Anniversary Update

For our 10 year wedding anniversary, we traveled down to Utah as a family.  We dropped the kids off at my sister's house while Jess and I enjoyed a little weekend getaway at a Bed and Breakfast. 

Jess and I stayed at the Blue Boar Inn in Midway, Utah.  Most of the homes in the newer area of Midway resemble European style architecture and ornamentation.  Even the LDS church is Swiss style. 

One of the local, Midway homes.

Blue Boar Inn exterior

For dinner, we ate in Park City at a restaurant called Chimayo. Hands down, my meal was the best food I've ever eaten-- coconut encrusted halibut on a bed of spaghetti squash, surrounded by asparagus and mushrooms smothered in a butter citrus sauce. For our breakfast at the Blue Boar the next morning, I ordered the Cinnamon Swirl Brioche French Toast while Jess enjoyed the Grilled Norwegian Salmon.

Blue Boar Inn interior

After checking in, we were led to our cozy little room with a plate of soft cheese, crackers, grapes, and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us. We kicked off our shoes and and enjoyed the warmth from the fireplace. Books written by Charles Dickens lined the shelf, and a sleigh bed served as a nice resting spot. The staff turned down the sheets at night and left behind plush robes, chocolate mints, a rose, and the weather report for the following day resting on the bed. I soaked in the jetted tub with the Inn's complimentary bath crystals and later slept like a baby (well, almost-- don't forget that I am in my 3rd trimester).

I couldn't have asked for a better weekend with the exception of warmer weather.  It snowed the entire time we were there.  But, it made the Inn that much more cozy.

Mother's Day 2010

Drawn by Simon, 2010

For the past few weeks, Simon has insisted on bringing me breakfast in bed on Mother's Day.  He learned in Primary from Sister Dinger that all moms should be treated to breakfast in bed on this special day.  His Mother's Day card even included a hand drawn picture of me lying in bed while he and Ava are serving me breakfast.  Simon could not have been cuter about the whole thing.  Jess woke up early Sunday morning to the sounds of clattering and banging in the kitchen.  He followed the noise downstairs and found a plate, a cup, and a loaf of bread on the rug in front of the open fridge.  Simon and Ava were eagerly searching for the cinnamon rolls and orange juice.  Not long after, Jess and the kids were at my bedside with a bowl of steel cut oats (at my request) and gifts.   Jess had taken the children to the dollar store the day prior, and each of them picked out heartfelt little presents for me. Ava spent part of her 202 cents on a little pink tote that I took with me to church.  Simon decided upon fake flowers which he presented to me at breakfast.  Daddy helped Brahm pick out some scented lotion.  I haven't been able to handle anything with a strong scent since morning sickness, so this might be a permanent fixture on my bathroom countertop.  I wasn't expecting anything from Jess since we dined on a delicious meal of lamb, grilled vegetables, marinated olives, and salted rosemary bread the night prior.  But, he surprised me with a gift certificate for a prenatal massage at a local day spa.  What a guy!  I was even able to attend Relief Society while the Young Women taught the Primary classes.  All in all, it was a great day. 

I must admit, I do feel a little sheepish about having a day devoted to me.  I am by no means a perfect mom.  I let my temper fly.  I do raise my voice more often than I would like.  And, I am one of the most impatient and critical people I know.  The cleanliness of my house is far from temple-like, and sometimes I devote too much of my time to insignificant things. 

But, I am good about ironing Simon's clothes (even his jeans) every morning before he goes to school.  I love to budget, I love to save, and I believe that I manage my family's resources wisely.  I love attending church. All trips that we take bring us home by Saturday night so that we can attend church on Sunday. Otherwise, we observe the Sabbath and attend church services where we are vacationing. I do not swear, nor have I ever sworn.  And, I am very careful about the kind of music, television, and other forms of media that I allow in my home.  Most of the time, Jess and I watch PG rated movies only. 

Obviously, I have many things to work on as a mother.  In the scriptures we learn that we are given weaknesses to humble ourselves.  But, we are promised that we can overcome these weaknesses through the help of the Lord and make them our strengths.   Hopefully, one day I will be known for my sweet disposition, my gentle way with the kids, and the soft spoken words that leave my mouth.  In the meantime, I am learning things line upon line, precept upon precept.

While reflecting on Motherhood, I decided that one of my favorite things about this role and calling is hearing my children call me Mommy.  Last night, Brahm woke up in a very delirious state and called out, "Mommy" (and Daddy).  I found him in the hall crying.  When I picked him up, he clung to me very tightly and repeated the words, "Mommy...Mommy....Mommy."  Last Thursday, I had a particularly tough day.  While bathing Brahm, I was exhausted and overly emotional.  I began to cry.  Brahm noticed my tears, and he began to cry too.  Through his tears he sadly repeated the words, "Mommy...crying.  Mommy....crying."  It was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time. 

I love being a mom, especially to my Simon, Ava, and Brahm.  I could not have been blessed with better children.  They have brought me the most happiness, the most comedic relief, and the most worry.   Every feeling and emotion of mine has been heightened because of them.  Being a mother slowly extracts the natural man that lies in all of us and brings us closer to our Heavenly Father.  There is no room for selfish desires when you have 3 little ones to care for. 

I am most grateful for my role as Mother.

Written by Simon, 2010

Dedicated to our Mothers

Dear Mom,

As Mother's Day has drawn closer, I have thought about all the memories that you have provided me with in my short 31 years of life.

Not surprising, I have been thinking a lot about food lately.  Fried bologna-ketchup sandwiches and cinnamon-sugar orange wedges take me back to my childhood.  Let's not forget Beanie Wienie, Beef Stroganoff, homemade Macaroni and Cheese, and Tater Tot Casserole.  As I grew older, your meals became fancier and your deep freezer became stocked with ice cream novelities, danishes, ding dongs, cookies, cupcakes, and any other yummy treat that one can think of.  While dating Jess in high school, he always loved coming over at lunch and dinner for a homemade meal.  Sunday dinners were always the highlight of my week.  I loved the smell of the roast in the oven and the rising, yeasty rolls when we returned home from Church.

Mom, you were the creative force behind all of my A.T. projects.  I would have never received the "Oohs and Ahhs" from my teachers or fellow students if it had not been for you.  One project that I remember in particular was an American Flag that you helped me design with red, white, and blue glitter for an astronaut crew that visited our school.

I always remember you saying, "Once I become a grandmother, I will have so much more time to sew."  I think you are much busier now as a grandmother of 20, than you were with your own 7 children.  Busy or not, you managed to sew Easter dresses, pajamas, and Halloween costumes for us.  My first prom gown was one that you sewed-- a crimson Mandarin Chinese dress.  I remember getting lots of compliments.  Once your 7 children began having children of their own, you sewed baby blankets, burp cloths, and bibs for all of your grandbabies.  While serving your mission in Africa, you not only fed the missionaries, but washed, ironed, and mended their clothing. 

I smile every time I think about you playing Whitney Houston songs on the piano with Abbey by your side singing.  You are a great musician, and I think the primary children in Africa were very lucky to have you as their piano teacher. 

I have fond memories of you reading the Ramona books to Abbey and me before bed.  One evening, Dad decided to take your place.  His book of choice was an illustrated version of the life of Joseph Smith.  While I love Joseph Smith, I don't remember particularly enjoying the book or Dad's reading style.  Ramona the Pest was far more interesting to a 5 year old than a boy who would become prophet.  :)

I will forever be impressed with the fact that even with lots of young children, your make-up was always on, your hair was perfectly coiffed, your nails were polished, and your clothes were cleaned and pressed.  Your dress and grooming standards were and are impeccable.  Even to this day, when I smell a bar of Dove soap or Keri lotion, I am reminded of you.

Mom, you are a very humble person-- always downplaying your wonderful talents.  I struggle with my attempts to make my home a clean, orderly, happy, and warm place, because you have set such high standards.  Thank you for consistency in your love and service for your family, and your consistency in your testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I love you!

Love,
Mandy

Mom and Dad with 16 of their 20 grandchildren

(Written by Jess to his mother)
10 things I love and admire most about my mom:

1. She went through an all day labor and a painful delivery that ultimately resulted in an emergency C-Section to bring me into the world. That is what happens when giving birth to a 10 lb Pillsbury doughboy.

2. She is very creative. Growing up, she made several of my Halloween costumes (one year I was a hot dog with relish, mustard, ketchup, buns, etc), painted a beautiful mountain landscape on the top of our toilet lid, and upholstered/re-upholstered our furniture on a regular basis. Once we had a set of couches with wooden handles on the ends of the arms. One of our dogs chewed them all up, so my mom took them off, took some pieces fabric from a portion of the couch that was not visible, and neatly and beautifully stitched them over the places where the arms used to be. In the end they looked better than when they had the arms on them before they were chewed up! Nowadays she always has something new from DI that she has remodeled or refurbished that always looks great!

3. She is thoughtful. Every Valentine’s day I remember receiving a little stuffed animal, some candies, or something else just from my mom. She would always make sure that she went out of her way to make us feel special. Now she never visits our kids without so many gifts and treats that she and Ira cannot see out of the rearview mirror of the car as they are driving up here. The kids especially look forward to a new Pez or two (or 25) that she and Ira pick up while they are at lunch or out grocery shopping at some point. They are always thinking of them!

4. She is nurturing. One memory of my childhood that stands out is how she would take care of me when I was sick. I remember her preparing a special bed for me in the bathroom any time that I had the stomach flu and staying up with me when I needed it. My favorite thing to do in church was laying on her lap. She is the same way with my kids now and they love to be close to her as well.

5. She taught me hard work. My mom cleaned houses for a living while I was growing up. She would often take us along if we were not in school. She taught us how to clean bathrooms, mop floors, make beds, and everything else that went along with making a house look beautiful. With my dad not being able to do some things around the house because of his disability, she would do a lot of the heavy lifting on a regular basis and usually involved me. One time we even tried to put a new roof on our house! Fortunately some compassionate neighbors spotted a little lady and a 9 year old on a roof and sent over a crew from the Elder's Quorum to help us out.

6. She set an example of service for me. When my mom was Relief Society President, she would take us along with her to retrieve food orders for people that were not able to pick them up on their own. We would also often visit the houses of those that were in need. I remember being in some homes of people that would definitely be considered among "the least of these," but even though I may have not wanted to always be there with her, I learned about charity from my mom's example in the way she ministered to them.

7. She has a green thumb. I learned to love yard work and gardening because my mom was always doing both. Even today she is constantly revamping her yard and planting something new. Even in the scorching heat of Las Vegas, we always had a vegetable garden with a plentiful harvest. She was also very creative with her flower gardens and landscaping.

8. She is outgoing and is everyone's friend. Always to my extreme embarrassment, my mom would approach people on a regular basis in a grocery store, on the street, or wherever with a hunch that she had seen them somewhere before. 9 times out of 10 she had never met them before that moment, but they became friends after that. Mandy's first memory of me or my family is from my mom approaching her at a seminary fireside to talk to her and meet her. No one is more willing to go out of her way to say hi to someone and make that person feel comfortable than my mom. My mom is more than just my mom to me, she is a great friend too.

9. She has a powerful testimony. I remember her telling me stories about taking her Book of Mormon to school when she was a girl and getting in trouble for reading it during class. She was one of those people who would bear her testimony regularly (like every month) on fast Sundays at church. Sometimes I would be embarrassed because that what kids do, right? But what I remember feeling more often was the Spirit testifying to me as she would teach from her heart. She taught seminary for years as well and was known as a powerful teacher. To this day, I owe a lot of my own personal testimony to her.

10. She never gives up. My mom has been through an abundance of hardship in her life, but she always keeps going with a smile on her face. I remember when my dad lost his job when I was around 11 years old. I remember all of the changes that we had to make in our lives and all of the things that my parents had to do that they did not before, but I don't remember anything changing about my parents' attitudes toward life or their optimism. She taught me to be happy and resilient through trials and to trust and have faith in our Heavenly Father.

My family is so blessed to have such a wonderful mother and Gramee! Happy mother's day Mom!!

Pregnancy Pros and Cons

Mandy (30 weeks pregnant) and Simon

I am nearing the end of my pregnacy.  For the sake of journaling, I thought that I would list all of the pros and cons of being large with child. 

Cons

• I haven't been able to take scorching, hot baths since I found out I was pregnant.
• I can only sleep on my sides at night.  I thoroughly miss sleeping on my back.
• I wake up every time I have to turn to the other side-- which makes for a sleepless night.
• I cannot (or should not) eat runny, poached eggs, soft cheeses, medium steaks, and raw cookie dough.
• My nose has been stuffed up since the day I conceived.  With every one of my pregnancies, I suffer with sinus problems.  The day I give birth, I can actually breathe again. 
• It is hard to bend at the waist.  Bathing the kids is just one of the many tasks that has become increasingly hard for me to do.
• I am out of breath when I walk upstairs. 
• Stretch marks
• Sitting too long can be painful (especially on the hard benches and chairs at church).
• Acid Reflux (and mild heartburn sometimes)
• Agreeing upon a name with my husband.

Pros

• I love feeling the baby move.  In fact, after I've given birth, it is almost sad not to feel life inside of me anymore. 
• Seeing the baby during the ultrasound is incredible.  For my last ultrasound, the technician told me that she had never seen a baby at this stage with so much hair!
• Some people feel like their privacy has been invaded when strangers want to touch their bellies.  I love it!  Carrying life inside of you is a really special thing, and others are aware of that too.
• I don't feel guilty in the least bit about eating large portions of food and pigging out on dessert.
• I don't have to suck in my stomach!
• My hair grows faster than usual.

Baby Warren (if you can't see the image very well, his fist is resting above his closed eyes and nose)

1/2 score and 0 years ago . . .

Dateline: April 29th, 2000. A wide-eyed, naive young woman and an older and wiser lad take their vows for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas Temple. He had just returned from faithfully serving the Mexican people as a missionary while she "faithfully" waited at home. They could not have been more sure of their decision and excited for what would lie ahead. 'Twas a day that will n'er soon be forgotten in the minds of those two youngins.The time that has passed hasn't been too shabby either.

As this day has been approaching, I have been quietly reflecting on all that has gone on over the last 10 years. I thought I would share some of the highlights (and maybe one or two lowlights) of our time together . . .

• Living in the dungeon in Provo included sleeping with a fan and water spray-bottle at our sides during the hot summer nights. We went out to buy an air conditioning unit, but it would not fit in our window. We turned it on in the house, but the exhaust from the back only made things more unbearably miserable. We had to sleep in the front room on the couch cushions because new asphalt had recently been laid in the back parking lot, thus raising the temperature in our bedroom to a balmy 90 degrees or so.

• We moved up in the world by sharing a house with Mandy's sister and her husband, Rachel and Kala. It was a beautiful place, but we never got comfortable enough living together to walk around in only our garments (kind of a bummer, but without the bums). We did enjoy being with them though, especially as they welcomed their first daughter Mele into our home. Highlights included gas drops and the pacifier stabilizer/TV remote.

• We had a great time spending lots of money that we did not have during our college years. It was not until 4 or 5 years after being married that we finally were able to pay off that dinner at Chile's and the throw pillows from Target (among countless other worthless items that we would buy with reckless abandon, such as our brand new car that we were privileged to continue payments on for a full year after it was totaled). Thank goodness that Mandy finally took the budget bull by the horns and whipped our finanical behinds into shape.

• Part of that whipping into shape included an early morning paper route for a time when I first began working at Enterprise. We would wake up at around 3 AM most days (1-2 AM some mornings), pack Simon into the car (he was an infant at the time), and head across town to the newspaper place. Even though sleep was in low supply, it was some of the most fun that we have ever had together. The "m in the n" and the "sbd tubes" especially provided us with some much needed laughs.

• Together we have gained and lost 50 and 100 pounds respectively. Mandy had the pregnancy excuse. I had the "my wife is/was/will be pregnant, so pass me another doughnut" excuse. Fortunately, I am at the lighter end of the fluctuation for the time being. Mandy, on the other hand, is a real fatty right now.

• We bought our first house in 2005 in West Valley City, UT. We loved our home, neighbors, being in a place that was ours . . . that neighborhood and ward still feel like home to us in many ways. Mandy did have a scare once, however, when a man tried to break into the house while she was inside bathing the kids. Fortunately, she came downstairs and he ran off when he saw her. It took her a long time to feel comfortable being at home alone again.

• We have been extremely blessed to welcome 3 beautiful, amazing, wonderful children into our lives since 2003. Ever since Simon was born, we have often asked ourselves how we ever enjoyed our lives before they came down to us. They are really the center of our lives now and that is the way that we love it! Number four is in the oven; we cannot wait to welcome him to the fold as well!
• Just over 2 years ago we made the move up here to Boise. What a wonderful thing it has been for us to experience something new and to meet so many great people. We have loved it here and have enjoyed so many things about this time in our lives.

Of course, there is much more that can be shared and remembered . . .
The day that we were married continues to be among the best days of my life. Our experience in the sealing room of the temple was something that I am not sure can ever be surpassed in greatness for me. I remember looking into Mandy's eyes and (1) never feeling as much happiness as I felt in that moment and (2) never feeling closer to heaven. To this day, only the births of Simon, Ava, and Brahm even come close to that moment.

Mandy, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am so glad that we have been together these 10 years. I love you with all of my heart and cannot imagine my life without you!

Do any of you have any memories about us from that day or the proceeding years that you can share with us? We would love to read about them!

Kiddie Crafts

My kids make me laugh.

They refuse to play with any of their "expensive," store-bought toys.

Instead, they raid my pantry.  These little scavengers of mine play with anything they can get their hands on: straws, plastic cutlery, and in this case- paper bowls.  As you can see, they've personalized their own turn-of-the-century bowler hats. 

Lessons Learned

Ava is my second child.  She catches onto things very quickly and easily.  For instance, last summer at age 3 she had Jess remove her training wheels from her bike.  Ever since then, she has been riding a two wheeler with ease.  The same is true with swimming lessons.  She has inched her way up to Simon's skill level.  This little girl knows no fear. 

Ava practicing her backfloat.

Simon, on the other hand, is much more timid and fearful when it comes to trying new things.  This could be my fault.  Because he is my first, everything that he tries is new for me too.  I am a very cautious person, and that has probably rubbed off on him.  I'm new to the world of 6 year olds.  I need to let Simon move at his own pace.  I feel like I am the one who is holding him back.  Whereas with Ava, there are no limits. 

Simon and Ava in the water.

With all that being said, Simon and Ava are doing wonderfully - both in the swimming world and outside of it.