On my mind

I have been thinking about this topic for months now, and then Pres. Uchtdorf (my favorite) addressed it in the most recent conference and said things better than I have ever been able to. I have been thinking about being busy. Everyone always says to me, usually when asking me to do something, "I know you are so busy!". I always reply with, umm not really. But it is almost like admitting you aren't "busy" is the same as saying you are lazy or unproductive...and that is not how I see it.

Life comes in phases and some are more busy than others, and right now I don't happen to be highly stressed out or very busy. My days are full. I accomplish a lot each day. I never feel lazy or unproductive, but I am very flexible and my schedule doesn't cause me anxiety or stress. I make a point to simplify as much as possible to create this feeling of peace in my life. I know it won't always be so easy. But for now, I enjoy it. And though I think this is a good thing, I find myself feeling sheepish when I say I am not busy. Almost like  in our world you have to be busy to be worthwhile...kinda like this..

Isn’t it true that we often get so busy? And, sad to say, we even wear our busyness as a badge of honor, as though being busy, by itself, was an accomplishment or sign of a superior life.

Told ya he says it better than me. I feel like you can be the busiest person in the world and yet not do one truly productive thing in a day. Now don't get me wrong. I know life is busy. Insane work hours, kids, school, or other things fill life up and make it plenty busy and stressful. It isn't always in our power to simplify it to a point of peace. But for me? Right now? Things are simple, and I am just going to admit that. Like I said, I don't just sit around all day thinking of things to do. I have a full list, and often don't get to everything I want each day. Like ever...but I no longer feel the need to create extra stress and tell everyone who will listen how BUSY I am just so they think I am a productive person. I have nothing to prove...and I am happy this way.

Another quote along these lines I love is this:

Good friends will always make room in their schedule for you in your time of need. Great friends don't even glance at their schedule in your time of need.

I  hope I can be the kind of person that is there for people, especially my own family when they need me, without announcing to them how much I have to move around in my schedule to make it work. Priorities.

So my last little tangent....

I am usually a morning person. Like a 5:00 am morning person. But lately I haven't been feeling it, so I sleep until Kyle wakes up. This stage won't last much longer, because I do miss my early mornings, but these last few weeks have been so fun. Sometimes...we lay in my bed for like an hour after we wake up and just chat and play and lay there. The old me would have never done this, and if I did I never would have admitted it...but I love it! Moments like this won't last forever. He won't always be two and want to lay there with me. It won't always be the two of us in the morning. We won't always have such flexible timing in the mornings. This has become my favorite time of day with Kyle. I won't always be lucky enough to have this time. And one more quote...

Let us resolve to cherish those we love by spending meaningful time with them, doing things together, and cultivating treasured memories.

*read his whole talk here

Highlights

Since I use my phone to take pictures now I have noticed thing pile up and I don't blog as much...which makes me sad. So here are a few highlights of the last few weeks.

1.Australian visitors brought amazing prizes! 2. Zupas with Beck and Jack 3.Kyle's new perch 4.Ryan watching Arrested Development. 5. Jeff and Kate came to visit!!

6. Monopoly with Jeff and Kate. Love. 7. BYU fam 8.JCW before game 9. Homecoming game 10. Playing at the mall.

11. Cupcakes for Emmett's half! 12. Wedding reception date night 13. First steamer of the season! 14. Kyle singing with the MoTab. 15. K working out while eating sugar cookies

That's what we have been up to!

Hee Haws

Family night took us to Hee Haws last night! We had such a great time. Kyle LOVED mingling with the goats and the hay ride too. I was alarmed when I was hustled by a group of hungry goats...but couldn't stop laughing the whole time. Afterwards we headed to Cold Stone where Kyle picked "blue with cookies"...sick. He also kept blowing kisses to the table of college aged girls next to us. Trouble.

Take a hike

This Fall weather is my favorite. We just had to get out and enjoy it a bit so we headed up Rock Canyon for a little hike Saturday morning. We had such a great time. Everything was SO pretty, and Kyle was in heaven with endless leaves and rocks to play with. Our only regret was not doing it sooner. 

I grew up hiking a ton and it is important to me that my kids have the same experience. Kyle proved to be a great little hiker and didn't want to be carried for any of it. Oh I just loved it.

22

Another month, a few things to remember.

• Kyle has always loved to dance but it seems the older he gets the more he loves it. He just can't contain himself when a good beat comes on...and he definitely has certain music preferences. He shouts new song! in the car if he doesn't like the one playing.
• He loves to count. He tries to count everything he can, and gets a little confused sometimes.
• He likes to sing the alphabet...though after the letter g who know what he is saying
• He is obsessed with the whole Gangham Style craze.
• He loves BYU...wearing it, going there, and especially singing the fight song. "Y U Y U"
• He has a bigger sweet tooth than me, and that is hard to do.
• He loves lights, or anything else powered by electricity. 
• He loves to do the dishes, vacuum, and wipe up messes. He also can't stand playing if there are too many toys out at once...he starts yelling "clean up" and puts everything away and then carries on
• He hates, HATES, if I hold someone's baby. 
• He recently started saying "cookies" correctly and it makes me sad. He used to call them "cook cooks". Loved it.
• He loves playing with friends and cousins. He asks for them every day. I guess he is lonely with just me?
• He loves to go out to eat....shoot.
• He loves. LOVES. pumpkins. "punkins"
• He is using full sentences a lot now, but it still surprises me every time. 
• He is so attached to an empty sippy cup he calls his "bodit"...it is essentially a pacifier to him. 
• He loves egg nog. Atta boy.
• He likes to cheer for the Cardinals, especially "yadi yadi yadi"
• He is almost always pleasant and so fun to be around.
• He glares at me sometimes. Only me.
• He loves to play with dry lima beans and popsicle sticks more than anything else. 
• He likes to help load the washing machine.
• He says "I got you!" anytime you tickle him
• He announces everything he is doing..."playing...walking...running...jumping...spinning...eating..."
• Still loves Nemo, but I think his counting show is taking over.
• Every morning he says he slept good...then asks for a sucker, show, and cake. None of which he gets...especially first thing in the morning. But he always asks.
• He loves to tell people "happy birtday!"
• He loves to sit on his little toilet, but has never actually used it.
• He loves to cook with me.
• He pushes chairs around everywhere to get to what he wants.
• When he gives kisses or tries to blow on things he never covers his front teeth...they always stay sticking out.
• He loves animals.
• He stays in nursery the whole time by himself! Praises.
• Blue is definitely his favorite color.
• He is left handed...I think.
• He is the sweetest.

I really just consider myself lucky to be friends with such a cool guy. 

And some proof he loves to dance....Gangnam Style...

Not another Manic Monday

Though I don't dread Mondays as I once did as a student or disgruntled employee, there is still a bit of blah that comes with them. I sort of feel bad for Mondays sometimes. So last Monday, Kyle and I set out determined to make Monday wonderful.

We started out picking some pumpkins and playing outside. Next was playing on the tree house at the mall. It is on his top three favorite places. This is where Stacy and baby Kenley joined us. Such a treat. Then we went to the food court for some Chick Fil A, which we both share a love of. Next? Next we went to see Finding Nemo on the big screen. If you have ever spent more than ten minutes with Kyle, you know it is is favorite movie. Favorite.

So last Monday? Last Monday was great. It kicked off a pretty great week in general. Tomorrow? Probably not quite as great, though I won't rule it out. But it sure was fun to ditch all responsibility and do a few of our favorite things all day long.

*yes our drink looks bigger than him...it sort of was.

Zoobilee Zoo

Am I the only one who remembers watching that show? Because whenever I bring it up no one knows what I am talking about. Looking back at it now on youtube I realize it is totally creepy. Anyways. Cousin Jack had his big SECOND birthday a few weeks ago, and we were lucky enough to join him and some other cousins for a day at the zoo to celebrate!

Kyle had a wonderful time really. He loved the animals, and thanks to a braver cousin than I, he even got taken in the reptile house. The polar bear was insane. Diving and splashing and getting nose to nose with Kyle through the glass...that bear made the whole trip totally worth it. The bird show was also impressive. We had a great time!