One Done... How Many More to Go?

Here are the pictures of the desk! I had done an earlier post, but then erased it because I had taken the pictures of it at night, and the color in the picture just didn't look like the original. So here are new photos (taken during the day) for those of you that haven't seen it yet.

I was so excited to finally be able to use my plaster and stencils on something! I've had the stuff forever, and haven't had anything to use it on, until this desk. It was super easy to do, and it added just that little bit of extra that I love. Now I just need to finish Vivi's bed, my bookshelves, maybe my bed...

In Loving Memory

Today would have been my dad's 50th birthday. He passed away a little over seven years ago at the young age of 42. While those seven years have seemed like a lifetime, I know that compared to eternity, it is but a blink. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the atonement, and for the knowledge I have that I will be able to see my dad again. I can't imagine having to go through this life without that knowledge. My testimony of the gospel is the only thing that brought me peace and comfort during the difficult time of my dad's passing, and on those days when I miss my dad so much it hurts, it is what continues to bring me that peace. I rejoice in the knowledge that I will see my dad again. I rejoice in the fact that I can be with my family forever through the blessings of the temple.
My parents were sealed in the temple when I was about 12. It is a day I will always remember. I remember the difference I felt in our home after that. Things were always pretty great for me growing up. I always knew that I was loved, and my needs were always taken care of, but there just seemed to be a different feeling in our home after my parents went to the temple. Things that were already great became better. We just seemed to become more connected as a family. My parent's relationship changed as well. The love they felt for each other grew and deepened. Even I, as a 12-13 year old at the time noticed a difference in them. I am so grateful for the changes my parents made in their lives and for the steps that they took so that our family could be sealed together for time and all eternity. I am grateful for their example to me, and because of that example, I too have been to the temple and sealed to my husband and children.

I miss my dad for so many reasons, but one of the things I miss the most is watching him be a grandpa. When Trent and I told our parents that we were expecting our first baby, my dad was in such denial. In his mind he was nowhere near old enough to be a grandpa. Well, by the time my pregnancy was nearing it's end, my dad just couldn't wait for that baby to come. He kept telling everyone at work, "I'm out of here as soon as I get that phone call, I don't care what's going on around here." After Trenton was born, my dad became known as "The Baby Hog". If my dad was around, he always had the baby, and he was never very willing to let anyone else have a turn. Reflecting back on it now, I'm so glad that he was such a baby hog with Trenton and Colson because he got to spend so little time with them here on this earth. I remember at his funeral, in the closing prayer my uncle Larry gave, he prayed that Trenton would be able to remember his grandpa so that he could tell his little brother about him. To this day Trenton will every now and then, out of the blue, say something he remembers that he and grandpa used to do together. Which to me is amazing because Trenton was only 2 1/2 when my dad died. I have always been so grateful for that prayer.

While life without my dad is really tough at times, especially knowing how lonely my mom is without him, I take comfort in the fact that I will see him again. I just think of him as our guardian angel, watching over us in ways that he wouldn't be able to if he were still here on this earth. I love you dad, take care... until we meet again.

Projects

I came into an old hand-me down desk recently ( I love hand-me downs!) and have been working away this last week turning it into something more my style. It was a cherry wood color before with brassy/gold handles. Well, after a week of hard work and many trips to Home Depot, it has a little more pizazz. Well, at least I think it does. We'll see what Trent has to say when he gets home. He is pretty quiet about my projects. He is never quite sure what to think. Unlike me, he is a little conservative when it comes to decorating and color. Me, I love color. The more the better! And I like putting all sorts of colors together, (which anyone who has seen my bags would know). So he hasn't seen said desk since I was halfway through painting. By the look on his face, I think he was a little... I don't know what the best word would be to describe the look on his face. So I asked him what he thought, and he replied, "Well, that color is a little wild for me, but I'll just have to wait and see the end result. I usually like it by the time you're done." He knows how I am. Usually there are many layers to my projects. I can't make it easy for myself and just go with one solid color or stain. Well, Trent will be home momentarily, so we'll see what he has to say about the finished product. I'll post some pictures soon.

Which One Am I, The Parent or the Child?

So, it was one of those days. The kind where the kids are telling me everything they want and need constantly. I mean constantly. And not even just one at a time. All four, all at once, every waking moment. This is typical in our house, as I am sure it is in any home where children abound. For whatever reason though, today I just hit my "wanting" and "needing" limit. So we were in the car on our way home from picking Trenton up from Scouts (the four children and I) and they all started in again. "Mom, you need to get our vitamins when we get home." "Mom, when it's my birthday, I want to go to Chucky Cheese." (My favorite place in the world by the way. Not!) "Mom, Vivi won't stop making that noise. Will you make her stop?" "Mom, I'm hungry. I didn't get seconds of dinner. Will you make me seconds when we get home?" Well, you get the idea. Needless to say, I lost it just a little bit. A.Little.Bit. Do you ever have those moments when after losing it, you kind of take a step back and think, "Whoa, which one am I? The parent or the child?" I mean, it's a little sad when I, the mother, am sounding a little (lot?) more like a whiny 2-5 year old than the adult that I am (or should be). We all have our moments, right? (Please tell me it's not just me!) Well, I think my kids were a little shocked because nobody said a word the rest of the way home. Total silence. They didn't even ask me for anything when we got home. They brushed their teeth, got their PJs on, and even said their prayers and read their scriptures without even being asked. It is hard to imagine, after all is quiet and they are all looking so angelic, lying there asleep, that I could ever be upset with them about anything. Until the next morning when I wake up to "Mom, why do I have to pack myself a lunch? I just wish I could have hot lunch every day!"

The House of the Lord

Trent and I have had the opportunity to go to the temple several times over the last few weeks. It has been so nice to go and leave the cares of the world behind, even if it is just for a few short hours. I find so much peace and comfort in going to the temple. I love how quiet and serene it is, and the spirit that I feel while I am there. What a blessing it is to live so close to a temple. I've heard stories of people who travel for days and miles to be able to go to the temple. I just have to jump in the car and can be there in 25 minutes. I am so grateful for the blessings of the temple in my life.

Beauty King

We thought one Sunday we would try and get Preston to take a nap before church. Things got pretty quiet in his room, so we thought he had totally zonked. Trent decided to peek his head in just to make sure, and instead of an angelic sleeping child, he found Preston covered in purple and blue. Vivi had gotten some make-up at a birthday party a few days before and thought she had been really sneaky putting it in a pocket in one of her purses. Everyone in this house should know that we can never ever be sneaky enough for Preston because he is the sneakiest one of us all. Well, of course he found it, and this is the result of 20 quiet minutes all to himself in his room. We tried our best to get it all off, but he did go to church that day looking a little black and blue. We heard at least five times, "Oh! How did he get his black eye?" We really don't beat our children at this house. We just let them play with make-up so it looks like we did.

From the Mouths of Babes

Trenton and Colson did the sweetest thing tonight. Without even being asked, they both put Vivi and Preston to bed for me. I went up to check that everyone had brushed and flossed, and there were Trenton and Colson reading books to their younger siblings. It was too cute. Well, after the reading was finished, I guess Colson thought he would sing a few songs to Viv and Preston. He came downstairs when he was through and said, "Mom! Dad! I have to tell you something! I was singing "I Am A Child of God" to Vivi and Preston, and in the middle, my singing must have gotten so beautiful because I looked over at both of them and they were just staring at me and couldn't take their eyes off me!" Trent and I just looked across the room at each other, trying to contain our laughter. Once Colson was out of the room, we couldn't hold it in any more. I sure love being a parent. I can't imagine life without my four sweet little babes (and their beautiful singing;)

Please Don't Grow Up So Fast!

Vivi has been so funny lately. All this last week she has been obsessed with her tummy. After everything she eats, she'll lift up her shirt and say, "Mom, does it look like my tummy is getting fatter?" Of course being the string bean that she is, I always say "Nope, you're still skinny minny!" Well, she wasn't ever very happy with my answer. So after a couple days of this I asked why she wanted her tummy to be bigger. Her reply was "Because then I can be big like a mom and a dad silly!" WHAT?! (I keep telling her to please just be happy and have fun being a kid.) I told her that if her tummy just kept getting bigger and bigger now, it wouldn't make her big like a mom and dad, she would just be a chubby little girl. She did not like what I had to say. She doesn't ask me anymore if her tummy looks bigger. She just lifts up her shirt after every meal and says, "Yep, it's getting bigger!"

Best Friends

This is Vivi's best bud, Tyler. They just love each other. They have the best time when they are together. It doesn't seem to matter what they do or play, they just always get along so well and enjoy being around each other. Tyler has even played dress up with Viv when he's been over for play dates in the past. (I won't show those pictures though... Lamar probably wouldn't be too happy with me.;)

When a Two Year Old Takes Out the Trash

So, I was in my sewing room the other day just working away while Preston was happily playing in the toy room... or so I thought. All of a sudden I hear the door to the garage slam closed. I run upstairs to find this. So I go to look for Preston in the garage, and I find this...

He totally took out the trash! I think he did a pretty good job for being only two!