O Christmas tree

 Every year, except the year we got married, we have went and cut down our own Christmas tree. My family has done it for several years and we have joined them in this tradition. 

This is this years tree. It is around 9 feet tall.

 Shawn in front of the tree. He has a hard time not clowning around for the camera.

 Both our boys in front of the tree.

William in front of the tree. If he was looking at me he wouldn't smile.

Yep it's December

I'm at awe of how fast this year has gone. I can't believe that 9 months ago I was very pregnant and anxiously waiting to me our second son and now that second son is trying to figure out how to walk. He cruises all over pushing his walker and boxes but hasn't gotten the courage to take off on his own yet. He is still pretty unstable though and is already accident prone as is. He doesn't go a week without a goose egg on his head from tipping over and hitting it on something. But he is super cute and loves to tease, hug, and play.
Shawn is growing as well. He has figured out how to say "no" and likes to tell us when he isn't happy about something. I know he seems a little later than most but he is just starting to get serious attitude problems. He was always fairly happy and listened very well before at most he would pout for about a minute and then he would be fine. Now it's the screaming, crying, mouthy little stink. But he usually makes up for it with his cuteness in the end. He always says sorry when he hurts you, he is always giving hugs and kisses to everyone, and he usually says thank you when you give him a treat. He kisses your owes better and usually plays really well with William. Their favorite game is, see who can scream the loudest. (Guess they got that from mom and aunt Angie). It's cute for the first couple minutes but that's about all I can handle. I love how well the interact with each other and William idolizes his older brother already.
Shem is doing well at work. Things are looking up for him and in the very near future there will be a huge change in position and finances for us. I'm thinking that may be when we will try getting pregnant again. I'm so proud of him and all he has accomplished in his life. He is such an amazing man. I couldn't have asked for a better husband or better father for my boys. I love watching him interact with our boys. He loves playing with him and love the attention they get. Bed time is when a lot of playing happens though. But he ends the play with Shawn by reading out of the scriptures or reading talks to him while I go feed William and get him settled down for bed. Once William is older he will be joining in on the reading, bedtime routine as well. It's Shem's and the boys father son time everyday.

William has learned how to walk with the walker and loves it! He also likes to scream as you can tell in the video. 9 months old and showing his stuff.

P.S. Sorry the video is poor it was taken with my phone as that was the closest thing to grab.

Fall pics and Halloween

 We didn't really do any trick or treating this year but we did dress up. I also got some pics of the boys playing in the leaves.

I was a black cat, Shem was (is) a biker, Shawn was superman, and William was a vampire.

Teething...

Both boys are teething at the same time. So it's been a stressful couple weeks around here. I do not recommend having a toddler and infant teething at the same time. It means momma goes to bed with a headache about every night. Shawn is getting is 2 year molars in, so far the top and bottom left and the bottom right have broke through the skin so all we have left is the top right. I think this is also where his double ear infection came from a couple weeks ago. William is working on all 4 of his front teeth. So far the bottom left has broken through and the bottom right isn't far behind. Where his top front teeth will be breaking through is all swollen and he has white bulges. Which means that they will not be far behind. Yep lots of fussing and crying and screaming and yelling and...... Good thing there is something I can give them to help with the pain sense neither one really like cold things, Hyland teething tablets and Motrin have been my crutch to get through this. Though I do try to only give it to them once during the day and at bed time but when it gets bad I have to do something.

I've decided that if I can skip one thing with the whole baby/ toddler stage it would totally be the teething. Nothing else that happens during the teething stage JUST the teething.

A lot on my mind

Lately I have had a lot on my mind about several different subjects. Like what's happening with President Packer and his talk in conference, what I could do to help out finances, kids, next baby, etc. These are just listing a few.

I'm amazed and appalled at how people can demand respect and being treated equal and demand their freedom of speech but then turn around and deny those exact same rights to another group. The church and the members put up with a lot from those that are of different beliefs. We are constantly ridiculed and called names. Some members in other states, and countries are even abused and martyred for following the LDS church. But we keep to ourselves, we don't go around protesting and demanding we be treated equally. We sit back live our lives and every 6 months are taught by our apostles and prophet. Then one apostle of the Lord says one simple phrase that a group doesn't like, which in my opinion if they don't agree with our beliefs they needn't be listening, and it's all over the news, there are protests on our sacred grounds, rude demoralizing letters being sent to our leaders. We are now labeled as racists and hateful people for standing up for our beliefs. But just a few months ago THEY were the ones crying for people to just let them have their beliefs and treat them as equals. THEY demanded people to stop calling them names and be understanding of them then immediately turn around and doing the exact thing to others.

Autn:reference - http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/14/5#5

Autn:reference - http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/19/17#17

2 Nephi 19:17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows; for every one of them is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly.

Those with a guilty heart will be the ones that lash out in anger.



Anyway, on another note. We are doing fine financially but i'm always thinking that I should be able to do something more to help. I don't want to give up my  blessing of being home with my kids though so I come up with crazy ideas to do here at home to make a little money. So far none have really worked that well though. But like I said we are fine financial, a little tight but we are not under.

As for my other thoughts with kids and the next baby. Yeah I know I just had a baby in February but hey i'm a planner. Some days I think just my 2 boys will be enough for me but then I get a feeling that there are more spirits waiting to join this family so then I start getting baby hungry, and then I rationalize my hunger and realize that it's just not time yet. I don't know when the next baby will be in the works but it wont be till next February or March. Though I have had some good calm conversations with Shem and we have looked into a home birth and have prayed about it a lot. We are not going into this blindly and with out spiritual guidance. We both feel that that is the way we should go. There's nothing written in stone but it just feels right when everything else we think about gives us an unease and sick feeling. I know there are many family members that don't support such things and would like to tell us of all the dangers of doing such a thing but to be honest we know how we feel and we have prayed about it a lot and to be completely honest know of the risks and dangerous associated with both a home birth and a hospital birth and we don't want to here how stupid we are being for doing what feels right for us and our family. We live with in 10 minutes of a hospital, which by the way would be how long it takes, if not longer to get things ready even if I were in a hospital, and if something goes wrong we can head straight in. We feel very comfortable and at peace with things. The only issue we are running into right now is how to pay for a home birth. Out of pocket it will be around $2,000. When it comes time for #3 we will re-asses things and make sure we truly are making the right decision though. The Lord will bless us with the right path when the time comes. If a home birth is not the right path I have some excellent nurse midwives in mind for a hospital birth.

 

How time flys!

I can't believe we are in October already. Before we know it we will be celebrating William's first birthday! Today William decided he would sit himself up all on his own, it was great watching him do it with such ease. It's like he had been doing it forever. Now he can do about everything but walk!

Shem and I have also set up different blogs. Mine is a business for crocheted items and Shem's his just his thoughts.
 Here are the blog addresses if anyone is interested.
 Crocheted beanies
For those who care what I have to say

Life is too short just to let it fly by like this. Today my goal is to try and enjoy the simple things.