Picture Overload!

I had another little photo-shoot with my kiddos -- just using a simple camera and iPhoto. I love pictures, and especially pictures of my children. Isn't it interesting that your OWN kids hold such power over your eyes? Like they have some magical power to draw you (their parent) to them -- over all other children. I mean, sure, other kids are cute . . . but none can compare with mine to me, or yours to you. It is a special thing, that power. Anyway, I know they are more adorable to me then they are to you . . . but here are my precious babies. I love them all. 

In no particular order . . . 

Henry 

He is precious and chubby-cute. I love him so much! 

 Bright eyes

 Going for his thumb

 Dan the Man

Move over Harrison Ford! 

 Sammi Sunshine 

I wish everyone had a Sammi, she is so fantastic! Love her!

 The skies are full of smoke, it added an interesting look

 Sammi is growing up so fast! She is almost a young woman! 

More Dan

I love my Dan, he is awesome. 

 Love this one . . .

 William 

He is my Silly-Willy, for sure. Love this boy!

He was not too excited to have his picture taken . . . he would only let me get pictures while he was swinging . . . this is all I got! 

 This one turned out cute . . . 

Love my cutie-heads! 

Needed

Eleven years ago, a child was placed in my arms, and, for the first time . . . I became a Mother. 

(Here I am being a concerned mother . . . if you could only see the anxiety I had having my baby on a boat! YIKES!)

I felt overwhelmed with joy and anxiety as they placed Samantha in my arms, and told me she was mine to keep. Prior to giving birth I had been working in the infant room at the the hospital Child Development Center. I thought certainly after caring for 4-6 infants at a time, I would be ready to bring home a child of my own. 

 But it was SO different. She was mine 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Always and forever, mine. My responsibility. Mine to lead and guide and walk beside. (And I was not being paid for it!) I remember feeling the weight of the task almost as soon as I left the care of the maternity center, and I brought her home. Everything around me looked like a potential hazard. All the normal objects in my home suddenly became weapons that could injure my precious child. It took awhile -- a long while -- to relax and soak in the joy of having a child.

 Sammi really was (and still is) a joy. 

Something became very apparent to me as I entered the world of motherhood. It became very clear to me that I was needed. The child that God sent to me needed me. The child was sent to me specifically to love and care for. Sure I worked with a bunch of precious babies before, and performed important tasks at other different places of employment. But in the world of the work-force, I was replaceable. Easily replaceable. 

But in my home, there was (and is) NO ONE to replace me. I was (and am) priceless. Irreplaceable. Needed. Without me my children would not survive. (Not to mention, Charles, too!) Without me, home would not be home. Without me, there would be nothing . . . when it comes to my family. I am the Mother. And THAT is power. 

With great power comes great responsibility. 

I was just thinking about how many valuable tasks I perform in a day, as a wife and mother. Even crucial tasks. Life and death tasks! 

• I feed my children, daily
• I help Charles with his work (if I didn't, we would starve)
• I give Henry daily medicine (his kidney's would become infected without it)
• I use my body to feed Henry
• I wake-up in the night to feed Henry (if I didn't he would starve)
• Diapers . . . and more diapers 
• I bathe the children
• I clean/organize the house (if I didn't -- YIKES!)
• I teach my children the gospel
• I pray with them everyday
• I read scriptures with them daily
• I teach them right and wrong (they still have agency, of course. And trust me, they use it!!) 
• I repair scrapes and open-wounds
• I wash clothes
• I keep a family history and pictures for their future
• I send out all the bills/maintain family finances
• I chauffeur them to and from school
• I help with school tasks and assignments
• Attend their concerts/games
• I take them to medical/dental appointments
• I play with them
• I laugh with them
• I love them
• Am I forgetting something? Yes, a BUNCH of things! 
• etc., etc., etc. . .  forever.
• Oh, and I try to take care of me, too . . . no wonder I am tired! 

The look on my face is a good description of how I feel a lot of the time! Help!

Being needed is something special. My kids don't just need me -- they WANT me, too. I will never be fired, or let go! I will be a mother FOREVER! 

Mari van Ormer, M.O.M.

Best. Title. Ever.

 I am once again found with a new baby in my arms. And it is so much more enjoyable than it was 11 years ago. After 11 years of being a mom --- and all that that entails -- I can honestly say I love it now, more than ever. With time, and experience, it really does get easier, or rather, maybe you just learn to calm down and relax -- because that is all you CAN do! 

If you are a mama, and feeling a little low (It happens, right? It is a heavy load to carry!), just remember that only YOU can do it. You are loved. You are wanted. You are NEEDED! 

There is NO worldly accomplishment that can ever compete with being a Mom. 

What do you make . . . Moms make people! 

Who do you work for . . . God! 

It doesn't get any better than that! 

Enjoy it! 

*I wrote this while breastfeeding. :-) 

Thumb-Sucking Baby

 A few weeks ago Henry found his thumb, and he has not let go since! 

I think it is so adorable. It is nice because he never loses it -- it is always with him. He hates a binky, and will only take a thumb! I sure love this cutie-head! Look at those cute chubby thighs! They are just perfect and squishy -- why can't chubby thighs be cute on a grown-up?! 

Good Morning.

 This little guy was in my door window, just saying hello. I know I said "what's next" after the crazy storms . . . 

let's hope it is not a plague of frogs! :-) 

Storm Continued . . .

I woke up yesterday to the sound of clanking metal. I looked out the window and this is what I saw . . . .Yep, that is the debris left over from the flying trampoline. (They were cleaning it out of the field and hauling it away.) Crazy storm! 

Storms

 A few days ago, Grandpa came into the kitchen after checking the weather, and said there was a storm coming in the next few minutes. Sure enough, a few minutes after his announcement -- BAM! The trees all flattened and swirled in a way I had never seen before. I was just about to have Daniel go out and take down the shade umbrella, when the umbrella and everything else in our yard began soaring in the wind. It was crazy! It looked like our yard was being mixed in a blender. The kids were all worried because I said the word "tornado." It was moving in such a strange swirling motion, that is what it appeared to be. (It was actually a downburst.) Daniel screamed like a little girl and ran into grandma's arms. It did not last long, but it caused some pretty good damage for it's short duration. Charles even saw a large trampoline flying through the air. He wasn't lying -- yesterday I saw the trampoline debris out in an open field. It was crazy, but also exciting for those of us who love a good storm. My mom and I went driving around after it was over, to see what damage had been done throughout the city. I was certain the whole city would be mangled by the fierce winds. But after driving just a few streets down -- there was nothing. No sign of debris, a storm, or anything. It was an isolated burst, right over our neighborhood! Weird?! 

 The poor neighbors lost a beautiful tree in their front yard . . . 

STORM VIDEO: 




That downburst happened the day after we had just driven through this storm . . . (got these dust-storm images off the internet, the first image is the same storm). On our drive back from Utah we saw this massive cloud of dust coming our way. All the way from Twin Falls to Boise we were driving in darkness, wind, and debris. At one point it was really unnerving -- the ground was barren and charred from recent fires, the sun was red and shaded by the thick smoke and dust, and there was a vapor of darkness everywhere you looked. It was very erie, like a scene from an alien destruction movie, or something.  At least it made the world's most boring drive (from Utah to Idaho) a little more exciting! When we got home the city of Boise was covered in darkness and dust. Never seen anything like it! 

And this morning, this was my view . . . smoke from a large fire nearby. Not the best running conditions! 

Crazy weather around here! Dare I ask . . . what's next?? 

Family Faces and Family Places

 My Mother has these beautiful Willow Tree figurines (now in our home), to symbolize our family. I love them. They each mean something different, and my mother chose a figurine to represent each of her children, and who they are. I asked her why she chose the particular figurine for each child, and she said there was a little bit of each charecteristic in all of her children. But she had to label us with just one word -- one word which she believes represents us the most. (The word is on the bottom of the figurine.) You may think, "Nah, Mom . . . you're wrong, that word is not me." But she is the mom, and mother knows best. :-) 

Mom and Dad

It is an anniversary piece, on the back it says:

"I Love Thee" 

I am so grateful that my parents love each other. I've always loved how dad puts his arm around my mom, and she leans in . . . just like this. 

True to form . . .

So glad they love each other! 

Their love begat children -- 5 of them. Each unique and different. 

*The following explanations are written by me -- not mom . . . if you want a more thorough explanation of who you are, ask her. Or, if you don't like who she thinks you are, then change. :-) 

Bob

"Inquisitive"

Meaning: curious or inquiring

Bob is always up on the latest technology, and using his mind to stay current on the next big thing. He is always thinking and questioning, and moving forward. He is a great business manager and a great father. Bob is always very generous, and he wants you to try "it" if he thinks "it" is good. He is a risk-taker, and loves doing crazy things like riding motorcycles. He is a great big brother . . . I could always count on protection from him when I was a little girl. He is fantastic. I love him.  

Kary

"Joyful"

Meaning: feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness.

Kary is often the life of the party, singing, dancing, or being silly. She is always the motivator, and trying to help others find their own sense of happiness.This translated well into being an awesome gym teacher, and now a great mother. She keeps running to maintain the bounce in her step. She is a joy to be around, I love her. 

Beth

"Thoughtful"

Meaning: caring, mindful.

Bethanie is always willing to help, and give a hand to those in need. She is always there when you need her. She has helped take care of many of her nieces and nephews, and those around her. She worked with special needs children, that she loved dearly. Now she takes great care of her own beautiful boys. She is very thoughtful and mindful of others. She is a sweet sister. I love her. 

Mari 

"Spirited" 

Meaning: lively, vivacious 

 I am a lover of deep conversation and understanding. I can get pretty passionate about things, even dumb things. In other words . . . don't get me started! (However, I am calming down A LOT in my old age!) But there is some inner-fire that burns, and most of the time I am not sure which way to fan that fire. (If you have been reading my blog, you would know that is true!) I would not necessarily call me "lively" or "vivacious" on the outside, but definitely on my insides! I have surely needed my "spirit" as the companion to Charles, and helping him in all his (our) ventures. I love being a mom -- Moms are awesome. And I laugh at my daughter, who is turning out "spirited" just like me. :-)

 :-) 

  John

"Imaginative"

Meaning: having or showing creativity and inventiveness.

Johnny is always using his great imagination. That is what he does for work. From the time he was really little he was always creating things. It has transferred well into what he does now designing and creating websites, and instructional videos (and various other things that I don't understand). I remember when we were younger we would spend time creating songs together, and I was always amazed at what he pulled out of the air. Who knows what all is in his mind? Lots of crazy stuff, I am sure. He is my baby-brudder. I love him. 

 The whole family 

My parent's love begat: Inquisitive, joyful, thoughtful, spirited, and imaginative children.

Way to go Mom and Dad!   

 Who are you in your family? 

If your mom were to label you . . . what would be your word?