Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Hikes

This first hike (was actually a walk) I made the boys do and they were all super hot and grumpy.  Hahaha.  Everyone was happier when we went and got lunch afterwards, but they love me and do these things with me even if they don't love it.  I don't blame them, it was a lot hotter than we had anticipated.  





This next hike was up to St. Mary's Glacier.  You basically walk up an old river bed, and it is definitely a hike.  But it was pretty short and SO worth it.  
I cringe each time I look at this picture.  Poor Rai fell and hit his head on a rock.  













Halloween

Better late than never right?  I just found this Halloween draft in my blogger, so it is time to post! Even if I can't remember anything about these pictures.  

We painted pumpkins, which Rai still talks about all the time and asks to do it.  Such a simple activity that left a mark.  Maybe we should paint some rocks or something. 


For MONTHs, i kid you not, even before Mylo was born, Tracen talked about them being Alvin and the Chipmunks for Halloween.  I got their costumes put together and Tracen saw himself in the mirror and hated it.  he didn't think he looked cool at all, and so he ended up being Iron Man and then a skeleton.   Poor guy thought i was trying to make him bad and have the kids make fun of him.  Unfortunately this is the only picture I got of the 3 of them dressed as the Chipmunks.  Rai still rocked his Alvin costume though and made the perfect little Alvin. 



Some brain cake i made for the Ward Party that I didn't end up going to. 


Tracen made his own Halloween decorations and I found these little drawings everywhere around the house.  He learned to use tape and not glue afterwards. 




And we even carved pumpkins!  It was late and we probably should have put them to bed and Luke had work stuff going on, but Tracen was SO happy that we just took a breath and spent the 20 minutes carving and he got some undivided attention from Luke.  It's the little things and that special attention that means so much. 





I got to be a parent volunteer for Tracen's class party.  And I was the only Mom dressed up.  I felt a little weird, but Tracen thought it was awesome that I dressed up. 









On Halloween we ended up walking down to the Browns house and they took us with them to the Jones' family Halloween party, they had a hayride that Luke took the boys on and they went on it to a different part of the neighborhood and trick-or-treated over there.  They had such a good time.  

Monday, March 6, 2017

Tracen - Testimony



A few months ago Tracen went with Luke to a baptism.   At the baptism they passed out cards for the people who attended to write down their testimony on.  Tracen asked what a testimony was, and Luke told him it was what he knew was true.   It made sense to Tracen and he wrote down a simple testimony about God living or loving us.  Testimony has been a hot topic in our house ever since.


Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting at church and Tracen wanted so badly to go up and share his testimony with everyone.  He wrestled with the idea the whole meeting and then finally got the courage to go, and went to talk to Luke about it, Luke told him that if he wanted to go he had to be able to do it by himself.  Tracen was the final testimony of the meeting.  He proudly walked up to the pulpit, grabbed the mic and placed it right in front of his mouth and bore the sweetest most sincere testimony.  It really is HIS testimony, it is the things that he knows and believes and things that I have tried to teach him, but I never have I told him that those things should be his testimony too.

After Sacrament I quickly wrote in my notes on my phone so I wouldn't forget:

"Tracen bore his testimony today, by himself, in sacrament meeting.  He has been asking and telling us what his testimony is and really wanted to go up and share it with everyone.  It was simple but so heartfelt.  He testified that he knows God lives and that he blesses us everyday.  He testified that God loves us and loves everyone on this earth and that we will see him again one day and meet him.  And he said once more that God loves us.  What spirit he brought to my heart and I am so proud of him and feel so lucky to be his Mom."

When he came to sit down, Rai looked at him proudly and said, "Wow Tracen, you are so lucky!"  It was so cute and he sure admires his older brother.

He received so many compliments and comments regarding his testimony for the rest of church.  Brother Toronto who was sitting beside us shook his hand and said, "You know what I liked best about your testimony was that someone who was at church today really needed to hear exactly what you said".   Later at home we had the doorbell ring, and the Bishop came and said, "I just wanted to shake your hand".

I often feel this burden on my shoulders of all the things that need to do to teach my kids everything, but I promise they come with their hearts burning of truth and can recognize it in their lives.  They are sponges for it, and they are taught best by the spirit and by love, and I just really need to foster that spirit and love and they will know.