Service & Salsa

So my sweet friend called me the other day, and asked me if I still had a lot of tomatoes from our garden. (Yes, we have TONS, and we have no idea what to do with them) She then asked if she could come over and help me make salsa. So, yesterday we spent all day making the most delicious salsa I have ever had. Yummy! In the "FRIEND" (church magazine) this month, the first article is by President Henry B. Eyring about service he recieved right after his mom passed away. He said there are 3 parts of service, and as I thought about it, I realized how much my friend had served me.
1. She felt what I was feeling.
She knew that there was NO WAY in the world that I would ever even attempt to make salsa when I had 3 little helpers at home. She knew how much time & energy it took to cut & prepare all the ingredients, and she knew I didn't have time or energy to do it alone. She knew I had extra tomatoes that I wanted to do something with but didn't have the knowledge of what to do with them.
2. She gave freely.
I didn't have to buy her time, or pay her for her service. I didn't have to pay her for the jalepeno's we used, or for the use of all of her canning goods. She gave freely, and didn't expect anything in return.
3. And, last... there was sacrifice.
She just got done working on a huge project, and I know that she would have loved a free day to just relax, and itstead she gave up her free day to help me. Her husband also had the day off because of the holiday, and she gave up time being with him so she could help me. She sacrificed her time and energy & did all this for me! What a great friend!
We had such a great time visiting and canning, and got to know each other even better. In the end I had 10 beautiful bottles of fresh salsa, an even better friendship, & a bigger appreciation of what our Savior has done for each of us. I am able to apply to my life, that He continually feels what I am feeling, He gave his life freely to me, and there was an incredible & sacred sacrifice, in hopes I would follow Him. Who would have thought, I would learn all this in canning salsa.
While we were canning salsa, her little boy came over, and at one point I looked in the backyard and saw Jackson with his shirt off in our freezing cold weather running around like a crazy kid... of course I yelled (not calmly called)out the window "Jackson put your shirt back on right now, or you will come inside" I love being a mom :)
My blue eyed girl. Hallie just turned 8 months, but I haven't had a chance to do pictures yet, so this is what we have. Morgan & Jackson have more of Brian's eye color, but Hallie's look a lot like mine. I love it. Brian's just happy to have at least one of his kids with brown hair like him. :)

Rub-a-dub-dub...3 kids in the tub...

My crazy & fun kids. They love taking baths with Hallie, she doesn't seem to mind too much. ;)
I promise this is not how sweetly they always sleep. This one night Jackson was scared, and Brian laid him on Morgan's bed and he went right to sleep. We walked in later, and this is what we found. cute little kids. Morgan NEVER cuddles like this, so I'm glad I have it on the camera.
I was doing laundry and turned around and both kids had on Daddy's cool glasses. (No, he doesn't wear the dark ones... only when he's trying to be safe and protect his eyes.) :)

Our Family... my blessings

A couple of weeks ago we went with all of Brian's family and did family pictures. The photographer was really nice, and even took some individual pictures of each of our families. Luckily we had a couple hundred pictures to choose from. :)
The past week I have been thinking a lot about how grateful I am for the blessings in my life, especially that of my little family. I have been able to see even more clearly, especially after conference this weekend how important the family is, and how important each of our roles are in life. I am so grateful to have 3 beautiful kids and a wonderful & handsome husband. I am so grateful for the continual blessings Heavenly Father blesses our family with. I am so grateful I belong to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for my life, and the happiness & joy I experience daily. I am truly blessed!

Family continued

My best friend in the whole world! I am so grateful for Brian. He treats me like his Queen and would do anything & everything for me. He is such an amazing dad & provider for us. I love the times when we can spend as a family, and I love Sundays... we get him the whole day! I love our relationship & how close we are. I love how even after we've seen each other at our worst, we love each other more than ever. I am so grateful to have him in my life. I love him more than anything.
The boys... cute & handsome :)
My girls...the sweet princesses Beauty & Belle :)
(Ever since Morgan was a baby we've called her Sleeping Beauty, we wanted to name Hallie (Hallie Belle) but liked Sage a little bit more, so we call her Hallie Belle as a nick name.)
Me & my baby girl. I've had a picture taken like this with each of my kids. I love the special bond between a baby and the mom the first year of life.

Our Little Cuties

Have you ever tried to take a picture of 3 kids before... almost impossible! The photographer had the cute idea to have the kids kiss Hallie while I played peek-a-boo behind the photographers back. Sweet little kids.
Morgan is such a sweetheart. I have loved watching her go to Pre-School and learn so many new things. She loves it! The other day she told me how a girl was crying and so she went over to her and gave her a doll to play with. She has such a sweet & sensitive heart. She is very witty, and loves to tease anyone and everyone... I have no idea where she got it from... probably her daddy. :) She is such a good big sister & is ALWAYS wanting to hold Hallie. She plays so well with Jackson, and loves to be in charge... again... where did she get that from? :) We love her so much & the laughter she brings to our home.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture! I love the little dimple she got from her Daddy, and the sweet look in her face. I think Hallie is the perfect baby. She just smiles & sits content to be with the family. She loves being around Morgan & Jackson, and is so patient with them loving her. It's kind of weird... I can't remember what life was like before her. She is growing up way to fast! I almost started crying the other day as I realized that in only 4 months my baby will be 1 year! She is such a little sweetie. We love her as our little baby girl.
What would I do with out my ALL BOY! I had no idea that boys could be so much fun! Jackson is ALWAYS making me laugh. He does the funniest things, and sometimes I wish I could just video record him all day. The other day he told me, "Mom, I'm giong to marry Makell (our neighbor)" I said you are huh? And then really serious he looked me right in the eyes and said, "Yeah, I'm not going to marry you!" I played along and said kind of sad, "Ugh!" And then he smiled and said, "Daddy's going to marry you!" :) He is so funny! He is my little cuddle bug. Every morning he climbs in bed with me just to cuddle before the rest of the family wake up. I love him so much!

A reminder at the park...

After PreSchool on Thursday I decided to take the kids to the park. When I first had Hallie, I decided there was no way I would ever go anywhere with all 3 kids alone, but we somehow managed. The kids loved the park. We haven't been for a long time since Jackson broke his leg. I love this picture, because it shows how crazy they are, and their true personalities. I'm not sure if Morgan is choking Hallie, or just holding up her head. :) They are such funny kids. At one point I had all 3 kids in the swings, and a girl started talking to me. She asked me how far apart my kids were. Her kids were all really close too. One will be 3 in January, one will be 2 in February, and she is having a baby in a week. She told me, "I see you with 3 kids, and I think... hey, if she can do it, and is enjoying it, then I can too" So, yay! I CAN DO IT!!! :) I think for her, it was something she need to see as she had doubts about having her 3rd, for me, it was something I needed to hear... to know that what I am doing is really a good thing. The night before I met her, I was thinking about how I feel sometimes that I have put my hopes and dreams on hold... now don't get me wrong.. my biggest dream as a kid was to be a mom with beautiful children that I could spend tons of time with, but now, I love that more than anything, but just for the moment the other night I was having a so called pity party for myself thinking that the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. When this girl told me that she could see that "I could do it" it helped me to remember the purpose of why I am here. I am here to be a mom to these 3 beautiful and amazing children... to teach them right from wrong, to teach them who they are & where they came from, to love them, to serve them, & most importantly to teach them the gospel and help them return to our Heavenly Father, and for that I am grateful!
Here is Jackson showing off his superman powers... his muscles in other words. :)
Maybe we should get him a bigger shirt! :)
My beautiful baby girl.
I can't believe she is old enough to sit in the swing. She LOVED it!

My New Nephew... Carson

My cute sister had her baby boy Wednesday Oct. 1st. He is such a sweet little baby, and absolutly perfect. It is so neat to see Brittany and Steven as parents now. We are so excited for them.
I loved being able to hold this sweet little boy. He is so cute! And, Jackson FINALLY has a boy cousin on the Smith side, after 2 sisters, and 3 girl cousins. :) Congratulations you two!