Valentines Day part 2

Our celebration of Valentines Day last about a week.  With parties and birthday's and trying to find a good night to go out on a "special" date it can really go on and on and on.  But that's ok!  Who doesn't like to have the "love" holiday last extra long!


I love Valentines Day because I get to give lots of hugs and kisses and the kids can't complain!  I think deep down inside they all love it (Ben).  I also love to deck out the house and have lots of fun treats around.  I love to make special lunches and put lovey dovey things in them.


We sang Happy Birthday to Sarah! 

This year I really got spoiled!  On Friday we left the older 2 kids in charge and went out on a date.  They successfully put the 2 little guys down to bed and we came home to a very happy house!!!!!   


On Saturday Megan cleaned the WHOLE upstairs!  She empties the dishwasher (it wan't even her day), she loaded it and cleaned the kitchen spotless. She picked up all the clutter and put it away (that is a job that could take all day on it's own), she vacuumed All the rooms upstairs (5 total) and best of all when she was all done with that she asked if there was anything else I would like her to do.  She ROCKS!!


I got the BEST Valentines from my kids and hubby.


Got to be part of school parties.


And then got to have a really fun Family Home Evening.  We talked about our family and had everyone write on hearts why they love being part of the Gordon Family.  It was awesome.  After we shared our thoughts we heart attached our back door so that every time we leave our home we are all reminded why we love to come back.  It had been really fun to see the door through out my day today!

Have I mentioned how much LOVE Valentines Day!!

We love Valentines Day!!!

Valentines Day has a very special place in our hearts!  It is our special Sarah-bears birthday!  She is our "love child" and I love that.  I really enjoy Valentines Day, but this makes it even better.  She told me the other day that she wants to get married on Valentines Day too.  All I have to say is if she does that then her husband is one lucky guy.  He would only have one day to remember for all the important days. 

This year for her Birthday she wanted to have some ladies over and have a late night.  We had pizza (shaped like a heart) cupcakes and popcorn.  

It is always loud when you get a few little 8yr. together and let them rule the basement.  

She had a wonderful time and now we can't wait for her baptism!  8 is GREAT!!

It is very fitting that Sarah's favorite color is pink!  Goes very well will the holiday!

She was in heaven when I told her we could get a pizza shaped like a heart.   These's girls really know who do finish off a pizza!

At our local movie theater you can get this HUGE bag of popcorn!  It was like we were really at the movies!!  Thanks Water Garden Theaters! 

FEAR!

We have lived on our house for about 3 years now.  It had been such a blessing and we are grateful every day for the space we have.

For as long as we have lived here the 3 older kids have had their rooms in the basement.  For the same amount of time the same 3 kids have been scared to death to be down in the basement by themselves for more the 2 minutes.  It has caused a lot of contention because when one child needs to go down for what ever reason they beg and plead for another sibling to go down with them.  Without fail the child who is being asked to go down to help seems to forget that they were in the same predicament just a few hours ago.  REALLY!!!!

It has gotten a little better, but I am at a loss as to how to help them overcome this fear.  When we first moved in I had one night where I sat down with the kids in the back hall and I had them point out the sounds and noises that were scaring them.  I thought if I could help them identify what the "scary" noise was it wouldn't be scary any more.  It helped a little, but the #1 things that scares them are the noises.  We have added night lights and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but with little results.

I have to laugh a little when I think of their fear because as a child I was scared ALL the time!  I don't think there was a night that I didn't sleep with my sister Beth or plead with my Mom to let me sleep with them. (I guess you get what you gave.) To this day I am the BIGGEST baby still when it come to the dark and noises.  It is so bad that I have to sleep with a fan on in my room so I don't "hear" things at night.  When Greg is gone for a night I have to sleep with the bathroom light on and I have to sleep so I can see the door and no way could I ever sleep with my back to the door!!  So I know where my kids get their active imagination and I totally understand, but I wish they didn't have to worry about it.  I guess as they get older and they can reason with them selves things with get better, but for now I will have to do all that I can to help ease their fear and hope that they will eventually find peace and comfort from the "scary" basement.

My kids!

Had parent teacher conferences today.  It was a little hard getting there.  Had to make sure everyone was home ok and the little guys were taken care of.

Of course I was running a little late, who schedules conferences 5 minutes after picking kids up, oh I do!  Ben was first.  I always go into Ben's with an open mind and a deep breath.  Ben had not always liked school and it is hard because he is so smart and when he applies himself to the topic he is an A student.  I love his teacher this year.  She is young and very sweet, but she means business.  I was really pleased with Ben and his hard work this semester.  Along with his teacher we both have seen him take charge of his school work and really try to get everything done.  Finally he loves to read, which I thought we would never get there.  Ben is the kind of kid that he won't do it until he is ready.  All-in-all it was a wonderful conference.

Sarah has loved school this year as well.  She is doing awesome and has found it to be an easy year.  Her teacher did mention that she is seeking more attention than normal.  I think she is feeling that "middle child" thing.  I need to spend more special time with her.

Megan is my student.  She would live at school if she was allowed.  The girl always has her face in a book and loves to come home and share what she learned that day.  She didn't get the brains from me!  She got it from her Dad and her Aunt Jenny, who took most of the brains in the family along with Beth.

I love being a Mom!  I love to be part of my children's lives and being there to help them reach their potential!  I am in awe as I see the sweet little people growing so fast into young people and facing little bits of the world.  I pray everyday that I am doing what I am suppose to, to help prepare them for what's out there.  As Ben approached Jr. High next year I am full of worry for him and what an eye opener it will be.  It is that first step into putting your child out there and seeing if they can hold their own and make those decisions we have been teaching them about.

Happy Birthday Josh 3 & Isaac 4

Well, another year down and boy has it flown by!  We got Isaac potty trained and into a big boy bed and now we have Josh potty trained and sort of in a big boy bed.


Josh and Isaac have brought so much laughter and joy to our home.  You ask the older kids and they say they have brought a lot of extra noise.

If you ever need a super hero we have spiderman and batman.

They travel together and always have some one to talk to.

They always have a drinking buddy.

They always have someone to do a shaved ice run with.

They do have to share one of their favorite ladies when she come into town.  It can be hard some times being one of their grandmas.    

They always have some one to suck pacifiers with. Hoping that will be ending very soon!

Always have some one to go play outside with.

Always have some one to play the other guys with.

These two are best friends and I am so lucky to be their mom.

Happy Birthday Isaac and Josh

    

Rollerskating!

So to help pass the very long winter break we tried to do as much as we could. One of the fun things we did was go rollerskating!! I love to roller-skate and so does Megan.

Megan wanted to go ice skating put that wouldn't work for the whole family.

We got every one hooked up with their skates and got Josh and Isaac ( after we tried with the skates and it didn't work) with scooters. They were maniacs with the scooters. Josh was a natural and lapped his brother in no time.

As the boys got tired of doing laps we found the games. Their favorite one was this basketball one. We stood them up on the outside so they could reach and they would bend over to wait for the balls to come down. They were every good at it and it kept them busy for a very long time.

For the first time in 12 years Greg and I looked at each other not quite sure what to do with ourselves as all our children were handling themselves on their own. No more toddlers or babies. I am ready to more on to the next phase of life.

Here is Sarah with her good friend Jordan. After a good try of rollerskating they opted for the scooters as well.

Here's Megan with here good friend Kalyssa (Jordan's older sister). They were pros out there!

Here is Isaac giving his all to try the skates. He didn't last long once he saw Josh whizz by him on his scooter.

Thought he was big stuff with his scooter!

"JOY"

Well, a year down, a new year just begun.

What a year it has been. So many wonderful things that have happened and all have been such a blessing to me and my family.

It is always fun to think back on the year and reflect on all the things that have occurred. One thing that comes to mind every time I think of this year is Ben receiving the Priesthood. That has really had a hug impact on all of us. I have seen such a change in Ben. He is more thoughtful, calm, understanding, and caring. I know he know's what a blessing and responsibility it is to have the Priesthood.

There are so many other wonderful things that have blessed my family and me, I could sit and write for hours. But I'm not. I want to take the things that have touched me and help me grow and mature and apply them to my new year.

To start I have taken on a new tradition for myself. I got the idea from a blog I recently stumbled upon just a few months ago. This women, every year, picks a word or a small phrase to use as a theme for her year. It is just for her. So this year I am going to try it myself. I am always up for anything that will help motivate me and try things that will help me to move forward.

So my word for 2011 is, "JOY"

I choose that word because as I reflect upon this past year I tried to think about what I could have done better, or how could I have improved my year. Sad to say I found my self wishing that I could have had more personal joy in my life. Don't get me wrong, I am happy and grateful for what I have, but I needed to "find joy in every journey." There were many times that I caved into stress or peer pressure or let those around me bring my down. I had a conversation with my sister recently and we were talking about how it is so easy to let people and things around us affect our own personal joy. for myself I saw that as a weakness and I didn't like that.

So, here's to myself, I am going to have "Joy" every day and see the "Joy" in all that I do. When I think of the word joy I think of the Conference talk given by Pres. Monson a few years back. He talked about "finding joy in every journey." That is my all time favorite quote. It is true. I am always telling my kids that they are in complete control over their own reactions to everything. I will hear them say " you make me so mad" or " she made me sad" I am always quick to say " you decided how you feel, no one else." Well it is time I listen to myself and stop letting my surrounding affect me.

So here's to 2011 and "JOY"