Some Updates

On Saturday I finally got around to doing one of my favorite, and Ben's least favorite, Christmas traditions: Baking! This is the third time I have posted about Christmas baking, so I thought this year I would show why it is Ben's least favorite tradition:

It makes SUCH A MESS!!!! I literally use every dish I own- even my roasting pan to put the Rice Krispy Treats in (don't worry, we're almost vegetarians now so it doesn't get used for roasting anymore). It is defnitely the diritest my kitchen gets all year, but I think it is worth it because we end up with this:

 

YUM!

Now, for a couple of other updates.

I distinctly remember when Audra was 18 months old and Ben went to get her out of her crib and she was pointing down at a dress on the floor, insisting she was going to wear it that day. From then on, she was in charge of her wardrobe.

Now, we have another fashionista in training:

A couple of weeks ago she started putting these Princess skirts on all by herself. Normally, she wears two- the pink and the yellow. Sometimes, she insists on wearing them over her pajamas to bed. It is really funny.

Claire is an interesting child. She is not an overly happy child- in fact, she is often quite grumpy. I don't mean that in a mean way, even though it is hard on Ben and me. It is like she is a 30-year-old in a 1-year-old body. She wants to be a grown-up! It is hard to explain. At 17 months she has full on tantrums- on the floor flailing her arms and everything. She also doesn't laugh a whole lot like other children. She processes things and thinks about things. She is very intense. It's interesting.

But, she does have one fantastic talent: HUGS! She LOVES to give hugs, and gives the best hugs. She loves hugging little babies especially, and if there is a baby in the room she will hug their legs over and over again. She will also come up and wrap her little arms around my neck and squeeze hard and give me the best hugs- I LOVE it!

Without a doubt, she loves her sister! They have a game where they wrestle with each other: basically, Audra lies on the floor and Claire lays on top of her and hugs her around her neck and they both laugh and laugh and laugh. That is one of the rare times where Claire laughs out loud!

Audra

She is really becoming very FUN and has quite the personality. She says the funniest things on a daily basis. She is a social butterfly. The other day we were meeting her friend and she said, "What is Kory going to wear?" I guess she wanted to make sure their outfits wouldn't clash.

Every time we are in the vicinity of the temple, I try to drive by the temple and talk to Audra about the temple. So now she is obsessed with getting "big so I can go to the temple and wear a special dress." (She knows I wear a dress to the temple- I guess that is where she gets the idea of a "special dress"). Yesterday as part of Family Night we drove to the temple to see the lights and she said "and Angel Moroni is on top and he has a trumpet because he wants to tell everybody to come to the temple." These are things that I have taught her, and it is really special to hear her talk about these things. Last night I bore my testimony to her in the car of how much I love the temple and how much I love Jesus and I really felt the Spirit. I know she is only 3, but I hope she felt it as well. It was really special- something I don't ever want to forget.

Ben

Can I just say, BEN IS A GENIUS! I know I have bragged about him before, but seriously...He has been on his current program for almost two years now and he recently completely transformed the program by fixing some serious glitches it has had for 30 years. He has now become one of the lead players on his program and is greatly respected for his work. Then he comes home and is the greatest dad to these two little girls who just adore him. I can't tell you how blessed I feel every day to think he settled for me- he could have done so much better, but don't tell him that!!!!

Me

My life is pretty predictable.

Monday: a free day to relax at home

Tuesday: Adult Education at church (a Bible study class)

Wednesday: Audra's dance class and play group

Thursday: Baby-sitting Chloe and then going to the temple (I am now really trying to go once a week, though it doesn't always happen)

Friday: Errands and date night with Ben- date night always consist of going out to dinner

Saturday: Family activity

Sunday: Church

A couple of weeks ago I was really upset because friends of ours were moving and I didn't find out until right before they left (if you want to keep a secret from me, post it on Facebook- I'm not good at that:)) Anyway, thankfully I was able to say good-bye to them, for which I am grateful as they are great friends. But I was shocked at how upset I was about them moving. After awhile I realized part of it was I was sad that they were having this wonderful exciting adventure, and Ben and I are in a pretty boring stage of life. Ben will probably have this same job for the next 30 years. We are in this house forever. My life is pretty mundane- like I said, very predictable.

But, then I realized: isn't this what everybody wants? Stability. Security. A husband who loves you more than anything in the world and kids who you love to hang out with.

Yes, that is what everybody wants. And that is definitely what I want. I am incredibly happy with my life- even if it is boring to some, and predictable to all.

Seriously, I feel incredibly blessed with what I have been given and my lot in life.I LOVE being at home with my girls- I do not miss work at all! People ask me what I will do when the kids go back to school, and I'm like "whatever I want to do!" I hope I never have to go back to work!!!

So overall, life is great. What more could a girl want?