Josh

Just so I remember. Joshua told me "in my world everyday is mothers day.". He proceeded to tell me he was making me a picture for mothers day. He has been coloring so much and I love to watch my kids color and enjoy life. Maybe I need to have coloring with the kids be on my list of to-do's this week.

Day 7

Jacob has been scary sick with croup. So sick that last night we almost called 911. He could hardly breath and he was scared. Through inspiration we tool him outside into the cold night air and that seemed to make a huge difference for him. Today has been better but he can hardly speak and he still sounds like it is hard to breath.
Right before bedtime Ryan had the kids go lay on the trampoline with Jacob so he could experience the cool night air. We decided to join them and I'm so glad we both slowed down and just enjoyed being with them. We looked at stars and laughed. We tickled and we laughed. We snuggled and laughed. The kids wanted to sleep out there. Man alive I love these little people and my sweet hubby who loves us all.

Days 3 & 4

Last night for family night Ryan and I told the kids stories about out grandparents. I even told them so very old stories of my ancestors. It was neat to see how excited they got. I love these kids.

When the little ones went to bed I tool the time to teach the older two how to use familysearch.org and newfamilysearch.org. I was thrilled with how excited they got. They were asking all kinds of questions and looking up census records. They were even fighting over who got to do it next.

I am such a believer that part of understanding who you are is understanding where you came from. Amazing people came before me and have so much wisdom to offer if I will just let them. I wish I had time to sit and read every story and memorize it all so that is was deep in my heart

Today my poor Joshua was sick. He has croup and he just sounds so sad. Normally when my kids are watching tv cause they are sick and that is all they can do I like to get things done because they are...well...entertained. Today I sat and rubbed his back instead. I would stop to turn the page of the book I was reading and he would ask so sweetly if I would keep doing it. I'm grateful for this 31 day project. Otherwise I would have missed out on some of these experiences.

Day 2

Today we watched conference from the comfort of our home. I woke up feeling excited and ready to hear answers to my prayers, which seemed to come rather quickly.

During the break between sessions I was going to go take a nap but then Jacob and Josh wanted me to play cars with them. I think in the past I would have just gone to my nap. Then the older kids turned on home videos and it was so fun to watch those with them. I would have missed out on that had I not taken the time to slow down today.

31 Days of Slowing Down

Sometimes, ok a lot of time, at the end of the day I wish I had spent more quality time just being with the kids. I feel like I am so busy doing I forget to really engage with the little people. Some of my kids demand it and so they get it. Others are so easy going I think they slip through the cracks a little bit.

I have decided to spend the next 31 days doing something. That was vague on purpose. I am going to make an effort to slow down in some way or another and really be here for my kids. My thought is that something, no matter how small, is more then nothing.

Tonight Ryan, Jared, and Sarah are all gone at outside activities. After we put the kids to bed I taught her to make friendship bracelets. Nothing major. Just one on one time with my arts and crafts girl doing something I knew she would love. I want her to always feel comfortable talking with me and like hanging out with me. I love this sweet girl.

This year she has really started to love reading and has decided to take on the Harry Potter books much to the delight of her older siblings who love them so much! She loves her teacher and told me she has been trying really hard not to be so chatty. I always had that problem, I guess I still do.