Asking the right questions or Service brings blessings

One of Jim Bob’s responsibilities for church involves setting up and taking down the audio-visual equipment for the Stake. He was at the Stake Center this evening helping set up for the Young Women broadcast. {so wonderful by the way!}

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While there he was asked: “Brother Pipes, would you like a salad or piece of cake?”
To which he responded: “Oh, no thanks.”

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“My wife has dinner in the oven and I’m just going to head home.”

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*walking by the kitchen*
“ooh… Are those *pause*

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strawberries on the cake?”

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To which the sweet sister replied, “Why yes! How many children do you have…six or seven?”. Jim Bob came home with eight pieces of yummy, creamy, summery strawberry topped cake… and a story.

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The sweet sister’s husband said, “Now we know his Achille’s heel”.
He is so right.

One more photo, because my man is so handsome.

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And because he was so patient as I tested the lighting before having him retell the story – he told it so well.

Title goes here. ;)

These photos make me laugh and shake my head just a little.

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That would be our girl Autumn up in her grandma’s tree on a fine spring Sunday.

Making her way down…

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Legs up…

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and… poof goes the dress.

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The main reason we stay in Sunday dress on the Sabbath is so that our little ones are reminded of what a special, unique day it is. I just didn’t anticipate how much can be done in Sunday clothes.

exercising with a three-year-old

It’s fun having an exercise buddy that doubles as a personal trainer. We’ve been doing a yoga/pilates routine lately, Katey and I.

Having a little one attempt reverse warrior, dolphin pose and cracking me up makes exercising at least seven fold more enjoyable.

“You can have a big piece of cake… after you exercise. It’s called exercise treats” she says.

Brilliant! Too bad the cake is pretend.

“It was fun doing that exercise. At least we’re done” she sighs.

My thoughts exactly.

{Photos to come – I believe my computer is overworked from the intense whining whirl of the fan. Time to rest us both.}

Love Stories, con.

Dear you,

Here are four love stories from the files (photos from a few years back) and one recent one.

{credits:  here}

Evidence of a perfect day.

Fishing lessons from daddy. Nachos on the shore. Mini-adventures for all – exploring and discovering. Snuggles and photography for mama. The perfect day? For us – yes! Case closed.

{credits: here}

Drewby was so concerned when he would wake up and his favorite car was on the floor. He knew he had gone to sleep holding it! Here’s his solution – a little kite string and a lot of winding – silly guy. We did not let him sleep like this – just took a whole bunch of photos and then carefully unwound.

{credits:  here}

Decorated bag, cute love notes, and a “sugary snack”. Lunch essentials. 🙂

{credits:  here}

Perfect for me.  My sweet 3-year-old LOVES her baby sister. I hear her whispering and talking to her all the time. This phrase is one of my favorites – “You are the perfect sister for me.” *sigh* Recording this moment so she can remember what it’s all about.

{credits:  here}

“Daddy, graham crackers and a book… simple joys are truly the best.” Okay – that’s what I wished I put on there – left off the truly part, but we can pretend. 🙂  Also lovin’ on my hunny – who later told me that he tried to angle the Baby Haiku book just right while I was snapping photos – he wanted that light on her face.  love.

Did you find a heart on each layout?  The lunch one is a teeny bit tricky.  <3

Hope your day is a perfectly snuggly one.

Much love, Becky

Spotlight: Caleb

Daddy:  Caleb, I love you because you are such a good talker.  You talk really, really good and say cute things.  You are fun to listen to.

Who wants to go next?  Caleb:  ME!!!

Andrew:  I like Caleb because he is so cute.

Caleb:  I kiss Jacob.  I want to kiss you.

Joshua:  He is so creative with drawing.  I remember once coming home and seeing one of Caleb’s paintings.  It had a line of green and a squiggle of yellow and a blotch of blue – it was so creative.

Jacob:  I love Caleb because he is so playful.

Caleb:  I burped!  (I think he likes being the center of attention.)

Katey:  I love him because he is always drawing and playing with me and Andrew.  That’s all I love about him.

Caleb:  Everyone loves me.  It’s good.  And Autumn.

Autumn:  Caleb is so cute and has sparkly eyes.

Caleb:  I have eyes.  I have two eyes.  Katey has two eyes.  And Duke!  Duke has eyes.

Mommy:  Caleb is so sweet and a good explorer.  He loves Meri and calls her “Meri Jane”.  He even corrects people when they don’t.  He is also very good at giving high fives (Big Fives he calls them and they have to be dead on or they must be done again) and knuckles and booms.

Meri:  Uh, Uh, Uh  (fuss, fuss – “my tummy doesn’t feel right”)  *yawn* (“I’m tired.”)

Caleb:  I’m awake!  I not go to sleep.

 

March Forth…

I’ve been crushing on this site:  Purdue Avenue

What’s not to love about a site that features crafty goodness, photography tips and inspiration about life?  As promised, it is a site that leads to all things fabulous.  See?

        

{Click on any of the photos to go straight to that project.}

The tutorials are thorough – complete with pictures and ooze creativity.  I would not mind taking up permanent residence on Purdue Avenue.

One of the contributors is my very good friend Mandi.  I *adore* her.  She posts sweet and fun weekly layouts of her family.  Weekly!  She also makes adorable stuff like this:

and this:

And inspiring things like these:

Cards can be downloaded here.

Mandi does all the research and lets you know the best products and process.  Even those photos turn out cute.

    

Mandi made my blog header – I’m so blessed.  Have you noticed that my puddle splashes change each time you visit… or refresh?  Try it out.  🙂  Love!  And she sent me the cutest package when Meri was born.  Mandi found things I had pinned on Pinterest and made them for me.  All in my color I chose for last year.  Who does that?  Mandi.  She’s amazing.

I love her idea of setting goals on March 4th.  I always need a refresher by then.

Here is my first week in March goal:

My comments on the blog:  “I have spent a full day contemplating. Then I realized there is more than one week in March and that took some of the pressure off. 🙂 So I decided. This week I will not let my perfectionism keep me from starting. Yes, there are things that I put off doing because I know they won’t be perfect in the near future. I’m going to start anyway. Starting with a newsletter I volunteered to make… over a month ago.”

Almost  week later – “I did pretty good on my goal – it wasn’t everyday though.  🙁  And there my perfectionism peeks out again.  So – I’m gonna celebrate what I did accomplish!  ready?  *  Newsletter for the Humanitarian Center?  started, finished and delivered.  hurray!  * a guest blog post for the 1940 census blog?  sweet.  fun photo shoot for said post?  can do.  Except not a 1940s radio in site.  Instead I sketched a radio for a backdrop and let my little ones dance in front.  It worked and I think it turned out even cuter than my first idea – love.  And my final one?  I haven’t hung anything on one of my bedroom walls because I’d love to re-paint it sometime.  So here’s a beautiful wall needing a little color with no holes at all.  I decided it’s okay to put a few holes in it while it waits to get painted.  It’s right by where Meri sleeps and I put up the most beautiful yellow cloth banner EVER.  And it makes me smile.

Thanks for getting me started Mandi!”

Here’s my goal for this week:

Some posts from my draft folder, some formulating in my brain… consider yourself warned.  🙂

 

communication of a 3-year-old

Katey did you go potty?

*silence*

Katey?

“I winked. That means yes!”

Clever: a story in three tweets

March 1st:

When I put peanut butter and raisins on my three-year-olds celery this morning she proclaimed that I was clever.  #whythankyou

AND she just declared the celery yummier than fruit snacks.  #forthemommywin

I’ll tell you what’s clever… wearing a very fluffy lacey slip as a skirt and a sweater on top. Adorable Katey.

 

Spotlight: Katey Belle

Daddy:  I love that Katey is always dancing – flitting around on her tippy toes, leaping around and twirling… she is our little ballerina princess.

Mommy:  Katey adores her little sister Meri.  She is always watching out for her and making sure she is happy.  Katey shares her special pink blankie and favorite doll with Meri all the time.  She even leaves them with her overnight.

Jacob:  What I love about Katey is that she is so playful – running around and being active.  She is always trying to have a lot of fun.

Joshua:  Katey is always willing to let me read her bedtime stories when Jacob is babysitting.

Katey:  It’s your turn Autumn… what do you like about mmeeeee?

Autumn:  I love that Katey is always smiling.  She shows her bright shiny teeth.

Andrew:  I love Andrew.  oh… *head shake*.   I love Katey because she always plays games with me.

Caleb:  I LOOOVE Katey!

Daddy:  Why do you love Katey?

(*Katey whispering in Caleb’s ear.* – Later we found out she was telling him that he loves her – no specifics sadly.)

Daddy:  I’m sure Meri loves you because you share with her… and someday you will teach her all about being a girl.

*moving on*

Katey:  Daddy!!  I didn’t tell mine.

Daddy:  okay…

Katey:  What I love about Meri is that she kicks my hands with her feet.

contemplating life

What is life all about?

Spit bubbles?

Peek-a-boo smiles?

Perfecting the art of coo?

Or something else entirely?

Back to contemplating…

 

p.s.  For me right now life is about spit bubbles, peek-a-boo smiles and cooing.  So thankful.

p.p.s.  All photos of Meri taken by Jim Bob yesterday (February 24th) and appear in chronological order.  Sweet, silly baby.

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