Friday, January 25, 2013

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

 My nephew (Tera's youngest child) is getting baptized next week. She asked me to play the piano for the baptism. So I have been practicing "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" and "When I Am Baptized" and "Book of Mormon Stories" so that I'll be less likely to mess up on the day (no promises though). Micah is so sweet. He crawled up on the piano bench beside me and I noticed him studying my hands and then trying to match his to play like mine. It made me think that I need to live my life in a way that will be good for him to try to "match". We played several songs and sang along. I love the primary songs. I love being a mother.
Then Micah pointed up to the old black and white pictures on the piano and asked who they were. I pointed to each one and explained that they were Grama Shirley's mother and father and sister and the baby was Grama Shirley. He said, "Grama used to be a baby like Holly!" (Holly is our old neighbor who up and moved to Utah--we miss her and her family!!) We talked about how his Great Grama and Grampa were living with Jesus and we would see them again because we were sealed in the temple. Micah said, "I love the temple. Lets go there again." I said, "I love the temple too. Let's go soon." Then we played "I Love to See the Temple" on the piano and sang along and I cried just a little bit. I'm so grateful for the gospel and my family and that I'm a mother and I love these sweet little moments with my children in life that are small and seemingly insignificant as a solitary moment but adds up to be something very significant.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

December Goings-On

 December started out with a quick trip down to my brother's house for his son's baptism. It was so great to spend time with them and rocking out to Just Dance till very late at night and sharing the baptism experience with my nephew. I love our family!
 I really simplified Christmas this year and did as much ahead of time as possible. Early on we decorated sugar cookies. Gavin and Micah loved decorating a few with every single sprinkle and color of frosting they could fit on. After they went to bed, Linnea helped me decorate TONS to share with our friend and family.






 Micah has been loving to take pictures. He took this one of Albert and I. Most of the ones he takes are Gavin's video game screen shots and shots of the floor and chasing Linnea around the house trying to catch a shot of her. (:
 My favorite 3 year old and my favorite 8 year old in the WHOLE world.









 Micah took these pictures as well. I am making cards for upcoming birthdays. I love, love Paper Source. I got the cutest paper and crab and mermaid stamps.

 Again, Micah is our photographer. Just a piece of our Christmas tree.

 Micah peeking under the tree looking for presents.
 Gavin is a little excited about Christmas presents!
 Photographer Micah at it again. This is what I do best.....
 I wish I would have gotten more pictures on Christmas Eve. I get wrapped up in the evening and forget. We took these at the last minute. Tera's family also came over and we had a nice meal with her family and my great aunt Marilyn. We read the Christmas story and unwrapped just a few presents and had our traditional candle lighting activity and sung lots of Christmas songs.

 Christmas morning at our house
We loved our Christmas season and enjoyed time with family. Now I've gotten all the decorations down. I love putting them up right after Thanksgiving and I love taking them down right after Christmas. 

Happy New Year to you!