This time of year

I know I've said it a million times. I LOVE this time of year.

Pumpkins
Cool weather
Bright leaves
Warm sweaters
Apples
Halloween
College Football
Birthday
Soup Soup Soup
Dillan's crafts from school

Even I feel the need to craft! I finally finished Leah's tutu. Only took 18 months of talking about, forgetting about, then her #2 birthday to get me motivated!

The best time of the year!

Battle Wounds

Dillan had his first soccer game Saturday (we missed the 1st game). We were all so excited. He loved dressing up in his new uniform with a number 3 on the back!

He does so great at practices. He's become more aggressive and unafraid to take the ball away from the other boys.



Just 10 minutes into the game, there was a 3 or 4 body pileup on the field. Not uncommon for a bunch of 4-year-olds chasing a round ball. Gradually everyone started to get up. Dillan sat up then hid his face under his crossed arms. He was crying. He was hurt. It wasn't until Chris picked him up and walked him over that I could see what the problem was.




OH NO!

I think he was more embarrassed than anything else. Inconsolable. He wouldn't talk to me to tell me what the problem was. I was convinced he would never step on the field again. How do you explain that these things happen when you're also telling him he's supposed to be having FUN? How could something like this happen with boys so young? They don't really know what they're doing!?! He said it was the grass. It looks more like a cleat mark, really. He was either stepped on, kicked, or fell onto someone's shoes.

Anyway, at halftime he was given some oranges and something new...Gatorade. Blue Gatorade. We don't ever have juice in our house, so when he was handed his own bottle of this shiny blue stuff, he was overjoyed. He started guzzling and was hooked. Soon he announced to me, "Mommy, my head doesn't hurt anymore! I'm ready to play soccer again!" He pointed to the top of his head, not his cheek. Didn't THAT hurt? I didn't dare ask him.

So while I was given strict instruction to guard his precious Gatorade from little sister, he played the rest of the game and seemed to really enjoy himself. I was just relieved that he found the courage to reenter the game and keep playing!

Checklist for next week: Gatorade, spray bottle, and Spiderman ice-pack (just in case!)

Some Thoughts

A few weeks ago I happened upon the Ensign from June. It was "on display" in my home along with July and August, a little cluttered, so I was in the process of packing it away. I decided to glance through it one last time and came across the article "HOPE: The Misunderstood Sister" by Larry Hiller. I was instantly enthralled. It is so beautifully written. On top of that, the same author wrote a poem called "Walking with Two Sisters" that is inset with the article. I ate it all up. I copied the poem and placed it in my scriptures at Romans 5:3-5.

Just today those verses found their way into my head.

"We glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Along with another verse. "Be still and know that I am God."

Everything happens for a reason. Chris is so good at reminding me about that. This year has been a year of tests and trials. It's been a lesson in patience and humility. There is so much that I have yet to learn. Sometimes I'm not sure I have the capacity to learn. I'm afraid to fail.

So much is hanging in the clouds right now and I have NO CONTROL over any of it! The future of our home, Chris' job prospects, another child. Normally I find comfort in staying in control and managing everything. No so anymore. I'm not in control, and I never was. I'm realizing that. I'm learning.

Glory in tribulation. Work patience. Gain experience. Find Hope.

I love how Bro Hiller describes Hope. It is sometimes perceived as "keeping your fingers crossed." Because of this, many believe Hope to be fickle. She may or may not grace you with her presence. But this is not the kind of Hope that our Heavenly Father commands us to have. And it is not the kind of Hope that our Savior offers.

When we have trials and we patiently endure them, the Savior, who took upon Himself all of our ills and sorrows, ministers through the Spirit. Then we experience the Savior's tender mercies. The trials may continue, but when we take upon the yoke of Christ, he shares our yoke. This makes our trials bearable and gives us Hope. Then we find strength to endure. We know that everything will be made right for eternity. Hope is expectation based upon experience.

Counting blessings. Always counting blessings.

2

I can't believe she's 2! Seriously, she is way ahead of me and I am struggling to catch up! It's like it was yesterday that I was in Dr B's office for my check-up and he said, "Are you ready to have this baby?" Duh! "OK, does tomorrow work for you?" Uhhhhhhh, yes?



Leah is so much fun. She started out as dainty for the first 8 months or so, and has since become determined. But sweet, always sweet. She is Dillan's little shadow and Mommy's little sidekick. She loves cars and balls, dolls and shoes. She's always ready to share a book or sing a song. She picks out her own clothes from her closet and recently totes along a purse wherever she goes.



She'll eat just about anything as long as everyone else is eating the same. She loves to share and say her prayers. She'll stay on a swing or slide all day. She's fearless in the pool and mischievous in the bathtub.



She loves to laugh, run and play games. She does NOT like to be the center of attention.



She loves to have her picture taken. She doesn't understand all the fuss that people make over her hair. She loves to wear skirts and dresses and check herself out in the mirror.

We are so blessed to have her in our family and are thankful for the joy that she brings.

She's our little Cuddlebug, LeeToots, LeeLou, GeeBoo, Princess, and we love her!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Road Trip

Thursday morning we packed up and drove to Phoenix, AZ to visit Uncle Stephen and his family, and be at cousin Wade's baptism. Add grandparents coming in from Utah and you got a full-blown family fun-filled weekend!

The drive wasn't terrible. Of course lots of dumdum pops helped all of us get through it.



Dillan was in cousin heaven with all the boys. They had a blast. There was so much to do every single day and the joy of sleeping in sleeping bags at night.


Fun Halloween crafts with Grandma.


Swimming and trampoline!

Not only was there a baptism, but Leah turned 2 while we were there! (More of that later) Lots of presents like dress up shoes, dress up jewelry, princess hand puppets, a dance mat with fun music, and of course, clothes clothes CLOTHES!
We got cupcakes and a ridonkulously good strawberries and cream ice-cream cake!



We had such a fun weekend visiting with everyone! Can't wait to get together again!

That time again...

We look forward to this time of year, every year! Or, at least Mommy does.
Fall weather (hopefully soon), school, pumpkins, leaves, sweaters, but most important...

College Football!




Yes we all have new T-shirts, again. Call us sick, we don't even care!





GET YOUR GAME FACE ON!

Go COUGARS!