Sure do miss him

I was looking for photos for something else and ran across these pictures of Sariah and my dad.  I sure do miss him. 

 

No one is destined to fail.

Every person is different and has a different contribution to make. No one is destined to fail. (2012 October General Conference, Help Them Aim High, Priesthood Session - By Henry B. Eyring)

As I was reading conference talks tonight, this little bit stood out to me. I was just emailing James today that part of my stress is the I don't feel like I'm really succeeding at anything right now. My house seems to always be a mess. I've been short fused with my kids. Ben and I seem to always be battling (in particular). School is driving me crazy and I'm burned out. My calling in Primary leaves me lonely at church although I love the kids, the calling is a struggle for me. James and I get very little time together with our crazy schedules. Yep the failure list seems to be a mile long right now.

Then I read this. And tonight was actually a really good night. We had FHE. I took a nice relaxing bath. I didn't lose it when I got out of said bath and found Ben had gotten out of bed, gone in Eli's room and turned on the lights (thankfully Eli was still asleep), gone downstairs, gotten out scissors and after failing to cut into the donuts we had for our treat, he did shred into a cookie that he was half done eating. And yet I didn't yell, didn't get mad, didn't laugh (at least not in front of him). And calmly disciplined him and put him back to bed.

Reading this reminded me that I'm not meant to fail. And actually I'm not currently failing. Life is crazy. I still hope it will slow down some day. But I'm doing okay.

Enough ramblings for now.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

On the table

First a disclaimer. I'm writing this with a new app so not sure how the formatting will work. ... On to the post

Eli has been "standing" in his high chair on the foot rest for a while. But today I didn't put his tray on AND didn't buckle him in. I just scooted him to the table with some crackers. I came back to find him on the table. He's figured out how to climb out of the high chair onto the table.

And of course he thinks he is hilarious doing so. Ohh this boy's ornery streak is coming out.

The hat pictures

So I meant to do this right after posting the party pictures, but ahhh life. 

Okay so sadly this isn’t everyone.   But here are those nieces and nephews who live here and were able to come with their NEW Christmas hat….

First up the Lisa’s kiddos-  I must say that I think my sister has some of the most photogenic kids ever!!

     

Then my kiddos:

Kris’s kiddos:

 

 

Meagan’s kiddos:

 

And my brother Seth’s middle daughter:

 

 

And one more just cause it’s so cute….Uncle Matt and Eli.

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Christmas- Yes I know it is February

So I know I’m a little behind.  But the point is that I put stuff on here, not that I do it perfectly.  So here are some fun pictures from the Mayo Family Kids Exchange.  Up next will be individual shots of each grandkid.

Just hanging out..

Gotta have a few goofy face pictures- Thanks Rhianna.

Ben was a super helper and handed out all of the presents.

Daddy and Eli

So excited and patiently waiting for the go ahead.

And…..open

Putting on the hot new hats..

Mommy and Eli- yes I’m holding his hands to keep him from ripping the hat right off.

 

And the well intentioned group shot.  Yes lots of tears, groans, pokes, and complaints.  No not everyone is looking at the same time.  We did try bribery but well you can see it didn’t work so well.

 

Climb on In

These are just a couple of funny photos that I never posted.  A few months old as they are at the old house.  But still crack me up.  My little guys playing together!

 

My Ben

These are just a few shots of Ben.  I actually tried to take pictures of all the kids on the day Eli turned one.  But Eli was quite uncooperative, when he is normally a little ham in front of the camera.  Ben usually won’t hold still long enough for a shot, but this day actually humored me.  So I will try again with Eli, but for now a couple of cute shots of Ben.

He is 3 now and full of personality and emotion.  He is doing better at communicating, but I still struggle with his quickness to throw a fit.  He does give his momma lots of loves and snuggles that make it all worth it.  Each night now he wants me to snuggle with him in his bed.  I have to get under the covers.  And when I go to leave, he asks “check on me in a few minutes?”

For as frustrated as he can make me, he sure does melt my heart.