Ice Fishing and the Messiest Eater Ever

On Saturday Jaron took the day off from studying for the USMLE to take Alden on his first ice fishing trip.  Alden had a blast with Daddy and Grandpa Brunson, despite the freezing temperatures and windchill.  Poor kid looks like a sausage wrapped up in all his many layers but at least he was warm(ish)! 

 He came home claiming he caught all the fish.

In other news,  Gracen seems to be growing in leaps and bounds.  She is as busy as can be getting into everything within reach (and that which she can climb to reach).  She has learned how to furrow her brow and likes to scowl at everyone who looks her way.  She loves to sing, especially "Row, Row, Row Your Boat."  Her favorite toys are dolls and stuffed animals and loves to "feed" them and push them around in the stroller. However, as innately ladylike as she may be, I think Gracen is the messiest eater ever.

Just think, I get to clean that up at least 3 times a day!

How To Be Happy

On Tuesday Alden and Eli started preschool.  After I dropped them each to their respective classes, I had 2 1/2 glorious, uninterrupted hours to sit in the observation booth and read/watch Eli cry (he is still very attached to his mommy).  Fortunately Eli's crying only lasted the first hour and after that I was really able to focus on what I was reading which was awesome because I was reading our church's October conference report.

Our church is unique in that we believe in the same church organization that existed when Christ was on the earth.  That means we believe we have a prophet and apostles.  Every 6 months the worldwide membership of our church gathers together to listen to the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, his counselors and the quorum of the twelve apostles.  Conference weekends are probably my favorite weekends of the year because it is such an uplifting experience. 

It often isn't until I read the published talks that I can incorporate solid answers that apply to my life, though.  On that preschool morning I was reading Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk titled "Of Things That Matter Most" and I fell in love with his simple recipe of how to be happy.  His talk focuses on simplicity in today's complicated world and he quotes Leonardo da Vinci as saying "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."  The quote that really got my attention, though, was when President Uchtdorf said
"There is beauty and clarity that comes from simplicity that we sometimes do not appreciate in our thirst for intricate solutions." 
Um, holy cow that speaks to me.  I am one who has a "thirst for intricate solutions."  I always think things can't have easy answers and I'm afraid I therefore complicate my life, much to my husband's vexation!

President Uchtdorf's recipe for simplifying our lives, and therefore happiness, says we need to focus on four relationships: our relationships "with our God, with our families, with our fellowmen and with ourselves."

1. With our God:
"As we seek Him, as we learn of His Son, Jesus Christ, as we open our hearts to the influence of the Holy Spirit, our lives become more stable and secure."
"To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him."

2. With our families:
"We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together."
"Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home.  We talk with, rather than about, each other."

3. With our fellowman:
"We build this relationship one person at a time- by being sensitive to the needs of others, serving them, and giving of our time and talents."

4. With ourselves:
"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."

President Uchtdorf says that if we strengthen these four relationshps, we will find ourselves on "the path that leads always toward a life of meaning, gladness, and peace."

Man, I love conference.  Is it April yet?

Trains

I took all these pictures this week but stopped when my camera battery was dead for a few days.

I think I'm earning "real life work experience" that would equal a minor in structural engineering. :-D  Eternal gratitude to Genny for scoring most of these tracks at a garage sale!

On Motherhood

I know, I know, I have quite the motherhood soapbox.  But I was writing some things in my journal last night that I want my kids to read one day, especially my daughter(s?) when they're mothers themselves.  I figure they'll be more likely to read my full-of-pictures and not-so-full-of-mom's-craziness blog before they try to sort through the deep thoughts and ramblings that make up my journal.  So here's an excerpt of what I wrote:

"Man I love being a mom.  I have a lot of moments when I am frustrated and pulling my hair out (far too many, actually) but the sweet tenderness of motherhood overwhelms me.  I am SO THANKFUL every day that I get to be a mother in this lifetime.  The things I experience as a mom change me and it seems that with every child I have and with each new stage we enter, I become more like the person I want to be.  Motherhood is definitely found in the snuggles and hugs and kisses and smiles and laughter.  But I am coming to understand more and more how motherhood is found just as much in the laundry and diapers and dishes and constant messes.  The sum of these two sides of life make up our experience as a family.  It is incredible how going through everything that we do in family life binds us together.  I am so blessed to get to be a stay at home mom because it means I get to develop this family "binding" almost every moment of every day."

I sure love my kiddos!  And I'm trying to do my best to make sure they don't only remember the "pulling my hair out" moments. :-D