Laura's Heart

she's a pretty tough cookie, give her a job to do and if she's interested in getting it done, it will get done, no matter the obstacle. She gives me a run for my money at least once a day. She knows what she wants.

She's not much of a people person. For the most part she'd be happy in a room by herself.

She has a tender heart. Ever since she was way little she would pay attention to the expression on people's face in books we would read and ask if they were sad, or point out the emotion and then ask why, with real concern. If her siblings are having a hard time (and she isn't having a hard time herself) she tries to help them out somehow.

Today she and I were headed to Walmart and I saw ahead of us a hitchhiker at the on ramp of I-10 and we had a red light. I could tell she was going to ask.

Is he waiting for the bus?

No. (then I tried to give the six yr old version of what he was doing)

He doesn't have a car?

He doesn't have a place to live?

I said most likely not.

What does he do if it rains (cause it was about to)

Get wet.

After some thought

well I hope he has an umbrella and some food

It may be hard to get it through just reading about it, but the concern and thoughtfulness in her voice were heavenly.

I am so amazed by her. I think I've put on here before a quote I found, from a mother describing her daughter, who had passed away. It perfectly describes her for me.....so here it is again......

" she was like a gale force hurricane wind ripping through your life and other times she was a gentle delicate breeze on your cheek"

I hope I am showing her how much I admire, adore and appreciate who she is. She has a strong will, and independent spirit, a decisive mind and she has a tender heart.

My Hannah Sings

all. the. time.

Well, mostly when we're in the van and she's bored, or in a store. It happens so much in the grocery store and walmart that I don't realize she's doing it and approach people (who have been listening to it for two or more aisles) and they're smiling at me and it takes a minute to realize they're appreciating her singing. It is sweet.

My first two kids were not like this so it's also kind of odd. But I love it and really really hope she's developing those vocal chords so that she can sing in a way that I've always wished I could. No pressure though. I've only thought about voice lessons, I haven't even looked into it yet.....but I will.

Her favorites are Love is Spoken Here, If the Savior stood beside me, Happy Birthday Anya (her cousin), a mixture of the first two and she has some originals she's working on.

I love her and the fact that she loves music and singing.

I have hopes of getting it on film and putting here in the future. Stay tuned!

Mother's Day

Yesterday Brandon and the kids brought me tulips (my favorite!) and two bags of powdered donuts, Brandon said they had a hard time distinguishing between the things they wanted and what I might want, so I guess they found a happy medium. Do you know those sweet kids helped me open both bags of those donuts when they gave them to me? ...

I'm tearing up.

I got to take a nap and then Laura and I went short/skirt shopping for her. We could of done better there, but then we ran by Wendy's for her and she took me to Osaka for Mother's day (Brandon is not fond of the place, so we don't go there and I usually love it although trying to eat healthier makes all that oil less appealing). Laura said she enjoyed eating with me, but not watching the guys cook.

This morning Brandon and the kids made me breakfast for a queen and everyone ate on the bed with me, sort of, it was fun. Then the kids brought me the crafts they made while Brandon made breakfast.

Hannah did some cutting and was so proud...

and Laura made me some 'heads', this is my favorite b/c of the button on it

My son.......

He brings me coupons that he made...all on his own, a free hug, a free kiss, 20 minutes of just you and me time (one of my faves). Then I come to 'some money', and he's there holding a hand full of dimes, my jaw drops. Cole's love affair with money is well I'm speechless, it's huge. So I looked at him and said Cole you're giving me money? For real? He smiled big and said yes.

I teared up.

I moved on to other coupons and was still stumped about the money so I asked Cole are you really giving me your money? He said no, Laura gave me some of her money so I could give it to you (Laura is much like her mother and cares very little about money until it poofs into something worthwhile :) ). Life began to make more sense again, everything was as it should be... sort of.

I said Cole why didn't you give me your money...Cole says, because I'm saving it and didn't want to waste it, besides I think it's all in savings.

There was probably a teaching moment here, but I didn't take it.

Another coupon was "anything built out of legos". Cole kept asking what I wanted built, "mom, don't you want to turn in one of your coupons? What do you want built?"

I told him I didn't know yet and finally after church he said mom have you decided and I said well, I was thinking of an ice cream cone (go figure). He said, oh so casually and sincerely....oh I was thinking of a temple...we're going with Cole's suggestion, I'm left wondering who is raising this kid....oh yeah, Brandon.

Sacrament meeting.......

Today I'm sure I asked the kids to be reverent during sacrament. As some point I may have noticed Cole being very quiet, not really doing anything. I thought something may have been wrong with him, but figured I'd let it stew silently until after Sacrament meeting, no sense in rocking the boat. By the end of the meeting Laura has ended up in Brandon's lap on the stand and I have to go out with Hannah to potty. So Cole was left to fend for himself.

Cut to the parking lot and I notice a friend of mine who we usually end up sitting behind in Sacrament meeting is leaving and stops her vehicle just behind ours and is coming to talk to me. She says I don't know what you are doing in raising the kids but you're a great mom (okay who doesn't want to hear this stuff on Mother's day, but I'm puzzled still, oh yeah and did I mention Brandon's raising them/me). She explains they were sitting there singing the closing hymn and she looked back and there's Cole sitting by himself with his little hymnal singing the closing song. She gave us kudos and I thought how nice for Cole and me that there wasn't a different ending to that story.

So on the way home I'm telling everyone what Sister Torgesen told me, to give Cole full benefit. And he says, yeah I made a promise to myself that for Mother's day I would be good during Sacramnet meeting and listen and sing all the songs. ............................... he continued, yeah, Hannah pulled out some books that I really wanted to read, but I remember I promised myself so I didn't read them.

I tear up every time I think of it.

I really appreciate that he thought enough to make this commitment for me. The best part is that he made a promise to himself and even when it came down to being difficult he kept the promise. I am still in awe. I realize it's not the end all be all and we hope that all children learn this self mastery, but the kid's eight and I can't say that I keep many promises I make to myself. Could a mother ask for a better gift on mother's day? I couldn't. Thank you Cole.

Laura looked kind of forlorn (I love when she gives these looks, hard to describe but so precious) after Cole told us this and I was praising him, so I told her...when you're eight you can give that to me for mother's day too.

So this afternoon we went to mom's and got to spend good time with her while Frank and Brandon took the kids for a hike.

Then we came home and I got to spend time with my hubby.

It was a great mother's day.

No tears, just smiles, I have a great life!