Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership

Motherhood:-An-Eternal-Partnership

I am always excited for a new Mormon Message. I check LDS.org often looking to see if there is a new one up. This one is older, but it is a staple in my life. I think I watch it probably every two weeks. I just really love to hear that I am doing terrifically well and that angels are helping me in this job called motherhood.

A boy named Wilson.

Meet Wilson. 

He turned 3 on August 6th.

He is creative and builds amazing creations with his blocks.

He is a tease and often wears a mischievous grin and has a twinkle in his eye.

He doesn't like you to snuggle him, but he loves to snuggle you.

He runs extra fast when wearing his running shoes.

He loves to play imaginary games.

 His favorite: rocket ship.

if I'm lucky he lets me wear the pink astronaut suit.

He needs positive recognition and often tells me:

"Mom did you see? I was very reverent."

"Mom did you see?  I dave Sam a tiss."

"Mom did you see? I shared with Zina."

He doesn't like grapes or tomatoes but loves cucumbers.

He loves to swim and just learned to swim with his head under the water.

He has an infectious giggle.

He will wait for the 1....2....and then on 3 jump up and run 

{giggling}

 to do whatever it is I asked him to do.

He loves to end his prayers, "In the name of Jesus Christer, Amen"

I can't convince him to end them otherwise.

He helps me make dinner

every night.

I love this boy Wilson.

With all my heart.

Happy Birthday little buddy.

I love you.

The morning of August 6th going out to check for packages in the mail.

What did the birthday boy ask for for breakfast? Lucky Charms. :)

His birthday present from Mom & Dad.

Zina insisted on picking him out a Transformer.  She was SO excited to give it to him.

August 6th also happened to be the day when I had my oath ceremony to become a U.S. Citizen so Wilson got to spend most of the day at his cousin Bo's house which we probably would have chosen to do anyways. He loves his cousins. 

 We had a pirate party for him the next day.  It was a little chaotic but I think a success.  We tried to keep it to his little boy buddies + families which ended up being 13 kids and their parents!  

The invites.

The kids went on a treasure hunt. 

Where they had to find a cannon, octopus, shovel, ring, and walk the plank.  

(They loved the plank.  Each kid wanted to do it over and over and over again)

At the end they found a treasure chest full of pirate patches, ring pops, and bandanna's.

As soon as they were in the right attire they got to dig for pirate treasure in the sandbox.

Then everyone got to attack our homemade pirate, Yellow Jack.

FYI. You turn yellow if you don't eat your fruits and vegetables.

It's called scurvy.

{and Mark was super proud of his hangman's noose...above YJ's head}

I wish I could take credit for the cute skull and bones banner and the cute pirate cupcakes, but I can't.  A friend came to the rescue and added the perfect finishing touches to the party.

Thanks Tiffany!

I can, however, take credit for this uber-cute pirate. ARR!

And the pirate cake turned out better than I expected. 

 And was much easier than I expected.

Happy Birthday Wilson!!

Somethin' to blog about...

Well, according to Mark it had to be done, and I'm not going to lie - it was no easy thing.   I was hoping I could just check that little box that said I would renounce any loyalty to any foreign sovereignty.  Nope, they made me (along with 96 others from 34 different countries)  raise my right hand and swear it under God.  Just thinking about it gives me a big knot in my chest.  An unpleasant knot.  It's a good thing Canada still loves me and accepts me as a Canadian because otherwise I don't think I could have followed through.   But look how proud my husband is.  His little Canadian wifey is an American Citizen.  

And now I've got to learn the Star Spangled Banner...

and teach my kids to not wave the American flag while 

singing "Oh, Canada my home and native land"

and I'm working on getting rid of pride in all areas of my life.  It's obviously a work in progress.

A little bit of yard work.

On the first Monday of every month the city picks up bulk trash.  So on Sat. we got out as a family and did some major yard work.  It was a super humid high 80's temp and it felt so good to get out and work. I wish I had a before and after of our trees.  Instead here are some pictures of where that little bit of yard work took me.  Back to the farm.  I'm pretty sure I was having muscle memory while shoveling rocks in the backyard.  They were singing.  Go ahead. Roll your eyes.  But my muscles were singing.  Mark mentioned that we might have to finish shoveling the rocks another day.  Then I attacked them and he apologized for ever doubting me.  He doesn't understand who I used to be. 

 Shoveling is a lot easier than mothering.

Dear Farm, 

I miss you.

Dear Muscles, 

I'm glad your back..well sort of back.

Dear Southern Alberta Sky, 

I miss you everyday.

Dear Little Mark in the picture, 

I can't wait to see you in 91 days when

you get home from your mission!!

boards

Lest I forget.

Mark passed his boards.

As if there was any chance of that not happening.

Pu.lease.

USMLE: 231

COMLEX: 583

We've been liv'n it up since then.

And isn't this picture funny?

Zina's nightgown kept getting in the way so I tied it around her waist. 

snicker.

Mark wouldn't let me take any more pictures.

Just believe me when I say it was thoroughly entertaining.

Oh and another random bit of information.

I dig my husband in business casual.

unfortunately he prefers scrubs.

he pulls those off pretty good too.

the end.

I wasn't very pleased that she was taking the picture.  She should have warned me so
I could have sucked in my gut and flexed my musculos!!!   --Mark

Monday monday can't trust that day...

Have you ever heard that song from the Mamas and the Papas?  We used to listen to it all the time as kids.

"Every other day, every other day,

Every other day of the week is fine, yeah

But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes

You can find me cryin' all of the time."

Ok. So I'm not crying all the time but e.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. else is.

only on Monday.

Let's talk about every other day of the week instead.

oops not that day.

ok. just kidding that day was fun.

Mark's rotations have been wonderful.  His first one, family practice, had him home at 3pm everyday.  Oh it was beautiful.  He is doing pediatrics now which is 9-5 + Tuesday's off.  And we have our weekends back! It has been so so wonderful.  It is so nice to have our Dad back now that his first two years of Med. school are over.  We are going to soak it up in preparation for residency. :) 
This day we went to the splash pad.  The kids love having their dad around. 
And so do I.
It's about time.


This day we played in the backyard sun.
I love the sun.  
Even the 110 degree sun.

A random one of Zina cuddling with Sam. 

And an idea that I got from the ensign.  I love the ensign.  And my kids love scripture stories.  Everyday they pick a picture and beg for me to tell them the story that goes with it.

Every night when I go to bed I review the day.  And if I am feeling not so good about that day it is usually for one reason.  Not spending enough real time with my kids. 

Well this day I had no regrets when I knelt down for those evening prayers.

Just enjoyed them.  

And thank goodness Monday is over.  It was quite the day. 
Today for scripture study I went on LDS.org and searched for a talk on 
perseverance. LOL.  I love my kids.  Even on days when we're all 
crying. :)