The Nutcracker

Last night I arranged a last minute date with my Mister James to attend the Idaho Falls Ballets performance of the Nutcracker. It was beautifully done for a smaller town and I was very impressed! We had fun balcony seats and so had a great view of the whole stage. I loved all the amazing dresses, tutus and costumes. I love how stiff tutus bounce when ballerinas do their moves. There were some incredibly talented dancers. Some of my favorites were the doll dancers at the beginning who stood so still they really looked like porcelain dolls. And I always love the sugar plum fairy dance with all the many ballerinas coming in and out and dancing on their toe tips. All of the dancers did amazing.

The theatre that it was performed in is in old downtown of Idaho Falls and is such a classic old theatre. The architecture is beautiful. I love old theatres and the charm they hold. We learned that a child can be as young as 3 to start in the ballet. As I watched the adorable young children perform I could just picture her dancing about. I can't wait till she is in dance classes. She will love them!!!

There was one adorable little girl who just couldn't get with the other small ballerinas. She was wondering about and oblivious to what she was supposed to be doing. The whole audience was charmed and holding in giggled cause she was so cute! I love that children have such an excitement to learn and be a part of things. I can't wait to have my own children learning skills and talents that make them stretch themselves and bring happiness!

When we were little kids my parents would take us every other year to see the Seattle ballet and symphony perform the Nutcracker. It's incredible! Life music, exquisite sets, amazing dancing and beautiful costumes. Our favorite scene was that of the peacock. We all thought she was so funny and loved how she would kick her feathery tail as she danced. As I've grown I've come to appreciate each and every dance within the nutcracker. There is so much talent, precision and skill in ballet. How they can stay on their toes for so long amazes me. And Mister James says he gets dizzy just watching how much they can spin!

There is such importance in the arts! I am so grateful my husband appreciates them and I can't wait to teach my children the value of good entertainment. I love getting dressed up and going to a fancy performance. I hope they will to. For I look back very fondly on the memories I have as a child going to magical events like the nutcracker. It sure kicks off the holiday spirit for sure!

Pompom Tube

Entertaining little little little ones while staying sane sometimes seems impossible at times. They seem to need some sort of attention at every moment and I don't like to just shove Jane in front of shows or iPad games so I have to get creative. Cardboard has proved to be the best tool on earth!!! I have made play kitchens and houses out of oversized boxes and little craft projects to. But the best discovery came this week as I finished a roll of wrapping paper. Jane has a jar of pompoms that she can play with and they are all sorts of colors. I poked a bunch of holes in the tube and drew corresponding colors to her fuzzy balls on them. It was so fun to watch her sort colors into these holes and say the color. She had a ton of fun swinging it around and watching them fly to ;)! 

If you need a cheap and fun way to entertain your little ones watch what you are throwing away, it can be some of the best entertaining out there.

Pool Time

Swimming, splashing and swimming some more!! We took the kids to the gym pool tonight and Jane was in absolute heaven. At first she clung to us like a little baby koala, but after we held her tummy and let her paddle and kick she was a crazy water lover! Each time she'd make it to the other side of the pool she would cling to its edge and shout "AGAIN!!" Her utter excitement made me remember how blessed we are to have children. They remind me daily the simple joys and accomplishements in life. James and I took turns helping Jane around the pool and letting her practice swimming and it was so much fun!! I think she's going to catch on pretty quickly, we were impressed by her coordination. She's such a joy to raise.

How often do we as adults stretch ourselves to learn something new? Or to face a challenge with courage? Children are amazing with how much they learn and how brave they are. No wonder we are asked to become like little children by the Lord. They really are amazing little souls. I can't wait to continue to watch Janes swimming skills blossom and to watch our children face life head on. I hope I can help them know that failure is just a way to learn to get back up and try again. All to often we put failure in such a negative light, but really how else do we learn the great process of picking yourself up after a fall and to try try again. I don't want them to fear "messing up" cause hey we're supposed to. What they need to know is to fix it instead of wallow in it. We all would do well to remember that life is one great big lesson in becoming our best selves! Through ups and downs. We have the power within us to learn and become great!!!!

Flickers of Heaven

Heaven is all around us I'm reminded daily. This world and life is full of clutter and distraction but heaven is here. There is no greater joy than a knowledge and trust in God and a reverence for all He gives us. We are given this beautiful world to live on, we are blessed with bodies intricate and amazing, we are given families to learn to care for one another and be humble, there are opportunities to serve and love mankind, and the greatest of all gifts, His son! We can close our eyes to heaven or we can open them wide to see the beauty this life has to offer. For heaven truly can be life!

Do we take the time to pause and notice it? Moments I am reminded of my heaven on earth are when I take the time to stop thinking of my big to do lists and just breath. I am given the chance to rock a babe to sleep and watch the sweet features in their face change as they sink to sleep. I notice the utter joy and complete thrill in my child's face as she dances around my home. I take time to notice how handsome and caring my husband can be. I pause to drive to the temple and sit under its glowing warmth. I am reminded that pausing and taking time is so important to remember your heaven on earth. We are not meant to get all the to do's the world wants or expects us to do done. We are meant to simplify, to take time to ponder, to reflect and improve, to care for others and to live with purpose.

Heaven is not a place where we will have earthly wealth or compare our wordly accomplishements. It is a place where family exceeds all other positions that vie for our time and focus in this life. It is a place where we will come before Christ and our Heavenly Father and account for the good we've done and the time we've spent in their great work. It is a place we will reflect on our lives. So how do you want to look back on the time you've been blessed with here and now? Because we all will! There is no escaping heaven. It is now and it will be after. Live like you are in heaven now and you will feel comfortable in the heaven that awaits. I have a firm testimony in a God who loves us and a purpose this life has in knowing His plan for me. I get distracted, as do we all, by the pulls and distractions of this world, but I pray I can pause more to catch the glimpses of heaven and live in a manner where heaven is where I am most comfortable.

Oh Christmas Tree!!

We went and hunted our Christmas tree down today!!! Such a fun fun tradition to go cut it down ourselves in the woods. Jane did awesome in the snow and did some good first time snow hiking!! And William didn't fuss one bit. It was so fun! And Mister James was our amazing lumber jack. We have a favorite spot up in an Idaho canyon that we go to. It's magical driving through a snow covered forest, like Narnia. And James loves the slippy slidy 4wheel drivin Subaru!

These times are such treasures to a mommy heart. Watching my little girl in her puffy snowsuit and coat walking carefully though the snow with her mittened hands out front. Seeing my sweet new babe all wrapped up and snuggled close staring at the big world around him. And having the support and love of a husband who helps me keep this tradition (and looks so dang handsome while doing it). I love this trio of mine so much! They make me so very happy. I had a few hard mornings the past two weeks and James knew exactly what I needed to cheer me up; Jane. She is a ray of sunshine that can't help but brighten a day. My little family is the best thing that ever happened to me and I am so thankful I get to have them forever.

All because a babe was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ has made it possible for eternal families and eternal joy. During this Christmas season I am so grateful that the son of God was born a small babe, in a stable, to a faithful mother and father. It makes the process of families so much more meaningful and important to know that even the Savior of Mankind was born to a man and woman and raised through his early years as all of us were/are. What humbling and powerful lessons are learned in a family!

Bouncing around in the mountains I was filled with gratitude for this time of year. We are so blessed to have a whole month we can dedicate to thanking Christ for His life and our Heavenly Father for his son. This beautiful life is so much richer with the knowledge of Christ and what His life means for each of us. I'm thankful for the traditions we have as a little family that bring us closer together and closer to Christ.

Christmastime is here!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!! I  don't think there is a more magical time of year than Christmastime. There really is something very special about this season that makes people kinder, happier and more giving. A warmth comes to our homes as we decorate and fill them with smells of baking gingerbread. Our hearts somehow grow as we ponder the birth of our Savior and love of mankind. It's interesting though how we aren't that way all year long. Why do we forget the blessings and joy for Christ when Christmas is over? How come we aren't more giving and loving all year long? Keeping that spirit all year long is a goal of mine. Going to church each week and partaking of the sacrament is a huge blessing that helps me keep that goal. Within the sacrament prayers over the water and bread there are the words, "And to always remember Him..." How thankful I am for that weekly reminder.

As I've been setting up and bringing out Christmss things it's been exciting for me and for Jane. Last year for our sibling gift, my sister Lara got us a child nativity. This year as I brought it out Jane was filled with glee. She's been rocking baby Jesus and loving each little character in the scene. It's so special to see the holidays through a child's eyes. I know that children have a special spirit about them and that they help to remind us of the simple and important things in life. I get excited every year to see my children enjoy the holidays. There really is nothing better then seeing children at Christmastime!

Williams 4 Months

This little man is 4 months old (yesterday), and we are amazed at how much he's grown. He is a tall little man! He is really quite good at tummy time, enjoys eating & eating and eating, loves to smile lots, watches his sister with a close eye and loves to be held. Sleep is still a bit of a struggle and spitting up. But he's working on those with his mama. We love and adore our Sir William and the joy he brings into our home!

A favorite thing he does is while he's eating he'll take a little pause give a huge grin and then keep eating. It's like he's giving his mama a big thank you for his food. His grins are heavenly and huge! They are the happiest thing to see!

We celebrated his marker by making pumpkin pie pastries. They were quite delectable and a favorite of Mister James and Baby Jane. I love cooking special things for this sweet little family of mine. That is something I really look forward to doing with my kiddos; cooking in the kitchen with them. I let Jane help with a few things already, but really cooking with me is going to be awesome!!