New Years Thoughts

I had to give a talk at church about Elder Uchtdorf's Of Regrets and Resolutions general conference speech. After reading it I was left with several questions and thought I would leave them here for some end of year soul searching. I know that in my life, my family has always come first but sometimes that isn't enough. Sometimes, you need to magnify your calling as a parent and tell those around you what you think of them. Teach them to do the same because life is fleeting.

In the talk, Elder Uchtdorf stated the top statements heard by people reaching the end of their life. Here they are in bold face and my thoughts follow.

I Wish I had Spent More time with the People I love:

Who is my role model? Do they know it.

Who do I look up to ? Do they know it. 

Who is someone I love? Have I told them today? This week? This month?

What life lesson did someone teach me that made a huge difference in my life? Do they know?

If I had a month left in life, what would I do? Would I change what I normally do and who I am normally with? 

If I had a day, would this change?

I wish I Had Lived up to my Potential:

If I won the lottery how would my life be different? Would my relationship change with my family? Why? 

What is it about the money that makes it possible for me to be happier or fulfill the potential I think I have? Is there any other way to accomplish it even if it is harder and maybe  requires humility?

How would my life be different if I had no fear?

How would my life be different if I had no obstacles to overcome?Would it be better? Would I be better?

It there was nothing stopping me, what would I become…….

I wish I could be……..

Heavenly Father wishes I could be……Are these two questions answered the same?

I Wish I Had Let Myself be Happier

Joy is……

The thing that makes me happiest in life is……

The thing that I look forward to each day is….

The thing that makes me happy that I don't have in my life……Is this something Heavenly Father would want for me?Is there an alternative that makes me just as happy and is Heavenly Father okay with that?

What is my finish line?

What has made me happy in the journey so far……?Does it/ they know?

If I could do this year over again, I would ……..

If I could do this year over again, Heavenly Father would want……Are these two answers similar?

Of Resolutions:

Next years goals/ to do list…..How many are outwardly goals and how many are inwardly? Can I accomplish the inwardly ones first?

I will resolve to spend more time with the ones I love…..How?

I will strive more earnestly to become the person God wants me to be….How?

I resolve to find happiness, regardless of my circumstances. How daily? How monthly? 

The Triplets at 20 months

By now, my and my trips got a routine going. Most of the time at least. Carlos, my sweet beautiful boy whom I love dearly, has the nick name C-Le D, which stands for Carlos Le Douche. Why would we call him that. What else do you call a 20 month old that still wakes up in the middle of the night with an ear piercing cry or who uses said cry to tell you he is not going to nap for more than 15 minutes today? How do I tell him the absolute need for mommy alone time, and by that I mean time to do the laundry, make his lunch or help the big kids with their homework time. Yes, he is a challenge but when you pick him up he gives you one of his stellar hugs followed by his heart melting smiles and you forgot why you would ever call him such a thing....until he does it again. The girls sleep through the night together in the same room but nap time everyone is to their own corner because Gigi and Beau wind each other up and all you hear is baby gibberish followed by hysterical laughter and inevitably one or both climb out of their cribs. 

     They are all talking a lot but Beau is putting the most words together. I love how they wake up greeting each other and us with a "Hi mommy. Hi daddy. Hi Beau etc..." Carlos likes to keep it chill by waving his hand and saying "Hi guy" to everyone. They will say goodbye to everyone and everything as well. They are very well behaved kids but it doesn't make the day any less exhausting. But I wouldn't know what else to do if I didn't have these guys. It's forced me to step up my game as a parent and as a human being. I can see it in my older children too. How they are more patient and kind because of these kids. 

     Carlos climbs up to play on the computers a lot. Gigi likes a little iPad in the morning and Beau likes to sit on your lap when you need to move around the most. They all say "see-cio" in the morning when I start exercising and they all have their exercise moves that we have documented fully. Carlos likes to sit on  my during sit ups. Beau prefers the leg lifts and Gigi likes to rock in the chair and do arm exercises. They sure do know how to make me laugh. We go through a gallon and a half of milk each day and that still leaves them wanting more because they eat us out of fruit every other day. I can't complain because they have grown like weeds. What more could a mom ask for? I plan on teaching them how to follow me while holding a rope just like in pre school so we can make it out to the park next month and hopefully a plane trip soon.....Keep your fingers crossed.

Gigi our joker

Peek a boo time three

The girls like to hold multiple babies. I wonder why?

They have fancy hair

They are clowns

Blue Steel stare

The lover and most talkative of them all

Dress up each day varies.

But you better dress them both up and sing the princess song

Sometimes it's hard to be a superstar

A moment of peace.

Halloween Recap

Happy Halloween!

My candy monster sure is cute

A flower among the thorns

Golden's Halloween party got wrapped

The other three amigos

The babies enjoyed all the festivities too

The three amigos decorating rice crispy treats

Little bo peep gathers her sheep

And some vampires and jedi's too

Golden's 11th Birthday Party....I know we were late

I know the year is almost over but I had to put in Golden's September birthday party photos or I would never forgive myself. At least we celebrated it on time. We went to Sam's Fun City, which is a kid on speed sort of creation. Sensory overload a minute after you step foot inside. Arcade games that feed you tickets to purchase your heart's desires (If your desire is a ten cent piece of garbage you would of never even thought of buying), an entire carnival of rides outside, go kart racing and finally, laser tag. What more could a kid ask for. I must say my favorite was watching the kids on the go karts. The crashes were spectacular and just by their driving, you got an insight into who these kids were. Just my kids alone: Eva was focused with a furrowed brow trying hard to be the first and best at this task. Golden, he was driving along, surprised when the road just changed on him abruptly but taking it all in with a little "Oh no!" Never really noticing who was in the lead or not. Our dear friend Jeremy had to ride with his daughter scout. Funny to see him speeding by the kids, lapping most of them. I think he enjoyed it but he kept a good poker face on for us. In laser tag, Eva commented that Jeremy hit the most targets and "I never saw him mom" How intuitive that child is since Jeremy is a sniper in life. Jeremy 11000 - kids 10. I hated to think my boy was growing up but it's impossible to ignore since he has grown a foot in less than a month and a half. But he will always be my first little guy. I love you Golden.

Jeremy with Scout on the twirly thingy.

Carlos dressed up for the occasion

Eva was calm as usual.

Golden is never scared.

What is he wishing for I wonder?

Ready

Set

Go-Go!

Christmas 2012

Well, another Christmas has come and gone in our new Florida home. How blessed we have been this year. The in laws came down for the duration and the kids have had special bonding time with them and Golden was blown away with his air gun that Grandpa gave him. We were visited again by our elf, Christopher, and I swear that he is getting more mischievous the each year. He even toilet papered our tree and ran over our nutcracker with Santa's sleigh. Is there nothing sacred to that little man. We continued with our usual traditions of having a picture ornament tree. It is getting full quickly now that the triplets are adding to it as well. We celebrated Noche Buena and opened one gift and on Christmas day we have breakfast after we open presents because who can wait that long. Eva and I made pom pom balls for wrapping our presents as well as pom pom wreaths. We also learned how to finger knit and made knitted garlands for the house and tree. Quite impressed with that one. No holiday is complete without making our ginger bread house, Christmas cookies and, in general, a lot of sweets.
     Eva auditioned and was picked for the Ballet Pensacola's performance of the Nutcracker this year. We were so proud but were never allowed a moment with her in costume so all I can show you is the beautiful curls I had to do in her hair for three performances. Whew! Lots of hair on that girl. But my happiest moments were of us, climbing into bed at night and watching Elf or Fred Claus (which makes Golden laugh until the air is all but gone from his body). Or simply the not having any school or activities to run to but simply having all these days to spend with one another. It will be missed once the new year begins.

Bad Christopher!

He got bored sometimes.

Somebody has some Santa anger issues they need to address

Chris left out his update to Santa one day.

Does the dog know he's not human?

Golden is almost as tall as grandpa

What fun they have

The start of something cool

Its the journey and not the final destination with these things

Beau with her multiples dolls. It's how they play.

Finger knitting with my girl

Our 2012 snow globes

Golden loved his Star Wars advent calender

Adding to my Nutcracker collection

Golden and Eva had their piano recitals too

The family joker.

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours.