Confessions of a 36 year old

Reflecting on my first 36 years, I have learned a few things. These are not all of them and they are in no particular order, but just some of the ones I had on my mind yesterday and wanted to document so that I can remember them.

Seeking out experiences to grow and change is the best way to grow and change.

Everyone needs to be smiled at and befriended. Everyone.

Looking for the good in people is way more fun than looking for the bad.

Sometimes you need to experience a painful sports injury or a severe sickness to appreciate and enjoy a healthy body.

The quote "When life gets to hard to stand, kneel" painted over the word PRAYER on my wall has reminded me over and over that I can get the comfort and support I need 24/7 if I just ask.

Experiencing financial strain helps you appreciate monetary things so much more.

You are in control of feeling stressed, annoyed, angry, whatever! Change it now to what you want to feel! Fake it till you make it!

Living so far from family you love so much helps you appreciate the time you do get to spend with them.

Living close to family you love so much makes the craziness of life a little less crazy knowing you can count on them.

Experiencing rough spots in marriage makes it that much sweeter.

Having a spouse that picks up your slack, can step in and take over when you walk out of the room, and that loves you more than anything is one of life's best gifts.

Life is not about getting somewhere, acquiring something, or accomplishing something. It is about loving those around you, practicing your faith, and being really happy.

Children are a precious gift in this life. No matter what they do, say, or how they act I love them more than words can explain. There isn't anything they can do to change that, including getting older.

No matter how much you want to shelter and protect your children from all you can, you shouldn't. Teaching them is the answer. They need to fail to learn for themselves just as we have done.

If you don't like something your child is doing, take a good look at yourself and make sure you are not the one teaching it to them. In other words, fix yourself first!

If you do something/anything consistently you will get the results you are trying for.

Whatever, however, or whoever you want to be, YOU CAN BE. Learning from those that you want to become like is the best way to do it!

Forgiving yourself can be hard, but not forgiving yourself is harder.

There isn't time to be mad or annoyed with other people. There are just way more important things to do with your time. Getting over it quickly is the best way to go.

Having true friends that love you, can lift you in ways you never thought possible.

You shouldn't waste time waiting for life to get easier. It won't. There will always be challenges and if you are too wrapped up in those you will miss the good stuff.

For me, the last couple years have been the most challenging so far. When this song came out and was on the radio all the time I found myself driving in the car many times bawling my eyes out as I listened to it. I was facing two seemingly insurmountable major challenges simultaneously-which I am still feeling the effects of and will not be over anytime soon. I found the words to this song to be a sort of pep talk, that it is all about the climb and that I gotta keep going even when there are mountains in my way. (If you want to hear the song you can click on the bottom of the blog on The Climb song.)

I can almost see it, that dream I'm dreaming but,
there's a voice inside my head saying, you'll never reach it.
Every step I'm taking, every move I make feels
lost with no direction, my faith is shaking,
But I, I gotta keep trying.
I gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain.
I'm always gonna wanna make it move.
Always gonna be an uphill battle
And sometimes I'm gonna have to lose.
It ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about whats waiting on the other side.
It's the climb.

The struggles I'm facing,
The chances I'm taking,
Sometimes might knock me down
But no I'm not breaking.
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most,
Yeah, just gotta keep going.
And I, I got be strong.

Just keep on pushing on, cuz

There's always gonna be another mountain.
I'm always gonna wanna make it move.
Always gonna be an uphill battle.
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose.
Ain't about how fast I get there,
Ain't about whats waitin on the other side.
Its the climb.
x2

Keep on moving,
Keep climbing,
Keep the faith, babe.
It's all about,
It's all about the climb.
Keep the faith.
keep your faith

Whoa oh oh oh

New Years

New Years Eve we played all day at grandma and grandpas house with Aunt Leah and her family, aunt Nicole and Uncle Ty and aunt Christi were still there too.

 

Cade always wants to play games. Uncle Ty and aunt Christi were so sweet to play with him. (Christi was not feeling good, but put on good smiles for the camera.)

 

Trevor shared his new MP3 player with uncle Rick and cousin Lexi.

 

Ethan loves his new MP3 player. Mom loves that he does laundry happily now while he listens, but hates that she has to talk really loud to get his attention. Mom had to limit how much he was allowed to listen to it!

 

Grandpa Paul and grandma Jenny got knives for Christmas from our family and aunt Leah's. Poor grandpa cut himself the first time he used them. We decided we needed to teach him how to use knives or get him less dangerous presents in the future.

 

Silly sistas.

 

Brent and I went to chaperone the youth dance at church. It is the anniversary of when we met and started dating-wait for it...17 years ago! Brent spent the night out on the curb assesing youth wardrobe before their rides left and I spent it inside helping guys find a tie and girls find longer skirts before they were allowed entrance. (I think I helped 25 girls and 2 boys-made me glad I have sons because their clothes are so much simpler!) We did get to dance the last half hour and chase girls around telling them to pull their skirts down to the appropriate knee length on the dance floor. It helps that I am super tall, especially with tall heels on so I can see A LOT on the dance floor. All in all I was really impressed with the youth. Most of them really try hard to do the right thing and I was glad to help provide a safe place they could come and celebrate with their friends.

 

While we were partying with the youth, our boys partied with the family. Da boyz got to ring in the New Year with New York on t.v. and play outside with "snaps" and "pops."

 

 

New Years day we played LOTS of games and ate LOTS of food and relaxed A LOT with family! So fun!

 

 

 

 

Happy 2011!

Christmas

Christmas Eve we spent at home. Grandma Jenny and grandpa Paul came by to visit. Da Boyz watched Christmas movies and made treats with grandma... (Cade got totally into this!)

 

put food out for Santa's reindeer...

 

opened Eve gifts from mom and dad...

 

which were matching p.j.s...

 

Right before bed there was a knock on the door. SANTA!!!!

 

 

 

Carson was more than willing to jump up on Santa's lap first!

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas morning on the stairs before seeing what Santa brought for good little boyz!

 

 

My favorite quote of the day was when they entered the family room. When Carson saw everyone's toys he exclaimed, "This is AMAZING!"

 

After our morning traditions at home we headed over to grandma and grandpa's house to see more family and celebrate with them. Cade loves to help in the kitchen and loved that grandpa let him help prep the meat!

 

Christmas Toast...

 

Enjoying dinner together...

 

 

The week after Christmas some of Brent's family came by for late Christmas visits. First Brent's parents came. We played and they took us to see Tangled. (Which my boys loved!)

 

Aunt Lindsay and big Ethan came by to see us too.

 

Aunt Lindsay always finds the cutest t-shirts!

 

And finally, Aunt Erin and Uncle Gerald brought cousins Kiefer and Thor to see us. (I forgot to get pics of the adults! oops!)

 

Ten

Trevor turned ten last week. I have to say I met this day with mixed emotions. This is the baby boy that came into my life a week late weighing 9lbs 3oz and was 22 inches long. He was huge for a first baby! (He still is huge as evidenced by the lady at the store last week that asked my 4th grader if he was in middle school.) He made me a mom. He has taught me so much and made me want to be a better person. How in the world did he get this old? When did I get old enough to have a ten year old? Does this mean I finally have to grow up?

 

His birthday party was a game night with friends. (Really a dream come true! Friends and games? What could be better!?) He had a blast and is so happy he is ten!

 

 

Happy Birthday Trevor! I love you!

Luke's baptism

December 11th we headed out to see my nephew Luke get baptized in Valencia. It was a quick weekend trip and I forgot my camera so I had to rely on others to document our trip. Thankfully everyone else had their camera!
Here we are with Luke right after the baptism. (My sister commented that he looked like one of mine in his white shirt and tie. Hee Hee)

 

Quick family picture at Luke's house before church the next day.

 

Boys in matching RED ties from grandma Judy. Before you laugh at my husband's obvious joyful expression about taking pictures, realize he doesn't know how to smile real well. He is still learning. Please don't make fun.

 

Thanksgiving week!

THANKSGIVING DINNER #1


Our Thanksgiving week started off YUMMY as we had a Thanksgiving dinner on Monday night at Grandpa Paul and Grandma Jenny's house.

Hanging in the kitchen before dinner.

 

 

Trevor is almost always first in line. He actually does eat A LOT, even though you can't tell by looking at him. I swear!

 

Everyone needs an aunt Nicole. She always has a happy smile to bring to the party.

 

After eating there was Monday night football to cuddle in front of.

 

 

 

And, I couldn't resist posting this picture of my brother Kyle and sister Nicole. Some people were not being nice to me and smiling for pictures. The ones following this involved their middle fingers, but I think I will hang on to those for blackmail purposes.

 

DISCOVERY MUSEUM

Grandma Judy came Thanksgiving week for a visit so we took advantage of the kids being off school and went to the Discovery Museum. What a blast! I loved that they had questionnaires for the kids for each of their age levels that kept them interested and helped them learn at each station.

 

 

 

They even had dress up costumes!

 

 

THANKSGIVING DINNER #2

Thanksgiving dinner #2 was at our house on Thanksgiving day with Grandma Judy's family. We hadn't seen them in 4 years so it was fun to catch up!

In this family, the men love to help in the kitchen!

 

Everyone enjoying their food, minus me behind the camera.

 

My mom (grandma Judy) and her super fun aunt Judy.

 

The Judy's, my sister Nicole and I.

 

Our cousins Marissa and Chelsea with Nicole and I.

 

Group shot after dinner with FULL tummies!

 

CUTTING DOWN OUR CHRISTMAS TREE


The day after Thanksgiving we went on a hunt for our Christmas tree. Brent's parents flew in that morning so we headed out with them.

 

It was such a hard decision! (or you would think that looking at all the serious faces!)

 

Carson loved hiding in the trees. EASY to lose him in so many tall ones this year!

 

This is the one we got. I don't think we have EVER gotten one this tall before! Remember, Trevor is 5 feet tall so you can guess how big it was!

 

CHRISTMAS DECORATING

Christmas decorating was a blast. The boys were such great helpers when we got all the decorations and ornaments out. I hardly have to do anything because they love putting it all out. My favorite is when they "ooo" and "aaaaa" over the ornaments and the memories that go with them as well as their love for the nativities we put out.

 

 

While grandma Judy was here we decorated these. Always a favorite at our house!

 

 

ETHAN'S BAPTISM

The best part of Thanksgiving week was Ethan's baptism. It brought extra family in town and it is always fun to have family around. We had lots of family and friends come support Ethan. It was a wonderful day. Ethan was excited and really understood the commitment he was making. He tries so hard to be a good boy and we love him so much! We are so proud of you Ethan!