Weekends

I am thankful for weekends.

Saturday: Unlimited "daddy-time," watching the BYU football game, cleaning an empty house while the kids were riding bikes outside (with mittens and hats on :) Joseph keeping an eye on them as he hung up our Christmas lights, going out to dinner (early--because by 6 pm it simply gets too busy), working on Bentley's VIP poster for preschool on Monday, and hanging out with Joseph's little brother Bob who helped with the lights and entertaining the kids.

Sunday: church in the morning, naps in the afternoon, and Sunday dinner with family. Plain and simple and wonderful. I love Sundays.

Oh, and Cares has been working on potty time since Thursday. And Thursday felt like a total bust--no fun at all and little success. But then Friday was better, and Saturday was even better, and today she went all by herself during nursery and didn't have any accidents. We'll see what happens...

A few pics from Bentley's VIP poster:

My newborn baby boy

At 16 months old

Christmas 2006

cousin pile-up this summer

Children

I am incredibly thankful for my sweet, crazy, funny, tender, cuddly, bright, and energetic children (including my tiny one who is kicking away inside me as I type :)

I love this girl's legs and adorable toddler body

and her expressive, long tongue

and her girliness and sweetness

I love this boy's spunk and creativity

his insatiable energy and happy moods

and that I can still get him to nap with me once or twice a week

My Day

Yesterday was one of those days where I was going and going and working and working (much like the Energizer bunny...) which I haven't done enough of in the past few months. It felt so good to get so much done but by the end of the night, I was totally wiped out (my pregnant body definitely added to my frazzled state). The thing about this job of "mom" and "general manager" of our home and family is that there isn't always a lot to show for all my work at the end of the day. The sink may be free of dishes or the toys all picked up but those tasks certainly don't take up an entire day.

Well, my sister told me about a busy mom she knows who writes down all the things she does in a day just to remind herself that she is actually accomplishing a lot even though there aren't always tangible or visual results of her efforts. I copied this idea yesterday and I felt so very fulfilled at the end of the day (even if I did induce the mother of all lower back pains and feel a migraine coming on around 10:00 pm...it was worth it :)

My day, Monday, November 10th:

--dropped Bentley off at preschool
--came home and washed all the dishes in the sink, started the dishwasher
--put Cares' laundry away
--pulled out all the remaining summer dresses from her closet and stored them away
--did Caroline's hair
--showered and got ready for the day
--went to the grocery store
--picked up Bentley from school
--came home and made lunch: read Domino while I ate and felt very inspired to clean out my linen closet and get it all organized and lovely
--rid my fridge of all its old food
--pulled out 2 fridge shelves (1 at a time) and cleaned them in the kitchen sink
--1/2 way organized the laundry room--it still needs some help
--started Bentley's laundry
--laid Cares down for a nap (and caught a 20 minute snooze myself)
--played army guys on Mega Blocks forts with Bentley while Cares slept
--finally gave-in and pulled out ALL my maternity clothes and put most of them away in my closet and drawers
--cleared out and organized the entire hallway linen closet (boy do I have a lot of sheets and pillows and old beach towels to donate to the DI!)
--met Joseph for dinner
--ran to Wal-Mart for a few closet organizing tools and Christmas gifts while Joseph took the kids home and got them dressed for bed
--came home and had a short little FHE about being thankful (we are really trying to teach the kids to say more than just 1 thing they are thankful for in their prayers--lately it's been "we're thankful for this day" and that's it.)
--read to Bentley and got him to bed (while Joseph helped Caroline)
--folded Bentley's laundry while watching Sunday's episode of The Amazing Race.
--finished the linen closet
--took some Tylenol and went to bed

one of the great ideas from Domino--tying sheet sets together with a ribbon

Today, and every day, I am thankful for my home.

Even though it requires a lot of work (and it's not even lawn and garden season anymore), I love the fact that Joseph and I have our very own place. We are so, so blessed to have such a comfortable home in a neighborhood filled with wonderful people.

Joseph

I am so very grateful for a good husband. And the father he is to our children.

He's the kind who will help me at 2:00 am by carrying our very upset and throw-up covered daughter into the bathroom, taking off her messy PJs and rinsing them out in the sink (along with her very yucky blankie), washing her face, brushing her teeth, changing her into clean clothes, and all the while talking to her in the sweetest and most tender voice to help her feel reassured in her sad little state. And then, by laying in bed with her for an hour and half in the middle of the night and helping her during 2 more sick bouts. She finally fell asleep for good like a koala wrapped around his chest at 3:25 am.

I love that man.

Mom's Best Friend

Today, I am grateful for Mega Blocks.

They just allowed me 30 minutes (and counting....) of uninterrupted computer time to check my surprisingly full inbox today--made me feel so popular :) And the kids are still playing peacefully together. Ahhh, the simple pleasures of motherhood.

What I Can Do

During the past few days I have felt overwhelmed by the weight of the world, mostly because of the impending election and the endless talk about serious issues that face our country. I want to be an informed citizen, an educated person and aware of all that we face--but even more so, I want to know how we can resolve things, how we can put broken pieces back together--even if it takes a brand new arrangement--and how I can make sure I am doing my part. Last night, I realized that all of it is just so much bigger than me (genius realization I know...) and once I vote, then my tiny role in it all is over--it is out of my hands and into a civic leader's--whether I voted them in with the majority or not.

No, I cannot fix our nation's economic crisis, nor can I heal international relationships, ensure soldier safety in wars overseas, and secure my husband's job as a member of a small business. And these are things that I honestly worry and think about.

So, what do I have control over? Me. And my attitude and my actions. My daily job is to care for my children, and in that role, I do face important tasks. I am the one responsible for teaching them to be good, to be fair, to love, to be kind, to work hard, to strive for achievement, to value education, to stand up for what is right and to know and love their God with all their hearts. I believe in these things fervently and have found renewed vigor in sharing them with my family--knowing that they serve a purpose, that they will change lives and they will make this country a better place--even if it's only because there are 2 more LeBarons in America who are willing to work and learn and contribute while knowing and living the Gospel.

I realize that this is a tall order. It will be hard and involve a lot of patience and courage--especially as my kids grow older and want to push all their boundaries--I will really need courage then. But I am not afraid of my ultimate goal. I am a mother and there is serious power in that common, everyday role. But it is my role and I believe that my Father in Heaven has prepared me all my life to raise these children. He has actually given me a tremendous gift in letting me know them and love them too. Their tender spirits have affected mine for good a thousand times over in the past 4 1/2 years. So, today, and every day, I will remind myself that in my own and very small way I am helping our great country by being the best mom I can be.

On another note, November is a month for gratitude so I want to include things I am grateful for with each post. On Monday night we all sat on the couch together for Family Home Evening and sang I am A Child of God. It was such a simple moment but it humbled me and filled my heart with joy. The 3 who make up my little family (Joseph, Cares and Beans) are amazing people in my life and I know they are God's children. And I thank Him for letting each of them be mine too.

I am grateful for primary songs.

Seriously, I love them all.

Silly Tag

This is Joseph. In a surprise coup I've taken over the blog! My brother-in-law Ben Allen tagged me for this post. If your name is at the bottom of this entry, beware. You are tagged and must fill out the answers to the following pressing questions and display them on your wife's blog -- or your own blog if you swing that way.

Joseph's Joys
1. Eating out
2. Eating in. I really just love eating. Something about it...
3. Making Carrie laugh so hard she either pees or cries
4. Bedtime hugs from my rascal kids
5. Making babies. Wink.

Joseph's Fears
1. Losing control over important bodily functions
2. Becoming a dancer
3. Polar bears
4. Socks with sandals
5. Carrie's Target or TJ receipts

5 Surprising Facts about Joseph
1. My feet are intensely ticklish
2. I hate listening to a cappella music... I only like singing it
3. I've had 18 pets (not counting fish) with no plans for more
4. I don't like to brag, but I am a-mazing in the sack. I mean in a potato sack race. Wait, what were you thinking?
5. I am sometimes inappropriate

Joseph tags:
1. John and Krista LeBaron
2. Mike and Lydia Metcalf
3. Chris and Beth Anne Service
4. Rob and Flori Christensen
5. Tye and Stacey Smith

The good news is, if you respond to this tag, you are instantly awesome. The bad news is, Carrie just peed her pants.