A Lesson Learned

I wake up at 4:30 almost every Saturday morning to go to the temple.  I usually get home at 8:30, right after Brian and the kids finish their pancakes.  Last Saturday it was 5:00 and I was about to leave when Branson woke up.  I put him in bed with Dad and told him that it was very early and that he should go back to sleep.  Branson was so wide-eyed and coherent that I could tell there was no way he was going to sleep again.  He noticed that I was dressed for my day and had my purse on my shoulder - and naturally he asked where I was going.  I told him that I was on my way to the temple and that I would be back after breakfast.  He started to whine. 

"I don't want you to go to the temple all the time!  I want you to stay home!  Please don't go,"  he said.

After a minute of thought, I offered to take him with me.  I knew that if I had kept my usual routine, Brian would have had to get up with his son at 5:00am on a Saturday morning.  I also realized that the last time Branson had been to the temple he was too young to remember his experience.  It was no wonder he pleaded with me to stay home.  

I got him dressed in his Sunday best: white shirt, tie, slacks, and a coat to keep warm.  I quickly did his hair and grabbed a banana for him to eat in the car.  On the 45 minute drive to the temple we held our breath under the underpasses, played What Number Am I Thinking Of, looked for Chevy Camaros and Ford Mustangs, and talked about what we were going to do later that day. 

Once we got closer I took a minute to tell him about the temple.  I told him that the temple was a special place where we could escape the noisy world outside and feel closer to God and Jesus Christ.  I told him that the temple was beautiful.  It is a place where we don't run or use loud voices.  We don't wear jeans or t-shirts.  We don't jump on the furniture or treat others disrespectfully.  The temple is a place where people get married, families get sealed together for time and eternity, we learn more about God's plan for us, and spend time in thoughtful prayer.  

When the temple came into view from the road I heard Branson shout from the back seat, "There it is!!  It's so big!  I see the angel Moroni at the top!"  I knew then that I had made the right choice bringing Branson with me that morning.

Outside the front of the temple.

Reading the sign.

The temple doors.

I took him in for a few minutes - but we're not permitted to take pictures inside the temple. We looked at the beautiful wall murals and shook hands with the temple workers. We sat for a few minutes and enjoyed the quiet peace.

I took him to the courtyard where there are fountains and trees and flowers.

After spending time inside, we walked all the way around the temple grounds.

He loved how big it was.

At 5 in the morning the water fountains aren't turned on yet - but he thought the water was cool anyway.

Although I taught him that we treat the temple with love and respect, I permitted him to perch on top of the wall for a picture. :)

Clearly Branson's favorite part was seeing Angel Moroni atop the spire. He just couldn't believe how much bigger it was in person verses the tiny statue he was used to from pictures.

Branson was not excited to leave. He loved being at the temple with me. Unfortunately it began to rain. I told him that we would return - maybe with the whole family and a picnic basket.

I don't think Branson will whine when I get up early on Saturday morning. In fact if he happens to wake up, he might ask to go with me!

All the way home he talked excitedly about his experience. And I felt the Spirit telling me that as his mother, I had made the right decision bringing him to the temple with me. That was more valuable than any temple work I would have done that morning. I was teaching my son.

Of course picking up donuts on the way home was icing on the cake.

Biker Babe

Irelynn never had much interest in actually pushing the pedals of her trike when she realized how easy it was to just shuffle her feet along the floor. Until now. Yesterday she decided to try pedaling. Success!! Here are the first pictures of her pedaling on her own.

It only took a minute to figure it out - now she cruises all around the kitchen like she was born to ride!  Way-to-go, Big Kid!

Thank You, Brian

Yesterday I woke up at 6am already feeling defeated. I had spent half the night up with a miserable Irelynn. I didn't sleep a wink from 1-4am. Then the whole house was up at 6. When my sweet husband looked at me and said, "How did you sleep?" I burst into tears. I knew I had a busy day ahead and each of our kids were already whining.  I really needed a hot shower - but that had to wait.  Our kids needed baths before school and the lunches wouldn't fix themselves.  Brian had responsibilities at work and left me reluctantly.  After I got the kids dropped off at school I put a movie on for Irelynn and took a long, hot shower.  During that time Brian had text me a sweet message reminding me that I'm his #1 priority and that he would come home if I needed him.  I felt so blessed to have him as my husband. 

Today, I found a package on our front doorstep.  Yesterday Brian ordered flowers for me and enclosed was this message,

Dear Krystal,

Thanks for all that you do.  You are amazing!  I am so blessed to be your husband.

Love, Brian

What a sweet man!  Regardless of our busy schedules, he always makes time to show me he loves me.  Marrying Brian was the single best decision I've ever made.  I love him more than words can express.

Thank you, Brian!

I Have Been Blessed

I changed my playlist today.  I liked the old music I used to have playing on our blog - and each song held some sort of significance.  But lately (especially during this month of Thanksgiving) my heart is so full.  I feel blessed in so many ways.  When I heard the song, "I Have Been Blessed" on the radio by Martina McBride, it hit me.  Her words verbalized all the thoughts I've had regarding my life.  So from now on this song will be the new theme for my blog.  Because I feel the Lord has so richly blessed my life.

Martina McBride, husband, and children

Meet The Flintstones and The Rubbles

Happy Halloween!!  Introducing: Fred, Wilma and Pebbles Flintstone.  And don't forget their best friends from down the street, Barney and Betty Rubble.

We had another busy holiday this year.  Halloween wasn't just one night - it was almost a week of festivities.  And the day it all began we were lucky to have Nana join us!  We kept her occupied.  Here's where it all began...     

Branson had multiple school parties to attend. He started with his little Joy School group and the party was at our house! We played games, had treats, and read spooky books.  But they mostly enjoyed running around to Halloween music. 

Soon after, Branson had another Halloween party with his pre-school class.  He got to dress up again with all of his buddies from school and make special Halloween crafts and schoolwork.  He came home with treats and stories about the songs he learned and games he played. 

Natalya earned the Citizenship Award in recognition of the character trait responsibility for the month of October! And her teacher had it right when she submitted her name; Natalya has become quite the responsible little girl. She listens and follows directions. She helps her brother and sister - and me - a ton. She does her own chores. And she's an excellent student. She earned a well deserved award!

Hayden was another little boy in her class who earned the award. He dressed as Agent 007 for Halloween. Don't they look like they are headed to the Oscars or something??

I love this picture of Nana and Natalya.

When Nana decided to visit I'm not sure she knew that we were putting her to work! We volunteered in Natalya's class together. We made crafts, photo copies, helped a child read, and organized the Halloween party. Here's Nana handing out pizza and juice.

Natalya with her girlfriends, Hannah Lee and Pammie Worthin.

Never a dull moment! After we recuperated from the party, we got ready for Trick-or-Treating at Daddy's office.

Every year Brian's office does a special Halloween activity for all the children of office employees. The secretaries have candy or toys at their desks and some even decorate for Halloween. The kids look forward to this every year!

Daddy's office takes up the top two floors of his building. The kids like to look out the big windows and pretend the cars are toys because of their size.

This is Julie, Brian's secretary. She's always good to us and she loves our kids.

Our whole family dressed up for our ward's Trunk-or-Treat. But by nightfall we were all exhausted! It was hard to keep the kids awake on the way to the church parking lot.

The cultural hall was crowded with hungry people. They served chili and macoroni and cheese with corn bread. We were lucky to get a couple of bowls.

One of our friends dressed up like pebbles and her son was Bam-bam. I had to take a picture of Pebbles with Bam-bam.

Irelynn with her best friend, Karlee.

The next day we took our time waking up and getting ready for our day. We had chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast and did a little shopping in the afternoon. (Natalya had outgrown all of her jeans and pants.) After the kids displayed descent behavior at the GAP, Dad rewarded them with a game of bowling.

Bumpers are the best. The kids scored almost as high as Dad!

Irelynn needed some direction - like, which lane she was allowed to bowl in and whos turn it was... She had missed her nap and was truly beyond tired.  But she was also super cute when it was her turn.  When a pin knocked over she would celebrate yelling, "I did it!!  I did it!!"

Natalya came in a close second to Daddy and was very proud of her score.

Irelynn's ball made it down the lane maybe 75% of the time. The other times Dad had to walk down the gutters to push the ball the rest of the way.

Did I mention that Irelynn was exhausted?? When we have special company in town we tend to forgive a missed nap.  Here she thinks that it's her turn when it was really someone else's turn. I love this picture because of the look on Brian's face. Haha!! He does not look amused.

Here his expression is better! I didn't snap the photo fast enough to get his sexy-man face. Instead I photographed him right before he busted up laughing. Just looking at this picture makes me laugh!

At the end of another busy day, we finished with a yummy sugar cookie recipe and let the kids cut out their own Halloween shapes. There were pumpkins, witch's hats, cresent moons, and ghosts. The moons were done first so here they got decorated and eaten first. :)

Serious sprinkles.

We had a really fun Halloween and the kids were sad when it was all over. Taking down the decorations was painful for them! Having Nana return home was a let-down.  No visit ever seems long enough.  (We all wish we lived a little closer.)  Irelynn called me "Nana" by accident for a few days after she left.  And at one time or another, all the kids have prayed for Heavenly Father to send Nana back here soon.

But we are trying to make Thanksgiving really special this year. So I got them all excited for the next holiday.  And I have a feeling time is going to fly by with all the business of the holidays.  We're just trying to enjoy the day-by-day. 

Until next year, Happy Halloween!

Mommy's Little Helper

I was putting laundry away with Irelynn while my big kids were at school. She was quiet for a minute before she ran up to me saying,
"I helped you, Mommy!!"

That's the cutest upside down dress on a pant hanger that I've ever seen.

Bus Ride

I was making breakfast when I heard some cute sounds coming from the front room.  When I came around the corner, this is what I saw:

"What are you guys doing?" I asked.

"We're on a bus. We're going to Disneyland."

Well that's that, I guess. I told them to drive safe - then went back to making pancakes.  Our kids make me laugh every day. 

The Rocket Launcher

Last year for Christmas my sister Ellen got our kids a Nerf rocket launcher.  This toy has provided many afternoons of fun for our whole family.  It's our kids' favorite outside activity - beside riding bikes.  (In Branson's opinion, not many activities can top riding bikes.)  So here we are on a beautiful Saturday in October launching rockets as high as our house - and when it's Daddy's turn, even higher.  :) 

Irelynn loading a rocket with her hat backwards and sparkly heeled sandals.  She's our Tom Boy Princess.

Natalya getting air.

Branson getting air.

Even Irelynn got air.

Now that's the face of a proud little girl.
 

Brian always has a riveted audience when it's his turn.  Daddy is awesome.