Keller-Antics

Keller never just says "my _____" when referring to one of his possessions.  He always says "my Keller's _______." The ones we hear the most are "my Keller's iPad" and "my Keller's blanket."

Keller rarely goes to bed without crying.  I don't understand.  I never give in and I don't let him come out.  You'd think he would catch on.  Well he was having a rough night a few weeks ago so Chad went in to tell him to go to bed.  Keller looked Chad square in the eye and said, "I wanna talk to Mom."  Then Chad told him again to go to bed.  Keller gets silly, closes his eyes, and starts pretend snoring.  Yes Keller - just what we had in mind.

During mealtimes Keller tells Chad and I "Take two bites. You gotta take two more bites."  Thank you Keller because it is definitely Daddy and I that don't finish our meal.

Like most families with little kids, we have been watching Frozen lately.  Out of all the cute lines in that movie what does Keller get stuck on? When Olaf says "Grab my butt."  Keller says it over and over and forces this over-the-top laugh.  The saying isn't funny but when he says it, it is hilarious!

Keller ALWAYS has to have shoes on.  He wears them all day.  He sleeps in them.  He would bathe in them if I would let him.  As a person who hates wearing shoes and is barefoot most of the time, I really don't understand this.

Chad taught Keller how to say "Happy Mother's Day!" He had him give me chocolate cake for dessert.  This result in in Keller saying this all day, "Happy Mother's Day! Chocolate cake!" Or when someone asked if he liked his chocolate cake he could just mumble "Happy Mother's Day."

Whenever you tell Keller something he has started saying, "Shess (yes) I know dat mom!" I better start praying now about the teenage years!

Whenever Keller grabs a phone or iPad that requires a code to unlock it, he hands it to someone and says, "seven-eight-nine please!"

Keller is OBSESSED with super-heroes right now.  Every morning as soon as he opens his eyes we hear, "Superheroes downstairs.  Let's go get them!"

Keller is suddenly spouting off tons of things I didn't realize he was actually absorbing.  I have been trying to teach him the sounds of the letters, counting to 10, shapes, and colors but he usually doesn't ever act like he is catching on.  Not anymore! Out of nowhere he can almost count to 10 (he usually skips one number), can name all of the basic colors and shapes, and he knows about 3/4 of the sounds of the letters.  I'm pretty proud of him at only two!

Doggie doors & superheroes

I just love Keller.  Everyday he is getting more and more funny.  I love when they exit toddler land and start to be little boys.  He is talking up a storm and really coming into his own.  It's so fun to watch.  This is just a quick post about two new things about Keller.

First up is his new favorite way to get in and out of the house into the backyard...the doggie door of course!  He's actually been doing this for at least a month but I always forget to grab the camera.  By the time I get it he is already through the doggie door.  It cracks me up!  For the record, he knows how to open the sliding glass door.  He just doesn't.

 The next thing I wanted to post is about Keller's new love - superheroes!  Vance never really loved superheroes, so this is all kinda new.  Chad is a superhero nerd so he is LOVING it! Every day I learn some new superhero thing.  Chad is always appalled that I could not know such important things.  I, on the other hand, really don't get it and think it's both hilarious and adorable that Chad is so into it.

 We had some really small figurines but now that Keller's obsession has really taken off we had to go buy some bigger ones.  He is loving them!!!

 He plays with them for HOURS and HOURS! I love listening to him talk to the figurines and see how he plays with them.  It is so dang cute! My favorite is that he calls Hulk "Hulk-smash." Naturally you have to say it yelling and/or growling.  Boys really are just born innately different than girls!

 He would take these guys everywhere if I would let him.

I'm sure we will be buying more superhero toys in the future.  Keller has found Dad's weak spot and I'm sure that will work to his benefit :)

Peacock

I arrived a few minutes early to a photo shoot and decided to use that time to take pictures of the beautiful peacocks at the location.  There is something so captivating about peacocks to me.  They are such pretty birds!

 

Cooler

My dad rented a Harley Davidson motorcycle last weekend to go on a ride with my brother-in-law.  He decided to stop by and take the boys on a quick ride around our neighborhood before he took it back.  At first they weren't sure, but by the end they loved it.

 My favorite part of the whole thing happened after the ride.  My dad came inside to visit for a few minutes.  Out of nowhere Vance looks at my dad and says, "Grandpa that just makes you more cooler!"  I think that made Papa's visit worthwhile :)

I'm grateful for such an awesome (and cool) Dad who is one of the best grandpas you'll ever meet!

Mother's Day

I had an amazing Mother's Day! I'm lucky to have a husband and boys who spoil me rotten.  The celebrating actually started Friday night because the boys went to the father and sons campout with my dad.  I had a girls night out with Leslie and my awesome friend, Krista.  We ate tapas and chatted until the restaurant finally kicked us out!  Saturday I started the day off by sleeping in and then my mom and I played tennis and got a quick bite for breakfast.  Later we did a little shopping while Chad cleaned the house (seriously he is the best!).

Sunday morning I woke up to this cuteness -

 Vance was so excited to give the gifts he had made for me.  I loved each and every one of them.  First up was this cute vase of paper flowers he made at school.  Each flower stem had a different act of service he will do for me.

 He made me a card -

 But my favorite is the bracelet he made me, especially the charm - 

Keller's best present was him repeatedly saying, "Happy Mutter's Day! Happy Mutter's Day!" in his sweet little toddler voice.  Ahh...so freaking precious!  He also drew me a picture on the chalkboard -

 Chad had the sweet message on the chalkboard, along with the perfect card.  I had told him I wanted to make cinnamon rolls together so he got up early to let the dough rise and had it all rolled out for me when I got downstairs.

 I did the filling, rolled it up, and cut the dough.  Grandma Sutton's cinnamon roll recipe really is the best!

 Mmm mmm good!

 I also got a new dress to wear to church.  It's long and flowy and so comfortable.  I love it!

After church we relaxed and just spent quality time together as a family.  It was perfection. After that we headed over to my mom's house for about an hour.

Being a mom is the hardest thing I've ever done, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Happy Mother's Day to all the other women out there! I hope you got spoiled like me :)

Forgiveness

As I mentioned in the previous post we have been using positive affirmations in our family.  I have the sweetest story to share about Vance and how he has been living one of his affirmations:  I forgive myself and others for mistakes we make.

We recently had a girl down the street babysit the boys for the first time.  Since we weren't going to be home, we told her and Vance that no kids were allowed to come over and that they needed to stay inside or in the backyard.  Well apparently while we were gone some of the neighborhood kids heard them playing in the backyard and went to the side gate to ask to come over.  Vance explained that they couldn't come over today because Ashleigh wasn't just playing, she was babysitting.  One of the kids called Vance an "a**hole."  The babysitter took the kids inside and the problem was avoided.

When Chad got home the babysitter and Vance told Chad what happened.  Vance then asked Chad if he could go over to the neighbor's house who called him the bad name to give him a note he wrote.  He showed Chad the note and it said, "I forgive you."  Now this boy is like four years older than Vance (as are most of the kids who come over to play).  Chad's immediate reaction (as mine would have been) was that the note may not be such great idea.  He thought about explaining to Vance why giving someone a note saying "I forgive you" when they never apologized might be kind of weird and make the boy mad.  He decided to trust Vance and let him deliver the note.  

When Vance gave the boy the note he said, "Alright.  Cool."  Then the other neighborhood kid who was with the other boy during the cursing incident and the note delivery said, "Can I get a note too?"

What a powerful lesson of forgiveness a 6 year-old just taught his parents!!!  

Both Chad and I thought we would have been protecting our son from a potentially embarrassing situation had we decided not to have him deliver the note.  This is an older boy who didn't apologize to Vance or ask for his forgiveness.  Yet Vance gave it.  Vance didn't tell the boy why he forgave him...the boy knew.  Vance didn't lecture him and talk about why we don't use mean words...the boy knew.  

I am proud of Vance.  I so strongly believe that this is what living a Christian life is all about.  It's not about forcing the gospel down people's throats.  It's not even about always talking about God and church.  It is about being a good person and taking the moral high road.  It's about living the way you should even when you think it might make you "uncool."  

I believe Vance is making a difference, however small it may be, on the lives of some of the kids in our neighborhood.  A few days later a girl came over and said how she hates her mom sometimes.  Vance casually asked, "Why would you hate your mom? Moms are great."  The girl said, "Yeah I guess."  

It is my daily prayer that Vance will maintain his sweet spirit his entire life.  He is such a leader and people, both young and old, are drawn to him.  I hope he uses his natural way with people for the better.  I love you Vance and thank you for teaching me such an important lesson about forgiveness!

Affirmations

During one of the conversation we had Women's Conference, the power of using positive affirmation got brought up.  Positive affirmation are just statements that you repeat (preferably out loud) to remind yourself of something.  They can be about whatever you need them to be about.  

The idea of implementing these into my family's daily lives really appealed to me.  First, Chad and I sat down and wrote a few affirmation for ourselves.  I frequently think these types of things to myself but I have never actually written them and repeated them out loud. We made a list of them on our cell phones so we could always have them with us.  They cover a variety of topics where we felt we could use a little help.  A few examples of mine are "I cherish the time I have with my awesome sons because it goes by too quickly," and "God made me and loves every part of me just the I am."  

I wanted to teach our boys at a young age the power of positive thinking (a concept I am SO passionate about). I decided for them, writing their own affirmations was probably not possible, so I helped them make affirmation boards.  

For Keller I found affirmations that had pictures to go along with them.  They are short and sweet.

For Vance I printed out about one hundred affirmations.  I read them to him and he selected the ones he wanted to include on his board.

Every night before we go to bed, the boys pick a few affirmations to say out loud.  I am happy to report they have already impacted our lives.  It is such a simple thing, yet so effective.

If you are interested in writing your own affirmations (which I definitely think you should!) here a few general guidelines most people suggest you follow:

1 - Write them in the present tense.  "I am healthy" instead of "I will be healthy."

2 - Keep them positive. 

3 - Make it personal.  Your affirmations have more power if they are specifically written and unique to you.

I would love to know if you use or plan to use affirmations and how they have affected your life!

Women's Conference

I went to Women's Conference up at BYU with some of my family.  It ended up being me, two of my sisters, my mom, my aunt, and four of my cousins.  It was so nice! Chad took work off to be with the boys (and study) and I was able to have a weekend to just be me.  

Women's conference has about 15,000 attendees.  There is an opening and closing session each day and then there are three classes each day.  There are lots of choices for the classes so you can pick the topics that you want.  Everything is faith based but the classes range from everything to God's grace to parenting, communication to addiction, and personal finances to prayer.

Here we are walking from class to class-

 When we aren't busy at class we spent lots of time talking...lots and lots of time talking!

 We ended the weekend, as usual, with breakfast at Kneader's.  It's a yummy, cute place to eat. I wish we all lived closer so we could do this more often!

 While I was gone, Chad and my dad went to the lake with the boys.  They sent me these pics -

 

I want to make sure I have my notes from the conference somewhere so these may not all make sense  to you but here they are anyway.

Women's Conference 2014

Opening Session

What is grace?

No earthly remedy can do what grace can

It is sweet above all. The fruit is the Atonement. Grace is the power that flows from the Atonement and how His love continues. 

Try substituting grace for power in the scriptures. Grace is divine power that enables us to handle things we could not our own. 

What difference can grace make in our lives?

It can bring us peace

It helps us resist temptation

It helps us change

It helps us to be happy

It is sufficient for all men who humble themselves before Him

How does the Savior make His power available to us?

There would be nothing without grace, with it there is everything

Grace gives us power to the Holy Ghost 

What must we do to gain access to the Savior's power?

Our access hinges on who we are becoming

It is be grace that we are saved after all we can do. Nephi

We must do all we can to be disciples of Christ

If we are centered on Christ nothing can ever go permanently wrong

Communication in Marriage

To know true love we must totally share ourselves and wisely share emotions, concerns and feelings

3 nephi 11. Contention is from the devil. Such things should be done away

Matt Townsend book. Starved. Safety trust appreciation respect validation encouragement dedication

A burning house with flames and smoke. Often times we argue about the smokey haze but we need to focus on the flam end the true root of the issue

Safety-physical, financial, spiritual, emotionally   Does your partner feel safe with you and do you feel safe with them?

Trust-trust the competency of our partners. Pray for understanding about each other. Does your spouse trust you, your character and your competency? Do you trust your spouse?

Appreciation-see-ers, hearers, touchers, and sensors. How does your partner want to be loved? How do you want to be loved?

Respect-Does your partner know your value and admire you? Do you value your partner?

Validation-two opposing points can be simultaneously valid. Do you validate the thoughts and concerns of your partner? Do you feel validated by your partner?

Encouragement-finding out their deepest dreams and feelings. The healthiest couples are each other's biggest cheerleaders. Do you encourage your spouse? Does your spouse encourage you!

Dedication-do you feel your partner is more dedicated to you than any other person or thing in this world? Are you dedicated to your partner?

Where are we most starved? Don't starve each other! Cut through the smoke!

D&c 130:1-2. 

Sociality-same love we have here, we will have there (heaven)

Men-provide, protect, preside. Women-nurture. 

Women bond talking (newborn baby example). 

There is power in the difference. What really kills us is our similarities: your body (brings chemistry), your mind (brings conflict), your spirit (creates communion)

Spirit-We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Communion is when we thin the veil. Facilitates peace

Body can bring pleasure, pain, and party. 

Mind makes up the stories and conflict. 

Three keys to get out of the conflict and bring back the spirit

1-Stay in the now. Forget past mistakes and fears of the future

2-yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit 

3-look to God and live

The Words We Speak

A mother voice recognizes that she has significant influence

A mother voice chooses to look for good in those she nurtures and chooses to speak of it

A mother voice teaches and teaches truth. Inspire and guide, not coerce and manipulate

A mother voice turns her children to the Lord

A mother voice recognizes she has been given an opportunity to strengthen relationships, especially during crisis, tantrums, etc

A mother voice encourages us not to speak when frustrated or feeling judgement

A mother voice comes to know that feelings of guilt and not of shame help them develop and grow

A mother voice recognizes that she can follow the Lord's pattern of unfailing love 

A mother voice knows that global criticisms do not build and edify

A mother voice seeks to give answer to the hope you have in them

Identifying feelings helps our children trust us. We can talk about difficult feelings

Though there is much you can learn from other women, books, etc. the greatest blessing is to be able to seek the promptings of the Spirit to know how to best love and raise your unique child

Pray for help as you change the way you speak 

The key to good communication is love

Does my tone of voice communicate love?

Do my words reflect the love I have for my child?

Do I listen with love?

Does my communication lift, encourage, and strengthen the faith of those I love?

Am I willing to make the effort to change those behaviors that will allow me to be the parent I want to be?

Treat our children as visitors from another culture

Keep a sense of humor

A quiet, calm voice naturally relays love 

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.  Proverbs 16:24

Keys to changing

1-Believe

2-Increase our personal sensitivity to the Holy Ghost

3-Ask for His help

Terrific Teens

Season to plant-plant seeds of affirmation and encouragement, we need to find the good and expect it, quick to complement and slow to discipline

Season to grow-help your child grow their relationship with God, your kids to learn what they are capable of doing on their own

Season to gather-make our home a haven, love is spelled t-i-m-e

The time to talk is not always convenient. Take time to be at their crossroads (the coming and goings)

If you want to get to know your teenagers friends, make food!

What is written in their hearts and etched in their soul?

God trusts teens and so must we

In leading, as Our Father, we set clear expectations softly. Co-counsel with them 

How does my teen hear me? A note, direct, in the car, etc.

Choose to invest correction where it really matters 

Like the Father, we glory in the uniqueness of each individual soul

Guide teens to identify and avoid excesses

Choose Thus The Kinder Plan

The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. 

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 

Laughter reduce pain, relieves stress, improves mood, discuses conflict, strengthens relationships, attracts people to us

When you can laugh at yourself you are farther away from negativity and stress

The Lord's power is a gentle sense of humor. The adversary's tool is sarcasm

Stop it. It really is that easy. Stop seeing the negative, criticizing, etc.

One purpose of mortality is to learn to let go

Come what may and love it

It is a talent we can cultivate to have a happier and more positive demeanor towards life

Put a smile on your face

Accentuate the positive

Everything we choose decides who we are going to become

Choose to accept that you are a child of God

Choose to put everything on the altar before Him

Choose to put yourself in the position to have experiences with the Spirit of God

Choose to obey and keep your covenants

Choose to prepare to worthily attend the temple

Choose to believe in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Accept His forgiveness and forget your sins

Young Motherhood

We need to manage our distractions from our true job of parenting

Relationships deepen and real parenting takes place when you have unstructured time - Elder M. Russell Ballard

It's okay if they are bored sometimes because that's when creativity takes place

There are a few universal hallmarks of a good parent: unconditional love, unfailing support, endless affection, and concern

Strong mothers, strong sons

Small Daily Habits

Habits I want 

-Family prayer

-Scripture study

-Give thanks

-Act of service

This is not a to-do list. It describes our efforts to live the gospel

Our daily habits propel us forward

Sometimes all we need to continue pressing forward is perspective 

We accumulate faith one day at a time

 Establish and strengthen your own testimony

Closing session

Today is a gift...that's why we call it the "present"

Those in the great and spacious buildings are not necessarily more but they are yelling in these modern days

In 5.2 million books from1500-2008 less use of moral words by approximately 50%and rise in subjectivity

Fiction has lost its faith. 

Decline in marriage and religion

Rewards of righteousness

Reward of spirituality

Are we sufficiently humble?

Are we stripped of pride?

Are we stripped of envy?

Do we mock or persecute a brother or sister (bullying)?

Reward of righteous families

Create Zion in our hearts

Be a light

Focus on the ordinances and principles taught in the temple

Reward of happiness

Childhood family happiness correlates with a successful, happy adult

What goes right in childhood predicts the future far better than what goes wrong 

The single most important thing we can do is to let our children know we love them

Reward of prospering in the land

Sufficient for our needs and abundance of blessings and spirits

Reward of peace

Chuck E Cheese

We had a random free night and decided to take the boys to Chuck E Cheese.  They had a blast.  It was a perfect mellow night.  On a side note - they raised the price of tokens.  Instead of 25 cents it is now 3 token for $1.  LAME!

Ladybugs

My mom and I were running errands and came across these cute nets and bug habitats at Target in the dollar spot.  The boys had been really good so we decided to buy them.  Then we headed to Star Nursery to buy some ladybugs.

First the boys scoured Grandma's backyard to fill their bug habitats with the perfect grass, dirt, leaves, etc. 

 Once they had their habitats just right, Grandma brought out the ladybugs for the boys to "catch." 

 I couldn't believe how many ladybugs were in that cup.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  There were probably like 200!

We kept the ladybugs in their habitats for a few days and then we let them out at the park.  It was fun while it lasted!