J man

We met a friend and her girls at Wheeler Farm today & Jacob did not want stop playing with his Legos to get ready....this is nothing new! I finally convinced him to put on a shirt & jeans - then told him he looked like a cowboy....he loved that :). After getting on his boots & his cowboy jacket I asked him to come in the bathroom so I could do his hair.

As I was wetting down his hair to put in the gel, he asked me, "Mom, do cowboys have handsome hair?"

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I was getting something out of the oven for dinner & was in a rush so I quickly grabbed the food and ended up burning my finger. I pulled back and said "Oh fetch!". Jacob piped up from his chair asking what is a fetch? I told him it was a word used when upset & he replied with, "But I don't know what it means! You can't use a word I don't know!" He was very upset about it & repeated a few times that he needed to know the word, and I shouldn't use a word that he doesn't know and can't use.  I apologized & he finally calmed down and we moved towards dinner.

That incident helped me remember that as his mother (a parent & adult), I need to always watch my words & actions - because I am being watched.  My children watch what I say & do all the time, and my example is one of the foundations that is helping set their life.  It was a perfect way to remember to watch my words and only say things that are nice and that I am happy to have my children repeat. :) 

attitude of gratitude

At the beginning of the year, one of my goals was to have a nightly catch-up with the children where we would each share at least one 'Attitude of Gratitude' Moment from our day. Following last October's General Conference where President Monson spoke on the topic of gratitude, it has been on my mind and I thought it would add to our family being able to see more easily our blessings. And to be sure that we then are giving thanks for these blessings - big and small.

The nightly habit went very well for about the first week...in fact I have a saved post where I was doing a recap of the things each person was grateful for that first week. Then the next week came, and schedules got in the way of trying to form a new habit - and so I didn't write down what we were grateful for....and I'm sure I missed a day or two of even asking the children what they were grateful for.

It's been on and off since then....mostly off which I am sad to say - as I still do believe it's a very important part of a daily reflection to talk about what we can be grateful for. And this past Sunday I was reminded why I should start it up again.

Nana and Papa Lord were visiting us, and we all went into Primary to hear Jacob give the scripture and Bryson Jr. give the talk. I slipped out after his talk to go to Sunday School, however Nana & Papa stayed behind to enjoy the remainder of Jr. Primary.

That evening when the little ones were tucked into bed, and we were in the Living Room talking as adults - Leslie (aka Nana) told us that we would have been very proud of our little Bryson during the Sharing Time of Primary. The teacher had been doing a lesson on Prophets and held up a picture of the Prophet that was called to tell the Nephites that the Savior Christ would soon be born. When she asked the children to identify the Prophet in the picture, no one responded....except Bryson. His hand came up to share that it was Samuel the Lamanite. She said he then opened up his Book of Mormon to find the same picture and showed it to the girl in his class (there are 3 children in his class....2 girls and Bryson - and the other girl was away that Sunday. They have such a small class!).

Sister Whiting continued with the lesson, and at one point held up a picture of President Monson and asked the children what he had asked us to do at the last General Conference.

Our little guy put his hand up and responded with, "Have an 'Attitude of Gratitude'!"

I can't remember if that was the specific answer that she was looking for....but he was right. The Prophet had asked us to have an Attitude of Gratitude among other things we are asked to do - and I am so grateful for his little reminder to our family that I need to work hard to make and continue this as a family tradition to share our gratitude one-liners each night. They are so simple. It shouldn't be hard....and who knows, it could just be the thing that opens up a discussion we will always remember and be thankful for later on. I want us as a family to always stop and share things that we are grateful for, to focus on the positive and to remind ourselves to give thanks for all things.

As so often - I was taught by my child.

And....better late than not at all - here are the 'Attitude of Gratitudes' that were shared in our family & written down....and now they are finally here. I am committed once again and can say with assurance - there will be more :)

Jan. 18th

* Bryson..... I'm thankful for wonderful books to read (we went to the library)

* Madeleine..... I'm thankful for the library to pick out books & movies

* Jacob..... thankful for pizza

* Mommy..... I'm thankful to organize and clean and the wonderful feeling with having things in a place, and that we have these things in our life.

Jan. 20th

* Jacob..... playing Magnetix and making robots

* Bryson..... I'm thankful for books, so I can read

* Madeleine..... I'm thankful that Mommy goes grocery shopping for us

* Mommy..... I'm thankful for good reports on my children - that they are doing what they are supposed to do (Ms. Alvarez, Madeleine's science teacher, had stopped me after school and had praised Madeleine saying that she was always doing what she was supposed to & absolutely a delight in class, with a bright mind and always doing what is right. If only every student were like her she commented, and I was super proud of her and all my kiddos and their good reports!)

Jan. 22

* Bryson Jr...... I'm thankful for basketball (his winter community class had just started)

* Daddy..... I'm thankful for healthy bodies to run and play basketball (he enjoyed 'parent coaching' and running around with basketball almost as much as Bugaboo!)

* Jacob..... My castle

* Madeleine.... Roasted peanuts from the street vendors (yummy!)

* Mommy.... Staying inside and being cozy

Jan. 24

* Bryson.... instruments to play

* Madeleine.... friends like Aoi

* Jacob.... to go to sleep

*Mommy.... to see Madeleine and Bryson dancing (tap & ballet class night where they had a Parent Open House. Bryson was having so much fun, and Madeleine was so graceful)

Jan. 25 (big snow day in the city)

* Madeleine.... snow that we can play in and have snow fights with each other

* Bryson..... for plants that give us food. Like broccoli and apples, which I don't even like but they do make applesauce which I like! (funny kid!)

* Jacob..... that I built a snowman!

* Mommy..... big fluffy snowfalls

Jan. 30 {Sunday}

* Jacob.... for snow

* Bryson.... I'm thankful for Mom and Dad so that I'm not homeless

* Madeleine.... my teachers that can teach me about the gospel, a car to drive us home safely

and mommy to teach us in music because she's funny

* Mommy..... I'm thankful for music - to feel the spirit and lead the Primary children again :)

* Daddy..... No cavities (ironically as he was munching on the carmel corn we had made for a FHE treat!)

We are truly blessed. We are truly grateful.

We will strive to be a family that says more often the things we feel as our
Attitude of Gratitude.

Visions of Sugar Plums danced in their heads...

We had a special treat this afternoon with a Matinee performance of The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center.  They are well known for their Ballet Company, which they pull from all over the country (maybe the world...that I don't know) - and the training and dedication of those that dance with this company is admirable.  I've seen a few showings of The Nutcracker - and by far this was THE best dancing I have ever seen.  It was absolutely incredible, the scenery was rich and breathtaking, and the costumery was bright, vivid and magnificent.

The best part of the afternoon....the tickets were FREE and we sat in the Orchestra section, row 18 - close enough to see the facial expressions on the dancers faces, and the little wavering in the hand or their legs as they held a pose a bit too long!  How we came about getting tickets is that our friend that lives on our floor, asked me on Tuesday if I'd be interested to take the tickets that her husband got through his company for the Saturday Matinee - and I jumped in with a big "YES!". They offered us Opera tickets as well about 2 months ago, but we could not find a babysitter anywhere...so I was thrilled that once again tickets were being offered and that this time we could use them!

The one glitch...only 3 tickets.  Bryson offered to stay and watch the BYU game - oh and the boys as well for the afternoon! :)  My mom was asked if she wanted to fly in...which she did, but with the unpredictable weather of the season it would be too tricky if flights get canceled and she were stranded here as she flies standby with her work at Delta.  We'd love for her to be stranded here - however Delta wouldn't be too fond if she didn't show up for work, they are a really strict company.

Madeleine decided that she wanted to invite her teacher at school - we weren't sure if she would be able to come as she is of the Jewish faith and with Saturday being their Sabbath - I told Madeleine to be prepared she might not be able to come.  However, we were both thrilled and surprised when she said she wanted to come!  We made plans and today was the day....thankfully the weather was in our favor - cold but not a brutal wind like we've had this past week.  Madeleine and I had a girls' morning going to her piano lessons and wrapping presents and then getting ready to go, while the boys went and cleaned the church building and then stayed for a baptism before coming home for the football game.  Madeleine and I had a fabulous time until it was time to get dressed - we both had very different ideas of what we should wear, and Madeleine was NOT going to go with any of my suggestions and requests that we dress up just a bit for this event!  It was an emotional 1/2 hour before we left - she changed twice, I changed 3 times - and then finally we were somehow both dressed and out the door to catch the subway.

Traveling up to the Lincoln Center is not the easiest route...it's not tricky, just not easy.  And I manage to mess it up almost every time we go there for a visit to the temple.  Seriously!  There are 3 transfers that you need to make - 2 if you want to walk a few blocks up to avoid the last transfer - which I usually opt for that because the 3rd transfer usually takes the longest, and it's for only 1 stop of a ride.  Much easier to walk....and I love walking up from Columbus Circle to Lincoln Center - it's a beautiful walk and it really goes quickly looking at so many things in the windows...and people - people watching here is so interesting, although you have to be careful while you are also walking!

The problem with this specific train ride - I got antsy, and after we waited for a LONG time to finally get from the F train onto the D train - I jumped off after the 1st stop....confusing it with the 3rd transfer that we would have gone just one stop - we really needed to be on for a total of 3 stops.  Argh!  We sat at the station for a few minutes - and I looked at the time.  We were supposed to meet Madeleine's teacher in 7 minutes!  If the train came right away - we'd be fine.  But the train didn't and after a few more minutes and second-guessing myself about a dozen times (which then would be dozen guessing myself?!)...we finally decided to walk.  I looked again at the map and thought to myself.....'self - this isn't so long, it's just a few blocks more than if you had come up out at Columbus Circle'.  True.  However, we were already late AND I have a hard time navigating myself out of some subway stops....you come up out of the stairwell and you have just plunked yourself down somewhere in NYC.  Life does not stop for you to orient yourself - people are zooming by you both ways, and in fact can get a little miffed if you take too long to decide where you should go - should I go right, or is it left....what about straight ahead?!  I was definitely feeling lost when we came up - I had no idea where to go and so decided to at least walk across the street in the direction I thought we should go in and while doing so, saw a taxi waiting at the light right in front of me....I motioned to him that we were going to get in, and that was the best decision.  Whew - saved the sanity and the feet from walking what ended up being a FEW more blocks than I thought it would be and we would have been very late!

We arrived just a few minutes later than planned and met up with Madeleine's teacher.  We were swept up in yet another crowd, however this was a crowd that was dressed up with a lot of little children excitedly talking about the show and the afternoon....and getting treats (of course - what is any show without treats these days!).  We found our seats - and truly they were better than I had hoped.  We sat down and chatted a little bit while waiting for the show to begin - and once it started we were whisked away to the land of Sugar Plum Fairies and where Nutcrackers turn into Princes and snow falls from the sky on ballerinas that dance around the stage as if they are mere angels floating around with their wings.  It was absolutely enchanting!  The most favorite scene was the Sugar Plum Fairy dance, where the snow is twirling and whirling around them in a way that we found completely fascinating...I've never seen such a beautiful fake snowfall!  All 16 ballerinas were out dancing with a Snowflake configuration in their hand, with costumes that were perfection - and the music is by far the most beautiful arrangement I have ever heard.  It had a chorus with voices that sounded like the hymn says 'sing choirs of angels'.  It was absolutely breathtakingly magical and magnificent!

Now....if we could only hope for more magic each Christmas season and score free tickets to this show each time.  Madeleine and I would be more than happy to take anyone's tickets they aren't using....just let us know!

'tis sweet

The other morning Bryson Sr. took some extra time in the morning, leaving after the older 2 were in school. Jacob and I walked him to the elevator, and as the door closed on Daddy heading off to work, Jacob's hand found mine and he said....

"I like Daddy a lot"

His statements are adorable and he says often to each of us that he loves or likes us in varied ways. When he sees Bugaboo go into his class and we walk away, he'll say "I love my Bryson a lot" or when Madeleine goes up the stairs to her class he'll comment, "I like Madeleine. She's so nice to me".

He really is a boy that expresses his feelings of adoration rather easily.

I foresee this (optimism at its' best!) lasting well into the teen years! Right? Of course right :)

* although we have a little spunk that mixes in with all that sweetness!