Happy Valentines Day

Landon:

Happy 29th to him!!! He got Hi Chew candy from Ty, basketball tickets to the Pacers from Jax and a tweener coat from me. Some Amazon money from parents. And some really nice cards and letter to add to the Landon dictionary. Oh I also donated to cougar board on his behalf so he can be considered a donor and have his name bolded. It's Cougar Board thing :).  He had biscuits and gravy for breakfast, chick fil a for lunch and we made him salmon and fettuccini Alfredo. He also finally got an ice cream cake for his birthday! I also took him out to dinner Friday to Union 50. So fun! And thank you to Amber and Joel:). 

Becca:

I had the worst back pain at the beginning of the week. It got so bad I couldn't move and was sobbing from the pain. Thankfully Landon called a friend over to help give me a peristhood blessing and my SIL diagnosed that I was having back spasms and she order some perscription for me. Which then knocked me out for the next 24 hours. 

But I was able to wake up just in time to get with the Mia Maids and set up/decorate for new beginnings. I love those YW. We also did the coolest fundraiser for the youths summer camps! Love the youth and the people I work with! People inspire me.

Don't hate me, but I just have to say that my week was so busy with my back and my calling at church. But when I got home Saturday night after the fundraiser the house was clean. It only took about an hour early Saturday morning to clean the house but because I tidied as I went through the week and everything had a home my house was still tidied and clean after a week where normally it wouldn't have been. Thank you KonMari:). 

Jax:

I took Jax on a date this week. I got him a hat and we had some ice cream! I love this little Valentine of mine. He also was able to go to a Vday play group and help me with daddy's birthday. Because of my back I slept in the family room on Jaxs bed so Jax slept on my bed with daddy. He sure moves around. He and daddy continue to read chapter books together and finished Flat Stanley and are in Ralph S Mouse right now. 

Ty:

Is crawling and climbing and getting into everything. And it makes me happy. He and Jax continue to get closer. My biggest goal as a mom is that my children develop there own testimony. My second biggest goal is that they are best friends. Every day I'm very intentional about making sure Jax and Ty have alone time together, sit together and communicate. It's so so so important to me! My kids ages won't be as close as I hoped they be but I'm still very hopeful they can be best friends! 

I love this so much!!! And want to become this wise. I also love this thought my friend shared with me: 

"I'm grateful for a mom who is absolutely one of the kindest/wisest people ever. Growing up, and still today, whenever someone came to my mom with gossip, I always heard her say things like:

"I hope that's not true." Or "Well, that's none of my business." Or "That doesn't sound like the [insert name of subject of gossip here] I know."

So, in case you didn't already know this about me, I'm going to stick with Elder Uchtdorf when it comes to gossip. I hope you will too. Because it's really mean. #stopit"

My new goal is to have gossip stop at my ears and not start with me mouth!! Help me if I make a mistake:). 

How cute is that?? 

"I Just Wanted a Mint"

Jaxson:

Today I saw Jax experience real remorse for the first time in his life. I found out from his babysitter at church that he asked her to give him a mint from a box of mints that he knew was reserved for a special time. He took it and then right before he went to bed he said, "oh and don't tell mommy." 

I approached Jax about it. I didn't realize it would impact him so much, in hindsight I wish I had talked to Landon about it first. But come on, it was just a mint, and I thought it was mostly sneaky and clever and funny. 

So I said in a really calm non angry way, (seriously I wasn't expecting this to turn into to a big thing), "Jaxson! Rachel told me that you asked her to give you a mint and then you told her not to tell me about it." 

The further I got into it the more I could see his face get scared and nervous and aware that "oh no mommy found out". When daddy heard the story he sat up and looked at Jax. And then... Jax lost it. Literally, I've never heard or seen him cry like this and through the tears he said, "I just wanted a mint!" He was so disappointed that he had disobeyed us. He had great remorse.  

He proceeded to cry on my lap for five minutes. When he finished crying I first made sure he knew I loved him very much. I honestly didn't realize this was going to be a teaching moment. But since his pain and emotions were serious I thought I should match them. So we talked about right and wrong and about how there are consequences for our actions. We then together decided that the consequence for his actions was to write Rachel an apology letter and take it to her. He also had to hand it to her and say "I'm sorry I lied to you Rachel." 

He was incredibly nervous about that part. He was shaking and tearing up when we pulled up to Rachel's house. So we said a prayer together that he would be courageous like Nephi from the Book of Mormon. He cautiously knocked on the door and asked for Rachel and then said clearly and courageously, "I'm sorry I lied to you." 

He skipped all the way to the car.

This moment impacted me so much. My heart broke when he was on my lap sobbing. His 4 year old heart was shattered at a 4 year old capacity. He felt bad and disappointed and sad. He couldn't calm himself down. 

I couldn't help but think abou how many times I've cried to God, my Heavenly Father, about the things I have done wrong. And frankly, I felt guilt in that moment for all things I should have felt so much remorse about, but didn't. I mean, I've surely done worse than take a mint and not tell my mom. 

But as I watched Jax skip to the car from Rachel's house, I saw his remorse get washed away and his joy was restored. 

I got emotional driving home knowing that Jax gets to feel joy and I get to feel  joy because we have a Savior that has taken all our sins and shortcomings and hardships and remorse on him. I can truly be forgiven, buoyed up, and even just changed for the better if I just apply the atonement daily! 

This moment was one of my favorite parenting moments ever. I could appreciate and almost feel proud about his great remorse, but not be affected by the "bad" decision/choice. Casue seriously, it was just a mint haha!!

Basically what you've learned tonight is.... I run a tight ship here people, and don't you forget it ;)

Landon: 

Went to Florida to present a paper he helped published, cleaned the church, painted our walls back to white, just rocks! 

Becca

I started writing my book, hosted book club on, of course, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, went to the Relief Society Education night, and am finally feeling 100% myself again since Ty! Yay!

Ty: 

Can climb stairs, can fall terribly, has probably transitioned to just two naps, is so pleasant and happy! Oh and he sucks on his blanket all the time in his crib. It's the cutest.