two prayers

Last night I was in by Gray as he said his prayers.  He gave such a sweet pray that I wanted to remember it - but it needs a little clarification;

what = that
thank you for = thank you for AND please bless

here's what he said, "thank you for what I am myself.  thank you what Jesus will be able to do all these things he always has to do.  thank you what people won't fight against each other just cause of their skin."

I think that last part had to do with our explaining to him what Martin Luther King day was about.  It was pretty sweet.

This morning I came downstairs and found Graham writing all over his feet with a blue pen.  For the like the 40th time I put him in time out and told him why it wasn't good to draw on your body.  I told him again how Heavenly Father gave us our bodies and we need to take good care of them.  Last night as we were saying prayers it was Grahams turn and he said his very first prayer all by himself.  Usually he picks someone to help him.  But he didn't ask anyone last night, he just started praying.  So this morning I didn't whisper in his ear either - I just waited to see if he would talk.  And this is what he said, "Dear Heavenly Father...................................." (waited  a looong time and then is a little whispery voice said,  "sorry Jesus............... name a Jesus amen."

and maybe I better make this a three prayer story and write what he wrote last night too;
"Dear Heavenly Father thank you for grampa grampa..............................thank you for grampa grampa...............................thank you for grampa grampa, name a Jesus AMEN!"

good job Grahmy!

Lately when i read books to Graham he says "Amen" in a nice loud voice when I get to the end.  He also says "Oh Man" all the time.  Like when I scratch my leg, when I blow my nose, when he bumps his head and my favorite, when he smells his stinky feet.

My tiny little 10 mo. old Leah graduated to a size 2 diaper today, and they are a little big.  She started giving kisses this week.  I could eat her.

We went to Zions on the way home from St. George yesterday and maybe one day I'll put up some pictures but it was sooooooo beautiful and warm and sunny and perfect.  Before we left me and Clara were in the bathroom and I decided I wanted to take off the t-shirt I had under my sweatshirt before we got back in the car.  We were the only two in there, so I just did out by the sink real quick.  I'm not sure how to describe it but Clara seemed so big to me right then.  She was really worried someone was going to come in so she said something to me about helping me, but her tone and the way she took my other shirt from me and walked around my back and helped my pull my sweatshirt back down quickly just felt so motherly.  Then as we ran out the door I tripped a little in a bump in the side walk and she just instinctually reached for my hand and asked if I was okay and I know she's just 6 years old, but.....but I don't know what.  She just feels so old sometimes - like she is this little mother walking around in a child's body and this might seem silly to write about but that little experience was so sweet to me and I've thought about it so many times since yesterday.

And really that's all I have to write about right now.  - the end.  Amen.

I made this goal to read the Book of Mormon between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And I didn't do it.  But I tried really hard, at first.  And I got more than halfway through, which for me is pretty darn good, so I'm not going to be too hard on myself.  But I'm making a new goal for myself to have it done by my birthday at the end of February, and I just read the most beautiful verse that I think should be my theme for the whole year;

Alma 33:23 ...May God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of His Son.  And even all this can ye do if ye will.

Not that my life is especially burdensome - I've got it pretty lucky, but I get so easily overwhelmed sometimes and instead of just thinking about today I think about everything I have to do in like the next ten years!  And that feels kinda burdensome.  So I'm going to try really hard to just think about today, and remember that even when I do feel overworked and stressed that He really can make my burdens seem light if I will allow Him to.  I know it because He's done it before.  

Graham turns twoooooooo

Graham turned two.  So of course we went to the zoo to see Dumbo.  He loved it. 

 (B making the elephant noise)

The day included making a whole bunch of signs to decorate his room, the zoo and spudnuts.  He is seriously the most delightful little thing in the world.  I could listen to him talk all day.  I love you Graham sooooooo much.

harvest

I'm amazed sometimes at how messy my kitchen can be when I'm trying to process all the bounty from our yard.  Holy smokes.  We got a bunch of grapes this year from the kaysville house, so we made grape juice too.  I made it once several years ago from the grapes at our house in smithfield and it was gross - this year turned out much better.  We also got a ton of apples and pears and made 12 quarts of apple sauce and some pear juice and fruit leather and freezer full of tomato sauce and veggie marinara and pesto and pizza sauce and grated about a billion zucchini to freeze.  I've realized you can put a cup or two of grated zucchini in about everything we eat and nobody seems to notice it's there.   My kids were good little helpers and worked right by my side the whole time.....or maybe they helped a little and watched too much tv - either way, it got all done!  

She eats too

Just realized I never posted these funny pictures of Leah learning to eat.  She was sooo funny when she first started eating.  She is pretty little, so I pushed it a little more than I would have with my other - very chunky babies, had they refused.  I started solids with her right at 6 months and pushed through till she liked it - but that first month was pretty messy.  Her very first delicious meal of avacado and buckwheat was not very well liked..... 

Things slowly got less messy - and she no longer sucks on her thumb after each spoon full.  I think she did that to help her swallow.  it was pretty darn adorable, albeit super messy.  Oh she is darling.  I like Leah.  a lot.  when i put her to bed for naps and at bed time I walk into my closet (her bedroom) wrap her up in my beloved baby blanket my aunt marsha made for clara and she sticks her thumb in her mouth as soon as the light gets turned off and lunges for her bed.  I place that nice soft blanket right over her little thumb sucking face and 9 times out of 10 she is immediately silent.  A little dream to put to bed.  Takes about 12 seconds total.  Which would probably make me sad I couldn't snuggle with her for a while if I didn't have another baby to rock to bed - but I do, and He insists on a good rocking and song singing bed time routine - so her lovely "just lay me down mom" is very welcome.  Everything about her is so very welcome.  Plus - i hold her a good 75% of the time she is awake - and she is a lovely monkey to have on your hip - she's a lightweight so you don't get too tired, and she likes to cuddle, so it's really just pretty nice.  She is my darling.

life with two babies

I'm a big fan of life with two babies.  I'm also tired.  I remember those four year before we had kids.  And i remember there were days, usually on the weekends, when my body was literally sore from laying in bed so much.  Do I sound like the laziest person ever?  We just had plenty of time for sleep - and sometimes nothing else to do, so we laid on the couch and watched tv for a while and then went to bed.  Those days were really awesome.  Now my body aches for my bed sometimes, but I'm busy with two babies.  And my two other kids.  And these are really really super awesome days.  - I'm really grateful it's my bed I'm aching for, and not the other way around. 

walking home from taking gray to afternoon kindergarten this fall was the perfect time for leah and graham to fall fast asleep.

They are already such good friends

she is so bright. oh i love her

I could eat him and I tell him that a lot - "oh i could eat you i love you so!" - just like the book says, and he says back "I......love.......youuuuuuuuu!" with the "you" said in a really really high squeaky voice.  He is totally redeeming himself lately for those hard months.  The other night he was being sweet with brandon and brandon said, "is he the most enjoyable thing in the whole world?"  yes.

Such a good big sister.  I hope her little siblings know one day how lucky they are to be adored so much by their big sister. And on another note, my kids looooove to read books and i loooooove to read to them.  But sometime there is only so much reading one can do.  Enter 1st grade Clara..... another reader!  thank you. thank you first grade for giving our home another reader:) Graham seriously wants me to read to him alllll day.  And for a while it was the book Dumbo all day long.  One day I was tired and done reading dumbo and I sat down and paid 2.99 on amazon prime for the movie dumbo.  I just couldn't read it another time and I needed graham to chill.  the movie did nothing for him.  nothing.  only made him want me to read it to him even worse!  Every time I sit down he figures I'm sitting down to read to him.  Sooo many of our books now have little baby food stains on them because I have to sit down to feed Leah and sitting = Graham begging me to read books and feeding a baby and reading to a two year old is just plain old messy (especially when you had a big beet harvest like I did and a whole lot of your baby food is tainted red!).

PEEEEEEEEASE read Dumbo Mom!  Read Dumbo Mom?  

 Pease Mom?

Awful truth.  I hid Dumbo in my closet.  I can only read one book so many times in my life.  Looking at that sweet little face holding his beloved book makes me feel a little guilty.  Thinking about having to read dumbo again 7 times a day makes me glad it's hidden.  Sorry baby.  I'll take it out one day, promise.