Things I love ~ Life

Things I love ~ Benjamin

I absolutely love this little boy. Ben is just completely two. He is funny and happy and independent and full of energy. He is talking like you wouldn't believe and putting together many words to make sentences. Although four years younger than his next sibling, he really can keep up with all of them. He idolizes both of his brothers, and especially his sister, and makes all of them laugh and laugh. He is just one sweet and funny boy.

There isn't a day that goes by that I am not so deeply grateful for our Ben. I feel that way about all of our kids, but Benjamin was our little miracle that we didn't know if we were going to get. But we did. And I am thankful beyond words to have him in our family and to be his mom. I cannot imagine life without him.

I am so grateful for you my sweet Benjamin boy.

Things I love ~ MormonMessages

I love these messages that the Church produces.
This one was especially powerful to me and while longer than usual,
is definitely worth the time it takes to watch it. It makes me cry,
and makes me so very grateful, every time I watch it.

Things I love ~ Matthew

Matt just makes me happy. He is funny and joyful and always thinking of new things to do and how to make everything exciting. From the time he was little, Matt has always been extremely laid back. I sometimes call him our "surfer dude" because he just kind of goes with the flow and doesn't get too uptight or stressed about things. He laughs constantly and when he gets laughing hard, the rest of us can't help but laugh with him. He often has a mischievous look on his face and has done something silly to tease his brothers or sister. He absolutely loves Kindergarten and feels very secure in going and in his friends and his teacher. He reads incredibly well and has one of the smartest math minds I have ever come across.

I am so grateful for my Matt—he makes life happy and fun for everyone around him. I get a little pit in my stomach when I think of him going to first grade next year, because I honestly love having him around in the mornings. But he will do great. He always does. Matt was made for greatness.

Matt is not our oldest or our youngest, he is not the only girl, nor is he the middle child. He is just Matt—happy and funny and smart and kind and good. I wouldn't change him one bit. It is an absolute privilege to be his mom.

Your mom thinks you are incredible Matthew man.

Things I love ~ Spring weather

Especially in February.

Things I love ~ Our library

It is small and simple, yet cozy and perfect. Without question, my favorite room in the house.

Things I love ~ The temple

This is the temple where Jacob and I were sealed. This is the place our little family began.
We are now six instead of two, but my love for the temple is just as strong--stronger actually.
The temple we currently attend is many miles away from Switzerland, but it still means
absolutely everything to me. I am so incredibly grateful for the temple.

Things I love ~ Annie

Goodness, I adore this child. Annie is honestly one of the sweetest, funniest, most darling girls I have ever been around. Here she is in a photo with her best friend, who is also absolutely darling. I'm so grateful they have become such good buddies. And as much as she loves her best friend, and she does, Annie is just a sweetheart to everyone.

She is pretty easy going and takes life as it comes. She spends hours (and I mean hours) drawing and creating and being artistic. She is Ben's little protector and will play with him as long as he wants her to. She makes Cam and Matt laugh harder than anyone else I know. She has amazing timing with her jokes and comments and often has Jacob and me cracking up. She is honestly just plain awesome. And if you hadn't noticed above, she is one beautiful girl--inside and out.

I'm so grateful to be her mom. I'm so grateful she came to our family. I'm so grateful that she and I are "the girls." I'm so grateful for her good heart and her desire to do what is right. I'm just so grateful for her.

Your mom adores you Annie girl.

Things I love ~ The Harry Potter series

Oh boy do I! I didn't read these when the rest of the human race did, but because of that,
I have the advantage of hearing from everyone how great they are. And it is true. And that is
why I am stalling, because I don't want them to be over. I started the fourth book months ago,
but kept putting it aside because I didn't want to read it quickly and have it over.
Well, I finally got into it and of course, read it quickly (750 pages felt like 100),
and now it is over and I am sad. But excited for the next one.

Man, I love these books!

Things I love ~ Heart attacks

Things I love ~ Our yarn ball tradition

Still doing the yarn ball tradition. Still loving it. Still makes the kids smile. Still need to get Ben a haircut.

Happy Valentine's Day!

For those dying of curiosity, they were watches. Simple, inexpensive, fun watches.
With some candy along the way.

Happy day {of love}.

Things I love ~ Cute, creative kids

The kids took charge of dinner on Thursday night and decided a restaurant would
be a fantastic idea. They went through the dress up box and found some aprons
(Annie's was around her waist) and then took out every leftover in the fridge
they could hunt down. After writing up a menu, they invited Jacob, Ben and
me in to be served. It was not only fabulous service, but cute beyond words.
You'd better believe this will be a new tradition at our house. Man, I love these kids!

Things I love ~ The Olympics

Vancouver. Tonight. Winter Olympics.

I cannot wait.

Things I love ~ Valentine's preparations

I loved working with each of the kids on their Valentine's Day cards.
Have I mentioned how much I love being a mom?

Things I love ~ My treadmill

There are a lot of reasons this photo makes me laugh. And I'm positive
you are dying to hear them. No problem, I'm super nice that way.

1. Our treadmill is very old. We got it for $200 on Craigslist when we moved here. And although it kind of bends in the middle, I love it. I can walk and run on it, so really, how much does age matter? Not one bit, says the old lady who just had a birthday.

2. When I was on the treadmill taking this picture, the numbers kept flashing on and off, you know like they do as they change. So it totally looks like I ran/walked 10.9 laps in the time of zero. Hello, I'm awesome.

3. I don't actually drink vitamin water. I just like their containers because they have a wide opening, so I use them as my water bottles. Why did I mention that? I have no idea. Why do I mention anything?

4. It apparently takes a lot of apparatuses (is that even a word?) for me to exercise. Gloves for warmth in our freezing basement (two pairs you see because I had to cut the tips off one pair so I can work my iPod and...nevermind), a DVD player, DVDs to be played, my iPod for general conference and music...seriously, did you know some people just exercise? Weirdos.

Okay, I'll stop now, even if I could keep going. Because when you spend more time posting about your treadmill then you have spent on it today, you know you are bordering on insanity.

What's that?

Rude.

Things I love ~ Sleeping babies

Things I love ~ Our 'darling' boy in Peter Pan

I love my family!

I don't ever want to forget that the kids, with the help of their dad, made me the sweetest
birthday slideshow. With their cute selves forming the birthday message. I love those little people!

For Mom/Linn on her birthday

Dear Mom, 

Thank you for being my mom. You are a very, very good mom. You lots of times let us do
very fun things and it's super fun doing those things with you. I like you being my mom very
much. I like that you have fun with me when I am staying home from school in the morning.
Thank you for always waiting to go inside until you can't see me and waving at me on the bus.
Happy Birthday! I hope you have a very, very good birthday!!!

From, Matt, your very happy son 

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 Happy Birthday Mom! 

I love you. You are awesome. Thank you for making dinner for us and making fun family traditions.
You're the best mom and sister in the world. You are always so nice to me. I love you. Again!

Love, Annie 

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 Happy Birthday Mom! 

I love you because you do so much for me and you help me with my homework
and make us dinner. My favorite thing about you is that you always try to help us.
You are the best mom in the world. I love you so much.

Love, Campbell Jacob Allen

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There are very few occasions that compel me to write on this blog. Actually...just one.

Happy Birthday Linny!!! 

I wish I could name all the ways that I love and appreciate and admire you.
You're gorgeous, witty, hilarious, and brilliant. You're always so thoughtful, selfless,
caring and kind to everyone around you. And you're a gifted example, leader, and friend.
But you've always been all of that.The amazing thing is how much better you continue to
become, in every way. I'm continuallyamazed at your strength, perseverance, and desires.

¡Feliz Cumpleaños! 

¡Te quiero! 

Mucho. 

Love, J 

Things I love ~ Campbell

This boy is in the play Peter Pan tonight (he makes the cutest John Darling I have personally ever seen). He has been practicing with the cast twice a week since October, including three and a half hour practices every night this week. He is nervous, but excited. So am I. When I walked him into the high school tonight and then walked away, I have to admit I got a lump in my throat. Don't get me wrong, as excited as I am for the next two nights, I know that in the grand scheme of things this isn't the biggest thing ever (although it feels like it tonight.) The lump in my throat, that continued throughout my ride home, came because of how much I love this boy and how amazing it is that he is grown up enough to be a part of something so old.

This is the boy that made me a mom almost ten and a half years ago. This is the boy that made us all laugh constantly with his funny imitations and silly phrases when he was a toddler. This is the boy that astonishes us with his almost photographic memory. This is the boy that wants more than anything to do what is right. This is the boy that wants to read his scriptures every night. This is the boy that asks questions that are way too old for him and really wants to know the answers.

And this is the boy that said to me as we were almost to the school, "Mom, you don't need to tell me what you are thinking. I already know that you think that I am going to do great."

Yes, I do sweet boy. And not just in the play.

Things I love ~ Jacob

Fitting I would put up this handsome guy first, eh?

I adore him--absolutely and completely. I could write a whole lot about him
and how being married to him is my greatest privilege in this life and the next.
How he is the greatest dad I have ever know. How he is gentle and kind and
 funny and super smart. How he...wait I think I said I wasn't going
 to write a whole lot. I'll stop. After I say this...

I love Jacob Allen.
And lucky, lucky me.

He loves me back.

Love

In honor of this month of love, I plan to make
the majority of my February posts focus on
things that I love. The list is huge in my head,
but even I'm curious to see what gets posted.

Happy February everyone!

May you have an abundance of love...and sugar.