Remember when...

...it was just us?
...we did everything together! We read, played trains, napped...we became the best buddies.

...I would rock you and tell you about the first time we met? How the nurse tried to sooth you but you cried and cried until she gave you back to me and instantly you (we) were calm and all was well.

...I was worried that you would ALWAYS push?! (even though you were a "happy/playful" pusher) And Grandma would tell me how you would be fine and grow out of it...and you did.

...we were in the car a little while ago talking about the conversion of Alma the Younger (from the scripture video) and I was explaining how Alma changed his life and wanted to be good because he found out how much Jesus loved Him? And how a few days later in the car you said, "Mom, I'm going to change my life. I'm going to be good." (Even though you already are:)

...I would rock you and think that one day you're legs will be too long and your body too big, doing lots of little boy things, but I will still hold you and tell you how much I love you...and you are, and I do.

Remember how...

...you always come and put your arm around me and say, "you're the best mom ever!"

...your friends come over and if they start feeling down you tell them how much EVERYONE likes them and how they're your friend?!

...your teacher told me the other day what a good boy you are? She says if you are ever involved in a squabble you always goes up to the other kid and tell them how he is your friend.

...you make friends where ever you go? Especially at the park! And you always tell people what pretty dogs they have, even though you don't want the dog to come too close.

...you and daddy always have your "talks" in bed at night? And how your dad comes in afterwards and tells me how much he loves you and he couldn't have asked for a better boy!

Always remember...

...how much you are loved!

...how a day doesn't go by that dad and I don't tell each other how thankful we are that you are ours!

...how much Heavenly Father and Jesus love you!

...you are the BEST BOY EVER!

WE LOVE YOU BUBBAS!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

acknowlegment...the first step.

I'd like to think of myself as "normal" at least according to my personal parameters (does that really count then?) ...but I've got issues. (no big surprise, I know) I'm a "get a deal" kinda girl. Always have been. I assumed as circumstance and situation in life changed, I would as well. Not really the case. Maybe on some levels...but I still want to "get a deal." A weird adrenalin/beat-the-system kind of high. I'm always looking and waiting for just the right timing. Get the most for my buck! (side note: This does not include "investment" items or "one-of-a-kinds." And wouldn't it be great if I were referring to something other than clothes, housing items and other non-sensible material items that I usually have too much of anyway? I'm not.)

So here is the issue at hand...I'm a floater! Definition: Purchasing an item but never committing to that item until it is worn/used/nonreturnable. If I can't commit, I return it and float the money on over to another purchase for the better DEAL without any buyers remorse...because hey, I haven't really spent any money on this NEW item, I'm just using the money from the original purchase. Are you getting my twisted thinking? I have things for months in bags with tags...just in case. Just in case...I find a similar item that is WAY better, or would rather take the money previously spent on this now dejected item and put it for something more desirable. I keep my receipts, ALL. I know return policies. I don't buy at Forever 21 unless I can commit in the the store (which usually isn't an issue because you get what you pay for and it's super cheap.) Why the neurosis? This behavior cultivates feelings of thriftiness and frugality. And more important, fuels my "got a deal" high. I'm not spending very much on this new item because I'm using the money from the returned item. Is that an issue or what!? I'm not NOT spending. I'm just floating my money around adding a little here, adding a little there. And feeling great! Of course, if I go to Anthropologie it's a whole other issue waiting and lurking...

Am I alone in this clear-spender's conscious (which is so not the case)? Is this genetic? Do you just love that a return of purchase is "free-for-all" money for me so I can just keep on spending?! You know..."get the most out of my buck"...(ya right!) Well, today I actually do. Even though acknowledging the problem is the first step of recovery I'm not sure it helped. I'm looking at my bags of new maternity shirts from Anthropologie-- SUPER good sale (and no, Anthropologie does not have a new maternity line) and I can't quite make my clear-spender's conscious feel guilty... Hummm, guess I'll have to keep it all! So much for step one!

pandora.com...check it out! it's my new favorite friend while blogging!

trunk-or-treat

happy halloween!

The party has officially started! And what, only seven days before the actual holiday? That's how we like to roll.

My buddy was a power ranger (the kid hasn't ever even seen a show...it's a show, right?) And then there's the witch...with her silly face (thanks big brother, can't quite break her of it.)


Notice the poses and flexing-my-muscles face throughout this whole evening...


Where'd the tongue go? She thought I was done!

Stern muscle-flexing face and practicing her wink...new favorite thing.

Meet Little Sam, or Sara's Sam, or School Sam...(not to be confused with Big Sam, Maria's Sam, or Tom and Sam.) These two are BUDDIES!!! Trum loves this little guy!

They were both Power Rangers! I don't think my buddy really gets the whole concept of picking one costume for Halloween. Every year it's been wear one friend's to Trunk or Treat, wear a random one from home for school, and then another random home one for the actually holiday. So in going along with our version of Halloween, he decided to be the black power ranger after finding out that Sam's going to be the blue. Of course he still wants to be four other things come Halloween!

Then came the candy and very exited kids that I got home and threw in bed to avoid that post-candy-missed-bedtime total come apart! It was so fun. Just wish Joe could have been there... but when there's preparation for trial, there is no dad...but I will take that over an unhappy billable hour husband!

(hee hee hee cackle cackle...)

A mother's intuition....

is always RIGHT, right?!!! In this case, yes. It's a BOY!!! Joe is totally pumped. He has this subconscious fear that he'll only produce girls (5 older sisters). I think that's a major reason he married me, for my 4 brothers. Anyway, the relief was almost tangible as the Dr. declared, "there's only one." Joe wasn't that relieved, he just thinks that twins will mean more kids to wrestle. (He doesn't understand that he'd actually have to do some night time duty with two...) Now we can really start narrowing down names...right?

NAMES...

Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God,
who is our home:
-William Wordsworth

Isn't this reason enough to name our boy (because that's what we're having...and no, my ultra-sound isn't until Wednesday, it's just the same 'mother's intuition' that I had with my other two) William??? William Wirth. Love it, but not Joe. Joe and Truman want Finn, which I'm not opposed to...but William (the name I hated in high school) is my pick thus far. For the twins (that don't really exist, even though my stomach would tell you otherwise) Trum has picked out, "Finn for the brother and Leedy for the sister," because of course, they're fraternal. Who knows were he got those names. My back-up girl name is Anna, but again, I am alone in this. With only 15 weeks down, we've got lots of time to refine our choices and come to an agreement...right? Unless we want to go Mark and Maria style... :) Any suggestiong???

OH HAPPY DAY...

What a fabulous Conference weekend! I am so thankful for leaders who support me in my many different roles. Who give guidance, direction, and encourage us to be better. And I am thankful for the Spirit that fills me with courage and desire to become better. Now it's just time to go forward...

AND...

Wes called this afternoon after his scan to say...no more chemo!!! After almost two years of chemotherapy his last two scans have indicated that his tumor hasn't grown or is "stable." So, happy day! Not a prayer in our house goes by that we don't bless Uncle Wes. How thankful we all are for the power of prayer.

IS LIFE GOOD OR WHAT.....

had such a fabulous weekend! My cousin Ashlee is going on a mission. Me, my mom and two older brothers went to her farewell (with no kids) and it was wonderful! She did such a great job. My mom posted all about it here.

Then today I woke up to beautiful weather and this...

it's been an all hugs and loves kind of day!

Then after perusing the blog world for a minute this morning I found this...

which I totally love and is a calender found here.

And I'm going to quilt one of these one day...I'm just going to straight up copy it from her! How do you like that!?!

Days are good again...until about 7pm and that's when I tap out...but thank goodness for second trimesters.