Lessons From the Unlearned

(Baby Nixon)

I recently loaded up my three terrific tots and headed northward to the land that I love, Logan, Utah. My sister and her husband have been attending my Alma-mater, USU, so they have intermittently taken up residence there. In order to make some extra cash to stuff in their student-sized bank accounts, they spent a few days delivering phonebooks to the fine citizens of Cache Valley.

My sweet mother had been recruited to help with little Nixon, and we were kindly invited to be a part of the hullabaloo.

(I know, this seems like it is going nowhere fast, but buckle your seat belts, here comes the point)

As soon as I exited Sardine Canyon and made the downward decent to my former home, I was immediately taken back to simpler times. When Launey and I lived there, we were both going to school, and Luke was just a knee-height-to-a-mite.

Now my little sis is in a very similar situation with a family of her own. They always say hindsight is 20/20, I wouldn't go that far, but I wanted to share with Kylee a few lessons of motherhood I have learned along the way.

When it comes to raising kids, always have a plan and a few backup plans. Try your best to execute the plan closely as possible, however, the key is realizing that life's most precious moments are often the unplanned ones.

Love the simple things. There is nothing better, in my opinion, than the dimples in a baby's tiny hands. Before you know it, you will look at those baby hands holding a crayon and realize that the dimples are gone. I am always amazed at how fast they disappear and how they could have left without me even realizing it.

Try not to stress. (I know, like I have any say in this matter). It is amazing how life seems to work itself out. I think back to life with one baby, why on earth was I always so stressed? Those times , the simple ones, when your family is just starting out and that one baby is your whole world, those times will be gone before you know it.

Don't forget, as much as you love your little guy, it is so comforting to know that somebody else loves him too. So much that He was willing to suffer for his sins. Someone who was willing to feel all of the sorrows and pains that your children will feel, so that they will never have to walk alone. And somebody else, our loving Heavenly Father, who was willing to sacrifice His own son to save our souls, because He loves us all too. Isn't it great that if you do happen to get stressed, or concerned about your family that you can pray to somebody who cares just as much about them as you do.

Enjoy the journey. I know it's cliche, but it is critical. That's all there is. Every step of life is a journey. If we spend so much time waiting for the next step, the enjoyment may never come.

Take comfort in the fact that it takes kids a few years to realize that you don't know everything. I fear the day that my kids realize that I have NO idea what I am doing and that I have spent their entire lives pretending that I do.

Lastly, take this for what it's worth, or don't take it at all. Everybody's journey is their own, filled with their own lessons, theories, and memories! Good luck, I know you'll do great.

Sometimes She Tells Me I'm Hot

Sometimes my sweet sister-in-law Linzy tells me I'm Hot.

Sometimes I believe her. Well, sort of.

But it seems on those special occasions, the ones that I spend some extra time doing my hair, applying my make-up, and picking out just the right outfit, the same occasions that she sometimes tells me I'm hot, somebody snaps a picture.

Like this one. . .

and I am hit with reality like a ton of bricks! The reality that I am now stuck in a rut of a different color. It is a terrible place that I didn't even know I was residing in . . . it is a fashion disaster rut.

I began to get the hint when I saw an advertisement for the bump and thought to myself, "that looks cute." Yes, I know, a red flag.

I think that I have been in this particular rut since, oh, about 1985 or so. So I am pleading, SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP! Every time I look in the mirror, or see a picture, like the one posted above, this is how I feel. . .

Yes, gaggy.

So please, search your hearts. Think back to a moment, any moment, even if it was a brief shining moment, that you may have thought, "she looks cute," or something of the like. At that moment, what was it that I had going for me? The hair, the make-up, the clothing, the socks, anything.

(Me having an Epiphany)

But then again, that may be precisely my problem. Maybe I am in this rut because I hold on to those shining moments, the cute ones, and try to recreate them, regardless of the time period they first occurred in. Just because my volcano clip and neon spandex shorts were totally awesome in 1986, it doesn't mean I should slip into the same groove tomorrow for a day out on the town.

So, I guess what I am looking for is suggestions for recreating myself. New hair, new make-up, a new style.

I am asking for LOTS of comments.

Lots of suggestions.

I don't want to hear, "oh you are totally cute the way you are." That is precisely what got me here in the first place.

Please real suggestions. Especially about the hair WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

I am leaving it up to you, help me get out of here.

Help me get out of this phase. . .

Yes GAGGY!

FaceWhat?

It's official. I am a member of Facebook.

Apparently I had created a profile some time ago without fully realizing what it was I was doing, and since then, messages requesting my friendship have been popping up in my inbox.

For a while I blew the messages off, never deleting them, just not knowing what to do with them. Then one day, I decided I would dive in.

I realized that I had created a profile a while back which sat there blank, not a single picture or description graced my pages, there was no face to go with the name, but still people wanted to be my friend.

It was perplexing.

I got to work uploading pictures and describing a few highlights of my life, then I began to browse. I searched through the profiles of my friends and began to notice how many friends they had. Soon my measly collection of 15 friends seemed to be an instant signal that I was in the "loser" bracket on the sliding scale of popularity. I became a little panicked.

Suddenly I was transported back to some other time, some other state of mind, way before kids, husbands, mortgages, and maturity, and I felt determined to add as many friends to my collection as possible.

I browsed rapidly through everybody else's support systems, took the suggestions provided by the facebook team (who know me so well), and even did some organic searches just trying to increase that ever-so-desirable popularity. I couldn't send out the requests fast enough, it didn't matter who the potential friend was. I even request friendship from a man who coached football with my husband. I'm pretty sure we met once. I'm pretty sure that's grounds for friendship.

And then I waited . . . a friendship request sent to my own brother still hasn't been approved. I feel like the last kid picked for a game of dodge ball. Earlier today I checked my friend list. . . 43 . . .pathetic.

Then, I glanced out the window at my two little guys playing together, and saw my sweetly insane baby girl holding out her sippy cup saying "moke," over and over, then suddenly I was plummeted back into reality.
THANK GOODNESS.
How had I let that drive for "popularity" overcome me like I was a 12 year old school girl proud as punch of her new training bra? To my three little kids, and my 1 loving husband, I am pretty darn cool, at least most of the time. As long as I win their popularity contest, that's good enough for me!

Let Freedom Ring, Let the Birthday Boy Sing!

Please forgive me for the ridiculously lame title. I couldn't think of anything the slightest bit creative.

Many of you already know that the 4th of July is an extra special holiday for my little family. The reason is that my first born made his grand entrance into the world on the 4th of July at 4:40 pm 6 years ago. Wow, I can't believe it has actually been SIX years!

This son of mine has grown accustomed to the longest most extravagant birthday celebration in the world. We have stopped doing his party on the 4th because there is already so much going on, so he had a family party on the 5th, then on the 6th he had a friend party. That was a first for us! Needless to say, I am glad the extended celebration is over, I am completely exhausted! :)

We started off the morning of the 4th in Nephi. I just love the 4th of July Nephi style. The kids had a blast, and this year Launey got to get in on the fun himself. He played in a b-ball tournament with Karson, Conner, and Rex. I will not disclose their record but we'll just say that they had a lot of FUN!

During Launey's last game I let Bampa herd the boys around the park. Perhaps you can imagine my surprise when I saw my two boys come walking around the corner looking like an American flag pooped on their heads. Apparently they have already learned the secret of life, "if you want something, just ask Bampa" he seems to be the only sucker that can't say no! They had a great time, and they looked VERY patriotic, so that's all that mattered.

They had a blast playing on the "jumpy things" and climbing the rock wall.

Brielle spent a good portion of the morning absolutely content in her infamous red stroller.

Well, as long as she had some kind of sugar to keep her occupied she was happy.

After the Nephi celebration, we headed north to have lunch at Grandma and Grandpa Ivers' house. The kids love playing and swimming with their cousins. Here they are working on their summer tans.

On Sunday we had the family over for cake and ice cream. I love making fun cakes for my kids on their birthdays. I always picture them so much cuter than they turn out, but I think the kids enjoy them regardless. Luke wanted me to write "Luke Heavy Hitter" on his cake because that is what his coach called him this year.

Needless to say, he got absolutely spoiled, and he loved every minute of it!



FINALLY, on Monday we hosted our first ever friend party. The kids were great and I feel really blessed to live in an area with such great families who raise such great kids. I look forward to seeing the friendships my children will develop as they grow.

Tanner even got to get in on the action!

Here is Luke and his buddy Brock.

And finally, Ellie Bean, enjoying some birthday cupcakes.

I am glad to say that we all survived the craziness, and I would do it all over again for my special little boy.

Luke has been such a joy to raise. He is so smart and his faith amazes me on a daily basis. Just today Launey caught him in the front yard praying that the balloon he had just let go would land safely. He didn't know Launey was watching, it was just a tender moment between Luke and his Heavenly Father. He is a great big brother. It's so much fun to watch him and Tanner play together. They both claim the other as their best friend, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Luke is also my deep thinker. He can never just take something for face value, he always has to analyze it until it makes sense in his mind, then he can accept it. He teaches me SO much, I hope that because of him I can be a better me. I love you big boy! Happy Birthday!

Spots!

A few weeks ago I wrote this post. Those were the days to remember sigh.

Then a few days ago, I filled my washing machine with a plethora of my favorite laundry category, the BRIGHTS.

I don't know what it is, but I just love seeing all of my family's bright and happy clothes in one spot. Perhaps the colors represent a combination of cheerfulness and energy bundled into one that makes my heart flutter. I am also fond of the fact that I wash these particular items in cold water. It seems crisp and refreshing.

On this particular day, I was on the verge of another love fest with my laundry duties. While the bright pile was a bit foul smelling, the colors were still beautiful. I dunked them into their cold soapy bath and bid them farewell for 14-16 minutes. Once the sound of the wish washing was silented, I transferred the now wet pile of loveliness into the dryer. I knew that in no time they would come out smelling fresh and feeling warm.

Then, the buzzer sounded. I quickly pounced over to the dryer to remove my batch of brightness, but alas, there was something askew. My beautiful brights were tarnished with dull grey spots! Nearly every bright item my family owned was covered in grey SPOTS! I searched the dryer for the culprit, but to my dismay, I found no obvious suspect for the demise of my sunshiny shirts. Nearly every shirt my sweet little Brielle owns is in fact a bright one, which meant her wardrobe was quickly demoted from small to altogether sparse.

I have sprayed, soaked, washed, and re-washed my brights but the offending grey spots remain.

I couldn't help but relate this to life. Sometimes life is like a bright white sweet smelling sheet, and other times, there are spots on your brights.

If perhaps this particular day is one filled with spots, please let me lighten it with this little nugget. . . .

I have always had a place in my heart for the man with the big black ears, but I had no idea that he had such mad moves! My feelings of fondness for my dear Mickey have sky-rocketed. In the words of the great choreographer Lil' C, that was BUCK!

Let's Hear it For the Boy. . .

CAUTION: EXTREMELY LONG POST WHICH MAY BE INTERESTING TO MY POSTERITY BUT PROBABLY NOT TO ANYONE ELSE! PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

This weekend has certainly been an eventful one! Launey and I celebrated our 7th anniversary on Saturday, and of course, Father's Day was Sunday.

All of the celebrating has really made me reflect on how blessed I am to have such a wonderful man!

I couldn't help but reminisce about days gone bye and think about how Launey and I got here. I am sure that most of you know the story of our past, but I though it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane anyway.

Launey and I met at Snow College about 8 1/2 years ago. My roommate Lynsey told me that she had met some guys at the mail room on campus, where she worked, and she had a date with"the short one." Little did I know that the short one would be my future eternal companion!

I distinctly remember the first time I met Launey. After his date with Lynsey they came back to our apartment. It is sad to say, but it was totally obvious that he was straight of his mission. He had a bright blue Adidas shirt tucked in tight to his peg-legged pants which were clinging to his waste with an extremely shiny black belt that matched his extremely shiny black shoes perfectly. I am pretty sure that I even caught a glimpse of a side-part in his then full head of hair. Needless to say, I don't think it was exactly love at first site for either of us.

My roommates and I got to know Launey and his roommates pretty well. We all hung out a few times and I even went on a couple dates with his friend and roommate Josh. Eventually the semester was over and we all parted ways for the summer with little thought of each other. However when fall semester started up again Launey came cruising back into my life in true character. I remember walking back to my apartment after a class one day and suddenly a red hot 1989 camaro complete with a duct taped steering wheel came pulling up to my side. Inside was none other than Launey himself. He kindly offered me a ride which I gladly accepted. When I climbed in the car I remember saying sarcastically, "Nice car" to which he replied genuinely, "thanks, I just bought it this summer!" I could tell instantly that he was deeply in love with his red-neckmobile which again reinforced to my immature mind, "he is so not my type!"

(yes, this is his BEST picture!)

Well to make a LONG story short, eventually Launey and I became great friends. I would go on a date and when I got home I would head straight to his house to tell him about it, and he came to me often seeking dating advice. The crowd we hung out with were always going on dates. Most of the guys took out a variety of girls, always trying to find their soul mates, and Launey usually asked me to go as his "go-to-girl." We knew that we would have fun together and there was no pressure on either of our parts. I told him that I would continue to go out with him as long as he obliged to a few simple rules. He had to open my door (which he would have done anyway)and he ALWAYS had to refer to me as "Princess." Once while we were eating at Chili's, he asked me, "What would you like Princess?" to which our waitress responded, "I have a goat named Princess!" From that point on my charming pet named turned to "Princess Goat," and was often even shortened to simply "Goat." That was so not what I had in mind!

Eventually Launey decided that he wanted more than just a friendship. Once again, so not what I had in mind, but we gave it a go a few times, and I will be the first to admit, I was MEAN! I think that I was attempting to single handedly destroy our friendship. Over Christmas break his friend Jason called me and asked, "so what's up with you and Launey?" To which I so kindly responded with something like "Oh my goodness why won't he get the hint? I am so not into him!" Apparently they had set me up and Launey was listening to the whole thing. I was convinced that I didn't care.

I later found out that he had decided to transfer to Eastern Arizona, a Junior College, to play football. Once again, I convinced myself that I didn't care.

Then the strangest thing happened. I was driving around Provo with my mom and sister and made some random comment about Launey. Suddenly I was overcome with the feeling, which is the same feeling I am feeling as I am typing this very sentence, that HE was the man that I should be spending eternity with. I tried to shrug it off, but I just couldn't. I eventually took to my journal where I had chronicled all of the guys I had dated before and things that I liked about them and things that I didn't. From those evaluations I was able to come up with a list of qualities I was looking for in a future husband. I read over "the list" and realized that the pain-in-the-rear best friend of mine had every quality I was looking for in a husband, and I was about to let him go.

Luckily he asked me to go out with him to dinner for his dad's birthday on the 27th of December, then we went to a movie. That was the first time that my feelings were confirmed, and that night I told him that I was falling in love with him. A day later I can vividly remember talking about when we were going to get married which made me pause for a moment and ask, "does this mean we are dating?"

I can't even imagine how surprised our friends must have been when we left for Christmas break hardly talking and came back planning our marriage.

Even after our engagement I was constantly testing Launey's patience. I don't know if it was just my complete immaturity, or if it was my way of making him prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was going to be there for me and love me no matter what. Luckily, my man has never been one to back away from a challenge! For that I have been eternally blessed.

So, seven years ago, on a hot June day, my BEST FRIEND and man of the dreams I didn't even know I had, took me to the Manti Temple where we were joined together for ETERNITY. I knew I loved him then, but I had no idea how much I would love him now. He is still my best friend, there is honestly nobody on this earth that I would rather be with than him, he is the father of our 3 beautiful children, he is the patriarch of our family, he provides for me, not only physically but emotionally too, and on top of that, I am WILDLY attracted to him. He is so everything that I had ever hoped for . . . and more!

So my darling, thanks for the wonderful 7 years! Cheers to them, and here's to an eternity of love, and laughter yet to come. I love you!

Let the Games Begin!!

Any of you who have spent any amount of time with my children know that they have an abundance of energy. That fact can make life interesting, and a little bit chaotic, but I don't necessarily consider their energy level a bad thing. My big quest in life is to figure out some positive avenues for them to channel their energy, well the channeling has begun!

Tanner's energy is being released through good ole' fashioned KICKBALL, or as he lovingly calls it, "kickety-kick-ball."

Apparently, at first Just Tanner was unaware that there was more to kickety-kick-ball than just kicking. He must have assumed that he was standing in the outfield to act as a bug detective for the city landscaping committee.

However, when it was his turn to kick, his offensive skills were shining like the sun!

Once he nearly kicked the ball out of the park, he made it to 1st base where his mentor and 1st base coach was there waiting. After some helpful hints ("when he kicks the ball, you run over there to 2nd base!"), Just Tanner was ready to round the bases and put a point on the board for his team, or at least he would have if they kept track of points.

**Side note**-I am seeking advice from a seasoned mother, any seasoned mother. I feel like I have a fair amount of knowledge regarding the basics of the almighty kickball game. Being the wonderful mother that I am, I tried to share that knowledge with my second born, Just Tanner. He quickly turned to me and said, very sternly I might add, "Mom, I am pwaying (not a typo, l's are still a mountain he is trying to climb) kickety-kick- baww. Don't talk to me because I am twying to conthentrate!" However when Coach Luke steps in, Just Tanner is all ears. Now, when did I become an annoyance, and how long will this last?

Eventually even his defence improved, that makes me happy:), unfortunately I can't say the same happiness is shared by the landscaping crew. Sorry.

After the game, I got lucky and Just Tanner was willing to acknowledge me for a brief shining moment so I could snap his picture with his new friend and teammate. It is going to be a great summer!

Some of you may have noticed that Luke has many roles. On any given day he goes from Pirate Luke, to Indiana Luke, around the bend to Sheriff Luke, and back to the Mad Scientist. Well for this month, every Tuesday and Thursday at the same hour, I can be sure of the role he will be playing, "Very Awesome T-Ball Player Luke." I think that is one of my best.

Third base can be tough for some, but he frequently let me know that he was hangin-in-there with a trusty thumbs up.

His first game was quite exciting on the offensive end. He managed to hit one little guy square in the nose with a hard hit down the first base line, then his second hit smacked another little dude right in the neck. T-Ball Luke was mortified, but in the depths of my soul, there was a little part, evil as it may be, that thought it was awesome! Not that the other kids got hurt, that was not awesome, but they were really great hits. I know I know, I need to do some serious soul searching!

By the last inning the coach moved him to short. He liked that position much better because he got to wrestle with his teammates for the ball a lot more, come to think of it, I'm not sure that we ever clearly explained that t-ball is a non-contact sport. I am putting that on my to do list right now.



As for Brielle's energy expendeture, she has found a new sport which luckily she finds quite entertaining. Have you ever heard of rock climbing? Well this is somewhat like it, without the rocks, or the required skill level. She has created the art of stroller climbing. I am always wishing that I could read her mind, but in this instance I am almost positive that her thoughts went something like this, "up. . . .down. . . .up. . . .down . . . .up. . . .down" and so on and so forth.

Ahh, a GREAT SUMMER indeed!