schedule.  There are many more haunts that Barrett likes to frequent and destroy, but I thought this was enough to share.  But I would like to note that the pot and pan drawer and the cupboard with the toaster are amongst his favorites.  Yesterday while making toast I smelt the stink of melted plastic and sure enough upon inspection there was a melted felt marker and a couple of magnets.  Today we got a new toaster.  The Q-tip box is his very favorite to empty all over and he is convinced that my nicely swept up pile of dirt is meant for him to "sweep" all over with his hands.

Barrett at 14 months.

1.  Loves the broom and the mop - the mop is his favorite since the handle can be collapsed to kid size and he can carry it all over the house.

2. Know what a McDonald's take out bag is and starts yelling for fries as soon as the bag enters the van.  This I find disturbing.

3. Loves to watch his brothers play soccer - will even sit on my lap the whole game.

4. Is masterful at hiding his soothers all over the house; he is most happy when he has one in his mouth and one in each hand.

5.  Loves to crawl under his crib in search of soothers and under the boys bed in search of treasures.

6. He Runs. 

7. Is developing a bit of an attitude.  He puts his chin to his chest and flops on the ground and grunts when he doesn't get what he wants.  We all think it's funny, but I know trouble is brewing.

8. Playing peek-a-boo can pretty much fix any problem.

9. Loves pens.  Enjoys taking the cap on and off  and loves to click spring loaded pens.

10. Still a horrible sleeper.  One short nap a day.  Wakes up every couple of hours every night.

11. Loves to eat green grapes, mandarin oranges, noddles and chocolate.  A bit of a picky eater.

12. Says mama, dada, oops and yuckie

13. Favorite pass time, aside from destroying everything, is to kick balls around the house.  He also loves to hit the balls with a mini hockey stick.

14. Is taking over Jarom's Stuffy collection.