Humbling

“Parents need to give children choices and should be prepared to appropriately adjust some rules, thus preparing children for real-world situations (see “Three Essential Parenting Principles,” 59). To do this, parents must listen—really listen—to what their children are saying. They must know what is important to each child. I learned this lesson years ago from one of our daughters. She was only four or five at the time. She came into the room, all excited. I was reading the newspaper, and she had something very much on her mind that was important to her. And I was responding, ‘Yes, uh-huh, uh-huh.’ All of a sudden the newspaper came crashing down with her two little hands. She grabbed my face between her hands so that she could look me right in the eye. This was a little four- or five-year-old teaching her father a great lesson. ‘Daddy, you’re not listening to me.’ And she was right.”

M. Russell Ballard

And so the saying goes, our children will always teach us more than we can ever hope to teach them. My little guy is only two and a half and to say he has already taught me more than I have taught him kind of goes without saying seeing as I didn't even know what life was really about until I became a mother (and I mean that literally.)

Sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and have fun

So for my Birthday my best friend Ashley got me tickets to the New Moon premier. We went with her sisters and mom. It was the funnest night ever, just to be with the girls and act like teenagers (sometimes you just need that right?) We made special shirts and everything. I consider these lovely blondes my family, I am so lucky to have them in my life.

Right before we headed out: left to right: Me, Kami, Ashley, Lindsey

Dinner! One blonde added, Cheryl, the mom! She came with us, she is the BEST and always treats me as if I were her daughter.

In line waiting to get to our seats. We were having so much fun.

So yes, it was the funnest night, and even tho the whole Twilight thing is kinda trendy I totally and completely LOVED the movie. It was fantastic. I loved, loved, loved it. Part of loving it is the whole experience, you know, the anticipation, seeing it in a theater etc. But it was wonderful and I had so much fun.

Thanks to my second family for such a great night. xoxo

opinuendo #1 (Christmas)

First of all, this will surely cause at least a 50/50 reaction, I am totally aware of that, but I have something to say...

WHY IS THERE CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYING EVEN BEFORE THANKSGIVING?

Now please understand, this is not me hating Christmas or Christmas music.

This is me saying why would you not reserve something so wonderful and specific to Christmas, for Christmas time?
By the week of December 25th the music will have all been played over and over and over and it won't be as fun or special for that magical time.

I am not necessarily saying that it shouldn't start playing the day after Thanksgiving. I half way understand that because that is when the Christmas shopping begins. But even that seems too early to me. I would say the first of December would be appropriate.

Now, many of you are probably saying to yourself,

"Ya but just because it plays for two months before Christmas doesn't mean I won't still love it by the time Christmas actually gets here."

That's totally fine, and frankly if it makes you happy and makes you feel good inside, you should buy cds and listen to it all year long (the more happy people on the roads listening to Jingle bells the better! You know...less road rage and flipping the bird etc.)

But at least for me, if the music is over-played, it becomes much less special, which we all know is the opposite of what it should be.

There is something so special about Christmas music and I think it really makes Christmas Christmas.

There are actually a few Christmas songs which I would consider to be some of my favorite songs ever written. There are some that bring tears to my eyes, one or two in particular that I sing to myself when I need to feel peace.

So why not wait until December so no one gets tired of the music and it does what it is intended to do, bring us the Christmas spirit. Not to be interrupted by the Thanksgiving spirit (and the "before Thanksgiving" spirit.")

I believe there is a nice little song about "Make Christmas last all year long" or something, and I totally get the implication. It's true, we should all be giving and joyful all year long. But come on, Christmas is Christmas, and don't EVEN get me going about how little the Savior's birth is actually celebrated at Christmas. I'll have to save that one for another day!

Bite my kid and die

And so it began as a sweet outing to Cookie Cutters to get Conner's hair trimmed and ended with my beautiful son marked with a little girls FANGS on his FACE.

I am not responsible for the words that came out of my mouth at the moment I saw his face. I have NEVER in his 2 1/2 years of life heard him cry, or should I say wail, like he did from this. I was so furious it was all I could do not to grab the kid and bite her back. The dad seemed sorry, but not sorry enough, all he did was say, "honey we can't do stuff like this." If Conner had bitten someone I would have put him in the corner right there in the freaking store! So, needless to say I got out of there before I did something I might later regret.
I took him immediately to 7/11 and let him pick out whatever he wanted. Of course he perked up and ran in there and grabbed his own sprite and a bag of popcorn and a little motorcycle. After that he wouldn't go with me to the gym as we had originally planned (can't blame him) so I knew just what to do, I called my Bff Ashley and said Conner needed to see her little boy Jace.

It turned out to do just the trick, as I knew it would. Jace and Conner get along so well, Jace is so gentle and they play so great together. I just love my Ash and her kiddos.

After the individual fangs started to fade it turned into what looked like a red lipstick kiss.

November 1st 2009

I had a really wonderful birthday, I woke up to signs ALL over our house from Corey, these are only two of them. He is so Wonderful, he got up at six that morning before I woke up just to put all of them up.

Here are some pictures of the family get together for mine and my Grandma's birthday. My Grandpa pulled out this sailor's hat from somewhere and of course Conner loved it.

OKAY AND NOW FOR THE FINALE!!!

COREY GOT ME DAVE MATTHEWS TICKETS FOR LAST VEGAS! WE ARE GOING DOWN THERE IN DECEMBER TO HEAR HIM AND TIM REYNOLDS!

Halloween 2009

Best Halloween costume EVER.

Devoted Fan.

We took Conner to our ward Halloween party, and man did he HATE it. He saw a clown the minute we walked in the door and from that moment on he wouldn't let us put him down. He was terrified of all the costumes. He clinging to our legs until we picked him up. We stayed fifteen minutes and decided to leave. Poor kid, next year he will enjoy it more I'm sure.

{On a side note, I hate Halloween, ever since the Halloween season started he asks every single day if there are monsters in his bed. ugh.}
So since the Party was a bust, we decided to take him out to dinner instead, which he was very happy about.
Corey and Conner at Corey's office, every year we take him to visit and show off his costume.

Best Daddy EVER.

Sweetheart

My little guy isn't the most sentimental these days, all he really cares about at this stage in his life is John Mayer's song "Vultures," playing his guitar, and sports. BUT, he does have his moments and one of those is holding my hand in the car. I'll reach back there and he will hold my hand really tight and then I realize that I am still loved even tho I'm not a professional football player who plays the guitar :)
Making a card for "Grandma Guava," (Grandma Monson) for her Birthday. Conner calls her
"Grandma Guava" because it's tradition in the family for Grandma and Grandpa Monson to have cans of Guava juice at their house for the grandchildren and Conner loves to have it when he goes there.

Football Fever

Conner loves going to the Ute games! He talks about them all week long, he can't wait until Saturday for a game! Corey is just as silly about it, he lives for the games.
We cannot for the life of us get Conner to pose for the camera. Owell, at least you have yet another picture with Corey and a flosser in his mouth.

I hear the kicker position is the safest in football? Perhaps I should encourage this.
We are amazed at our little boy every single day.