Family Time

I thought about writing about the incredibly crazy day Hallie caused around here (it involved pooping in the tub, running around the mall without shoes on because she refused to sit in the stroller and refused to wear her shoes, eating dinner standing up in her high chair because that's the only way she would do it, and pulling enormous amounts of books off the shelves at the library), but she is sleeping peacefully now and it is all forgotten (kind of). What a character.



Instead, let's focus on the happy! Devin's sister Shawna is in town this week, so we got to meet baby Kylie! She is a beaut! Saturday we spent part of the day at Kirston's house visiting with them. Kirston was kind enough to let us just park ourselves at her house and on top of it, she fed us dinner. So nice. Hallie now surely outweighs Ryder. He still feeds her his unwanted food. It works well.

Cole and Kylie. Isn't she pretty? She has the biggest brown eyes. She is such a calm and sweet baby too.

Some of the cousins. Cole, Brelynn, Kylie, Keegan, Hallie, and Ryder. Surprised they all sat still long enough for this picture, but they did!

Brelynn is such a good helper.

Sunday, we had an Easter dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house and then an Easter egg hunt. This is something my family does every year and since we won't be going home, I thought I better just continue the tradition on my own. Of course I put money in half the eggs. That's the way my grandma always did it and there is nothing better then having a sandwich baggie full of nickels, dimes, and the occasional quarter weighing down your pocket.

Pre egg hunt. The kids were excited. Hallie doesn't quite know what is going on yet...

...but she picked it up fast! She was an egg hunting pro. I think its in the genes.

She was so funny. She had to keep her basket on her arm so when she found an egg it was a process to get it off, get the egg into the basket, and get the basket back on her arm. Heaven forbid she let me help her carry the basket or something. She wasn't having any of that.

Ryder and Hallie had their own little patch of grass for their eggs. I think Hallie bullied him a bit, but he did fine for himself!

Hallie finished finding the eggs in her area and quickly headed off to compete with the big kids.

Sure as heck beats sitting home and doing nothing! Happy Easter (coming up) everyone!

Lesson #2: Generosity

This is a thought that I have had going through my head for months. It stems from a quote from Sister Camilla Kimball, as told in a story by Sister Bonnie D. Parkin. Here is a portion:

" My daughter-in-law’s mother, Susan, was a wonderful seamstress. President Kimball lived in their ward. One Sunday, Susan noticed that he had a new suit. Her father had recently returned from a trip to New York and had brought her some exquisite silk fabric. Susan thought that fabric would make a handsome tie to go with President Kimball’s new suit. So on Monday she made the tie. She wrapped it in tissue paper and walked up the block to President Kimball’s home.

On her way to the front door, she suddenly stopped and thought, “Who am I to make a tie for the prophet? He probably has plenty of them.” Deciding she had made a mistake, she turned to leave.

Just then Sister Kimball opened the front door and said, “Oh, Susan!”

Stumbling all over herself, Susan said, “I saw President Kimball in his new suit on Sunday. Dad just brought me some silk from New York . . . and so I made him a tie.”

Before Susan could continue, Sister Kimball stopped her, took hold of her shoulders, and said: “Susan, never suppress a generous thought.”

Susan didn’t have an assignment to make that tie. She wasn’t hired to do so. Despite feeling a bit hesitant, she did it because it felt right."

-Sister Bonnie D. Parkin, "Personal Ministry: Sacred and Precious," BYU Devotional, 13 February 2007 (emphasis added).

I love this.

I often have thoughts of doing something for others, usually something very small, but I am really good and squashing those thoughts in no time flat. I tell myself things like:

"So-and-So will think I am weird if I do this for them."
"It's so small and meaningless, they won't even notice."
"I have too many other things to do today."
"I don't even know that person that well..."

etc. etc. etc.

I am sure you have found yourself saying similar things.

On March 1, we celebrated Chris's birthday. Jennifer called me that morning to tell me that she and Chris's sisters had decided that to honor him, we would all do some service of some sort that day to remember him. I loved the idea. It gave me an excuse to serve.

In fact, I had a sticky note sitting on my computer that had been there for weeks. On it was listed four or five items of service that I had wanted to do, but kept talking myself out of.

So that Monday, I decided that I was going to do them all and more. Who cares what others think? I didn't know if I was going to have an effect on anyone at all, but I knew I was sure going to try.

Hallie and I spent the entire day in service to others. I normally don't have full days that I can dedicate to serving, but I actually did that day. It worked out wonderfully. I served some people I knew and I served some people I didn't know.

I know that my service was probably small for those receiving it. I don't know how they felt. But, I do know that it was the best day I had had in a long time.

I felt happy. I felt energized. I felt like I had done something to make myself proud.

Since then, I have tried harder to act on the thoughts that I have to do something nice for someone else, even if it puts me out of my "comfort zone".

This is something that I hope will stick with me for a long time to come.

I issue a challenge (no, no, we aren't in church) to you too...to do the same thing. When those thoughts come, ACT on them! Do it. We can all make a small difference in our own little way.

Never suppress a generous thought. Let's see what happens.

(P.S. Two recent posts on the adoption blog.)

Shoplifting

Devin and I took Hallie grocery shopping today. Smiths has these nifty carts where the kids get to act like they are driving. A lifesaver, I tell you.

We were out of food so we were buying quite a lot. Hallie sat in her car while Devin and I unloaded the groceries at the checkout. I was almost done when I looked down to see Hallie shoving the last of a package of rolos in her mouth.

Clearly we need to watch our child better. She swiped the candy right off the shelf before our very eyes. Then, knowing that we would normally not allow her to have said candy, she shoved them all in her mouth as quickly as possible in a poor attempt to hide the evidence.

Little did she know, but the evidence was all over her face (not to mention the wrappers in her hand.)

No picture exists of her with the actual candy because, well, she ate it all before I could get out my phone to take pictures (yes, phone pictures, thus the poor quality. Oh and the sun was in the way so I couldn't even really tell what I was taking a picture of.)

Nevertheless, she looks proud of herself, yes?

Devin said that its too bad that she is not just a bit older, cause if she was, he would have made her stay at the store and work it off.

So, let's summarize. My one year old is already a skilled thief and I have a feeling my husband will not be tolerating any infractions in the future.

Fabulous!

Everyone Needs One...

I have a lot of "best" friends. Through different periods of my life it seems like one friend or another has particularly been there for me. I have one friend, Camille, who has been through nearly every period of my life with me since we met in 6th grade. I think everyone needs one like her. HACK- our friendship club in high school. Haylee, Anneka, Camille, Kim. Aren't we creative? Yes, we wore these fancy shirts to school.I am not above posting hideous pictures of myself here. See this picture as evidence. Here Camille, Kylee and I are in Boise our senior year of high school when we went to see the state cross country championships that some of our friends were in.

Camille and I went through all those years of school together and then decided that we hadn't had enough of each other, so we came to college together too. We had lots of different roommates, but she was my constant roommate right up until I got married. Couldn't asked for better!

Here we are our freshman year with our friend Russ at one of our favorite gatherings, a bon fire.

We had all sorts of adventures during our college years. We even took a road trip to Atlanta, Georgia to see my favorite team, the Braves, play.

Love the faces here! Clearly, we were having the time of our lives!

Is it just me, or do we totally block out the statue? Hmmm....

While we had a lot of other friends, it seemed that we were glued together for my first three years of college, pre-marriage to Dev.

Camille, Anneka, and me.

Me, Stefani, Camille, Kylee. Ladies, you can thank me that I didn't post any of the "Notebook" pictures here. Another time, another time.

Hmmm, my hair was very short. Oh, it was also done. An art long lost.

Once it rained at a BYU game. That didn't stop us from making silly faces for the camera. That face that Camille is making, I probably have about 100 other pictures where she is making the exact same face. It's definitely her go-to face.

Oh happy wedding day! There she is again. I was blessed to have a lot of support on my wedding day from lots of my incredible friends. I am pretty sure these girls did my makeup, dressed me, and got me to the Temple on time so that I could be sealed to my honey. What lovely ladies (of course Anneka is to be credited for the hair, though).

Oh that was fun reminiscing. Here is why I think everyone needs a friend like Camille in their lives:

She knows me inside and out. We know each other's backgrounds, families, favorites, pasts, everything. No explaining to be done.

She is my "Go To" person for everything: babysitting, books, I-need-a-grocery-shopping-buddy, everything! (I just finished reading the "Hunger Games" books 1 and 2 because of her and absolutely loved them. Couldn't put them down. READ them if you haven't! Oh and number 3 comes out in August. It's going to be terrible to have to wait so long!)

She knows just the right moment to pop by the house with a diet coke.

She loves to go on long walks in the warm weather. So do I. It works perfect.

We have a weekly date night to watch the Biggest Loser, our favorite show. Every Tuesday we make some delicious dinner and watch the show while pigging out (goes together well, agreed?)

She even taught me to make sushi today. What could be better? Biggest Loser and Sushi? Not a lot. The sushi is delicious and don't you worry, I have loads of supplies now to make it whenever I want.

Well, there are lots of reasons everyone needs a Camille in their lives. Hope you find your own.

Buzz, Camille's husband, found out today that he got a much wanted job with Merrill Lynch. (Read about it here on her blog.) I am so excited for them, despite the fact that they will be moving to California. Boo for me, happy for them! I think I will live, though. We have had other separations in the past as she is world traveler woman and loves adventures. She always seems to come back to Provo, though. Me? I have been sitting here for six years straight. This time it will be a bit more permanent. I am happy for the changes that will come to Camille and her husband as they take this step.

Love you Mille!

Child Labor

How long do you think it will last that she will insist upon helping with the dishes, sweeping, and laundry? As for me, I am hoping it will last a goooood long time.

But, I am pretty sure I am not that lucky.

Keeping Up With the Fam

I am a big family person. I love spending time with my family and with Devin's family. I only wish we did more of it sometimes.

We have had some exciting things happening lately, oh and one majorly scary one.

First, This is my little brother, Mike. He is two years younger than I am. Mike has been dating this girl, Lara, for a while (Isn't she cute? I have no idea how he got such a cute girlfriend! Ha Ha, just joking Mikey!)

Mike goes to school in Idaho. Lara graduated and moved back to her hometown in California. This causes problems for them because, well, they like to spend time together. Solution: Mike drives/flies to California all the time to see her. (Which = he is very broke.)

Last Sunday, Mike was making the 15+ hour drive back home. He was driving my sister's car (the very car from this post) because it gets better gas mileage than his own.

Somwhere in between Reno and Winnemucca, NV, he fell asleep at the wheel. He ended up veering off the road and hitting a road sign going 75+ miles per hour. He walked away from the accident absolutely fine, despite the police telling him that he should have rolled the car. He was rescued by members of the Church (blessed are we to be members, are we not?).

Jennifer's car? Totaled.

My sister had enough sense to not freak out when she learned the fate of her car. She repeated the lesson she had learned from "The Last Lecture": "People are more important than things."

Needless to say, she will now be getting a new car.

We are just grateful that Mikey is alive and well.



SECOND, we have a new niece on Devin's side.Meet baby Kylie. Isn't she gorgeous?

Kylie was adopted. I love adoption, you know this.

Devin's sister Shawna and her husband Slava just adopted this beauty from Georgia. They have two older boys, Kayden and Keegan, and now add Kylie. It was a long and hard process for them to get her here, but we are so grateful that they are now home and well.

My favorite part of the story? Keegan, 3 years old, when asked about his baby sister (before she came home) would insist to me that they were naming the baby "Sally". Cute, eh?

This makes grandchild #18 on Devin's side. Whew!! Also, #'s 19, 20, and 21 are on their way within the next few months. So exciting. We can't wait to meet them all (including Kylie-we haven't met her yet!)

Well, that's enough excitement for now.

So Touched By This Today

I admit it. I am a huge Reader's Digest Junkie. I was reading an article in the magazine this morning about inspiring stories that have come out of Haiti.

Amidst all the devastation, there are amazing stories.

This is one of them. 7 year old Kiki's excited face and outstretched arms have just so much depth of feeling. Despite the death of some of his siblings, he was just happy to be alive after being trapped under the rubble in Haiti for eight days.

I just love this picture. It is a testament that there can be hope and even happiness in the midst of ruin and havoc.

I have become such a softy in my old age. I can't read or listen to stories about Haiti without getting teary eyed. I wish there was more I could do to help.

I think a lot of time in disasters of all types (natural, physical, mental) we think of those suffering for the first little bit, but as time moves on, we forget the tragedies of others as we continue on with our own lives.

I hope to be better at praying for and doing what I can to help others in need, even after the initial shock has worn off.

So, to that end, join me in donating to the Red Cross for the relief efforts in Haiti. Even if you already have, it doesn't hurt to donate a little bit more. Click here to donate.

(I know I sound like a commercial. I just can't help it. ha ha...)

Wishin' You Were Here...

(Hallie on her dream vacation in the living room)

We are anxiously awaiting summer around here, can you tell? Hallie has taken to dragging out her floaty toy at every possible opportunity. I think she is feeling the summer itch as much as I am. Luckily, the weather has been a lot nicer lately so we have been able to get out and take some walks.

When I think of summer, I think of swimming. Swimming and sno-cones. Mmmm, Delicious...

I have some fantastic stories about swimming with my cousins and sister that involve black belts in karate, the Funky Chicken, "Stinky Feet" (a person, not the odor) and the Pee-Pee Palace (aka Green Canyon). Those stories will have to wait for another day.

Can't wait for Hallie to start forming summer memories of her own! Here's to waiting...

Dreams

I have some weird ones.

I always have.

I usually wake up in the morning and relate my dreams to Devin. He, on the other hand, claims he doesn't dream. But I know that's not true; he just doesn't remember them. His imagination must not be as active as mine, let's just say that!

Here are a few of my favorites (and by favorite I mean, "where the heck did that come from?")

• The other night I had a vivid dream that my mother gave away my child along with my brother to one of my friends from high school's family (someone I haven't talked to for years). I trusted my mom to babysit Hallie and when I went to pick her up, my mom matter of factly told me that she had given her away, along with Clark, because they were misbehaving. I asked about the said misbehavior and my mom's reply was that Hallie wouldn't come to her when she held her arms out to her. I totally understood giving away Clark, but Hallie? (Just kidding Sparky!) My mom insisted that it was perfectly normal behavior to give away loved ones.

• I recently dreamed of a Hawaii vacation with my best friends. Our vacation was ruined when our mothers showed up to "chaperone", which actually meant that they wanted to be young and fun and part of the group. They appeared wearing stretch pants with stirrups and long t-shirts complete with a scrunchie tie on the side. They of course had ratted their hair and sported huge earrings. Hello 80's? We had to inform them that they were a few years behind. Sorry mom, no idea why I am having all these dreams about you...

• My all time odd-ball dream that I actually had when I was a teenager, but that has nevertheless stuck with me. In it, I was kidnapped by Kid Rock. Why was I dreaming about this rapper/singer person that I was never a fan of? Who knows. But he did kidnap me, stick me in a burlap sack, and ride his bike exactly vertical up a mountain with me tied behind. The dream ended with me home in my bathroom sending messages under the crack of the door saying "save me!"

Image from here

Yes, ever so unpleasant...sorry Mr. Kid.

Where do these things come from? No clue. I also rarely dream about the people that are closest to me, though it may seem otherwise because of the frequent mention of my mom in these dreams. I don't remember the last time I dreamt about Devin. More often, I dream about random people that I met once, or someone I sat next to in class at some point in my life but was never friends with. I tell you, weird all around.

I think a lot of people have their own version of a "recurring" dream. Mine isn't like one of my friend's from high school (I will leave him un-named in case he does not want the world knowing about this dream) that I used to laugh and laugh and laugh about. He had the classic show up to school naked dream, but with a twist. He would call his mom in a panic to bring him some clothes and she would inevitably show up with something like a pink speedo for him to wear.

No, my recurring dream is that I am driving along somewhere and all the sudden I see a plane up ahead. As I am watching the plane, it all the sudden drops out of the sky and plummets to the earth. I watch the plane explode into flames and know that there are no survivors.

Talk about scary.

I told my old roomie Stefani about this dream when she was visiting last year and she instantly insisted that I call her mom to tell her about it because her mom is good at analyzing dreams. I related the dream to Stef's mom, who without knowing me well, then asked if I am the type of person who cares a lot about people. I told her that I like to think I do. She then asked what I do for work. I told her I am in social work. She seemed to think that explained a lot.

She then said that this dream could be an example of how I watch other people that I am trying to help going down paths that are not necessarily going to bring them happiness. Like the plane, I can often see that disaster may be impending, but also like the plane, there is nothing I can do to change or control the situation. This explanation nails me, dead on. One example is that I often see birth parents that I work with make decisions that I can see are not going to work or that are going to bring them more difficulties down the road. I often wish I can make decisions for them, but I know I can't.

It was so interesting to see somehow that this random dream that I keep having can actually relate to me.

Now, onto figuring out how Kid Rock's kidnapping me has anything to do with anything.

Please do share any of your fantastic dreams too, if you feel that you woud like to make me laugh (since I am sure they are all comical. Except planes dropping out of skies.)

More of the Missy

Hallie is really growing up. It is crazy how fast she learns new things. Recently, she has developed some new habits and abilities that are mostly funny. I obviously need to watch myself because she copies everything I do. I found her trying to "sweep" the floor the other day, except she forgot to note that the rug doesn't need to be swept. She also has learned to climb (not something she learned from me, please note.) I was in the bathroom getting ready one morning and came out to find her on the table. ON THE TABLE? Yeah, I was concerned. That is her new favorite thing to do. I can't keep her off the table unless I put the chairs up, think kindergarten style, "Ok class, put your chairs on your desk now!" (please disregard the "ragmuffin look". We have rougher days around here sometimes!) This picture shows nothing, except that she is a cute girl. How's that?

Hallie is really into nodding her head and shaking her head. She is getting to be pretty accurate, its kind of funny. You can also hear her say, "I Love You" in this video after she is prompted. She can say "love" but she often leaves it out and goes straight for "I You!" Gotta love that.
She has also learned how to open and close doors with these type of handles. Oh boy. Such fun. She likes to hide in our room and shut the door and wait for us to find her. She hasn't realized that she can hide in other places yet! It's a pretty fun game for her.
We got to go to the BYU-New Mexico basketball game on Saturday with my dad and Sharon (yeah, they lost.) Hallie insisted upon sitting in her own chair most of the game. Sometimes she would sit on Sharon's lap though. She was mesmerized. She just sat there and clapped basically the whole first half. Then she got bored the second half, and well, let's just say that it wasn't pretty.

It's so crazy to look at her and see a toddler, not so much a baby anymore. I am particularly loving this stage though!