A Vulnerable Place

This week was a throw-away, a bad apple. A dive on the mom roller coaster. When I wasn't comforting a feverish child or wiping a runny nose I was being impatient with my kids and complaining to my husband. And if I wasn't doing that, I was sitting on the floor with a zombie face holding one baby with the other by my side lost in a miserable fog of blah-ness. To say I was not 'at my best' is putting it mildly.

Thank heavens for the earnest smiles of a stubbornly cheerful 4 year old and the helpfulness of my 8 and 9 year old. I love that the moment-by-moment cure for the moment-by-moment struggles brought on by having children is the children themselves. Like heavy rain during a lightning storm.

But mostly? Thank heavens for Keith. For his cool head when mine is in a panic. For his calm words when I need a call back to reality. For his steadiness when my inner balance is so shaky. For his superhuman patience even when I'm abusing him so unfairly. For the arms that find their way to my shoulders when I find myself wavering.

I hate it when I am like this. But Keith, he loves me anyway. This above all else gets me through. Being half of this team gives me the reason to fight and what I'm fighting for.

It gives me the ability to look at today - see that it's just a bad apple - throw it away, and start again tomorrow.

Baby Food...YUMM

Mega Posts

So, I'm actually all caught up in posting, well, at least the important stuff. It may not be as well written as I would like and not as thought out, but at least it's there. I can tweak it later. Please check them all out, I think there are six!!!

Two Cribs

I think they like having their own space!!!

We Have a Scout

Keith now has to share the title of "My Favorite Scout" with Dustin. They are both so excited for Dustin to be a Cub Scout and to work on badges together. And next month is the Pinewood Derby. Doesn't get any better than that!

Tonight was the Blue and Gold Banquet and Dustin was given his Bobcat award. Overall I think he was a little unimpressed with the festivities. We guaranteed him that normal pack meeting will be much more exciting. My favorite memory from tonight was during the flag ceremony. I looked over at Dustin and saw him in his brand new scout shirt looking so serious as he saluted the flag. I won't lie, it brought tears to my eyes. My little boy is growing up so fast!

6 Months Old

Well, six months have come and gone and I still have my sanity (well, most days). Avery and Kole are doing so well considering the early start they got. They sleep through the night (thank goodness) now if we could only get their naps to overlap for more than 15-20 minutes at a time.

Avery's Stats

14 1/2 lbs

24 1/2 " long

Kole's Stats

15 lbs

26 1/2 " long

Not bad consider they only weighed 4 1/2 and 5 lbs when they were born. Here are some of my favorite pics of them from they last few weeks.

Dustin's Baptism

A few days after he turned eight Dustin had the opportunity to be baptized by his dad. What a special occasion it was. As usual, we had so much support from our family. They didn't have enough chairs set up to accommodate our big families!

He shared his baptism day with his friend, Thomas. In fact, the highlight of the baptism, aside from the baptism itself was when Dustin, Thomas and their siblings sang "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus." The boys each sang solos while their brothers and sisters joined in on the chorus. It was so easy to feel the Spirit while listening to them sing. Yep, I was a crying machine :)

Dustin was confirmed in our Sacrament Meeting the next day. Keith gave him a very special blessing. What a very busy yet exciting week we had.