We love Pete the Cat

A very BIG, "thank you" to Amanda and Jake for showing these to us- we LOVE them!!

Soccer Samuel - Little Rascal Kickers

Somewhat on a whim—we learned about the little league ONE hour before the first practice-- AJ and I decided to sign Samuel up for soccer.  The very first practice was on January 30^th and we were 15 minutes late, so we missed the majority of practice time- whoops!  Samuel’s first game was on February 1^st, and he played pretty well after having 10 minutes of exposure to the game of soccer . . . two days beforehand.

"That way coach!!!"

Samuel was assigned to the yellow team, and the first thing the coach went over was which way to run the ball.  The coach asked heartily, “Which way are we going team?!”  And all the players, except Samuel, responded-- just as enthusiastic-- “That way!!!” while pointing at the opposite goal.  Samuel, however, was looking in the direction everyone was pointing with a look that said, “Why are we going that way?  There are a lot of ways to go.”  The coach repeated the question, and the kids repeated the answer, Samuel included in spite of his confusion.  By the third time coach asked the question Samuel knew where to point although he was clueless as to why they were running that way. 

In a whir the game started, and all the kids, save my dear Samuel, were after the ball!  Kicking it this way, and that, all over the field, while Samuel stood- watching.  Suddenly he ran over to us, and explained in his innocent way, he would play with his soccer ball because there was no way he was going to get a chance to play with that one.  It was a struggle to clarify why he couldn't take his ball onto the field, because there is only supposed to be one ball.  We managed to convince him to try to kick “the” ball.  Then when he tried and missed he burst into tears and ran straight into Daddy’s arms.  This, is NOT a fun game, because they aren't taking turns.

I guess I will try again.

It took a lot of reassuring words and plenty of hugs to urge Samuel back onto the soccer field.  This time he was running after the pack of little athletes, still a slightly unsure.  Right away, he got a few opportunities to kick the ball so he perked up and ran a little faster, a wee grin on his face.  Until one of the blue team members scored a goal . . . Samuel BURST into tears, turned toward us and yelled, “WE LOST THE GAME!!!”  (Insert water works and a lot of gentle encouraging, all the while trying not to crack into a belly laugh.)    After Daddy made it clear that the whole point of the game was to kick the ball in the goal, Samuel decided it wasn't so devastating, and went back to playing.

Ok.  This isn't so bad after all.

Thankfully, that was our last waterfall outburst, and Samuel enjoyed himself for the last half of the game.  He kicked the ball hard into the legs of another player which made the little boy fall flat on his face.  In the heat of the game, Samuel ran off without helping him up or anything- oh, kids.  Children make me laugh because whatever direction they are coming at the ball, is the direction they are going to kick it.  So, Samuel was kicking the ball whatever direction he was facing, without thought.  Later in the game, he ran up to the ball and stopped, because if he kicked it, it would go towards his goal.  Samuel could see the problem, he just didn't solve it before another player came and stole the ball.

I don't want to be the goalie anymore.

Samuel also had the chance to be the goalie for a short while.  He stood back, inside the goal and watched the ball roll right by him, without so much as twitching a muscle.  Next he was down inside the goal facing the backwards, so he couldn’t even see the other players or the field.  Then, randomly, he decided he was done being the goalie and he took off to the other side of the field where the action was.  *Giggle* AJ and I greatly enjoyed watching our little boy’s first soccer game.  He is a champ! 

Soccer Samuel!

We are so looking forward to this season, and I believe Samuel is going to make some great improvement while having a fabulous time.

Oh!  The sun is bright.

Family pictures with the Rasmussen's (2014)

Do I even need to say who our fabulous photographer is?!

Thank you, thank you Impact Photography for your time and talent.

We are downright delighted with our newest family photos!

Find out more about Impact Photography Group by searching them on Facebook.

Or check out their website at http://www.impactphotographygroup.com/

Our visit to the Gilbert Temple

First and foremost, if you have not visited the Gilbert LDS temple yet . . .

you NEED to go!

Here is the website for making reservations: https://templeopenhouse.lds.org/tickets

If you can’t find a reservation time or day that will work for you that is OKAY.   Go anyway- there is a stand-by line, and you will still get in to see the temple.

Samuel loved the "baptize water" which being translated is the baptismal font.

Lily loved the cows- she kept mooing at them.

(The baptismal font sits on a sculpture of twelve oxen.)

Outside, the “bubbles”--fountain-- was a huge hit for Lily, she wanted to splash n’ play in the water.

Later, Samuel told us, being in the temple made his heart happy.

I am thankful he can recognize the peaceful feelings the temple has to offer.

5 things that make me happy . . .

• My husband- AJ

Do I have to say more?  That picture is worth a thousand words!

AJ makes me happy because he is so silly- he always has a cheerful heart, and he shares it with me.  He is truly in love with the raw, real, imperfect Emily; I know that because he takes special care of her.  He is tender and gentle with our children but also firm when required- my husband simply adores our children, and that makes me happy.

• My children; Samuel, Lily and Abram

They are SO adorable!!  Oh my goodness, just looking at their sweet little faces in this picture makes me smile.

I have such wonderful children- Samuel the comedian, Lily the artist and Abram the gymnast.  Samuel has a heart of gold-- his goal is to make everyone laugh and smile-- he loves to share his cheerfulness where ever he goes.  Lily has a tender heart that cares for those around her.  She is quiet and a little shy, but she can quickly overcome her shyness to fix a broken heart with a big hug in her tiny arms.  Nobody will be sad on Lily's watch.  Although I don't know Abram all that well yet, he still brings me joy!  I love to feel him wiggle, and so do his siblings.  Abram's kicking gives them quite the thrill, and brings a smile to my face.

• PILLOWS!

Found at www.carlylesofa.com

Ok, we have to get serious for a second.  . . .  Pillows are.  Sent.  From.  Heaven.

Pillows make me happy.  I love pillows- so I sleep with 3 of them. AJ is always complaining that I cuddle my pillows more than I cuddle him . . . it's true.  I do.  Simply put, I love soft, comfy things.  One day, when AJ and I are old, he just might be squishy enough, but as for right now, he isn't.

• Green traffic lights

Found at investorplace.com

Isn't that just beautiful to you?  Not only is green a great color- it is my absolute favorite color to see when I approach a traffic light.  Especially, when the kids are hungry, or exhausted, in the back seat.  Or when I have to pee like a race horse and we have been on the road for an hour.  Green traffic lights are always a reason for celebration.

• Yummy food

Found at www.finecooking.com

I have to tell you something.

Come a little closer so I can whisper it in your ear . . .

I LOVE FOOD!!

Thanksgiving is a delightful time for me because we eat a lot of super yummy food.  (What a stupendous holiday.)  I especially enjoy sweet things, and crunchy things, and veggies, and fruit, and Chinese.  Basically, anything that falls under the food category. 

Operation: Secret Service (A Faith in God Activity)

Disclaimer: This activity was not my idea- my inspiration? . . . The Fickle Pickle.  (Please click on "Fickle Pickle" to see her version of this Top Secret, secret service activity.)

Serving Others #10 - Complete your own activity ... Performing 7 days worth of secret service.

We discussed service with the girls, and shared this passage from the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet.

"Service to others is an important characteristic of a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is willing to bear other people’s burdens and to comfort those who need comfort. Often Heavenly Father will meet the needs of others through you."

To illustrate our point, we shared the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10: 25-37.  Then we handed out "CLASSIFIED" manila envelopes, and challenged the girls to do likewise, everyday for one week and report back to us.  I am excited to hear what the girls have learned and felt during their time of secret service.

CLICK HERE FOR "Mission Possible" DOCUMENT.

CLICK HERE FOR "Secret Service Ideas" DOCUMENT.

Please feel free to use any ideas you see here, and don't be afraid to make them your own. :)

About 47 days left . . .

I love pregnancy!  Today I was reading my midwife's blog and this paragraph really touched my heart and was a great reminder to enjoy this special time.

"TICK TOCK TICK TOCK – that’s the sound of time moving forward. It’s constant, unrelenting. Time is always moving forward. Never again will I be 5 years old, never again will I taste chocolate for the first time, never again will I experience the thrill of meeting the man of my dreams, never again will I experience the overwhelming feeling of finding out I am pregnant….and never again will I be pregnant with this baby once it is born. It is a temporary gift that passes so briefly it’s like a whisper in our lives. Tick tock…whether we want it to or not, time is passing. When I was 40 weeks pregnant I didn’t notice the passage of time, I only dreamed of when the pregnancy would be over and I would be holding my baby. But time passes whether we are looking or not…tick tock, tick tock….and I got so focused on having the baby born that I didn’t give thought to the fact that the time of pregnancy is precious and I was abusing the gift I had been given by looking forward to the next one. This time with your baby is limited…it’s rented time….and one day you will look back and wonder why you rushed yourself and your baby.  When you are at the end of your days and looking back on your life…this is as good as it gets!!!  Prime of your life, waiting for your baby to be born."  - Stephanie Soderblom

 You can find Stephanie's blog here: Vita Mutari and the blog post I quoted from is here.