The Merry Month of March

March is my favorite month out of the entire year. Spring is now coming and the weather is getting warmer here. Most of the time I'm starting to think about what I want my garden to be, and the kids and I can now play outside.

Plus, 7 years ago I married my best friend on March 17th - St. Patty's Day. This year I decided that each day leading up to our Anniversary I would find a little journal entry I had written about us over the years. Each afternoon I'll post my entry on here, and I'm also going to put these notes in Brandon's lunch box each day. I am amazed how quickly 7 years has gone by, and I'm sure another 7 will fly by just as quickly. I really do count my lucky stars that Brandon found me.

A little bit of magic

This kid right here loves, loves, loves Toy Story. He is obsessed with anything related to Andy, Woody, and Buzz. He inherited a Woody doll from our neighbors 2 Christmas' ago. The poor thing has been through so many adventures with Peter and it could be seen on his face. There was the time that Peter painted him with nail polish, the time when his head broke after he flew down the stairs, and then the time when Peter sat on him and his head broke again.

Well, being the wonderful mother I am, I raided Peter's money box a few weeks ago and I discovered $21 which I've have been saving for him since the day he was born. I decided it was time to invest in a new Woody doll - this time one that had a pull string.

I'm not that kind of mother that gives big toys like this just because, so I've been holding onto Woody for a very special kind of day. Well.....last weekend Brandon took me up to a home decor store in SLC. Luke and Peter both starting to complain the moment we walked into the store. I was determined to stay and I tried to calm Peter down by giving him a nickle to throw into the wishing fountain at the store. He closed his eyes tightly, tossed his nickle, and wished for a new Woody doll with a pull string.

Can you believe it, the next morning his wish was granted. Peter is delighted with his new Woody and I was able to create a little bit of magic in his life. Plus, if this new Woody ever breaks, I still have the old one in my closet that I can bring back to life.

Me and My Magazines

A few years ago we got a letter in the mail from the airline we use on the rare occasions that we have flown places (before the children were born). It said that we could use our frequent flier miles for magazine subscriptions. That day now lives in infamy at the Thomas house.

Back then I started with getting Martha Stewart. Now I have Health, Better Homes and Gardens, Family Fun, Rachel Ray, and Parents coming on a monthly basis. I've found these magazines to be a wealth of information for me. It's fun to read articles about popular beauty tips, parenting advice, and yummy recipes all in the comfort of my own home. I also get a lot of fun craft tips too. So, if you ever get an auspicious letter in your mailbox notifying you that you too could use your frequent flies miles on magazines I would encourage it - unless of course you actually use your miles to fly somewhere fun.

Our V-day picnic

We had a very lovely V-day this year. First off, the little boy I watch every Thursday brought the most delicious sugar cookies over. Yum, yum, yum. Peter and I both immediately had one. Then, once he left, I loaded our picnic basket, put the boys in the car, and drove to Brandon's work.

The boys were beyond excited when we arrived for our picnic. Luke immediately started yelling "Daddy" the moment we walked in the door. I could sense the other office staff laughing in their cubicles. My boys are so silly when they go to see Papa at work. The best part of the picnic for both of them were the chips. They definitely take after Grandpa Davis when it comes to chip lovin'.  I just feel bad for the custodian who had to vacuum up after Peter. He isn't the cleanest chip eater on the planet. We also took Papa some special See's Chocolates that I had ordered for him. He loved every single one even if one of them dropped onto his pants and caused quite a hilarious story.

Then, earlier in the month we had a little V-day party with the weekly playgroup I'm part of. We got to make V-day envelopes, read V-day books, decorate heart cookies, make V-day cards, and participate in a mini cupcake walk. The boys enjoyed every second and they both had WAY too many heart cookies. We had so much fun that I hope we have this type of a party every year.

What a pain in the neck!

I've been on a painful journey for the past couple of months. One that eventually landed me in this physical therapy office. My attitude for physical therapist's has drastically changed. I now appreciate them for the unique skills that they have.

My problems started last October when I suddenly woke up to a very sore neck and left shoulder. I didn't remember doing anything drastic to hurt it, so I assumed I had slept wrong and eventually the pain would go away. So month after month I waited for the pain to go away.

Finally, in January, the pain was so intense that it began interfering with my daily life. I would often tell the boys I couldn't play because my shoulder hurt so bad. Once I got to that point I knew I needed to go and see a doctor. I went to the nearest doctor and he told me I had probably strained my rhomboid muscle in my left shoulder. He gave me some exercises to do, and a prescription and sent me on my way. After three weeks of doing the exercises prescribed by the doctor, I still wasn't feeling any better and some of the fingers in my left hand started to go numb. So, I got a referral to a physical therapist.

I was a little intimidated by the thought of going, but the pain was honestly so bad that I couldn't be stubborn about it any longer. I went this past Friday and it didn't take long for the therapist to diagnose me with a herniated disk in my neck. We've been working on getting it fixed 3x a week and I'm already feeling much better. He thinks it will take about a month to mend. I'm hoping it will be quicker then that. This pain has been quite the eye opener for me. I feel like I'm aging faster then I should. It's especially sad when I go an the other patients are all in their 60's working on knee problems. Ugh, I so don't want to be like that in 30 more years.

My Testimony

Today was our monthly Testimony meeting at church. I wanted to share my testimony in Relief Society, but we ran out of time. Luckily for me though, I have this blog where I can write it instead.

This past week I've been thinking a lot about the incredible people that I've known in my life. I've been blessed by so many of you! I know that Heavenly Father blesses us by allowing us to become friends with many wonderful people. These wonderful people have taught me about hope, resilience, determination, beauty, charity, forgiveness, faith, and the beauty of the world around us. Without these gifts I would not be the same person I am today. So, Heavenly Father, thank you for the wonderful friends you have given to me.

Likewise, I have been blessed with an amazing family. I have a million aunts who have taught me what a blessing it is to be a woman. They have nurtured me from a young age and have taught me what a blessing it is to be a mother. I look at the women they now are and that is what I want to be like when I am there age. Most of their children are now grown-up, but they continue to amaze me with the things they do to personally develop themselves. They are my role model and always will be. I'm grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who blesses me with my Amazing Aunts: Mary, Laurie, Susan, Carol, Joan, Janine, Linda, Raven, Janet, Jennifer, and Wendy.

I have also been blesses with an amazing husband and his amazing family. The foundation his family was built upon has stood the test of trials, and yet it has never wavered. I'm grateful for that foundation because it allowed Brandon to be raised in a family of love. I love his brother and sisters, his mother and father, his grandparents, and his amazing cousins. We truly are blessed by the loving families we have.

I am eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for the blessing of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I know who I am, I know God's plan, and I know where I am going once this mortal existence is over. Without this knowledge I would be as a piece of driftwood tossed about by the billowing tides washing over the human race.

I am grateful for the atoning sacrifice of my Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know he bore mortal pain for my sins. I know he did this for me because he loves me and wants me to return to him. I want to repay that love by being the best person I can be to my family and others whom I come in contact with.

I'm especially grateful for a renewed personal connection I've developed with my Savior during the past few months. I've been able to feel his love in a personal way that has changed who I am and the way I live my life. His love is such a blessing in my life. I am excited for the day when I will get a chance to talk with Him and to share with Him my personal thanks. What a blessed person I am! 

Luke is now 2

This past Monday my baby turned 2 years old. It seems like this last year has flown by so quickly. We had a wonderful day together as a family. As tradition dictates, Brandon took the day off and we went out early to get pictures taken at JCPenny. We get pictures taken there every year because I'm a sentimental freak and I have to do what my Mother did for me.

After pictures (which turned out horrible BTW, because, hello, 2 year olds are cute, but they don't hold still), we drove up to Pleasant Grove and went to Kangaroo Zoo. Luke loved every moment we spent there while poor Peter was in misery because of diarrhea problems (his bowel problems are too numerous to even mention).  We all paid admission so we could all climb around which turned out to be best since Luke couldn't climb up the slides himself. Here is a picture of what it looks like at Kangaroo Zoo.

Luke loved all the animals that were on top of the bouncy areas. He thought it was great that he could go from the octopus to the elephant and then back to the octopus.Thank goodness there were only two other families there so Luke could roam around to his hearts content.

We ended up eating lunch at the kids favorite fast food establishment - Wendy's. Like always Luke inhaled his cheeseburger with reckless abandon. Similarly, he spilled his fries all over the floor with similar enthusiasm. Oh....my......children.

This year I took a trip to DI the week before his b-day and I was totally shocked with the good things I was able to find. It has been especially exciting to seen Luke enjoy the toys I did buy for him. For once, I got things right this time. I bought him the Tigger riding airplane at DI for $3, plus a bunch of books and some clothes. He loves Elmo so when I saw this shirt at Sears I just had to buy it.

I also found another Fisher Price animal toy that works with a similar animal toy I bought him for Christmas. I swear this boy is going to work at a zoo or something (or be a Animal Vet), because he loves animals so much.

I caved in this year for his b-day and I had the local bakery make him this cake. He thought the Elmo toy on it was so awesome. Truth be told, he only ate three bites of the cake. Ah well, at least it was cute even if Luke didn't think it was very tasty. Brandon's parents came down that evening and gave Luke a darling outfit and two additional books. It was so nice to see them and have time with them on Luke's special day. I appreciate all the things they give our boys for their b-days.

I can't imagine what Luke will be like this next year. I'm crossing my fingers he doesn't turn into a terrible two-year old. I guess only time will tell.

Being a Good parent

Over the past couple of months I've notice the relationship between my two boys is not what I want it to be. They are constantly fighting over toys and pushing/shoving each other when they don't get what they want. It's been a constant source of concern for me.

A few weeks back I awoke during the middle of the night for a routine potty break. However, my mind was very alert and I decided while I was up I might as well say a prayer asking for specific direction in regards to this particular problem. The thought came to me that I should make a jar for each child and then when they did something unkind to each other they would have to put something inside to symbolize their unkindness.

The next day I got busy and made jars. A few days after that I went to the craft store and bought a variety pack of colored pom poms. Then, the week after, I sat down with the boys and told them what we were using the jars for. Unfortunately, the jar idea was a failure. Honestly, I think it's because I was always threatening them with putting a pom pom in the unkindness jar. So once again I went back to prayer and had the idea of praising the boys for their kindness instead. Talk about a complete change in behavior. We've been doing it a few weeks now and Peter has already filled up his jar twice.  Every time a jar is full that child gets a special treat. The first time Peter got some of these:

 

The second time he filled up his jar he got a bag full of Green Army Men. As a side story Peter is obsessed with Toy Story and anything related to Toy Story. He has Buzz, Woody, Hamm, Rex, Mr & Mrs Potato Head, and Bullseye. He uses an old pound puppy of mine for Slinky Dog and he uses some green blocks to make the Space Alien Babies. So, when he filled up the jar this time he really, really, wanted Green Army Men. I thought they would be so easy and cheap to find. Turns out I was totally wrong. None of the Dollar Stores had them, neither did Walmart, Shopko, or the grocery stores around here. We finally were able to find a bag at KMart. Thank goodness, because I didn't want to have to order them from Amazon.

Anyway, Peter is about 1/2 thru filling up his jar for the third time and once it is full he wants me to take him and Lukie on a picnic to Daddy's work. Not exactly sure how we are going to make that work since it will be February and there will probably be snow on the ground. I have a feeling we will end up in Daddy's office eating on a blanket with Daddy's office door shut. LOL, what a fun memory this jar has been. 

Here are a couple of fun pictures of Peter getting his pom poms and filling up his jar.

 

Snowmen, snowmen, everywhere

This past Friday I hosted our weekly neighborhood playgroup. We had a chance to have some of the older kids come to playgroup since school was not in session for the day. I thought it might be fun for the older kids to do a little craft. So I gathered the supplies to make snowmen out of used glass jars. The kids had a blast and got quite messy. In the end, the snowmen turned out to be very cute.

That same day I pulled out my paper doll collection. While the kids played with them a little bit, I found that Peter enjoyed these particular paper dolls a lot more during the next few days. He thinks Barbie is pretty neat because she is on the Toy Story movies. Sadly the lamination on the dolls isn't the same as it was 20+ years ago so Peter used poster putty to put the clothes on Barbie. It was pretty fun to watch him play with this set. 

Our year in pictures

Since it's been such a long time I've posted I decided it might be fun to do a quick recap of 2012 in pictures. I love taking pictures and I have plenty of funny ones to share. This first one was taken on January 5th last year. We were happily playing with sidewalk chalk in short sleeves. What a warm day that was. Both Peter and Luke love playing with sidewalk chalk and bubbles. Those two activities alone can keep them occupied for a very long time.

This is just a typical day at the Thomas house. Dad is searching for yummy food in the fridge, Luke is sitting patiently in his highchair, and Mom is busy doing random things in the kitchen. This photo was taken by Peter and I think he did a good job at capturing an everyday moment in our home.

One day in March the boys begged us to make a fort. Since Brandon was home on that day he decided to go all out for this fort. We gathered every blanket and chair we own and made a fort big enough to fit all of us inside. Peter and Luke were thrilled and they loved hiding in it. They loved it even more when Mom and Dad got inside of it with them.

Last Christmas (Christmas of 2011) Peter got this Woody from a neighbor boy who had outgrown it. Well, in April, Peter decided it would be fun if he painted Woody with fingernail polish. He quickly learned that was a bad idea. He was literally bawling when I found him in my bathroom trying to get the polish to come off. Needless to say, I had a serious talk with him about playing with mommy's nail polish.

This picture was taken on Mother's Day. I really wanted to get a cute picture of me and the boys on this special day. While I got some other ones that show us all looking at the camera, this is my favorite because Peter looks so, so happy. I hope we will always be a happy family.

I love Luke's facial expression in this picture. So, classic. He is attempting to get off my lap while I attempt to squeeze him tighter so he will stay on. By the way, both Luke and Peter love Mickey Mouse. Today I heard Luke attempting to say Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse and it was the cutest thing ever.

Peter felt so grown up on this day after church. Brandon let Peter help him drive home. Just look at that face - pure happiness right there. I remember my Dad occasionally doing the same thing with me and my sisters when we were young. Thank goodness the road from the church to our house is not very busy. If we let him,  he would always let us drive home from church.

In August we were lucky and got to go with Brandon on a business trip to Logan. Although it's only 2 hours away, we made a nice vacation out of it. While Brandon was in meetings the boys got to play in the huge tub that was in our room. They loved it so much!

In September Brandon used a vacation day and we took the boys the zoo. The highlight of the trip was seeing the boys get so excited about the Polar Bear and Grizzly Bear areas. Luke loves animals so he was in heaven. I was just thankful that Brandon was able to come with us.

In October my parents decided to host a family get together which we are now having every month. This is me and my sisters (Lisa and Amy). Lisa is holding her baby - Ben. I love this picture of us because we really do a lot to help each other out. I love that Amy is feeding Ben a bottle and I'm scratching Lisa's back. I feel so lucky to have such great sisters.

In November Peter memorized his first book. He and Luke both love the Gerald and Piggie books and we kept this one long enough for Peter to memorize. It was adorable to see him turn the pages, look at the words/pictures, and then read what it said. It makes me so excited for the time when he really can read books on his own. In an attempt to teach my kid the importance of reading we go to our local library every week. I feel very fortunate that we have a great local library.

In December we did lots of fun things. This picture is my Mom helping Luke weave his annual paper heart to hang on the Christmas tree. After all our hearts are on the tree we all hold hands and dance around it while singing a special Danish song. I love this tradition and I'm glad I captured this precious moment of my Mom and Luke.

Looking back on this past year it's been fun to see all the adventures we do have. When it comes right down to it, I don't feel like I do very many fun things with my kids. However, these pictures otherwise. Go me!