Cheese!

Having Savana arounds means we pull out the camera a whole lot more ! Here's a few of my favorites from this last weekend!

Sam's dad (Randy) came down this weekend to help tow our broken-down car home. Savana couldn't stop cheesing for him! She sure loves her grandpa! Super Cheese Fest!

Savy got a bath in the sink to help with her rash on her bum. She certainly enjoys her bathtime...even if she's almost as big as the bath.

Savy's been practicing standing and walking along the table. There's been quite a few crashes and bumps, but she's always ready to hop up and try it again! (She's smiling for her daddy in this one. Savy always saves the biggest smiles for her dad.)

Weekends

I love the weekends. Sammy and I had a chance to hang out with our friends Friday night. We did nothing but sit around and talk and try to entertain two toddlers, but it was so fun! We even got two free pizzas out of it! We don't see friends often enough, so we welcome the chance to hang out!

Saturday morning, Sammy and I took Savy for a walk around our community to clean up trash. (we get paid to do it, we're not that good of neighbors!) We chose the wrong day to do it...it was incredibly windy and for every piece of garbage we picked up, three more would fly out of our bag. The wind was even strong enough to knock over my sturdy Graco stroller with my 16 pound baby inside! (Savana was a little traumatized, but she came out with no bruises or scratches)

That night I had a rare chance to leave my baby behind with Sammy and go hear the YW Conference at the conference center. I leave Savy with the sitter every morning during the week, but I am rarely without her during the evenings. It was a good opportunity for Sammy to spend some bonding time with his daughter (while playing video games with the young men in our ward), and it was a great chance for me to get out with the young women in our ward and hear the words of our leaders. We even had a chance to see our new prophet and relish in the spirit he brings into the room. We visited Olive Garden downtown for a scrumptious meal, and I marveled at the silliness that came over our young women as the night wore on! I would NEVER want to visit my junior high days again, but every once in awhile, it's refreshing to have that "youthful" (or immature) spirit revisit.

I love the weekends and the time I get to spend with my hubby, family, and friends. It definitely is hard for me to get back to work on Monday. (Mondays are the worst day ever invented) But it's nice to know when Monday starts, the weekend is only five days away!

Things I used to do...

I used to never be able to lay down and take a nap...then I had Savana. And suddenly, I can lay down and take a productive hour long nap. (productive meaning I actually sleep instead of laying around and worrying about all the things I should be doing instead of napping!) Sometimes the knowledge that I can lay down and take a nap in the afternoon is the only thing that gets me up in the morning.

I used to also feel guilty about taking a nap, but getting a good amount of sleep is one of the best things I can do for my body.

I used to feel the need to apologize if my house wasn't spotless when someone came to visit, and then I realized how overrated a clean house is. There are many things more important things then a clean house. And I refuse to apologize for actually "living" in my house.

I used to live for weekend nights when I was single, and then I got married. Every night's a weekend when I get to hang out with my crush.

I used to think sleeping in meant waking up after 10:00 AM. Now sleeping in is 7:30 AM. (Thanks Savy for sleeping in until 8:00 this morning).

I used to think we had to go out and do things with friends to have fun. Now the funnest things to do are sit around and talk with friends.

I used to view video games as a waste of time...I still do...unless of course Rockband is involved. Then it's pure entertaining!

Easter Sunday

This is the fifth time I've tried posting this entry with some really cute pictures. And I'm starting to get a little fed up. So, if the pictures don't work, sorry.

Easter morning was a little rushed. Sammy and I had stayed up a little too late the night before, and our bed was super comfy that morning. However, we did manage to get ourselves out of bed and see what the Easter Bunny brought. Sammy and Savana both had a basket waiting for them on the couch. (I wasn't a good enough girl to receive my own basket...I made Sammy share his candy with me). While I got ready, Sammy got himself and Savy ready, and even managed to take a picture of Savy before we ran off to church. (at 9:00 in the morning!)


Yeah!!! I got a picture to work. That afternoon, we drove up to Sam's Grandma's house for a scrumptious meal and an easter egg hunt. While searching for eggs, we discovered Savana's dislike for grass. I guess the grass is too pokey for her soft, tender, delicate skin. Sammy and I found it hilarious, so we took numerous photos of her trying to avoid the grass by retracting her feet. She wasn't too thrilled with us.

(see her cute little feet avoiding the grass?)

What babes! Oh, and the babies are pretty cute, too! Me and Ashlie with our cute little girls...Savana and Pyper!

After Sam's Grandmas, we ran (actually, we drove. it would be too far to run) down to my parent's house and had an Easter egg hunt followed by another delicious dinner. (We were lucky enough to have Batman join our Easter party!)

Savy with all her cousins...Carter, Noah, David..I mean Batman, and Brexten!

All in all, we had a busy, yet wonderful Easter day. And in between all the food, fun, family, and egg hunts, there were a few quiet moments where I could reflect on the reason why we have Easter. Because of what our Savior did for us almost two thousand years ago. Because of Him, these wonderful days with my family won't just be for this life. I can be with my family forever! And for that, I am grateful.

Reprove to Improve?

So Amber and I just finished Family Home Evening. We're trying to get into an established routine after attempting it more times than I can count. I was responsible for the lesson tonight, and the topic of motivation was the thirst that needed quenching.

The scriptures pointed to the Lord as the ultimate source of motivation, but that the desire must rise within us. Like faith, motivation requires no more than just a desire to be/do something and if you let that righteous desire work within you, the Lord will "establish your thoughts" (Proverbs 16:3). Also, the DO Commandments (love one another, let virue garnish your thoughts) are more powerful motivators than the DO NOTS (thou shalt not...).

Upon finishing the lesson, the topic of what a spouse should do when they want to help their spouse avoid something that would be detrimental to their progress. I voiced my opinion that motivation must come from within and from one's dedication to the Lord, so a reproving comment from a spouse does nothing but spark a fire of resentment. The talk got a little heated as Amber opined that a spouse should do/say something to help their significant other improve and continually strive to raise his/her standards. The discussion turned from general to specific and I found myself on the defensive.

After spending time with my thoughts, away from indicting fingers and defensive counterarguments, I must say that Amber was right. My spiritual judgment was blocked by my selfish yearning for independence and my desire to settle for less. I frequently hold my own hands over my face and refuse to admit that I am blinded. It is my pride that blinds me.

I am very blessed to have a wife who is continually striving for improvement. She has made more of me in four years than I did in 23. I am more determined and more productive with her by my side, and for that I am grateful. She has every right to help me see the error of my ways, or to help me avoid a pitfall of my own making. I need to return the favor and help her realize her goals and aspirations, instead of taking a passive role.

I am blessed to have Amber with me.

Snapshots

Just posin' in the chair. What cute little toes!
Nothing but girl! Savy found the jewels to be rather tasty.
Last week, my sister Shanda and I took our kids in to get some shots at Kiddie Kandids. We went to Old Spaghetti Factory (yummy food, but the worst service I've ever experienced!) for lunch and then took the kids to get their pictures. Shanda's boy, Brexten, got his 3 year old pictures taken. I can't believe he is already 3! He looked so handsome and so grown-up in his pictures! Her boys are going to be knockouts when they get older.

Brynn came along to make sure Savy's hair looked great and to help me with Savana. Brynn is wonderful to have around. She's so easygoing and loves to help out with the kids. She watched Savana all last week while I was teaching, and then me and Savy got to hang out with her the rest of the time. We mostly just sat around, did a puzzle, talked, ate, got a muchly needed pedicure, and hung out. We sure miss Brynn when she's up in Logan.

Savana is so easy to take pictures of! She just sat there and smiled away! (and then looked rather serious for a few shots). We ended the day with some scrump-diddly-icious ice cream from Coldstone (ice cream doesn't get any better).

You know, I enjoy getting Savana all dolled up and taking her to a "professional" photographer, but when all is said and done, my favorite pictures of her are still the snapshots Sammy and I take at home. What a beautiful babe.

P.S. Thanks Shanda for the little white outfit!

Motivate Me

Sam's staying late at work, Savana's been in bed since 7:00, I've had an hour to myself, and what do I do? I clean my house, make my shopping list, and then sit on my butt watching American Idol. I don't even care about American Idol! There are so many things I want to do...scrapbook, run, workout, play the violin, run some more, paint, learn, improve my teaching skills...but when I actually have the time to do these things, I resort to reading a book or watching tv. I've set my alarm early for the past week to get up and run, but I hit snooze EVERY TIME and go back to sleep. I've temporarily lot my motivation to do these things I really enjoy. Where did it go? It makes me think....

What motivates people? Ideally, motivation would come from within. I would do things just because I want to do them. And I would have the willpower to put my laziness aside and do those things that I want to do. I would be able to see past the moment...that battle within...and get out and do things that make me a better person. I used to have the willpower to do many things. I once ran a marathon (in another life), and I've let that willpower slip past. I believe it's time for me to set some goals and get myself into action.

but I still wonder...what motivates you?

Contemporary Journal

This last weekend Sammy and I went to our Stake Conference. For the first time, we attended the adult session on Saturday night. Sam claims there's never been an adult session before, but I think we've just finally grown up a bit to actually hear about the "adult" session. Keeping Savana entertained kept us distracted for the majority of both sessions, but there were a few moments where I was able focus on the messages being delivered by the speakers. One speaker was talking about temple work and what our role should be in getting that temple work done. He mentioned going to the temple and doing the vicarious work there, but the majority of his talk was focused on keeping journals and family records for future generations. He even mentioned his wife's blog as being an important part of this record keeping. And I had an AHA moment...I can also take part in this wonderful "record keeping" work by sharing my thoughts, feelings, and events in my life through my blog. This wasn't why I originally started blogging (it was more of a chance to post cute pictures of my baby), but this is why I now am going to blog.

A month or so ago I was talking to my family about sustaining Pres. Monson in his role as prophet of this church during ward conference. My brother-in-law asked me if I had received my own personal witness of Pres. Monson being the prophet. His question caught me off-guard and made me think...have I received this witness? Sure, I believed Pres. Monson should be the prophet and I had faith that the Lord called Pres. Monson to be our prophet, but did I have my own personal witness? Well, yesterday, I had the opportunity to sustain Pres. Monson once again. As his name was called out and as I raised my hand to sustain Pres. Monson, I felt a slight chill run through my body. I felt it again as I sustained Pres. Eyring and Pres. Uchdorff. I caught Sam's eye and he mouthed..."I just felt the spirit." He felt the same thing I did. The small but powerful presence of the spirit had confirmed to both Sammy and I that Pres. Monson is the prophet of our church. I am excited to see what he does while fulfilling that role!

Girls are for Dressing Up

Brynn and I spent the afternoon playing dress-up with a cranky, tired, and hungry baby. Savana wasn't the most cooperative, and she didn't especially enjoy being dressed up or getting her picture taken. We gave up and I fed her and attempted to put her down for her nap. After a few minutes (15) crying, Savy finally gave in to her tiredness and drifted off to sleep. Upon awakening a short time later (it's never long enough for us moms), she was ready to show off her smiles for the camera. What a knockout! Those little teeth make the smiles even more adorable!