Makes me smile!

Here are some things that make me smile the most in my life right now!

• Ashlyn and Megan making Shannon laugh hysterically!
• Shannon laughing hysterically.
• Megan talking to herself.
• Ashlyn being able to tell time on a regular clock and "getting" it!
• Ashlyn learning about money and "getting" it!
• Ashlyn excelling at the piano.
• Shannon's crazy hair.
• Shannon's bald spot on the back of her head.
• Good family vacations.
• Swimming with my kids.
• Megan saying "I love you, mom."
• My husband fixed my dishwasher.
• Ashlyn using the word "awkward."
• Fruit smoothies.
• When my dishes are done.
• Smelling Shannon just after bath and lotion!
• My bed.
• Dancing with the Stars.
• Survivor
• Cadbury Carmel Eggs.
• Smothered Chile Verde Burritos.
• Celtic Woman
• Megan making her own bed - the best a three year old can do.
• Shannon grasping and holding things and eating EVERYTHING she can get her hands on.
• Megan drawing her "people".
• Ashlyn doing math and "getting' it.
• Megan doing pat-a-cake with Shannon.
• My girls watching The Care Bear Movie that I watched as a child.
• I finally have long finger nails again.
• We have consistently held FHE for 4 weeks in a row!
• Shannon finding her voice - new sound this week is yelling happily!
• Shannon eating her toes.
• Megan pulling her elbow into her shirt, holding it with her hand and sucking her thumb - can't beat it so I might as well embrace it.
• Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar.
• A&W Root Beer
• Frog-eye salad
• Megan not taking naps, but falling asleep in random places in the house.
• Shannon's big, open-mouthed smiles.
• Shannon's big, open-mouthed kisses.
• Ashlyn taking care of Shannon.
• Finding Shannon updside-down at the other end of the crib.

Whew!

I made it through my first Sunday of organ playing and am so relieved it's done. I spent several hours at the church this week practicing and I am so glad I did. Playing alone and playing while people are singing are two totally different experiences. I found myself tensing up several times and had to keep telling myself to relax, but I made it through with only a handful of either missed or wrong notes. (Of course, I played the easiest songs I could find in the hymn book - so we'll see how next time goes).

The hardest part was not sitting with my family. I left for the church a half an hour early to get one last practice in. Devin had to bring the girls all by himself and sit with all three during the opening song, announcements, a confirmation, sacrament song and sacrament. I got to sit with him for 5 minutes during the two youth speakers, then had to play a rest hymn. From there, I took Shannon to eat and had to quickly halt the feeding as I heard the last speaker bearing his testimony. I literally walked back in, handed Shannon to Devin and walked up for the closing song and postlude. CRAZY!!! I think that on my weeks, I need to request that there be no rest hymn. It was a little too much for me. Maybe now that I have been set apart things will go more smoothly and I will feel more confident.

Devin handled it all like a champ. I think the kids were actually better for him than they are for me. I'm so glad to have his support. I felt so blessed this afternoon as he joined with our bishopric counselor in setting me apart and giving me a blessing from our Heavenly Father. What a blessing the priesthood is in my life. I felt our Father's spirit so strongly during that prayer and knew that this is what he wishes me to do right now. I know that it will be challenging, but I also know that this is how we learn and grow - by stepping out of our comfort zone and trying new things. I am grateful for the opportunities that I have to serve our Lord and hope that as my children grow that they will see not only the importance of serving, but the privilege of serving him as a way to prove ourselves worthy to return to him someday.

(Although - I can still use all the prayers I can get on behalf of my fingers!)

Bumbo Baby

Shannon is getting so fun! She has discovered her fists and LOVES to eat them. It's a good thing because she decided after about 2 months that she was not a fan of the binki! She is laughing more and more and loves to play and sing songs. She loves the bath as long as the water is not running and she is starting to get better sitting up. We got her the Bumbo seat to help her and I think she is happier now that she can sit up and see what's going on in the world around her. (Although you can't tell in this picture!) She drools and bites down on anything that comes close to her mouth! I know those teeth are moving, but I hope they stay down there a while - I'm trying to teach her now that she can't bite me or else I will be in big trouble when her teeth finally do come in!

Holes

Today while running errands with my posse - AKA Ashlyn and Megan, I decided to stop and get Devin an Apple Pie Carmel Apple from Rocky Mountain Chocolate. Anyone who's ever had one will know they are too die for - I could go on and on about them....

Right across from Rocky Mountain in the strip mall was a Claire's. I decided that I would ask Ashlyn (again) if she would like to get her ears pierced. Now, we have been working on this since September when she turned 5. I wanted her to get them early enough before Kindergarten that by the time she went to school they would be all healed up. We have been in and out of different ear piercing shops at least 3 times since her birthday and she has always chickened out. Today however, she said she wanted to do it and she would NOT back out.

We went in and she picked some cute rainbow flower studs and climbed up on the tall seat. They even had a cute teddy bear to hold. The funniest part to me was that it took 10 minutes for the technician (is that what you would call her?) to get the little dots even on her ears. If you know Ashlyn, she has hear uncle Devon's ears that poke out. Hers are even a little crooked - but I love them, and think she is darling no matter what, and I hope she is never self conscious about them because that is part of what makes her so cute to me!

Another girl came over to help so they could do both ears at the same time. She was so brave and only cried a little bit!

Well, of course, as soon as Megan saw Ashlyn getting all the attention she decided that she had better get her ears pierced as well and she also wanted the rainbow flower earrings. I was a little worried with her being younger, but she is usually my tough kid so I gave in. We got to the point where the piercing guns (that sounds scary) were over her ears and she started freaking out, but told her it was too late, we counted to three and it was done! She cried a little harder than Ashlyn, but within 5 minutes she was fine too!

When we got home, I told them to go stand in front of Daddy and see if he noticed. Of course he did, because Devin notices everything like that!

Hopefully things go smoothly and we don't have any problems with them! Wish me luck!

Randomness

Here's to hoping that all those people who tell me I will look back at this time and miss it are right...

Timing is EVERYTHING - Took three kids to church with me by myself since Devin was sick. Shannon did NOT want to take a nap. I missed all of Sunday School, and part of R.S. My dear friend took her out for me while I played the opening song since she was screaming. I finally got her to calm down and fall to sleep with 10 minutes left. At 5 minutes left she woke up and pooped REALLY loudly - pretty much broke the mood with everyone laughing. Went up to play the closing song, which I really didn't know, and got something caught in my contact. Talk about a bad 5 minutes. Walked around the whole building to find Ashlyn since they moved her class, all the while pulling a three year old behind me, carrying a car seat with a screaming, poopy child, and two heavy bags. Needless to say, I was exhausted when I got home. I probably would have skipped Sacrament Meeting that day, except that I was being sustained in my new calling (adding to the one I already have as the R.S. pianist)... the ward organist.

Ward Organist - Well, I guess I always new this day would come eventually and I pretty much am under the impression that once you are the organist, you will always be the organist. I always wanted to learn to play and actually took a few lessons from our current organist a couple years ago. In theory I understand how to do it, but to make it actually work - that's a whole other ball game. I quit taking lessons because I was "too busy" with two kids and piano students. HAHA. Another child, preschool for my girls, piano, and a job from home - I guess Heavenly Father thinks I can do better this time around. This is another test of my will and strength to see how much I can handle. I really am excited to try to learn - and now I will have to make the time to do it. Right now I will only be playing every other week, switching with the current organist, but they are selling their house, so we'll see what happens after that. I hope that we are blessed with patient children from now on, because Devin will be alone with the three of them while I am up there playing. I guess only time will tell.

Timing is EVERYTHING Part 2 - Why, oh why is it than whenever I sit down and just start to feed Shannon that I hear Megan yell "Mooooom, I'm ready to wipe"....????

Sleep? Sleep? Where did you creep?- The past few nights sleep has eluded me. Partly because I stay up too late after I get the kiddies to bed so I can actually get something done. Last night was especially crazy. I finally got into bed at 1:00 which is way later than normal, but I thought I would still get in a good 7 hours. I was somewhat uncomfortable since Shannon had eaten and gone to bed at 6:30 and hadn't waken up yet for another feeding. I really though she would wake up any minute. No, instead I woke to Devin yelling my name. I jumped up and ran and there is Ashlyn standing over the sink. She had woken up with a bloody nose. Her face and jammies were covered and her bed was a mess. After cleaning her up, re-making the bed and starting yet another load of laundry, I finally made it back to bed at 2:30. 5:00 Shannon finally woke up - (by this point, I'm really hurtin'). She ate and went right back to bed - this is the longest she has slept in her little life. By 7:00 Megan was in my room really coughing and totally stuffy with a little bit of a fever.

Needless to say that this day has been long and hear I am still awake at 11:00 pm. Between 5 blowout diapers, Megan sick, putting out fires at work all day, you can't be surprised that I'm still in my pajamas from last night, Megan and Ashlyn walked around in their swimming suits all day, we had pizza for dinner (again), and the laundry STILL isn't done.

I really do love being a mother and wouldn't trade it for anything! We'll see if I can look back at it all and laugh!

Laughing

Shannon just laughed for the first time while I was playing pat-a-cake with her. Cutest sound I've ever heard!

Shaving

Megan just tried to shave the bubbles off of her nose and mouth while she was in the bath. She found my old razor and got herself good. Her nose has three little lines from the triple blade, and her lip is cut in 4 places. So much blood for a such little cuts. I don't think she'll ever try to shave again.

Favorites

Ashlyn went around asking everyone in our family "What is your favorite thing to do?"

Here were the answers:

Daddy- Sleeping

Mommy - Playing the piano

Ashlyn - Seeing new things

Megan - Playing with dolls

Shannon - Eating

She came back out a few minutes later with a piece of paper. I asked her what it was and she said she drew a picture of everyone's favorite thing.

Here's what she drew:

Daddy - a bed

Mommy - a piano

Ashlyn - Eyes

Megan - A baby doll

Shannon - ... (can you guess what she drew)...?

Oh the funny things kids do.

Valentine

We got this Valentine present for each other to enjoy!!!!

Anniversary

No, it's not our actual wedding anniversary - that will on on June 16th - (10 years this year). On February 15th will be three years since we went through the temple and on the 17th will be the anniversary of our sealing.

A time I had looked forward to for so long. Sometimes I wondered if I would ever get there, but it was SO worth the wait.

I was so lucky to be able to have both of my moms - Pam & Joni - there with me as my escorts. I have never once regretted my decision to receive my endowment and make covenants with my Heavenly Father. Our sealing was so special. What an awesome sight to see our two beautiful little babies all dressed in white enter the sealing room and become ours for eternity. We were so blessed to be able to have our parents, many of our grandparents, our bishopric, and a few close friends share that special day with us. We have had some MAJOR ups and downs over the years, some anniversaries I wish to never remember, but this one is definitely an UP for us.

One thing I wish for myself is that I would make more time to attend the temple - it's a goal I need to work on - especially with the new Oquirrh Mountain temple only 5-10 minutes away. Can someone give me some pointers on how to do that with three kids....

Blessings

We are so blessed!!

Last Sunday was Shannon's baby blessing. We are so blessed to have our family close by so they can be a part of these special days. Shannon's beautiful dress was hand-made by my Grandma Grant especially for her blessing.

While Shannon was receiving a wonderful, sweet blessing given by her daddy, I was overcome with how blessed she, and my other girls are. There, standing around her in this circle were the most amazing, strong men in our lives. Her daddy, both her grandpas, one of her great-grandfathers and uncles. Could a girl any more lucky and protected? I don't think so. What a blessing it would be if we could all walk around with a giant circle of protectors around us all the time. Not just body guards with big muscles, but spiritually strong, wise guardians with the power of the priesthood keeping us out of harm's way? I realized that we ARE so blessed. When we strive to do the best we can, we are blessed to have our Heavenly Father's spirit surrounding us, protecting us, guiding us. It's sometimes easy to forget that because it's not something we see physically - like the circle around Shannon that day. But, at least for me, when I am blessed with the Holy Ghost's companion it feels like an invisible circle, protector, around me and I feel our Heavenly Father's love and guidance. One of my biggest hopes as a mother is that my girls will be able to recognize that feeling and strive to have that blessed companion in their lives as well. I would do anything for my children and now I know that is how our Heavenly Father feels about us. That is why he has blessed us with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. What a BLESSING!

Shannon Bug

Anyone who's been around us the past two months knows that we have a little Shannon-bug in our home. The pictures don't do it justice, but I swear they could be related....

Daughters

So - I'm totally new to this and not sure how interesting it will be! I'm doing this so I have a better record of my day to day life with my three littles!

I would NEVER have thought I would be blessed with three daughters. I would've bet millions I would only have 1 daughter. I guess I just thought since I didn't have a sister, I would only have 1 girl. Weird I know, but that's just what I thought. Needless to say, it has been quite the experience for me so far. Not having a sister myself I have no idea about the dynamics in sister relationships. As of right now, I think my girls, especially Ashlyn and Megan have a relationship just like any sibling relationship - They are either best friends or bitter enemies. (Although the bitter enemy thing doesn't last too long). I think it will be interesting to see how things change as Shannon gets older and starts getting in the mix of things. I'm definitely praying that the teenage years with three daughters won't cause me to have a nervous breakdown, but we'll see.

Yes, we would love to have a son - poor Devin is so outnumbered, but he loves his girls. They all have him wrapped around their little fingers. He is already preparing his guns to ward off all the "Stupid Teenage Boys" that come around. He says "I know what they are thinking and they are NOT getting my girls". I say "Oh, the same way my dad kept you away from me?" Luckily we had a few years before that time comes, but I have a feeling I will blink and it will be here. In the meantime, I'm just trying to get through each day and enjoy as much of it as I can.