Thanksgiving was wonderful! We were able to spend time with family that we love and to reflect on the things we are most grateful for in life. Jeremiah helped me make this little halloween decoration for our fridge; all of the feathers are cut-outs of Jeremiah's little hands.
This time last year I was holding a little Jeremiah in my arms. I went into labor Thanksgiving night and gave birth about 21 hours later. Jeremiah will always be my little Turkey. He reminds me of the wonderful things in life.
We celebrated Jeremiah's 1st birthday on Saturday. I still can't believe it! He doesn't even know that he's 1 or what a birthday is but he sure enjoyed his birthday cake and loves playing with all of his new toys and gifts.
Grandpa Clark came to visit this past week. SO FUN! We love seeing him and spending time with him. While he was here we had a large party at Grandma Christensen's home (the home of all partying) to celebrate November family birthdays. Little Jeremiah, his wonderful grandpa, Kofi (11.11.11. So Cool!) and Christina Myers all blew out candles. It was so nice to be with everyone and spend time eating, talking, playing games and more than anything, just being around each other.
Although, it is not quite Jeremiah's birthday he was able to open a gift from G&G Christensen. He got 3 little stackable, noisy cars that he LOVES.
TROUBLE
Lately, Jeremiah has been getting into all kinds of trouble; he pulls everything off of the tables, all the books off the shelves, all the food out of the fridge, sticks everything in the trash, pushes all the buttons he can find, touches every knob, heads straight for the plunger every time the bathroom door opens, and escapes the house anytime someone opens the door. Some days I think I'm going to lose my mind trying to take care of him. It's a good thing he's so darn cute.
Every day of my life is full of sweet little moments. One of my sweet little moments of today happened when Chris came home during lunch and literally swept me off my feet. With a handsome smile on his face he took me in his arms and began dancing with me in the living room. Only seconds later, we felt tugging at our legs. Apparently, Jeremiah didn't want to miss out on all the fun. So, the three of us slow danced around the living room together while we listened to Brett Raymond.
Another sweet moment took place when I took Jeremiah out for a walk. He laughed as he did his "waddle run" down the sidewalk, throwing leaves up in the air. He turned back to look at me, gave me a big smile and then waited for me to catch up with him so I could see a pretty leaf he found. He pointed at the leaf and said, "huh?". I never know what "huh?" means so I just told him that the leaf was red. He looked at me, said, "ehhhdah" and then clapped his hands.
What would life be without the people I love most? As I think back on all of the "sweet moments" in my life I am unable to say that a single one of them didn't include someone that I loved ,whether, in spirit, thought or physical presence.
I am so blessed by each person in my life. All contribute to my happiness and "sweet moments".
About a week ago I ran out of diapers for Jeremiah. As I was contemplating buying and searching for good deals I was so sickened by a realization that I had. I spend way too much money on something that my baby poops on!!! In an effort to save money and make myself feel better, I searched for a good "not too expensive" cloth diaper. I read a lot of reviews and talked to a lot of moms and found that I could get the best deal for cloth diapers on Ebay. Initially, cloth diapers can appear to cost more money because a cloth diaper costs anywhere between 4$ - 20$ a piece and a disposable diaper are about 20 - 40 cents a piece. However, when I calculated all of my costs over a two year period (including water and electricity for cloth) I saw a clear winner. Cloth diapers (all expenses included) cost about 1/5th of the money spent on disposable diapers. I wish I would have switched to cloth diapers earlier!
Now, you do have decide whether the money is worth not having to deal with more hands-on "stinky diaper time" or if you feel like you can go a little more green and save yourself some green. I was definitely worried about dealing with the diapers but, I have found that it's much simpler than I anticipated. You just need to get a good system going that works for you. And...if you're dealing with poop anyway, what's one more step?
One downer about cloth diapers is they take up a lot more space. I couldn't put all the cloth diapers in my diaper bag without having to sacrifice something else I needed like: a change of clothes, wash cloths, medicine, water, snacks, my wallet, toys or baby blanket. When I searched online for diaper bags I was unsatisfied with either, the price or the size of the bag. I found a bag that I really liked, made by Petunia Pickle Bottom, and guess what the price tag revealed?!? A whopping $160! WHAT? So, I thought to myself..."Hey, self. You can make one of those!" And, that's exactly what I did!
I picked myself up some supplies from JoAnns for just over $15 and made myself a cute, spacious, multi-pocketed, multifunctional, custom "AriAnn" bag! Check it out.
I am proud of myself for being able to save some money by just putting forth a little effort.
You too, can save a lot of money by researching and thinking about ways/alternatives to things that you buy and use everyday. Give it a whirl! :) I'm sure you'll come up with a lot of great ideas and probably much more quickly than I did.
I love creating things! My favorite things to do include: drawing, cooking, painting, sewing, paper crafting, writing music, taking pictures...anything.
Eventually, I hope that I can earn income for my family by doing some of the things that I love.
Over the past two weeks I have been fiddling around with a new camera and have already taken over 1000 pictures of Jeremiah(my favorite subject). :)
This Halloween we dressed up as characters from "How to Train Your Dragon". Chris and I were vikings and Jeremiah was a baby dragon. Jeremiah loves his costume; both times that we've let Jeremiah wear his dragon costume he's ran around the house "RAWR"ing. It's pretty cute!
We enjoyed a fun Saturday at Great Grandma Christensen's home where we paraded around the block and had lots of fun treats. I think we were all sick to our stomaches by the time we left.
Tonight we will be spending time with G&G Brown. Jeremiah's uncles are excited to take him trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. After tonight I'm sure our stomaches will be turned into petrified candy!
Every time I've taken Jeremiah to the store he has grabbed at and cried for the pumpkins outside. I always felt like I was in a hurry or didn't want to spend more time in the busy parking lot but, yesterday I decided to let him have a little fun. We sat outside the local Smith's store for about a half an hour so that Jeremiah could play with (pound on) the pumpkins before grocery shopping. When it was time to go into the store Jeremiah wasn't going to come without bringing a pumpkin with him. So, he happily sat in the cart with his pumpkin while I shopped for and bought the items I came for. As I put him in his car seat he threw a bit of a fit as usual but as soon as I set his little pumpkin down beside him he giggled and clapped his hands. I don't know what it is about his little pumpkin...maybe, he loves it because it's orange or because it makes a cool sound and feels funny but, more than likely he loves it because everyone else he sees has one. Since we've been home I think he's been without his pumpkin only to sleep. Today, I told him that he could only play with the pumpkin outside and I set it on the porch but, now he walks to the door and pounds on it every hour. Who knew that an .80¢ pumpkin would be more fun than a $20 truck?
Jeremiah has been developing quite the little personality. It's been interesting to watch him interact with other people, especially, other children. Jeremiah now sings, dances (squats and waves his hands in the air), claps, screams, talks and gets into mischief more than ever before. If you're looking for a fun time just hang out with Jeremiah for a few hours.
After about an hour into Stake Conference today, Jeremiah decided that he had had enough. So, Chris took him out in the hall to play. Jeremiah was in baby heaven! Chris said that as soon as he set Jeremiah down he ran over to the first kid he saw and said, "HUH?!!" about 1in from the kids face. When the boy didn't respond he went to the next child and did the same thing. Jeremiah continued to do this to ever child he saw. We knew that he had finally found a worthy friend when he stopped to play with a little boy and then began sucking on his head. But, that didn't last long. As soon as Jeremiah heard a little boy crying he walked over and put the toy that the boy was playing with into the boy's mouth. HA!
I'm going to need to teach Jeremiah about personal space!
After I had Jeremiah I kind of lost myself a little bit. I felt like I stopped progressing in a way and that I was stuck in a land of "sleepless baby-ness". A few months ago I decided I would take my life back and started setting weekly and monthly goals for myself in order to become a better me, a better mom, wife and woman of God. This month my goal is to write in my journal every day as well as continuing my past goals (reading scriptures every day alone and with Chris and Jeremiah, praying daily, reading my patriarchal blessing weekly and exercising 3 times a week).
It's so easy to get caught up in the unimportant things in life. I think too much about my hair, my clothes, what my future home will look like, making everyone in the ward cookies, picking up all of Jeremiah's toys every 15 minutes etc. As I listened to General Conference this past weekend I was reminded of the important things. I think it's time I spend more thinking about and doing better things. No!.. the best things. Setting goals to do not just good things but the best things, I believe, will bring me closer to the Lord and greater happiness.
Setting, working on and achieving goals has brought me so much happiness. It's a skill that I learned as a Young Woman and I am so grateful that it was taught to me.
These are a few things I have learned about setting goals:
1. Set small goals in order to achieve greater ones
2. Repent and Start each day new (don't let a day of "failure" get you down)
3. Write your goals down and make a plan
4. Make your goals positive (state them in a positive way). Rather than say "I will not be the fat me that I am" say, "I will eat 3 servings of my favorite vegetables every day."
5. Don't overwhelm yourself and set too many goals at once.
6. Reward yourself with good things that are not contrary to your goals
7. Pray for help and guidance
8. Report to (or brag to) a spouse, realative or friend. Ask them for suggestions and help.
9. Read your scriptures, the ensign and conference talks. They will motivate you and even help you see examples of others reaching their goals.
10. Tell yourself every morning that you are wonderful and that you can accomplish anything you want to with the help of the Lord.
If you haven't been setting goals lately, I challenge you to do so. Come on this adventure with me and become a better you. If you can't think of goals I'll give you a list of a few of the goals that I would like to meet.
Read to Jeremiah 2 hours a day everyday
Go outside for a walk just to enjoy the day 2 times a week
Take 1 picture a day of something that made me smile
Tell my husband that I love him in a new/different/special way everyday
Finish the Book of Mormon 2 times a year
Write missionary letters every fast sunday
Re-memorize all of the scripture masteries
Jeremiah makes me SO happy. I know I say this all the time but, he really does!!!
He is now waddling all around the house and picking things up and carrying them with him wherever he goes. I showed him that he could put things in a little purse that I had so that he could carry that around instead of an arm full of stuff. He loved that idea! But, soon it wasn't enough. He has now found one of my decorative baskets and fills it up to the brim. However, the basket gets too heavy for him to carry around. HA...so he just sits on the ground and stares at it perplexingly.
Jeremiah has also become quite the little climber. He pulls his bumbo seat off of a dining room chair and uses it to climb onto the chair and then uses the chair to climb onto the table. He has tried climbing on top of, into, and out of everything in our home. Yesterday, I heard him screaming and found him stuck in his toy bin. Apparently, he can climb in but can't climb out.
He loves pushing around a toy fire engine that I found him at the DI. The engine has a hole in it for legos but he fills it with everything he can think of and pushes it around. I think he found that this was easier than trying to carry a big basket full of toys. We also know that if there is anything missing in our house it's either in Jeremiah's toy bin or in his fire engine. In a single day I found: my keys, chris's measuring tape, a cup, a cell phone, one of our decorative monkey's from Africa and one of my necklaces inside of his fire engine.
This afternoon, after Chris's career fair, Jeremiah and I walked around and gathered candy from the baby admiring ladies at career booths. On our way home I gave him a sucker with a wrapper on it thinking that he would just play with it. Evidently, he gnawed on the sucker long enough to get the wrapper off. Since he was so clever we just let him have the sucker. :) Lucky Kid!
This past Thursday my husband surprised me with a cute little box and a note for my birthday. Excitedly I opened the box only to find a whole bunch of mud! YES! Just what I wanted :S Actually, it turns out that this was his way of telling me that I was going to run in The Dirty Dash (a 10k race in Midway Utah). I had been wanting to run the race and kept asking about it but it was too expensive to register so late in the game. So, it was a great surprise and a wonderful present!
Today we ran The Dirty Dash. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed getting so dirty. What a great memory.
And, to top the day off, I went to the General Relief Society Meeting. I enjoyed all of the talks but the one that really spoke to me was the talk given by Elder Uchtdorf. I adore him! Not only is he the most handsome apostle (in my opinion) but also extremely sweet and funny. I genuinely feel his love for me and for the members of the church. He hit on 5 points that stem from his thoughts on the Forget Me Not flower.
1. Forget Not to be Patient with Yourself
I think it's so important that we don't get down on ourselves for not being perfect. A problem that many of the women of the church have. Why is it that we believe we have to be the perfect mom, wife, cook, pianist, painter, etc? And, what is perfection? Is our vision of what perfection is warped?
2. Forget Not the Difference Between a Good Sacrifice and a Foolish Sacrifice.
Sometimes we focus too much on trying to go the extra mile but the sacrifice we make in order to do so might not be wise.
3. Forget Not to be Happy Now!
We should enjoy the blessings we currently have and life in happiness along our quest for perfection.
4. Forget Not the "Why" of the Gospel.
We often focus on the "What" (what do I have to do now?) and "How" (how the heck am I going to find time to do this?) but, as we remember the "Why" it makes the "What" and "How" so much easier to see and do.
5. Forget Not that the Lord Loves You
:) We are beloved daughters of our Heavenly Father and He LOVES us! We are loved by the most magnificent being in the entire universe.
Wow! It's so wonderful that we have modern day apostles and a prophet who leads our church and speaks on behalf of God. We can hear exactly what Heavenly Father wants us to know.
I am also posting a few pictures of Jeremiah because I know you all enjoy seeing pictures of him more than hearing about our lives. :) I took these over the past 2 days.
Oh...to sleep like a baby! I swear Jeremiah can sleep in ANY position.
We all have BYU jerseys so that we can sport them when we watch the games. The picture on the left is Jeremiah in football line position. We thought this was funny.
This morning on my way home from driving Chris to his meeting I stopped to let a girl cross the street. The girl happily smiled, waved and mouthed a "thank you" as she crossed. I was so touched by this small gesture of appreciation. I didn't realize that a simple "thank you" could change or set the mood for the day.
In 2003 Elder Oaks gave a talk called "Give Thanks in All Things." In his talk Elder Oaks outlines some of the things that we should be grateful for and why it's important that we give thanks.
As I read this talk I realized that showing gratitude not only lifts the receiver but also blesses the life of the giver. When I give thanks to others and to God I am more positive and see potential/present problems in a brighter light. It's often hard to be grateful for our trials especially while we are in the middle of them. However, Elder Oaks assures us that we will be blessed as we search for things to be thankful for and show our gratitude for those things.
I challenge each of you today to thank at least 5 people ,including God, for something. As you make yourself more aware of the good that you are being blessed with it will become more easy for you to see them each day. You will find that there are so many things to be thankful for that you wont know how to give thanks for all of them. HOW GREAT IS THAT?!?
Some of the things I am grateful for today are: the nice weather, the food in my refrigerator, my husband, my baby boy, dish sponges, my ability to hear and see, work, and the internet.
This morning Jeremiah was crawling around with a flavored stick that he got from the doctor's office. I thought that this picture might make you smile and hopefully make you grateful for children, laughter, humor, smiles, wealth enough to have a device that has internet capabilities and your ability to see this picture that has traveled through space so that you can view it miles and miles away. :)
I want to tell you all that I am so thankful for you and for all that you do. My life is beautiful because you are a part of it!!!
Jeremiah has been eagerly trying to walk for the past two months now. It's been incredible to watch him go from sitting to standing, standing to walking along the couch and finally walking along the couch to walking. I love watching him concentrate on and try new things. He has a curiosity and spunk that I admire. Every day is a new adventure with Jeremiah; every day we learn something new together! I am so glad that I can tag along with such a great boy and experience the world through his incredible eyes.
Jessica Dixon and I decided that it would be a fun idea to go to Houston this year to try out for American Idol. So, we bought tickets and flew out to Texas without a clue in our minds as to what would happen when we arrived. Since neither one of us is 25 years old yet, to rent a car would cost us an arm and a leg. So, we decided to go with public transit. But, not having traveled very much alone we didn't know the first thing about getting around.
We arrived at the Houston airport and we were greeted by a big warm hug from Mr. Humidity when we walked off the plane. Yuck! But, despite the weather we were determined to make our trip wonderful. With our Carry-on luggage in hand and a smile on our faces we headed outside to the bus station. Unlike other cities I've been in the bus maps in Houston were extremely confusing. Rather than trying to figure out how to get from place to place on our own we just decided to ask people around us for help. We talked to a nice old man who told us what bus to take to get downtown. As we rode the bus we giggled and pointed out the window at the unfamiliar sights around us. When the bus driver directed us off the bus we realized that downtown was a very loose term. Apparently "downtown" was miles and miles and miles big. 3 1/2 hours, 4 bus trips and miles of walking later we had reached the Galleria (a mall that Chris Moyes, my sister-in-law's husband, told us was a cool place to go). As we walked in, we realized that we were extremely underdressed. The Galleria was an upscale shopping center with the Armani story being at the Low end of expensive. But, we were sweaty, tired and very hungry so we ignored the fact that we didn't fit in and just found a place to rest and eat. By now, my phone had been dead for about 2 hours and it was 9 pm. Because we didn't know where else to go or what else to do we caught a bus down to Reliant Park where the auditions would be held. We were dropped off on the opposite side of the Reliant Stadium but didn't find it a huge obstacle because how far around could it be to the other side? Right?... NO! We began walking down the dark street with our luggage dragging behind us. When we finally figure out we were heading in the wrong direction we were exhausted and didn't want to walk anymore. We were lost and our excitement about being in Houston was fading quickly. With no way of calling anyone and no way of figuring out where we were, we sat down on the side of the road. As we looked around us to see where we had plopped down we noticed that there was an electric outlet on a TREE! What? Yes! There was one tree that someone hadn't taken Christmas lights off of and there was a plug right there on the tree. We hurried and plugged in our phone and thanked Heavenly Father for such a great tender mercy.
While we were waiting for our phone to charge Jessica noticed that just a block down there was a grocery cart. What luck!!! When we were rejuvenated enough to get back up and wander some more we put all of our luggage in the grocery cart and began pushing it in the opposite direction we had headed last time. It was only when we began passing a lot of homeless people that we feared we were not in a great part of town. Just as we were beginning to worry we heard a shout from behind a bus that had just stopped. A boy ran across the road to us and knew by the looks of us that we were from out of town. He shouted at us and asked if we were trying out for american idol. We replied in the affirmative and he said that he would like to accompany us to wherever we were going because he too was trying out for american idol. He said, "what the heck are you two girls doing out this late on this side of town? Ya'll are going to get yourselves killed. Let me push your buggy and I'll come with you to wherever you are going." Well...we didn't know where we were going but, we thought it might be a good idea to try and find the other side of the stadium. Eventually, three hours later, we reached the other side of Reliant park. We didn't realize that the place was so big. When we found the line of anxious talent waiting to register we were so happy!!! Ah...we had made it. As we sat in line there was an awkward silence around us. Jessica and I thought it would be a fun idea to have some entertainment to keep us awake through the next 7 hours so, we brilliantly began asking people to sing their audition pieces for us. We had NO IDEA that once we got people singing they would NEVER stop! Our night was long and filled with music. We met incredible singers and some that were not so incredible. It was so fun to meet people that were so different from us. We loved the black texan accent and enjoyed the weird questions that some of the people asked us. They said things like, "Ya'll are married? How old are you? Ya'll have kids too? Crazy! You're baby daddy still around? My baby daddy not. I'm gonna hunt him down and beat his a**. How long you been married? Wow...and he don't beat you? Ya'll are lucky!"
At 9am we were finally able to register. Now that we endured long enough to get our orange wristbands we were so excited to get to Sugarland so we could sleep at the Smith's home.
After a few bus rides and people telling us where to go, we reached the sugarland station. But, guess who doesn't have phone battery again??? Yep...so we trail off again on foot. As we were almost about to break out in tears we spotted a taxi at a gas station. Another tender mercy. The man was able to get us to the Smith's house (which we would have NEVER made it to on foot).
The Smith family is so sweet and kind. They had fresh towels and a nice cool bed waiting for us when we arrived. It was so nice to relax and finally get some sleep.We enjoyed being with the Smith girls so much that we hung out with them most of the time we were there. They were a blast to be around; it was like having a 24/7 "girls night".
On Friday morning we arrived at Reliant Park Stadium around 5:30am. We sat like cattle in cages that they shoved everyone into. At 8am they let us into the stadium and we did a lot of filming. When they were done with their filming they instructed us on how the audition process would go. There were 12 booths in the middle of the stadium. A line of 4 people were to approach every booth and the judges would direct them to sing in turn. They then say "yes" or "no". If they say "yes" you get a golden ticket and go to one door and if they say "no" you get your wristband cut off and walk out another door.
When it was our turn we walked up and it appeared as though the two judges were playing rock-paper-scissors. Apparently they were fighting over going to lunch and neither of them wanted to be there. The girl that lost at rock-paper-scissors wasn't very happy. She looked at us with a nasty stare and just told us to sing. I don't think she even listened. She said "no" to the whole line after us until she was able to go to lunch! HAHA...we felt like we did a great job (Jessica sang "angel" spectacularly and I sang "a-tisket a-tasket" better than I expected) and there were people around us who also didn't make it and were incredible!!!!! American Idol makes it look like half of the people who show up are bad or weird but in all truthfulness only about 2 % of the people trying out are jokes, 68 % are average and 30% are amazing! What's silly is that only 1% of all the people who try out actually make it past the first round of judges and half of those are the jokes that aren't even good at singing. But, that's show business! :)
We had such a great experience trying out for American Idol. We didn't come into it expecting anything, we knew that we didn't have great odds. It would have been cool if we got through but, we had a good time just being a part of something so big.
Houston was a BLAST! We had so many great experiences and met some great people. I am so grateful that Jessica and I were able to have the American Idol experience. We had such a great time bumming around together but we are glad to be home. I've decided that I like my life as a wife and mom way better than partying all night, sleeping all day, being around crowds of people all the time and standing in front of cameras all day. But it was worth it just to be with Jessica and hang out with the Smiths. I actually think the highlight of our trip was playing with the girls in our bedroom and just hanging out.
If you're thinking about trying out for American Idol DO IT! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that will rock your world. I've never been a part of anything like it and I don't think I'll ever try out again but I am glad I did!
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautiful tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt form making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my nails from helping weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheek and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived. " —Marjorie Pay Hinckley
Sister Hinckley knew what life was all about and so does my husband! Chris is such a hard worker. He wakes up at 5 every morning, plays with the baby, feeds him, gets ready for the day, puts the baby back to sleep and then goes to work. He usually comes home during lunch to eat but, most of the time he comes home to help a neighbor move, fix a car, fix a leak, give a blessing or to just spend more time with Jeremiah and I. He usually gets home around 4 or 5 and from the time he gets home until he goes to bed at night he is serving everyone around him. We all have choices to make and Chris chooses every day to show his Love for God and for others by working hard, serving willingly and giving freely.
While I was mending/cleaning Chris' work jeans this past week I found myself with tears streaming down my face. As I held his well worn pants in my hands I saw physical evidence of Chris' love for me. I know it sounds silly. I know that Chris loves me but, I was so touched when I looked at his tattered pants.
Here on this earth we are surrounded by traces of love in all forms. The Lord has left traces of his love for us here on the earth. What are the traces of your love?
The weather has been quite beautiful here in Provo. I've been taking Jeremiah on walks around the newly re-landscaped outskirts of campus. It's been so pleasant to watch all the students start moving in and feeling the growing excitement as school is about to begin. I love being on campus when its busy and full of students. Although, BYU can be demanding it is a place where the spirit can be felt and where lessons both spiritual and temporal are learned.
A major hot/exciting conversation topic in our home is BYU football. This year is BYU's first year as an independent team. The BYU football program is unique in it's design. It is unlike any other program in the world and it always has been. Players abide by the honor code and work towards achieving the missions of BYU; they are clean, good, and upstanding young men. At BYU we will never have the issues that so many collegiate programs are being investigated for taking part in. Some question whether or not going independent was a good move for BYU but, I believe that the decision will bring BYU's unique program more publicity, creating a greater opportunity to share The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Last night Chris, Jeremiah and I went to meet the team. The entire practice field was crowded with energized and enthralled fans. As we wondered around watching little kids get their pictures taken with the cheerleaders, the dads buying jerseys, and families waiting in long lines waiting to see their football heros we were overcome by excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. While we were there we were able to see Jake Heaps, Ross Apo and Kyle Van Noy. They are great young men and I was so impressed with their congenial charm.
I asked a couple of my friends from the football team to tell me about what they love about BYU football. I will add my quotes from them as they send them to me.
"BYU Football....Its a way for us as players to play to our highest potential, and as we have success and are more exposed to the Nation because of that success, we can share the Gospel with others...I love BYU football because its taught me things like hard-work, dedication, commitment, setting priorities, and the list continues to grow..." -Water Kahaiali'i #71
The Clarks will always bleed blue and most definitely be sporting our BYU blue attire. :) We can't wait for the upcoming season!!! GO COUGS!
It's been over 2 weeks since we've returned from China and we are still trying to kick our life back into gear. It's been tough getting back onto a normal schedule again.
Jeremiah has finally seemed to let go of his fear of us leaving him again; he now lets us enter another room without shrieks of terror. If there's one thing I've learned about babies it's been how forgiving they are. I can bonk his head, accidentally leave him in his crib for an hour after he's woken up from a nap, or forget to change his poopy diaper and he still loves me and greets me with a big "I love you mommy"-smile. There is something to be learned from these babes. They are truly a sweet little gift and they have so much to teach us.
Shortly after we had been home we realized that our house was not very "baby-proof". Our apartment floors were falling apart and since we have such an interesting landlord (bless his heart) there was no way we would ever get it fixed unless we did it ourselves.
So, here's what we did the week after we got home. TADA!!!
Now Jeremiah can cruise all he wants and I don't have to worry about what nasty pieces of old flooring he can put in his mouth.
Before After
Chris recently celebrated his 28th Birthday. Boy am I glad he was born! Where would I be without him?
We had a simple stay at home celebration which was all he wanted after his hard day's work. But, that didn't sit well with my family so, we celebrated a tad bit more with them later in the week.
Jeremiah is cruisin' around all over the place now. He goes from room to room faster than I can turn around to see where he's going. He now stands up and walks from one piece of furniture to the next. Every once and a while he'll get daring and let go for a few seconds but then slowly lowers himself to the ground and realizes that for now he can get around faster by crawling. He babbles non-stop and tells us all kinds of stories...if only we could understand them. One of his new favorite things to do is hold onto the front of the entertainment center and dance (stomp) and sing (Bah bah La La Ba Wa) with whatever is playing on the TV. Jeremiah has developed such a sweet relationship with Chris. Whenever Chris gets home from work or comes through the front door Jeremiah jets straight toward him greeting him with smiles, giggles and high pitches squeels. Daddy then usually spends about an hour tickling and playing with Jeremiah. They are so fun to watch.
Here is a picture of happy Jeremiah just after I watched him finish eating a potato bug. He puts whatever he can find into his mouth and locks it shut whenever I try to take things out of it.
Jeremiah also enjoys the taste of fresh soil...mmm...Yummy!
