Happy

Tonight I felt an intense moment of happiness.

For family home evening we decorated gingerbread houses and as I was putting the houses on the shelf to display, I had a moment where time stood still. I saw something my family had created and it struck a chord in my soul. I didn't hear Teddy crying or Nayeli running around or even Ben cleaning up. Everything stopped and I just felt so... happy. At peace. Complete. That I am the happiest I've ever been in my whole life. What a feeling.

That seems so funny to say, considering that I've had my fair share of debbie-downer days lately and even longed for the days when I was single and lived for myself. Those were the days when I wasn't getting up 2-3 times a night with a baby. They were the days when my life didn't revolve around nap times, play dates and feedings. I did what I wanted when I wanted, and I can't lie and say that that doesn't sound appealing when my kids are both having meltdowns as I check out at the grocery store (not like that happened today or anything :) ). But they were also the days when I was selfish. Yes, I occasionally looked outward, but everything I did was about me.

Being a mother is morphing me. Everything I do now is about someone else. When I sleep, what I eat, where I go, all I do is determined by these two little children that I love so much. Even now, when everyone else is asleep and I finally have a moment to myself I'm writing a post about them. My husband. My children. My everything. What irony, huh?

It brings such meaning to the scripture in Matthew 16 that says, "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (v.24-25)

I am losing my life (and sometimes my mind- I kid, I kid) but I am finding it in something else. My family. At this point, nothing matters more. In fact, when we first moved here I (more often than I'd like to admit) bemoaned the size of our apartment, our income, my wardrobe, blah blah blah. And now I am just so grateful. Grateful for a husband who is kind and hard-working. Grateful for food on our table. Grateful for money to pay our bills. Grateful for two healthy and adorable children. Grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I will always look back on this time of my life as a time when God taught me to be grateful. Tonight, in that moment of stillness, that is what he was teaching me.

Teaching me that I have everything that matters. And no matter how little it may seem to be, it will always be enough.

Making gingerbread houses

Nayeli and her house- I put the frosting on but she did all the candy herself

Teddy at 6 months

Our sweet little Teddy turned six months at the end of October. I posted this picture on Instagram with this caption:

"Teddy can sit up well, is rolling both ways and all over, has his two bottom teeth, is super ticklish like his dad, loves his older sister, is very social and tries to make friends with any person who will make eye contact, still wakes every 4-5 hours to eat, and is the sweetest little boy I could ever have asked for."

I'm so happy to call such a cute little boy mine, and it's been great to see the bond he and Nayeli are forming. She smothers him with love and often says, "Oh Teddy, you're my best friend I've ever seen!" I have no idea where she got that from but it's the cutest.

My little rascals at work making messes :) They are so so fun.

Halloween 2014

About two months ago, Ben took me completely by surprise when he stated, "Let's dress up as a family for Halloween!" I was shocked because Ben hates dressing up, but since he was offering I began plotting costumes for our family.

I found two animal costumes on Craigslist for only $16 for both! They were a lion for Nayeli and a monkey for Teddy and they were the perfect sizes! I was so lucky! As a bonus, they were in great condition since they were worn by an only child once. Welcome to buying children's clothes secondhand in Oregon. It's awesome.

Anyway, I hadn't wanted to do something too complicated for our family and the costumes sealed the deal. With a small excursion to Goodwill and some khaki items from our closets we were officially headed on a Halloween safari.

Nayeli the Lion

Ready for candy! (Teddy was napping when these photos were taken- we love him just as much as Nayeli I promise :) )

Thursday night (the 30th) was the ward Halloween party. There was a chili cook off and Ben made his "award-winning" chili (it won first place in our ward in Provo). It got a runner up prize last year and this year too! We've now dubbed it "Three-peat champion chili".

The Petersen Family Safari

The carnivorous lion enjoying a corn dog.

Halloween night we made pumpkin pancakes for dinner and then took the kids trick or treating to a few of our neighbor friends. We have the only kids who live in our area of the apartment complex and so Nayeli and Teddy were the stars. One elderly neighbor even got them special gifts. So sweet.

The cutest lion and monkey I ever saw.

 

The "silly" pose

Family Pictures 2014

In September we had family pictures taken. I was so SO pleased with how they turned out. There's nothing like seeing your family all clean, polished and smiling to remind you what a blessing they are in your life.
 

Amazing, right? They make me so happy. I am so blessed and so happy. Did I mention I was happy? Life is really good, and these pictures are just a small manifestation of that.