A Tribute

My life is a tribute to families. I am a living testiment that families are what make us. This week I have reflected so much on what makes me so thankful for my family and why I have such a great family. Last weekend I went on a Girls Weekend with my mom and three sisters. We had such a blast and get along so well. Thanks girls! But, that would not have been possible without the guys taking care of the children. Thanks guys!
But this guy is the reason we all turned out so well. This is my brother Matt. He left this world 21 years ago this week. It is hard to believe it has been that long because I remember that day. We all do. And we all remember different things about Matt. We all grieve his death in different ways too. But, through it all, we all know that because of his death we pulled together as a family.

We know that families can be together forever.

We knew that we had to work to make our family great. So, we looked out for each other a little more. We did things for each other because we knew it was the little moments that make the difference. We were kinder to one another. All of the love and support I had growing up and continue to have are so generously given because that is what Matt taught us.
But my family is more than just watching out for each other. New traditions have started. This picture shows one of my favorites. Every year the Saturday after Thanksgiving we get together and decorate the tree by Matt's grave. When we started 21 years ago my Dad was taller than the tree. But, as you can see from this picture in 2008, the tree has grown. We all have grown. As has our family. 3 brother in laws, 1 sister in law, 5 boys, 2 girls and a girl on the way (Congartulations Tim and Shannon). How thankful I am that I have a family. That they love me.
More importantly, that I get to love them.

My Kids Are My Life

I never thought I would be such a cliche mom. Okay, maybe I did a little but my children are my life. I would stay in bed all day if I didn't have them depending on me. They are the biggest reasons why I laugh, cry, get frustrated and thank my Heavenly Father for my blessings.
Spencer is starting to be independent on just about everything, except bedtime. He loves to help dad work on the new house. He also loves to say "I won't do it ANY more." He loves to eat yogurt lately. I can't keep it in stock at our house it seems. He always wants his "friends" (his cousins, Mason or Merica) to come over or to go to their homes to play. He also has this thing for knowing what day it is and knowing where everyone is or what they are doing on that day. Some of the fun things he has said lately include:
"Mom, you can just drop me and Kafferine off at Grandma's. Okay?" He likes to say her name that way and half the time I find myself quoting him.

"My shoes are getting too big because I am growing up." He really meant small.

"I don't need a bath. Daddy took a shower this morning."

Two mornings ago Spencer woke up before Mark or I. He went straight out to the new house looking for us. I woke up to the sound of him crying on the back patio. We brought him in our room. He said "You are supposed to be in the shed house mom and dad. I went there to find you and you weren't there." I asked him "Did you look in my room first?" "No cuz you are always in the shed when I go to sleep so you should still be there." I think Mark and I are working too much.

Another funny story about Spencer. I went and picked the kids up from Grandma's. Spencer was telling me that he watched movies about Mater. I asked Mater the truck? He said "Mom, Mater isn't a truck he is a car." I said but he tows other cars so he is a tow truck. Spencer "No. Mom. Mater is a car. He is a tow car. Actually he is a tow Mater." I just about drove off the road laughing so hard.

Spencer has been so good with Katherine lately. He even asks if she can play with him in his room. He likes to help push her in her swing on the swingset. Whenever they are in the house and she starts crying he runs to come and tell me "Mom, Kafferine needs you."

Katherine seems to have blossomed from baby to toddler. This picture was on her birthday in her cute jean skirt. We finally got her to take a bottle just on Saturday. I decided 13 months was old enough to quit treating her like a baby and just make her figure out a bottle. She loves it because she doesn't have to wait for 20 minutes to eat all the milk she wants. She downs an 8 oz bottle in about 4 minutes or less. Mark is loving being able to hold her while she drinks her milk. He even admitted to missing helping feed the baby. "She is all yours babe. I did full time feeding for 13 months. You turn."

Another reason she seems so big to me: she is wearing the same size diaper that Spencer was wearing one year ago when he potty trained. I can't believe it. Either he is a squirt or she is a chunk. I tried having her sit on the potty and she just screamed. She will not be easy to potty train like Spencer was. Katherine's vocabulary is growing too. She can say or sign: Dad, mom, Spencer, milk, socks, dog, sleep, food, more, all done, Grandma, hi, and thank you. She also loves to wav bye bye and blow kisses.

Katherine loves the swing set. LOVES IT. She will sit in there for a couple of hours while we work in the house. As long as I give her a push every ten minutes or so. She has even fallen asleep in the swing for a quick nap a few times. She likes anyone who will give her a push or a twist in her swing.

Yesterday she woke up with a fever and cuddled literally all day. I was up to the task because it was freezing here and she kept me warm. She slept through most of the night, woke up early and cried for Mark and I to hold her. So we obliged her sobs for about an hour this morning. She still isn't feeling well but I think she just needs to sleep/cuddle this bug off.

Well, that is enough bragging, for now. I hope everyone has a good weekend. We are putting finishing touches on the shed. Literally finish trim, touch up paint, grout in our tile. I will take some good pictures and post them on Monday or Tuesday. Until then.

We Are Moving... Again

Well, Mark finally convinced me that we should move into the shed. Okay. So we decided a few weeks ago that we would actually move. My sister teased me that we can't build a home or apartment without testing to make sure it is liveable. Seriously. This will be our fifth (that is 5 people!) in less than two years. Do the math! Spencer has not had one Christmas in the same house once.

But, as bad as I make that sound, I am excited. Smaller quarters means less cleaning and more time being a mommy and wife. It means cozy nights snuggled by the fire, more home cooked meals (they are sparse these days), more reading (with kids and for myself) and it means I get to decorate my new house. So, let me brag a little about my new house.

This barn style 3 bedroom 2 bath is totally custom. I mean, it literally was built to look like a barn on the outside. But inside, it is a beautiful home. We designed the plan ourselves, with a little help and insight from Ben, my brother in law (Thanks Ben!). The main floor is the living room and kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and 2 bedrooms for the kids. Upstairs is a loft which will be my craft haven, a book nook for Spencer (but I think all of us will use it), and the master bedroom and bathroom. It isn't quite 1300 square feet.

Mark has helped or done every bit of work. From preparing the plans, moving dirt, pouring concrete, building walls, hand stacking the roof, rough plumbing and electrical, drywall (we hired out the drywall but we were short 2 sheets so Mark hung those), baseboard, casing, doors, painting (we have lots of colors because we used leftovers from all of our various projects), flooring (I think this is my favorite part), cabinets, finish plumbing and electrical, running power, water and sewer to and from the shed, and putting in a fireplace. I have been helping a lot as well. Holding down the lighting store has been my biggest contribution. But after work I help clean hand tools to Mark, put in door handles or cabinet hardware, figure out what furniture is going where, help wire, etc. We are about 2 weeks from being totally finished with the house. We have been putting in long hours and a lot of late nights.

The biggest blessing is that we found a family to rent our house. We found them in less than two days! Two Days!! Makes me wonder if I should have listed it for more? No, they are just an answer to many prayers. They have 3 children and are such nice people. They will be moving in November 1. I have a ton of moving and cleaning to do by then. But, I know that we are being blessed because we are moving forward with faith.

Speaking of faith, I loved General Conference! I was so inspired and uplifted by the messages of our leaders. I truly am thankful to God for a living prophet to guide me through these days. So, here is my shout out to all of the time and preperation that went into the beautiful messages and music. THANK YOU!!!

And, with the coming change comes a change in weather. What is it about fall that we all seem to love and hate at the same time? I love the beautiful colors and cooler temperatures. I love the smell of rain and how it seems to give the whole earth a bath. But, I hate that it means freezing temperatures are coming and darkness gets more daytime than it should. At least my kids are enjoying their swing set. Katherine will sit in her airplane seat for at least 2 hours as long as you give her a push once in a while.

Okay. Enough of me blabbing. What changes are you excited for that are coming up in your lives? Let me know. Love to all my friends and family who read this.