30 Days of Giving Thanks!

You know with Nov. starting tomorrow and knowing this is the season for gratitude I want to try something a little different. I have felt from the time Molly was born that I needed to instill in my children the trait of gratitude. I have done family home evening on this and I have started a gratitude family journal that we would write in on Mon. nights, but we haven't been really good at that lately. So I thought that during the month of November I would post something I was grateful for, Some days might be really long post (you don't have to read the long ones, You don't have to read any if you don't want) and some days might just be a sentence, but I will give the my gratitude posts their own post, and will try and keep up with the family life blog as well. I know that will be hard, but I really think that this is important for me to do for my family. It could be a trial, or experience that I am grateful for, an item, a lesson, an idea anything at all.I want to start off with a quote that President Monson used in this Octobers general conference...

"Both abundance and lack [of abundance] exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend...when we chose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that's present- love, health, family, friends, work the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us [happiness]-the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth."

-Sarah Ban Breathnach

Making a List...

I was on my way home from my mom's one day and had taken her fisher price mailer. When I looked in my rearview mieror this is what I saw. I waited for a red light to take the picture but I just got such a kick out of it. We talked about how to make a list for Santa. She just makes me smile!

New Ideas!

K funny Molly is always finding new things to do. I went down stairs to change the laundry and this is what I found...

That's right Molly has discovered that playing in the soap is so much fun. Try opening the top with out letting the soap fall in on the clean clothes. I had to sweep it off before I opened it, which is just what I wanted to do at 11:30 p.m. She is always finding creative things to do and get into.

Halloween.

K so Wednesday we had the ward or "neighborhood" Halloween party. I have never dressed up as an adult and thought I would give it a try this year. Kris has been sick and so he stayed home, I should have left a child home with him, but not wanting my kids to get what he has I took them both with me. This was quite a challenge, and my amazing friend Margaret helped me out so much. It's really hard to get dinner for a child while trying to keep track of her hold your baby and plate and try to put food on it. Moms need at least 4 hands. We didn't stay long. Molly didn't really get all of the games this year and I think in another year she will totally be into it. Did I mention I was trying to work around my costume and the balloons really got in the way. Anyway it was fun while we were there, I don't think that I will be going next year if Kris is sick for the 3rd year in a row. It didn't do me any good taking both kids, because they both woke up today sick so we will be spending Halloween at home tonight! Kris talked me into taking Molly to a few houses and so we talked him into coming with us, we also got Kerry to go with us. Fun night and Molly got a ton of candy!

Here is Kerry, Molly the Monkey and Stella the Banana! Happy trick or treating!

Me the tourist that found a monkey and trying to lure her with a banana!

Have You Ever?

Copy and paste the words. Bold the things you have done...

I saw this on Erin Millers blog and it was so fun to read things I didn't know about her.

So I decided to join in on the fun!

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii

Hawaii September of 2007

5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Walked on the equator 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise

Caribbean cruise January 2007

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Solved a Rubiks Cube without cheating 35. Seen an Amish community

Ohio Fall of 2003

36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving

Sky diving with Amy 2004

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Lost a loved one 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous

Dinner with the Jazz team. right to left

{C.J. Miles, Kris, Me, Andre Kirelinko, Paul Millsap, Chelsey, Mark}

May 2006, Yes I was way pregnant with Molly

92. Joined a book club 93. Broken a bone 94. Had a baby

Molly July 2006 & Stella July 2008

95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee 100. Flown in a hot air balloon

So my cousin is making and selling these cute bows! The prices are awesome and if you have a girl you soooo need to check out Liz's bows!

Time! Finding Joy in The Journey.

Adjusting to two children has been a challenge for me. I love having two children and for the most part they are really good kids, but as a mom it just seems that the dishes are never done, the house is never clean, there are never enough diapers, time, hands, and did I say time? I have really been feeling that I have not only failed as a mother, but because of other things I feel that I've been a lousy wife, accountant, YW leader, friend, house manager, and the list could go on and on. I just feel defeated in every way and the stress has led to a massive headache by 11 am everyday. I have been in what a friend referred to as a "funk" lately. There have been a series of events that have left me feeling like a failure over and over and over again. Last night when I was finally able to get into bed at about 1:30 I was laying there pleading with my Heavenly Father that I could not feel this way and that I would have the energy to get up the next morning and not begin another day of failure after failure. When got up this morning I got Molly up and got her some breakfast and while she was eating I decided to jump on the computer and I happened to look at a Kari Holt's blog and this was the last post that I began to read:

Failing Miserably

"Have you ever wanted to give that as your answer when someone asks how you are doing? I've definitely been feeling a desire to use it the past several weeks. I've been in a funk lately - perhaps you have no idea of the funk I'm talking about ... lucky you! It's the one where I want to answer I'm "failing miserably" when someone asks how I am doing. The one that makes me feel that way about every single "job" I hold (wife, mother, maid, friend, church member, neighbor, PTA mom, etc.) The funk where nothing I do is good enough, done well enough, organized well enough, thoughtful enough. The one where I feel like the most selfish and self centered person around. I seriously hope that none of you know this funk (although it would be just a "little" reassuring to know I'm not the only one)!!" -Keri Holt

She went on to say that as she was cleaning the toilet that she received the answer to her prayer. She thought of the scripture in 2 Nephi 2:27 that talked about how Satan want everyone to be miserable like he is. Then she thought of the scripture just a few verses before that one that talks about how "men are that they might have joy." It's Satan that works on us like this. He wants us to feel miserable and unhappy. WOW!

As I sat and read Keri's post I couldn't stop crying and then I cried when I read it to Kris and I'm crying again as I right this, but It's just amazing to me all of the tender mercies of our Father in Heaven. That was my answer as well and the Lord shared it with me though Keri. The funny thing is that 2 Nephi 2:27 is one of my all time favorite scriptures, but I had not thought of that, also I just taught a lesson in young womens on know we are children of our Heavenly Father and I talked about how Satan uses discouragement as one of his greatest tools, yet I was still struggling in other areas. I'm so grateful that I do receive answers to my prayer how ever they come, thought friends thoughts, scriptures, etc.

Keri talked about Pres. Manson's talk on "Finding Joy In The Journey". I also thought of Pres. Uchtdorf's talk "Happiness, Your Heritage" in the relief society broadcast. I realize I will never get more time and may not always have a perfectly clean house I may not ever have enough diapers, clean close, but I do know that I always have enough hugs, kisses, and love. I know that Time is just going by too fast and I don't want to miss all of the important things that will bring me true Joy. So I know I'm not perfect, but that is also why I'm so great full for the amazing things in my life, like my amazing husband, my beautiful children, the gospel, but most of all for the Atonement. I realize over and over again that not only am I grateful that I can repent of my shortcomings, but that these feelings of inadequacy and inferiority or of failure can be wiped clean with the atonement. I know this will not be the last time I have to be reminded, but I'm grateful that Heavenly Father teaches me this over and over. I am really focusing on taking the TIME to find Joy In The Journey! With these two and their dad, how can I not find Joy!

Gardner Village!

So yesterday we went to see all of the fun witches at Gardner Village with McKenzie, Craig and their kids. It was so much fun to walk around with all of the kids. We did the witch hunt, had some lunch hot dog and corn on the cob, and did some more witches hunt. Once the hunt paper was completed we could go to the bakery and get a cookie for 25 cents. Then the husbands took the kids to the car while McKenzie and I went in to a couple of shops, we were fast (40 minutes) but only Kris and the girls were counting. What a good sport. I think it was fun for Kris and Craig to hang out, being as they were friends before McKenzie and I came along. They would push the strollers around while we horded the other kids. Oh this is funny. So on our way in I had taken the seat off the stroller so Molly could do the stand or sit, I was walking in front and I looked back and Kris was picking Molly up from off the road. I guess while he was crossing the street, which is made of gravel, Molly had slid off the seat and was just laying on the ground. Kris said she was just looking up at him. She didn't cry or anything just looked at us. It was so funny. Any way we had so much fun. Molly was talking about it, and how she loved all of her cousins until she went to bed. Really it was a blast, there were a ton of people, but sill a blast!

No Not 3-6!

I had to pull out the 3-6 month clothing for Stella yesterday. I hate that. I just feel like these last 3 months have flown by. It seems like it's even gone faster than it did with Molly. I just feel so bad that my kids are getting so big so fast. I just wish I could enjoy them being little a bit longer. I do love that she is smiling and giggling and each stage is so fun, I just wish I could slow it down a bit.

Another Bonk on the Head!

I know it seems like this is all I'm blogging about these days, but this one was just classic. We had go to Target Friday and when we got home Stella had been screaming all the way home so, I brought Molly in the house first and when I walked out the back door to get Stella, Molly slammed the door, (side note I have been telling Molly not to slam doors for over a month now) when I came I explained we don't slam door, you'll smash your fingers or someone else's. I got Stella out of her seat and went to get the bags out of my car so I had to take several trips with only one hand to carry stuff in each time Molly slammed the door behind me and each time I reminded her not to slam doors. When I had gotten everything in Molly took the opportunity to give the door one more good, hard slam, and down came the sign over the back door right on top of her head! It left a mark, but you know I had warned her and warned her. I know it's only been two days, but she hasn't slammed a door since!

Molly's nice mark from the sighn

So this is the door she kept slamming. See the sign above it,

That's what fell on her head!

Two Girls In A Crib!

This morning when Stella started to cry I figured I would finish what I was doing and then head in to get her up. Molly being her motherly older sister said "Marnie go check on baby!" as she was running into Stella's room. Not worried because Molly can't get in the crib I didn't think twice about it. I could hear Molly talking in her high pitched voice and figured she was standing up on the crib so she could see in, but Stella had stopped crying and that made me wonder. I went in there and found both girls laying side by side in the crib. Molly holding Stella's hand and talking to her. As sweet as it was I was a bit nervous knowing there now is NO safe place to put Stella that Molly can't get to her. Oh those girls. They are so funny!

Thriller!

Holy Cow! So last night my mother in law and 4 sister in laws all went to Thriller.

It was soooo much fun. When we first got there all of the zombies were walking around outside and there was this little

boy that started to follow me around, ya he got a good reaction from me so he just kept coming at me! Once inside I realized not to make eye contact with them and they wouldn't bother me. Becky had gotten front row tickets and it was so fun to sit there but it made me waaaaaaaaay nervous. In the first seen Quasie Moto was talking and was interacting with the front row and touched my face saying that I looked just like his mother, "she had a beard too" I just hate the spotlight like that. Then later on when the guys were doing the chainsaw dance, they came into the audience with their chainsaws, of course there we are in the front row, and they ended up taking someone else from our row up on stage when they were doing a dance with chainsaws. Crazy! Oh my gosh, I loved it. It was so much fun I had such a blast. I totally want to go back again this year and will plan on going next for sure! I love the whole thing, but there were a few that really stood out to me...

1) of course has to be Thriller that speaks for it's self

2) They did a skit type thing of a Lorena Bobbitt singing Cuts like a knife medley it was quite funny, although they had another part later on in the show that I think we were all a little nervous about what the out come was going to be, but it was fine.

3) Dem Bones. This one was sooooo cool. They started off with just tap shoes that glowed in the dark and then did a full dance with these costumes that were bones that were glowing in the dark and that's all you could see. I loved this one!

4) Mr. Roboto. Remember that creepy little boy that was following me around outside... this was his baby, and the kid was magnificent. I would pay again just to see him do that again! He was AWESOME. I really think that this one was my all time fave.

What a fun night all the way around. I look forward to going back!

Daddy And The Girls!

When Kris got home from work we decided to go for a walk and then when we got home I was trying to make dinner. Kris was so nice to entertain the girls while I was getting dinner ready. When I walked over in the other room, this is what I saw. Molly was rubbing Kris's head and both the girls as well as Kris just seemed to be so comfortable. I just really love that Kris is so good with the girls. Before we found out Molly was a girl, I think Kris really wanted a boy, and then Molly came and he fell in love and would not trade her for anything. Then before we found out about Stella, I think he was hoping for a boy and when I asked him if he would be ok if this baby was a girl, he said yes, if she was anything like Molly. When I just asked him recently if he would be ok if all we had was girls, he had no hesitation at all when he said "yes" He is such a good daddy and all three of us Rosander Girls think the world revolves around him!

First Giggles!

Stella has become so smiley. She is not hard to get to smile at all. I love that. She just has a sweet disposition. Kris and I were sitting on the couch with her last night and getting her to smile when all of the sudden she gave us a little giggle. It was so sweet. I love this stage, but I just am so sad that she has grown so fast. I wish that things would just slow down so I can enjoy it a little bit longer.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

FHE at Cabellas.

So as I was thinking of what we should do for family home evening I wanted to do something a little different and fun for the family. So I really thought about it and did some research and decided that Cabellas would be a fun one. I called to see what time the fish were fed and so when Kris got home from work we headed out. I found it really cool, Kris said he felt bad for the little gold fish (they were the food) and Molly was more interested in the other kids than she was in the fish. So all in all I don't know that it was a huge success, but I like it. Maybe we should just stick with hide and go seek, that's always a hit. Well we'll come up with some other fun ideas.

Stella's Blessing Day!

What a perfect day! We were planning on coming home from Lake Powell on Saturday and so the house had been cleaned and ready for Sunday before we left, but due to some unexpected bad weather we opted to head home on Friday, which was probably for the best. I just didn't realize how much stuff still had to get done. Everyone pitched in and helped out with the food, McKenzie was awesome and was so nice to accept my invitation to prepare and do all of the meat! I know how nice of me. She told me that it would be easy and that she was just going to throw it in the crock pot. She still insists that it wasn't an imposition, but it was a relief not to have to worry about making something I had never made before. Thanks so McKenzie! Everyone else was so nice to help and pitch in to make everything so much easier and a much more delightful day. I was so not stressed. I have really had a hard time feeling attractive, I'm sure I'm not the only new mom that goes through this, but finding something to wear and what I would look like at the blessing was really weighing on my mind. I know that sounds really vain. Well Sunday come and as I sat next to Kris who was holding Stella, he just kept looking into her eyes and his eyes started to water... It was then that all thoughts of what I looked like, or what Stella's dress looked like and any other worldly worry just seemed to melt away. My baby was getting a blessing today, and that was what really mattered, and it was my amazing husband that is a worthy priesthood bearer that was giving her her name... That is what really mattered. Kris told me after the blessing was over that he was going to keep his eyes open during the blessing, but that Stella was just looking at him with her big grin and so he knew that he was going to either laugh or cry so he closed his eyes. "And I still had a hard time getting though it." I have one of the most genuine and sincere husbands, no facades, that is one of my favorite qualities in him. The blessing was amazing. I didn't record it, totally spaced it out but some of the things that I remember were,

*That she has already blessed and enhanced our lives and has been a pleasure to have in our home.

*That she would be a peace maker in our home.

*That she would love and honor her mother.

*That she wouldn't always choose the right path, but that she would use and apply the atonement in her life.

When we had Molly one of my sisters good friends gave us a onesie that had her name on it and so when we got home form the blessing we put her in something a bit more comfortable than her dress and the onesie was perfect, because that was the day she was given her name. What better way to celebrate the day you are given a name. I loved the significance of that and so I decided that we would make this a tradition. So when we got home from Stella's blessing we did the same thing. A fun family tradition that our little family has!