i'm a bit average

How much do I love being a mom?



I love it so much.

Don't get me wrong, I've had the moments just like every other mother out there. I'll be the first to tell you it's nothing like how I played 'house' when I was a kid.

I lose my patience on a regular basis, and my temper on occasion too. There are nights when I am counting down and I rush those kids into bed at the earliest possible second I can get away with so I can have some quiet. I've cleaned up messes that would have made me puke just thinking about it before I had kids. I have cried over spilled milk, and about a hundred other things that really don't matter at all.

My life is not perfect. I am not perfect. My kids are not perfect.

And that's ok.

Actually that's how it is supposed to be.

There are so many things in life that are important and good to do. "...never be afraid to aspire to be a mother. Get your education. Go have experiences that will broaden your mind and enrich you as a person. But don't forget what is most important." Jane Clayson Johnson



My mother in law has told me on more than one occasion that all she ever wanted to be was a mom. What a truly great aspiration. It is an aspiration for the most noble job on earth with the least recognition.
Would I be a better mother if I got a paycheck? Would I get overtime if i woke up in the night with them ? How about if I make a meal with all the food groups and they actually ate everything without a fuss, a bonus perhaps?
Of course not. Because a mom can't deny that she wants the very best for her kids and will do anything and everything to make this happen.

Creating a loving home for a family is such an important and often hard thing. But time and time again I have seen the blessings of a loving family. So I know that I will do this for my family. We cannot afford to waste our time with trivial arguments between family members. Do not waste your thoughts and words holding grudges.



Some of you may be thinking, "Well, Lindsay, you have no idea what it's like to have family problems or major disagreements in your family." Well, guess what? (and i'm sure none of you are actully thinking that, i'm just making my point here.) You're right. I don't. My mother raised me the best she could and lucky for her I listened, and so should you. (and that is the way I prefer to think about it. I have learned and grown from my experiences and there is no need to dwell on the past and the unimportant details.)

For me, my family is not that trial of my life. (ok, sometimes my kids are the trial of the day) When I have a trial, that is who I go to. I go to Derek for comfort, my parents, my siblings, my in-laws on both sides. They are who I want to be with today and forever.

So if you are ever thinking that you are not cutting it as a mom, you are most likely doing a fantastic job.



"If we stop to think about what we do, really do, we are building for the centuries. We are building character, and tradition, and values, which meander like a river into the distance and out of sight, but on and on and on." Anna Quindlen

I would venture to say my life is very average. I went to school, got married, worked for a while, had a kid, and another. No major achievements there to the unaverage person I guess. But I'm pretty sure I'm in the middle of a very major life: for me, my man and 2 little people that watch my every move. And I don't want it any other way.




Good night. By the way, the random pictures throughout are our trip to the zoo back in July. And no, I didn't dress them in the same color on purpose.

this is me for today

here's a little something from my new found friend christal. i hope we get to hang out someday!

i've had lots going on in my head these days. just about life in general. i wish i was better with words so i could share my 'profound' thoughts but i'm not great, so here's a little bit of me today.

i am: ME

i think: about my family
i know: where i came from and how blessed i am
i want: to do my very best everyday
i have: the best family ever
i wish: i had more self discipline
i dislike: stinky feet
i miss: my edmonton friends
i fear: for my kids
i feel: a roller coaster of emotions, but am content right now
i hear: quiet. love it, crazy day
i smell: everything, i have superhuman smell, this is not a good thing as a mother and nurse.
i crave: one of those homemade buns i had today
i usually: smile
i search: for a lot of things these days, my mom's house is just too big compared to the ol' apartment
i wonder: about the future
i regret: the color of green we just painted alli's room
i love: derek and all the rest
i care: about others' feelings
i always: have polish on my toenails
i worry: i'm not doing things right
i am not: easily stressed
i remember: i am surrounded everyday by amazing people who love me
i believe: i have a purpose here and i since there isn't an i hope: i hope i am fulfilling my purpose
i dance: with my kids
i sing: to my kids
i don’t always: iron things that should be ironed
i argue: on occasion
i write: here
i win: try not to keep track of that too much or i might argue more than just occasionally
i lose: my patience
i never: thought i'd be going through what i am right now..
i listen: to my ipod.
i don't understand: math
i can usually be found: crusin around with the kids in the bike
i am scared: ...

and since it's about me, how about a picture. i never put up self portraits. probably because i never take them. but here it is. this is me right now at 1 in the morning all a mess and using the camera timer.

the lake

weeeeee!

i wish...

oh i wish i had more time for my blog. i really do. i love writing on here and putting up pictures for my friends to see.

i wish i had more energy. i don't know what it is, but i am just beat day in and day out. we are having so much fun and keeping so ridiculously busy that i really can't keep up.

i wish kids weren't a constant MESS. i love to just be outside with the kiddies lately. but you bring them in for one meal, or even just one minute, and it's all over. my poor mom. this house has probably not been so messy in YEARS. it's on the verge of disaster at some point every day, sorry.

enough of the wishing.

i'm so happy that i have an amazing family. that i have parents who let me and derek and the kids come crawling back to bunk with them for a few months.

i'm so happy that we take possesion of our very first very own house on FRIDAY! isn't it about stinking time we lived in a house to call our own?!

i'm so happy that i have an amazing husband and that i can be a part of his family. the circumstances in the family are far from easy right now. but everybody is so strong through these trials and my faith is bursting.


i'm happy that i do have a slight burst of energy left so here are some pictures of the dance. we went to the little village of glenwood to a dance that derek's grandma's band was playing at. it was seriously so much fun. i have a ton more pictures and i love them all.





note that kid in the background doing the worm with is stomach.






phew, aren't you glad i got rid of that ugly foot picture being that first thing you see?!

for linda

I was informed today that it is time for a new post. And it's true, it is time. But, I'm sleepy, so this is all for now.

Derek sprained his ankle at the end of June and i forgot to put these up. Gross. He has gross feet and even grosser sprained. He tied his shoe up really tight after to stop the swelling, so i don't really have to point out where all the swelling went.





We were bored so we threw some bread out to see if any birds would come. This is about a quarter of what showed up. And James was pretty sure he could catch them. And the nakedness? That's the way we roll around here.



Here's a random July 1st picture of my friends!



I think I'll find the time to post again soon. I think. I kinda still want to post some pictures from weeks ago, and I just might do it even it's old lame-o news.

We're off to the zoo tomorrow!

the computer likes me!

Well, at least my dad's computer likes me. So all these pictures are form my dad's camera. My pictures are on my computer and it's still being mean.

Here's what I want to know. All you people that make collages...do you make them in photoshop and then put them on here or what? I want to learn how to do them, but am rather dumb when it comes to those kind of things in photoshop.

Here's a little bit of what we've been up to.

We had a little photo session on Sunday afternoon. Alli wasn't into it until my dad pulled out the prop.

Before the prop.







Alright, enough of those.

Ahhh, the newlyweds. They were glowing all day. I sure can't wait until these 2 have some kids of their own for me to torture. I have some serious payback to get Peter for.


The little Waterton "hike"


James having a good time in Waterton Lake


James taking a dive into Waterton Lake, oops.


Let me expand on this story. James had a near drowning and I saved him, what's new. The part that got me, is that he hardly let out a whimper when I rescued him. And then, as I was frantically ripping his freezing drenched clothes off, he gets all mad at me and is fighting to get out of my grasp. After he is stripped to his diaper and breaks loose, what does he do? He trudges right back out into the icy waters. He must have lost a wackload of brain cells in the freezing water to be that stupid.


AND, Happy Birthday Grandma!


A few other happenings that have no pics.

-I got the sweetest most perfect new nephew at the end of June seen here. Rhonda you are such a trooper.
-I ran the 10km road race and have since abandoned all training for my triathlon, oh dear I'm in trouble there.
-had an overnight trip to Waterton with the Baldry cousins, CRAZY fun.
-6 year anniversary, awwwwww. have yet to celebrate.
-swimming, swimming swimming
-quick trip to the lake waterskiing. yeah, I still got it.
-i worked a couple shifts at the raymond hospital with more booked. (bleh, old people)
-bought a house in Cardston! YIKES!!!

Derek's sister is still here from Califonia so we are making the most of her time here. All cousins are sleep deprived and out of control and we loving every minute of it. I haven't taken a single picture in over a week so I better get on it. But don't worry as soon as I get my computer working I'll have more! Summer is slipping away much too fast!