Learning

Today has been a really good day. I feel like I'm seeing life so clear and simple. And it came to me that I'm really learning. Life has its many trials and tests. We always hear that the important thing is to learn from them. Today I feel like I'm learning and its clear to me and somehow... simple. I've learned that I am truly grateful for the trials that I have. I know that they are mine and not someone else's... I wouldn't want anyone else's. I know the Lord knows how much I can handle and what will build the most character for me. I finally feel like I've come out of the trial and now I'm looking back and seeing what I've learned. I hope I'm not speaking too soon! Who knows what tomorrow will bring. But I feel blessed to be feeling this way today.

I have been learning that my trials bring me closer to my Savior. That his atonement is meant not just for sins but for pains, sorrows and heavy hearts. I've learned that I can rely on him to help lift that burden, and somehow, even though it doesn't just go away, we can be strong enough to make it through. And when we have made it through with him, we have become more like him. We have learned some of his character... compassion, forgiveness, patience, love, faith, work and so many others. Things feel so much lighter and happy at home lately. Which is such a relief. Things get too heavy sometimes in our house. The funny thing is that not much has changed like I would have thought it should have a few months ago in order to make life easier. Instead, our attitudes have changed and our works have kicked into high gear. I've learned that faith without works truly is dead. You aren't going to get anywhere without the work. We've been working and it feels good. It has been and still is a process, but has made a big difference.I'm learning how to make my home a temple. I'm so thankful for the process that has taken place to start doing just that! This one is still in the beginning stages, but it has brought so much peace to me and my family. I'm finally doing what I always thought a mother should do, but before had no idea how to do it (hope that makes sense). I'm learning to not let the world and Satan distract me. He is so cunning! And the world is so loud. I'm learning to shut out its noise in my house. It is so refreshing. I'm learning to take life at the Lord's pace, not the world's. No more chaos and rushing. No more putting off and distractions. Like I said, its still a work in progress. I'm not perfect! I am thankful for the talks and lessons in church today. It brought everything home to me. Kind of made it a full circle. I know that the Lord hears my prayers because that was an answer to prayer for me today. (Yet another thing I am learning... to recognize the Lord talking to me and answering me. And I'm learning to trust myself when I hear it! And the more I listen and follow through the more I will hear it!) I learned today that I have to get rid of the stony places in my heart due to weakness, hurts, and sins. And I need to pull up all the chaos of the worlds thorns so they won't choke out any progress I want to make. I need to embrace the trials and heat of the sun that life gives us and not let it scorch me but let it bring forth the fruits of my testimony.

I'm learning how to do it rather than just the know what I should do. I'm learning how to build character. I'm learning how to be more like the wife and mother my Savior would have me be. I've been married for coming on seven years, and am a mother to three beautiful children... its time I learn how to do these things. I'm sure life will bring on more opportunities to learn them some more. But I want the roots of my testimony to be deep and strong when those times come. And I want to always be found learning.

Tumble Dry Low

I can't seem to get this wrinkle out!

Ben is a climber. The only problem is that he can't get back down or out. But look at how proud of himself he is!

P*A*R*T*Y

Here are some random photos of the boys party at the park (more on their birthdays on the post below). We had a lot of fun even though it was a little cold. There was good company and good BBQ hot dogs. Mike had a lot of say in the party planning. He wanted to have it at the park and finally settled on having helicopter/plane cupcakes (at first it was Elmo?!?, then garbage trucks, then finally the helicopter). Ben didn't really care as long as he was fed, held and had room to roam and play.

here is most of the party goers during the "Happy Birthday" song

Carrie and baby Drake

Miss Abigail enjoying a cloud cupcake

This one is for Christine, it captures the excitement her boys have for the gifts being opened! Luke and Wyatt helping Ben with his gifts

Miss Stella waiting patiently for a cupcake

Carrie and birthday boy Benjamin

Abigail and Michael, birthday love

Jenny and baby Scarlett

Benjamin and his "uncle" Cooper (for real)

Luke and Michael playing in the sand

Papa Webb

My dad loves the grand babies. When ever we all get together you can find him holding one of the newer babies... or sometimes two.

Drake and Scarlett, the two newest additions to the Webb familyBen and Cooper

I know the grand babies love their "papa" too. Dad is always willing to get the babies to sleep or feed them some food. And the babies are always willing to give grandpa the best smiles and cuddles!

The Boys

(he is one by the way)

Happy Birthday Boys! How fun it is to celebrate together! Seeing that they are five days apart they better get use to it.

Hungry

Today is fast Sunday. I haven't fasted for quite awhile! In between pregnancy and nursing its been a LONG while. I decided I need the extra help today and should start fasting.

Ben will be one this month...ONE. And I'm still nursing him. This isn't really a big deal, I've nursed all my babies over a year (avg. is 15months for us). But Ben has been a little different. He is my hungriest baby by far, still nursing about five times in the day on top of solid three meals. Which no one would guess. He is my skinniest baby by far too. He must have a high metabolism. That or he is just so busy he burns it off quickly, which could also be the case.

Anyway, he gets so hungry that I don't know if I'm giving him enough milk to satisfy him sometimes. So we started giving him a little formula (I've only bought one can in his whole life). Hence my decision to fast... I can give him formula today and be ok.
Now to my point of this post.

Wow, I'm hungry today! I don't know if its that I've forgotten how hunger feels... or if its the fact that my body is producing milk still and taking my nutrients. All I know is I'm a little cranky and irritable. But I've felt the spirit today and received a few answers to prayer. Definitely worth the hunger. Oh, and Ben is doing just fine with formula today.

Can't Be True

Today we registered my innocent sweet baby girl for KINDERGARTEN. She is ready. Mom, not so much. But then again, when she is sassy like above picture... mom's ready too.

Life

Life gets hard sometimes... and the blog takes the back burner. Since life isn't ever easy, I won't promise you I will be updating regularly. But I want to try to update at least once in a while. Lots has happened since August. Our family has had a lot of ups and downs these last six months (more details in future posts) I have a ton of pictures I've taken and Tim is working nights again, so updates here we come! In case you forgot what we looked like, here are our most recent family photos.

Here Fishy Fishy

We have had a lot of it this summer. Between Dad and Mickey's beach pool, Cam and Jenny's pool and a ward friends pool... we haven't had a problem with getting our fill in.

Mr. Benjamin. He has become a seasoned "beach pool bum." Even though he is always covered in sunscreen, he still has gotten a little tan. You can tell by looking between his little chubby crease lines around his ankles!
(Benji waiting to enjoy a day at the pool)

He is the most spoiled baby, being held by everyone. He eats it up!

(my beautiful cousin Misty holding him at Stella's Birthday pool party)

Too bad I didn't get a good picture of Mickey holding Ben. She was such a help chilling out with him in the shade.

(you can see Mickey and Ben in the background. Thats our set up at the beach pool, very close to when we really do go to the beach, we had our own umbrella and of course the ice chest with food)

When it got too hot Ben really enjoyed a dip in the pool. His favorite was when he was getting tired and I would sway him in the water on his side. He would just close his eyes and coo, must have reminded him of the womb. Most of the time he was a good baby, until he wasn't. And then it was time to go home.

(tired Ben, so sad and ready to go home)

Mikey, Mike. These pictures do a good job of summing up what Mike thinks about swimming.

("cheese")

(I can just hear it now, "I'm goin' to shoot you mom!" give him something that shoots water and he is a happy camper)

He loves the water (has since he was a baby). This was the first year he really got to use his floaties. He took to them no problem. He would kick himself around and then just float, hanging out by himself. Then he would get bored and yell to someone to help him. In other words, he was too dang lazy to kick his legs and wanted someone to pull him to the shallow end!

(being lazy eating his cupcake and drinking some soda at Stella's party)

Mike has always been good with entertaining himself. He will go off and have fun. One of his favorite spots was the water spitting frog. The last few times we went to the beach pool he figured out how to stand straddling the water at the frogs mouth, looking like he was peeing (such a boy).

(just a cute picture of my Mikey boy, ruined by a nice booger)

Miss Abigail. She pretty much learned how to swim this year. Somehow we still haven't gotten her in swim lessons. But its okay seeing that with a little help from Grandpa Webb and watching Wyatt, she decided she didn't need them to start learning. I think the goggles were the key. Seeing under the water is so cool that it makes holding your breath easy to do.

She got really good at playing mermaid and swimming under the water. And it always helps to have a pink swimsuit, especially one with a tutu!

Besides keeping my eye on her and responding to the frequent "Mom... watch me!" I don't get to see too much of her at the pool. She enjoys playing with her cousins so much. When we go swimming without a cousin she gets kind of bored with mom.

(playing in the sand, using that imagination)

The adults... we enjoyed talking with one another trying to stay cool and watch all the kids.

(here is a typical picture of us at the pool, far left is Jenny and Stella, Abigail, Me, Dad, Mickey and Luke -- Christine was probably chasing after Levi when this was taken)

I would have to say that every ones favorite thing was when Grandpa was able to come swim, either right before or after a flight. The kids all love to swim with Grandpa, and I always enjoy talking with my dad. I have to send out a thank you to Dad and Mickey for letting us enjoy the beach pool again this summer. Without a doubt we had fun going and making summer swimming memories!