Happy New Year!

So, it has been awhile. The holidays are almost over and we are about to begin a new year! Hooray! I am excited for this year - lots of changes.

I am just now getting better. I had been sick for 2 weeks then I went on antibiotics and got better for about 4 days and then after our Utah trip I came down with Bronchitis -really bad. I went to the doctor again and he said, "you are going to have to tough it out". Nice doctor. There was nothing I could take for relief of the deep, heavy coughing. I was up for a week, all night long, coughing my lungs out. It was so painful! The baby was not happy with me for doing it. I was not happy with me for doing it. I ended up coughing so hard that I tore something on my insides. I called a lady in my ward who is a doctor and also has 3 children. She said it sounded like I tore a ligament in my side that may take a few weeks to heal. When pregnant your side ligaments are already stretching and weak. Anyhow, I have a baby doctor appointment on Thursday so I will check with him to make sure it is nothing too bad. It is no fun! I do not like being sick -especially when pregnant and you can do nothing for it! Oh well, I will live and heal I am sure. For now I will just sock away a little more empathy for those who suffer with illness on a regular basis.

Beside that I am just excited for the new year and ready to move forward with lots of new things. I hope you are all well and recovering from holiday fun. The kids are still on hyper-drive from Christmas. Sammi starts school again on Tuesday and I think that will be good for her to find her regular routine once again. Kids love routine and knowing what to expect. So do I -most times! : )

Lots of love to all of you! Happy New Year!

Trip Pictures

Sam and Dan riding a Dinosaur
On the train with Santa
All the boys lined up after Baby Ben's blessing
Sammi and Santa - she was unsure about him
Me, Mom and Baby Ben
More to come. . .

20ish week gut

Here is a picture of 20 weeks along taken today right before my ultrasound. So now we know what it is that is brewing inside of me. . . It is a BOY!!! Just as I suspected. Charles was actually pretty sure it was a girl, he even told the ultrasound lady that he was certain it was a girl. Well, for once I was right! I have been wrong both times so far. So the name for this boy is going to be William Turner. Yup, Yo-Ho, Yo-HO a pirates life for me. We were watching "Pirates" the other night and I heard that name and I said, "Charles, that is it!" we both liked it and decided that would be our boy name. Finally, something we both liked - a pirate name! Ha! It was either that or Aaragorn - and that was not working for me. : )

Lots of Love to you all. See some of you very soon!!

Love, Me

Funny Kids. Sam and Daniel are so excited lately. They know what is coming. They know Christmas is around the corner and that we are going to visit our family in Utah. They are having a hard time falling asleep at night. Sammi packs a little everyday - weird things. I am going to have to help her pack for sure! They are just so full of energy and kid joy for the holidays! So am I!

I have been sick for 2 weeks! I finally went in to the doctor and got some antibiotics to help me heal. I hate taking medication, but I had to do it. It had been too long and my cough has been keeping me awake all through the night. I am sure the baby loves being shaken around with every cough! Anyhow, I am all drugged up and should be better in just a few days - just in time! It is so hard being sick when you are pregnant. It makes it that much harder to heal since your body is engaged in other things. I just could not kick it this time by myself. I sure hope to feel better quickly! I am weary of being weary!

Charles is so excited for our trip. He loves to go on long trips and see news things -so do I. I sure pray that our weather is pleasant for the drive. We are renting an SUV for added safety (hopefully) thanks to Dad and Mom. Our car is certainly not up for the challenge! Poor thing has been through a lot! We sure are excited to get on the road!

I am home sick from Church today. I do not like missing church and rarely do. I just have been coughing so much and so hard I could not see it being a healthy experience for me. I have Charles teaching my class for me, the kids love it when he teaches.

Hope you all have a great Sunday full of joy. I hope you can all feel the spirit of the season. I sure love this time of year. I love the lights. I love how people come together and do great things for others. I love the kids getting excited about simple joys. I just love it! Happy Holidays!

Mari

Motherhood Moment

“This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God. In her high duty and service to humanity, endowing with immortality eternal spirits, she is co-partner with the Creator himself.” -President David O. McKay

To those of you who are mothers, new or old, or who wish to one day be a mother - this is for you!

I am often amazed as I hear of story after story of women, mothers, who feel so discouraged in their great calling. The home becomes confining, as if a prison in which she is held captive with no escape. The world, especially the media, would tell her to get out of her prison and escape to the world of "true" happiness and success. Meaning, some job doing something, anything, other than mothering. Mothers feel torn, being educated and not "using" their minds to "better" the world. Mothers want to feel pretty but for some reason sweats aren't making them feel that way. So many women, of whom I admire, express a desire for more, they all seem to need more. More of something, anything, most of them do not even know what they want more of. More time, more sleep, more clothes, more education, more friends. Whatever it is, will that satisfy? No! When you always need more, you will never be happy! The trick - to be happy with what you have - no matter what!

I wish all mothers could know of their great worth in the world. They are so crucial. So important to the work of God. Can we not see it when we glimpse into the eyes of our young ones, who are begging for us to love them, to teach them, to be with them? They need us to be there for them. Now more than ever. There is nothing greater than the role of a mother tending to the needs of her children. No task so important, no goal so grand, no talents more greatly used than a mother loving and leading her children. How encouraging is that!

To those of you with little tiny ones, love these moments because they are precious. Hold them close and love them so much! They will love you forever for your sacrifices on their behalf. Yea for mothers, and for motherly women who love the children of others. You are doing a great work! Feel excited about it, even when all of your energy is sapped and your sleep is non-existant. You are doing Gods work, He needs you to do it. For your great efforts you will be so blessed! Go MOMS!

Ben meets his Grandmas

Here are some pictures from Ben's first visit to meet his Great Grandmas. I was informed that they approved of him and he is allowed to stay in the family. : ) The picture of Grandma was taken without her knowledge, otherwise you can get a silly expression from her. Might I add, look how great mom looks! All glowy and sparkly. The oil of olay stuff is really working! Sign me up for some! Very cute.

I too am really excited to see little Ben. I am also really looking forward to seeing lots of family around Christmas time. Somehow since we have been here we have made it down to Utah every Decemeber. It has been nice being so close (sort of close). At least driving distance. I am looking forward to the trip. We are going to be packing all sorts of survival gear too. The "if ye are prepared" thing - I am going for that plan. We have just about a week until we are there! How exciting! Can't wait!

Like a Flower. . .

How quickly she has grown! From a little seed to a beautiful flower. Her wings are developing and one day she will fly! I love my Sammi so much! She has always been my Sammi Sunshine - always smiling and happy. She brings me such joy!

Seven Years!

Happy Anniversary to us! Yup, today makes it 7 years that Charles and I have been married. It seems like time has really flown by! Back in the day I never imagined how far we would come together, what adventures we would have, and best of all how much I could love one person! Charles is truly my hero. I love him so much sometimes it is overwhelming! He has been the best and continues to get better and better. We have found so much joy together and for that I am so grateful. We have become true best friends. I am so thankful that I get to spend forever with him. At least I know my forever will never be boring! I love CHARLES!!!! : )

One thing I remember that was said to us during our marriage ceremony (the only thing I really remember) was that we should always be forgiving of one another. At the time I did not think much of it but over time I have learn that being forgiving, and also selfless, is crucial to a happy relationship. I do not always succeed at putting his needs above my own but I always consider his feelings and how I can help him in anyway. He does the same for me. We get along so well, like old buddies and yet we still have a deep attraction for each other (too much information - I know). It was that attraction that threw us together in the first place!

I can remember our first dance. He took my hand for the first time and he held onto my waist in such a gentle way (some guys at the singles ward were pretty harsh!). I knew when we were dancing that it was it - I was in for it. It was as if a magnetic force was drawing us together (not hormones) but something greater and we both knew. We were so young and silly but we really did love each other. We were meant to be together and we knew it. We could not ignore it.

Now, seven years later, he still takes my hand and holds me in a gentle way. Now I know more than ever that we were meant to be together (not like Saturdays Warrior or anything) but we were truly meant to find each other out of the billions of people in the world. Charles was meant for me and I for him - How neat is that? I really love him SO much!

Charles is such an amazing Daddy. He loves the kids so much. I remember how his face looked after I gave birth to Sammi - that was my reward for all of the pain. I saw in Charles something I had never seen before. It was joy that was not of this world and it was all over his face. I will never forget that look and the many happy daddy looks to follow. It makes me so happy to be the mother to his (our) children. Children bring out new things in people that they never knew was in them. It has been so great to be apart of that with Charles. He get so excited about life and things - it is so refreshing!

The other day a lady came up to be at a Church function and she said, "I just wanted to tell you, I am so impressed with the way your husband talks about you being a mother." She said over time she has noticed how much Charles loves me and how he honors my role as a mother. I do not think I have ever received such a great compliment. I did not even know her, but she knew me and Charles. It is true though, because Charles honors me as a mother it makes my job as a mother so much more pleasant! He basically demands (in a good way) that I stay home with the children and love them. He refuses to have me work to provide for the family he insists he would take on 5 jobs before that would happen. He cherishes me and my motherhood and for that I love him so much. I do not know many men like him. He has truly astonished me over the years.

Did I mention, I love Charles??? : ) I REALLY DO!!!!

Disney On Ice. . .

19 weeks baby gut. I broke down and bought some mama jeans so I could breath and not have to suck it in!
Daniel getting ready for the ice show
They were unsure what to expect
Yesterday we got to go and see Disney on Ice. It was way fun. It was a Disneyland adventure so they basically took you through the whole Park and showed many of the familiar rides. They used the "Incredible" family to take you on the journey. It was amazing ice skating. I was impressed that they could do the fancy skating dressed in big bulky costumes such as Buzz Lightyear. It really was very cool. The kids loved it. They used all of the songs and rides they were familiar with like Yo-ho, Yo-ho a pirates life, small world, and the haunted mansion. It was very entertaining. I was once again very impressed with Disney and the quality of a show that they provide. We sure do love Disneyland and thanks to Grandpa we have gone there the past few Christmas breaks. This year since we did not get to go to the actual park we instead got to take a trip there in our imagination on ice - it was as close to the real thing as you can get! : ). Thanks Grandpa!

They of course were selling popcorn and other goodies but the prices were nuts! $10.00 for a bag of popcorn, $10.00 for a small snow cone - crazy! This poor girl right in front of me got her snow cone and not 2 minutes later spilled her $10.00 all over the floor in front of me. I felt so bad for her and more so the parents who were just ripped off! We waited and we went to Applebees after the show and got real food for a somewhat reasonable price. : )

We are doing well here. We are really gearing up for Christmas time and we cannot wait to take a little trip and see family. We are looking forward to having Beppy here in a few weeks too. That will be great fun for Christmas.

We should know next Wednesday if the baby is a boy or a girl. Again, I am leaning towards a boy - though my cravings have been for chocolate like with Sammi where with Daniel I craved meat. We shall see if there is anything to that?!

Lots of Love to you all! Also, Happy Birthday to MAMA! We will give you a birthday hug in less than 2 weeks!

Mari