Thanksgiving week goals.

It's Thanksgiving week! Since my life is a sleepy haze right now with baby I really function best when I make simple goals and hold myself to them. Here's my two goals for this week:

1. I want to make this. How about this: I am going to make this garland this week! There.

Source: abeautifulmess.typepad.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

I never really love Fall decorations because it usually involves dried flowers and rafia and straw or something, but I like this garland. And I usually want to head straight to Christmas, but it's Thanksgiving week, and dash it all, I want to get festive. Anyone have a good idea for Thanksgiving place cards? I pinned a few today, but I am not in love.

2. Create fond thanksgiving memories and traditions for my children.

I have so many great Thanksgiving memories with my parents, sisters, and relatives at my cousins house in Visalia or Modesto or this one time when my mom invited a ton of friends and family to come together at our cultual hall at the church. All the kids ran around and the moms cooked up a storm. My mom and her friend steamed sugar cones to bend like cornucopias and put candy inside and this is before Pinterest! The Thanksgiving of my childhood is about loved ones- lots of them- and play, and watching the parade on TV, and snacking on little appetizers while waiting for the big meal, and taking a long walk to the park after, and getting immediately geared up for Christmas the minute you cleared your plate, and laughter, and festive fun.

Being married and spending many nice Thanksgivings with my in-laws and little family has been more quiet and scaled down then I am used to, but still good memories overall. My mother-in-law puts a ton of care into the food she cooks. Unfortunately I feel like in the past couple of years the kids were too small to involve in Thanksgiving so they've just kind of been ignored all day as we cooked, scolded for not being tiny adults at the table full of food they don't want to eat, and then immediately dismissed so we could just have a moment's peace at the table. I know I can do better, but have never bothered to in years past.

All of a sudden I find myself in the position of being the mom to three little boys who are starting to remember traditions and things we have done each year. I feel like it's high time to decide what kind of Thanksgiving memories I want them to cherish (or cringe about!). I am traditional in the sense that I take great responsibility as their mother to set the tone for a nice holiday, a fun holiday, a day that is about creating good memories and pausing to think about what we are thankful for.

In past years it's been easy for me to get stressed out about cooking the meal, worrying about what is on the table, my kids being perfect at the table...etc. but I really want to make a conscious effort to simplify things and make it more about creating good memories with the kids. I know my children aren't going to eat turkey or mashed potatoes or really anything most humans consume on Thanksgiving and I am positive their table manners will leave something to be desired,

but I want them to enjoy the day. I want them to remember happy Thanksgivings with their grandparents, parents, siblings, and friends. I am confident that we can give them that and that we can be happy and thankful for each other.

So we will set a fun table and talk about manners but not expect perfection, we will watch the parade, we will take a long walk and play, we will be stoked if they try at least one new food, and we will talk about our blessings. This will be our tradition.

uh-huh

Yeah we made our own shirts (actually Matti made mine), waited in line for hours with all the other excited weirdos, met up with more giddy friends that we saved seats for, ate junk, giggled, screamed, got shushed by the angry older crowd (what were you serious types doing there at midnight???), felt awesomely young again since we got shushed by the angry older crowd, and had a simply marvelous time.

Again.

I love all the high-horse riders who refuse to read this book or go to a movie. You are all proving your point..... wait, what was it again? I'm sorry, I was too busy having tons of fun to catch it!

And I'm a literary snob. Who loves Twilight. So there! (insert pre-teen tee-hee's in here)

I tried to be sensible for 3/4s a day and backed out the morning of because I need all the patience I can get with potty training Ambrose and teething Asher, got lunch brought to me by friends who talked me back into going (seriously you guys are pure gold), and speaking of pure gold: Thomas stuck around this morning to get up with the kids and keep them entertained while I caught a few more zzzzzzzzzs.

It's nice having a husband who supports silly. Uh-huh it is.

i had to share

I have been feeling so good lately.

In our home.
Kids healthy at last.
Work is so fun.
Home all day with the kids living it up- beaching a lot too!
Good friends and family to call my own.
Thomas starting exciting new ventures in his career that he SO DESERVES.

It feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is radiating brilliantly all around us!

I think it is really important to stand still. Take a deep breath. And recognize how good we have it every once in a while.

It is so easy for me to complain or worry. But luckily I tend to hope no matter what and I know that is because I have faith in my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

I know that they know me personally and they care about me. I know it. I feel my eyes brimming with tears and a whispered confirmation as I type that.

I love this Christian song (JJ Heller Your Hands) I stumbled upon a while back when I was really struggling. It was a perfect expression of my testimony at the time. So beautiful.

Anyway, tonight I was preparing my lesson for the zany 11 year olds Thomas and I teach and these quotes made my soul smile and my heart beat with joy. I just had to share!

by Virginia H. Pearce:

“• Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live, and they are in charge of this world.

“• They know me.

“• They love me.

“• They have a plan for my future.

“• I will obey the commandments, work hard, and trust in their plan. Sooner or later, everything will be okay” (“Faith Is the Answer,” Ensign, May 1994, p. 92).


from President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“Every one of you was endowed by your Father in Heaven with a tremendous capacity to do good in the world. Train your minds and your hands that you may be equipped to serve well in the society of which you are a part. Cultivate the art of being kind, of being thoughtful, of being helpful. Refine within you the quality of mercy which comes as a part of the divine attributes you have inherited” (“The Light within You,” Ensign, May 1995, p. 99).

(photo credit the one and only natalie norton!)

Sooner or later everything has become more than OK for us and I know we have a long way to go, but I am enjoying where we are and what we have to look forward to and feeling grateful for what we have done. The support of family is wonderful too. We love our parents and siblings! We love our extended families and good friends! We love the Lord. Life is progressing. Hope all is well with you and if it is not- hold on with a perfect brightness of hope!

The Lord knows you. He loves you so much too. Great things ahead if we all do our part! How exciting.

i start monday

I got a call tonight.

I don't remember it word for word.

It went something like this:

The Composition Coordinator (a dear lady whom I really like): "Hi Stephanie. I know you couldn't do First Term but how do you feel about teaching English 101 this Spring. You would start Monday. We really need someone and we thought of you. Sorry it's so last minute."

Me: (inside my head) "Ah crap" (Thinking about all the reasons it didn't work out for my family so well last semester. 1. Leaving my kids in the morning 2. Thomas gets a late start to his day 3. I get a late start to my day with my kids and it throws us off)
"Well......"

Comp. Coordinator: "Before you say anything let me tell you the bad things about this offer."

Me: "Ok....."

Comp. Coordinator: "We are still looking for a classroom for you since we had to add this section due to large enrollment and it would maybe have to be an evening class, but we could try and see if--"

Me: "WHAT? No, no, that's actually a positive! A big one. I might actually be able to do that. The evening class? Oh, good . Yes please. Let me talk to my husband and I'll let you know ASAP."

Comp. Coordinator: (A little incredulous) "Really? Seriously? OK..... Great. Good. Call me back."

Me: "OK!"

And Thomas, that dear man, he was so excited for me (since I cried like a baby on my last day of class this semester) he told me he really thinks I should do it and that it would not be a problem at all.

What a guy.

What a job.

Perfect timing.

Still get my whole day with my kiddos and my nights with my man.

Seriously?

I swear. Sometimes things just work out.

Yes they do.

silent anniversary

My oliofolio peeps will recognize the title of this post, but this time I am referring to the fact that March 1, 2010 came and went and we didn't say much about it.

We moved out of our happy little Hauula home

March 1, 2009 to start a new adventure: living in Thomas' parent's home while they embarked on a three month mainland adventure, and then trespassing on their kindness a little longer until our renovated nest on top of their house was complete. I missed our little home in Hauula so badly and sometimes I think I am trying desperately to recreate it with every design choice I get to help make in the new apartment.

Light, bright, clean, modern, basic = perfection.

I remember when we sighed at the fact that we might have to wear out our welcome for as much as three to maybe even five or six months together upon their return. It seemed like a lot to ask and like a time of transition that we hoped wouldn't mess with our kid's schedules or behavior...etc. too much.

Well, it has been a year and we are starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel as far as apartment completion is concerned, but more than once I have felt like our toys were strewn about my in-laws house a little too much, our toddler screamed a little too loudly and frequently, I was unaware of what said toddler was doing while I nursed a very hungry baby perhaps a little too much, I didn't take my turn to cook dinner for everyone one too many times...etc...etc.

BUT

lucky for us my in-laws have a way of making all that seem ok. If they are reading this: THANK YOU.

How many young moms have the luxury of a loving grandma and grandpa right there to help out at a moments notice?

What will I do once we are upstairs in our own space that I have been craving for so long and I FINALLY have to deal with it all MYSELF?? :)

Anyway, here's to the year that no one expected. A year that taught me so much about simplifying, letting things go, and moving forward with a perfect brightness of hope no matter what set-backs came our way.

A hard year. A wonderful year.

A year I wouldn't trade for anything.

talented, talented friends

like angie wynes:



and mrs. shanae jones take these and make us look good :)

click on the links to see much more- especially on angie's blog and shanae's you might have already seen if you have facebook and i sent you the link.

love them!

thanks for the awesome deal ladies! you are amazing!

thankful for my jobs

teaching eng 101, sec 2 is a special little hobby of mine. a time where i can reconnect with the old geeky literary version of myself and enjoy helping my students see how they can find themselves in the pieces we are reading. i feel like the lord knew that waiting for the apartment to be done would be an exercise in patience for little-old-impatient-me and so he gave me a little treat to help keep life moving and busy in the form of this teaching opportunity.

when it is done on december 16th i will be sad because i truly have enjoyed it, but there will be some relief too. i have another job, i think you know what i am referring to, the one that involves the raising of two little pups named ambrose and asher. i am looking forward to slowing down and dedicating even more time to these two and not having anything extra to distract me. this fleeting time with my babies is precious.

admittedly the extra money each month has been pretty awesome and we have set it aside for purchases like these:

glad to be able to have it through such enjoyable means, but i must say, given the choice i would take the chubby toddler in the middle over the fancy rug surrounding him any day of the week.

today i am thankful for my jobs: one for now and the other for eternity.

thankful for good friends

and not just good, but thoughtful and generous.

i wrote a VERY long post about all my wonderful friends that have really been kind, supportive, giving, understanding, and fun to be around and i named a bunch of people by name. don't worry, you made the list.

and then i got to thinking that what if i missed someone reeeeeal important and so i deleted that monster of a post and soooooo-

if you are my friend, and a good one at that, i hope you know how very grateful i am for you. even if we don't get to see each other very often - i hope you know that you mean a lot to me.

and speaking of generous friends:

check out this!


today i am thankful for good friends.

thankful for his cheery disposition

poor poor asher has been having really high fevers the last few days and since he was drooling and chewing on his fingers along with it i just chalked it up to teething.

lesson learned.

yesterday he barfed all over (and i mean ALL OVER) at ambrose's preschool.... we promptly left and no one complained.

he is such a cheerful child that it's hard to know when he is really sick, but i am still thankful for his cheery disposition.

here's a picture of him tonight with his 101.5 temperature: which is a welcome relief from his 102.7 he has been sporting most of the day.

his cheery disposition saw him through being poked and prodded at the doctors all afternoon and having an adhesive bag urine sample test, lots of breathing exercises, and a drawn-out (pun intended) blood test.... it took so long to get his blood squeezed out of his poor little heel and he was making the same face in the above picture for most of it.

the nurse kept saying it was too bad he wasn't crying since that usually gets the blood flowing and pumping more. ha.

so, the blood test came back ok and now we are just waiting on the urine test and monitoring him closely. if the fevers keep spiking he will be visiting the ER tonight (oh please no).

dear sweet asher. we love you. you are sitting on my lap as i type this gurgling and cooing.

today i am tired and worried, but thankful for my cheerful asher boy.

thankful for my two sidekicks

when i was thinking about what i am thankful for most today i looked around me and saw a two year old piling up couch cushions and pillows-"makin' a mountain!" and continued to snuggle the baby in my arms who wasn't feeling well. we were entertained by his brother's diligent building skills and even though i was worried for the baby i was holding and dreading all the clean-up that usually follows these giant pillow mountains i thought, "what a great day!"

i've got my two babes: close by night and day to teach me patience and deep, eternal love

even when it's hard to put others first and especially when your poor little one is sick

today i'm thankful that these precious boys belong to me.

thankful for great weekends

looking through my camera phone photo album this evening makes me start out this month of gratitude with a smile.

getting creative with the man i love most on behalf of our two adorable children, camping in one of the most beautiful places on earth with some good friends, celebrating a happy holiday with an imaginative and enthusiastic two year old, trick-or-treating with loving, patient long-time friends who were kind about the fact that our sons robot costume was making him move in slow motion, and soaking in all the creative, happy, and chaotic moments in between.

i am grateful that this month started out on a sunday. i felt gladness in my heart all day for the blessings in our life and the happiness we have enjoyed. i hope you don't mind if i share them with you again this year. i am looking forward to it. it's easy to dwell on all that irritates us or makes us feel unsatisfied about life. it is more fulfilling and fun to be thankful for all that we have been gifted and blessed with.

overall, this weekend was sublime.

i'm thankful for great weekends:

uh oh, fishing for a roll call? :)

haha

hey all- oh man- i meant yesterdays post to say:

"i am not sure who exactly is reading my blog besides the lovelies that comment all the time, but i'm gonna try to blog without being self-conscious. i.e.- when i post Mormon stuff i hesitate, like i hope no one thinks i am trying to preach to them or when i post silly things i think, "what must _________ (insert random persons name here) think of this nonsense?"

and then i realized, well, who cares. they must enjoy my particular brand of nonsense or they wouldn't be reading... either that or they are a glutton for punishment and they pound their fist on their forehead after each entry....cursing my name...........

but anyway, thanks for the impromptu roll call- it was fun to get little, "hellos" throughout the day. my students were taking a test all during class today and i would check my phone here and there for the time and see your emailed comments and laugh.

i didnt mean to fish for it (well, i did mean to tease my family- especially the lazy or computer challenged ones-hehe), but it was fun anyway.

on that note: i'm off to grade said tests and then some papers upon papers, but just wanted to say aloha!

oh auntie liko.......

a weekend sewing kimono shirt WITH heather ross fabric?!?!?!?!? what a dream.

you do good work friend. asher looked dashing in his present from you. we love you!

guess what i just found on my front doorstep??

a brown paper bag that said-

for: amby boy
love: the sneaky sneakster

and this is what was inside!!!

WOW!

i think i know who you are.... but this sneakiness is fun. you are the best! this will match the octopi/seahorse fabric i went ahead and bought from fabric worm this morning to use in the boys new room someday. oh man. thank you!!!!!!

look mom!

the pregnant hippo:
made some party favors WITH hippos on them for all the kiddlets who come to amby's shin-dig.
i hope i made enough.
thanks for the over-the-phone tutorial. i wanna sew like you.

thanks!

my days are full of focusing on the pursuit of happiness and steering clear of the negative or false.

let's put this thing to rest for now shall we.

see you out there. call if you need an ear, come over if you need some company, join us if you feel like it, step aside if you wanna rain on our parade, so many people to thank for everything, so thanks.

moving on

six months pregnant
living in my in-laws house now

it feels really strange to be here. the first morning i woke up and had to remind myself where i was and what i was doing here and that was a little sad because we miss our little house and ambrose has asked me a couple of times if we can go home- BUT- i am also feeling so grateful to my in-laws for having us in their home that i almost feel awkward. we have carved ourselves into their rooms, kitchen, living space...etc. and they are making us feel like we are doing them a favor. it is nice to be so well looked after. they leave wednesday and then we take over all the household responsibilities for three months.

so, we are on to whatever is next now. living day to day in someone else's house and living simply so that we can feel financially secure and confident in the future. it's strange, but good.

i dont really know what else to say for now. this morning ambrose and i went out exploring and i was feeling a little sorry for myself or something and we walked up to the temple grounds and i remembered how when he was a colicky baby i would wander up there all the time in desperation- trying something different to distract him from whatever was bothering him. i would hold him close and sing him primary songs and it would soothe him. today he reached up for me as i held him close, walking around the grounds and i sang him this song and it filled me with such peace that i looked around at all the beauty surrounding us and felt completely ridiculous for being sad. we are in a beautiful place and are being looked after. we are lucky.

so i guess that is my update. and thanks to all our friends who made our move possible either with your muscles or your time in watching ambrose and for all the well wishes. we are doing well. thank you.

thanks to you

upstanding youth won their fourth hawaii music award for "a sense of urgency"!!

thanks for voting- and family- thanks for letting me vote with your email accounts... haha.

if you want to pick up your own copy of the album head over to their blog and click on the "buy now" button on the side bar.

*me and thomas personally send out the albums so i will pack yours up with love and you can see the awesome art work (with a frumpy appearance from yours truly) on the cover- the whole family made it on there!

and he's off!

today is no holiday for thomas robertson. he needed to head out and track down some new clients who may really need his help right about now. so we are saving our monday holiday for next week and have some serious family fun planned in honolulu.

i can tell it's monday because this always happens: we have a lovely weekend and thomas is such a hands-on dad and team player in our relationship that when the weekend is over (sort of like when midnight strikes for cinderella and the spell is broken) and it's back to regular life, i always have a little moment of worry... like, "WAIT! you're leaving now? it's up to ME and only me to be in charge?? are ya sure???"

of course me and the toddler end up have a grand old time and we're fine, but the arrival of monday morning really makes me appreciate any time spent with my eternal mate: t-rob. :)

so, me and bubba headed straight out to the beach this morning and now we're back to eat dino shaped chicken nuggets... if we're gonna have a monday we may as well have a really great monday.

i really like: BIG active chubby baby BOYS

and it's a good thing too since that's what we are having again. there is no doubt about it. the first thing we saw on the screen was a little boy part and the doctor said, "yep, no doubt about it-- he is very much a boy!" :)

also, he measures big (just like his BIG brother) and he is VERY very active (just like his big brother was and is).... i feel exhausted and excited just thinking about my future with these two pups.

and as i drove away from the appointment by myself (thomas reluctantly had to head out for work in the other car) i sobbed and sobbed... i could barely see the road... i feel so grateful and overwhelmed to be trusted with these two special boys. i promise to do all i can to help them become the individuals they were intended to be.