Result of a meltdown

Sometimes mealtime is torture for Aileah (and for me)!  I can't even remember what set her off this night... but  it was quite a meltdown!  She grabbed her hair, smacked her own face, and head banged her booster.  It was quite a doozy!  I thought the results where pretty funny so I snapped a couple of pics when she had calmed down.

Proof she is actually a very happy baby.  She loves giving the baby in the mirror kisses.  Isn't she adorable?!

Our little cutie is looking so grown up these days!  How lucky am I to be her mom?

Cute visitors

Finally..... Blogger has decided I can upload pictures again!  I had the chance to watch 2 of my nephews while their Mom and Dad went on a long overdue date!  Aileah LOVES all her cousins.  She was so happy to have visitors!  Thanks for letting us watch them Jared and Debbie!

Avi was near the corner... Aileah backed up til she was right in front of him!

Aileah and Itail playing in the kitchen!

I love this pic of Avi!  He loved looking out the window!

Cute Itai was also watching the wind blowing !

Our newest nephew, Ryan!  Such a cute boy!

The proud big sister, Bella, with her little brother! Stinking cuties!

GRRRRR!

I have been trying to do a few posts... but blogger isn't letting me upload photos!  Anyone else having this problem?  It is sooooooo frustrating.  Thanks for letting me vent for a second!

Fall Fun!

We took advantage of the nice Fall weather and played in the leaves for a little bit on Sunday.  Tom and I were still getting over the flu.... but we needed the fresh, autumn air.  Aileah loved it!!!!   Now she tries to pick up leaves all the time. My car is littered with them.  She is such an adorable girl.  I feel so blessed to be her mom (even if I feel inadequate a lot of the time)!  I sure do like her!

a photo shoot giveaway

I was on facebook earlier today and one of my friends posted a link to see her new family pics.  They are cute... and i saw the photographer is doing a giveaway!  Go here-www.dahlquistphotography.blogspot.com to check out her work!

She's got personality....

This is one funny girl!  She is quite the character.  She makes us laugh every day!  We sure like her... even love her!  I am happy to be her mommy.

Aileah wanted to put her own headband on.  Isn't it pretty?

She likes to wear her headbands as bracelets.  Stylin'!!!!

Looking good in Daddy's shoes!

What up?

Wearing Daddy's Peter Pan hat.

Wearing almost all her headband/ bracelets.  She was walking around the house like this. :)

What do you do when you can't decide what to drink?
 Drink them both!

I was trying to catch her angry eyebrows.  She likes to give dirty looks these days.  She usually follows them up with a smile and a laugh.  What a silly girl!

Pickin' Pumpkins

We decided to take a trip to the pumpkin patch today.  I thought Aileah would be in a good mood... since she had just woken up from a 2 hour nap.  She was in kinda a weird mood.  She would not smile for pictures.  GRRR!  Here are a few cute ones anyway; without her cute smile.  It was a beautiful day.  Aileah was in heaven with airplanes over-head, pumpkins, and tractors to ride on.  We had a great time.  I had more pics but the computer is acting up :(

As soon as Aileah saw the tractors she HAD to ride on one!  She loves John Deere!

Pointing to the other tractors she wanted to go ride.

This was the first pumpkin that she tried to pick.  It was a bit too big.  She was able to move it though.  Strong girl!



Posing with Daddy...for a quick minute.



Inner Dialogue

I wonder.... are you at all like me?  I heard a talk once that referred to your inner dialogue, what you say to yourself throughout the day.  What is your inner dialogue?   The speaker posed the question, would you ever talk to someone else the way you talk to yourself?  Would you ever dream of saying those mean, hurtful things to others?  Why, then, do we think it is ok to say it to ourselves?  I have been thinking about this a lot lately.
It is so easy to see things in ourselves that we don't like.  But why is it so difficult to see the good, great  and wonderful in ourselves?  I had a roommate, Chrissy, who told me that everyday I needed to look at myself in the mirror and tell myself, "You're beautiful."  What if I had actually done that?  Would my inner dialogue be different today?  I have struggled with this negative inner dialogue for some time.  It is something I am trying to change.  I wonder... are you like me?
I wasn't able to hear much of conference... trying to keep a 16 month old around.  But I was able to hear some of Pres. Uchtdorf's talk.  This quote stopped me in my tracks:
    “Some people can’t get along with themselves. They criticize and belittle themselves all day long until they begin to hate themselves. May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally. Learn to see yourself as Heavenly Father sees you—as His precious daughter or son with divine potential.”

What a beautiful reminder!  The Lord knew I needed to hear this at this time.  I give thanks to a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of what I need.  I don't write this to have compliments sent my way.... just something I've been thinking about and conference got me thinking even more.  Thanks to all the beautiful examples I have in my life.  I learn from you, even when you don't realize it.

Some great guys!

I recently blogged about the great women in our family... now it's the guys' turn!  I have been blessed to have some great guys in my life.  They are great examples to me and they help me try to be a better person.

Ok... this is a weird pic but it is like the only one I have of my brother, Jon.  Jon is very passionate.  He is also very protective of those he loves.  If you hurt one of us, heaven help you!

My brother, Jared, is such a patient and kind man.  He has a very tender heart, something he gets from our Dad.  He is so devoted to his 2 boys!

My bro in law, Adam.  We haven't had the chance to live close to each other for long at all.  I hope that will change some day.  He is a very hard worker.  He is a talented handyman.  I wish I had those skills!

My Dad!  What can I say?  He is such a hard worker.  He has worked many jobs he has hated to help support us.  He has a tender heart, and is not afraid to show it... although he sometimes says it's allergies :)  He is always there to listen and give advice.  I love you, Dad, for these reasons and many more!

My wonderful husband!  I am grateful to have been able to be married to my best friend!  It was truly worth the wait.  He is such a family man.  Nothing is more important than his family.  I love that about him. He works hard, at a job that he'd rather not be doing, and then goes to classes,does homework, and helps out at home.  Thanks for all you do for me and Aileah!  I love you!

I am grateful to the Lord for giving me so many great examples in my life.  I don't even want to think about where I would be without you all!  I love you... sorry I don't say it often enough.

Some pretty amazing women!

I know many wonderful, talented, beautiful women.  The Lord must have known I would need lots of examples, in my friends and family. I am truly blessed to have been born into family full of so many amazing women!  Each is unique, super talented,and have taught me so much.  They each make me want to be a better woman, wife, daughter, sister, mom, and daughter of God. 

This is my youngest sister, Tiffany.  She is so passionate about her hobbies.  When she decides to do something she attacks it with a vengeance.  She is very loving and gentle.

My sis in law, Debbie.  She is such a hard-working, patient Mom.   I'm so glad Jared chose to bring her into our family!



The girl on the right is my sister, Sheri.  No one is allowed to take her picture...so this one will have to do!  Sheri gives everything she has to those she loves.  Even if it means she will be making huge sacrifices.



My oldest sister, Valerie.  She is an example of faith, strength and service.  Even during a very difficult time in her own life she looks for ways to serve others. 



My mom, Stella.  There are no words to tell all I've learned from her.  I know she doesn't always think much of her mothering skills... but if I can be half the mom she's been I'll be grateful!  She has made so many sacrifices on behalf of her children.  She has taught me to love the Gospel and to hold tightly to it, in sunshine or shadows.

I pray that I can be more like the wonderful women in my family.  I love you all very, very much!



Aileah's real besties!

I watch my friend's two kids, Korbin and Chloe.  Aileah loves these kids to death!  It is fun to see her with other kids.  She talks to them all the time.  She is such a good sharer.  She adores Korbin.  She thinks he's the funniest thing ever!  He's taught her to love trains, helicopters, airplanes,and trucks.  They are too funny together.  Aileah hit her head on the table, which she likes to do when she's angry, and Korbin gave her a kiss on her forehead to help her feel better.  Aileah giggled.  Oh man.... we are in trouble already!

Playing Tom's guitar.

Aileah, with her bed-head, and Chloe

Aileah and Korbin were taking turns combing/ brushing each other's hair.
It was really cute!

Aileah's new best friend!

We'd like to thank Macey's for introducing these two to each other today!

So much fun to play games together!

They have been inseparable all day!

Growing up, we did lots of fun things as a family. One thing I've always remembered is taking a trip to Calico Ghost Town. I remember the house made out of glass bottles, the name on the side of the mountain, and most of all drinking Sunkist (my favorite at the time). We had a fun family picture taken in old time clothes. I've always loved this picture.
So, in May, while in California I really wanted to go to Calico again and have a picture of my little family taken. They told us to look serious. I have been told by many family members that I just look mad. It is a great photo of my 2 loves, anyway.

The Refiner

I received this thought a few months after Tom and I got married. I have been thinking about this thought for the last few weeks. I pray that I can remember it as I face the trials the Lord has trusted me with.

Malachi 3:3 says "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study group and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next study session.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the refining of silver

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver of the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees his reflection in you. Reminds me of an old saying I keep reminding myself of : "God doesn't put tin foil in the fire (it only last a second). If you're feeling the fire, you must be gold or silver!

Battle Creek hike

Ok... this has nothing to do with our hike. I just wanted to include it. A funny face (enhanced by allergies) but it shows her top teeth. 3 of them!!!

Yesterday was so nice out that Tom decided we were due for a hike. We were going to do Stewart Falls but decided we wouldn't have enough time. I'm so glad we did this hike instead. It is our first hike in a year...and boy am I out of shape! I think Stewart Falls would have killed me- and I wasn't even carrying Aileah!

Setting out on our hike!

We made it! My smile is still very crooked :>

Aileah LOVES water... but this was too cold for her to stand for long.

Aileah's war wound. She and Daddy had a collision and she got a bloody nose. What a trooper!

The falls were beautiful. It was a short hike but it sure showed me how much work I need to do on myself. We plan on doing more hikes this summer. We have such a happy, outdoor-loving girl!