Family Pictures, part 2

So, I know I talked about posting a few more pictures from our little family photo in November.  Yes, I realize it's now February and I'm just now getting around to it.  Well, better late than never.  The photographer is BrittanyGphotography.com and she is great...

Facebook anyone?

I'm officially giving into all of the things I once said I didn't have time for, with facebook topping the list.  It's pretty fun to see people from lives past and present on there, but now how am I going to update my blog too.  Yikes, I'm a little overwhelmed.  

Should I be posting this on my facebook page too, shoot, this is complicated.

These days...

So, I'm not going to deny it.  I don't get out of the house much, with two boys that love to nap I often enlist the help of a "Nap nanny" if I can find one, but most of the time it's me tag teaming with the boys as they trade off taking naps during the day.  So, you may ask what we do around the house ALL day long.  Well, here are some classic pics of where you will find us most often throughout the day in the house.

Picture #1 -  Carter is my little foodie.  He loves food, I think he'd eat all day long if he could.  And on top of that, he only wants to feed himself.  He gets a little annoyed if he can't hold the food and he also gets annoyed if I don't share with him.  The picture says it all...

One more note on Carter, he's officially army crawling.  I mean like just now, officially, as I'm sitting at the computer he has been all over the room with this little crawl.  Shoot, my little baby is getting big.  Here come the baby gates...

Picture #2 - Ah yes, potty training.  I've tried all the potty songs, treats, seats, encouragement, and bribes I can think of but we are still not sure if poo poo in the potty is really all that great. Really, can it get much better than a diaper?  Harrison isn't convinced, not one bit.  I often hear throughout the day, "I need a diaper."  We've got the pee pee in the potty thing down pretty well, but not poo poo.  Nope, not falling for it.  I can assure you I have listed off every person I can think of that does use the potty consistently:  Grandpa, Amy, Dane, Riley, Oma, and even Broccoli Mama (Barack Obama, duh).  Nope, no interest.  In fact, the only way he will sit on it is if we have a good book to look at, see below.  He's got to figure it out some time, right?

Anyways, I know your impressed with my exciting life.  What do I do with my days?  I'm building little men here, thank you very much, from the bottom-up.  Someday when my boys are grown and pooping and eating all by themselves I'll be happy to take credit for it.

American Idol, at last...

I may have mentioned I love reality TV.  Well, I  must say I got all warm and fuzzy when American Idol started again.  I'm not sure what it was, most of the auditions were pretty bad, but I loved every minute of it.  People are just interesting and sometimes when a really good audition happens I get really hopeful for them.  Afterall, it really could change their lives...For example, the welder guy, he was a pretty good singer, but his story totally touched me.  Then there's the band teacher with the cutest little girl in the world, Assa, I think was his name...LOVED HIM.  

Anyways, I'm involved now, so you may hear a little more from time to time.  Eh, why not?

A late breaking recap...

The Thomas Family on Christmas Eve in our fabulous Christmas jammies...

Presents for all

A day in the snow

My idea of fun in the snow

Lots to do, but a moment of reflection...

The other night we went over to my parent's house to spend some time with my Dad.  He has been understandably grieving and wanted us to spend some time over there, all of us.  I knew this would be a little hard for me, not that I haven't been over there since my mother's passed, but this time was the first time I brought Harrison and Carter with me.  

As we approached the door, I was holding Harrison's little hand, I asked, "Whose house are we at Harrison?" He obediently and knowingly answered, "Grandma's house."  This was tough, I knew what he was anticipating, walking in the door, running over to his Grandma, giving her a hug and running off to play with her.  My heart ached...

I'm grateful we went when there was lots of family there, my brother and his family, my sister, all there to entertain and distract Harrison from what I think he noticed.  When your two, how does that work?  Harrison gets upset when his teddy bear isn't in his bed at night or his blanket is missing.  How does he process that all of a sudden his grandma isn't talking to him on the phone everyday and playing with him when we go to her house and now, she's not there at all.  

It sucks really, I mean, I get it.  We'll be reunited after this life, but for this life it just kinda sucks don't you think?  You want your children to be exposed to your parents, with all their quirks and imperfections there are the great things too.  And, let's not forget, who else loves your children as much as you do, that's right, their grandparents. OK, I know this is turning into a pity party and I promise to stop.  My mother would give me a little sympathy here, but also she'd try and turn it around.

So, here's the turning point.  I am blessed.  No really, I AM BLESSED.  

1. I am married to an amazing man, it's obvious right.  The one thing I count my lucky stars about in life is that I married Chris.

2. I have an awesome family.  Some of you may know I can be a bit cranky, stubborn, sarcastic, I can go on, well I have a family that puts up with it and helps me through it.  Sometimes they even put me in my place.  You all know who you are, and I thank you for it.  The babysitting, the long talks, help around the house, just the general support I feel from loved ones.  Thank you. 

3.  My boys rock.  I can't say enough here.  Only that when I hear Harrison calling out, "MOM!"  and Carter squeals with delight every time he catches my eye...my heart skips a beat.

4.  I love being a mom.  It's hard work, it's challenging, I love it.  It's like learning a new skill set and taking a new career path.  I really think I can be successful at this, let's hope so.

5.  I have great friends.  I enjoy the talks on the phone, the lunch and shopping dates, the play dates.  Whatever, a good friend is hard to come by and I'm blessed to have the ones I do.

6.  I am loved.  I could go on and on about this, from spiritual and earthly perspectives, I know this.

Whew. So, I hope I turned things around here a little.  My Mom would be proud, I hope she is. Thanks for listening.

Family Picture = Hard work!

So, after that great family picture of us at Temple Square I thought it only appropriate to follow it up with another family picture of us.  This one a little better poised I hope.  Let's be honest I stressed for weeks on outfits, location, photographer, all of the necessary elements for a great family picture and I'm happy to say, "I like them!"  Whew, what a lot of work.  I have more on the cd and I'll probably post more, afterall, can you get enough of us!  Ya, that's what I thought, me neither...

Temple Square, thanks...

Oh the joys of our little family.  This was taken a couple of weeks ago, thought I should share some of our great moments...

Love this Blog!!

http://mysuperhopelessromance.blogspot.com/

Okay, so we all know I've been a bit heavy, deep, pensive, and all the stuff that comes along with the events of late in my life.  But, there is hope!  I love this blog, I've laughed as I read it yesterday and today and can't wait for her to post more.  It's supposedly someone here in Salt Lake and it's all about how she's in love with her best friend and he doesn't know it.  Anyways, she created this blog to vent about it and I'm hooked.  It's like reading a Twilight book (I know I may have gone too far, but I promise it's pretty good).  I'm one of those people that gets hooked on reality TV shows, all of them, even the totally tacky boring ones.  And now, I'm hooked on reality blogs...I know, I'm not making you want to be my best friend anytime soon. Anyways, check it out.

My testimony

Dear Emily,

I want to thank you for the chance to reflect on my testimony, especially at this time in my life.  With the passing of my mother I feel an overwhelming need to document my thoughts and in particular how they relate to the gospel.  So, with that said I will share my thoughts here.  

I have a firm testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have to thank my mother for being my first example of a woman of faith and conviction.  In her last days we shared a conversation that I will never forget and it taught me much in regards to her testimony even in her last hours of life on this earth. So, I’ll start with this.  

I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ was real for my mother.  My mother talked of trials  and referred to the trial of death. She was experiencing the pain and discomfort of her physical body deteriorating and this was a great trial for her, one of the hardest in her life.  But, in the midst of her failing health she expressed thanks for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  She knew that her Savior had taken on all the pain and suffering of mankind and that included her situation.  She was experiencing pain, physical pain, and she endured it bravely because she knew her Savior had atoned for even that and in this she found her strength in the end.  She knew trials were a part of this life and as she faced her final trial of this life she looked to her Savior and this would be her last lesson to me, one I will never forget.

I know the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real for me.  As I overcome my own grief of the separation from my mother through her death, I know that Christ not only wants to take this burden from me but has prepared a way for my mother and I to be reunited again someday.  Through his Atonement my mother and I will be made perfect and we will one day see each other again.  I believe this to be true and I rejoice at the knowledge that I will one day see my mother again and it will be glorious.

I know the church is true, it was restored to the earth for us in these latter days.  I was fortunate to live in a home where this was a sacred truth.  It wasn’t a perfect home, but this was one thing that never faltered.  I hope to be able to pass this on to my own children.  I know that because of the gospel my children will know their grandmother one day and feel of her love just as I have throughout my life, she has not disappeared but instead has been reunited with her loved ones on the other side veil.  This is a joyous event for her and I find peace knowing she is happy.  I believe that all of my family will be reunited someday and this is because of the gospel and the great plan of salvation. 

I know the Book of Mormon to be true.  As I study the scriptures I am grateful for the comfort of this book, the clarity it offers on so many subjects including the death of my mother. 

I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and I know Thomas S. Monson is the Lord’s chosen mouthpiece for the church at this time.  I support these men and find great comfort in their words.  Thomas S. Monson at the last conference gave a talk that really hit home with me, it talks about adapting to change and finding joy in the journey.  I’ll end with the words of his conference address.  He said, “Despite the changes which come into our lives and with gratitude in our hearts, may we fill our days—as much as we can—with those things which matter most. May we cherish those we hold dear and express our love to them in word and in deed. I pray that all of us will reflect gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His glorious gospel provides answers to life’s greatest questions: Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where does my spirit go when I die?

He taught us how to pray. He taught us how to serve. He taught us how to live. His life is a legacy of love. The sick He healed; the downtrodden He lifted; the sinner He saved.

The time came when He stood alone. Some Apostles doubted; one betrayed Him. The Roman soldiers pierced His side. The angry mob took His life. There yet rings from Golgotha’s hill His compassionate words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Earlier, perhaps perceiving the culmination of His earthly mission, He spoke the lament, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”12 “No room in the inn”13 was not a singular expression of rejection—just the first. Yet He invites you and me to receive Him. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”14

Who was this Man of sorrows, acquainted with grief? Who is the King of glory, this Lord of hosts? He is our Master. He is our Savior. He is the Son of God. He is the Author of our Salvation. He beckons, “Follow me.”15 He instructs, “Go, and do thou likewise.”16 He pleads, “Keep my commandments.”17

Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His word. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.

Brothers and sisters, my sincere prayer is that we may adapt to the changes in our lives, that we may realize what is most important, that we may express our gratitude always and thus find joy in the journey.”

Thank you again for the opportunity to reflect on what I know to be true. 

Best,

Laura

'Tis the Season

The most wonderful time of the year!  I love Christmas time and it's sneaking up on us too quickly this year, but at least I have accomplished one of the most important feats of the season.  You may ask what, what is it?  Well, I purchased my 1 lb boxes of See's Candies as my special gifts to close family and friends.  See's Candies are an absolute tradition in my family.  My husband doesn't have an appreciation for this tradition and that's okay.  His family has his and my family has ours.  His, ours, that's how I see it.  So, today when I sat down on the couch and ripped the Christmas paper off of a box of Nuts and Chews See's Candies and preceded to devour at least half the box in one sitting all by myself, I didn't feel guilty.  Why?  Because, it's tradition, and the ceremonious box to yourself...Well, that's part of the tradition.