Achieving Goals

I was able to experience one of those "proud parent" moments yesterday at church. You know...the kind when you can't stop smiling and your tummy gets excited! Recently our Primary leadership put up a chart to keep track of those who could pass off their 13 Articles of Faith. As soon as Eliana heard about the challenge she wanted to DO IT! So every night we practiced an article of faith and the following Sunday she passed it off and got a sticker on the chart. I could see her beaming with a positive self-concept and the feeling of success. She set the lead in the whole primary and last Sunday was awarded a prize in front of everyone for achieving her half way point. If she wasn't SO shy she would have spouted the fist 7 articles of faith out as fast as she could. I am very proud of my little 5 year old who has a memory just like her daddy's!

When we first started practicing and she was doing so well, I could tell Tristan starting to feel down on himself. We were giving Eliana praise for her success every night at bedtime and Tristan was watching it all silently. I started to give him a little extra attention and tried teaching him the AOF but he didn't show any interest. The Sunday before last when they told Eli she would be awarded her halfway prize Tristan changed his attitude towards the whole thing and made efforts to learn the first AOF. He and Eliana are totally different personality types and this type of stuff doesn't come as easily for him. He gave it his all and passed off his first AOF on Sunday. Not only that, he showed an interest in doing the second. I hope he keeps his motivation and can feel the same success that is so good for building his own self-concept.

Lately I have been making a huge effort in my parenting. It may not be noticeable to others but I have been trying my hardest to not respond to my kids with anger when they make mistakes. Instead, I approach them with love and give out a solid consequence. I can tell a difference in their behavior already. This is a very difficult thing to do and I can't always bridle my anger or frustrations. I have been thinking a lot about their future and how challenging it will be to parent them as teenagers. I really need to shape them NOW and teach them respect, consequence and how to solve their own problems instead of coming to their rescue. I remember walking all over my parents and getting away with so much. I look back and feel awful for the stress I put them through. If only all parents had the resources and took the time to mold their kids at an early age then our society might not be so scary!

Well, I have to say I am very proud of my kids, and my husband for participating every night with the kids. It is a great feeling to have such a united family. Their is no greater love than what we share within our families.

Barrett's first words

I keep forgetting to post about important things and I don't want this to be forgotten. Barrett's first word is DADDY! He says it like (daa-tee)It is soo cute. His other word he loves to say is Ah-Oh. He learned that fast. He loves to drop things from his high chair and I used to say Ah-Oh and pick it up. Now he does it for fun and smiles big while saying AH-OH over and over. He practically throws food at the dogs and laughs hysterically watching them scurry to find the feast.

Barrett is an adorable little guy. He is great at independent play but on the other hand he doesn't want anyone but mom. He is very curious and likes to discover new things. He absolutely loves to play with the dogs. Poor Bella just lays there while he pulls open her mouth and cracks up laughing while she licks his hands and snuffs at him. Barrett has the biggest smile I've ever seen! His whole face lights up, he crinkles his nose and his eyes close shut. I can't help but laugh every time I see him smile. It is fun watching him finally start to walk from his never ending knee walking. He is so wobbly and unsure but he is quickly gaining confidence. I still love that the babies love to play and wrestle with each other after bath time. I always put them both in Barrett's crib naked before I get them dressed and they love to romp around. Tonight I got Soren out first and I put him in his crib and he started throwing a big fit. I realized he wanted to be in the other crib. As soon as I put him in Barrett's crib he laughed and waited. Barrett joined him and they were at it once again. Thankfully Barrett has cut back on the biting!

I love little Barrett!! He is very precious to me.

Easter fun

The morning started off a little mixed up. Tristan has been sick so he slept in late. The babies were up first and I didn't think about them going after all the eggs the Easter bunny had set out the night before. By the time Eliana had woken up I had already picked up all the eggs in the house. When she woke up she found her basket and I explained about the eggs and told her after Tristan woke up we would hide all the eggs outside.

Chris gave a talk in Church and I was SO bummed I didn't get to hear it. The Stake President said it was Masterful and he was Spiritually edified and everyone I spoke to that day commented on how much they enjoyed his talk. I am truly sad I missed it. After Chris came home we hid the eggs and all the kids came outside for the hunt. I think they had more fun hunting eggs at our home than any other place. It is great to have a nice, big yard to hide them in. This year I put little toys in the eggs instead of candy. I haven't really been limiting their candy intake as much as normal, I just want all of it to be gone asap.

I attempted family pictures. I have a feeling from now on family photos are going to be a real head ache with these kids.

Our Easter was filled with family togetherness, the love of Christ and an appreciation for the Atonement.

4 weeks and counting!

Our Italy trip is upon us! We have made all our hotel reservations and are excited about all the fun things we get to do while we are there. My mom asked me how long I thought it would take for me to completely unwind. I told her I would let her know:) Next on my list is to go buy some new clothes so I don't look like a run down mom in jeans and a t-shirt all the time.

The babies are walking...yeah!!! Soren started about a week ago and walks about 90% of the time. Barrett started walking on his knees 3-4 weeks ago and that is his preferred way of cruising the house. I catch him walking through the house but as soon as he spots me he gets down on his knees. I give him another week or two till he is trying to keep up with Soren. It is ironic since Barrett was the first to sit-up and to crawl. I guess one can never truly predict these things.

Eliana is turning into a beautiful little girl. Her hair is almost down to her waist and she is all about giving and getting hugs lately. She is learning to read and doing an incredible job. She is very enthusiastic about reading. She has made some good friends in her pre-k class this year. I am hoping we will have plenty of friends for play dates this summer. I am already getting anxious about having all 4 of them home all the time. I have a couple friends that we are planning trade-offs with. I think we will be at the pool a lot this summer! Hopefully the babies will enjoy the water like they do in the bath.

Tristan's birthday is TODAY! He is now a big boy of 4 years. I can hardly believe it. Where is the time going. We had a great little party planned for today but he has been sick with a high fever. If his fever is gone all of today then we will re-invite all this little friends, but for now it is going to be our little family, Jess and maybe the neighbors. We are cooking out on the Big Green Egg and having cake while the kids run around back and jump on the trampoline. Tristan is going through a fun yet difficult phase. He is all boy and loves to go shooting with his daddy. Soren loves to give Tristan hugs and Barrett just laughs at the crazy things Tristan does. Most of all I love Tristan's sweet spirit. He can be the most loving and kind little guy.

Today we are going to J.F. Gregory Park for a massive Easter Egg hunt. Last year it was insane to see the mass numbers of kids rush the park to find all the eggs. Even though it is craziness, the kids still have a great time so it is worth going.