September 30th 2011

I was apart from my sweet Hubby just about all of today, which is very tiring with my two toddlers and 26 weeks pregnant. I really appreciate what a wonderful father and husband he is. I definitely notice the days spent away from him in my back. I know tomorrow Andi (the biggest Daddy's Girl EVER) will not want him out of her sight tomorrow!

My Hubby and I read a book (well half of it for me) from Elder L. Tom Perry called Family Ties: A message for Fathers. I really recommend this book for EVERYONE my Hubby was in the living room reading it and so I asked him to read out loud for me, and while I didn't hear the first couple chapters (which is where Rob said he really is talking directly to Husbands and Fathers) But it really just reminded me of the most important things in raising our children. I really enjoy listening to what Rob's role in our home is supposed to be, (which he does such an amazing, loving, and tender job taking care of his responsibilities, and lifting me up as I try to fulfill mine.) I think it's a good reminder for women to know what our Husbands role is and allow them fill it. Allowing the Priesthood to be at the head of our home is such a special blessing. Elder L Tom Perry said (speaking to the men of the church); "Enjoy the inspiration of God, our Eternal Father, to lead, guide, and direct your families in righteousness. You stand at the head of the only organization I know of that can be eternal. Should not that charge and responsibility receive top priority in in your life?" I am so grateful to my wonderful companion whom I get to work side-by-side with everyday to raise our beautiful children and the wonderful blessings the Priesthood brings into our home.

We had left the house so that Rob could study for a test and went to my children's favorite park, which is the train depot we spent hours just walking around and found out that Andi is TERRIFIED of toads, which of course meant that Rocky loved it, he loved it so much after looking at it he wanted to squish it with his hand foot or whatever he could. So after saving the toads life, we looked at the new fish in the pond, (they had been gone for the summer) and climbed on a train. And just got to enjoy exploring with my children. They are growing up so fast I can hardly believe it! Just take a look...

What I Needed

I have been a terrible blogger. I seem to get into the habit and out of the habit quite quickly so I sat back and tried to evaluate why that might be and how I can do better. And then it hit me, I was trying to blog just what my family was doing, bigger events or at least days where I took lots of pictures and inevitably I would fall behind. Then the task would feel far to great and I would give up. (and the task just became bigger) And things that I really wanted to say about my family and life and everything in general just never made it there, (or became a rare occasion.)

Wanting to share what I am learning as a Mother and a Wife, even to make people laugh, because yes, it took me that long to figure that out. But mostly for me to see where I've been and where I'm headed, (so basically my journal, minus all the things that I probably shouldn't put into a journal because there is no way I want my children someday reading that, to say the least there will be blushing in Heaven that day.)

So some of this maybe more intimate details of me, other days it could be just my daily happening and thing I would like to remember, and I would prefer only uplifting comments as I open up my world to you...

Today was special, I decided to take a little mommy time and read old e-mails and such between my hubby and I while we were dating. We were ridiculous! One of the old conversations I had saved (from when Messenger was cool and you'd sit and type a conversation for way longer than if you had just called) a giggled at the funny things we wrote. My sweet Hubby had changed his picture to one when he was little (about 2 years old) and then I told him how cute he was and he responded, "If you want to babies like that YOU HAVE TO MARRY ME" followed by a laugh and "I got you now" I could not help but smile at this as it was almost exactly 5 months before we became engaged, and was about the first starts of "hinting" toward the subject of marriage. (I should maybe mention that we had been dating for just under 7 months) I am so grateful I saved those messages, it's just fun to have a reminder of our dating life and how we talked then and how it's changed over the years. We still laugh and joke and have so much fun together, the difference is we have much more tender feelings for each other than I could have ever imagined. I am pretty sure that's what makes me enjoy the start so much, I have gotten to see a little bit of where it's taken us.

During this time I was sitting with my son and watching a movie with them when I

noticed Andi had been quiet for the past 5 or so minutes, which for this time of day was very common she should have fallen asleep by now, so I got up to check on her (she was only around the couch and just out of sight.) This is what I saw...

A carpeted floor covered in a powdered sugar mess! I could only laugh! My little boy hovered over the couch to see what I was doing and he too thought it was funny! The couch had a light dusting of sugar on it too as I put Andi there while I grabbed Rob to take a look (he grabbed the camera) and then I proceeded to

fill our vacuum with a couple of pounds of powdered sugar. This showed me that Andi was not in the mood to cuddle and take her nap. And that she would need some extra "Mommy-Daughter" time that night because clearly she was bored! I really did love the little mess that interrupted my time travel, I think I would have kept reading all night had she not made the mess. (Although I do need to buy more vacuum bags tomorrow!) I couldn't punish that sweet little girl, how could I, I had never taught her not to get into those items, if anything I had taught her the opposite as she cooks and bakes with me frequently! She gets it out of the cupboard for me or more frequently I can hand it to her and she'll put it away. So all I could do was smile and tell her that we couldn't do that again, and that it wastes our yummy food.

I have been trying to find time to take the children's fall pictures and have been waiting for the appropriate weather, and it's finally cooling back down so I thought that having some girly getting ready time would be fun for our short "Mommy-Daughter" time that night... The results are at the top of the post because I had trouble moving them down and it's late.