Christlike Parenting: Chapter 1

I think most of you can relate to me when it comes to raising children. There is nothing in this world that brings me so much joy and frustration at the same time! A couple months ago, my Relief Society president sent me a letter in the mail that was really appreciated. She is such a great cheerleader when it comes to raising small children! She recommended that I read Christlike Parenting by Glenn Latham. I immediately put it on hold at the library and my turn finally came up to have it (2 months ago). I guess I'm not the only one that needs help in this area:)
I've just read the first chapter and I feel like their is hope for me in raising my family and not going crazy at the same time! So I wanted to share with you, (if I get time:)), what I learn in each chapter, even though I know, honestly, that each of you are excellent parents. I love that he uses the scriptures and Christ's teachings to help in parenting.

Chapter 1: Families in Crisis

1. The Family in crisis: The commandment to "multiply" and be responsible parents is the single most important responsibility ever given by God to His children.

"If we are Christian, we must be Christlike. That is what people expect of us, that we live our Christian life to the full." Mother Teresa


2. The attack on the Traditional family:
The family is God's masterpiece.
Satan considers it a victory if he destroys a family.

"Marriage is the union of two divinities that a third might be born on earth. It is the golden ring in a chain whose beginning is a glance, and whose ending is eternity." Kahlil Gibran

3. Comfort for Grieving Parents:
We are not alone when it comes to parenting. The Bible has numerous stories of families that struggled. It is a part of history.

What all parents must understand and appreciate is that at times, raising a family is not easy. I seriously doubt it was meant to be easy... Grieving, confused parents will find their best hope for comfort and direction in pattering their parenting after Christ.

Mothering and fathering provide the basic parenting models for children; hence, parents must rise above the behavior of their children (this is one I'm working on!)

Parents must be the ones to set the standards and rules of the house to maintain order.

The Lord stands ready to help all parents. His teachings and example were given to us so we may know how to love and lead our children.

It is better that our house is in order than our businesses, our studies, or any other areas of responsibility.

Parenting is like going through the refiner's fire.

"Please remember this one thing. If our lives are centered upon Jesus Christ...nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right." Howard W. Hunter

I am grateful to be my kids' mommy! I am grateful for the fun times and the hard times of being a parent. I truly believe that you grow through trials and you love your family more through them. I am thankful for my Savior, who has set such a perfect example for me. It makes so much sense to me that parents should love, teach and discipline their children by pattering Christ's teachings.

I hope each of you have a Merry Christmas!

Family Pictures

I have the most talented brother-in-law who took our family pictures this year. We actually weren't planning on doing them, but he had his camera at the family Thanksgiving dinner, so we headed to a fun building in Bear River and he took them. Thanks James!!

A normal day

I really love this time of year! It's cold, but not so cold that you can't enjoy playing outside. Some days, the household chores and errands just have to wait. I think I need a break outside as much as the kids need it. And it's so fun to go to the park and slide down the slide and hang on the monkey bars just like I was 3 again... I only wish I had the energy of a 3 year old!

The other day, Jon and I were talking about getting the kids some snow boots for Winter. Jon mentioned getting them at the DI and I thought I'd have to be pretty lucky to find boots, at the same time, that fit the kids {I don't make it to the DI as often as I'd like anymore...sigh} But, yesterday I got a chance to go and what would you know... the only snow boots they had were boy and girl ones that fit the kids' feet exactly, plus I found a snow suit for Hunter. Now I won't feel so bad when the kids come inside from playing in the snow and there pants aren't crinkling from snow sticking to them. I was pretty excited... and so were Hunter and Jaina! I came downstairs in the morning to see that they had slipped them on and were ready to go outside, snow or shine!


I feel pretty lucky that Jaina and Hunter get along pretty well...(they do have their moments, though!) It makes raising 3 small children so much easier!


Hunter makes me laugh everyday! He has learned how to cross his eyes and every once in a while I'll just look at him and he'll cross his eyes with out saying a word. It makes me so happy that he wants to do what is right. If ever I am having a hard day, he'll ask me so sincerely how I'm doing, and that usually makes me tear up. He is such a sensitive little guy.


Jaina is our little entertainer. She copies everything Hunter does. If he walks silly, she walks silly. If his leg hurts, her leg hurts. If Hunter wants a toy airplane. She wants one, too...only she wants it in pink. I don't think this girl has a chance of being completely girly, sandwiched between two boys. It's a good thing she still like babies and pretty bows, and she wants her airplanes to be pink or else I don't know what I'd do!


I love this little guy! I am so grateful he is a part of our family. I love his sweet smile and his funny little giggle! It's so entertaining to listen to him discover his voice. I love the special moments we have as I feed him and we memorize each others face. I have enjoyed all of my babies, but having Grey I absolutely love! Of coarse I have "those days", but for the most part, I just love everything about being a mommy to my kids! I think it's because I have finally realized that they just grow up too fast.








I love normal days!

Lions and Leopards and Knights...oh my!

We had a great Halloween this year! Maybe its because of all the candy I got...I mean that my kids got! We went trick or treating with JaNae and her family, which we loved and then afterwards Nae made homemade pizzas and chocolate chip cookies...yummy!

Grey the ferocious lion...


...Jaina the cute snow leopard...


...and Hunter the knight in shining armor


Hurray for Fall! Bring on the good food and fun!

End of Summer Fun

We have really enjoyed this Summer, even though it has flown by. We've loved sitting in the shade eating otter pops, going on walks after dinner, and swimming up at Bear Lake; but now its time for Fall and all the fun that comes with it, like...

picking out our own pumpkins in a real live pumpkin patch...

getting lost in a hay maze...

actually enjoying the zoo with this nice crisp weather...
(is this not the cutest thing you've ever seen?)

Hunter and Jaina love Tailong on Kung Fu Panda, so this was their favorite animal!




spending the day at Temple Square...






Welcome Fall!

My kids

I can't believe that Grey is now 4 months old. I love this little guy! I can't imagine life without him. He smiles so easily and is such a happy baby. I love how he watches Hunter and Jaina. He seems to be looking up to them already.





I took the kids to the Ogden train station since they have been asking me for weeks. It was so fun to watch them get so excited over the enormous trains. I was even excited. They loved climbing on them and walking the train tracks.








I love being their Mommy!

Grey's blessing & Summer getaways

We had Grey's blessing the beginning of this month. Jon did an excellent job despite how nervous he was. It was funny to look over at Jon during the opening song and see him stare blankly at the music. We had a lot of family there which was so fun!

We love having Grey in our little family! He is such an easy going baby. He still looks a lot like Hunter did at that age, except I think Grey's eyes will be blue. He is in the smiling phases right now. He smiles pretty easily and will sometimes flare his nostrils when he coos. Love it!!!


Lagoon trail is right near our house. We go there quite often to see the bison and elk and to just get out of the heat.


We had an overnighter in the Uintah's last weekend. It is one of Jon's favorite places and I had never been before. It was amazingly beautiful! The kids had so much fun playing with sticks and fishing nets!


While I was taking pictures of everyone, Jaina fell in the lake from off the rock she was sitting on. It wouldn't have been so bad except she did it three times in about 5 minutes. Don't worry, it was very shallow, but I felt really bad:(


Jon and Hunter caught a couple of fish. I love this picture, especially the two ladies in the background. You can't see very well, but the one on the left is pushing a kitty stroller with two cats in it that kept hissing at each other. It was really funny to watch as they walked by. They were very sweet ladies; different, but sweet!


Precious!


I had a little audience as I blew up the air mattresses.


Grey's smile! I have to say, he is pretty darn cute!


We tried out our fire grill and made a good ole mountain breakfast.


And boy, was it good!

~5 Years~

Jon and I celebrate our 5 year anniversary today!! I can't believe how fast the time has gone by. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to be married to Jon! He makes me laugh everyday, knows how to make me happy when I'm down and encourages me with my interests. I am so grateful for everything he does to take care of me and the kids.







Some of the things we've done these past 5 years are:

*moved 5 times
*sold two of our cars for a total of $830
*Jon graduated from college
*and stressed through job interviews, but landed a great job
*gone to the ER only twice
*cuddled Hunter when he had RSV on his 1st birthday
*drove thousands of miles together; to Missouri twice, both times with a newborn baby
*changed my hairstyle a handful of times
*Jon changed his only once and now only buzzes his head (so unfair)
*have managed to have only one car in the past 4 years
*and put a couple thousand dollars in repairs for it
*discovered new hobbies and interests
*been away from each other a total of about 8 days for Jon's hiking trips
*built a garden together that didn't grow a single thing
*repainted and recarpeted almost an entire house only to move after 18 months
*and of course, were blessed to have these guys:



Happy Anniversary Sweetie!!!

The father's in my life

We had a nice Father's Day weekend. We are lucky enough to have Jon's and my family live near each other, that we got to visit both.

{My Dad}


My dad is probably the funniest guy I know. He tells the same old jokes that he did when I was 10, but I still think they are funny. I love going to visit him because he always takes the time to sit and visit and ask about everything that is going on in our lives. I can call him anytime and he is always there to listen and give his advice on questions I have. He is so sweet with my kids; he almost always has one on his lap or is making conversation with them. Now that I am grown up and have kids of my own, I appreciate my dad even more. He taught me so many things like not leaving the perishables on the counter, not putting onion peels in the kitchen garbage so it doesn't stink, and making sure the doors are locked before I go to bed (now I have OCD, thanks dad!). I really do have the greatest dad!!

{Jon's Dad}


Jon's dad is so awesome! He and Robyn have always made me feel so welcome in the family. He is so knowledgable with every aspect of the gospel and is such an example to me of how to be Christ-like. Jon looks up to his dad so much. I have never heard him say anything bad about his dad. I can see that Jon has become that man he has because of having a loving father. Jon is always looking to his dad for advice and he is always there to give it. Lee has a great sense of humor, I love that he smiles so easily and is so friendly with everyone he comes in contact with. He always is there to hold my kids and make them feel like they are the only ones in the room.

{My Handsome Husband}


My kids have the greatest dad! When he comes home from work, the first thing he does is gives me a kiss and then its off to play with the kids. They absolutely love him. He is always so helpful around the house, which I can tell, the kids watch and want to do the same. He never yells at our kids, but talks to them in a way that makes them listen and obey. I thought I loved Jon when we were first married, but I didn't know what love was until we had children and I saw how amazing of a father he is. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have him. He is my best friend!