I was in YW yesterday and learned something very interesting ...the definition of the word sacrifice. Ready? Okay...it is "giving up something good for something better." I repeated that in my head about a dozen times to try to fully understand it.
Then I got to thinking about how much a mother sacrifices for her family. I feel like my life is extremely difficult sometimes. I feel like I have been through a lot and have experienced many things that most people won't have to in this life. I'm not feeling sorry for myself, but it is true. Anyways, sacrifice. Giving up something good for something better. Wow, that makes so much sense. I feel like I give up "good" things like my body (5 kids in 6 years Yikes!), my time, my social life, sometimes my talents. What better things are there than this? Is it good to give up so much?
Well, after pondering for a while I decided that my kids are "something better" I would much rather hear and witness everyday cuteness from certain little people then work out at the gym for 4 hours in hopes for a better body! I would much rather have a "better" conversation with Navek then with somebody at work. My kids are so precious. They are so unique and different, but they belong me here on this earth.
I still probably don't FULLY understand sacrifice, but I will take it one day at a time. To think that Jesus gave up his good life here on earth for an even better one in eternity. How amazing to think of all that he went through. He did it for us because he loves us.
Lately I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed. It is so challenging having 4 kids so close in age. I know that we are supposed to live for the future and be prepared and stuff like that. But with all that I have on my plate it is all I can do to make it one day at a time for right now. I made it through today with out any life threatening situations so yay for me and some junk!!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A bit too honest!
Yesterday there was a neighbor over playing with Navek. Emerald kept hitting him with this pool floaty thing. I kept asking her to stop but she didn't. She can have a bit of an attitude sometimes! I finally took the float away from her and put it up high where she couldn't reach it. She kept asking for it back...so finally I asked her if she was going to be nice and she said "no", then I asked her if she was going to hit Coby again and she said "yes". Silly goose! Then she couldn't understand why I wouldn't give it back to her! At least she is honest with her intentions!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Weekend
We had a fun time with the B family this weekend! We had a "family reunion" and the only reason why I put it in quotes is because it was a reunion of Kevan's great-grandfather. Weird and some junk. There was this guy with the last name of Parker and he had 2 wives...combined they had 15 kids...can you imagine!!?? Each of those children had between 8 to 13 kids. What a great genealogy tree. Anyway...it was at the "This is the Place Park" in Salt Lake. Totally fun. We went and met some of the family that was there for the luncheon. We visited with some distant family that we never new existed. It was cool. Kevan's mom and dad were there along with his sister and her 3 kids. We went around the park and saw attractions there. The kids really enjoyed it.
We thought that it would be fun to make a weekend trip out of it so we went over to J's house (kevan's sister)and spent the night. It was fun to visit with family. We went to church with them the next day, then came home and had lunch and took naps..of course!! Then we had a yummy dinner, packed up and went home. It was just an overnighter, but sometimes that's what you need!! Just to get away and be somewhere else. The kids had fun playing while the grownups enjoyed chatting.
K & J (Kevan's mom and Dad) had been going through pictures at there house in C...I mean boxes and boxes of pictures!! They've spent the last few weeks scanning pictures into the computer (with the help of their s-i-l in Oregon who came down to help) It has been a lot of work for them, but soon we will all have copies of all their pictures. K put the pictures on a little slide show type thing on his computer and we were able to see pictures of all the B kids when they were younger!! It was a lot of fun to see!
I would post pictures but my camera wasn't working...
We thought that it would be fun to make a weekend trip out of it so we went over to J's house (kevan's sister)and spent the night. It was fun to visit with family. We went to church with them the next day, then came home and had lunch and took naps..of course!! Then we had a yummy dinner, packed up and went home. It was just an overnighter, but sometimes that's what you need!! Just to get away and be somewhere else. The kids had fun playing while the grownups enjoyed chatting.
K & J (Kevan's mom and Dad) had been going through pictures at there house in C...I mean boxes and boxes of pictures!! They've spent the last few weeks scanning pictures into the computer (with the help of their s-i-l in Oregon who came down to help) It has been a lot of work for them, but soon we will all have copies of all their pictures. K put the pictures on a little slide show type thing on his computer and we were able to see pictures of all the B kids when they were younger!! It was a lot of fun to see!
I would post pictures but my camera wasn't working...
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Back in June
I was looking on the KB family website that we have and came across this letter that posted in mid June...enjoy...(but don't think that I'm totally crazy)
Get this people...I really don't know why I put myself in positions that I do. I needed to get the AC fixed in our van Thursday and figured that I could handle all of the kids at the shop while they were checking out the car. Shaa right!! When we first got there, the kids were pretty good. They were sitting in the chairs and talking quietly, every once in a while they would get up and go look at the displayed tires in the store (very excititng). Then good turned to worse... I'm going to play the shoulda, coulda, woulda game.
Emerald has been potty training herself and been doing a great job at it. When I got her out of the car she didn't have a diaper on only underwear I should've put a diaper on her but I figured that she would be okay. Anyway, we were chillin in the store and all of the sudden she lifted up her dress and pulled down her underwear and said "Mamma I poop... MAMMA I POOPIE" Yikes!! I glanced over at her, I was helping Belle put the sunglasses back that she was trying on, and noticed that there were 2 little poop piles on the floor in the shop. That's right I said poop. Poop on the floor. I totally could've lost it but instead I just laughed, while all of the workers and people there stared in disapproval! Tristyn was in the middle of the store cause I was helping Belle, but I had to leave him there as I picked up Emerald by her side. She was flashing everyone with her poopie bottom, I raced her to the bathroom and sat her down on the toilet because she said that she had more. I was in there with her for 2 or 3 minutes, but had to leave her cause I had to go clean up the poop. So I went out into the store...Tristyn was still in the same place. Yzabelle was still trying on sunglasses and Navek was going his best to keep an eye on the both of them. I picked up the piles of poop and threw them away while huffing and puffing to keep myself from totally loosing it. We spent a little more time in the bathroom finished up there and came out. I was so embarrassed!!! I called my neighbor to come and pick me up but for the rest of the time my kids were pulling things off of the shelves and asking for treats. AARRUUGHHH. I will NEVER do that again...never, never!! I love my kids and this will go down in the books as a funny, but embarrassing moment in history!!
Get this people...I really don't know why I put myself in positions that I do. I needed to get the AC fixed in our van Thursday and figured that I could handle all of the kids at the shop while they were checking out the car. Shaa right!! When we first got there, the kids were pretty good. They were sitting in the chairs and talking quietly, every once in a while they would get up and go look at the displayed tires in the store (very excititng). Then good turned to worse... I'm going to play the shoulda, coulda, woulda game.
Emerald has been potty training herself and been doing a great job at it. When I got her out of the car she didn't have a diaper on only underwear I should've put a diaper on her but I figured that she would be okay. Anyway, we were chillin in the store and all of the sudden she lifted up her dress and pulled down her underwear and said "Mamma I poop... MAMMA I POOPIE" Yikes!! I glanced over at her, I was helping Belle put the sunglasses back that she was trying on, and noticed that there were 2 little poop piles on the floor in the shop. That's right I said poop. Poop on the floor. I totally could've lost it but instead I just laughed, while all of the workers and people there stared in disapproval! Tristyn was in the middle of the store cause I was helping Belle, but I had to leave him there as I picked up Emerald by her side. She was flashing everyone with her poopie bottom, I raced her to the bathroom and sat her down on the toilet because she said that she had more. I was in there with her for 2 or 3 minutes, but had to leave her cause I had to go clean up the poop. So I went out into the store...Tristyn was still in the same place. Yzabelle was still trying on sunglasses and Navek was going his best to keep an eye on the both of them. I picked up the piles of poop and threw them away while huffing and puffing to keep myself from totally loosing it. We spent a little more time in the bathroom finished up there and came out. I was so embarrassed!!! I called my neighbor to come and pick me up but for the rest of the time my kids were pulling things off of the shelves and asking for treats. AARRUUGHHH. I will NEVER do that again...never, never!! I love my kids and this will go down in the books as a funny, but embarrassing moment in history!!
"mammma...i dank it oll gone"
Is what Emerald said to me this afternoon with a smile on her face and unusually good smelling breath. I asked her what she drank. She said "ppaahhsis" which, in Emeral language is medicine. Yikes! She had found a bubble gum favored bottle of children's motrin and drank what was remaining. I'm sure that it tasted good to her too, hense her running downstaird to tell me...I was vacuming at the time. Then I remembered last night Navek coming into our room and saying that his legs were hurting, so I went upstairs and gave him some motrin, guess I forgot to put it away. What can I say...I'm a tired mom. I called poison control and found out that she will be okay and to just give her some food so that she wouldn't get an upset stomach! I know that they make yummy flavored medicine taste good so that the kids will take it but dag!! Maybe next time I should search for the nasty flavored medicine!!
Thursday, August 9, 2007
"Normal Life"
I just got done reading my sisters post from today. She said that she is having a hard time at night adjusting to being home (still). I have to say that I have had a poopy week. I really miss my family. We had the best time together. We are all such different people, but we all compliment each other well. I think that my favorite days were Saturday the 21st and Friday the 27th. It was so great to see our old friends from Indiana on Saturday. It is cool to see how their family has grown by 2 grand kids, who by the way are so cute!!
Friday was a perfect way to end the week...at the Temple with Lindsey and Zak!! What a happy family they were...what a great "place" they are in, in their lives right now. I can't explain the feeling of that day. It was too wonderful for words. After we were at the temple, we went and had lunch at Liberty Park. The kids played at the park and us brothers and sisters just stood around for at least 2 hours talking about the past growing up. We laughed and laughed...it was so great!!
I need to move on though. I haven't wanted to do much of anything lately. The other thing that I am way sad about is that my neighbor is moving, or I guess I should say that she has moved. She is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. She has a certain spirit about her that makes her so likable. I have never felt judgement from her. She is so giving, so kind, so funny, and so insightful, so caring and so helpful (is that the same as giving?) Whatever. I am so sad that she is gone. I will still see her, but it won't be the same because she isn't across the street. She is one of the most special friends that I have ever had!
Let's hope that next week is better. Navek starts 1st grade on Monday!! My sweet boy!!
Friday was a perfect way to end the week...at the Temple with Lindsey and Zak!! What a happy family they were...what a great "place" they are in, in their lives right now. I can't explain the feeling of that day. It was too wonderful for words. After we were at the temple, we went and had lunch at Liberty Park. The kids played at the park and us brothers and sisters just stood around for at least 2 hours talking about the past growing up. We laughed and laughed...it was so great!!
I need to move on though. I haven't wanted to do much of anything lately. The other thing that I am way sad about is that my neighbor is moving, or I guess I should say that she has moved. She is one of the most amazing people that I have ever met. She has a certain spirit about her that makes her so likable. I have never felt judgement from her. She is so giving, so kind, so funny, and so insightful, so caring and so helpful (is that the same as giving?) Whatever. I am so sad that she is gone. I will still see her, but it won't be the same because she isn't across the street. She is one of the most special friends that I have ever had!
Let's hope that next week is better. Navek starts 1st grade on Monday!! My sweet boy!!
Monday, August 6, 2007
More Family Picts
Here are a couple more pictures from when my family visited...
Here is Kathryn with Tristyn.
Tristyn is so cute with his lips.
Here are Yzabelle and Emerald at the Temple...what beautiful girls I have.
Some are a little fuzzy...I don't have the best camera in the world, but it will do for now!
Here are Devon (10), Navek (6), and Kathryn (almost 13). They get along really good. It is nice that they are semi close in age. I look forward to the future with these young kids...I'm sure that they will grow up to be friends!!
Here are Navek and Trevor on the Temple grounds playing with the pretty flowers. We kept asking the kids not to pick them, and after asking several times they finally obeyed...then we turned the corner and looked on this little wall and there were a whole bunch of already picked flowers...so thank goodness our kids weren't the only ones picking them!!
Here is Kathryn with Tristyn.
Tristyn is so cute with his lips.
Here are Yzabelle and Emerald at the Temple...what beautiful girls I have.
Some are a little fuzzy...I don't have the best camera in the world, but it will do for now!
Here are Devon (10), Navek (6), and Kathryn (almost 13). They get along really good. It is nice that they are semi close in age. I look forward to the future with these young kids...I'm sure that they will grow up to be friends!!
Here are Navek and Trevor on the Temple grounds playing with the pretty flowers. We kept asking the kids not to pick them, and after asking several times they finally obeyed...then we turned the corner and looked on this little wall and there were a whole bunch of already picked flowers...so thank goodness our kids weren't the only ones picking them!!
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Do vs Don't
I feel like I loose my patients too much, especially with my kids. It is hard with 4 little ones. I want to be a good mom, and want my kids to feel like I am there for them and they can talk to me about anything. They can't do that if I am always yelling at them...actually I don't always yell...I need to give myself a little credit. Anyways....
I decided to try this new approach, instead of telling them DON'T do this and DON'T do that I will tell them what i DO want them to do. For example I use to say "Don't run into the street." Their little brains can only handle so much...the last three words that they heard me say were "into the street." how confusing for a little kid. So I decided to say "Stay on the sidewalk." or "stay close to mommy." Now they know what they are supposed to do. Another example...we have a lot of hitting in our house right now, oh man it is so annoying. I used to say "Stop hitting your sister!" Now I say "Be nice and be soft" or something along those lines. It seems to be working because they know what I want them to do. I have to think really hard and make a conscience effort to do it. Every once in a while I will slip up and use the "Don't" word, but I am working on it, and it seems to be making a difference!
I decided to try this new approach, instead of telling them DON'T do this and DON'T do that I will tell them what i DO want them to do. For example I use to say "Don't run into the street." Their little brains can only handle so much...the last three words that they heard me say were "into the street." how confusing for a little kid. So I decided to say "Stay on the sidewalk." or "stay close to mommy." Now they know what they are supposed to do. Another example...we have a lot of hitting in our house right now, oh man it is so annoying. I used to say "Stop hitting your sister!" Now I say "Be nice and be soft" or something along those lines. It seems to be working because they know what I want them to do. I have to think really hard and make a conscience effort to do it. Every once in a while I will slip up and use the "Don't" word, but I am working on it, and it seems to be making a difference!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
What a week!
Last week was the best. I anticipated it all month long and when my whole family was finally here, it seemed to go by so fast. We spent the weekend of the 21st and 22nd with some close friends from Indiana, Devon, Brenda, Gina and Heidi. We had a lot of fun visiting and talking about the good old times.
On Monday the 23rd it was my birthday...the big 30!! Most of my family went on a hike down in Provo while I stayed home and caught up on house work. Yikes...to make the day a little better I gave myself a birthday party. It was a lot of fun. My whole family was there, Kevan's brother and sister and their families were there and some close friends. We had a bbq and visited. I got to blow out a cake with 30 candles on it too!!
Tuesday we just hung around.
Wednesday, we went to This is the place park...it was a lot of fun...then that night we got our family pictures taken. Wow...23 people, it was crazy but very fun.
Thursday evening Lindsey (my older sis) and her husband Zak received their endowments in the SL Temple...What a great experience. I loved being in the temple with my mom and dad...I felt so lucky to be their daughter and to be born into my family. I love my sister so much and was so glad that I could be there that night. 
Friday, bright and early, we got up and went to the temple again to see L & Z get sealed with their 3 cute kids. It was so awesome...I can't think of the right words to explain it...It was one the best experiences that I have had in a really long time. What a wonderful thing to be apart of.
I am sad that the time went by so fast.
It was so much fun to be around all of my brothers and sisters. It is funny how we are all "adults" now (even though we totally don't act like it). But we really enjoy just being around each other...we all get a long so well.
There are 8 kids in my family 5 girls and 3 boys. I am the second oldest. The first 6 of us are really close in age, then there is a 6 year gap, then 2 more. Here are some random pictures of us.
This is Kathryn and I, what a beautiful young lady!
This is my handsome Andrew. He is the oldest boy in our family. Andrew is very smart and funny and always has a story to tell. I love this bean!!!
This is my cute Ezra. He just finished his freshman year at BYU Idaho. He is very charming and funny. I love being around him!
Did I mention that everyone in my family is good looking? Here are Mary, Lindsey and Daisy
The only one that I don't have a picture of is Devon...but I will find one. I love everyone in my family...I had such a wonderful week with them...I will miss them, and all of the laughs and good times!!!
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