Graduation Continued... Pre-School Style

        Jackson was so excited that Daddy was coming to watch him graduate from PreSchool. He even asked me if I could stay home so just Daddy could go with him. Brian told him he didn't want to go unless I was invited to, so thankfully Jackson invited me, Hallie, & Landon to join them. :) I'm so glad Brian was able to go because the kids always do a fun chicken dance song in which they can invite a parent to join them in dancing & singing like a chickin. Of course, much to Brian's hopes & dreams, he is always chosen! Jackson loved dancing with Brian. We noticed while Jackson was singing that he knew all the words pretty well. One of his buddies in class, Wyatt, also knew the words really well, and has the same volume in his voice that Jackson does... LOUD, so the teachers were very smart and put their 2 best singers at opposite ends from each other to balance the rest of the class out. Hallie loved all of it, and even invited herself to join with Jackson and his friends on the fun songs. My favorite song Jackson sang is in this movie- the Dinosaur song. *Hallie is even singing at the end of the movie too. Enjoy!

Chicago

I'm having problems with blogger, and can't get the words next to the pictures, so instead they are under all the pictures.
Brian & I decided we needed a nice break/vacation with just the 2 of us, and Landon of course. I had really wanted to go to San Antonio or San Diego but felt that it would be easier to go there when it was just the 2 of us, so we decided on Chicago. Brian's Uncle Reed & Aunt Karen live there and we thought it would be fun to visit them & then head down to Nauvoo. We had such a nice time. Here are some of the highlights in the order they happened.
* Getting delayed 2 hours after boarding the plane and watching the woman next to us (who would make a perfect character in a book) order red wine. I had to try really hard not to start singing "Red Red Wine" to her. After the 3 hour flight, and 2 hours onboard, it was still entertaining watching her smack her head for the 5th time when we landed. She was very kind and would randomly give us information on the best things to do in Chicago.
* Having a very pleasant conversation with the man next to us & making a new friend.
* Picking up our rental car (which we reserved online) only to find out they didn't have any cars left and we needed to wait for a while before we could get one or we could pay a little more and drive in style. So, after a long day, a 40 minute drive ahead of us & it being 11:15 p.m. we decided to pay a little more.
* Walking outside to see that we would be driving a 2010 Black Ford Explorer-yes, very nice.
* Getting the "Garmin" from Jackie. She looked very tired and I told her I was going to name our "Garmin" after her. She wasn't sure about that idea, but told us to name our next child after her.
*Once in our smooth riding vehicle, we decided to see if Jackie really worked, and the best way to test her was to take a couple of wrong turns. We were very entertained! We were waiting for "Jackie" to say in a mechanical yet patient voice "Turn around you idiot!" :) We practiced for about 10 minutes and then we started getting along with her & were best friends for the rest of the trip. I am now convinced we need a "Jackie" in our car.
*Arriving at Nuttalls & spending time with their cute family.
*Sleeping in.
*Walking around Chicago. Brian and I felt as though are eyes were as wide as saucers! There were SO many things to see and places to look. It was amazing!
*Driving for 4 hours to Nauvoo & just talking with no interuptions.
*Going to the temple with Brian while a ward member watched Landon.
*Eating a really nice dinner & brunch in Nauvoo.
*Feeling the strong spirit of the missionaries serving in Nauvoo, the temple, & Carthage.
*Feeling the amazing & strong spirit in Nauvoo, but especially on Parley Street, knowing that this was the view the saints had when they head west- the Mississippi River in front, and their homes & the temple behind them.
*Going to Carthage & gaining an even stronger testimony of Joseph Smith the prophet, and all that he went through.
Seeing a beautiful sunset that painted the sky with pinks & purples.
*Going on a river boat ride in Chicago & getting a tour of the city.
*Going to Navy Pier & getting a choclate icecream cone (I felt kind of like a little kid) :) and Brian got a Pina Colada.
*Watching a black woman think that Landon was so adorable, that she couldn't help but kiss him on his cheek.
*Talking to a couple, from Australia, in the boat ride line. They were on a 5 week train ride through the U.S. and were headed to Denver and then Salt Lake City. She was very excited to see the Mormon Tabernacle Choir & visit Temple Square. We mentioned how we had gone to Nauvoo & Carthage and they were very interested. At one point in the conversation she said in her sweet Austrailian accent, "I remember when I was a little girl, 2 men in dark suits came to my home a couple of times. I think they were from your church. I haven't seen them for a while. I hope they haven't given up on us!" We told them they would love temple square and that there were sister missionaries there who could teach them even more. It was a really neat experience.
*Being with Brian for 5 days & spending time with him & Landon.
*Getting on the airplane with the same excitement of going on a vacation, only this time, the excitement was knowing we would see our kids soon.
*Coming home and driving around our neighborhood & area & realizing even more how much I LOVE home!
*Seeing the kids & each of them giving us a huge hug. Hallie had fallen asleep in Grandma Karen's car and when she saw me she wrapped her arms around me and said, "Hi Mommy! I love you Mommy!" She kept saying to Brian, "Hi Daddy!"
We had such a nice time! Now, we're trying to get back to reality. :)

A Mother's Thoughts

 
A couple of weeks ago Brian's Dad showed me this picture of his Dad (Grandpa Doug) when he was a baby. Brian had always said that he thought that Landon looked a lot like his Grandpa, but I had no idea until I saw this picture. I was amazed at the similarities! As I looked back and forth at the picture of Grandpa Doug & then Landon, I couldn't help but wonder what life was like for Grandpa's Mother (Grandma Barb)with her own sweet baby.
I wonder how many times she looked at her little baby in amazement that he was hers, that she, along with the help of others & God's help had brought him into this world. I wonder how many times she looked at him throughout the day and said, "I Love You!" & looked at him hoping that he really could understand how much she loved him. I am sure that she spent many moments during the day thinking about him & what his future would hold... hoping again that she could raise him to be the kind of man that he needed to be. I wonder if she kissed those sweet cheeks a hundred times a day, and could never put him to sleep without one last kiss... or maybe a couple more before she too could retire to bed. I wonder if she just wanted to put life on hold for a while so she could slow down and enjoy the sweet sounds, smells, & feelings a baby brings to a woman's heart & soul. How many times did she pray for his safety, or check on him to make sure he was okay? Did she check on him often while he was asleep just to make sure she could see his chest rising and falling or hear the soft sound of his breath? Did she hope & pray with all her might that she could be the mother that he needed? Did she sacrifice all that she had or wanted to take care of him and be his Mother, or was he along with her other kids all that she truly ever wanted? I am sure she softly ran her fingers up his little body, or kissed his neck just so she could see his smile or hear his contagious laugh. Yes, there are many things to ponder about a baby & his mother.
I feel very close to this woman whom I have never met. I can feel her spirit often watching over Landon, and maybe because he is so much like her boy. I am sure if I were to meet her on the street, I would instantly recognize her as a dear friend & we would talk about the joys that come with womanhood & motherhood.
I am grateful, that even though I haven't met Grandma Barb, she has set an example for me, as all other woman I know have. She has set the example of how to be a fun & loving woman & more importantly a righteous Mother in Zion.
I see this sweet picture and think, 80 years ago, a young mother had her own sweet baby boy. She fed him, taught him, kissed his cheeks, & loved him. And so, for now, I will try to slow down and enjoy the moments of being a mother with a sweet baby boy & 3 other beautiful children & kiss their sweet cheeks & make them laugh as often as I can.