I love to see (and go to) the temple

So, after watching gen. conference last week and applying things to my life and such, I decided that temple attendance needed to take on a more important role in my life. When I first went through the temple I used to go on average once a week. That changed when I moved back to St. George, and even changed more after I got engaged and married, etc. We just haven't gone to the temple enough, and I live practically spitting distance away....LAME!!! I admit, it's different when you have kids, but not a whole lot. There's plenty of people to watch Adam and opportunity for us to attend and we just haven't. My dear mom-in-law offered to watch Adam last night so that we could attend a temple session and I was so excited....it's not that I don't "want" to go to the temple more often, I just don't make the effort to do so. So, Mike and I made it to an evening session and it was great. I just wish I could take notes while I'm sitting there so that I could remember everything I learn each time I go. It's like watching the ending of a fireworks show and trying to catch a glimpse and enjoy all the different fireworks going off....while you're watching one, a few more go off and steal your attention there...and then another, and then you try to reflect on the first, and then another goes off.....I learn so much when I go, and remember so much I should be working on. I really do like it though. It's not so much a feeling of guilt that I come away with, but a renewed hope in my efforts to do and be better....like I actually stand a chance of getting somewhere in this life (or the next :) Well, I was just so appreciative of Nola for watching Adam so that we could easily go to the temple, and so appreciative of the opportunity to go that I had to make record of it. I encourage anyone who can, to go more often to the temple...I'm going to set a goal to go atleast once a month, whether by myself or with my hubby or friends....I need the lift in my life that it brings.

Toilet Monster

My bro. & his wife Mark & Jennie are to me the ideal couple as far as sense of humor goes (and a lot of other ways too)....and they proved it to me once again by the gift that they sent for Adam's b-day. I'm not sure exactly who picked it out, but I could see both of them doing it. I laughed so freakin' hard when I opened it....probably the best laugh I've had for weeks. Jennie had told me to open it and set it up first before letting Adam see it....and so I did. And videoed the response....enjoy! Thanks Mark, Jen, & girls....we love you!

side note: Adam still keeps saying "roar" whenever he sees the gift, but it hasn't scared him from the toilet. It's stuff like this that makes parenting even more fun.

Oh, why not...

Since becoming a parent, and possibly beforehand, I have come up with the idea that as long as my children are unable to create a long-term memory I wouldn't participate in the usual rituals of creating big to-do's about big events (i.e. holidays and birthdays). I didn't see the point in putting together big b-day parties, etc. for a 1-yr-old (and such) who could care less that it was being done. Not that I'm trying to be a "party-pooper" but it's a lot of work and let's be honest...it's really for the parents....so if I didn't care, and my child couldn't care, then why???? Well, I went against my idea this time and threw Adam a 2-yr-old b-day party...however, I'm proud to say that I really didn't make much of a big fuss. I just invited friends and family to come, bring food if they wanted to or offered, NO PRESENTS (even though some did and that was very nice but unneccessary, but very nice indeed), and bought a pinata so that the older cousins wouldn't be bored. We cooked hot-dogs and I did make a small cake that looked like a soccer ball for the birthday boy (it was my first real attempt at cake decorating and I think it turned out pretty good....this was about me, but Adam really appreciated the "ball" because he loves balls). Anyhow, it turned out to be a good excuse to get people together and it's been a REALLY long time since I've done anything like this. I'm grateful the weather was nice and was happy that those who came could come and celebrate/hang out with us. It was fun, a lot of work, but fun. I still hold to the idea of not doing things too big for little ones though because if you start out big you just have to grow from there....call me lazy (I prefer practical) but it's true....and if you're willing and able...by all means, go for it. I do know that when my kids get to where they care about these things I will have a ton of fun doing it for them and love every minute of celebrating life with them....I don't buy into the whole "if you don't do it now you never will" crap that some have tried to use....



Also, my sis-in-law Lindsay was awesome as usual and invited us over to decorate cupcakes for St. Patty's day. She made the cutest cupcakes that looked like shamrocks and we of course had fun at their house, so I added a few pics of that as well.



Anyhow, enjoy the pics from the party and such....Adam got a handsome new church outfit from Grandma and I think he looks fabulous in it if I do say so....see below. Thanks again to all those who came and made it a fun evening with us....maybe now that my porch and yard is cleaned up we'll do more....?

http://s637.photobucket.com/albums/uu99/ginaalton/?albumview=slideshow

2 YEARS OLD & COUNTING...

YEP! That's right, he's "2". Our little Adam boy has officially stepped into the so-called "terrible" stage of life, however, it's not so terrible (yet). He just gets into his regular boy mischief, but nothing that doesn't really make for a good story anyway. He's the joy of our life and keeps us going....our lives would pretty much suck without him (insert Kelly Clarkson's new song here). We are so happy to have Adam in our home and grateful that he is healthy and strong. He's so inquisitive and wants to do what the big kids do. He loves to climb, read books, sit on the toilet, play with balls of all kinds, and animals. I'm not going to go over his whole birth story here, or life, but if you care to hear about it let me know...I AM a proud mamma and will talk about my boy anytime I feel it welcome. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM...WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Create Your Own World

"Every day has its own rewards and its own unique challenges. None of us has the same exact worries or responsibilities, because life is shaped around each of us as individuals. It's important to remember that we all create our own worlds. Who we are and the way we act are how we control our lives. There are endless opportunities for us to change and rearrange the day-to-day moments we are given. It's up to each of us to decide which way we want to go; how far or how fast we go in life are the choices we all must make for ourselves." - Dena Ditaconi

I liked this thought I read today in the book I'm reading. It reminds me of things my mom taught me just by being her.....what I mean is, I don't believe she set out a plan to teach me these things, she just did. She was definitely a person who by nature allowed us as her children to be influenced by her, but not overwhelmed by her. She had the ability, for the most part I believe, to see who we were as individual spirits and encourage us to be own selves. For me especially, being the only daughter, I appreciated this because I'm sure there were many times that she may have wanted to "mold" me into something more conducive to her ideal daughter, but she just let me be me. She gave me opportunities to explore things I wanted to, and also explore things she thought I might want to, never really making me feel like I needed to be her....or her version of what she thought I should be. By doing this, she taught me to be patient and appreciative of other people....and celebrate our differences and similarities without feeling threatened by either. It's very human and natural for us to want people to see things the way we do and do things the way we do them and be what we think they should be, but it's not right to make them feel that. I'm very far from being like my mom on this, but I think she definitely helped me on the path to becoming better at it.

I also liked the above thought because it expresses the idea that we are in fact in control of our happiness (or misery) and the choices we make determines this.

Because I did it on my sis-in-laws blog.....

"The first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive a handmade gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise. There's a small catch though...Post this same thing on your own blog and then come back and leave a comment telling me you're in. Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift!"

"Labour of Love" by Frente

Anyone have ideas on how I could find a downloadable version of this song....it's not on iTunes. It has some sentimental value to me and I went through some old tapes the other day to get rid of them, and this was a song I found and want, but can't seem to get. Thanks!