Dear Daddy - We Carved a Pumpkin!

"I miss you! I love you! I carved pumpkins today. I play with Gunner today at the spooky adventure. I drew a picture and then I did another one by myself and then it was really fun to carve it and draw it. Stewart's been naughty today? I been good today. Um, I miss you really really really much! Um, one more thing..do you miss mommy? I love wearing my costume and I love when you wear your costume and Stewart. Hope we have fun at trick-or-treating!" -- Lily

Primary President..say what?!

About 4 weeks ago our Farmington 7th ward and the neighboring Farmington 6th ward split to create the Farmington 16th ward which we are now apart of. I was really excited for the split because I love change. I need it every so often or I feel like life gets a little redundant. A couple weeks prior I was seriously debating about chopping my hair. That is usually the first thing I switch up since it is the easiest and least expensive change I can pull off. And it doesn't effect the family too much so I can justify doing it as opposed to other things I would like to change. So this ward split came just in time and saved my hair and a few regrets that were sure to come.

The Sunday before October General Conference the wards had an evening meeting to reveal the boundaries and new Bishopric. We went home after the meeting excited that we would have the opportunity to meet a lot of new people. Not long after we got home we got a call from the Executive Secretary asking for Paul and I to come in and talk with the Bishopric. I thought, "Wow! They are really on top of things. They are already giving out callings for primary and Sunday school teachers!" When I told my mom we were going in to meet them, she informed me something major was coming for Paul or me. I told her there was no way.

So we get to the church and we were the last to be called in. The Bishop called me in first and asked me if I was worthy to hold a recommend. I answered yes but then started getting really antsy thinking that was not a normal question for a teacher. He got up and asked Paul to come in. Bishop Nield started with some small talk that didn't put my mind to ease at all. Then he said something about just issuing calls to all of the Presidents this evening, to which he looked at me and said, I'm sure you've figured out we are calling you? I just smiled and shakily said, "Sure". Then he asked me to serve as Primary President...I'm shocked!

Just a side note - I get really weird when I am put on the spot or feel nervous. I start giggling and get almost hyper. It is ridiculous! I'm sure they thought this was the best news I had ever heard. Thinking back I know I completely deceived them because that is obviously far from my normal self. I'm sure they were thinking from looking at the person in front of them that they had made the best decision because of the way I was acting. A Primary President should be happy and smiley and exactly like the little show I was putting on. Little did they know, I was not portraying my true self. Anyway....

At this point the rest of the Bishopric had come in to join us. They explained that as they were contemplating who should serve in this calling, when they came across my name they all had a very peaceful feeling and knew that I was meant to be the Primary President. That did put my mind at ease a bit to know that they had so much confidence in me. I know their answer had come from Heavenly Father despite however inadequate and scared I felt. They spent a bit of time with me going through names to consider for my presidency and some Primary President 101 information. They kept informing me that Primary is like running a small business. I was not aware that Nursery, Scouts, and Activity Days all fell under the responsibility of the Primary. I also didn't know that the President is responsible for suggesting names for every single calling in the Primary. I knew I had a massive job ahead of me!

I accepted and they told me they wanted my presidency's names by Tuesday - that gave me two days. The most challenging part was I didn't even know half of the ward. Once I got my presidency together, I then needed to staff my whole primary which came to about 50 names I needed to come up with. Now, even four weeks later and I thought that I was done with that part of it, I am realizing that will be a never ending process to keep teachers and workers called.

One of the things that stuck out to me that Bishop Nield told me the night they called me was that when he was a Primary Chorister, there would be times he couldn't even sing. He would be so overcome with the Spirit seeing all of those sweet children sing. He told me that I would have experiences like that. I remember really wondering if I would. Yesterday during Senior singing time, I couldn't sing. I felt the Spirit so strong and I knew this is exactly were I needed to be. I'm not sure that it is for the children's sake, but I know it is for mine. I will learn so much the next few years. It will be a challenge for me as those closest to me know that children, especially other people's children, are not my favorite thing in the world. As maybe horrible as that sounds, I am just not good with kids. That is why my mother lovingly told me that I better reconsider wanting to become an elementary teacher all those years ago.

There will be so much to learn and so much to do. It will be a massive challenge but I am ready to really serve in the church. Paul has been incredibly consumed by work lately which has resulted in me feeling like a single mother most of the time. However, I can already see the blessings from Heavenly Father from being in this position. So I'm ready for all the good, bad, hard, growth and crazy that is coming my way.

Fall...

means it is time to visit the Pumpkin Patch! 

I love Fall when the weather starts to change. Last year we did not take enough advantage of Pack Pumpkin Patch being a mile from our front door. This year I refuse to let that happen again.

And thank goodness for our new besties the Greens! I don't think a day goes by that Lily, Gunner, Stew, and Ollie don't see each other. Lily tells me multiple times a day how adorable little Ollie is and how much she just loves him. At times he gets a little smothered by her but it is all in love!

So grateful for days like this!

Lily Quotes: 2nd Edition

October 30, 2013 - Right after singing Lily's night-time song to her she tells me - "Even if you're not a good singer, Heavenly Father still loves you."

October 18, 2013 - I was preparing my very first Sharing Time lesson (yes, I am Primary President - shocker!!) and trying to gage how basic I need to be with the Junior Primary, I asked Lily to tell me something about the temple. She said, "You love the temple song because you're going to die". Completely lost for words that is what came to her mind when I mention "temple", I remembered about 2 weeks ago I was singing "I Love to See the Temple" to her for her night-time song. After the song I explained to her that it was my very most favorite song because it teaches us the importance of the temple. That we can be together as a family forever because Mommy and Daddy were married in the temple. I probably should have stopped there but I told her that even when I die, we will be together again because of the blessings of the temple. She was nervous for a few days that I was going to be dying, but after reassuring her multiple times that it wouldn't be "until she was Grandma Heslop and Grandma Stewart's ages" she calmed down a bit. But, now when she thinks of temple, she immediately thinks of my death. The things that happen when I try to teach a child the gospel. Now with my new Primary calling, I will get lots of practice at it!

March 30, 2013 - When I was getting Lily ready for bed tonight, I raised my eyebrows while trying to pull her jammie top over her head. Noticing the wrinkles form on my forehead, she says almost laughing, "You have stripes!"

January 8, 2013 - "Mama, you know what I want to be when I grow up?"
"No Lily, what?!"
"I want to be a Mama!"

December 1, 2012 - "Cows lay milk." She said while holding her "pigs in the bum" toy cow. I laughed and asked her where she learned that. She said, "From Jesus."

October 1, 2012 - Lily was talking to "Abecca" and "Acky" this morning. I asked her where Mimi and Lickey were and she said, "Mom, I don't have Mimi & Lickey anymore." Referring to her imaginary buddies, and so I asked, "Why?" and she answered, "Because I don't like a little person, I like a big person!"
So than I asked her more about Abecca and Acky, which I have heard her talking to for a couple months now. They are both girls, Abecca is 3, like Lily, and Acky is 4! I love the imagination of my sweet little girl. Hopefully this means that she got her Daddy's creativity. Not that Paul talks to imaginary people, he just can envision much more than I can :)

August 20, 2012 - "I love my Mommy, I love my Daddy, I love my brother, and I love MYSELF!" I'm glad that she has a good self esteem with high self worth! I would love to take the credit for that little lesson, but then it also makes me wonder what her lesson in nursery was yesterday :)

Birthday Paul

I was really excited about Paul's birthday this year! Probably because I felt very on top of things this year. I purchased his gift in August while we were in New York secretly, which I was especially excited for. It was something I knew he wanted, needed, and would be totally shocked. Back in New York when he was veggin' in the hotel and I was out shopping, I ran 10 blocks to Uniqlo which was this awesome Japanese clothing store we had discovered earlier that day. They have these amazing ultra light down coats that are super comfy and warm. So anyway, I was excited that I had a good gift this year!

That night I had very little sleep (I just found out the evening before that I was going to be the Primary President of a brand new ward, more on that to come), I had a pounding head ache, was so sick to my stomach, and my mind was racing. So I finally just got up at 6 a.m. and ran to Harmon's to grab a few of Paul's favorite morning foods - orange juice, raspberries, and challah. The kids had a great morning with Daddy.

Every year I always feel a little guilty that I don't do anything special on Paul's birthday. The last time I really planned anything semi-big for his birthday was eight years ago. And really he secretly planned that whole thing leading me on to think that I planned it. It was the night he proposed to me and we had our families waiting at the cabin for his "surprise" birthday party.

I have always figured I would plan some party for his thirtieth. But a week ago I decided it was time to really celebrate him, he deserved it! And number 28 seemed like a good time. So I messaged all of his friends about a surprise birthday party at his parents home. Even though he wasn't overly surprised due to a conversation he had with my Dad where he spilled that we were having a party, it was still a success in my book. We had all our good friends come, I made 10 homemade Jamaican jerk and margarita pizzas, there was a little volleyball action, and ended with homemade oreo ice-cream cake. I tried to have all of Paul's "favorites" present at the party.

We had a blast celebrating Paul. I love him with all of my heart and I am so proud of him. He is such a hard worker and I know he does it all for us, his family. I am one lucky girl to be his..forever!

Lily's First Day of Preschool

This day was a long time coming...and it finally came!! Lily could have started preschool last year but I thought that was a bit redundant to do two years when I didn't even do one (and I turned out just fine). I thought that I would be ecstatic and have no feelings of sadness on this much awaited day. But, to my surprise, I was wrong! I was a little nervous deep down inside as I watched my oldest daughter have her first experience going off into the world on her own. Watching Lily skip around and sing all morning because she knew what the day held for her made it a bit easier. It was more joyous than Christmas morning at our house!

I thought it would be a good addition to the traditional front door/first day of school picture to have Lily write what grade she would be starting and what she wants to be when she grows up. She debated between a Mom and a Teacher, but I was proud to see my job had the edge!

Somehow I think poor little Stew knew what was happening before Lily was even gone. He was extra emotional in the morning which balanced out her extreme excitement. Once we finally made the drop of Lily at school, he kept whimpering, "Sis..gone..sis..gone". It was really heart-breaking. They are the sweetest of friends and I know it will be hard on him to not have his little buddy around all day. But, it will be nice for us to have some one-on-one time. I already have lunch-dates and frozen yogurt runs lined out in my head.

Lily looked as though she had grown two years in the two point five hours she was gone that day. I am so proud of my little "monkey beanie baby girl" and the beautiful, confident, sweet girl that she has become. 

New York New York!

Six days after Our Hawaiian Escapade and red-eye flight home, we caught another red-eye to New York City! Life isn't always this exciting/hectic/crazy/glamorous so I relished every moment I could this month of August. It has completely flown by because for half of it, Paul and I were on both extreme ends of the country.

I knew this trip would require a little more energy and work because we were here for a Live Love Spa event. So we flew in a few days before the event to have a little "play time". We saw Newsies on Broadway, it was ahh-mazing! I don't know who was more excited for this - Paul and me?!

On this trip we walked sooo much! I wish I would have had one of those little step meters to really see how far we walked total, because I bet it was at least 20 miles! We only took a cab twice and the subway twice, other than that, it was all by foot! But I preferred it that way, we got to see so much of the city. Plus, I needed any form of exercise I could get with all the scrumptious meals followed by rich desserts we were consuming.

One of our subway rides was to Chinatown, Little Italy, and Soho. It was so enjoyable just walking the city with my love! He is so funny though, he would always get sucked into those little shops in Chinatown where I would find him bartering with some guy barely speaking English about how cheap he could get some cologne. Needless to say, we made it out of there with only a pack of blueberries (which were only ONE dollar - I couldn't pass those up). I'm proud of us for not buying any nick-nack junk I would be throwing away in six months.

In Little Italy we grabbed some lunch at the famous Lombardi's - the first pizza place in New York. Since 1905 they have been serving "pies" and have definitely perfected it. Although I do recall Paul saying that my pizza is better, but I think he is just a little biased :)

We waited an hour for this little gem of a restaurant for Sunday lunch. That "Famous Broadway Sundae" made it worth the wait. Even if we were stomach-churning sick the rest of the day...

Paul was such a good sport to follow me up and down 5th Avenue for a little shopping. He even let me make a few purchases :) I could have spent forever in FAO Shwarts, the famous toy store. We found some presents for the kids to help them forgive us for abandoning them this month (which I think it worked)! Stewart got a little Bullseye and Woody doll, complete with hat that he adores. And Lily got a "clinic bag" (I don't know where she learned that term from) full of Doc McStuffin's doctor toys. Plus we got in a little Christmas shopping.

Aren't these delightful little cupcakes beautiful. They tasted even better than they look if you can believe that! I even brought some home to my sweet mother for watching the kids while we were gone, but she forgot them and someone had to eat them...

I had my first limo ride..ever! We were at this amazing Mediterranean restaurant with some Live Love friends, which were drinking quite a bit, and so they called for this limo to take us back to the Hotel. The ride lived up to all of my thoughts of what a limo ride would be like. It probably had to do with the seven other people who were all a little tipsy from dinner. We were all singing and dancing and making it a limo ride to remember.

And of course, a shout out to the whole reason I got to go on this unforgettable trip with my sweet husband. Plus we spent half of our time in New York at the beautiful Guerlain Spa in the Waldorf Astoria where the Live Love Spa event was held. The last 20 minutes of the second day was by far the highlight. Paul miraculously sold the Blend Bar to this spa!! I was beyond exciting, for one that we didn't have to pack up the Blend Bar to ship home, for another that we wouldn't have to shove it in a cab to take to another spa (there were a few interested in buying it), and lastly that my husband is so amazing at his job!