TMI

This post is a bit personal- and may be classified TMI- Fair warning.

Josslynn is done nursing.  Bittersweet.  I love nursing.  Lets just say 'She's a biter', and leave it at that.

The inevitable consequence to stopping is that my glorious pregnant/nursing, ahem, 'ladies', seem to disappear overnight.  

Yes.  Tragic.

So last week I took myself out shopping to a lovely lady named Victoria who apparently has a lot of secrets to find a suitable arrangement.  

They measured me.  They measured me again.  The manager came out and measured me.  She looked puzzled and sighed, then finally said- "I think we might make some in your size..."

Two.  Two 'sister slings' that would fit my wide ribcage and lack of endowment...in the entire store.

So I did what any self respecting woman would do.

I bought the leopard print one.  With rhinestones.

Bathing Beauty

Joss went swimming today. It wasn't her favorite. We will have to work on that.

I love to see the Temple

Our wonderful ward put on a Primary Temple Day. 

  The Primary Presidency and the Youth watched the children while the parents did a session, so I didn't  actually get to go do a session, but I loved it.  It was a lot of work, but it was a big success.  

The San Antonio Temple is Beautiful, and the excitement of my children to see the temple was worth all the work.  We are so blessed to have temples.

Mini Olympics

Check out Toaster's sweet new skills...

She did her routines in public for the first time last weekend.  It was a great experience for her.  She left feeling accomplished and "not so scared to do that in front of a judge", as she put it.  We are so proud of out little Toaster.  Gymnastics has been such a blessing for her.  At the beginning of the school year, and through the whole first semester, she really struggled academically.  We were seriously thinking moving her back to first grade.  Then she made the team, and it was like something switched on for her.  It was the confidence boost she needed.  Now she is reading in the top of her class, her writing has greatly improved, and she is placed into the pace math program.  All in 4 months.  She  did all that in school WHILE training 8 hours a week after school.  She is amazing.   I love her so much and am so proud of her.  Go Toaster Go.

Photo Update

Wipes: Best baby toy ever.

 

Baby really likes the camera.  

Angry Birds Commentary

Liam : (making exploding noises) "YEAH!! I got em!!! Those pigs were so scared that they pooped!! Boo ya!!!"


... Where does he learn this stuff?!?

Things that matter

Lately I have found myself frustrated and annoyed. Over really silly things. Really silly. It got to me so bad that yesterday I was so distraught that Damon rescheduled his trip to stay with the children so I could have a few hours to 're-center' myself. I wish I could say I did something fabulous, but mostly I drove. I pulled over at some point on a dirt road and prayed. I needed peace in my mind, and my heart. I wanted a big 'ah HA!!' moment, but instead I thought of Zoey. It was like a flash back to earlier in the day, she had been trying to tell me something that afternoon and I was too preoccupied to listen. That is when the the lightbulb went on. There are things in this life that matter. That REALLY matter. And there are things that don't. It was like the clouds and fog had lifted from my mind and I could see clearly for the first time in too long. The things that matter are my priority. Those are the things that will take up my time and energy. My husband, my children, my relationship with God and my Savior, my family, my home. Those things matter. They will always matter. Even in the eternal perspective, those things always matter.

Today I feel like I've been walking on air. It is as if someone has breathed new life into me. I have new direction and purpose. All the things that were bothering me so much before have just seemed to be 'put into their place'.

Life is good. I have a wonderful husband who loves and takes such amazing care of me, three beautiful, healthy, funny children. A silly dog, a lively home, and a testimony that has been re-affirmed that my Heavenly Father loves me. He knows me. He knows what I need to hear and when I need to hear it. He is always there. He is always ready to listen. He wants me to tell Him what's going on in my life. I am so grateful for prayer. I'm grateful for the spirit. I'm so grateful He hears and answers my prayers. I'm grateful for the reminder I had last night to remember and focus on the things that really matter.

With Love,

Rachael