Baby Number Six

Tyrel really thought it was going to be a boy! Was he right?

Just a few quick notes on this Christmas Eve.  First of all I want you to know that I am writing this with my two oldest boys sitting next to me which makes this extra fun.  Trey and Trenton are reading over my shoulder and Taft just joined in the fun.  Just wanted to say that the joys of family life are the best!  I couldn't ask for any more blessings then to just have my family around me at this time of year.  Last night we had Family Home Evening and watched a couple of Christmas videos from the church and then each of us shared why we were grateful for Jesus Christ.  It was wonderful to hear the boys share their feelings about the Savior even at this early age.  Yet another testimony to the plan of salvation and the reality of God working in our lives!  Merry Christmas!

I want to be a missionary NOW

 I have been terrible about posting about this! I've told most of you the story already, but I want to have it here so that I don't forget about it.

ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO

We had been talking about missionary work and had gotten each child their own Book of Mormon. We were also asking our kids to be looking for ways to be missionaries. By doing this Trenton discovered that his "best friend"  from school was not attending church. His reaction?
"Tage! You better start going to church! It's good for you!"( I love the boldness here! Go Trenton!)
 His friend told him that he didn't want to. Trenton was kind of sad about it...but didn't give up.
About 2 weeks after his first encounter with Tage the following event happened.

 Trenton was getting ready for school. As we were getting ready to leave he says to me with a big smile on his face...
"Mom! Guess what I put in my backpack?!"
"Umm...fruit snacks?"
"No...my Book of Mormon! I'm going to teach Tage about the gospel today!"
I found myself torn (which is so silly and embarrassing) I almost told him that he should leave it home...then I thought "Why not! Why on earth would I discourage such a good thing!
So instead I smiled at him gave him a big hug, and\wished him luck.
After school he told me what happened.
"I took my Book of Mormon with me out to recess and I read some of it to Tage!"
"I'm so proud of you! How did it go?"
"Tage said that he liked the words Lord and God. And he said that he will come to church with me!"

I love that at such a young age this 5 year old son of mine has so much courage and such a strong desire to choose the right! He truly teaches ME things all the time. I feel blessed and humbled to be able to be his mom.

Monthly "meetings" with me and my kids

So every fast Sunday I try to have a little one on one interview with each of my kids. I have slacked off and missed for the last couple of months but Trey reminded me today and so we got back on track. Trey and I had a nice discussion and I asked him if he was excited for a new baby in our family and he was of course. Although he did admit that he was worried that a baby sister like Audrey would take his Legos like Audrey does sometime and that a baby brother might take his Legos for himself altogether...

I told him that his friends mom just ha a baby and that the baby was in the nicu. He was of course concerned for them but we moved on To other subjects. Later I asked him if there was anything I could do to be a better dad and he replied that I needed to help him remember to fast each month since he is preparing to be baptized next summer. I told him we would fast next week since we didn't do it this week due to illness. He then responded that he would fast for his friend and their new baby. Such a sweet kid and always looking out for others!

I then sat down  for a "meeting" with Trenton who has had the flu for the last twenty four hours. He was feeling a little better and gabbed with me for about fifteen minutes. I asked him what I could do to be a better father and he said "nothing." I asked him if he really meant nothing and if I was the best dad in the world and he responded in the affirmative. This is kind of a big deal coming from Trenton since a couple months ago h was ready to trade me for his Uncle Layton!

I asked the same a  question to Taft about how I could be a better dad and he said I could go to the temple. Painful reminder that I haven't made it for over a month! My meetings with Taft tend to be a bit more laughing and giggling though cause that is his style.

Corban's meeting was relatively uneventful since he hasn't really gotten to the point of telling me what I should and shouldn't do yet. Audrey isn't to the "meeting" stage yet but we enjoyed some snuggle time to make up for it. She just walks up to me and lays her head on my right shoulder and just cuddles in for several minutes at a time lately which I thoroughly enjoy!

It was fun to sit down with each of them and enjoy their special little spirits and personalities. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for blessing me with such beautiful children and such an amazing wife to share it all with!