Santa...maybe

We visited Santa at our ward party last week and the verdict...
Christopher didn't mind him one bit!

Steven did. Even after I tried to get him excited about seeing our jolly friend, this was as close as he came.

He did tell us the reason: "That boy (pointing at our friend's son) sat on his lap and cried." There's no fooling this kid.

My baby's growing up!

He only does it occasionally, but it's a start!

And life as we know it will never be the same...

Image

I've been thinking about my image for a while; how I see myself and how others see me. Like most women I was/am concerned with how I look. Mostly am I skinny enough? Then I stopped and thought about it. Why do I want to be skinny? My answer was mostly so those who saw me would think, "She has two kids? She looks great." Also, I wanted those who knew Jacob well to think, "Wow, he really picked a winner!" I thought some more about why skinny was so desirable. What makes women go to great lengths to be skinny?

The answer I think is at the core: To appeal to men's desires. Yes, women want to look good for their friend's comments and such, but society is that way because someone decided that you were only desirable if you are skinny. You know what I have to say about that? Who cares; I don't want to be an object. I have a husband who loves me for ME and not because of my weight. Which lead to me think about some friends that I have who are amazing. Why are they amazing? It's not how they look, it's how they act. It's who they are. Their funny, smart, and make people feel good. That's how I want to be remembered. I told Jacob my theory and he agreed, "You don't think of (our friend) and think, she'd be so much nicer if she were skinnier. No, you think she's a fun person to be around."

I figure if I stop worrying about how others think of me and stop putting myself down because I'm heavier than all the women in the room, I can be myself. And when I'm myself I'll be happier and I'll be able to truly get to know and love more people. I feel this is how my Heavenly Father would have me think of myself. Instead of, "Hi I'm Cassanda, I'm a size 15." I'm going to try and think, "Hi, I'm Cassanda, I'm a wife, mother, craft and cook wannabe. I like to read children books and watch chick flicks. I love laughter to fill my home, and can usually relate to everyone on some level."

I can't tell you how much peace this has brought into my life and home. When I don't spend so much energy worrying about my image, I can keep the house cleaner, be a better mom, a more thoughtful wife. And that's what I really want to my image to be.

Christmas Palooza

Christmas is in full swing at our house and I couldn't be happier about it. We love the Holiday season and it seems this one will be the best yet! Here's what we've done so far.

Jacob's family has a tradition of Elfie Treats every morning in December. This is the first year we've done it, and Steven LOVES it! Mostly he gets small things like crackers and raisins, but our first day we all got something bigger, Steven got a Thomas train.

Jacob and I got Crakers with random prizes and our cool crowns

Christopher got a tin from Grandma and Grandpa's house. He loved it!

We went to see the lights at Temple Square. It was magical!
Christopher kept pointing to the temple.

We also read the Polar Express, went Christmas shopping, and had a great Movie night with the projector and all sorts of holiday treats.

Yep, it's been pretty darn good.

10 months

I know I'm a little late for a post about a 9 month boy of mine, but 10 months is just as good right? At Christopher's 9 month appointment he was in the 75 percentile for his head circumference, 30 percentile for his height, and 13 percentile for weight. Which is hard to believe for when you look at his chubby cheeks, but it's true. You also wouldn't believe that when you see how much he eats, he must have the Morrise metabolism. This morning we had oatmeal from the packets and we all had 2 packets, that's including Christopher. He loves to eat, and is now eating everything we are eating during meals, which is quite handy for me! Though his favorites are bread, fruit of any kind, and yogurt.


Christopher loves to sit up and really that's it. He doesn't like to be on his stomach or back. I can sometimes trick him into laying on his stomach for a minute or two before he flips over onto his back. He doesn't roll much from his back to his stomach, I'm actually not sure if he can. I'm thinking it's the head to body ratio he has. This means he doesn't roll to get places and shows no signs of crawling; I'm trying to remind myself that every child is different and he'll do it on his own terms. Until then, I'm enjoying not having his curious hands into everything, especially the Christmas tree!

People LOVE Christopher, and he loves them back. He is a people person through and through. He seems to know how to connect with everyone, even at this young age. Christopher has the cutest smile and adorable laugh, which he shares freely when smiled at. He loves to read, play with anything he can get his hands on, pull Steven's hair (revenge I'm sure), and playing with daddy.

He has 8 teeth (four on top and four on bottom) and is a complete Mommy's boy! Yes, he did put his arm like that all by himself!
I love you Mister!

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

I found this video Sunday while Steven and I were browsing through our favorite Mormon Messages. It is so pertinent for this time of our lives. First, Thanksgiving is coming up and I am beyond blessed. Second, I find the words Elder Oaks speaks to be especially true, just what I need to hear.

"We should thank God for our adversities and pray for guidance in meeting them. It is all part of the plan. ... Let us give thanks for what we are and for the circumstances God has given us for our personal journey through mortality."

I love in the video that some people give answers we don't always think of. Like getting a seat on the train, simple intelligent conversation, or a bed. It makes me realize just how blessed I am, there are SO many things to be thankful for:

Laughter, my husband singing to my boys, a clean home, the smell of dinner cooking, Christopher blowing bubbles, Steven saying, "There it is" in the cutest voice possible, Jacob's hand in mine, 25 cent donuts at Macey's, walking around the block on a warmish afternoon, hot showers, a washer/dryer in my home, great finds at a thrift store.

The list is endless and that's only the "smaller" things, what about my health, family, friends, temples, a living prophet, my Savior, the scriptures, a roof over my head, money in the bank account, the priesthood in my home, tithing, and prayer?

How can I not be thankful?

"When we understand this principle, that God offers us opportunities for blessings and blesses us through our own adversities and the adversities of others, we can understand why He has commanded us again and again to “thank the Lord thy God in all things” (D&C 59:7)."
Elder Oaks

Chinese

It's fitting that Christopher's first real experience with a restaurant was a Chinese restaurant, since he was born on the Chinese New Year. We've eaten out before, but this is the first time he's sat with us at the table and sampled some of the food.

It started out with Steven spilling all of his water then trying to clean it up with some sugar. But it ended really well, Christopher had all the waiters captivated. He's a definite people person!

Love this little face!

Bedtime

Jacob was putting Steven to bed and before I put Christopher to bed, he asked to give Christopher a hug. So all three boys were in bed, and I made a comment about how cute it was and Steven said, "Take a picture, mommy." Well alright sir.

"I hug him"

Obviously Christopher wanted some space

My favorite sight

A Child's Prayer

This was my favorite song in primary, and I started singing it to Christopher shortly after he was born. As I was singing it to him today before nap time, my mind wandered to when he was first born. Christopher has not been the easiest baby. He wears his emotions on his sleeves, which is good when he's happy, but oh so bad when he's not. He had a hard time getting into a sleeping schedule, so as I would sing this song to him I often couldn't keep back my emotions. Pleading with my Father to help me into the transition of two children.

As I sang it today, I felt similar emotions arise. This last little while has been a challenge, we've all been sick. We are overwhelmed by the non-stability of Jacob's many jobs. I've been tired and not ever getting on top of the house cleaning, nose wiping, and really just life. So these thoughts were in my head as I sang these words: "Heavenly Father, are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child’s prayer?...Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee."

Then comes the sweet second verse that resonates with truth in my heart. "Pray, he is here;

Speak, he is listening. You are his child; His love now surrounds you." It makes me think of being in the car with one of my children; they need something (food, diaper change, sleep) and are crying desperately for it. We are on the final stretch home and they need to last just a little bit longer. So I try and comfort them by talking to them, reassuring them I know what they need and I'd love to give it to them in just a little bit. And when that doesn't work, I distract them with music, whatever I can to get their minds off of it until we can get home and meet their needs.

I can't help but think this is how my Father in Heaven feels about me. I know we need to just hang in there and it will be better soon, and I'm so thankful for music to help calm me and reassure me that I have a Father who knows my struggles. I am His child and His love now surrounds me.

Halloween Happennings

Halloween was a not a favorite holiday for Jacob nor I until we got married. Now we love this holiday, not the satanic side but the fun wholesome side. We did quite a bit to celebrate it as well.

On Thursday our ward had a party complete with a trunk-or-treat. Steven LOVED it, although I didn't get any pictures of that. But here are some random pictures from the night.


They had a fishing pond that Steven was quite excited about. He got a spooky straw, it was perfect for him!
Friday we had some friends over for chili and the pumpkin drop game. Then Saturday the boys and I went to Spanish Fork to meet up with some of my family for a lunch then a trick-or-treat down Main Street.

We love cousins!

All the trick-or-treaters. I love karate Madi's face in the front right!

We were suppose to have our own little family's party, but Jacob was sick all day, so we decided to party at the Instant Care instead. He got medicine for his strep throat and was mostly better a week later.

Monday night we went to Jacob's parents house for the traditional chili and root beer, trick-or-treating through the old neighborhood; which I love because it's just as fun for Jacob to see his old neighbors as it is for Steven to get candy. Ok maybe not quite, Steven LOVED to get that candy. In fact he got quite the reputation of not holding back when it came to getting that candy; at one house he managed to get 4 pieces, by pretending to be a new trick-or-treater!

Morrise trick-or-treaters

A cute superman and his daddy

How does Superman fly? On his daddy's shoulders of course!

And of course I couldn't get a good shot of these two together, but their still adorable!

He knows

Yesterday was rough. I had no patience for my children AT ALL! Christopher needed to be held constantly and Steven had a hard time doing ANYthing I asked him to do. There was multiple times when I fell to my knees and begged my Father for the patience and strength that I needed to be a good mom, to really just make it through the day. It was hard. This being said, we had a break through with potty training. After a week of cleaning up Steven's underwear distasters, yesterday was the first day, in a long time, with no accidents. My little man went #2 six times in the toilet and one of those was at Macey's! It was wonderful, but like I said, it was a rough day for other reasons. It helped me realize though, He knows. He knew I wouldn't be able to deal with poopy underwear. My Heavenly Father is aware of my needs and loves me enough to help me.

Then it made me think of other things that have happened recently that helped me know He cares. And I thought of this friend.

Holly Decker really welcomed me into our new ward. I'm not sure why this happened, but Holly become one of my closest friends I've had in a ward after only being in the ward for a month. And I have learned SO much from her. Unfortunatly she moved to Arizona about a week ago. (Thank heavens for modern technology so I can continue to learn from her!) This is my point: I feel like I've gone through a HUGE growth spurt mentally and spiritually becuase of Holly. I'm (for the most part) a better wife, mother, and person in general because of her. I have no doubt that my Father in Heaven knew I would learn a ton from Holly, so he sped up our friendship so I could learn as much as I could while she lived in Provo.

I know our Father in Heaven cares for all of us in our different curcumstances that change daily. He cares for us so much He sent His perfect Son to suffer and die for us. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, I can make it through my days. I can better myself through the help of friends and family members. Because of Jesus Christ I can live with my family FOREVER. And this fact brings me insurmountable joy. I really do have so much to be grateful for and all becuase He knows and cares.

What fall looks like

A warm day with cool breeze outside. Snow on the mountains and leaves are starting to turn colors. And a magical day at the park with my boys.

Steven found a bug!

I love it when Christopher does this. He tries to pick something up,
then looks at his hand to see if he actually got anything.

Then slowly walking home looking and crunching all the leaves.

I LOVE fall.

"I'm big now mama"

This is what Steven told me the other day at the park. You know, he's right. He seems to be growing light years lately.

Doesn't he look so old here?

He's understanding and talking more, he's becoming more brave and independent. The weird thing is, I love it. I love having him narrate his life for me. I love seeing him come up to obstacles and not only face them but overcome them. I love when he helps me clean up and do the dishes. He really is a big boy!Helping mom with dinner. Doesn't he look so cute in his underwear?
(I'm his mom so I feel like I can say that)

I started potty training him a little over a week ago, and it seems to be going really well. The first day was good, then the next two days were horrible! Honestly I'm not sure how we survived. The next couple of days were good, we went out for walks and to the park. All that time he'd stay dry, and only have minimal accidents at home. Then I got sick for a couple of days, and we took some steps back. But now we are going on a day and a half with no accidents. This is including going to nursery, grandma's house, and a ward party. I'm hoping this sticks, but if not, we are on the right track!

Happy Camper

The other day Jacob said to me, "Christopher's a lot happier now." Yes, he is! I think his teeth got the best of him, but now 8 teeth later we have a happy boy again!

Welcome back happy baby