Kick off to General Conference

Saturday night was the General Women's Conference.  We got tickets (Thanks Lorin!) and, in the rain, drove up to the Salt Lake to watch it in the Conference Center.  It was worth the drive and worth the wet.  It was extra special going with my mom and two sisters, and this was Jamie's first time at a session in the Conference Center.  We walked away from that meeting feeling like better women, mothers, sisters, and wives.  I felt like a loved daughter of God.  And it all kicks off this year's General Conference sessions that start this weekend.  Cause I need to hear more!  Looking forward to it.

"Moving in the Right Direction"

 

This past Tuesday night we had our ward's Young Women Evening in Excellence.  The theme for the night was "Moving in the Right Direction".  Hence all the arrows, arrow heads, and compass symbols.  It was my very first Evening of Excellence so I wasn't sure how things went.  Luckily I have amazing counselors that stepped up and basically held my hand through it all.  And we have awesome young women that helped also.  The Beehives were in charge of the refreshments, the Mia Maids were in charge of the program/invites, and the Laurels were in charge of decorations.  Those Laurels made all of those arrows (!!!) I was so proud of them.  And lastly, my dear friend Anna let us borrow all of her Hopi blankets, feathers, and authentic arrows.  It all worked out and it looked beautiful.

Each young woman also set up projects from Personal Progress to show what they've been working on the past year.  The tables were full of beautiful pictures, flowers, sewing projects, scriptures, journals, and books.  Again, so proud of each of them.

At the end of the night, each young woman took home an arrow to remind them of this night, as well as to aim and keep focused in the right direction.  It was an awesome evening surrounded by my girls and their parents.  As overwhelming as this calling is, and as much work as it is, the reward is sweeter.  I love celebrating Women, especially my Young Women.

Lennon's Panda Party

 

Since Lennon just loves her Panda-Manda, I thought we'd have a Panda Party for her 1st birthday.  The invites were adorable (by Bri at Collected Blog) and the rest of the decorations were so easy--just a lot of black and white, and we had white powered and chocolate covered donuts. I even donned a panda ear headband to fit the theme.  Jake and Myer joined in the theme wearing black and white (kind of) and Lennon had her own Panda shirt.

Happy 1st Birthday Lennon!  So glad we could celebrate with family and friends on such a milestone.  We made it wahoo!  Looking forward to many more my dear.  Many more!

end of summer bash

 Over the weekend we were invited by Myer's cousins to their neighborhood End of Summer Bash.  It was complete with food, bouncy house, volleyball, live music, and a slip-n-slide.  Lennon and I just ate the food while Myer played (his first time) on the slip-n-slide.  His terrified face could have fooled me because he kept running up the mountain for more.  I loved seeing his bright red hair zip down the slide.

Oh and the snow cones.  Can't say goodbye to summer without a last snow cone.  So adieu summer and hello fall!

*one year*

My water broke at 1:00 AM and I did NOT want to go to the hospital.  I sat in the bathroom--arms folded and my legs tightly crossed.  First of all, my house wasn't clean because I was planning to deep clean the following day.  It said so right on my calendar "Clean House".  Secondly, and probably the real reason behind not wanting to leave a messy house, I was scared.  Myer's birth was hours of scare after scare after scare and just so much unknown, and I did not want to relive all of that.  So I wasn't budging.  She was just going to have to stay in there.

Jake spoke softly with soothing words while he was grabbing bags, getting dressed, and brushing his teeth.  I told him I won't leave until the house was somewhat clean.  So with a surprised/confused face he obediently emptied garbage cans, swept the floor, picked up clothes, and made the bed.  So with a semi clean house and me out of orders, Jake finally took my hand and said, 'You can't have our baby in our bathroom."  So I trusted those blue crystal eyes and let him help me to the car and then to the hospital.

Then just 8 hours later, with no complications, and just 3 little pushes, Lennon was here.  She was safe and I was safe.  She was a quiet but a strong little spirit that completed our family of 4.  Now she is busy busy with so much curiosity and determination that it surprises me to think we had such a quiet soft little baby just a year ago.  But I wouldn't change a thing.  Lenni Lou you are perfect.  Happy Birthday sweetest daughter of mine.  We love you!!

Preschool!

Wednesday night I couldn't sleep.  I was too excited for Myer to start Preschool the following morning.  Come to find out, I wasn't the only up and excited--Myer was awake and ready at 5 a.m.  So I snuggled him in bed for a few minutes and we talked about the upcoming school year--what he was excited to learn about, what friends he was going to make, his new red shirt that he gets to wear along with his red school bag, but he was most excited about the treats.  He was excited to see what snacks Miss Molly had at her school.  (He is his father's son.)  But after we talked he went back to sleep.  I, on the other hand, couldn't.  I was excited to finally drop him off at school, which is what he has been talking about all summer.  And honestly I couldn't wait either because finally there was something to challenge him.  He is just too smart for me.  And this social bug will love making new friends and having that social interaction with more than just Mom.  I know he is going to flourish and just eat it all up (not just the snacks). 

In the car ride over he kept telling me, "You don't come in with me Mom.  You just drop me off and then pick me up later, okay?"  But once we arrived and he saw other parents walking in, he did take my hand and let me take him into class.  Totally for  my sake. We got to do a fun art project together and he just kept hugging me--the tightest hugs.  I know those are special ones that are telling me, "I'm so excited Mom.  Thank you.  This is so fun!"  But eventually he did look at me like, "Are you going to leave yet?"  So I gave him one last squeeze and walked out.  That's when I started crying.  And it surprised me because wasn't I excited for him?  Not sad?  We talked about it for months how excited we BOTH were for him to start school.  But here I was running my mascara.

It's an end of an era.  He is big and older and ready for big things and older things.  He wants this.  He actually needs this stuff to challenge him.  And what gets me, is that he is EXCITED for it all.  I am no longer coaxing a baby to grow; it is his initiative.  Miss Molly asked me if he was going to be alright with the adjustment, and I told her that he is more than fine.  Now I think I'm the one that needs help with this adjustment.  When I got home, I laid Lennon down for a nap, and just sat in my quiet house.  It was the oddest feeling.  It only lasted for an hour but knowing Myer was somewhere else starting something new without me, was just weird.  I didn't think I'd be this sad weird mom having issues sending her child to preschool, but I totally am!  (And it's only 2 hours twice a week! Get a grip!)

But he came home so excited, chatting my ear off, and yes the snacks were the big hit.  He is not happy with the fact that we have to wait till next Tuesday to go back, however.  Which is just fine with me!  But I am glad that the big milestone of the First Day of School was positive and that he wants to go back.  Makes this weird emotional roller coaster easier.  Just a little.

Union Station

 Since we were already up in Ogden to see the new temple, we decided to make a day of it, and explore Union Station.  And, duh, Myer the train enthusiast may have swayed our decision.  We walked through old trains, played with controllers, and got an earful of who looked the most like Thomas, or Diesel, or Mavis.  Adorable. 

Geez what a great Labor Day!  I wish Jake could hang with us every Monday.  I'd make a trip all the way up to Ogden if that meant we could have him all to ourselves.  Already looking forward to the weekend.

Ogden Temple Open House

 Yesterday for our day off (labor day) we headed up to Ogden for the Ogden Temple Open House.  I thought that Myer would be bored and not so enthused about it, but he couldn't wait to get inside.  He was jumping up and down and dancing with his cousins while we waited our turn in line. Just so excited to see the temple. To be honest, I think he was thinking he was getting married to cousin, Navy, while we were there....

 

^^^ See? Just a little cousin love. ^^^

The temple was beautiful.  I love the feeling when I walk inside.  And what made it even better was that I could share that feeling, not only with Jake, but with my young children.  Myer always asks when we can go inside the temple and I finally got to take him inside!  He, of course, just giggled the whole time (because of his large white booties on his feet) but also I know that is because he was feeling happy.  And Lennon just hung out in the Bjorn quietly sucking her thumb.  It was a peaceful morning full of good, happy, and calm feelings.

I know that once this temple is dedicated, the sacred unit of families are bonded there forever.  I know that because Jake and I were sealed and married in the temple, our family will be together forever.  As a mom, that is a great comfort to me because I can't control life, but I know if I stay true to the promises I've made in the temple, I will be with my family forever.  So each time I see a that beautiful white structure, I'm comforted and can breath a little bit easier.  And we were lucky to have another one of the structures in our home state.