Put In My Place

Currently, our family's future seems so uncertain. We might move to Utah, we might go back to school, we might change jobs, we might start a business, we might buy a house, etc. For a planner like me, the past few months have been trying. Changes have been uncertain and progress slow-moving. In all honesty, it has taken a great deal of effort to keep myself optimistic about the future.

One Sunday I was feeling especially frustrated and hopeless. In Sunday school the teacher was talking about how in the Book of Mormon Nephi asked to see the vision that his father saw (1 Nephi 11). He related it to us by saying how we can also ask the Lord to understand or know something that we desire to know. In my heart I said, "Heavenly Father, I just need to know that you will take care of my family. That's all I want to know. Help me to know that you will take care of my family". I didn't ask about school, jobs, homes, moves... I just wanted to believe that he would take care of us.

My answer came sooner than I expected in Relief Society as the teacher, during the lesson, wrote in huge letters on the board, "TRUST GOD". I studied the words and as I did the Spirit said to me, "Athena, has the Lord ever let you down before? Come on. Will you give him some credit?" It was almost comical and I nearly laughed at the scolding I felt from the Spirit. Despite the chastisement, peace filled my heart and tears came to my eyes. I pondered my life and all the ways it has not turned out as I planned - it has turned out even better. As I've followed the Lord, often by taking a step into the darkness, I've seen the light and it has been brighter and better than I could ever have imagined it.

So as we continue to step into the darkness, I'm going to give the Lord some credit and trust. He has a great track record in my book, and with a history like that I can't help but feel that the future be better than I could plan for myself. But really, who knew the Spirit could give such a tongue-lashing, huh? :)

She's a Sunbeam!

This month Nayeli started Sunbeams. She had been so excited for weeks to be in Primary. She is getting so grown-up and it is so fun to see her become a little person.

Her teacher told me last week that she asks lots of questions in class, questions that pertain to the lesson but are a little off subject. For example, the lesson was on Moses and she asked, "Why did the King kill all the babies?" and "Will slavery ever come back?" She is a little questioner and it cracks me up. I think she's going to give her teacher a run for her money.

Also, a few times since she started she's said to me, "Mom, guess what song I have in my head? Scripture power!" What a smile it puts on my face! I love Primary and the principles it teaches and am so happy she's learning the gospel truths that bring me so much joy.

Ben's Interview at Utah

A few weeks ago Ben interviewed at the University of Utah to start their MBA program in the fall. He applied to both BYU and Utah, and although he didn't get into BYU, we were excited when we heard that Utah wanted to interview him. They were willing to pay for his plane ticket and hotel to go down, so he left early Friday morning to spend the day in interviews and classes.

He was in need of a new suit so we bought one. He looked really sharp.

The interview went well and now we wait until about mid-February when they said they'd get back to us. Although we have no other schools on the back burner, we aren't twiddling our thumbs. We have a plan B and C that are in the running and no matter what, I know that the Lord will take care of our family.

Besides, look at that handsome guy in the suit. Could you say no to that?

To Seattle for the New Year

We didn't have any plans for the New Year, except maybe to go to bed at 10pm on New Year's Eve. That's pretty much our New Year's tradition every year.

After dinner, we opened crackers with paper crowns and little toys inside. Then we banged pots and pans outside our apartment. That was the extent of our New Year's Eve celebrating but it was just perfect. 

On New Year's Day we awoke and packed up the car to head to Seattle. Ben's brother Sam recently married a girl named Bonnie from Issaquah. We went to Seattle for the wedding and met her family who are all very nice. Sam and Bonnie live in Utah, but they were spending the holidays in Seattle and invited us to go up for a few days. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to see them, as well as get to know Bonnie's family better.

We arrived at Bonnie's brother's house and were immediately treated like one of their own. It was so fun to talk to Bonnie's parents and brothers and sisters. We spent most of the afternoon chatting, then Bonnie and Sam drove us out to Snoqualmie Falls. They are beautiful, gigantic falls outside Seattle and although it was really busy, we loved seeing them as well as the lodge nearby. We then returned to be with Bonnie's family and after dinner we played a rousing game of keep away. I haven't played such an intense game with adults and it was hilarious.

That night we stayed at Bonnie's parents house. It was fun to see her childhood home and we played "Cover Your Assets" with Dave and Terry. The next day was Saturday so we decided to go on a hike. We headed to Rattlesnake mountain to try and summit Rattlesnake Ridge.

Sam and Ben carrying the kids

The trail ended up being too icy, but our consolation was Bonnie's dad treating all of us to shakes at the local mom and pop burger joint, which were delicious. 

Before we headed to get shakes we let the kids throw rocks into Rattlesnake Lake. It was really cold though and they didn't last long.

Saturday night Bonnie's sisters and mom invited me to go get manicures and pedicures together. We had a great time. Later that night we sat up late talking with Sam and Bonnie and Dave and Terri since it was our last night there.

The next morning we packed up early to make it to our church at 1pm. We said goodbye to everyone, then began to drive south. As fate would have it, a big snowstorm was moving through the area and we hit it full on. Multiple cars had slid off the roadways and there were many accidents. It made us nervous but we took it slow and arrived home safely. Our church had been canceled for the day due to ice so we had our own little church services at home and enjoyed the tiny bit of snow that had fallen in our yard.

It was a great trip and a great way to start 2016. Happy New Year!

Rain Rain, Go Away

A friend recently informed me that we're offically Oregonians now. That's because we've finally experienced a real Oregon winter. Apparently the last two winters we were here were mild, but this year really delivered.  Delivered as in... it rained every day. Okay, I exaggerate. In the month of December it only rained 28 days. So there's that.

But let's get further into the data because it is rather impressive. For example, December in Portland was the wettest December and wettest month ever in Portland in 75 years. As of the 21st of the month we had had 13.52 inches of rain. For reference, that's about an inch short of what the state of Utah gets in an entire year. All over the state there was flooding, sinkholes, landslides, mudslides, and even a tornado up in Washington.

I won't lie and say it didn't affect me. Be it hormones or the weather, I had a moment in the middle of the month that I told Ben, "I'd have to go on medication if it was always like this!" But thankfully Christmas brightened my spirits and we've recently had some sunny days. They are still cold, but we bundle up and get out of the house because, we can! And we don't even get wet!

Although there have been plenty of rainy days that we've gotten out of the house too. And Oregon is still beautiful, even when it's wet.

And I apologize if I sound dramatic, but I did just survive the wettest month in Portland in 75 years, you know? Here's to more sunny days in 2016!

Growing Up

My kids are growing up. Of course they are, you say, but don't act like that realization is so obvious. Don't be that lady in the grocery store who longingly looks at your kids and says, "Enjoy this stage. They grow up so fast". This is, of course, happening while you are in the check out line, trying to pay for your groceries while one kid is crying because you won't buy her a candy bar and the other is seconds from breaking his arm as he tries to climb out of the cart. 

Because although I can appreciate the message this woman is trying convey, I have to say that most days I don't believe her. Most days, after I've picked up countless toys, cleaned up a plethora of messes, and changed innumerable diapers, I can promise you that it feels like they will never. grow. up. Really.

And then they surprise me. Like the first time Teddy slept through the night. After over a year of sleepless nights rocking him, nursing him, burping him, singing to him, I felt a light penetrate the darkness of my life. I would sleep through the night again. Of course, we go through phases, but his sleeping through the night gave me hope for the future.

Then this week I was getting lunch ready and Nayeli told me she didn't want to drink milk from a sippy anymore. She wanted it in a cup. Just like that. Is that how it happens?

Not to mention that we had to move Teddy to a toddler bed a few weeks ago. His fantastic climbing skills extended to the crib where he fell out multiple times (without serious injury). We finally bit the bullet and jimmy-rigged his crib, which is not made to convert into a toddler bed, into a toddler bed. Ta-da!

He's actually done surprisingly well with sleeping in an open bed. Yes, there are many nights that he falls asleep by the door to his room and I have to move him, but overall he has managed to control himself enough to fall asleep in the confines of the bed.

He's also become interested in Nayeli's underwear and the toilet as of late. I finally broke down and bought him car underwear after a few days of him wearing Nayeli's Minnie underwear all over the house. At his own insistence he has gone pee in the toilet twice and insists on being put on multiple times a day. He's only 20 months so I won't be pushing him to potty train until he's ready, but it is promising that he's already showing interest.

 Putting it on himself

Speaking of Teddy wearing Nayeli's things, he's definitely taken a liking to her Elsa dress.

When he puts it on we call him King Elso.

As for Nayeli, she is also spreading her wings and becoming more independent, especially when it comes to fashion. She's very into the monochromatic look, or she goes for the "everything must be Minnie" look that you see below (note the socks).

I think it's fun to see her creativity come out in her clothes and I let her dress herself however she wants unless we're going to church. Then I have to make sure she looks at least half decent.

So maybe the lady in the grocery is right, it does go fast. They will grow up and I'll look back on these days and not remember the messes, tantrums, and diapers. I'll remember the good more than the bad. I'll be that woman in the grocery store that counsels the young mother in line. With that realization in mind, my resolution this year is to enjoy each phase more and wish that they were older less. Because as they grow, there are few things I'm certain of, except for one thing: they have both stolen my heart and I am happy everyday to be their mother.

Teddy climbing me as I was working on my computer one day

Another Christmas in Oregon

This year for Christmas we decided to stay in Oregon. With our trip to Utah for Thanksgiving we felt it would be good to stay at home and enjoy a Christmas with our little family. Something to know about me is I love the holidays and I love to make them fun. I especially like to plan fun activities when I know we won't be with family. That way I don't have time to miss anyone and I get to just enjoy time with Ben and the kids.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we went up to Mt. Hood to go sledding. It had been raining for weeks straight at our house and I just wanted to see some snow! So to Mt. Hood we went with some sleds we borrowed from our friends.

We weren't disappointed. There was A LOT of snow!

Ben and Nayeli headed down the hill!

Ben decided the snow was just perfect to dig a snow cave, so we all dug in

We had so much fun! The weather was great and everything was BEAUTIFUL!

Our final snowcave- about the time the kids were tired and wet and we called it a day.

We had to have snow chains on our car since all the roads on the mountain looked like this

All the trees were beautifully frosted with snow

Once we arrived home, we got to cooking dinner. After enjoying a yummy ham dinner, we frosted gingerbread men to leave out for Santa and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas, even though Nayeli told me she was too afraid of the Grinch to watch it (she's a very sensitive child when it comes to entertainment). 

This is how Ben rigged up our snow clothes so they would dry- genius.

Once we finished the Grinch, we acted out the Nativity story. Nayeli was Mary, Teddy was Joseph, Ben was the donkey and I was the angel.

After that the kids soon fell asleep and Ben and I readied the house for Santa to come. The elves had worked very hard to make fun stick horses for the kids and were so excited for the kids to see them!

Santa came! And we were even all in bed by 11pm.

The next morning at about 7am Nayeli came to my bedside and said, "Mama, can I lay by you?" I let her crawl into bed with me, wondering if she had forgotten that it was Christmas. Then she excitedly asked, "Do you think Santa came yet?" to which I replied, "Well, we'd better go see". 

Stick horses! They were so excited!

A pink flashlight!

Elsa and Anna bandaids! Whenever anyone asks what she got for Christmas, that is the first gift she mentions. 

Teddy got a dinosaur from Grandpa Dave!

Elsa and Anna figurines from Grandpa Dave!

Teddy got an airplane and wasted no time in making it fly.

Our friend Veniece gave Nayeli unicorn slippers

Of course Santa had to bring Legos

The Christmas morning mess is the best mess of all

Stick horse rodeo!

Showing off her gifts. Can you tell her favorite color is pink?

After we opened gifts we ate breakfast casserole and berry drink. That was Ben's family's traditional Christmas breakfast growing up and we have adopted it as our own. As for the rest of the day, we stayed in our pajamas and didn't leave the house once. It was wonderful.

Ben spent the entire day flying this mini-drone that I surprised him with for Christmas. He has always wanted one, so when I saw one at Costco in September for a great price, I jumped on it. He loved it.

In return, Ben surprised Nayeli and me with tickets to the Nutcracker ballet. She has been into ballet for months and so she was thrilled. It was performed by the Oregon Ballet Theater on the 26th downtown so we made a date night of it. It was so great!

My favorite moment was twenty minutes into the performance when Nayeli turned to me and excitedly asked, "Mom, are they doing ballet?" She was so well behaved and I loved it. It was magical.

In our seats

In summary, it was such a great Christmas. We had so much fun as our little family making traditions together. I'm especially grateful for the time I had to reflect on the gift that the Savior was to the world. Every Christmas I feel closer to him. It's because of Him that I have all that I have and love. I couldn't ask for more.