Milayla's 4th Birthday

After counting down the days (starting in MARCH!) with a calendar on our fridge, the day to celebrate Milayla's birthday came much slower than she had hoped (we celebrated a few days early so that we could have a full day). But, man oh man, she sure did love every single part of it. I think there is a lot to be said about someone who celebrates their birthday with love and grace - especially when it is a child. Milayla celebrates with love and grace. She is gracious for everything we do to celebrate her and she loves endlessly. (I think the grace and love of the children helping to celebrate is also incredible as well! And Milayla has some very kind-hearted and gracious siblings)  

I love when I get to sit down with the kids and have them plan their birthday menu. I had sat down with Milayla one day after dance class before we went to meet the boys at Atticus' class. She got to pick breakfast and dinner (I plan the lunch as it is typically dependant on what the birthday outing is) and also their birthday dessert/cake. Waffles with strawberries, peanut butter and whip cream for breakfast (eggs on the side). Pasta with white beans, red sauce & shredded cheese with steamed baby carrots and celery sticks that have peanut butter on them. Brownies and ice cream for dessert. Love it.

The day kicked off with breakfast. Milayla got to decorate her birthday crown while we cooked everything up. We came up with a few of the things we love about Milayla and pasted them on the wall. We had balloons and banners all around as well. She was so excited. I loved the few minutes I got with her before breakfast when I was able to talk to her about being FOUR and what she was most looking forward to. She has been saying she is four since January so for her to really be four is a big deal. So much excitement.

After breakfast and cards we headed for the surprise outing. For those not familiar, we choose to do a surprise outing for birthdays as part of the present. It's been something different every year. It's a tradition that really works for us right now, though I am sure it will probably need some adjustments in the future. For right now, the kids really look forward to it and love trying to guess what the outing could be. The kids had zero idea what the outing was this time. There are so many choices in Montreal I kind of knew they wouldn't get it. They tried to guess based on the directions we were driving. After parking in Old Montreal near the river, they still had no idea. 

We were headed for the Science Centre. To be honest, we had not heard the best things about the science centre yet after checking out the website I felt it was the right fit for Milayla's birthday outing (and I wanted to buy a year pass, too!). It was a great decision. We made it there just in time to catch an IMAX show about panda bears (the kids have asked not to go to an IMAX again - too big, too loud), and then to check out the exhibits. We could have stayed in the first exhibit all day and the kids would have been quite content. As it was we were only able to get a little bit of a second exhibit in before it was time for lunch. I loved getting to build a house with Milayla from foam bricks for most of the morning. The kids are anxious to go back to explore and so are we.

Then it was a picnic beside the river and a game of tag. Jason had to run back to the car to top up the parking meter and grab the lunches. I loved the look of the kids waiting at the table. I tried to tell them to look bored. It kind of worked. Milayla wore her crown most of the morning. It was brilliant. I love her creative expressions and curiousity. 

Then it was home to presents, birthday pictures, and the surprise of a new bicycle. Atticus had been doing extra chores in the weeks leading up to Milayla's birthday to be able to buy her a present himself. And we got her some new books and I made her a dress. Those were the only presents that she opened before I did her birthday photos and she was so happy and grateful (and thought that was all for presents). So when we came back in after taking photos and her new bicycle was sitting in the middle of the playroom she was over the moon excited. 

The first go on the bike proved more challenging than Milayla thought it would be (the bike is quite a bit heavier than the laufrad) but she is sure determined. After a bit of practice it was dinner and brownies.

Before going to bed we all piled into our bed and looked at pictures of Milayla as a baby and talked about some fun memories. This is probably a favorite part for the kids of every birthday. They love hearing stories about when they were babies and really love looking at pictures. It is sure fun to see how much they have grown. 

We all loved getting to celebrate Milayla and her birth into our eternal family. As Milayla would put it when she wraps her arms around us as we tuck her in at night, "we're stuck forever and ever". And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Love you, Milayla. Happy 4th Birthday!!

Mother's Day 2015

The week leading up to today the kids were busy sneaking around coming up with surprises. They were spilling over with excitement about all the ideas they had come up with. I have never looked forward to Mother's Day with such anticipation. As they gave me hints about their wonderful ideas I noticed that the ideas were all rooted in the same reasoning - they wanted to make sure I knew how much they love me and how much they love me being their mother. Tears welled up in my eyes a lot in this last week. Atticus loved pointing out that happy tears are a good thing. I have to agree. I love them so much.

There are some that caution me to enjoy these kinds of things while they last because they won't last, but I can't help but send constant prayers up to heaven from my heart that the things we are doing today are forming the foundation for the relationship that I will have with my kids in the future. And that that relationship will have even greater love and depth holding it together. I know it is a relationship that will grow, change and evolve. But I hope the common threads of love and closeness will always be evident.

I love motherhood with all my heart. It fills me to the brim and then some. It is hard and tiring, of that I have no doubt but it is good, holy, and eternal.

I've recently become acquainted with a scene from a play that I am anxious to read. In the scene a woman, who has died in the childbirth of her second child, is given the chance to go back and relive one day from her life; she chooses her twelfth birthday. Amidst seeing her mother in the kitchen, freshly ironed dresses, clocks ticking, gifts waiting on the doorstep, and other familiar sights and smells of her childhood she throws her arms open and laments:

"Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anyone to realize you! Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it - ever, every minute?"

To which the stage manager replies, "No. The saints and poets, maybe - they do, some."

I read this first in an article on motherhood and enjoying life as holy. Yes, life is holy, but the stronger undercurrent that rang out to me was that motherhood is holy. The line rang through my heart and soul... "Oh, motherhood, you're too wonderful for anyone to realize you! Do any human beings ever realize motherhood while they live it - ever, every minute?" - "No. The saints and poets, maybe - they do, some."

Am I realizing motherhood? Am I soaking in it's sweetness that fills every fleeting moment?

What seems like many years ago now, there was a talk given by Sister Julie B Beck, the general president (at the time) of The Relief Society organization (the women's organization in our church). As I read it this past week leading up to Mother's Day I found so much inspiration for where I am at in motherhood right now. I had this line stand out to me:

"the value women place on motherhood in this life and the attributes of motherhood they attain here will rise with them in the Resurrection...There is eternal influence and power in motherhood"

I've always known that motherhood is an eternal calling, but for some reason it struck me even deeper in the last couple weeks. It felt as though my depth of understanding was broadening just a little wider as I glimpsed a little more of the holiness of motherhood. When I take time to really see motherhood from the larger perspective of eternity (as best as my ability and knowledge is capable of) I can feel my love for my children and for motherhood grow exponentially. I know I am still a rookie in the journey of motherhood but I am grateful for the positive growth that I have felt.

In my realizing of motherhood, it cannot be helped that I also realize my partnership with God in this journey. My journey in motherhood is undoubtedly and unchangeably connected with God. And for that I am very grateful.

I remember learning early on that the most important attribute I can develop as a mother is my ability to listen to and follow personal revelation from the Holy Ghost; for me, my family, and my children. I am reminded of this importance often as I work to improve my ability to do so each and every day. There have been many times where I am grateful for the relationship that I have developed and strengthened with the Holy Ghost and personal revelation. There have also, unfortunately, been times when I have realized that I have so much more strengthening of that relationship to do.

Also in my realizing I have been humbled by the power of prayer. It is incredible. It lifts and strengthens me and guides me through my days. It helps me open my eyes and heart even more to my children than I could have otherwise. It helps me stay focused on the important bits and not get caught up in the craziness of the day.

And at the source of this realizing is what I have come to know as the best parenting book out there - the holy scriptures. I have read plenty of parenting books, and I have certainly gleaned valuable information from most of them, but none can compare to the word of God. It just cannot happen.

And all of this realizing helps fill me with renewed strength for the role that I love so deeply. And I know that while I have come so far and grown so much in my journey and appreciation of motherhood I know I still have a long way to go as my realizing of motherhood deepens and broadens.

I am so grateful for this journey. For motherhood. For the examples of righteous motherhood around me. For my children that I get to love and mother and for their love that they pour out so freely. And so thankful. So very thankful for the source of eternal blessings and guidance as I love and embrace the growth and blessing of motherhood. It's an incredible journey. And I love it.

Thank you to my children for your love and generous hearts. I feel honored to be mother to each of you. And to Jason, thank you for helping these creative, excited and kind children of ours realize their hopes for celebrating Mother's Day. The day was spectacular. With a delicious menu for the day, flowers picked out just for me (both from the store and the ground :) ), plenty of awesome picture outtakes (the first one, with the signs of daily life surrounding us and an array of expressions, is one of my favorites), cuddles at church during conference, reading books in bed, lemon meringue pie, and so many beautiful cards filled with stickers upon stickers, hearts and well thought out words for the sole purpose of expressing love (that now, thanks to the creative suggestion of Milayla, decorate a wall in our bedroom perfectly). The children were so excited for Mother's Day, they could hardly sleep. And when morning came early to the knock of Milayla at my door wanting to know if it was Mother's Day yet, it was my absolute pleasure to give her early morning cuddles. I am so grateful for the beauty and love that surrounds me.

And to all the mothers out there (including those that raised Jason and me - and the women who mothered them) - thank you for setting an example of righteous motherhood. It is an honor to walk the path that you have already labored to make smoother for those who come after.

Happy Mother's Day.

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the pictures aren't in the order of the day, but that's all right. I am so grateful for these smiling faces and how much love I feel from them.

Biodome (again!)

We headed to the biodome with some friends from Church (Anik + Patrick) who have a little girl (Amelia). The kids loved it. Always seem to be learning something new every time that we go. Loved watching the penguins. And I love seeing the sibling bond at work as the kids work to involve one another in everything they find. Having a picnic lunch afterwards and stumbling on to a medieval festival (complete with some fighting - it was crazy!) was fun. That said, the festival sure gave the kids a fright; some of those costumes were very real looking. All in all though it was a nice time out with friends. So glad that we were able to find a day that worked!  

Phineas 9 Months

For some reason these photos have gone a little wonky in the uploading but at least you can still see the most important aspect - this awesome kid and his great personality coming through in all those facial expressions and smiles. 

He grabs the camera, plays peek-a-boo with me, and loves seeing the pictures on the viewing screen. He really is so much fun. A lot of work to keep up with but so fun. I really cannot get enough of him. I write letters to him each month to go in to his baby book so I won't go into too much detail here. 

But for the sake of the extended family and friends that read this...this curious kid is growing so much and eating lots to account for it. He loves playing cars with his big siblings, pulling all the books within his reach off the bookshelves and looking through them, and giving big slobbery hugs and kisses. He is just a happy, loving, curious baby. And oh so determined. And vocal. He is off playing with his big brother as I write this and they are chatting away to each other. 

As he crawls up, over, under and around everything it's been an adventure to keep things out of reach as everything goes in to his mouth. And I love the greeting he gives me any time that I come into the room. Love him so much. Love his personality. He's brilliant. And so very very loved. 

looks like he took a selfie ;)