Ezra Climbs to New Heights

Now that Ezra's marathon teething session seems to be coming to a close, he's more willing to venture out on his own again and explore the world. He wowed my mom and I last week by crawling, then refused to crawl and only wanted to walk with someone. In fact, there's been quite a few days this past week when he was only happy when holding onto mom's fingers and toddling around the room!
When Ezra approached the stairs last night, I was curious to see what he'd do. He's finally figured out how to "walk" up them with assistance, but he was crawling up to them. Initially, he'd make it up to the first step, then slide down during every successive attempt:

Sometimes you even need a little head push!

We took a break to change his diaper and I let him play again for a few minutes before bed so he could show off for Daddy. If his bum looks out of proportion to you in these photos, rest assured that his diaper is double stuffed for nighttime!

I swear I looked away for a second and he was climbing the stairs, nearly to the top!

I love how pleased he looks with himself!

Suddenly he looks like such a big boy!

Just chillin' on the stairs like he's done it all his life.

Heading back down the stairs is tricky!

Wordless Wednesday: Making Cookies with Grandma

Grandma Cathy and Ella had a blast making Halloween cookies this past week. Ella talked about it in anticipation the entire week before. For some reason, she also thought they were going to get to eat the cookies in bed, but forgot about this in the excitement of making cookies!

This is a long series of photos, but I just couldn't decide which ones to cut. I wanted Grandma to see them all!

Visit www.5minutesformom.com for more Wordless Wednesday Fun!

Order Scentsy for the Holidays & Get 10% off Your Next Order

 
The Scentsy 2009 Holiday collection is here! With snowflakes, a snowman, holly, and an angel, there's sure to be a holiday selection to suit any taste!

Now is a terrific time to order your holiday gifts. Scentsy makes an excellent "thank you" gift for a teacher, gift for a neighbor, or Christmas gift for a discerning friend!

Order your holiday gifts early and receive 10% off your next order! Simply visit my website at www.scentsy.com/mindyfarmer (click on the button link above) and opt to shop from the "Holiday Party." This party is open until Sunday evening, November 8th. Orders must be placed through this party to qualify! Happy Shopping!

We Love Grandma's Visits!

Grandma Cathy found a way to visit us for a week over Halloween and we were thrilled! Ella thought having Grandma here was absolute heaven. Once again, she only wanted Grandma to help with everything and we'd regularly hear, "Come on, Grandma" throughout the day. I'm convinced there's no better companion than a Grandma! We miss you mom and we're so grateful you came to visit us!

We did all kinds of fun things during Grandma Cathy's visit, starting with an overnight trip to St. Louis. Grandma flew in, we met up with her, stayed overnight (without much sleep due to Ezra), then enjoyed a day in St. Louis. Tim and I were able to do a session at the LDS temple while mom watched the kids (thanks, mom!), then we went to the zoo for some Halloween fun. I don't have a lot of time today with Ezra not feeling well, but I thought I'd post these pics. More field trip and cookie-making fun to come!

Wordless Wednesday: Crawling!!!

Ezra finally crawled for the first time today! He's been sitting forever, scooting on his bum, and scooting backwards on his belly, and near crawling lift-off for so long. Today, he finally got up on his knees and did it! Now he can chase his sister around the room! I'm so excited about this moment, I'm dual posting on both of my blogs!

Join the fun at http://www.5minutesformom.com

Times are a Changin': Wet Eyes for the Primary Program?

I've never been shy to admit this: I don't really enjoy children singing. In organized groups, I mean. Of course, I adore it when my own child makes up songs and sings loudly and off-tune. My own offspring is the exception. I don't particularly want to attend a school choir concert, I pass over kid's CDs that feature actual children singing, and I've never been a big fan of the end of the year Primary program at church. I love children and I will attend their concerts and smile during their time to shine, but my eyes will probably stray to the clock a few times.

So, I was a bit shocked yesterday when I found my eyes watering up a bit during the first song of our ward's annual Primary program at church. I thought, "What's happening to me?" My kids are too young to participate. As I read the words in the program, I realized that I'm becoming a bit of a softy. People have always told me that I'd get over this issue with kids singing as my kids grew. But I never believed them. Now I might have to eat my words.

The kids still sang off tune. The smallest ones still mumbled the words and then practically shouted the ones they knew. The older kids still looked like someone was torturing them. But they were singing the sweetest songs about the family and, as I read the words in the program, I was so touched. I loved that these children attended church each Sunday for a year and focused on their eternal families. The words to the songs were so simple and lovely. I instantly wanted to go home and download them so I could learn them along with Ella (they are all new to me).

Here are some of the songs that melted my frosty  heart:

Matthew Neeley, “The Family Is of God,” Friend, Oct 2008, 28–29

1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,
To love and teach the gospel to his children.
A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share
Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,
To nurture and to strengthen all her children.
She teaches children to obey, to pray,
To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be
A good example to each fam’ly member.
And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,
I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

“Seek the Lord Early,” Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 108

I’ll seek the Lord early while in my youth,

And he will help me to know the truth.
I’ll search the scriptures and find him there,
Then go to our Father in fervent prayer.
I’ll seek the Lord early, and I’ll obey
His living prophets in all they say.
I’ll keep his commandments; his love will abound.
I will seek the Lord early, and he will be found.

Words and music: Joanne Bushman Doxey, b. 1932

 “I’ll Walk with You,” Children’s Songbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 140–41

If you don’t walk as most people do,

Some people walk away from you,
But I won’t! I won’t!
If you don’t talk as most people do,
Some people talk and laugh at you,
But I won’t! I won’t!
I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you.
That’s how I’ll show my love for you.
Jesus walked away from none.
He gave his love to ev’ryone.
So I will! I will!
Jesus blessed all he could see,
Then turned and said, “Come, follow me.”
And I will! I will!
I will! I will!
I’ll walk with you. I’ll talk with you.
That’s how I’ll show my love for you.

Words: Carol Lynn Pearson, b. 1939. © 1987 IRI
Music: Reid N. Nibley, b. 1923. © 1987 IRI

If you're interested in listening to audio versions of - children ;0) - singing these songs, you can find them at www.lds.org.

A Belated Anniversary Post for My Favorite Person

Tim and I celebrated our 5th Anniversary on September 4th and enjoyed a wonderful evening away together in St Louis (thanks Bryan and Heather!). We really needed to get away and simply focus on each other. I couldn't believe how physically relaxed we felt and looked after one evening celebrating our anniversary!

Awhile back, I wrote about how love songs in the car always make me think of Tim. I know it sounds a bit corny, but marrying Tim is the best choice I ever made! I love being married and Tim is my favorite person. For our five year anniversary, I thought it would be fun to compile a few poems and songs that always remind me of my husband.

I love you, Tim! Thanks for 5 incredible, joyful years together! This is my belated anniversary note to you:

The Shirt by Jane Kenyon 
When I first read this poem in college, it took my breath away with its brevity and sensuality. It expresses so much of how I feel about you in so few words.

The shirt touches his neck
and smooths over his back.
It slides down his sides.
It even goes down below his belt—
down into his pants.
Lucky shirt.

From "It Feels Like Today" by Rascall Flats
From our wedding video - I always imagine us walking out of the temple, grinning, when I hear this song. I can feel the thrill of the moment again and the incredible joy I felt holding your hand, standing next to you, knowing we were married for eternity.

I Woke up this morning
With this feeling inside me that I can't explain
like a weight that I've carried
Been carried away, away

But I know something is coming
I don't know what it is
But I know it's amazing, you save me
My time is coming
And I'll find my way out of this longest drought...

It feels like today I know
It feels like today I'm sure
It's the one thing that's missin'
The one thing I'm wishin'
Life's sacred blessin' and then
It feels like today
Feels like today

XLIII. "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways..." by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth's sonnet for Robert expresses the way I feel for you so eloquently...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

From "Accidentally in Love" by Counting Crows 
This somehow became "our song" in a way and it always reminds me of you. I want to crank it up whenever I hear it and I miss having it as "your" ring tone.

So I said, "I'm a snowball running"
Running down into the spring
That's coming all this love melting under
Blue skies belting out sunlight, shimmering love

Well baby I surrender to the strawberry ice cream
Never ever end of all this love
Well I didn't mean to do it
But there's no escaping your love

These lines of lightning
Mean we're never alone
Never alone, no, no

Come on, come on
Move a little closer
Come on, come on
I want to hear you whisper
Come on, come on
Settle down inside my love

Come on, come on
Jump a little higher
Come on, come on
If you feel a little lighter
Come on, come on
We were once upon a time in love

We're accidentally in love

From a Fortune Cookie at our Wedding:
Wise words that appealed to me then, but mean much more to me now.

Love does not consist of gazing at each other,
but looking outward in the same direction.
~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery ~

Love,

Mindy