Family Night

We had a family home evening the other night all about stranger danger/safety. We taught the kids about strangers & practiced different scenarios & then Tyler mysteriously disappeared & the next thing we knew, someone was knocking on our front door. There was Tyler "in disguise" holding candy in one hand & money in the other trying to lure the children outside. The kids were equal parts confused & amused & I could not stop laughing. Noah was all too willing to go, but Ruby held him back & then they took off running & laughing & screaming. It was one of those nights where there were so many really funny moments. And then Noah wanted to try on the stranger disguise Tyler had & he walked around saying in a deep voice, "Hey, you want to help me find my cat? I'm a stranger!" I feel like more often than not our home is a circus, but I sure do love these people of mine.

 

 

 

 





Noah is 3!

Our sweet Noah is a 3 year old! I can't even think about this little boy without a smile coming to my face. I feel like the 3rd birthday is when kids really "get" the whole birthday thing, & with Ruby's birthday the week before, Noah could hardly wait for his. We celebrated all day long & started in the morning with a pink donut with sprinkles, just like he had asked for. He took cupcakes into preschool & he asked me several times if I had a cupcake for Abby (?!!), a little girl at his preschool. We had a little family dinner/celebration & opened presents, & then had a family game night. Noah is super into games right now & loved playing Hungry, Hungry Hippo again & again & again. He requested a Star Wars birthday this year, even though he's never seen it, & he was so excited when he got the green bike he'd been hoping for. This little boy is such a dreamboat & I just can't get enough of him. He's a lover & knows just how to wrap me around his little finger. Even when he's naughty he does it all with this irresistible smile on his face that somehow makes me fall even more in love with him. We hit the jackpot with this little boy & couldn't be more grateful to have him as a part of our family. Happy Birthday Noah!!!

 

I decorated his room & while I think he liked it, he mostly was just excited to have something to destroy with his sword.

 

 

When Noah saw his Star Wars cake for the first time he stopped dead in his tracks & said, "Oh.my.gosh. I love it! I love my cute Star Wars cake mommy!" - I kind of never want to forget this moment because it was so darling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noah, here are a few things I want you to remember:

1. You are SO special. I tell you this all the time, but what I want you to know is that I really, really mean it. You have such a happy, bright spirit & that is one of your greatest blessings.

2. Family relationships matter. They can be hard, & complicated & sometimes it may seem easier to just not work at them. But this is an area of life that's always worth the extra time & effort. Swallow your pride & bite your tongue.

3. Get up early. It teaches you discipline, it's the time your mind will be the most clear, & God is always found in the early hours of the morning if you're looking for Him.

4. Go the extra mile. It's never crowded & you'll always leave people pleasantly surprised.

5. You have been fascinated with the prophet Joseph Smith for quite a while now. Anytime anyone asks what your favorite song is you always say, "Praise to the Man". You sing this in your bed at the top of your lungs when you're supposed to be napping & you always ask me to play it for you in the car. Learn about who he was as a man & let it be a strength to your testimony. You ask me all the time, "Mom, is Joseph Smith a hero?" And my answer will forever be, "Yes." 





Ruby & Noah Quotes

 

Ruby getting mad at Noah: "Don't even think about it, cowboy."

 

Me to Noah: "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Noah: "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?"

 

Ruby: "Church was just really emotional for me today. I was trying to draw a picture of Jesus & the tomb & the angel & I just couldn't. It was just really frustrating & emotional."

 

When Noah was in a dressing room with me while I was trying on a shirt he looked up & said, "Oh mommy, you look beautiful."

 

Ruby walking into the Disney store: "Wow! I can't believe my eyes! I've never seen anything like this!"

 

When we were leaving the movie theatre & Noah kept saying asking me to hold him.

Me: "No, you're a big boy, you can walk."

Noah: "I just want to be little!"

Ruby: "You only get to be a baby once Noah, not two times."

Noah: "I just want to be a baby two times!!"

 

When reading scriptures as a family Tyler said: "We're going to read about the man who couldn't walk."

Ruby: "Oh this is going to be good, Jesus is going to heal him. I can't wait."

 

Noah: "Mommy, you the prettiest, fancy girl ever."

 

Ruby to a hummingbird that landed in our backyard: "Hello little bird, I will be your mother now."





Ruby is 5!

We celebrated Ruby's 5th birthday & it was such a fun day. Ruby has been counting down the days until her birthday for months now, so when the day finally came she could hardly contain her excitement. She is so fun to celebrate because she just loves and appreciates every little thing that I do for her so much. She's such an awesome 5 year old, & has grown up so much in the last year. I adore this girl & have a feeling this is going to be her best year yet. We're going with the every other year party tradition, so this year was an off year, but she requested a unicorn birthday. We celebrated all day long, had family over for a little celebration, and took her to "the castle' (Golfland) and played in the arcade per her request. On the drive home we told her the story of the day she was born & then she asked to hear it over & over again. From day one this girl has brought sunshine & happiness into our lives & we are the luckiest to have her in our family. Happy Birthday Ruby!!!

She requested banana pancakes for breakfast

 





I decorated her room while she was asleep & she woke saying, "Awww, oh my gosh, awww!"She loved it!

 

Her All About Me poster for preschool.

Unicorn cake

Yep, this happened.

I love the way Ruby can love all the princess stuff as much as she loves a sword.

And now, sweet Ruby, here are some things that I want you to remember:

1. I listened to Etta James' "At Last" on repeat after you were born. it described the way I felt about you so perfectly. Anytime I hear it now a rush of memories comes flooding back. It will forever be the song that makes me think of you.
2. You are so good. You have such a tender heart & have had such empathy for those around you from the time you were tiny. You will make mistakes in this life for sure, but don't forget that you are good to the core.
3.Take time for the elderly. Spend time with them, be patient with them, & learn from them. It won't be time wasted.  
4. Life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.
5. Your body is not your masterpiece. You have so much more to offer this world than a beautiful exterior. Take care of yourself, but don't waste time obsessing or comparing. Get up, get ready, & then get to work.