Say "Yes".

Confession:  I have a hard time playing with my kids.

I blame this on my parents.  When we were little, my brother Clay remembers asking my Mom if she would play with him.  Her response, "Mom's don't play."

Clay wasn't too scarred, but obviously it's something he remembers.  We laugh about it now.  My Mom was really good at cooking, cleaning, organizing, chauffeuring, and doing the "taking care" duties of our family.  However, I don't really remember her playing with us.

There are a few foggy memories. I remember that when we would play a board game for family night that she would always choose the yellow piece (which consequently is something I do as well- my kids will even pull out the yellow piece specifically for me).  I also recall a time that she organized a tea party for my friend Haley Juback and me for Haley's 8th birthday.  She got out a real "china" tea set and we were able to eat butterscotch pudding out of the cups.  This was a big deal!  In fact, I don't think I ever saw that tea set again.

Do you think that the "play" gene is something that is in your DNA?

Dallas' Grandma Kaiserman is an incredible play-er.  She will be on her hands and knees with the kids, driving trucks, looking at train books for hours on end, playing slap jack and completing puzzles.  Dallas is the same way.  He walks through the door and within minutes the memory game is spread out on the floor, or he is snuggled up to Will on the couch and playing some race car game on his phone.

I long to be more like this.

So, I've set a goal.  I'm saying "Yes".

My kids come up to me with requests multiple times a day; 'Will you play dominoes with me?' 'Want to watch me color?' 'Can we go to the library?'

Typically I respond with, "I would love to, but Mommy's doing the dishes/laundry/cleaning the bathroom/wants to rest for a minute."

Over the last week I have been doing so much better at answering yes.  It's hard sometimes.  I hate leaving something done mid-task.  But you know what?  A game of Candyland only lasts about 5 minutes (unless you keep getting sent back to Mr. Mint at the very end).  And sometimes it is really nice to get out of the house and enjoy the quiet library!

I feel like I've enjoyed my kids more, and I know for a fact that they have been enjoying me more.  It's amazing the changes that can be brought about with one simple word.  Yes.

He's a good boy.

William.  What would I do without this kid?

He is a boy of many talents!  He happens to be not only a fine artist, and an excellent molder of play doh ducks, but more importantly he is:

A- The best big brother in the universe!  Annie hits, kicks, scratches,  bites, and calls him names, and sweet William walks up to me with a broken heart to explain what has happened.  He almost never retaliates!  (This does not include the times when he runs around like a dragon/dinosaur/cheetah with the intentions of scaring the snot out of his baby sister.  Sometimes he gets what's coming to him).

B- Such a good listener.  The majority of the time I only have to ask him once.  He picks up his toys (and his sisters!), brushes his teeth, hangs up his clothes, puts his socks and underwear away, gets dressed, and will even take care of little Scooter.  My how I have trained him well.  Here's hoping this carries over into the teenage years.

C- Faithful and strong.  He is the first to volunteer to say the prayer.  He reminds us to have family scripture study and family prayer.  He never forgets to say his prayers before bed.  He talks about how important it is to follow Jesus and to choose the right.

In short, he is everything I want to be.

Jewel Maurine Reynolds Loder

"Who can find a virtuous woman?  For her price is far above rubies.  The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her... Her children arise up and call her blessed."

Proverbs 31:10-11, 28

Quality Time

 I know I've said it before, and I'm certain I'll say it again, but what I enjoy most are the little moments I have with my family.  Sunday morning drives up Daniel's Canyon can fill me with enough love and energy for a week.

Goodbye, Jewel

Last weekend we went down to visit my Grandma Jewel.  Her health has really been failing over the last couple of months and I wanted to be sure to see her one more time.  I was able to hold her hand, and talk to her for a little bit.  She held both Annie's and Will's tiny hands in her time worn and fragile hands as she told them how much she loved them.  I scratched her head and gave her the longest hug that I ever have.  Our emotions were high as we could feel that her time with us was slipping through our fingers.

I was explaining to the kids that Grandma Great was really sick and was probably going to die soon.  They were both pretty quiet and tried their best to grasp what I was saying.  I explained that it was okay to feel sad because we will miss Grandma Great, but that she was going to be happy when she died because after 17 years, she was going to be able to see her husband again.

"That's cool," says Annie.

"It is cool," I reply.

Annie sits for a moment, thinking.  "Is she going to be able to see her Mom again?"

"She is," I respond.

"That is so awesome!" Annie exclaims.

You know, it is awesome!  Although we will miss sharing our time with Grandma Jewel, we are so happy that she was able to be released from her earthly body and return home.  We are so grateful for a knowledge of our Heavenly Father's plan for us, and we know that, one day, we will be able to be a part of that great reunion in the sky.

Yesterday was a good day for Jewel.

We love you, Grandma, and will remember you always.

Boys and Their Toys

I'm not sure what exactly goes on during a bird hunting trip. Truthfully, I don't really care as long as I'm not the one that has to clean out the birds!  Dallas and Will were able to go on two pheasant hunting trips towards the end of December.  They went on one with my brothers Sam and Clay (pictured below) and one with Dallas' side of the family.

After the trip Dallas came home and told me that when we get a house that we were going to buy a bird dog.  I wasn't too keen on the idea until I read that hunting dogs make the best running dogs, and I can totally go for that.

CUTEST. BOYS. EVER.