It's Autumn Time

 

Being A Stay At Home Mom

I have found myself pondering why I have chosen the occupation that I have.

It has caused me to look deep inside myself and ask why I have chosen this life. Through prayer, scripture study, personal reflection, and last week's LDS General Conference, I feel more empowered than ever in this sacred role. I want to document this for my own girls so that they will know why I have chosen this for me and my family.

I choose to be a stay at home mom because:

• My mom stayed home. She was/is an intelligent woman and could have done her nursing career full-time, but she chose not to. She chose to put her 6 children first. She was at every assembly, every performance, and there every day when I came home from school. She listened to me and was there for me.
• I grew up thinking I would be a stay at home mom. Partly because of my mom, partly because of my religion (I belong to the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) which teaches us to put family first.
• My husband and I have tried to pattern our lives after The Family: A Proclamation to the World (Read it here: https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation)
• I love my girls so much. I don't want to miss a single moment of their lives...until I have to ;) I could never leave them in someone elses daily care when I know and love them better then anyone else ever could.
• I enjoy making a home. The cooking, cleaning, budgeting, decorating, organizing, teaching, all of it. It fulfills me in ways I had never imagined.
• For my husband. Nic has always supported my decision to stay home and always wanted a wife that was willing to stay home. Statistics show that husbands are more fulfilled and happy when they are the sole providers for their families. I also have more time and energy to be a good wife because I don't have a separate career outside of the home.
• I get to do service everyday for the people I love most.
• The list really could go on and on, but I will end with these quotes from the Apostles & Prophets of our church...

President David O. McKay put it beautifully when he said, speaking of mothers, “This ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God. In her high duty and service to humanity, endowing with immortality eternal spirits, she is co-partner with the Creator himself.” (Gospel Ideals, Salt Lake City: Improvement Era, 1953, pp. 453–54.)

Elder Jeffrey R Holland said:
In speaking of mothers generally, I especially wish to praise and encourage young mothers. The work of a mother is hard, too often unheralded work. The young years are often those when either husband or wife—or both—may still be in school or in those earliest and leanest stages of developing the husband’s breadwinning capacities. Finances fluctuate daily between low and nonexistent. The apartment is usually decorated in one of two smart designs—Deseret Industries provincial or early Mother Hubbard. The car, if there is one, runs on smooth tires and an empty tank. But with night feedings and night teethings, often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life.
That one made me cry!

I have also recently read "In Praise of Stay at Home Moms". Dr. Laura has helped give me perspective on what it is I actually do. This book has changed how I view motherhood and my decision to be a stay at home mother.

I used to be embarrassed or feel that I needed some kind of excuse when I told people I was a stay at home mom. Not any more. I am proud that I stay home with my children. I feel fulfilled with my life and passionate about home and family. I am now much happier. I don't care if the world says I am of no value. I am trying my best to benefit my family and I am trying to do what my Heavenly Father wants me to do.

Ogden Nature Center: Up close with the turkeys!

 We have seen the wild turkeys at the Nature Center, but only briefly. Well today we spent the whole morning with them and kept seeing them everywhere we walked.

 

 

I didn't have my zoom lens on for this picture! This turkey came right up to the picnic table where me and the girls were sitting! He seemed very curious of us/the camera.

Can you see the bees busy at work?

It makes me so happy to come here. I love being outside and exploring with the girls. It's so beautiful and I love having a little oasis like this so close to my house.



Tracy Aviary (again)

I love taking pictures. I love taking pictures of my kids. My mom in her generosity has given me full rights to her nice camera so I am taking full advantage. I loved chasing the kids around Tracy Aviary and taking their pictures. I have posted about Tracy Aviary before, but its a beautiful place that we love to go. Our Ogden Nature Center pass gets us in free 1 Thursday a month which is awesome.

 

Gibson Christmas Charm Dishes

I have wanted Christmas dishes forever. Scratch that, I have really wanted Christmas china. There are lots of cutesy Christmas patterns, but true to my personality, I wanted something more formal. I knew it would probably be a couple of years until I could afford a nice set. I still don't even have regular china... maybe someday. Anyway, last week at D.I. (Deseret Industries, our local thrift store that is amazing) I showed Nic a set of 4 that I liked. Although he wasn't against me getting them, he did point out that I would not have enough settings to have anyone over. So I decided to just keep my eyes open.

 

Yesterday I went browsing DI like I love to do frequently. In all actuality I could devote an entire blog to the amazing finds I have found there.Anyway, I spotted these gorgeous dishes in the Christmas section:

Do you see that sticker price? I will come back to that.

 

These dishes are gorgeous! They are exactly what I would buy if I could buy them brand new. They have a beautiful gold ring on the outside and the perfect holly berries I have always wanted.

 

My mom has always had Christmas dishes. We would actually eat Thanksgiving dinner on them and then use them for the month of December. I have fond memories of drinking eggnog out of the holly goblets.

 

So at DI I found 19 plates, 16 bowls, and one platter. I was so thrilled! I could actually host a Christmas dinner now. I immediately hopped online when I got home to see if I could complete my set off eBay or somewhere similar. Well in doing by research I found out that this pattern has been discontinued and that they sell for about $12 per plate on eBay. A full set is around $250. The platter, gravy boat, and casserole dish are all $50-$150 a piece. So good and bad news there. They are more valuable then I thought. I paid 50 cents a piece for them and they are flawless. I only wish it was more affordable to complete my set.

 

So, if you ever see Gibson "Christmas Charm" dishes let me know! I want salad plates and what I listed above (platters, gravy boat, casserole dish, etc) In the meantime I will start planning my holiday parties to use these dishes. I am so excited!

Samantha's 1st Day of Preschool

Samantha Jo

4 Years Old

1st Year of Preschool

She tried on several outfits last week in deciding what to wear for her big first day (I don't know where she gets that from)

 Brooklyn wasn't very patient during the photo shoot

All ready to go!

Meeting Miss Kris & giving her the cookies that she helped me make

All ready to start her day

She was so excited to head in and start tracing her shapes. She wasn't sad at all to leave us. We had to make her kiss us goodbye. It does make it so much easier on me that she wants to be there and doesn't miss me. I sure miss her though!

In true blogger fashion...some of the pictures are out of order

I  love this sweet, outgoing, funny, sensitive, mature, amazing girl!

Preschool

 

Samantha starts school tomorrow. I am so excited. I am so sad.

 

I have been looking forward to Sam starting preschool, and school in general, for a lot of reasons. She is so social. She thrives with other kids. It will be so good for her to learn to not always be the boss, but also let that wonderful quality shine as she can be a great leader. I'm so excited for holidays & class parties, preparing treats, back to school shopping, learning new things! Most of all...I know she will love every minute of it.

 

Since we officially signed her up..I am now sad. I am not ready to give her up. Starting from now, the older she gets, the less time I get to spend with her. Until now, everything she knows we taught her. Now she will be learning new things that I have no part of. I feel sad that I will have to spend 5 hours a week away from her. I hate that thought. Until now, my life as a mother has had no schedule or rules. I do whatever I want...whenever I want.

 

I used to think that Moms cried when they dropped their kids off on the first day because they couldn't believe how old they were, but now I know the truth. It's because they will miss them so badly.