The Truth About Toddlers

What is the truth about Toddlers? Toddlers are rough. Aye, aye, aye, they are rough. I've been through enough of them to know that they didn't coin the phrase "Terrible Twos" for nothing (although the age through which this phase passes is a topic of debate for many parents). But that is only a truth. What is the truth about toddlers (well, the truth I would like to assert in this post, anyway)? Toddlers. Are. Awesome. They are lovably sweet. Frustratingly cute. Hilariously adorable. And if you take but a moment to let this reality settle in, you'll find it can compensate for (just about) any wrong doing (terrible, though it may be)...

(I guess, if you're gonna take a kid to the grocery store in pajamas, you kind of ask for this)...

Oh, and it often happens that whatever the thing is that happens to be cute, is also that same thing which happens to be trouble (hence, 'frustratingly cute')...

Toddlers. 

Winter mornings

Russ commutes to work every day. (I suppose most people who have work do this). He drives about an hour each way. He doesn't ever complain (and two hours of driving every day can start to get to you--well, it would start to get to me, anyway). All of that is neither here nor there. I just thought I would mention how awesome Russ is. 

He captured this on one of those long drives... 

Winter mornings are beautiful, sometimes.

Christmas (december)

Christmas Time, I love thee. 

There are few things worth braving the bitter cold. A cup of Christmas cheer and the lights on Temple Square fall among these things. (You're going to have to trust that the blurry family in the photo below is us)... 

And we'll skip to the big day (and the eve of the big day). Months had passed--nails had been hammered, floors and roofs installed, walls put up--a home was being created. The anticipation was immense. Spending our first night in our new home, well, we felt like little children on Christmas Eve. Oh, yes, that's right--it was Christmas Eve. So let's go ahead and multiply that feeling by seventeen. Jeff McNeil (who built our home for us) worked tirelessly (yes, even on the Eve Day of Christmas Day) so that we could experience this...

...in our new home. Thanks, Jeff. It was a night we will always remember with fondness.

And, the many faces of present opening...

Ah, the tree-shot. Yes, always the tree shot...

Merry Christmas. 

Thanksgiving (november)

 So much to be thankful for. It was a Saint George Thanksgiving this year. And... I took no pictures of the thing which I am most grateful for-family.

Well, okay I took this one...

But it doesn't count. I mean... you know what I mean. I mustered up some photo guff (don't ask what that is, it just came out and I'm sticking with it) and took photos of the beautiful Thanksgiving scene Debbie created for us...

And the place cards Vanessa helped my children make (and if you would like to interpret that to mean, "the place cards Vanessa made that my children took credit for," we're on the same page) ...

And while we there Jack's asthma became really bad. It gave me a lot to be grateful for: modern medicine, health in good times, Jack. 

He was a champ, and unfortunately he has to know well how to use the breathing machine. And yes, I am so grateful to have this available for my little boy. I am so grateful for my little boy. I am so grateful for all of my children and my amazing husband. And for his family with whom we create beautiful memories. And above all, I am grateful for my Savior, who has given me all, and makes the joys that I feel even more joyous, and the sorrows I feel, less burdensome. I have such a blessed life!

Halloween (october)

The probability of herding all costumed children into one location, and getting them to look in the same direction (preferably the camera), in the middle of a trunk or treat (candy every ten feet in any direction) for a photo is 1 in 17,467. So we'll collage it for sure...

The probability of getting Dalton to dress up with his underwear outside his pants is 1 in 3. But getting him to strike a pose while doing so... well, that's also 1 in 3. But it deserves it's own showcasing, sans collage...

Happy Halloween!

The Zoo (October)

We have a zoo. Our children are animals. Oh-wait-no. I mean, we went to the zoo. But our children are still animals :) Look at these crazy critters...

Grandma and Grandpa Good took us. Good times (I can't help myself). Everything is magical when you look at it through a child's eyes...

While at the zoo we sat and rested ourselves at a little cluster of tables. Slowly we all started heading back to the car. Russ found a cluster of dollar bills. What to do in this situation? We talked it over, and he did the right thing-he took it to the lost and found (because we all know that is going to work, and the teenage employee totally isn't going to pocket it).

Feeling good about making the right decision we drive home. Stopping at the store ten minutes from home (and about an hour away from the zoo) Rusty reaches in  his pocket and says, "I lost my money!" Had he been there upon the discovery of the cluster of cash? No. He was back at the car before any of us. Had he been through the discussion of what was right? What was wrong? Did it matter? Would whoever have lost the money end up going to lost and found anyway? No. And now... he was out a chunk of change.

We had a good laugh. And Rusty still had no money.

I came to the conclusion that doing what is right  isn't always going make things easier. It won't be convenient. People don't always say, "Good job," and the teenage employee may give you a weird, blank stare as you hand him a wad of cash. We don't see immediate blessings and say, "Aren't we glad we did the right thing? Otherwise...?"

Otherwise what? Well. Otherwise we would have done the wrong thing. And you know, I feel happier when I do the right thing. Even if Rusty is out a few bucks. Heck, even if I'm out a few bucks. No regrets. Well, maybe we regretted not calling Rusty to ask him if the money was his :) But we didn't regret not just keeping it.

Happy ending: Russ went to the zoo and got the money back. And the teenage employee hadn't pocketed it. Way to go teenage employee. You did the right thing, too.

Happy Birthday Two-Year-Old (october)

Oh, Jack. You are two years old. Is it terrible? Not at all. You... are a joy. Sure you stopped wanting to take naps and go to bed. Sure you started climbing on counters and breaking dishes. Sure you regularly go through the pantry and dump out food. But you know, I would take that all day just to have you stroke my cheek and tell me you love me. Because you do that, too. And you ask me to cuddle with you in the rocking chair. And you sing songs to me. And I love you more than anything.

Here's Jack on his birthday (have I mentioned I am expecting a baby, it explains the lack of photos--and the giving up on Jack actually looking at the camera)...

But here is one shortly after his birthday. He isn't smiling. But I still love this picture...

I keep thinking I'm not truly capturing Jack when I get his straight-faced reserve. I'm only just now realizing that to most people this is Jack. Only a handful of people know the little chatter box who loves to tell stories, hear stories, laughs, smiles, throws balls, throws frisbees, throws anything, cuddles, sings, screams, and loves. That is the Jack I know. I love this little boy with ALL my heart :)