I love being warm. This long cold season just doesn't always sit well with me. Maybe I just think it's cold but really it's just my native (St. George) upbringing that makes me thinks it's cold. Either way I am so happy to finally get out of the house more. There is only so much you can do inside with your two year old, and doing dishes everyday with her isn't the most exciting thing in the world.
I have been taking advantage of this (hopefully permanent) change. I took the girls to Kori's seminary. We surprised him and Kallie had never been so it was fun and loud. School had just ended and sometimes the youth like to be loud. Which is totally cool, I guess I just forgot I was the exact same way. Kallie enjoyed sitting in several of the blue chairs, playing the piano, and coloring on the white board. It's fun to watch her explore, grow, and get excited about little things.
Kori had a meeting so we said bye and left for the park. We stayed for almost three hours. Kaitlyn was totally cool with it so why not. Kallie was all over the place and asked me to take like 20 videos of her going down the slides. Of course I did. Well not quite 20 but a lot.
She is just so cute!
Her run totally gets me. It's so adorable. Little kids are just so cute.
We also fed the ducks this week. It was a lot of fun and Kallie told me all the colors the ducks were. She also tried to hand them some bread but they ran away from her. Kaitlyn just stared at them for a long time.
We went to the park again because I am desperate to get out of the house. A different park than the first and we had a picnic. There were not quite as many kids playing at this one and some girls from our ward showed up so she had a lot of fun.
There is a giant chair at this one. Kallie wanted to sit on it, but what kid wouldn't?
Last week was wonderful! My family and I drove down to Salt Lake City, Utah to see my sister on Temple Square. She has been serving a mission their for a year and a half. We got to have a tour of the mission office and call center. She showed us how you chat and what they record about each of their investigators. It was really cool, I had no idea how much they did online! We also got to meet her mission president, he was a really neat man of course. We also watch Meet the Mormons and got a tour of the Tabernacle. We also saw a glimpse of how the sister missionaries are when they aren't out teaching. To put it mildly they are very happy ladies.
Temple Square is a pretty neat place. Well, that is an understatement, it's awesome! If you haven't gone, go.
After Christy said her goodbye's we all drove down to sunny St. George. It literally was sunny and I LOVED it. Perfect weather the whole time. I really really miss the weather. My sister and I went running together. It was the first time I have been running in over a year. I had horrible chin splints and my legs were in a lot of pain but I still loved it. Hopefully this Idaho weather warms up or makes up it's mind soon, I am so ready to start running again.
While we were in St. George Kori and I went on a date! Wahoo! We don't get to go very much or as much as we would like so we take advantage of the opportunity. We also got to go to the Temple. It's really nice when it's only a 10 minute drive. Apart from seeing my family, going to the Temple is one of the things I look forward to the most when we go to St. George. It is so neat being able to go back inside to the sealing room we got married in. It is so beautiful. If you haven't gone there I recommend it ;) Preferably with a spouse if you can.
While we were down there Christy was released as a missionary. It was hard for me and I wasn't even being the one released. Being a missionary brings such a special spirit and feeling into a persons life. They are given a special blessing that helps them to know how to help others come unto Christ. When you are a missionary you entire goal is to help others find happiness in Christs' church. It is a completely selfless thing to do. Missionaries are amazing because they leave their families and serve others so that other families can be together forever, to help those who are searching for the truth, and for those who just want to be happier. Not a temporary happiness but an eternal and never ending happiness. After Christy was released she said she felt like she lost 20 lbs. and Kori suggested 20 lbs of muscle. Which makes sense because when you are a missionary and serving the lord he gives you a lot of extra strength. Missionaries are amazing, enough said.
That was our trip to St. George. Here are some pictures and videos for your enjoyment.
Christy and Kallie being missionaries together! Once we saw Christy on Temple Square Kallie wanted to wear a name tag and be a missionary too!
Kallie loves seeing Jesus. After all, he is a pretty good person to be around.
This was after Christy gave her homecoming talk. Micheal and Alena also came down with their three adorable boys! Christy did so wonderful, she could be a really good youth speaker.
Not even joking.
This was on our drive home. Kaitlyn has an adorable laugh and both of the girls did really good on our road trip. We owned those 9 hour drives. (I thought I shortened this but oh well, the second half she laughs a lot more.)
I haven't posted for a little while. Well actually it has been over a year and a half, oops. I decided that I need to keep a journal better and this is one way to do it. I am at a time in my life where there is so much happening and I don't want to forget about all of it. Plus blogging is something that I can do for myself. Which is probably what this post is going to be about, well and about my beautiful family too.
So I recently became a mother of two. It's kind of surreal.
Two kids is a lot fun and a lot of work. They are about 21 months apart so you can imagine the diapers. (Well, I am in the process of potty training but that is for later). It is amazing to see how much they love each other already. I didn't expect an infant to really pay attention as much as Kaitlyn does. Kaitlyn is so aware of her sister though. She watches her play constantly and I am pretty sure she wishes she could join. She stares at Kallie when she plays her little piano and watches us run around the house playing tag. She sometimes will cry if she feels too left out.
Kallie is also very fun to watch interact with Kaitlyn. She is always giving her kisses and toys. Most of the time she just sets them next to Kaitlyn on the floor. Kallie also gives her blankets because "Kaitlyn is cold". It's pretty adorable. But I think my favorite thing to witness is when Kaitlyn wakes up in the morning or from a nap. Once Kallie hears her making noises she runs into the room and says "hi" to her like 20 times in her high pitched voice that she learned from Kori and I. (Because you always talk to a baby in a higher voice, of course). Kaitlyn smiles and lights up every time. Needless to say, they love each a lot.
There are also some difficult things about have two kids. The hardest for me; splitting up my attention. I didn't realize how hard it would be to do this. I worry and wonder all the time if I am giving them both the love and attention they need. Kaitlyn especially because she does cry more than Kallie did. (But Kallie hardly ever cried). Kallie is two so I have to make sure she doesn't get into things. Plus disciplining and playing games with her. All the while, Kaitlyn just wants to join us. Sometimes she does join us, because Kallie likes to hold her on her lap.
Two kids is a lot of work. Especially when both are pretty dependent. Kallie is starting to get more independent but I still have to help her with a lot of things. With that being said, I never have needed "me" time more in my life. It gets tiring even exhausting sometimes especially if you don't get a good nights sleep, which is pretty common with infants. I have come to realize just how much it helps to be able to do something for yourself that you enjoy. Don't sell yourself short. Being a mom is a lot of work no matter what stage of life you or your kids are in so if you don't take time to do something you enjoy it might get overwhelming. We all need breaks. I have always enjoyed working out and running but it's still too cold to go running (Growing up in St. George spoils you) so I started going to a free Zumba class. Even though I feel very white (because lets face it, I am very white) it's still fun and helps me to feel like I am doing something for myself. Plus exercise releases endorphins which makes you happier, right? (I think).
Overall, being a mom of these two little girls is the best thing ever and such a blessing. They are smart, strong and beautiful and I get to be their mom!
An update about Kori; he graduates in July! Oh my goodness I literally cannot wait. It can't come soon enough. He is also currently student teaching seminary at Nampa High School. Oh and he is up for hire this Spring! If I think about it too much I get really nervous. But whether or not they decide to hire him full time, at least I know it is what is suppose to happen. Either way, it has been a huge blessing and a wonderful experience to be a part of the seminary and institute program.
P.S. My little sister finishes her mission a week from Wednesday!
