These two ...

... really make me laugh! Look at Blake's face in these pictures! Although he has a bit of a terror look going on, he loves his sissy like nothing else. And I love these two something fierce! I have been thinking about parenting and families so much lately, perhaps because it is the beginning of the year and of new starts.

We had ward conference today and our Bishop and Stake President both focused all their remarks on the family, pulling a lot from the family proclamation. Some things that jumped out at me :

• "Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations." -The Family: A Proclamation to the World
• "No other success can compensate for failure in the home." -President David O. McKay
• "Societies are having terrible youth problems, but I am convinced they have a greater parent problem." President Gordon B. Hinckley
• "It is in the home that hope is fostered or destroyed." -President Thomas S. Monson

President Stafford (our stake president) said that children are our refiner's fire. We sacrifice for them and we {hopefully} give up bad habits and selfishness. Our meeting today definitely gave me a lot to think about and helped me recognize {even more} things I need to work on. It is funny, as I approach my 34th birthday this week, I can think of when my mom was my age. I was 10 years old when she was 34, and it is so strange. I don't see myself as mature, as selfless, as domestic, as calm as my mom was at my age.

On a related note, I was called to serve in the young women's organization in our ward as the Mia Maid advisor (14-15 year old girls). Yay, I am so excited. When the Bishop was setting me apart last week he said a few things that rung very true and were excellent reminders. He reminded me that I am first, a daughter of God; second, a wife; and third, a mother. He also spoke of being able to prioritize. Of course in theory this is an easy thing, but it was a great reminder. I have SO much going on and I will admit that I don't prioritize well. This is something I really want to work on this year. I am starting to recognize that some of the stress at our house (OK, mostly between Mylie and I), I am inadvertantly creating.

I feel optimistic this year. I know the things I need to improve on and I really have a desire to make those changes. Not just because it is the beginning of the year and I am supposed to, but because I want to. I just feel so blessed with this two wonderful kids, an amazing husband, loving and supportive parents and in-laws, and super siblings! I have THE cutest nieces and nephew and the bestest friends. I am truly blessed.

"one little word" for 2010

This year I have decided to pick one word that I want to define 2010 for me. I have thought about it and although I thought it might be difficult to pick just one word for a whole year, it wasn't. For 2010 the word I have chosen is:

example

This word even sums up what I want to accomplish this year. There are so many things I want to do better, so many things I want to improve about myself, but when it comes right down to it, I want to be a better example for Mylie and Blake. And I know, that by improving those things about myself, it will make me a better example.

Last week in church our Bishop spoke and was discussing how when Christ told his Apostles that one of them would betray him, they each asked him, "Lord, is it I?" He then went on to talk about how so often when there are problems in our families, our marriages, our relationships, we are quick to blame the other person(s) when more than likely, we should be asking, "Lord, is it I?"

The kids and I had a wonderful Christmas break together, but we had one really, really tough day. It involved crying (by all of us). When the emotion was passed and I looked at the situation, I honestly could answer yes to the question, "Lord, is it I?"

I want to do better by my kids than I am now. I'm not saying I'm a bad mom, not that at all, but I do realize there are many things I could do different/better. More times than I can count as a probation officer I discussed with parents that children demonstrate learned behavior. On our no-good-really-bad-terrible-day, Mylie's "learned behavior" was an unfortunate reflection of some of my not so virtuous traits.

I don't know that there is even a word than can express how much I love these two. My heart just swells, and my eyes fill with tears when I think about it. I know that they love me madly, and I want to be deserving of that childlike, Christlike love.

Happy 2010!!

Phew! They stayed on the nice list!

Although there were a few texts and a phone call to Santa, the kids stayed on the nice list and Santa delivered!


I only woke up an hour ahead of the kids. Well, the kid, we had to wake Blake up at 7 because Mylie and I just couldn't wait any longer!

Santa brought Mylie an easel (or a weasel as she calls it) and her requested Tinkerbell doll and new slippers.

Blakey's favorite toy is his new vacuum. I now wish that Santa would have bought him a real vacuum as he has spent no less than 10 hours vacumming the house in the last few days. You can see him going for vacuum right here.

We had such a nice day, in our jammies all day long. Grandma and Grandpa Breach came by later in the day to see the kid's presents. It was a lovely, lovely day.

Merry Christmas!

Bosco

Bosco is growing so fast! He is nearly 4 months old. He and Mylie and Blake are all the best of buds and cause lots of trouble together.



He is completely housebroken and *almost* follows the rules. He must have missed Jeff when he was at work today because I couldn't keep him out of the recliner (he isn't allowed on the furniture). He looked so cute snuggled up I had to take a picture before I booted him out!
He has been a fun addition to our family!

Winter Garden Aglow

One of our favorite Christmas activities is going to the Winter Garden Aglow. In Boise, at the old pennitentiary, there are botanical gardens. Each holiday season they light the whole botanical garden with hundres of thousands of lights. It is so beautiful. I love it for its beauty, but more than that, my great grandpa Rudd was the warden of the prison when my Grandma was a young girl. She and her family lived there at the prison. I love going to visit (yes I am weird, I have a fascination with prisons!)

We went with our friends the Hawks. Alicia takes care of Mylie and Blake while I am working and her boys Drake and Henry are BFFs with Mylie and Blake. We had a fabulous time.

Mylie and Drake are such great friends. Drake started 1st grade this year and Mylie misses him SO MUCH while he is at school. He always saves part of his lunch and when he gets home they go up to his room to play and eat the rest of his lunch. They enjoyed leading us around the gardens.

All 4 munchkins. Henry, not so happy!

Our cute family! (If I must say so!)

Blake and Henry are 5 weeks apart. Henry is a such a sweet special little boy. Alicia and Darrel are in the process of adopting him and it should be final any day now! It was been so amazing to watch the process and watch him become a part of their family. He and Blake are pals and wrestling partners!

Mylie, Drake and Prancer. So cool to get to visit Prancer and pet him.

Such a fun evening and a great way to fill us full of Christmas spirit!

Christmas, Christmas time is here ....

We are full of holiday cheer at our house! I thought I would take some pictures of some of our decorations. These are just around the tree, I'll have to do the others later this week. Our tree - Mylie and Jeff did the decorating and did a great job. Just don't ask Jeff about the stand. It was Christmas ala Craig Ritchie for a few minutes there. (Love you Dad!)
I *love* this nativity. My mom made it and it is a puzzle that fits back in the manger. Mylie is in charge of setting it up, of course she rearranges it every day.

Hands down my favorite ornament. Jeff's mom gave it to me the Christmas after my Grandma died. I tear up every year when I put it up. One, because I still miss her so much, and two, because I am just so touched by this gift. It was the perfect gift for me that year.

One of the three snowmen sitting next to my tree. My mom made these also.

I like this ornament. My Grandma gave it to me one year.

Alicia (and Mylie) made this a few years ago.

I like to buy ornaments when we are on vacation. I got this one when we were in Canada after Bailey graduated from high school. 2003 I think?

Our star, Mylie and I made it last year and I forgot about it. I was tickled to find it in our decoration box this year.

And just for fun, a funky picture of our Christmas lights! (Put your camera out of focus and take a picture of your lights, kind of fun.)

I think I just may take some pictures of more of our decorations this week and post them.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Today, I had just settled down for a long {post church} winter's nap ... and the snow started falling. Our first real Boise snowfall this year. Later we headed out and tried to have a snowball fight - it was a little tough as the snow was pretty dry. Jeff and Mylie certainly tried though. Then we decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas lights. It was such fun. Blake was all bundled up in his stroller and off we went. It was Bosco's first real walk on the leash {longer than around the cul de sac}. We saw some spectacular lights and had a lot of fun. Jeff whipped up some hot chocolate when we got back and we watched the Christmas devotional on TV.

We had a super weekend, got the house decorated and picked out our tree and decorated it as well. We had a progressive dinner with Melanie and Melissa's family. We had a great time, lots of good food and lots of laughs. I love this time of year!