Easter 2008

Easter is one of the things that my kids look most forward to in the year, mine too! I just love it. This year, however I laid in bed while Darren, Grandma and Grandpa took the kids outside to look for the treasures that were left for them. They had so much fun as they always do. Even without all the extras that the "Easter Bunny" usually does. New baskets filled with beautiful colored easter grass, a spring themed stuffed animal, hand dyed easter eggs, ect. Nope, none of that was done this year as the Easter Bunny's helper was sick and pregnant. Each child went out, plastic grocery bag in hand and had just as much fun. The big hit of the day, an egg with a special message for each child in it, One go cart date with your Dad, Love the Easter Bunny. Not a beautiful pastel basket that would go in the garage as soon as the day was out, mind you, but even better in the eyes of a child. Lesson learned!

To nap or not to nap

Tate has been out growing his nap for the most part. Although some particularly busy days he could still use one. This was one of those days. I was busy vacuuming the floors when Tate sat down on a chair and watched me. A few minutes later when I looked back I found him sound asleep on a cold, hard dining room chair. Of course I did the only thing a mother could do. I moved him to the soft comfortable couch and wrapped him in a blanket, where he continued his nap, after I took a few pictures

Man's best friend

In our house there is no dog. Therefore Tate has accepted the role of loyal companion to Darren. Dad is his most favorite person. Dad drives a truck, dad uses tools, dad builds things, dad lives outside whenever he can and probably the coolest thing is that dad can't see dirt! Dirt, what dirt? You mean the pile of fun I am sitting in! Where mom would say," try and stay clean", dad hands him another shovel to dig with. Mom's can spot a speck of dirt from across the room and come at you with a cold wet cloth. Necessary, yes! Fun, no! Tate is the happiest when he is dirty and wet and outside with his dad. That's what little boys are made of. I can fully appreciate what Tate sees in him. Nothing could be more fun to a boy of 2 or 32.

Great expectations

Somehow we are expecting again. Although I said I would never, ever do this again. This baby was very much planned for and we are very excited. Darren especially at this time, as I am the lucky one who gets to go through all the nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weight gain, mood changes, lack of sleep, weak bladder and at the end of it all, labor. I will never be one of those women who are able to say," I loved being pregnant!" I could not understand something less than that sentence, for that has not been my experience or my reality. Yet when all is said and done I would not change the fact that I get to create life. I get to feel a new baby, my new baby growing and kicking inside me. I share my life with them from the very moment they are conceived. It is the most incredible thing I have ever experienced in my life. I have to believe that somehow the sacrifice that we as women make to do this most amazing work, all the pain and trial bond us to that child in a way I'm not sure that we can always comprehend. On a very small scale it reminds me of the great sacrifice of our Savior. At those moments when you just want to crawl into a ball and disappear, losing sight of the end reward, it is hard to maintain a positive attitude. It is hard not to feel sorry for oneself and fall into despair. Somehow I need to though. Remembering the suffering that my savior went through for me and the suffering I am going through for this piece of heaven is the most wonderful kind of labor, a labor of love.