Picture Perfect

Lately I have received quite a few comments about how perfect my family looks.

This statement couldn't be further from the truth!

Although I love my family,

and tend to think that they are pretty perfect at times,

we are not even close to perfection.

I would like to share a story with you that happened to our family in July.

I was coming home late from a long day at Girl's Camp,

where I didn't have any phone service.

As soon as I got into cell range I received a text from Spencer that said,

"I'm so so sorry."

The rest of the texts didn't come through for several minutes and my heart was racing.

What could've happened?

Were the kids okay?

Was the house okay?

Was Spencer okay?

What happened?

It was the worst kind of suspense.

Apparently,

while playing in the living room,

Aniston had gotten her neck/head stuck between our two couches which had been situated in an "L" shape.

(the below picture is them pushed closer together to avoid this situation again)

Spencer had actually fallen asleep in the toy room and wasn't sure how long Aniston had been stuck for or how long she had been crying and screaming,

but eventually her cries woke him up and he was able to help her break free.

It was one of those moments that just happens.

It wasn't anyone's fault.

I certainly don't blame Spencer at all.

It's exhausting watching our two little crazies all day,

I myself have been known to fall asleep on the job more than once.

Maybe like once a day actually...

It wasn't something that we even considered could happen.

Do you consider your couches to be dangerous?

We certainly didn't.

Thankfully she wasn't seriously hurt or injured.

It was a moment that brought awareness to our family.

It was a great learning experience.

We have since arranged the couches in a manner that would prevent this from ever happening again.

Her bruises for the next week that covered her neck and face just broke my heart.

She said that they didn't hurt,

but it just looked so awful!

They were a constant reminder that things could change in an instant.

They were a reminder to hold your loved ones a little tighter,

to thank our Heavenly Father for our family and the blessings they bring into our lives,

and they were a reminder that no one is perfect.

When people suggest that my family looks perfect,

maybe it's because we are happy.

Because we are really happy.

Not always,

but overall we are happy and satisfied with our lives.

We work really hard to spend time with each other,

keep traditions alive,

make memories with each other,

and to put family first.

We also argue like crazy,

drive each other nuts,

and need alone time every now and then.

But that doesn't mean that we aren't constantly striving to love each other completely.

It doesn't mean that we don't put each other first.

It doesn't mean that we wouldn't give up everything else for each other.

It simply means that we love each other and are 100% human.

My family is far from perfect,

but we are perfectly happy trying really hard to have the best life we can with each other.

DAY 1682... When Things Don't Go As Planned

We have prepared for a couple of months for Aniston's first primary program.

Seriously,

I have been looking forward to her first primary program for years even before she was born!

We listened to the music in the car nonstop,

we practice her part at home over and over,

we talked about the program all the time,

we encouraged her constantly,

bought a new dress,

invited Nana and Papa and Ryan to come watch,

curled her hair,

basically,

we were 100% prepared for the primary program.

But,

due to an incident with the water during the sacrament moments before the program,

everything fell apart.

Needless to say,

Aniston's first primary program did not go as planned.

Not at all.

Aniston refused to smile,

speak,

stand,

or sing

during the entire program.

She basically sat in her chair,

in the front row,

and glared at me.

Her teacher,

bless her heart,

 eventually held her because she looked like she was ready to burst into tears at one point.

I was really upset,

disappointed,

angry,

annoyed,

and embarrassed.

I wanted to punish her for throwing a fit in front of the entire ward.

I wanted leave church and just go home and forget the rest of my meetings.

But we stayed.

And in young women's,

our lesson was on Christ like love.

A lesson that I desperately needed to hear.

I couldn't keep it together the entire lesson.

I was literally bawling my eyes out the entire time.

Those poor teenage girls probably think I'm a basket case.

It occurred to me how heartless I was being,

especially as a parent.

Aniston didn't need to be punish her,

tell her how disappointed I was in her,

or be upset with her.

She needed me,

as her mother,

to remind her that I still love her.

She needed me to tell her that it's okay that it didn't go as planned,

and that there will be many times when life won't go as planned,

and that that's okay.

I don't know exactly what happened.

I don't know what she was feeling.

Maybe she just got scared,

or maybe it was something else,

but regardless,

I have been there before.

I know the feeling of being scared and in front of a crowd.

I know the feeling of anxiety.

It's not fun.

I put myself in her shoes and instantly realized how wrong I was.

Maybe that's why I couldn't stop crying.

I needed to STOP IT.

I needed to show my beautiful daughter a more Christlike love.

During our lesson,

our teacher showed us clips of the following talk.

Watch it!

All of it!

I feel know that this talk will change my life.

I'm so grateful for days like today.

Days where I am reassured that no matter how hard things may seem that I'm doing okay.

I'm where I need to be,

doing what I need to be doing,

and that I'm doing better than I think I am.

Being able to be constantly taught,

and to realize that Heavenly Father knows me,

and knows what I need every second of every day,

is so comforting to me.

Regardless of how much we plan,

hope,

or bargain for things to go the way we planned,

things rarely go the way that we plan for.

It's part of life.

And definitely part of life when children are involved!

But it's okay.

And sometimes,

not today in my case,

but sometimes it actually goes better than you ever could've planned or hoped for.

DAY 1674... Patches, Pumpkins, and Pranks

Pumpkin Patches just happen to be one of my most favorite things ever!

It is one of my dreams to own my own amazing pumpkin patch someday.

I actually have plans all drawn up.

They change every year, 

but only for the better!

One of my most favorite traditions is taking our family photo on the hay!

We have done it every year for the past 6 years!

It's my FAVORITE!!!

This is by far our favorite place to go in Idaho Falls.

We have gone every year since we've moved to Rexburg.

It will be sad to not visit it next year,

but it will be awesome because we will finally be in the real world!

Benson doesn't really like to get dirty,

so he didn't love playing with the pumpkins.

Plus,

he is still feeling a little under the weather.

See the picture below...

Those crossed feet though...

Both kids LOVED riding in the wagon.

Probably a little selfish to have used it to cart around my kids while other people were carrying enormous pumpkins cause there were no wagons left...

Benson finally smiled when he saw the train.

He LOVES trains!

Seriously...
Someone pinch me!
These are my kids!
I made that!

Pure love!

Both kids LOVED climbing up the big hay bales.

It was so fun that Benson was old enough to play around while we were there this year.

Confession.

We ended up buying our pumpkins from Walmart.

We made it out to the patch a little late this year,

so Walmart was our best option.

This girl.

She is hilarious!

Aniston's face!

Hahahaha!

Tears and sass.

Benson kept eating the pumpkin when he was scooping out the insides.

Would you expect anything else from our Nightmare Before Christmas loving family?
Spencer free handed Oogie Boogie,
and I had to use a stencil to handle the much simpler Jack.
Moral of the story,
my husband is an amazing artist!

The kids are OBSESSED!

Especially when we light them up.

Benson points them out every time he passes them in the kitchen.

We don't put them outside,

since Aniston's pumpkin was stolen last year.

It was a big ordeal and I really don't want to go through that again.
But it's fun at night to turn off all the lights and to let them glow.

A few weeks back,

Spencer and I bought this creepy shower curtain at the Halloween Store to scare my Mom.

It definitely freaked her out a little (see video below).

But the joke's on me...

Now my kids are terrified of Nana's bathroom.

Benson actually won't even walk down the hall unless I hold his hand because he is scared of it.

I just LOVE October! 

Flannel,

changing leaves,

pumpkin patches,

Halloween.

My kid's Halloween costumes are to die for this year!

I can't wait to show you soon!

HAPPY OCTOBER!!!!