Indie

Before you look at the pictures below, let me preface...Indie was not injured during the taking of these pictures...

Of my three children Indie has been by far my "busiest" and by "busiest" I mean the one that has been into everything and kept me on my toes the most. I feel like I am constantly finding him in dangerous situations and/or doing his best to disorganize my organization. Anything that is put away must immediately be pulled out, and if a door to outside is open for a split second he is gone, and sometimes I don't even realize it. We have found him a few times down the street at the small park (please don't call DCS on me). With two older kids as well as neighbors that are in and out all day I have to keep a close eye on him. The only rest I get is nap time....oh, how I love nap time! So, for the last two or three days I have been documenting some of the things this kids does during his waking hours.

Pulling out the DVDs, right after I've put them away.

 

 Yes, he climbed up the back of the couch and decided the counter was a good place to watch "Meet the Robinson's."

 Trying to get down from his highchair, all by himself. I have found him dangling off the side a few times.

 Pulling out the paints...thankfully he doesn't know how to open those yet.

 Emptying the contents of my middle drawer.

 Yes, those are fruit snacks. A box of 80 of them.

 And these are corn nuts. He found the opened bag on the table and decided he needed all of them on the floor so he could sample their deliciousness.

 This is my favorite thing he does right now. He gets a big blanket, sits on the floor, pulls it over his head and plays by himself under the blanket. I guess he doesn't feel like he's getting enough privacy. The best part is that he'll stay under there for 30 minutes or more.

And that is my Indie. As crazy as he is, I can't get enough of him and love this kid to death! He is always cracking us up.

Those little moments

I mentioned in an earlier post about my good friend Amber Giles and how she had to be put into a medically induced coma almost two months ago (for more detailed info check out the blog set up for her in the above link). The doctors didn't think that they would be able to save her after she had been in the coma for five weeks. They were down to their last option to try and wake her without seizures. Even if she did come out of it, they prepared her husband and family with the possibility that she would likely have brain damage. She came out of her coma about two and a half weeks ago. And she is a miracle. There is no brain damage, she is all Amber and her recovery is remarkable. She is already walking and eating on her own and she's been told she will be home within the next week and half! At first they told her she'd be lucky to be home by Christmas. I've been to see her a few times and every time I go she is hand over fist better than the time before. And I am incredibly uplifted by her faith and her strength. She is one of those special people who genuinely loves everyone, and you can feel it when you are with her. I want to be like that. I want everyone I meet to know of my love for them because they can feel it. I want everyone to be able to feel of their Heavenly Father's love for them, because they can feel it through me. Anyway, this whole experience I've had while she has gone through this has given me a new perspective on life and I can only hope and pray that I can hold onto it. It has made me appreciate my family so much more and to enjoy and relish almost every moment I have with them. Like this impromptu picnic in the backyard:

I know that my Heavenly Father lives! He hears and answers everyone of our prayers, if only we are willing to trust him and put everything in His hands and then listen. He is a God of miracles! He is a merciful and a loving God! Amber is just one example. And my life is better for knowing her and my faith is stronger because of her. Thank you, Amber, for being such an amazing friend! And for the few of you out there who read our blog, I love you, too! Thank you, for your love and friendship as well! Our lives are better for having you in them!

Park's Obsession

Park is the kind of kid who has spurts where he is obsessed with different things. When he was two it was numbers and letters (yes, he knew all of his letters, both upper and lowercase by the time he was two) shortly thereafter it was cars, cars, cars. As of late it has been telling time. When we are driving in the car he can see the digital clock and he has to tell you what time it is every minute it changes. Well, yesterday Scott and I were painting the kitchen (pictures to come later) and Park was running in between our bedroom and the kitchen looking at the clocks. After about ten minutes of this he said, "Mom! Your clock is beating the kitchen clock! Your clock is the winner and the kitchen clock is the loser!" Apparently our bed room clock is a minute ahead of the kitchen clock. Oh, and did I mention that he is also obsessed with who wins and loses EVERYTHING?

And so it begins...

Today is Annicka's first day of Kindergarten. I can't believe that I now have a child in school. She has been so excited to start that we had to make a paper chain some three months ago and FINALLY we've gotten to the end. She is a little smarty pants and I don't say that just because I'm a proud momma (though that might have a little to do with it). She is already reading some and she can add and subtract. She seems to understand so much. Last night we went shopping for some new clothes together and as we were driving in the car I was explaining something to her. And she said, "I didn't know that mom! Your brain is so much bigger than mine, that's why you know that." Like I said, a little smarty pants. We are so proud of her and her excitement to learn. As soon as she got to her classroom door she didn't look back.

Annicka rides without training wheels

Annicka's Ride

Annicka learned how to ride her bike just 2 days ago.  We took off the training wheels and on the first push she was off to toddler freedom.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Yesterday marked eight LONG years for Scott and I (Scott made me say that.) They really haven't been long. They have been great. We celebrated with golf in the morning and with dinner and a production of "The King and I" in the evening. I just want Scott to know how much I love him and how glad I am to have him as a husband and father to our children. This last week I had a good friend of mine unexpectedly go into a coma. It has made me realize how quickly things can change and grateful for every moment I have with my husband and children. I LOVE YOU!

On Sunday we were at the Stake Center getting our recommends renewed. I was in the foyer with Indie and Annicka and of course Indie was running around like a crazy kid and screaming some. An older couple comes in and the lady starts talking to Indie saying, "We don't scream in the church. This is Jesus' church. We can scream outside, but not inside." Annicka looks up at her and says, "He's just a baby!"