Christmas

This was such a special Christmas Day.  I woke up early so that I could do some studying of my scriptures and read some testimonies of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It was such a simple, powerful experience.  I was so grateful that I decided to do that.  It really set the mood for me and gave me a great focus for the whole day.  

Mark and I were both up and waiting for the kids to get up!  It was so much fun to see Jacob when he came upstairs and saw that Santa had come.  He was so patient in waiting for Sarah to get up too. 

We had a yummy breakfast and then enjoyed the giving and receiving of presents.  It was a great morning of playing and enjoying our time together.  The only downer of the day was that Sarah was sick.  For the first time since we've been parents, we had to deal with throwing up.  

The poor little munchkin. 

It was a beautiful day.  We are thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  In one of the messages I read recently in the Ensign it talked about not only reflecting on the life and mission of Jesus Christ, but also taking the time to really just think about that little baby Jesus.  How it was on that first Christmas night.  When I think about those first nights I spent with my new babies and how tender and special those feelings were - I am sure it was the same that night.  Just quiet, tender feelings.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Mark had to work in Twin Falls on Christmas Eve (insert sadness here) but Jacob, Sarah, and I had a good night.  We made sugar cookies for Santa, had our Christmas Eve feast, and the kids got to open their first Christmas present.  We got a new Christmas book, "The Twelve Days of Christmas", and we each got some new Christmas pajamas (or p-jams as Jacob likes to call them!).  This year has been the best yet because I feel like Jacob is really understanding what is going on.  He is so excited and has been counting down the days!

We read our new Christmas story and then read the story of Jesus' birth.  My very favorite moment of the whole night though was after we finished our family prayer Jacob stood up and gave me a hug and whispered in my ear, "Happy Birthday, Jesus."  I love that little boy.  

Mark was able to get home late Christmas Eve.  We snuggled and had "Christmas milk" and enjoyed our evening together again.  

Ornaments

To celebrate the first day of winter, I thought it would be fun to make some new ornaments.  The kids made their handprints in some baking soda clay.  They turned out so cute!  I love that you can see the details of their little lines in their palms and fingers.  

I love these little munchkins.  

The Good Dinosaur

When we were expecting Jacob, Mark and I talked a lot about different things we wanted to do as a family and with our kids as they grew up.  One thing that we talked about is that we wanted to take each child on a "date" once a month to have a check-in with them.  These dates could be as simple as going to the park and talking but the point is that we just want to make sure that at least once a month we have time where we are completely focused on that child and what is going on in their lives.  We believe that this will only become more and more important the older they get.  But one of the mottos Mark and I try and live by with parenting is "start as you mean to go."  So we decided that once they turned three we would start this.  I don't know why we decided three but it sounded like a good time to us.  

So with all of that, we had been meaning to take Jacob on a date for months now!  But it just hasn't happened and I was determined that it happened this month.  And we thought it would be great if Mark took him on his first date.  So he decided to go and take him to see "The Good Dinosaur" in theaters and then got ice cream cones.  This was Jacob's first time going to the theater and he loved it - from what I heard!  He was so excited when he came home and told me what happened with the dinosaur.  

I am so grateful for this special time we will get with Jacob every month and eventually with Sarah.  I hope that it will be something that the kids appreciate and lean on in the future as well.  

I love these boys. 

Snowman

About two weeks ago we got our first real snowfall since we have been here!  We were all ecstatic about it!  We knew we had to go out and enjoy it!

Jacob was so excited to finally be able to build a snowman.  That has truly been one of the things we have been looking forward to the most in having our own home - having our own yard too!  This was Sarah's first time playing in the snow and once she got the hang of walking around in her boots she had an okay-ish time.  I have a feeling it will grow on her though!

Every day the kids check on their snowman and make sure he is okay.  Jacob is a little concerned that he is too cold.  I love experiencing the joys of winter with these kidlets.  

Managed Chaos

The week after we moved was pretty crazy.  It was an interesting combination of working hard to get things settled-ish (or at least feel like we weren't camping) and trying to enjoy the season and do fun things as a little family.  

One of the projects of the first week was baby proofing.  Sarah does not do stairs yet.  She disagrees about that, however.  She is really good about going up them - down not so much!  We didn't have a gate yet so I had Jacob's mattress leaned up against the top of the stairs (tell me if that doesn't scream classy when people came over!).  Also, it was pretty much impossible to put anything in the cupboards in the kitchen or bathroom because Sarah would immediately take them out.  This is somewhat endearing but when you are living in chaos and trying to organize things it is not the easiest thing.

Also, we had bought a washer and dryer Thanksgiving week but they were out of stock so we were anxiously awaiting their arrival.  It took a lot longer than expected - over two weeks! - and so I was washing clothes in the tub and hanging them everywhere around the house to get them dry.

Yep, Jacob is wearing one of Mark's shirts...this is what we had come to by the time it actually got here!

So when Mark got home from his work week in Twin Falls he had quite the list of honey-dos.  Put up a baby gate, baby proof the cupboards and buy and put up blinds in the dining and family room areas (so we could take down the sheets - they were lacking in a "homey" feel).  He got them all done that gem of a man!  He even had a little helper!

Moving Day

Moving day was stressful.  Isn't is always though?  Our first day in our new home was definitely not what I imagined it would be.  

We drove up the night before we were supposed to sign for our new home and stayed with my cousin, Ashley, and her family that live here.  The hitch in our plan was that Mark was supposed to work in Twin Falls that day.  Luckily he got it worked out so that he didn't have to go in until the afternoon but it definitely put us on a MAJOR time crunch.  

Luckily we were able to set up an appointment with the title company at 8:30 and were the first ones in there.  All of that moved perfectly and we were walking out by 9:00.  We were feeling so good about everything and excited with how quickly things were moving.  

I hurried to the grocery store to get some food for a couple of days since Mark was going to have to take the car with him to Twin Falls.  Mark went in the U-Haul to the house.  I called him once I was done and on the way and he said he had bad news.  I got there and he and the owners of the home were there.  

Apparently someone in the neighborhood was walking by in the morning and heard water and ended up calling the owner's realtor and that brought us all there.  We ended up going inside and talking while more and more people began to show up.  It turns out that they didn't properly winterize the home and shut off a valve and so one of the pipes burst outside and water was leaking into the house.  A restoration company came, their insurance agent, both of our realtors - it was quite a party.  

At first the owners were trying to blame it on us, or our realtor, or the inspection company for turning the valve on.  We were so lucky because our realtor had a picture of the valve proving that it wasn't our responsibility.  They told us we could either "walk" (and leave the house altogether) or work out an agreement with the previous owners.  We talked with the restoration company a lot and our realtor is also a contractor and was able to give us a lot of good information.  We decided that as long as everything was restored back to how it was we were fine with everything.  It was a little uncomfortable but in the end it all worked out.  

Again, we were very much on a time crunch and all of this took a lot of time we didn't have.  We told everyone of our situation and they allowed us to start moving in our things.  By the time we were allowed to start unloading the truck we only had an hour before Mark had to leave.  Thankfully, Daniel and Weed were able to come and help us.  We unloaded and Mark headed to Twin Falls.  

Before I knew it, I was left alone in our first home piled up with boxes.  Well, alone, with the exception of the restoration guys in the basement.  It definitely wasn't a "carry me over the threshold" kind of day.  My Mom and Megan brought up the kids that evening but they only stayed long enough to help put up some sheets in the windows (there were no blinds) and then had to leave.  

It was wonderful to be alone in our new home with my kids.  The only thing that would have made it better was if Mark could be there with us.  The next couple of days were a mixture of wonderful and stressful.  It was so great to be in a home - our home!  But it was difficult doing it all alone too.  

We definitely feel like little church mice being in this large house after living in apartments.  We don't have much furniture, things to put on the walls and that kind of thing.  But we are excited to slowly accumulate and beautify our home in the years to come.  

The house is beautiful and has so much potential!  Our neighbors and ward family have been incredibly kind and welcoming.  I've never been around more genuinely kind people.  We feel so blessed to have chosen this home and grateful for the opportunity we have to raise our children in this neighborhood and environment.  

Thanksgiving

Wow...I am so behind!

I love Thanksgiving.  I love the opportunity to reflect on the year, all that my Father in Heaven has blessed me with.  It is a beautiful holiday and I genuinely look forward to it every year.  

This year was busy.  Mark was gone the month of November working up in Rexburg, Idaho.  We spent the couple days prior to Thanksgiving in North Ogden getting our things ready to move.  Darlene made a delicious Thanksgiving meal and we enjoyed being able to spend some time with Gus, Darlene, and Brian.  

This is definitely not a year I would choose to repeat again.  It has been the most difficult year of my life.  I have learned a lot though.  I feel stronger and feel like I have grown a lot too.  That was one of the things I thought about the most this Thanksgiving.  I feel like I have gotten a greater understanding - far from complete - but have learned that trials are why we are here.  I have been told that many times in my life but this year I developed more of a testimony of that.  We are here to learn, prepare and grow and that has been a major theme of this year for me.  And I am grateful for that.  

I am forever grateful that I get to walk through eternity with Mark - that we have gone through all of this together and have grown and learned together.  He is my support and strength.  And Jacob and Sarah bring me so much happiness.  I love my family.  

Bad Days

Mark shared this quote with me today.  I am grateful for a husband that lifts me.  Who knows what I need to hear - and how I need to hear it.  I love him.  And even though we are apart he finds a way to keep us connected.  There is no one I would rather walk side by side with for forever.

Pause

So our life continues to feel like it is on "pause" but we are so so close to feeling like we are living life again.  Mark has worked two weeks and loves being back at work.  He has been staying with his sister, Teresa, and her family up in Rexburg.  The kiddos and I have mostly been spending our time at my parent's house in Draper.  It's not fun to be separated again but we are definitely starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Again, we would be lost without the support that our families have given us the last several months.  

We should be closing on the house the end of this month.  We are so anxious to be independent and begin a new chapter for our family.  But until then - we try and take time to have some good moments too.  Our little family got to be together today - and I loved it.  

Walking

This little princess is walking!  She is always on the go!  She has been trying to walk for almost two months now and she would take a few steps and then crawl away or would cruise around on the furniture but she is full force on her own now!  She still will crawl but definitely prefers to be walking now and does that the majority of the time now.  It is so exciting and I love to see Sarah becoming such a big girl!  

I foolishly thought that it would be so easy to take a picture of Sarah just standing giving the impression that she was walking.  Oh not so!  This little girl is on the move and so every shot was a blurry "action" shot.  But then I snagged this gem!  

And as Jacob says, 

"I love you, sweetie!"  

Halloween

We had a GREAT Halloween!  Jacob made sugar cookies with Grandma Berning and then we headed down to Draper to spend some time with my family.  

The day before Halloween we went down to Megan's work for her Halloween Party.  Jacob and Sarah wore matching costumes this year which at first I wasn't so sure about but it was adorable!!!  Jacob chose to be a pumpkin and so we decided to have them both dress up as pumpkins.  I was so happy with how their costumes turned out!  

Jacob loved walking around to the different stations to get candy and Sarah just waddled right behind him!

On Halloween day I went over with my Mom and Megan to visit my Grandpa and Grandma Moldenhauer and help my Grandma get ready in her Halloween costume.  She was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz and was so darling.  I will have to post pictures later but she was simply adorable.  

Halloween night was the first time Jacob and Sarah went real trick-or-treating.  Actually Jacob was the only one that really went trick-or-treating but Sarah went along in her stroller for the ride.  They were both so precious.  I love those two so much.  And Grammy dressed up as a witch and was a major hit!

Happy Halloween!

Carving Pumpkins

We had a great time carving our pumpkins this year.  Jacob is always a little worried about getting "messy" when scooping out his pumpkin but he loves the carving part.  He had a great time deciding what kind of shapes to put on his pumpkin face.  

Sarah had no problem getting her hands dirty!  She dug right in and definitely enjoys the taste of pumpkin!  Her pumpkin has such a sweet face - just like her own!  

I love the tradition of carving pumpkins and love the family time that it gives us!

Pumpkin Patch

Going to the pumpkin patch is one of the highlights of my year!  I don't know why I love it so much - but I do!  I love everything about fall!

We found a great pumpkin patch down in Farmington and the kidlets had a great time.  They had a small kid cornmaze that Jacob and I went through and some fun scarecrows and tractors around.  Jacob loved going through and picking out his pumpkin.  Jacob LOVES pumpkins!  He would have taken every pumpkin if he could.  And Sarah just loves being outside and was more interested in eating the pumpkins!  We had a blast!

House Hunting

After Mark signed on with Walgreens we wanted to start working as soon as possible and we knew we needed to find a place quickly.  We weighed the options of renting and buying and just felt really good about buying a home.  We feel like it is a step forward that we are ready to take and so excited for at the same time.  

It has been really helpful because my cousin, Ashley, and her family moved to Idaho Falls last year after physical therapy school so they can really relate to our situation and have been so helpful!  Things for the first time just seemed to be falling into place for us.  We felt really good moving forward.  

House hunting was exciting and I really enjoyed it.  Mark and I have very similar opinions and so it was actually really fun rather than stressful.  We both felt really good about the same house and could imagine our family growing and making our home there.  

We put in an offer and should close this next month sometime!  It is crazy to think that we could be homeowners by the end of this year but we couldn't be happier about it.  We can't wait for this next step and for all of the support we have been given by our family.  

Idaho Falls

Oh my goodness, I know I have been such a slacker about the blog.  I always title posts but then they sit their half-way written (or not written at all!) and sitting as a "draft" for way too long.  

I have particularly been unsure about what I want to write about in this particular post.  I have thought over the last couple of months several times about writing a post about how our day to day family life is like but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  I use this blog so much as a journal and I am grateful because it makes me feel accountable to document things however I don't want to over-share either. 

This last year I can confidently say has been the hardest year of my life.  There have been some moments where I have for the first time questioned where God was in my life.  I realize that sounds so incredibly ungrateful but there were moments where that was how I felt.  It was the most extreme emotional roller coaster I've ever experienced.  There were moments of anger and discouragement and then I would swing to feeling extremely guilty about feeling anger and discouragement.  It was exhausting and disheartening.  There were days when it felt like a lot of negativity in different forms.  It's hard to watch the person you love so much be discouraged and want to "fix" things and you just can't. 

Given all of that, however, there have been several really sweet and spiritual moments.  Moments that were so hard but I could feel my Heavenly Father molding me.  It is such a personal experience.  I feel like so much of this year has been a refiner's fire for me and for our little family.  And as much as I hope that we never have to go through what we have again - I feel like we are ending this year a lot stronger than we started.  Our relationships are deeper and I feel like we have taken steps forward in becoming the family that our Father in Heaven wants us to be.  

Many times over the last several months I have thought of the statement made by President Boyd K. Packer in the April general conference when he said, "And if you suppose that the full-blown rapture of young romantic love is the sum total of the possibilities which spring from the fountains of life, you have not yet lived to see the devotion and the comfort of longtime married love.  Married couples are tried by temptation, misunderstandings, financial problems, family crises, and illness, and all the while love grows stronger.  Mature love has a bliss not even imagined by newlyweds."

Now, Mark and I are approaching our five year anniversary and I am fully aware that that hardly makes us any experts on marriage or "mature love" but I feel like this year has brought a maturity to our love and relationship.  We have been forced to grow in ways we have never done before.  This has been a growing year in countless ways and I am forever grateful that I got to grow with Mark by my side.  

With all of that said - we have exciting news!  Mark accepted a job working for Walgreens as a floater pharmacist stationed in Idaho Falls, Idaho.  Mark begins TOMORROW!  We are grateful for the opportunity and the experience that Mark will get and feel like Idaho Falls is where our family is supposed to be right now.  

It is an exciting time for our family and we can't wait to be settled somewhere again.  There are a million and one things Mark and I are excited about.  We can't wait to be our own little family once more.  We can't wait to lay down roots somewhere and get involved in a community and ward once more.  We can't wait to feel like our life is off of "pause."  

There is no doubt in our minds that we couldn't have made it through the last several months without the love and support of our families.  They have lifted and guided us and we are eternally grateful.  

So here is to new adventures in Idaho!

27th Birthday

Last Saturday was my 27th birthday!  We decided to head down to Draper on Friday so we could celebrate all day Saturday.  And we decided that it was the first time I have been home for my birthday since my senior year in high school!  That's a long time!

My Mom made all of us a yummy crepe breakfast and then my Mom, Megan and I headed out to do some birthday shopping.  It has been a long time since I have had just girl time - and shopping girl time - so it was a lot of fun!  I felt like I was spoiled rotten but I have to admit it was kind of nice ;)

We came back and played some games in the afternoon and then that night my Mom made a scrumptious dinner and the yummiest caramel cake ever created.  It was so good!  And then we played badminton, had a fire pit and just played in the yard.  It was such a great day!

We came back up to North Ogden and we got to have birthday day number 2!  We had such a yummy dinner followed by a cupcake cake!  It was perfect and I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful individuals in my life.  

Be an Example and a Light

"We become examples of the believers by living the gospel of Jesus Christ in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.  As we do so, our lights will shine for others to see.  

Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ.  As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived and as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others.  

Being an example in word and in conversation.  The words we use can lift and inspire, or they can harm and demean.  Let us speak to others with love and respect, ever keeping our language clean and avoiding words or comments that would wound or offend.  May we follow the example of the Savior, who spoke with tolerance and kindness throughout His ministry.  

The next attribute...is charity, which has been defined as "the pure love of Christ."  Throughout [Christ's] ministry He reached out in charity to any in need.  As we emulate His example, we will bless lives, including our own.  

We are to be an example in spirit.  To me that means we strive to have in our lives kindness, gratitude, forgiveness, and goodwill.  These qualities will provide for us a spirit which will touch the lives of those around us.  

To be an example of faith means that we trust in the Lord and in His word.  It means that we possess and that we nourish the beliefs that will guide our thoughts and our actions.  Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in our Heavenly Father will influence all that we do.  An abiding faith becomes an anchor to our lives.  Remember that faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other.  In order to gain and to keep the faith we need, it is essential that we read and study and ponder the scriptures.  Communication with our Heavenly Father through prayer is vital.  We cannot afford to neglect these things.  

We are to be pure, which means that we are clean in body, mind, and spirit.  We know that our body is a temple, to be treated with reverence and respect.  Our minds should be filled with uplifting and ennobling thoughts and kept free from those things which will pollute.  In order to have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we must be worthy...purity will bring us peace of mind and will qualify us to receive the Savior's promises.  

As we prove to be examples in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity, we will qualify to be lights to the world.  

Those things which make us different from most of the world also provide us with that light and that spirit which will shine in an increasingly dark world.  

As we make Christ the center of our lives, our fear will be replace by the courage of our convictions.  

Life is perfect for none of us, and at times the challenges and difficulties we face may become overwhelming, causing our light to dim.  However, with help from our Heavenly Father, coupled with support from others, we can regain that light which will illuminate our own path once again and provide the light others may need.  

Our opportunities to shine surround us each day, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.  As we follow the example of the Savior, ours will be the opportunity to be a light in the lives of others.

You are a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father.  You have come from His presence to live on this earth for a season, to reflect the Savior's love and teachings, and to bravely let your light shine for all to see.  When that season on earth has ended, if you have done your part, yours will be the glorious blessing of returning to live with Him forever.  

How reassuring are the Savior's words: "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."  Of Him I testify.  He is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father.  He is our Examplar and our strength.  He is "the light which shineth in darkness."  That each of us within the sound of my voice may pledge to follow Him, thus becoming a shining light to the world, is my prayer."

President Thomas S. Monson

Be an Example and a Light