Liv's Birthday Festivities Documented

 

  I asked Liv, "What do you want for you birthday?", and she said "A pink cake".  "What do you want to do for your birthday?", I asked. "I want to go to Dad's work".  "What do you want to do in the night for your birthday?", "I want to sleep in a tent with Dad".  Are you sensing favoritism here? Yes, in short she wanted Dad to be as much a part of her birthday as she could get.  So, here's how it actually went down: first there was lunch with Dad, then after he got home from work, a pizza dinner, a pink cake with some tricky candles, presents, and an indoor campout with Dad. Simple, but fun. And our new little 4 year old was quite happy.

Gratitude

I find my eyes getting misty (glazed if you will), quite often lately, and not over sadness, but over things that make me happy. Which, by the way is a very hard concept for a 4 year old to understand. If there are tears you must be sad right? I'm trying to teach Liv that people cry when they are happy too.  Here are some of the things that bring happy mist to my eyes:

1. For the Lord, Jesus Christ. For his life, his gospel, and his infinite atonement.

2. For scriptures, whether they be ancient or new scripture given to us by modern day prophets. I'm so grateful for the guidance and the peace that the scriptures bring into my life.

3. For a handsome husband that is so good to me. Who, goes to work everyday, even though its so against his upbeat, and adventuresome spirit, so that he can support a family, and make it possible for me to be the one who raises our children in our own home.  For his goodness. His faithfulness to the gospel.  For his patience and never ending service to me, especially since I've been prego and feeling sick.  He has been so sweet, and thoughtful. For his ability to keep us all laughing and happy with his silly dance moves and witty remarks. For his hard work around the home that is completely self-motivated. Thanks to him we have gorgeous new baseboards and door trim, almost completely done on the first floor.   

4. For Liv and Warner and baby number 3 on the way. Kids bring so much joy to life. I'm grateful that I get to be the one who sees them experience things for the first time, like the joy of going poo in the toilet for the first time, or seeing snow for the first time, or singing in the primary program for the first time, or drinking pop for the first time (that's always pretty hilarious to watch).

 
4. For immediate and extended family far and near. I love them all and am so grateful for them.

5. For good friends.  I can't help but smile when I think of the friends that I have met here in Washington. I feel so blessed to know such funny, creative, intelligent, and good people.

6. For a furnace that works so that we can be warm even when its cold outside.

7. For a beautiful home, that is cozy and just right for us.

8. For green olives, and chocolate, (not together), and mashed potatoes and gravy (together).

9. For the red rocket that is so awesome in the snow.

10. For good health (which I am without right now) and the ability to move and jump and run and be able to enjoy life. 

11. For a great camera that documents life and lets us capture precious moments and memories. 

12. For the internet that makes it possible to get any information you want, any time you want, and for the ability to keep in contact with old friends and family.

13. For beautiful Christmas music.

14. For value village or other cool thrift stores where so many treasures can be found.

15. For a dishwasher.

16. For clean water.

17. For hot chocolate with marshmallows.

18. For visiting teachers.

19. For good books.

20. For cozy sweatshirts on snowy days.

 21. For my pink soft fuzzy pants that I've been wearing for seven years in a row now. They are so hiddeous, but so comfy. I'm grateful for them.

22. I'm grateful for the temple. Where I always feel peaceful and good.

23. I'm grateful for people who stop to say hello in the store to my kids and try to make them smile, or help me get to my car when I have lots of groceries. I'm grateful for the many people who have offered to take my shopping cart back for me, so that I don't have to leave my kids in the car. Bless the good people of this world.

So, there is my list, it could keep going, but I think I'll save the rest for journals. What are you grateful for? 





































 

The Gosling isn't a gosling anymore, cause she's 4.

 4 Years ago today she was born, sniff sniff.

It sure was a rough entry into the world that this little one had, but she came out strong and ready for the world. By day three or four she was already lifting up her head and looking out at the world around her. She was independent and interested from the beginning and ready to take on life.

Liv sure is a strong willed girl, and she knows how to put up a fight, but on the flip side, she sincerely loves to help out, and loves to serve. I can't tell you how many times I have spilled this one box of crayons that we have all over the floor, and no matter what Liv is doing she will come to my aid and immediately start picking up crayons off the floor and put them into the box, without being asked.

I know there relationship started out a little abusive, but she really does love her little brother so much. Its funny to watch them play. The other day I heard her say "I'm going to play Hulabaloo Warner you want to come play too?" and I hear his little feet hobbling as fast as they can towards her. 

The other day Jaron and I were laying in bed, we had just woken up, and we could hear the soft voice of Liv reading the story of Goldi Locks to Warner in his crib. This is a very common thing to witness. She loves to climb in his crib with him and either chat or read with Warner. He of course loves every minute of it.

I love how Liv expects Warner to be a little person in our house. For example this morning Liv woke up first, bright and early with Jaron and came downstairs to watch a show while the rest of us got up more slowly. I heard Warner making noises and decided I ought to get out of bed, so I went and got him and brought him downstairs. After serving them both a bowl of cereal, Liv looked at Warner, who was quietly eating his bowl of cereal from his high chair across the table, and said "Warner! You haven't even wished me a happy birthday yet!". Warner simply blinked his eyes at her. So I taught him how to say Happy Birthday, and that satisfied Liv.

At dinner lately, we have all been having discussions of things that we are grateful for. Yesterday Liv instigated the conversation. She said, "You know what I'm grateful for Mom? I'm grateful for a family". It was so sincere, and sweet. She loves her family so much, and will often spontaneously say, "Mom, I love you".  Oh this girl is a little love. And I love her so.

She's our dress up queen, girlie girl.

Our little artist.

Violinist.

And Singer.

Happy Birthday munchkin.

 

Celebrations

Yay for snow. Lets celebrate by making a snow baby.

Or stand by the door embarrassed because Mom hasn't bought me snow clothes yet.

And . . . drum roll please. . . 

Yay for baby number three on the way. Lets celebrate by having a cozy fire and drinking a Sparkling Apple-Mango Martinelli. Cheers everyone!

 

Our Meatball

The other day we were on our way to Ikea to eat meatballs and Liv was extremly excited and hyper, as we don't do this very often. She was squealing and laughing and getting Warner to laugh. Then all of the sudden she said "I'm a meatball" "With no arms, no hands, no feet, and no eyes, just a ball!" And then she burst out into a Bart Simpson laugh. 

The Little Violinest from Jessica Brown on Vimeo.

More thoughts today, from my head. Thoughts on Isaiah.

I just finished reading the Book of Mormon again, and I thought to myself what now? It always takes a few days of wondering what angle I should take on studying my scriptures to start up again. Well, I've never read Isaiah all the way through, and I decided I would take a stab at it. I wish I could go back to BYU and sit in on a class about Isaiah, because its not an easy book to get through. In fact, I still don't understand about 95% of it. That being said, I think it is still one of my favorite books in all of scripture, because of the few things I do understand. Here are some of my personal favorite scripture passage gems from Isaiah: 

Isaiah 1:18 - Such a beautiful and comforting scripture to know that the Lord forgives and forgets our sins if we truly repent.
Isaiah 29:14- I love reading about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the bible.
Isaiah 40: 11-12, 29,31- This scripture just brings me comfort and helps me to feel the love of the Savior every time I read it.
Isaiah 41:10-13 Another favorite of all time.- This scripture helped me really get through a trial at one point in my life. And I'm sure will continue to help me get through more trials. I love knowing the Lord is there to strengthen us when we are weak, to lift us up when we are down.
Isaiah 43:7- This scripture makes me feel claimed. I love knowing where I came from, and who I am.
Isaiah 52:7, 12- This scripture is motivational, it makes me want to publish tidings of peace and do good continually.
Isahah 53, all of it- The poetry of this scripture blows me away. It is such a powerful chapter. And makes me yet again so grateful for the griefs that the Savior bore on our behalf."With his stripes we are healed". I love that.
Isaiah 58:6- Some of the most beautiful blessings of obeying the law of the fast.

and

Isaiah 58: 14- Blessings of keeping the sabbath day holy.

What are some of your favorites from Isaiah? 

Thoughts from my head today.

The Shins are a great band. One of my favorites actually. I've been listening to them for about 7 years now, and yet, I still don't know more than a few words to any of their songs. Catchy tunes, with not-so-catchy lyrics.

I smell the engine grease and mint
the wind is blending
Under the moan of rotting elm in the silo floor. 

What in the world?

Or from one of their more catchy songs:

But your lips when we speak
Are the valleys and peaks of a mountain range on fire.
So let me walk these coals till you believe
I can cut the mustard well enough
Cause you know as soon as breathe we scrutinize 

Who cuts mustard? I know its an old phrase, but what does it mean? I usually like songs, because of the way they relate to experiences I've had, or relationships I have, but I don't know I just can't quite relate to cutting mustard and rotting elm in the silo floor. I like it, I just can't relate to it, thus I can't sing the words, because its hard to remember things I have no experience relating to.   

The words just aren't quite as easy to remember as maybe:


I fell in to a burning ring of fire,
I went down down down, 
and the flames went higher,
and it burns burns burns, the ring of fire,
the ring of fire. 

Its just not, but yet I'll still keep on listening to them, bopping my head, and wondering what the heck they are singing about.

Funny Liv

Yesterday while driving in the car I hear Liv from the back seat say

"Warner, can you say follow the prophet?"

I then start singing Follow the Prophet mindlessly as I was driving (we just had our primary program so it was in my head), but Liv immediatly protested, in a kind and gentle way.

"Mom, can you please not sing right now? I'm teaching warner to speak".

 Me- "Sure thing Liv".


Liv- "Warner, can you say Spanish?"

Warner- "Ish"

Liv- "Warner, can you say. . . trash can?"

Warner: "Da"

Liv- "Warner can you say hippopotamus?"

Warner- "Dus"

and on and on until we picked up Dad.

By the time that boy is in school I'm afraid I won't be able to take any credit for what he's learned.

Another Liv story:

Lately Liv is really into talking about her dreams. In fact every night about thirty seconds after we have put her down to bed she will inevitably hop out of bed, and say in her sweetest voice "Mom? Dad? I'm having a bad dream?"  If we are feeling loving, kind, and patient, we will say, "Come give us a hug and hop back in bed ok?" If we aren't feeling patient we will say "You can't have bad dreams unless your asleep, and you haven't gone to sleep yet, now go to bed child".

Now, almost every morning when Liv wakes up I say to her "Good morning Liv, how did you sleep? Did you have any bad dreams last night?" To which she almost always gets a pouty face and says "Yes".  She loves the drama, and I'm horrible, because I like the pouty face so I kind of egg her on.  Well, a few weeks ago, instead of making her usual pouty face she said "No Mom, I didn't have a bad dream, I had a really good dream!" 

"Well hunkydarn. That is wonderful. Tell me about your good dream Liv."

Liv- "I was a blue cup".

After that there was nothing but laughter from me and a very serious and intent face from Liv.

Ah the joys that kids bring.