I am thankful for...

Last Sunday in my in-laws' ward, a brother shared these thoughts in his talk. It made me realize that I don't always have the best perspective. It's easy for me to not look on the bright side and see the positive in everything. I thought it worth sharing since it really did have an impact on me.

I am thankful for...
The mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
The taxes I pay because that means I'm employed.
The clothes that fit a little too snug because that means I have enough to eat.
My shadow that watches me work because that means I am out in the sunshine.
A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because that means I have a home.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means I can hear.
The piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I'm alive.


I'm sure there are many more things in our lives that we don't like... but in everything, there is a blessing. I am thankful for that.

2 months

It's crazy to think that Livia is already 2 months old. She has her 2 month appointment next Monday, so I'm anxious to find out the facts of how much she has grown. I can tell she is so much bigger. She is such a blessing to have in my life. As you can see she loves to smile for us. I got lucky when I was taking pictures that she was willing to give me some big smiles again. She such a doll!

To 4 wonderful years... I love you Jason.

I have had 4 years with an amazing, incredible husband, that I probably don't deserve. At times if feels that I have known him my whole life, yet sometimes I can't believe that it's only been 4 years that I have been with the one who has made me more happy than any other.

When he asked me to marry him, I knew he would be a wonderful husband, but I didn't realize to what extent. He still continues to be my knight in shining armor! Today the doorbell rang and I opened the door to find a beautiful bouquet of flowers. He is so sweet to me. (I won't say what the note said... that's private!) I love when he wraps me in his arms and holds me close to him. I love hearing the beating of his heart, and thinking of the joy that heart brings to my life.

I never doubted that he would be a great father, and I see how much he loves our children and I know that I made a wise choice for my posterity. I am so blessed to have 2 beautiful children with him. Right now Livia is looking at me and giving me huge, beautiful, toothless smiles, and it is bringing tears to my eyes. Tears of pure joy and gratitude. Gratitude that because of choices that we have made, we are an eternal family. I am blessed that Jason, and our children will be by my side for the rest of all time.

How many dads get in the tub with their kid? Sam had so much fun taking a bath with daddy!

Jason has so much love for animals. I won't even mention all the crazy pets he has convinced me to let him have (and that's just in 4 years...)

I think it is so fun watching him play with Sam and Maggie. They all love to wrestle, I prefer to watch. It makes me smile to watch them play together.

I love the new-found tenderness he has for his baby girl. I know that she will grow up knowing that she deserves respect because of the love her daddy has for her.

Jason is the love of my life. I thank my Heavenly Father every day that I have been so blessed to have a good and honest and righteous man at my side. He is a strength to me. He supports me and loves me and helps me to be a better person. He brings so much joy into my heart and my home.

We have had our struggles and challenges. We have disagreed with each other, we have each caused hurt feelings, yet through it all we never doubted our love, we never questioned our devotion, and we never regretted our decision to be married for time and all eternity.

This sounds geeky, but he really does complete me. I am a better person because he is my husband. Jason, I love you with all that I am. Happy Anniversary my love.

Sam's new category

A little background info:

Jason bought a head light for scuba diving. The product is called a Pelican HeadsUP Lite. Like most quality products, there is a life-time guarantee for the light. However, there is a disclaimer that I found quite amusing. It makes for an interesting category.

"... This guarantee is void only if the Pelican product has been abused beyond normal wear and tear. The above guarantee does not cover sharkbite, bear attack or children under 5." (emphasis added)



Does this mean our guarantee is void?

I was upstairs this morning in my bedroom feeding Livia. I was reading my book, and thinking Sam was playing in his room. Livia fell asleep, so I kept reading. After a short time, and enjoying the sound of silence, it dawned on me that silence is not always a good thing. So I decided that I would finish my almost completed chapter and then go in search of the source of silence. Two paragraphs before my first mission was accomplished, my second one was. In walks Sam, with a lot of white stuff on him. (He has recently discovered that he likes to eat flour and sugar... and he knows where to find them too. He never bothered them before, which is why they have been on the bottom shelf in the pantry since we moved in. I guess they'll be moving soon.) At first I thought it was flour, since it was obviously powdery. I dreaded the thought of going down to the kitchen to maybe find about 20 pounds of flour all over. With that in mind, I was pleasantly surprised to find it not that bad at all. I discovered he only got into the powdered sugar, luckily that's the smallest container on the shelf... and the yummiest... he's no dummy! (He's never had it before, so I think he just got lucky.)
It was nice to figure out that he must have been sitting in it, probably licking it off himself, with enough proof on his bottom to convict him.
And oh, what a dear, he tried to clean it up all by himself apparently, since both little brooms were covered in sweetness, and unfortunately a little 2 year old slobber as well... I'm not going to picture any more on that one...
We don't want to overlook his trail to show mommy his version of redecorating. Hmmm, nice and matted in the carpet now.
And last, but not least, we have the evidence that he was not alone. Yes, our little dear had a little help from our 4-legged friend, who so graciously left perfect paw prints for me to see.

Funny thing is, yesterday I made a to-do list. On that list I had written both vacuuming and mopping. Surprise, surprise, I didn't actually do it... I guess he was just helping me keep to my commitments and do what I need to, but don't want to. Such a thoughtful sweetheart.

OCD?

For several months now, we have seen Sam go to bed in exactly the same fashion pretty much every night. He puts his Lightning McQueen pillow in its position, he puts his sippy cup, with the spout towards him in the corner by the pillow, then he puts his green blanket along side of where he will lay and then lays down and we cover him up with his Cars blanket. His pillow, (as if he can read the word 'speed' on the top) is always put in the direction that he sleeps... along his headboard. He doesn't seem to notice or care that he can hardly squeeze in there anymore. His legs either hang over the side or he crunches them up on top of him. It looks extremely uncomfortable... cozy, but uncomfortable. And another thing he does is that he must crawl into bed on the same side every night. Then he asks me to sing a song. I ask him which one. He says, 'Sunbeam' and we sing it.
Another oddity of his is often when he gets out of his bath, we go to his room to put on his diaper, and he wants to lay out his towel so that he can lay on top of it. But it has to be laid out perfectly. All the corners have to be laid out just right, and there can't be any wrinkles. Only then will he willingly lay in front of me so I can put his diaper on.

Is this just a routine? Do most kids have specific quirks about certain things? Or does Sam just have a small case of OCD?

So my question is... what does your kid do the same every time it is done?

Livia's Blessing

It was so nice to have so many family and friends come to church with us to have Livia's baby blessing. Jason just had surgery the Tuesday before, so he was on crutches, so his dad carried her up to the front of the chapel for him. It was a beautiful blessing and I am so grateful that Jason was able to have the special moment with her.

My mom made her dress. (She actually made it when Sam was born in case he was a girl, since we didn't find out his gender beforehand.) So I've been anxious to get to see my baby in it!



This was made by Aunt Ronda (my sister) who always does such a good job making cute little bracelets.
These were made by Aunt Jill (another sister of mine) who has learned how to knit cute little things such as these booties. I'll put up pictures of the other adorable things she made for Livia.
Grandpa and Grandma Cook
Nana and Papa Riskedahl
Mommy and Daddy
It was a very special day, and I'm glad that most of our family and a few of our friends were able to make it. I'm grateful that we know so many wonderful people and that we can share these precious moments with them.

Happy Halloween!

Wow, I thought it was hard to get a picture of just one at a time... it took me a while to get one where both were kind of looking at me.
Our baby moo cow.
Our little turle going for the Trick-or-treating bowl.
The Saturday before Halloween, my sister, Leesa had a Halloween party. Sam wasn't too willing to wear most of his costume. He was a headless, footless, and shell-less turtle there and at Omniture's Halloween party. (Jason's work goes all out for Halloween.) That night I told him if he wanted more treats he had to wear the shell and the head... he willingly complied with the ultimatum. We went trick-or-treating and he didn't want to go home... why would he, when people would just open their doors and give him candy! Poor kid, mom and dad keep snacking on all his hard work...

Carving the pong-konks

As is traditional, we spent a Family Home Evening carving pumpkins, or as Jason called them when he was little, pong-konks. So of course, that's how he taught Sam to say it too.
Sam attempted to dig out his own pumpkin, but made more of a mess than anything else.
Here he is before we cut into it and realized he should just be naked.


We let Sam attack his pumpkin with a pen, then we carved where any of his lines connected.

Maybe we should have taken the picture before putting a big blue candle in his mouth...
Jason tries to make his scarier every year. In case you can't tell (I couldn't either) his pumpkin has 'blood tears' coming from his eyes.

A day in the life of Sam

We decided to start early with mission prep with Sam. Here he is learning how to go tracting. Notice he has his suitcase? Yeah, he plans on being so eager, he won't even drop off his stuff at his apartment first. (I think he'll need to tame down his hair though, I don't think that's mission-approved.)
Sammy just loves his baby sister, Wiwwi.
But he just can't understand why she has bows stuck to her head... and he can't resist trying to pull them off... every time. (Even when I'm looking apparently.)

Should I be worried?

Is this starting already? He's only 2!
Sammy's little neighbor friend, Allysa, likes to come and play with him. Sam, being quite the little host, often puts on a movie for them to watch... and cuddle? I just hope he learns that girls have cooties by the time it really matters!

Livia's Blessing Day

We will be blessing Livia on November 2 at 1:00 PM at our chapel located at 1250 S 400 E in Springville, just a few blocks from our house. You are all invited so hope to see you there!