247/365

Labor Day is bitter sweet between Brian and I....

Bitter for Brian because it's still warm
Sweet for me because we spent the day on the lake

Bitter for me because summer is over.
Sweet for Brian because winter is on its way.

Bitter for me because starting today, Brian starts growing his "snow beard"
Sweet for Brian because he gets to start growing his "snow beard"

Bitter for me because it's the last day we'll be on the boat taking cute pictures like this.
Sweet for Brian because it's just a few short weeks before he's on the slopes.

Why is summer so short?  Why is winter so fetchin long??? I'm already sick of it (and it hasn't even started yet)
At least we got to spend most the day on the boat. It was a good way to end off the summer.

246/365

Brian does some of the funnest family night lessons.
Today he taught the kids about Samuel the Lamanite.  He read the scripture story then we got to re-inact it.


In our family, there were three Samuel the Lamanites.  They all wanted a turn.

 

We were throwing "stones".  The object lesson worked. Thanks to my kids stellar aim, none of the marshmallow stones ever hit any of the Samuels.

But this guy grabbed the stones and ate them. Then he got into some chocolate.

What a cute mess.  I love his face. It's kinda like he's saying, "Oh, no! what have I done?"

245/365

It was baptism day!!!

Some of the funny things that happened today:

1) I couldn't find my keys this morning, so I had to start walking to the church with 3 little kids. Luckily my parents came to pick me up or I would have missed the baptism. As it was, we were 10 minutes late.

2) When the bishop brought Kaden up to the stand to talk a little about him, Bishop Ghiz said, "Kaden is here today with his dad, Brian and his mom, Turia" 

Kaden leaned over and corrected him saying, "My mom's not here" (he had't seen me come in)

Then the bishop looked up at me and pointed to where I was, I smiled and waved back at Kaden. 

He said, "Oh!" and he waved back to me. 

The whole congregation started laughing. This bishop said it was his favorite baptism moment of all time.

3) When Kaden was getting baptized, Bright was front and center. After it was over, he yelled out, "Holy Cow, Kaden just got dunked in the water!"

4)When we got home for our brunch, I noticed Kaden over jumping on the tramp and playing in the pond...... WITH HIS SUIT ON!!! 

 I wish I had a picture of it. First official day wearing his suit and was already rolling around in the grass, doing flips on the trampoline and splashing in the pond. 

Boys will be boys!

5) At the end of the day, Kaden came up to me (almost teary) and said, "Mom, it makes me sad when it's bedtime after I have had a really good day, because I don't want it to end"

Kade.... I didn't want it to end either... well beside the fact that I was exhausted and couldn't keep my eyes open, the day itself was awesome!

Here's a few pics of the day. 

He got to be baptized the same day as his buddy, Parker.

Dad and Kade still with wet hair.  I still remember getting my picture taken with wet hair from my baptism. Funny how small things spark your memory.

Grandpa Dallan and Grandpa John were the witnesses during the baptism

Kaden only had to go down once. Good job buddy!

Some of the awesome people who were at the baptism.

I love these grandparent shots.

244/365

NOTE TO FUTURE ME:    

 REMEMBER! REMEMBER! How special this night was and how special EVERY ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN'S baptisms will be.  Kaden was your first kid, so you went all out on him. Don't cheat Avery, Brighton and Connor out of special experiences just because it's not a new experience for you. They ALL deserve to have their baptism weekend as special as this one was!

Love, the energetic mom of 2011

What an awesome day we had today! We are one day from Kaden getting baptized and I knew that tomorrow was going to be crazy, so I wanted to have a special night with Kaden and his grandparents.

Most of my inspiration comes in the middle of the night when I can't sleep, this one was no different. I felt like it would be really cool to have a FHE-like meeting with Kaden where we could really talk about the importance of his baptism and not only why it's important for him to do it, but also why it's an important thing in our lives as well. So, I asked both Brian and my parents if they could write down their testimonies for Kaden and to take about 10-15 minutes and share with him their feelings of the gospel and the importance of baptism.

It was a night I hope I never forget. I know the night was for Kaden, but I was blessed tonight. My testimony was strengthened and I gained a new perspective for my own life. I want to be better spiritually. My kids make me want to be better. Listening to the testimonies to our amazing parents and feeling the spirit in my home tonight was just a little piece of what heaven will be like. If I could have the spirit in my home on a daily basis like I had tonight, I KNOW my kids will grow up to be protected from Satan's grasp. I know it's impossible to always have it like that, but I also realized how much I desire to have my home feel that way, and I want to do everything I can to try and make my home as close to heaven as possible.

So, here's how the night went.

First Grandma and Grandpa Larsen talked to Kaden about how baptism makes us clean and perfect. It washes everything away and that every Sunday when we take the sacrament, we can be clean all over again. She gave the sweetest testimony.  I think it's so important for these grandkids to hear and feel their grandparents share their love for the gospel.  John and Shauna set the tone for the whole night.
They gave him this towell to use when he got baptized.

Then Grandpa Larsen talked to Kaden about the Holy Ghost.  He told him he will always be there for him to help him in his life. I love this picture of him wrapping the blanket around Kaden. I think it not only symbolizes the Holy Ghost, but also that his grandparents will always be there to comfort him and make him feel special.

Grandma Becky went next.  She and grandpa talked about different things that would be important for him as a church member.  She gave him a few little gifts with little poems on them to help him remember how important they were.  (sorry mom... gotcha blinking or something)

Bookmark

"Reading the scriptures every single day, will keep you on the straight and narrow way..

Follow the scripture heroes! Do the things they do! They will help you stay strong and brave and true"

Goal Chart

Think about the things you really want to do, Reaching every goal is totally up to you!

If you think and work and try every single day, You will reach every single goal in every single way!

Bank

(lost the poem, but it was cute)

Pass Along Cards

When you are nineteen a missionary you'll be, but you can be a missionary now with everyone you see

Tell them about Jesus and that you love him so, Be an example of good everywhere you go!

Cub Scout Stuff

Being in cub and boy scouts is really super cool, but you must remember to obey every single rule

Following Akela is what it's all about, and soon you'll go from Wolf to an Eagle Scout!

Journal

Karate nights and days at school or just playing in the yard, Writing about your adventures isn't very hard

Take a minute every night and record for history, all the things you do each day and keep their memory.

After my mom shared her thoughts with him and her testimony, my dad talked about the Holy Ghost being Kaden's best friend. He compared the Holy Ghost to Kaden's favorite friend Grottle.  This is the picture of Kaden smiling when my dad first showed him grottle.  He then explained that the Holy Ghost is much like a best friend. You are happy when you are with them.

Lastly, it was our turn.  We gave him this picture frame that holds different "keys" that will unlock the door to heaven.  He will be able to continue to add pictures to as he reaches certain milestones or "keys" that will get him closer to heaven.  

and this is my favorite moment of the whole night.  And probably one of my favorite pictures I will ever take.  Brian took a minute to share his testimony to his little boy.  The power of a fathers testimony is indescribable.  If you have any doubt in that, look at Kaden's eyes.  He is listening more intently to his dad than he listens to anything.  I will treasure this picture forever.  I love these two boys so much.

243/365

Brighton is often my comic relief during the day. Here's an example of a conversation I had with him tonight.


Brighton: "Mom, my mouth hurts. I need cake soooo bad."
Mom: "I'm sorry your mouth hurts bud, but cake won't make it feel better"
Brighton: "But, mom. My finger hurts. I need cake soooo bad"

Here's another one:

(trying to get him to eat dinner)

Mom: Brighton you need to eat your dinner. Why don't you eat three bites because you are three?

Brighton: No, one bite.

Mom: No, you are three. Eat three bites.

Brighton: Mom, I not three, I'm only one!

242/365

One of my kids favorite past times is trying desperately to push the love sac down the stairs. Once they get it down, they spend days jumping off the stairs onto the super large bean bag.
They have fun doing their acrobatics till I can't stand having the love sac in my kitchen anymore and I make Brian take it back upstairs.
 Here's what been taking place at our house the last couple days.

Here's the muscle behind getting the bean bag down the stairs. Parker, Parker and Kaden. You should have heard the cheers as it tumbled down into the kitchen. You would have thought they just won a football game or something.

Kaden jumping from the very top stair. Yes. its high.

Sorry, I chopped off your head Avers, but awesome jump!

Brighton has to join in on the fun.  He thinks he's just as big as his older brother and sister.

On another night: I had a great night tonight with a couple girlfriends having a craft night. I don't get to do that very often, but I love it when I do.  I've found that when you find friends that can truly inspire you and you can be your whole self, without any barriers, without feeling uncomfortable, it's truly a blessing.  I've been blessed to have some great friends in my life. I often take them for granted and don't appreciate what they do for me as much as I should, but I do enjoy it when I do take the time for a little Girls Night Out.  It's pretty great.

241/365

We started a new tradition this year. On the kids birthday, we decided to have a fun special night out just with them and mom and dad.  Its up the the birthday boy/girl to decide what fun thing we will do.

Well that was supposed to be the plan.

Tonight I got cut from the team.

Kaden chose to go camping with dad.  What?? Seriously?? And to top it off, he told me, "Mom, you could go if you didn't have other things to do" (like watch the other kids?)

hmmmmmm.

The truth is, I can't imagine anyone else I'd rather Kaden have one on one time with than his dad.  He's one lucky 8 year old.  Brian got off a very long shift at work, walked in the house at 9:30 pm to a super excited boy ready to go camping. He changed his clothes, put the camping stuff in the car and off they went.  He didn't even take time to eat any dinner.  Kade... you've got an awesome dad.  I hope you know that.

240/365

I can't believe this month is almost over.  I can't believe this year is almost over.
Why does time move so fast when you are an adult?
I'm so glad I've been doing this blog this year because it makes me focus on the simple, small little things that happen on a day to day basis. I know I would forget so much if I hadn't taken the time to write it down.

Like pictures like these....
How would I ever remember the silly things the kids do if I hadn't snapped a picture?

239/365

So many of these posts are about Kaden right now.   Don't worry, come October. January and February, they will be about the other kids.

Today Kaden had his baptism interview with Bishop Ghiz.  It was bitter-sweet for me. He is growing up so fast. I can't believe he's old enough to get baptized, yet it's an exciting milestone in his life as well.

We had a lesson today in church talking about how necessary it is for us as parents to safe guard our children from all the nasty stuff in the world right now.  Our Stake President talked to all the women in our ward and explained how so many of our youth have major moral addictions and moral sins. Listening to him as well as hearing the stories my dad tells us that he has to deal with as a Stake President in his stake, my eyes are more and more opened that there is very little hope that my little family won't be affected with moral transgressions at some point in their life. It scares me to death, but I can't let fear keep me from letting them live their lives and learn from their own experiences. It's just up to Brian and I to teach them correctly, create a temple like atmosphere in our home, be good examples, and always be there to talk to our kids... even when it's awkward or difficult.  We have to be their advocates. We have to help them fight against all the crap thats in the world, so they can enjoy all the beauty and good that's in the world.

As I was thinking about all this, I sat and watched my little boy sit in a chair in the bishops office answering almost the same questions that I am asked each time I go in for a temple recommend.  I sat there so proud of him, so in love with this little boy that is growing up so fast.  Part of me wanted to go live back in time when he was a few months old. But of course I can't do that. I can only embrace and love the person he's becoming and be proud of him.
One of the questions the bishop asked was, "Kaden, why do you want to get baptized?"
Kaden said, "Because it feels good to do it"
The bishop then said something that was so powerful, I don't want to forget his words.
He said, "Thats a wonderful reason to get baptized Kaden. You know, that's the Holy Ghost helping you feel good about the decision to get baptized. If everyone did things because they paid attention to how they felt when the Holy Ghost told them to do things, we'd live in a pretty great place".
I've thought alot about that.  It's a good lesson for me as well. I need to live closer to the spirit.  I need to make decisions based more on how the Holy Ghost makes me feel more than just reasoning.  I know if I did that, I'd make better decisions. I'd be a better mom. I'd be a much better wife. I'd be more honest. I'd be a better friend, daughter, church member....etc. etc. I would just be better in everything I do.
Kaden. I'm so proud of you. I love your innocence. I wish I had it. I wish you could keep it.  You are so special and I can't wait to see you get baptized next Saturday.

238/365

IT'S PARTY DAY!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PARTY DAY KADEN!!!

There's all the awesome ninjas

Even a real one showed up

 Kaden LOVED cutting his cake with a real ninja sword

The kids favorite part of the party was when the ninja chopped up a watermelon

Night games with ninja glow swords were a hit. 

13 screaming boys running around outside in the dark with glow sticks is always entertaining.

Here's some pictures of the spread. I think it turned out pretty great. 

237/365

Wow... Theres a lot to get done for Kaden's birthday party.  I've been working on it all day.
I'm getting soooooooooooooo excited!
I LOVE planning parties. Especially for my kids.  They are at such a fun age where they are so into dressing up and enjoying special days just for them.  When they have their birthday parties planned for over 6 months, how can you not go all out?

I love seeing the excitement in their eyes. I know they feel it's their happiest day of the year.  They deserve every bit of attention they get, and it's my job to make it special for them.  They grow up way too fast and soon they won't want to dress up like princesses or ninjas.

236/365

One more week of the kids being off track...... will I make it????
Bored kids. Fighting kids. Calgon take me away!!!!!!!

235/365

Most of my posts are all about my kids.  This one is about me.  

This is my dream home.  I love it. I want it. Someday I WILL have it.  

(or something very. very. similar)

For the past several years whenever I drive past this house, I feel a pain in my heart that it's not mine. 

I know I shouldn't be worldly, but a nice house gets me every time. 

234/365

Meet the Friends:

Here is what I see nearly every morning at about 7:45am (Olivia and Kate... still in their jammies coming over to see if Brighton and Avery can play)

Then there is Sam. When we are lucky, we get sweet little Sam over as well.  He LOVES my popsicles. I think the kids in the neighborhood have decided that the popsicles in my garage freezer are a free for all.  That's ok though.  It's super cute. Even when they eat like 6 at a time.

I will be a happy camper if Avery marries this kid.  (That's the goal) He is about the sweetest kid in the whole world. He's also a clean freak, so I always make sure my car is clean before I ever pick him up for anything.  There has been more than once that he's wrinkled his nose when he gets in my car.  Is it good or bad that I actually clean my car for a 5 year old? He once said to his mom, "Mom, our car is starting to look like Turia's"       Ahhhhhh!!!! If you heard that, you'd make sure it was spotless too :) I think I need to make sure I take him somewhere once a week so I can assure my car gets clean.