Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Last 5 Years

In a way I've been dreading this post because I knew it was eventually coming. And since I'm not exactly sure when Keith is planning on dismantling the computer I figured today was as good a day as any to write down my feelings before this week gets hectic. As we've prepared to move I've had at least a thousand or so thoughts come and go about what I could write that could sum up the past five years in the life of my family.

A few days ago I sat at my kitchen window and watched my four kids gathering up and then destroying piles of leaves in my backyard and thought back to the first fall in our home. We were lucky back then to even have enough leaves falling off the gangly, tiny trees to accumulate into a pile. Rachael was 2 and Dustin was barely even crawling around. We were so happy to be able to buy our first home. It came at a very rough time in my life and I was excited to have a fresh start.

We moved in about 1 month before our current ward was created and it was nice not to feel out of place, there were many new additions to get to know. Our family has made such wonderful friendships and memories with the families in our neighborhood. It's the first time we've been in one place long enough to have more than just acquaintances. Keith and I are grateful for the callings we've been able to serve in and for those people we've met who have made lasting impressions on our lives.

Now here we are, 2 more children later and our little house isn't quite big enough for us anymore :( Hillary and Claire are now older than Rachael and Dustin were when we came here. We are so very blessed and recognize the hand of our Heavenly Father in guiding our family to it's new destination. We know we will love it just as much as we have loved this home, ward and neighborhood.

The most important lesson I think I've learned while being here is that our worldly worth and the possessions we accumulate in this life doesn't matter nearly as much as Satan would have us believe. This past month or so as we've prepared our kids for the move we tried to stress to them that it doesn't matter where we live and where we go.....we will be together and will always be a family. That's what is most important. I wish I could express the amount of love I feel for the 4 sweet spirits that have been entrusted to my care and the man who I am fortunate enough to get to spend eternity with. I am so excited for what's ahead!!!

On a lighter note, I want to thank all of those people in advance who are planning to spend their time this week in helping us out, whether it's cleaning, using their muscles moving or watching my kids. We couldn't do it without you! There still plenty for me to do so now, I'll sign off and hopefully I'll see you all next week on the flip side of moving!!

Monday, October 27, 2008

It's Pumpkin Time

Due to our impending move, we (meaning Keith and I) elected to only carve one pumpkin this year and let the each of the kids colors faces on one of their own. So, for FHE we spilled some guts, pumpkin guts that is. Here are a few pics of the fun we had. The idea for the carved pumpkin came from Grandma Robertson.







Get it.....Pumpkin "Pi"!!!

One More Time

Hopefully this will be the last lost tooth for awhile. We've been keeping the tooth fairy too busy. What a cute smile!!!

Friday, October 24, 2008

Another Jack-O-Lantern Grin

We now have 2 Tooth Fairy beneficiaries in our house. Dustin's first tooth popped out last night (with a little wiggle help from Mom). I'll never understand how my kids want to let the loose tooth dangle until it practically falls out. Either way, there's one more toothless smile to make us grin!!!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Cute Primary Moment

During sharing time, we were discussing what the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve do everyday. Here's one of the things the kids came up with!

Child: Did you know that when I was at Lagoon, they made an announcement over the speakers that President Monson was there?

Teacher: OOO, Do you think he likes to ride on the "Wicked" ride?

Child: Nope, only the spiritual ones!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

A Little Too Much Attitude!

Last night, Keith and I had been laying in bed for about 15-20 minutes when we heard a blood curdling scream coming from the little girls room. After being nudged by my "helpful" husband I went to see what was the matter.

Claire was all tangled up in her blankets, tears streaming from her face with her arms outstretched crying, " Mom-MAY, Mom-MAY". So I picked her up and while calming her down asked if she had been having a bad dream. Hillary the precedes to roll over in her bed, open her eyes and with more attitude than I would have liked told me, "Um, DUH, Mom!" I'm sure she was half asleep because in no time she was snoring again. I can't believe I'm getting lip from my 3 year old while she's sleeping!

Monday, October 13, 2008

Monday, October 6, 2008

Tagged By April (aka The Dish on Keith)


What's your husband's name? Alton Keith Braithwaite


How long have you been married? 9 years on November 20th


How long did you date? That's a tough question. We met when I was 16 and dated a little bit in 96. He got home from his mission in Feb '99 and we got married 9 months later. So, in other words, you figure it out.


How old is he? 30 years old


Who eats more sweets? I would say Keith does, only because my only weakness is drinking Dr. Pepper.


Who said I love you first? Keith did, but does it count if he says "dang it" afterwards?


Who is taller? Keith is, by a good 4-5 inches. I love having a taller man!!


Who is the better singer? Another good question. I think as far as musical knowledge goes I take the cake, but I'd say we're both pretty good singers.


Who is smarter? Overall I think we're tied. We both have our areas of expertise but I think we're "evenly yoked".


Who does the laundry? Me. Makes sense, I'm the one who's home all day. Although, Keith is willing to help fold if I ask.


Who pays the bills? That'd be me.


Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Is there a right or wrong side? If there is, then Keith sleeps on the right.


Who mows the lawn? I actually enjoy mowing the lawn if I have time (which I usually do). It's nice to have a visual reminder that you have accomplished something that day, plus it makes my yard look nice :)


Who cooks dinner? Most of the time, I do. Keith is a mean cooker of breakfast, though. And again, if I ask for help, he is most willing to help out.


Who drives? Keith, I think he gets it from his dad.


Who's the first to say they are wrong? Probably Keith.


Who kissed who first? Before the mission it was Keith. After the mission it was me.


Who asked who out first? Keith asked me to his senior prom to save me from having to go with Rob Allred.


Who's wears the pants? I liked April's answer so I'll steal it. We each wear one leg.


Friday, October 3, 2008

Toothless

In other good news, Rachael finally lost her first top tooth. It's only been dangling there for 2 weeks now and this morning she finally let me wiggle it a little and in no time at all, out it came! She looks so cute!!!

Going, Going, Gone....

...Well, we will be by the last week in October. That's right, we've sold our house. Can you believe it? Things just fell into place and we have less than a month to pack up and head to our new home (see picture below)!!! We'll be moving to Orem, about 6 blocks from Keith's work. I'm so excited to be that close. We're so grateful for this blessing in our lives and hope that everything goes smoothly, although, I'm not really looking forward to packing with 4 kids wanting to "help" but I'm stoked nonetheless!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Needed Some Uplifting

I came across this quote today. It's from the Oct. 1987 Ensign, a talk by Sister Patricia Holland, wife of Elder Holland. I sure needed to hear it, I hope it lifts some of you as well.

"If I were Satan and wanted to destroy a society, I think I would stage a full-blown blitz on women. I would keep them so distraught and distracted that they would never find the calming strength and serenity for which their sex has always been known. I believe we can find our steady footing and stilling of the soul by turning away from physical preoccupations, superwoman accomplishments, and endless popularity contests, and returning instead to the wholeness of our soul, that unity in our very being that balances the demanding and inevitable diversity of life."