It.Was.Awesome.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Thanksgiving 2011
We had a really laid back Thanksgiving this year, and A LOT to be Thankful for. We ended up staying here and had a Thanksgiving with all the fixins for the four of us. We ate, watched movies, and played games-
It.Was.Awesome.
It.Was.Awesome.
Remember Halloween???
The Raisors LOVE Halloween. Remember when two cute boys had two cute costumes?
Remember when we went to the trunk or treat at church and the Raisor Mom couldn't find her camera (I know, what kind of mother am I?) and had to settle for a LAME phone picture in the bathroom mirror after the trunk or treat, but it was going to be okay b/c we could re-dress up for Halloween?
And remember when the Raisor Mom told the Raisor Dad to do his make-up like 60's Joker instead of scary Joker? And remember when he didn't listen and made 2 kids at the trunk or treat cry?
And remember when the boys got sick and couldn't even go trick or treating? So there was never a good picture taken? And then Reese got this crazy awful rash and the doctor couldn't diagnose it, so she gave the Raisor Mom 8 different options? And then I had to look them up on the internet and diagnose him myself? Saddest Halloween ever. But at least we had trunk or treat, even if we didn't have a camera. But really, who needs a camera when you have candy, right?
Remember when we went to the trunk or treat at church and the Raisor Mom couldn't find her camera (I know, what kind of mother am I?) and had to settle for a LAME phone picture in the bathroom mirror after the trunk or treat, but it was going to be okay b/c we could re-dress up for Halloween?
And remember when the Raisor Mom told the Raisor Dad to do his make-up like 60's Joker instead of scary Joker? And remember when he didn't listen and made 2 kids at the trunk or treat cry?
And remember when the boys got sick and couldn't even go trick or treating? So there was never a good picture taken? And then Reese got this crazy awful rash and the doctor couldn't diagnose it, so she gave the Raisor Mom 8 different options? And then I had to look them up on the internet and diagnose him myself? Saddest Halloween ever. But at least we had trunk or treat, even if we didn't have a camera. But really, who needs a camera when you have candy, right?
Monday, November 21, 2011
I Am Thankful For "Awesome Rattlesnake"
Apparently the kids got to pick their own Native American names in preschool for their Thanksgiving Feast they had today. They also made their costumes last week. I am assuming that they got to pick an adjective and then an animal. I walked in and saw "Happy Bat" and Abram told me one of his friends was "Grumpy Whale". I think "Awesome Rattlesnake" is pefectly fitting for this little Chief.
I Am Thankful for Fast and Testimony Meeting
I need to write this before I forget-one of those "precious" moments. Every month, the first Sunday of the month-we have a "fast and testimony" meeting at church during sacrament. The ward (congregation) is asked to fast for 2 meals for someone who is sick, or your own personal reasons, whatever you need strength for, or someone who is struggling, etc. You also have the opportunity to go up in front of the congregation and bear your testimony-a brief time where you can say what you're thankful for, and talk about the Savior, etc. This, of course is done by choice, no one is made to fast, or bear their testimony. I feel like I might not be making sense-that is the summarized version-on with the story.
This month we had our fast and testimony meeting as usual. I was sitting with my family listening to members of my ward get up and talk about the Savior, things they are thankful for, etc. Abram was reading a book about dinosaurs/snakes/animals, and he started to look upset and kept rubbing his eyes. I asked him if he was okay, to which he replied, "Mom, I think I need a testimony." I paused a second and asked, "Do you need to get up and bear your testimony?" And he said with his eyes a little watery, "Yes." And then panic set in because I had no idea what he was going to say. Should I let him do it? I mean, I am all for my child having a spiritual experience, and if he felt like he needed to-then I guess I should, but what would he say when having the microphone all to himself? Time was running out-there were about 5 minutes left. I looked at Kris who was shaking his head "No"-he looked as panicked as I was and said "There's not enough time." But then I shouldn't deny him the opportunity, right? So I asked him again, "You sure?" and up we went.
I was shaking, my face was red, I had no idea what would come out of his mouth. But he walked up so confident and pulled the microphone to his mouth. Then, he cleared his throat-the sound echoed and everyone laughed. His eyes bulged, and he fell down to the floor. No, he didn't pass out-he was embarrassed. I helped him up and said, "Go ahead". Abram said a couple of words and then down he went again. I tried to recover for him and bore my testimony. As we were walking past the Bishop to go sit down, he said in a very dramatic fashion for everyone to hear, "I AM NEVER BEARING MY TESTIMONY EVER AGAIN!" And clung to me for life. When we got back to our seat he started to cry and asked why everyone was laughing at him.
Bless. His. Heart.
He thought everyone was laughing at him. I told him that everyone thought he was cute and that's why he laughed. Then the Bishop got up, repeated what Abram had said, and then said that he imagined Abram must be a lot like I was when I was little. If only he knew......
It took a lot of courage for him to get up and do that. I was so proud, and nervous. I thought for sure dinosaurs and superheroes were going to be talked about. Maybe next month.
This month we had our fast and testimony meeting as usual. I was sitting with my family listening to members of my ward get up and talk about the Savior, things they are thankful for, etc. Abram was reading a book about dinosaurs/snakes/animals, and he started to look upset and kept rubbing his eyes. I asked him if he was okay, to which he replied, "Mom, I think I need a testimony." I paused a second and asked, "Do you need to get up and bear your testimony?" And he said with his eyes a little watery, "Yes." And then panic set in because I had no idea what he was going to say. Should I let him do it? I mean, I am all for my child having a spiritual experience, and if he felt like he needed to-then I guess I should, but what would he say when having the microphone all to himself? Time was running out-there were about 5 minutes left. I looked at Kris who was shaking his head "No"-he looked as panicked as I was and said "There's not enough time." But then I shouldn't deny him the opportunity, right? So I asked him again, "You sure?" and up we went.
I was shaking, my face was red, I had no idea what would come out of his mouth. But he walked up so confident and pulled the microphone to his mouth. Then, he cleared his throat-the sound echoed and everyone laughed. His eyes bulged, and he fell down to the floor. No, he didn't pass out-he was embarrassed. I helped him up and said, "Go ahead". Abram said a couple of words and then down he went again. I tried to recover for him and bore my testimony. As we were walking past the Bishop to go sit down, he said in a very dramatic fashion for everyone to hear, "I AM NEVER BEARING MY TESTIMONY EVER AGAIN!" And clung to me for life. When we got back to our seat he started to cry and asked why everyone was laughing at him.
Bless. His. Heart.
He thought everyone was laughing at him. I told him that everyone thought he was cute and that's why he laughed. Then the Bishop got up, repeated what Abram had said, and then said that he imagined Abram must be a lot like I was when I was little. If only he knew......
It took a lot of courage for him to get up and do that. I was so proud, and nervous. I thought for sure dinosaurs and superheroes were going to be talked about. Maybe next month.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
I Am Thankful For Kris
...being such a good Dad. Kris was asked to camping with the Scouts this past Friday. And guess who got to go with him?
Abram was SO excited!! It was a short trip because Kris had to work on Saturday. So Kris and Abram went up Friday night and had to leave before the service project started-unfortunately. He said Abram did great and absolutely loved it and he talked Kris's ear off all the way there about what they were going to do. He enjoyed hanging out with the boys and making smores. Kris was really funny telling me the story- "Abram shined the flashlight for me so I could put up the tent......and by shining it, I mean he was shining it on everything but the tent." The next morning was pretty cold, they had to wake up at 6 to be on the trail to clean up.
This is Abram with 6 layers of clothes on drinking hot chocolate. Usually Kris gets kinda stressed about doing big things like this with the kids, and how they will do, etc. But when they were leaving to drive up-I couldn't tell who was more excited. He kept going on and on about how proud he was, and how this is something he has always wanted to do with the boys. It was pretty sweet.
Kris is such a great dad, and I am so thankful for him.
Abram was SO excited!! It was a short trip because Kris had to work on Saturday. So Kris and Abram went up Friday night and had to leave before the service project started-unfortunately. He said Abram did great and absolutely loved it and he talked Kris's ear off all the way there about what they were going to do. He enjoyed hanging out with the boys and making smores. Kris was really funny telling me the story- "Abram shined the flashlight for me so I could put up the tent......and by shining it, I mean he was shining it on everything but the tent." The next morning was pretty cold, they had to wake up at 6 to be on the trail to clean up.
This is Abram with 6 layers of clothes on drinking hot chocolate. Usually Kris gets kinda stressed about doing big things like this with the kids, and how they will do, etc. But when they were leaving to drive up-I couldn't tell who was more excited. He kept going on and on about how proud he was, and how this is something he has always wanted to do with the boys. It was pretty sweet.
Kris is such a great dad, and I am so thankful for him.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thankful For Our Veterans
Today I took the boys to a Veteran's Day parade downtown. On the way, we talked about why we celebrate this day. Also during the parade-like the prayer and the moment of silence-I explained about soldiers who didn't come home and what that meant. I have been thinking a lot about sacrifice lately. I had a Sunday School teacher when I was 16, who said it best- "Sacrifice is giving up something good, for something better." We may not always know what "better" will be, but I guess that's part of the sacrifice.
When we were living outside of Savannah, (Abram wasn't even a year old yet) Abram and I flew to Tennessee. On the flight home, there was a little girl who was having a hard time. She was loud and whiny-obviously tired. Things like that really don't bother me since I have had children. Sometimes that is a part of it. This little girl's mother was trying to be calm with her, but there was no winning. I tried to turn around to help, but she was more than a few rows behind me. I hated that I couldn't get to that mother-and I was annoyed and all of the eye rolling, heavy sighs, and murmuring from other passengers.
When we landed, I waited to leave the plane-when you have a 8 month old, it's always best-it seems to take forever to get yourself, and your stuff up. I saw the mother pass by with her daughter about 3, and holding a baby, with diaper bag etc. Kris met us at the luggage place and I saw the woman again. She was alone, with her 3 year old with a backpack/leash on, her baby in a stroller, trying to pull a luggage rack with 2 carseats and luggage on top....by herself. I gave Abram to Kris and I told him I had to help her. I walked up to the lady and said "Please, let me help you." She looked at me frantically and down at all of her stuff. She said "Thank you." and I grabbed the stroller and a bag she had and followed her to the garage.
I was trying to make small talk because I knew she was frazzled. She couldn't remember where she parked. Turned out-her husband was in Afghanistan and had been for a while. She had been visiting family that was far away. She felt bad for having me help her look for her car, and at one point-she sighed and asked me to wait while she ran with her oldest up a few rows to see if they could find it. There I stood-with her baby and her stuff, thinking of the passengers rolling their eyes-having no idea who she was, or how much she and her sweet little girls were sacrificing. She eventually found her car and thanked me and I left.
There are SO many families out there sacrificing. We have no idea. And while I am up here on my soapbox, I think of the people who protest. I think of the people who protest the war, and people who show up at military funerals to protest. It kills me. They have the freedom to make their ridiculous signs and protest BECAUSE their freedom has been paid for by the ones they are protesting. I just don't get it. And at a funeral? Come on, have some sort of respect. Moving on.....
We enjoyed a parade today.
The boys and I had amazing seats-and got to watch the fire department do this...
The boys were in awe. It was beautiful and made me teary eyed. There were so many people clapping and cheering and taking pictures. We bowed our heads with people of many races and religions in prayer at the beginning of the parade-praying for those Veterans, and those who are currently serving our country and their families.
Right as the parade was starting, this happened....
.......seriously-she walked up right in front of my kids. We had a perfect view until that moment. I took a deep breath and tried to move the stroller around a little. It was fine (but c'mon seriously?!).
This banner said something like "Our Heroes Answered the Call...."
We enjoyed the bands, the armored vehicles, the soldiers, the flags, motorcycles, cool cars, fire engines, a MERCEDES ambulance, etc.
It was really fun yelling "Thank you!" and clapping for them. Towards the end of the parade, there were a couple of soldiers handing out candy to which Abram exclaimed, "They protect us AND give us candy?!"
It was awesome.
When we were living outside of Savannah, (Abram wasn't even a year old yet) Abram and I flew to Tennessee. On the flight home, there was a little girl who was having a hard time. She was loud and whiny-obviously tired. Things like that really don't bother me since I have had children. Sometimes that is a part of it. This little girl's mother was trying to be calm with her, but there was no winning. I tried to turn around to help, but she was more than a few rows behind me. I hated that I couldn't get to that mother-and I was annoyed and all of the eye rolling, heavy sighs, and murmuring from other passengers.
When we landed, I waited to leave the plane-when you have a 8 month old, it's always best-it seems to take forever to get yourself, and your stuff up. I saw the mother pass by with her daughter about 3, and holding a baby, with diaper bag etc. Kris met us at the luggage place and I saw the woman again. She was alone, with her 3 year old with a backpack/leash on, her baby in a stroller, trying to pull a luggage rack with 2 carseats and luggage on top....by herself. I gave Abram to Kris and I told him I had to help her. I walked up to the lady and said "Please, let me help you." She looked at me frantically and down at all of her stuff. She said "Thank you." and I grabbed the stroller and a bag she had and followed her to the garage.
I was trying to make small talk because I knew she was frazzled. She couldn't remember where she parked. Turned out-her husband was in Afghanistan and had been for a while. She had been visiting family that was far away. She felt bad for having me help her look for her car, and at one point-she sighed and asked me to wait while she ran with her oldest up a few rows to see if they could find it. There I stood-with her baby and her stuff, thinking of the passengers rolling their eyes-having no idea who she was, or how much she and her sweet little girls were sacrificing. She eventually found her car and thanked me and I left.
There are SO many families out there sacrificing. We have no idea. And while I am up here on my soapbox, I think of the people who protest. I think of the people who protest the war, and people who show up at military funerals to protest. It kills me. They have the freedom to make their ridiculous signs and protest BECAUSE their freedom has been paid for by the ones they are protesting. I just don't get it. And at a funeral? Come on, have some sort of respect. Moving on.....
We enjoyed a parade today.
The boys and I had amazing seats-and got to watch the fire department do this...
The boys were in awe. It was beautiful and made me teary eyed. There were so many people clapping and cheering and taking pictures. We bowed our heads with people of many races and religions in prayer at the beginning of the parade-praying for those Veterans, and those who are currently serving our country and their families.
Right as the parade was starting, this happened....
.......seriously-she walked up right in front of my kids. We had a perfect view until that moment. I took a deep breath and tried to move the stroller around a little. It was fine (but c'mon seriously?!).
This banner said something like "Our Heroes Answered the Call...."
We enjoyed the bands, the armored vehicles, the soldiers, the flags, motorcycles, cool cars, fire engines, a MERCEDES ambulance, etc.
It was really fun yelling "Thank you!" and clapping for them. Towards the end of the parade, there were a couple of soldiers handing out candy to which Abram exclaimed, "They protect us AND give us candy?!"
It was awesome.
I Am Thankful For....
...stair step kids (Abram, Reese, Isaac-nephew)
KUB entertainment in the background.
KUB entertainment in the background.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Today I Am Thankful
I decided to try to do as many "thankful" posts as I can this month. Just as a reminder to myself how blessed I am. It's hard sometimes when you get caught up in "life" to remember. It may be confusing because I have a some more October updating to do-but I'm okay with that.
Today I am thankful that I got to spend some one-on-one time with this little guy...
and I am SO thankful he is feeling better.
Today I was pushing him on the swing and he said (while pointing to a big cloud in the sky), "Mama, dat look like da Hulk."
I love that little monkey.
I am also thankful for good friends. Especially good friends who have good kids that can be my kid's good friend (make sense?). According to Abram, one of his "best, best, best, buddies".
Today I am thankful that I got to spend some one-on-one time with this little guy...
and I am SO thankful he is feeling better.
Today I was pushing him on the swing and he said (while pointing to a big cloud in the sky), "Mama, dat look like da Hulk."
I love that little monkey.
I am also thankful for good friends. Especially good friends who have good kids that can be my kid's good friend (make sense?). According to Abram, one of his "best, best, best, buddies".
Abram Turned 5
Abram turned 5 on a Wednesday. We had big plans of making over the boys room as part of his present, he was going to have some buddies over that Friday, I was going to make "Creature Power Suits", it was going to be awesome.....
Rewind to his first birthday-we were living outside Savannah and I was making a "cow cake". My sister came and was "helping" me. I got distracted and forgot to add oil-this caused a 1a.m. run to Kroger. Every year I have bought two boxes of cake mix since. But for some reason every year I am making that late night store run, seriously. And this year was no different. You see I had a master plan-and then his preschool decided to do picture day that day. I was a little nervous for making cupcakes with bright blue icing like he wanted. Can't you just see it? Preschoolers with blue teeth? Blue icing all over white shirts? Super freaked out mothers that take preschool pictures way too seriously coming after me in their minivans? So I talked to his teachers, and I did really try. I tried my new cake pop making machine, and it failed me. I had gone to a high school choir concert (and had crazy flashbacks) that a few of the girls from church I work with are in, so I got a late start anyway. They were an epic failure which caused me at 1am to go back to the original plan. All good right? I even had my trusty extra cake mix, but what I didn't have was all of the icing ingredients!!! So off I went to Walmart. The "funny" part? Every. Single. Year. I have had to go to the grocery stpre in the middle of the night. And then after sleeping 3 hours, woke up so that I could make sure this happened.....
The sleepy birthday boy (Kris put their jammies on).....
Abram had got a package in the mail that he had to open. It was SO sweet-he said as he was opening, "I hope it's something I can share with Reese."
and it was...
His class went to pictures before snack, so that worked out perfect. And then that night we went to the Pizza Kitchen for some awesome food with the family. Unfortunately, I didn't get many pictures.
Isaac finished off the cupcake!
I was so thankful that we celebrated that night, because then Reese got sick and we had to cancel the party-Abram was SO sad. But then another blessing-some friends of ours gave us extra tickets they had to the Shriners circus! So Abram and I went with Natalie and Isaac while Kris stayed home with Reese. (Can I just say that even though we left at intermission because it was a forever long/way too late for the kiddos-it was SO good and I was really impressed).
Time is going by too fast. I was rewinding on the blog and going back looking at when he was so little....I'm not going to lie-I got pretty emotional. He is so smart and funny and fun to be with. He asks the most bizarre and thought provoking questions. He has no idea how loved he is. I am so grateful for him, even when he is leaping into the air-out of the Bishop's seat in front of the congregation and spinning in circles and waving during the primary program at church.......but that is a story for another time.
Rewind to his first birthday-we were living outside Savannah and I was making a "cow cake". My sister came and was "helping" me. I got distracted and forgot to add oil-this caused a 1a.m. run to Kroger. Every year I have bought two boxes of cake mix since. But for some reason every year I am making that late night store run, seriously. And this year was no different. You see I had a master plan-and then his preschool decided to do picture day that day. I was a little nervous for making cupcakes with bright blue icing like he wanted. Can't you just see it? Preschoolers with blue teeth? Blue icing all over white shirts? Super freaked out mothers that take preschool pictures way too seriously coming after me in their minivans? So I talked to his teachers, and I did really try. I tried my new cake pop making machine, and it failed me. I had gone to a high school choir concert (and had crazy flashbacks) that a few of the girls from church I work with are in, so I got a late start anyway. They were an epic failure which caused me at 1am to go back to the original plan. All good right? I even had my trusty extra cake mix, but what I didn't have was all of the icing ingredients!!! So off I went to Walmart. The "funny" part? Every. Single. Year. I have had to go to the grocery stpre in the middle of the night. And then after sleeping 3 hours, woke up so that I could make sure this happened.....
The sleepy birthday boy (Kris put their jammies on).....
Abram had got a package in the mail that he had to open. It was SO sweet-he said as he was opening, "I hope it's something I can share with Reese."
His class went to pictures before snack, so that worked out perfect. And then that night we went to the Pizza Kitchen for some awesome food with the family. Unfortunately, I didn't get many pictures.
I was so thankful that we celebrated that night, because then Reese got sick and we had to cancel the party-Abram was SO sad. But then another blessing-some friends of ours gave us extra tickets they had to the Shriners circus! So Abram and I went with Natalie and Isaac while Kris stayed home with Reese. (Can I just say that even though we left at intermission because it was a forever long/way too late for the kiddos-it was SO good and I was really impressed).
Time is going by too fast. I was rewinding on the blog and going back looking at when he was so little....I'm not going to lie-I got pretty emotional. He is so smart and funny and fun to be with. He asks the most bizarre and thought provoking questions. He has no idea how loved he is. I am so grateful for him, even when he is leaping into the air-out of the Bishop's seat in front of the congregation and spinning in circles and waving during the primary program at church.......but that is a story for another time.
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