Childhood. Magical. Simple.

I've had these 3 thoughts in my head, and I wanted to write about it. Maybe it's because it's Christmas time, and I have so many wonderful memories, or maybe it's because I've been so humbled in the last couple weeks......that really life is ONLY about my husband and my kids.....or maybe it's because I've been reading Stephenie Rosemeyers last two months of blog posts--only because of blurry teary vision that I couldn't read further--that makes me appreciate my children and their lives, and want to spend every waking moment remembering this special day with them.
Last night I thought about life being magical. Easton was throwing up all night...and we got to sleep out by the Christmas tree. I turned on the tree lights--and I think thats what made him better. Sleeping with Christmas lights on is a magical thing for me. In fact-it's my "happy place" that I think of when life is scary and I need to escape.
Today, I wish life were more simple. I wish my childrens lives were more simple. Playing outside with no fences, no shoes and no worries. I wish we lived on a farm and worked all day together. I wish I didn't care if Aislee's hair was done or not, and we all just played all day long. I haven't even had a tea party yet with Aislee and her dolls. She's 5. I'm going to lose my opportunity if I don't take it.
Know you what it is to be a child?…
It is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief;
it is to be so little that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear,
it is to turn pumpkins into coaches,
and mice into horses,
lowness into loftiness,
and nothing into everything,
for each child has its fairy godmother in its soul.
– Francis Thompson
I hope my children grow up with memories of their childhood being simple and magical. And I hope they can find simpleness and magical moments when they're adults. I need to focus more on that in my life I think. Simple, magical moments. I know God gives them to me everyday. I just need to slow down and take them all in.

And I'm thankful for Sheye Rosemeyer. She doesn't know me. But I know her. I'm thankful for her beautiful words. I'm thankful for the motivation she gives me to be a good loving mother. I love how she captures the magic of childhood in her photography. Her pictures tell stories and bring lovely memories back to me-they make me want to relive my childhood all over again. I can't wait until she gets to see her little Ava again.
Until then-I will cherish every moment with my Aisers and Easty bud. I thank Heavenly Father for them and for the joy they bring me everyday. Tomorrow, we are going to have a magical, simple day and I can't wait!

Easton and his Llama Llama book

In our home, we adore the llama llama books. The first one, llama llama mad at mama is fun, the second one, llama llama red pajama, my kids LOVED, and now there is a new one. llama llama misses mama. Its about how little llama goes to school for the first time and has a hard time being away from his mom. Aislee had a really hard time at preschool so I got this book and was saving it for Kindergarten. Brian found it, and really wanted to read it to the kids. So the other night, they read it. During the part where Mama llama says goodbye to llama llama, Easton looked up at me with panic stricken eyes, and I could have sworn tears were forming, but he got through it. After the book was over, Easton asked to look at it. So, while we were getting Aislee ready for bed, he continued to look at the pictures, over and over. After we got him in jammies and in bed, he wanted to play pretend llama llama, and he asked me to be Mama llama, Daddy to be Zebra Teacher, and he wanted to play little llama. We apparently weren't doing it right, so he changed characters.....he instructed Daddy to be Mama llama, me to be Zebra teacher, and he was little llama. (Aislee at this point is laying on her bed singing: I wanna miss you a Merry Christmas.....I wanna miss you a merry christmas from the bottom of my heart.....over and over)
Well, Brian acted out the book, and brought Easton to me (the teacher) and said goodbye.....what came next took us by surprise........he started wailing...bawling uncontrollably. I felt so bad, so I calmed him down and reminded him we were just playing. He stopped, and said again. Play llama llama. We continued playing for about an hour, he gave us our assignments of who we were to act out-Easton always being little llama....and each time the assigned "Mama llama" said goodbye he started crying with the same intensity as the first episode. Each time, Brian and I didn't know whether to laugh, or just feel plain bad for the little buddy. Aislee of course wanted to play, so Easton assigned her to be Mama llama, and even when she left and said goodbye....he cried (hard). My poor little guy.
I'm thinking that there is some real issues going on in his life. And one thing's for sure---he really connected with this new Llama Llama Misses Mama book.
He continues to read his new llama llama book everyday studying the goodbye parts.
It is such a cute book, and just like it says, I remind him everyday.......

It's okay to miss Mama, but don't forget, when the day is through, Mama Llama will come back to you!!!!!

Halloween 2009

MINNIE MOUSE AND BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!

AND!!!

This is how I felt reading New Moon:

This is how I feel seeing the previews:

A little Excitement!!!!!

A New Addition

After a very long year, I am happy and excited to announce that Brian and I are expecting a baby boy due in April. I had a miscarriage in January, something that is so completely devasting, and makes you that much more grateful for what I do have. Then after what felt like forever, we were able to get pregnant again, and found out Friday that it is a boy! Everything so far has been going really well, and the baby is growing and is healthy. Im so excited for Easton to have a little brother, and Aislee is excited too (even though, she told me at first, if it was a boy, she wouldn't hold it) Me and Ais were shopping the other day, and she said to me in her excited voice......Oh...I can't wait for our baby boy to be here....I wish he could be here right now. Mom, I wish you were going to the doctors right now to have him cut out of your stomach. (she knows I have C-sections--and apparently shes not afraid of me getting hurt!!) I love having her, she is my little side-kick, and is going to be such a big helper!
I'm so thankful for families. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much, and I'm thankful for another chance to mother a little boy!

Aislee is FIVE!

And she has never been prouder! Her birthday was on October 1st, and me and Bri surprised her and took her to Disneyland. It actually was a girls trip, so me, and Grandma Lorrie, and Aunt Kailee took her. (Brian, of course, took little Easton to the BYU game that weekend!) She was so excited! (I'll post more pictures when I get the stupid internet at my new house.) Her friends from Pennsylvania who live in California met us there, Ellie, Chloe, and Sydney! It was another surprise for her. They all had so much fun!!! Then Grandma Lorrie took her to the American girl doll store in LA where she got to chose out her first doll. After much deliberation, she chose Felicity. (because she looks the most like a princess!)

Aislee is such a sweetheart and enjoys life so much. She gets the most satisfaction when her brother gives her hugs and kisses, when her cousins pick out her clothes, and play princess/dress up with her, and when she creates a new art project. She also absolutely loves to cuddle with her Daddy, and loves to ride her bike with him too! She loves attention and has recently begun putting on shows, where we get to hear her made up songs...they are my favorite, I love them!

I can't believe I have a 5 year old. Life keeps going on, and I'm so thankful to have Aislee to share it with! We love you Crazy Azy!!!

UPDATE!

Ok, not a real one, but just wanted to post that Brian and I and our children (of course) have moved into a new home down here in St. George. We have no internet yet but will soon! HOPEFULLY! We're alive and well!!!!!

True or False: Washing Pull-ups Will Save you Money

FALSE! Me and Bri thought we would try it anyways because they are so darned expensive and we're on a budget---but it will only cause you more work!! DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
Okay, just kidding. We didn't try on purpose to wash a pull-up...there just happened to be one in the load that Brian put in........and what a MESS...There was little gel balls everywhere.....and guess who had to clean it all up???? ME! Cause my cute hubby got to go golfing instead. Your welcome babe! That's how much I love you.
By the way, I had to hand wash each and every piece of clothing...and it's still not all out.
So, thats a definite FALSE. It will not save you money! Only cause you stress and work!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

I want to live on the Channel Islands, be surrounded by the sea, grow potatoes, and belong to a book club with charming neighbors!
I loved this book. It was so easy to read. It reminded me of another one of my favorites-These Is My Words. Probably because it's written in letter/journal form. I loved the characters in this book--they all added so much and brought it all to life. It also made me aware even more of how much WWII was present in everyones lives in some way or another. How can one evil person have such an affect on millions of people? Probably the same way one good person can affect a million people. It also made me realize how thankful I am for human nature, for friends, and the desire in your heart to want to be apart of someones life, to help them, to enjoy company, and to find joy in life. I'm thankful for books, and stories, and learning of how someone else interprets life. It plants a little happy seed in mine!
And I love the name Dawsey--I call it...no battle.