Happy Birthday

Graham's birthday was very low key this year... Since we recently moved, I have not been very motivated to do anything, let alone put a party together.  Luckily, Graham didn't mind at all.  Maybe next year we will do a party :)

We invited my family over and had cake and ice cream, and then did presents.  Graham had been asking all day to open his presents, so he was really excited when everyone arrived!!  He didn't even want cake or ice cream (if you know my child at all, you know that is very strange!!)

I made a snake cake that I copied from my sister-in-law.  I wanted to use fondant like she did but we forgot to go get some... and since his bday was on a sunday, no dice.  But we made do... and Graham loved it.  He even brought down his stuffed snake so I could look at it while I was frosting the cake (hence the white stripes)

Blowing out his candles.... one. at. a. time.

I did two cake flavors: the kids was fun-fetti and the adult's was red velvet (very gruesome, I know lol)

No one wanted the head, which I thought was weird.  I don't think it ever got eaten.

And of coarse Graham got spoiled! He got a big floor puzzle, of who else?  But of coarse Thomas!

How to Train Your Dragon movie- we love it at our house!

And Mavis, the train

He also got Hiccup and Toothless from said movie.  He got nerf guns, and more trains, a CD player (which I am already reporting he has broken the antenna off...), a remote control truck and some clothes.

He was very grateful for everthing he got and shared VERY well with his cousins.

I really can't believe he is already 5.  I know that is totally cliche to say, but it is so true.  He still asks me to carry him (which I do, even though he is almost 50lbs!!), lay with him in bed, he says he "Needs me".  All things that tell me he is still my little guy...However, I know he is growing up. 

The worst part about his birthday was his 5 year old shots.  He went last tuesday and got four.  It was much harder than when he was a baby, because this time he looked at me (while I was pinning him down) with tear filled eyes saying "Stop! You are hurting me"  That is WAY worse than the screams of an infant.  THEN, he was practically crawling for two days because he was in so much pain.  His leg was rock hard, red, and swollen... Poor guy!  I totally bribed him with donuts if he was good (there was a Winchells across the street) and to be honest, he didn't even have to be good - he would get the donut regardless.  It was really just to help him be tough and brave, which he was.  I even had to help him with his pants and underwear when he had to go to the bathroom because just pulling them down hurt his legs too much... I am glad that is over (until he is 11 that is... at least he has several years to "recover"). 

Though I love this kid with all my being, Graham is actually going through a rough stage for me right now.  But I need to remember to enjoy it.  I was talking with a friend the other day and remembering the ease of high school life, but I realized that the challenges I had then, really felt like challenges.  In the future I will look back to now and remember the ease of having one child who was five and wishing I could go back.  I guess our perspective changes once our situations change.  I am trying to enjoy all of the time I get with him because before I know it, he won't be 5 anymore.  I hope that I never look back and wish I would have enjoyed him more.  I love my son so much, I love being a mom.  It is the best blessing I could ever ask for!

Happy Birthday Graham!  I love you!

Big Helper

We have a split rail fence at our house and were needing to put chicken wire up so our beloved Sophie wouldn't crawl under to chase bunnies... and believe me, she would.  Once at my parents house she was in the backyard for much of the day, which she didn't like.... she dug a hole by their gate and crawled under it because she wanted to get out.  I got home and she was wandering around in the front yard.  Another time, she was in her kennel while I was away at work, and she broke it and got out.

So, needless to say, I know it is in her.  We were in the house for a few days before we put up the wire and the front door was open quite a bit while we were moving, and sure enough, we would let her out in the backyard and she would come through the front door.  haha that stinker!

Here is Tommy (above) and my mom (below) hard at work

But the biggest helper of all...

Bob the Builder

Oh wait, that's Graham

He did this all himself!  He came out said he wanted to help and we told him he had to get shoes on.  He comes back out with his snow boots, hard hat and tools.  He gave me and my mom a hard hat to wear as well - safety first!

I love Graham, he makes me laugh and smile every day!!

OCD Much?

I have some, let's call them, "organizational tendencies".  I like things organized and to be in their place.  Well Graham has some wooden train tracks, OK he has A LOT of wooden train tracks and trains.  He used to have a plastic box that was able to house all of them... until Graham and his cousins decided to play inside of it (why is it that kids feel they MUST get into every box??? Doesn't seem like that much fun to me!!).  So right now they are in a file box and they don't fit very well.  SO because of my "organizational tendencies" I sort and stack the tracks based on shape and size so they fit nicely in the box.  It takes much more time but they all fit.  Graham has observed this many times when I help him clean up.

About a month ago, he runs into my room and says "Mom come look what I did"

I come and find this...

He had sorted and stacked his train tracks...

and put them nicely in their box.

The funny thing is that I usually just throw these tracks in the box because there are not many of them.  This was all Graham's doing...

What have I done to my son?

I hope that he does mantain some of my organizational qualities, just not to the point of obsession :)
(he has only done this once, so I am probably in the clear!)

Go Rockies

My brother called on Labor Day and asked if we wanted to go to the Rockies game... His brother in law had gotten 14 free tickets.  We jumped at the opportunity and we got the last three tickets.  It was a beautiful day, with the sun shining - and luckily we were in the shade because it would have been hot otherwise!!

The Rockies we playing the Philies and it was a great game.  The Philies had a couple of big errors that we were able to capitalize on...  It's just too bad they couldn't make the playoffs.  Maybe next year!

Daddy and Graham

 

"CHARGE"

why do we yell "charge" at baseball games? 

My brother and nephew, Isaac.

Isaac wasn't so sure about the cotton candy at first :)

There was a family sitting in front of us that were so nice.  Graham was sitting with Tommy and told him"Your Fired!"

(one of his new favorite things to say) And then and came to sit with me.

The guy in front of us, pulls out a balloon and makes a balloon animal and gives it to Tommy.  He said no dad should hear he is fired, so he was helping him out.  Well, it worked... Graham promptly left my lap to go sit back with his dad and admire his balloon dog.  He continued to make balloons for all the kids around.  He was such a nice man and made our kids day.  I love that there are still people like him in the world today!

All in all, it was a perfect day and perfect game!

I Want to Be Like Dr. Suess, While Wearing a Hat or Riding a Moose

Whenever I read Dr. Seuss books,
     Tommy gives me quizzical looks.

It's all because I start to rhyme,
   After every book
                           EVERY time!

    He rolls his eyes and gives a smile,
Because I rhyme on....  for quite a while.

        "I just can't help myself!" I say
And I continue to rhyme away...
In fact,
        I think I could go on all day!

My dream one day is to write children's stories
    And they'll hit "Best Seller" with all their glories.

I'm sure Dr. Seuss will me, inspire
     And my imagination will catch fire.

    Until that day, I'll continue to read
Dr. Seuss to all my seed.

Your stuff is probably not worth that much

Last night I was browsing Craigslist.  Originally I was searching for bunk beds but then got distracted.  I began looking at every piece of furniture.  I find it extremely hilarious how people think they can get insane amounts of money for old outdated pieces of...  well, you know.  I mean come on people you can't use the words 'Vintage' or 'Antique' if it is just old and outdated.  I love that people write, "we are updating and this isn't the color scheme we chose"... to me that says "the color of this sofa is hideous".  I just kept looking last night and laughing.  There was someone selling a doll house, now it was a fairly nice one, and here is the kicker: they stated they were selling it for only $50 less than what they paid for it (I think they bought it for $150, and where selling for $100) and it was not only used (not meaning that it was in terrible condition but that they bought it for their girls to play with it, and I am sure it fullfilled its purpose) BUT the ad also said the garage was broken and the roof was colored on. 
Anyway, I just had a fun time laughing last night at all the ridiculous euphamisms I read on Craigslist.  I totally get it that the quality of stuff on there is not always great, people are just trying to get rid of their stuff... all I am saying is be realistic in pricing.  We sold a sofa last year for $200 which would go great with a country style home (not our style and it was given to us early in marriage), it was 6 years old but rarely sat on... it really was in great condition... I saw sofas last night listed for more than $200 that you could not PAY ME to take!  I'm just sayin...

Church was awesome!!

So today our ward got really lucky.  We were spiritually fed (at least I certainly was!) by a General Authority.  President Beck the General Young Men's President came to the Denver area on Friday to do some YM training with the leaders.  Tommy went to the training yesterday morning and said that it was terrific. 
My ward was lucky because we were one of two wards chosen in the metro area for him to visit and speak.  Him and his wife spoke in Sacrament meeting and it was so uplifting.  I especially liked Sister Beck's talk.  She started talking a little about when they were called to Brazil, her husband was called as the Mission President down there.  It just so happens that my brother was serving his mission in Brazil at that time. (My brother was really excited that he got to go out to dinner with them on Friday night).  Sister Beck actually mentioned my brother, saying that she was so grateful how welcoming he was when they come.  She talked about the trials she watched the missionaries endure, and talked about how important it was to go through those.  She mentioned her own trials early in her marriage.  They had tried to have children for 7 years before they were able to adopt their daughter, after they had more children.  She said that during those 7 years there were times that she felt Heavenly Father wasn't hearing her prayers.  She said that she learned after the fact that He was listening and was in the process of answering her prayers (it just didn't happen immediately). I have heard many times that things will happen when they are supposed to and that we are to learn from our trials.  But she said something that stood out to me and was more profound to me.  She said that God had a plan for her children and certain things for them to learn, and for those things to happen she had to wait those 7 years.  It seems so obvious and simple but it was just what I needed to hear.  I know that God's ways are not my ways, they are far better, but at times I forget that and just want my way.  I do know that God is aware of me and has a plan for me, my family, and my future children.  What a great talk!
President Beck has a funny sense of humor!  He said that everyone should get the opportunity to speak in General Conference, once... We all laughed!  He also said we should all get the opportunity to sit in a meeting with the Quorum of the 12.  He related some experiences that Elder Scott and Elder Oaks said in one of their meetings about the sacred nature of the Sacrament.  He talked a lot about the Sacrament, and the Aaronic Priesthood and just how sacred the sacrament was, and that the duties of the YM in preparing the Sacrament are sacred as well.
Then I went with my brother so he could introduce me and I talked a little with Sister Beck.  I thanked her for her message, telling her it was something I really needed to hear.  She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug and said that everything would work out.  That our perspectives in the mist of trial are much different than after the trail has passed.  She said that I will have the opportunity in the future to help others in their trials.  It was a tender mercy for sure!
The youth had a combined second hour meeting and since I was just called last week into the Young Womens, I had the privilege to listen to that too.  They gave the youth the opportunity to ask questions and they gave answers.  What was an awesome surprise as well is that the Hillier's were also present.  When we moved out of our last ward/stake our Stake President was Brent Hillier.  In the April Conference he was called to be an Area 70.  I got to serve with his wife, Klaudette, in YW and also in the Relief Society Presidency.  She is one of my all time favorite people and it was so awesome to see and hear from her, she even sat with us in Sacrament Meeting.
Anyway, it was a great Sunday.  Very uplifting.  And I just wanted to make sure I wrote it down and remembered what I heard and how I felt.
The Church is TRUE!

David Beck, General Young Men's President

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