The Good, the Bad & the Cutie Pie?

{Landon: September 2012 enjoying a spoonful of peanut butter. These pictures have nothing to do with this post. Just thought I'd include some cute Landon photos.}

These past few days have been a bit on the difficult side for me on a very personal level. But one that I got through with the help of my incredibly amazing family and friends! I honestly couldn't have made it without them! (So thank you!!) 

I think that's to be expected from time to time...situations that come up to test our strength, growth, limits and helps you to stay focused on the truly important things that matter in life. (Like the same family and friends that got me through it!)

Here is the short note I posted on Facebook regarding this difficult time:

"When life catches you off guard and throws you to the ground (or sometimes into a ditch!)...sure makes you see the big picture and appreciate your blessings. Today I am very thankful for my husband: who loves me and our children more than life itself. Who is always always there for me! I really lucked out marrying my best friend! And I'm very thankful for my amazing friends: that support and love me no matter what! They make me laugh when I'm sad, strong when I'm weak and hopeful when I feel all alone. I love knowing I have true friends out there (that know I'm there for them too) and have the most incredible husband ever - to carry me through the happy and sad moments in life!"

I really try to focus on the positive no matter how hard things get. 

So I will be okay. :)

On a good note...we sold our van. Finally! 

Making it so we're only car-less for about a week.

And on another very good note...General Conference starts tomorrow! 

(You can find it HERE)

This seriously couldn't have come at a better time than now. I've been looking so forward to hearing some spiritual enlightenment from our living Prophet today and other amazing church leaders all week long! And this year, we will be making some delicious cinnamon rolls to celebrate the event and our time together as a family. I can't wait!

Hold Them Tight

I can not tell you that I had dry eyes during this music video that I came across on another blog. I would be lying if I did. I needed this though. Another reminder to hold my kids more. To laugh and have fun with them more frequently. To take in their sweet uniqueness. To hug them tighter and shower them more often with my motherly love. To appreciate each moment I have with them. To really listen to them when they're talking. (sometimes it's easy to get caught up in multitasking!) To spend more one-on-one time with each. To enjoy the little things and not just the big events. Better yet, to recognize the little things. Because they all matter! To wrap up each memory we make and hold it tight. Each one of my children is such a special gift to me and I hope they can see and feel every day just how much they are loved and cherished! They are my joy! xo

Meaning of Christmas

{The beautiful tree decorated in the church foyer smelledheavenly! I miss having a real tree for this reason alone!}



I felt true happiness today while being with my family at church! Mind you, I do naturally feel happy but today I felt even more so! Because our car is still in the shop, three of us rode to church with one friend and the other three rode with another friend. So when Jocelyn, Andrew and I arrived, John was sitting in the chapel with Landon and Aubrey was up front awaiting her first Sacrament talk. As we sang some Christmas hymns, it came to my attention that I had all that's near and dear to me right then at that very moment. My husband was by my side, my kids were snuggled up next to us coloring quietly and Aubrey was giving the sweetest talk on what Christmas means to her. I had it all right there in that very room: my family! And I felt even more humbled when I looked over to see John singing Christmas carols with me and the congregation. He doesn't like to openly sing. Or rather, he doesn't think he sounds that good. But he does and nothing sounded sweeter! I honestly didn't want that moment to end. Throughout the week, I have many moments of love with my children and husband but for some reason, I just really wanted to embrase this particular moment just a little bit more than I normally would have. I love the feeling of peace. That things were the way they should be: our family together!

{My boys!}

Thanksgiving and Christmas time happen to be my most favorite holidays to celebrate and be a part of. Not for the food or the gifts. But for the chance to think and reflect a bit more than I usually do throughout the other parts of the year. I'm reminded of all that we have and hold dear. That it's about remembering all that's important. That we shouldn't take life and people for granted. That we have much to be grateful for! And most importantly, the birth of Jesus Christ and all that He does and has done for us!

I thought it would be nice for those that couldn't be here to listen to Aubrey's talk to at least be able to read it. I also wanted to have it written down for keepsakes. And, well, because she's my first child and I'm so very proud of her! :) She did awesome and received lots of wonderful comments afterwards about how well she did.

The Importance of Christmas in my Life

by: Aubrey Shields

Good morning, Brothers and Sisters. A few weeks ago, I was asked to give a talk about the importance of Christmas in my life, and my first reaction was, "Wow! How lucky can I get to be assigned a talk the first day in Young Womens!" This is my first time giving a talk in Sacrament, and I am really excited about it, so hopefully it goes well.

About a week ago, my little sister comes up to me with a smile on her face and says, "I'm so excited for Christmas!" I ask her why and she says, "Presents!" as if it were obvious. I explained to her that Christmas isn't all about getting, it's about giving and helping others, so they can have a good Christmas too and to know that people care for them. When I thought she was on the verge of understanding, her eyes widened and said, "We don't get presents?!!" I said, "we do, but that's not what Christmas is all about." My little sister said back, "Oh! (I could tell she was relieved!)...I thought we wouldn't get presents." I tried telling her it wasn't all about getting things and it was about giving and the birth of Jesus Christ.

As I started to think about it, I thought of what would happen if there was no Christmas. A lot of things popped into my head. Christmas is the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He atoned for our sins, and died for us on the cross. He ensured that we would be resurrected one day and that we would live again. After we talked, we made some cards for a few of our family members and I finally think the message settled in with my sister. During that time, I think I learned a little something as well. It reminded me that having presents is not what makes Christmas. We would still be very happy during Christmas without a little "Ho Ho Ho" from Santa Clause and presents under the Christmas tree. Sure, those things are fun, but being together as a family, coming together and sharing special times with one another is what makes almost everyone happy during Christmas.

Yesterday, during the ward Christmas party, I had so much fun with my family and I'm sure everyone else had fun as well. I liked the fact that everyone came together to prepare food, setup, clean...so everone would have an enjoyable time. Christmas is a time of year to celebrate and be happy with our family and friends. Things like the Christmas party are one of the ways we can feel the Spirit.

There is a lot to be thankful for the birth of Jesus Christ, and if He was never here, we would not be resurrected or any of these things. Christmas is a time to celebrate these gifts, and be with your loved ones. My Aunt, Uncle and baby Cousin are coming for Christmas so we can be together as a family and have a great time.

I would like to share my testimony with you that I know this church is true, and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are watching over us and they're there for us. I love my family and I know they love me as well. I am thankful for Christmas and the Spirit and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Thanksgiving 2011

We had a good Thanksgiving this year. As always, we go around and list all that we are eternally grateful for and blessed to have in our life. Family and friends are always at the top! We definitely have much to be thankful for!

With us being relatively new to a different country still and Thanksgiving not being (obviously) a German holiday, we were perfectly content celebrating alone. But when we found out that some friends from church along with the sister missionaries didn't have any plans for the day, we quickly invited them over! We love our extended family.

As we started the day preparing the pies and turkey, I looked at our dining room table and felt it was desperately needing some color and decoration for our dinner with friends. The walls throughout our home are nothing but plain and white and it drives me crazy with the lack of personality. Another reason I strongly look forward to the day we have our own home again...so we can completely personalize it like we want it. I decided to walk down to the nearby grocery store: Rewe. I found some nice brown napkins and a bright orange vase with a fall colored bouquet of flowers. And I also snatched up some red apple scented candles to add to the look. It wasn't much but I thought it looked nice on our tan table cloth as well as with our new pottery pieces from our anniversary. I have to add that the walk to the store was a wonderful break! :)

The day started off with the kids coloring and helping me make jello molds. Aubrey made some paper cranes to go on the kitchen table - she's so cute! And then the kids were engrossed with some Mario Cart on the Wii. Landon slept, ate and played. He's usual! :) By the time our friends came over, we had most of the things in the kitchen finished for our dinner so we took our kids down to the playground to run off some energy and have some fun! John in the mean time stayed behind to finish the remaining dishes. He LOVES to cook - and I let him any chance I get. I love to cook as well but a break is always welcomed after a long day with the kids.

We had the traditional American Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, stuffing, homemade mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans with bacon, rolls, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and these amazing pumpkin whoopie pies that my friend made. Drinks were sparkling cider, soda and egg nog. Everything was delicious! And so were all the foods we snacked on all day long! I'm so glad we only pig out once or twice a year like this. So much food!! Oh, and for the record, Landon LOVES pumpkin pie. And whipped cream. Not sure in which order! :) What a fun night! We had an amazing time with some pretty awesome people!

Family and friends that live afar where greatly missed! We thought of you all and look forward to the day that we can be with you again! xoxoxo

Easter 2010

This Easter, we kept things pretty low key at our place. Not in the sense that things weren't crazy and the kids weren't running around on a slight sugar and happy high, but we tried to stick to the basics. We all know that holidays are usually anything BUT relaxing - but we did try to keep it somewhat peaceful. Not only is it Easter Sunday, but it's also General Conference weekend and we were able to take in all of the wonderful messages that were shared with us and helped to, once again, recharge our spiritual batteries. We also read about the true meaning of Easter from Matthew 28 and watched this video.

For breakfast, we made cinnamon rolls, hashbrowns, scrambled eggs and orange juice. It was SO good. Then, the kids were surprised with their Easter baskets. We were going to hid them, but once again, we kept things to a minimal. To my disappointment though, we didn't dye eggs this year as planned so the amount of eggs they were to find were cut in half. But who says you can't dye and decorate eggs any other day of the year? :) I think we may just do that! Another disappointment was that I didn't do the usual Easter clothes for the kids. A lot of that reason was much of my time spent lately has been caring for and nurturing Andrew back to health from a double ear infection and a miserable cold. Most days, I barely got anything done other than holding a clingy baby. Not that I mind - it's just why I didn't get a lot done. Another reason to step back and remember our family word this year: Choose. I chose to leave some things out this year so I didn't get all frazzled and stressed. Much of the reason why we chose this specific word in the first place; so we could simplify our lives and get down to the basics. Looking back, I do wish I got them cute matching clothes for Easter but it's really not something I'm going to fret over. Next year, I hope to be able to make the girls their dresses - or at the very least, go shopping earlier, in case unfortunate events like sick children spring upon us!

The girls and I made and decorated sugar cookies and took plates over to some of our neighbors and friends. Aubrey and Jocelyn really liked doing this and felt so proud giving the cookies they made to people they love.

Once we returned home, it was starting to cool off outside - enough to watch them run themselves crazy searching for easter eggs in the backyard. The girls knew the drill but this was Andrew's first Easter egg hunt. John and I took turns helping him find some of the hidden eggs and his sisters were actually kind enough to leave some of the lower ones for Andrew to pick up and dump into his little green bucket. It really was a fun sight to see as they all ran to and fro searching for their "treasures."

For dinner, we had a Costco ham, scalloped potatoes, pineapple, olives, rolls and salad. A friend of ours wasn't feeling well and his family was out of town visiting extended family, so we took some dinner over to him. And the plan for dessert was to make lemon bars but with all of the yummy cookies we were praised with by friends all week, we cut it out of the menu.

Easter just happens to be one of my favorite holidays. Almost 31 years ago, on April 15th, I was born. It also happened to be Easter Sunday (and tax day!). There are rumors that I was almost named Bunny. And I'm so glad it was just that....Rumors!! :) I'm grateful to my parents that my name ended up being Leslie instead. I'm sure it spared me a lot of embarrassment.

Today ended up being a really great day spent with family and friends - and I'm very happy to know that my sweet kids understand that there is more to Easter than just the candy and baskets. That because Christ died for our sins and was resurrected, that we too can live again! I love knowing that if we just try to do our best and live our lives in such a way that the Savior would be pleased, that we can enjoy this promise. Happy Easter! :)

{Table set for Easter breakfast}

{These beautiful Lily's I picked up at Wegmans and they made the house smell so good!}

{Delicious cinnamon rolls}

{Andrew's Easter basket - I didn't realized I got him such a small basket. So things happily sat next to it.}

{Aubrey's Easter basket}

{Jocelyn's Easter basket}

{All three kids with their "I am a Child of God" frames}

{He LOVED his ball!}

{Dad & son relaxing}

{After getting sick on some medicine and having already gone through a few changes of clothes, he ended up walking around like this for a while! :)}

{Girls baking cookies for friends and neighbors}

{Easter Egg hunt in the backyard begins!}

{Andrew's first Easter Egg Hunt!}

{Found another!}

{He was very reluctant putting those eggs into the bucket. He would much rather hold them!}

{"Isn't that what they're for, Mom??"}

{Aubrey searching for more eggs}

{Jocelyn found some too!}

{Basically having no clue as to what was going on, he just wondered around...}

{"Oohhh! What's THAT?"}

{Smile! "Hey Andrew...look over here!}

{"No...look over here! At Mama!" Oh well. He's still cute looking in his bucket. Guess I'll take what I can get! :)}

{Cracking open their easter eggs to find their hidden surprises}

{Easter dinner}