Above all else...

 As my kids have grown, I have seen them become distant from the teachings of the church. They do not have the desire to attend church meetings or participate in seminary. I can barely get them to go to mutual every week. Does this bother me? Sort of and let me explain why. First, I believe in the grand scheme of things that their admittance to the celestial kingdom is not based on whether or not they went to seminary or attended church meetings every week. I firmly believe that Heavenly Father knows our hearts and understands where we are spiritually at any given point in our lives. Second, if my kids go to church but don't want to go to class, I am one hundred percent okay with them hanging out with me in primary. Even if all they do is sit and listen to singing time, they are still able to feel the spirit and grow their own testimony. I really just like having my kids with me. Lastly, church can be great, but in the end the most important thing they can learn while there is that they are loved. I want them to know, above all else, that our Heavenly Father loves them. This is what I want them to have a testimony of.   

A New Napping Style

With the arrival of Tristan, some of my priorities have become a little misplaced. Like, making sure Kam gets a nap....or at least making him lay down on my bed! He has taken to falling asleep in odd places at terrible times during the day (4 p.m.). When he was in the laundry basket, it actually took me several minutes to find him!

Poor kid! Things will get better, Kam! You are so good to be so patient with your mom!

The Blessing

So, I totally forgot to mention in the last post about Tristan's blessing. We will be blessing him on April 8th (yes, that is Easter weekend). All are invited that so desire. We would love to have you! Our church starts at 11 a.m. and sacrament meeting is first. Let us know if you can make it!

What's not to love?!

Tristan continues to melt my heart! He is such a good baby and is starting to smile! He now tops the scale at 11 pounds!

This was taken when he was a few weeks old. He hadn't grown the chub yet!
Seriously, so cute!
How can you resist those cheeks?

The kids have been so good with him, especially Kam. I was so worried about how he would react to Tristan and he has been the best big brother. He talks to Tristan, tells him stories, tries to share his toys with him. Occasionally, I find him also trying to "feed" him (sharing his sippy mostly). Tristan is a great addition to our family and we are so happy to have him!

Don't be mislead!

While I am thinking about it, I've started reading some books by Cindy Woodsmall (she writes about the Amish). They are really good!

And, on another note, we have grown to a family of 6! Can you believe it?! Tristan Dakota Bracken joined our family on January 24th at 2:39 p.m. It was like a scene from the movies because Dallin nearly missed his birth! I sent him home for lunch at 2 (I was only a 4 at 1:30). We thought we had time. But at 2:25, I felt such intense pressure that the nurse checked me...and I was complete. And Dallin was at home. Having lunch. I called him and told him he needed to get back to the hospital immediately. My nurse called my doctor (I have to say it was pretty amusing that when the delivery staff came into the room, they asked where Dallin was. I think I was asked 4 times!). When my doctor came in, she checked me and said, "Oh! I need to grab my stuff! Don't push!" I was told not to push AND not to laugh at least 3 times. My girlfriend was working in the nursery that day and my nurse was really good, so we laughed. A lot! It was the best experience EVER! Dallin was called again when my doctor was prepping me. He was walking into the hospital. My nurse (who called him) told him he needed to run, not walk. He went to the elevators, all of which were up on the 5th floor, so he took the stairs (thankfully). He ran into my room and to my side right as the doctor told me to push! It was a close call! Tristan weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long! He has hair (not quite as much as Kam) and is just as cute as he can be! The kids love him!

And, in case anyone is wondering....

Yes. Dallin did my epidural! And my IV. The nurses tried 3 times and couldn't get it. Thank goodness for husbands and their proficiency!

So, there is a brief update. Don't be mislead into thinking I am back in the blogging world! Don't know if I am or not! We love our newest addition and are so grateful to our Heavenly Father for sending us this sweet spirit.

Parable of the lunch box

It's hard being a parent. Recently, Gavin has had a hard time keeping his lunch box under control. He has a tendency to toss, kick, swing, and not always catch it. As a result, he has opened his lunch box at lunch time only to find his yogurt or applesauce has exploded inside and smeared everything. He says he just licks it off, but the clean up for me is totally un-fun! I don't enjoy it. At all. So, on separate occasions, Dallin and I have sat down with him and talked about what was going to happen if he wasn't more responsible with his lunch box (I would stop making his lunches and he would have to eat school lunch). Yes, it is a pretty horrific consequence! It was much to my chagrin when I picked him up from school the other day that he says, "Mom, catch!" To which I immediately replied, "Gavin, please don't throw your lunch box." I know he heard me (there was eye contact). He threw it anyway. And I didn't catch it. I wasn't even standing close enough to catch it. Sigh. I told him he was going to have to eat school lunch now. He shrugged and I ASSUMED he didn't care. However, my assumption was way off. I think he thought I wasn't serious. This morning when it was time to go, he told me I forgot to make his lunch. I told him he was going to be eating school lunch and that he had lost the privilege of eating things from home. I have to say that I didn't see the melt down coming. It was bad (did I mention this was as we were walking out the door for school?). He was sobbing. Crying so hard he could barely breathe. He begged and pleaded to please give him another chance. Seriously? His friends eat school lunch every day and they survive! I calmly told him no, but he could earn it back by good behavior. The whole time I wanted to put my arms around him and CAVE! I couldn't bear the horror on his face and the tears! So, after I dropped him off (and paid for lunches for the next week), I cried. I think I understand a little better how our Father feels when he watches us take a consequence for something we've done wrong. And as much as we cry and plead and he wants to comfort us, He doesn't. Not because He can't, but because He knows we have to learn. I cannot even imagine how much it must have hurt Him to turn away when Christ called out to Him on the cross. My little taste of the tossed lunch box has given me a greater appreciation for the capacity of love our Father has for each of us (and we're millions. Can you imagine?). Let it be known that I am the meanest mommy ever for making my child eat school lunch, but I love him enough to let him learn.

Family photos