Happy 6th Birthday, Big Guy!

 It's crazy to me that my oldest child is 6 today! I have such mixed feelings about this birthday....I don't want him to get any older, yet I have to much fun watching him grow. Here's a few pictures..kind of like a then/now!

Cameron 11/2/2006

May 2012

May 2012

July 2012

May 2012

First Day of Kindergarten
Aug. 23rd, 2012

October 28, 2012

August 31st, 2012

October 2012

Happy Birthday!

Cameron, I want you to know that the sky is the limit. You are so incredibly smart and talented. I know that you will grow to do amazing things. A few months ago you told me you wanted to be an architect and then just a couple weeks ago you decided you were going to be a vet. Cameron, you can be whatever you want to be as long as you are happy! Even though you are growing you will always be my baby. I am blessed each and every day by you and the things you make me learn and the love that you offer. I am so proud of you. You are such a great big brother and you are doing so great in school. I want you to now that you are a leader and each time you make a good choice your classmates and friends see that. By being a good example you are helping your friends to make good choices. I love that you want to learn and that you enjoy reading and writing. I wish we lived closer to your Grandmas and Papas so they could see how you are developing. I know that living in Alaska is hard for you sometimes because you miss your friends (cousins) but we have grown closer as a family and that is blessing you. Cameron you are such an amazing little man. I love our morning cuddles and listening to you read after school. I am so glad I get to spend time in your classroom with you...it gives me a chance to see how you interact with your friends and teacher...you have settled into school so well. I hope that you will always be able to see the beauty all around us. You are so observant...I would hate for you to miss any of it. Thank You, Cameron, for trying your very best and for being so helpful. I hope that your 6th birthday is memorable and that you see how much Daddy and I love you. 

Love, Mommy!

Cloth Diaper giveaway

No, I am not announcing anything by posting this :)

I have been researching cloth diapers...

Joshua has been potty trained for a little over 2 months now. He is doing great! We have plans of adding one more little one to our family some day and I have a pretty strong inkling that it will be our last little one. I'd love to cloth diaper our next little one. Think of it as it's my last chance to do some of these things I've thought about doing :)

While researching and reading about cloth diapers I came across this awesome giveaway. If I win it's be a free and easy way to start my stash...even though it will be quite some time before we add that next little one to our family :)

http://www.thirstiesbaby.com/blog/thirsties-thursday-giveaway-70/

Thirsties brand diapers come with some great recommendations. Lots of people love them. I'd love to try them some day!

We'll talk soon!

missing my family this weekend

Who would have thought that this weekend, a weekend of uplifting words delivered from mouths of Apostles and Prophets, that I would be so lonely. Don't get me wrong, I love listening to General Conference and I look forward to the day that I can take my family to watch Conference live. I've enjoyed watching the light of recognition come into Cameron's eyes as he hears and listens to the words that have been spoken and to the songs that have been sung. I love the feeling of peace that wraps around me as I listen to our Prophet speak. I have a desire to do better and to do more while continuing to do those righteous things I strive to do each day. I know that my best is good enough and that by serving my children I am serving our God. With all of that though, I miss my family.

The boys and I were able to Skype with my mom yesterday. It's been four months since I've seen her. Since I've been able to have a hug from my mom. Although we talk daily, if was nice to see her and for her to have the chance to see the boys...to see how much they've grown and for them to share their things with her. Cameron was able to read a book to her and Joshua showed her his new nightlight. You wouldn't believe it but they've both changed so much in the last four months and it's wonderful that we have the technology we do today..it sure helps for us to feel closer when we are so far away.

In the past, Conference weekends have been spent with Cole's family. We would all gather and share meals and insight before, during and after each session. I miss that, the special gathering that would bring us closer as a family.

I know that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing....that we are living far from family for a reason and a purpose. Day to day it isn't so hard...but on these special occasions it's pure torture! Day to day I can see the blessing right before me...I can see how we are being changed and strengthened. Even thought this weekend has been hard, I have answers to prayers before me. I have been uplifted and have the strength to continue on. As I type Cameron is filling out his Conference Listening Card. He is listening to an Apostle speak and recognizing words that are being said. I am truly blessed.

Conference Saturday---Alone

I am laying on my bed listening to the second session of conference with my boys playing around me. Cole has been working crazy hours and as we speak is in hour 101 of this pay period....he isn't due home till about 9pm tonight which will put him at 109 hours. Sigh. I am tired, lonely and blessed.

I have plans to highlight my favorite quotes from conference so stay tuned for that. I only caught a few minutes of this mornings session but I have most definitely enjoyed this afternoons session and am already feeling inspired, at peace and humbled.

This will be the fourth night this week that Cole isn't home for dinner. I have plans to make pigs-in-a-blanket for the boys to eat tonight while watching Madagascar 3...they are so excited...doing extra special little things for my kiddos helps pass the time while Cole is gone.

Cameron is doing great in school and has started spelling/reading. So fun!

Joshua went to the Dentist this last week. He did so great. He's such a good kid...and so sweet!

I'll be back soon!

Happy Fall Update!

Hello! It's been so long since I've taken the time to sit and blog :)

Cameron started school about 6 weeks ago. He LOVES it! When he talks about school he lights up....its such a blessing for me to see how well he's adjusting to this new routine and to see for my self what Heavenly Father helped me to know a few months ago. The school he's going to is so amazing. Each time we walk in I feel a sense of peace wash over me....he teacher is great and we love her.

Joshua turned 2 last month. My little boy is potty trained :) He basically potty trained himself. Cole decided that it was time about a week and half before J's birthday. Basically we would strip off his diaper in the morning and put undies on him and then take him to the bathroom ever 45 min- and hour. It was a long first week but he caught on really quick and would help remind us. Now a month later J is in diapers at night and is in undies all day long. He has an accident almost everyday but thank goodness it is always only a wet accident! It's crazy to me that my two year-old is potty trained!

Cole is working like a crazy man and it's make me a crazy mama! Counting our blessing for sure though and are so grateful for this wonderful job!

We've had some crazy fall weather and are so grateful for all of the men and women who kept our town safe and helped return power to us when it was out! In the last month we've had 3 huge wind storms that brought tons of rain with them! Lots of flooding and down trees. I guess it's very common to have huge wind storms in our area during the winter but not normal to have those wind storms in the fall. Normally when the winds storms hit the ground is frozen making fallen trees less likely....but we've had a very wet summer and when the wind storms hit lots of trees fell because the ground is so soft and wet. We were lucky to have no damage and we only lost power for a couple of hours one day. We have friends who lost every thing to a flash flood and one of Cole's co-workers was without power for a couple of days. Oh, it's supposed to snow this weekend....did I mention it's only September!

I love sight and smells of fall.

Hopefully it won't be so long between blog posts next time!

Kindergarten, Ready or not?

I have to admit, I've spent very little time this summer prepping Cameron for Kindergarten. I had lists of things he was going to do every single day...practice his letter, learn to tell time, learn to tie his shoes, and the list goes on and on. Instead we have spent time playing with friends, cleaning our home and learning about chores, we've visited the library a few times and we hit the farmers market every Wednesday. We've rented movies and had family movie night, we've bought games and have had family game night. I've watched my sons grow into friends...even with the 3 1/2 year age difference. Sitting here tonight I was thinking about all that I wanted him to know before he starts school in a couple of weeks and it clicked. Last week I had to take some paper work into the school to finish registering him. There was a paper that needed to be signed by me and by Cameron. Guess who signed his name. Tonight we played 3 games of UNO....guess who won one of the three games...if I had to guess I couldn't tell you how many times we've played UNO this summer. I asked Cameron after bath tonight what game he wanted to play...YAHTZEE....

My 5 year old can play Yahtzee, he can hold his own in a game of UNO and when asked he can sign his name. This summer, I've taught Cameron how to be a good sport when he doesn't win, he can recognize and tell you what every single card in the UNO deck is. He can follow directions, add the numbers on the die and can use his fingers to add number when given a simple addition problem. The memories I will have of my children playing this summer...far out weigh the good that may have come from me keeping a strict schedule with Cameron this summer. I hope and pray that as he grows we can continue to have and make the time for the special things we've done. I hope that I never lose sight of the fun of having my children around.

I don't have a single doubt about Cameron starting school. I believe he will be an excellent student and I know that he will succeed at anything he puts his mind to. He is such a smart and funny little guy. He's so brave, kind and thoughtful. He is the best big brother and really loves his little brother. I'm so lucky to have him as a son and I can't wait to see what school brings for him!

Sunday, August 5th, 2012

This is a mommy post to help me remember some of the things my kids are doing...if you aren't interested in the in's and out's of my kiddos then stop reading now :)

Cameron is showing signs of being ready to learn to read. This morning while we were getting ready for church he asked Cole why the light switch said "no" on it....Cole looked at it and said "what do you mean?" and then after looking at it said "oh, Cameron is says on which is no backwards" :)

At church today, both boys sat quietly....which in and of it's self is a miracle. While listening to members of our ward share their testimonies Cameron was doodling on some paper...I looked over to see him drawing the letters Ll and H...I asked him which letters he wrote and he told me--a big L and an I and an H....He had copied off the front side of the paper which was a lined sheet for the letter L so I knew that he had written a little L not and I. I corrected him and he said...I wondered we it didn't have a line at the top and bottom :)

Joshua has become so animated....this evening he was wrestling with his brother and they had so much fun together.