She Thirsts

SEIJA

Gender: Feminine Usage: Finnish

Derived from Finnish seijas meaning "tranquil, serene".

When Seija was a baby we were astonished as to how calm she was. The name we picked really seemed to fit her. She was the essence of what that name meant. She hardly ever cried, she was happy, and just content to lay on the floor and stare at the boys playing or to hang out alone. I thought having three kids was much easier than just having one or even two children. It was incredible how much I could do with having a newborn around!

She has changed a lot since then. She is still a very happy child, but she now shows it with a lot of energy and noise. She is an extremely spirited child with a little mischievous mixed in!

Today I walked into the pantry to find my daughter quickly replacing a juice box to it's rightful place - empty, with an "oh no I've been caught" expression on her face. As I went to pick it up and throw it out, I found two more punctured and empty juice boxes lying there with the other full ones. Apparently I don't give give her enough to drink :)

I knew if I let her get away with that, she and the boys would feel they have free rein on all the snacks in the pantry, but how do you punish something you find so funny?!

I have to admit that she does still has some calm moments (see below).

As I was writing this post (very late at night of course), I heard Matthias crying out in his sleep "NO SEIJA!!!". I wonder what he's dreaming about!

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Fasting

I enjoy fasting, not the starving - stomach growling bit, but for the way that I feel on the days I fast. I know that I am fasting for a few very good reasons, 1. I fast for a need / cause, 2. I give the money saved (from the two meals in which I fasted from) to charity, to those who need it more than I do, and 3. for my own spiritual uplift. These are the three reasons I am grateful for the law of the fast.

Easter Sunday

On Sunday morning I gave my children their new clothes. All my boys got new ties and Seija got a new dress.

Aren't they a cute bunch?

Seija striking a pose.

Thank-you Auntie Ashley for taking these photos!

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Christ's Resurrection

I thought it was fitting this Easter to remember that Jesus Christ was resurrected. He lives! He overcame death so that we can have that great gift also. I am grateful for this part of His atoning sacrifice!

Easter Week

We have a some Easter traditions in our family to keep Jesus Christ at the centre of this holiday. We start the week before Easter and read scriptures of Christ's life in the week leading up to His death and resurrection, along with colouring pictures depicting those stories, and doing some activities. Sunday was the first day, we read the story of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:6-11 & John 12:12-18), and we coloured hard boiled eggs. The second day (Monday), we had our "spring" egg hunt. We didn't want the egg hunt to be our children's focus on Easter Sunday, so we did it for FHE, along with talking about Jesus cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:12-16), colouring the picture, and reading "The First Easter" (found in the April 1988 Friend magazine).

Tonight was the third night. We read of few of Christ's parables and teachings (found in Matthew 21:23-46, 22:1-14, and Mark 12:41-44). Tomorrow, the fourth day, we will also read some of Jesus Christ's parables and teachings (found in Matthew 25:1-46). The fifth day will be reading of the Last Supper and the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:17-75). The sixth day is on the betrayal, Jesus trial and His crucifixion (Matthew 27:1-61). On the seventh day, the day before Easter, we'll make the "Easter Story Cookies" and read of Jesus teaching in the Spirit World (1 Peter 3:18-20 and D&C 138:29-37). The eighth day is Easter Sunday and we'll finish the Easter Story Cookies & eat them, read of His resurrection, and watch either "The Testaments" or "Finding Faith In Christ". Then on the ninth and last day, being Easter Monday, we will do "The Easter Story in Eggs" for FHE.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Health & the San Antonio Temple

Yes, I know it's Tuesday, but I have two to do. Better late than never. It seems to be my thing to post two days to three weeks later. My first blessing is 9 days late, but my second is only 2 days late :)

First, now that we aren't sick anymore, I'm really grateful to be healthy. I enjoy using all five of my senses (I can breathe well and smell again). I am able to use my limbs and extremities (no more aches all over and the need to lay down all day). I have energy and feel great (no more fever, chills and sweats). I'm enjoying the outdoors again (no more being quarantined in our own home). I love it! I love being healthy. I am grateful I have health of body and mind and all the opportunities that go along with that. The talents I can gain, skills I can learn, knowledge I can attain, sports I can play, activities I can do, service I can perform, etc. I now have the health to get out and enjoy using our Chariot again (below) for walking and cycling.

The second blessing I'm grateful to have is a temple so close by. I'm really grateful that the San Antonio Temple was built and operational just before we moved here. Brad and I were able to enjoy going to the temple last Friday. It is so wonderful to be there, to feel the warmth of the spirit that resides there. Because we have a temple minutes from our home we are able to go together often. We attend the temple at least once each month. When we move from here, we won't be so lucky. The nearest temple will be four hours from our new city (if it is operating by then). We try to take advantage of the opportunity and blessing we have here.

Girls Night Out

A couple of weeks ago I was very grateful to have a much needed girls night out. My husband was away at a conference in Boston, and I had been stuck inside the past two weeks dealing with the flu (Seija's was still hitting her strong) so I had no chance of leaving to even run errands. So I got a babysitter for the evening and thoroughly enjoyed a night out. I forgot how nice it was to get outside! We all went to see a cute and fun chick flick - 27 Dresses.

Than we all went out for dinner at la Madeleine, which is a cafe with amazingly great food.

It was so much fun! Thank-you Hillery for planning it!!

Kari Dawn's Baby Shower

I love it when friends of mine have babies, because we get to have parties. So thank-you Kari Dawn and good luck tomorrow! The party was so much fun. We even got to play my favorite baby shower game "Sweet Consentration" (and I got the Milk Duds, yeah!).

Kari Dawn and Anna
Anna was a great host and her food was fantastic! Thanks for putting on the fun baby shower! I still need to get your recipes (so good!).

Jeannine, MaryAnn, Eleanor, and Diane

Sara, Amber, Ellice, Jeannine, and MaryAnn

Chelsea, Jill, Jami, Jenni, and Kelly

Me and Sara

Pump It Up Party

Now that I've caught up from weeks ago, I can talk about last week. Joy put on a party for her daughter's 2nd birthday on March 3rd at Pump It Up (an inflatable indoor playground). My children had a blast and were so happy to be invited. Thank-you Joy. Happy Birthday Maddie!

Seija took awhile to warm up to the fun and games. I forced her to go with me. She looks a bit nervous and is holding on for dear life.

Cute picture of the children climbing up. Matthias is in the gray top & navy pants and Seija is at the bottom.

The had a balloon guy come and make different ballon things for the children. Matthias wanted a sword and Seija wanted a crown. He also made Elmo, different dogs, flowers, etc. He was really good!

Unfortunately the birthday girl got to Pump It Up and started vomiting, so she didn't even get to play at her own party. So sad! She was still in good spirits and enjoyed opening her gifts.
Thanks Jami for the photos!

Me In Threes Thursdays - Weeks 7 - 10

Yep, the title says it all. I have four weeks to catch up on. With the flu that went around my household I have been playing catch-up on everything. Now that my house is looking great I'm catching up on my blogging.

Week 7:
What are your three favorite movies?

The first two were very easy to pick. They are definitely my all time favorite two. The third was harder, which is why I pick for third place.

1. Pride and Prejudice. The one with Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth of course. If I had the time I'd watch it all the time. it's fantasctic!!! The latest one though, with Keira Knightly, really sucks!

2. The Princess Bride. It's a classic! Who doesn't love this movie? Really. Have you ever met anyone who doesn't love this movie?

3. Tied for third is Emma and The Runaway Jury. I love Gwenyth Paltrow in Emma and I love Jane Austen stories. The Runaway Jury really keeps you at the edge of your seat, it also keeps you guessing.

All these show are clean shows too. Which is really hard to come by now-a-days.


Week 8:
What are your three favorite TV shows?

This is a little challenging. We don't have cable, and our rabbit ears don't work, so we don't even have peasant vision. I do have some ideas though.

1. The Cosby Show was my favorite show and there hasn't ever been a better show come out since. It's definitely my #1.

2. So You Think You Can Dance. The dancers they find are amazing! Unlike American Idol, these people actually have talent.

3. Ghost Whisperer. This show I watch on DVD when it comes out at the end of each season. I love it!

Week 9:
What are your three favorite websites?

I use so many websites on a regualar basis, that this will be hard to narrow to three.

1. lds.org - it's the official website of the church and a fantastic resource to use!
2. Of course blogger.com :)
3. Since I love to make cards, I'll have to say the third is splitcoaststampers.com. It is full of wonderful ideas that I take and adjust to fit my supplies and liking.
   

Week 10: What are your three favorite books?

Of course my favorite books are the scriptures, but for the excitement of the blog I'm going to branch out. Also instead of favorite books I'm going to put my favorite groups of books, because otherwise this question is way too hard.

1. Jane Austen books. Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, and Mansfield Park.

2. Harry Potter books vol 1-7

3. Twilight series. So far there's Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. The fourth, Breaking Dawn, will be out on August 2nd and I'm so excited! The first movie will also be out at the end of the year. Can't wait!

Esther's Engaged!

On the 19th of February Brad's sister Esther got engaged to her boyfriend Russ. We are really excited for them. This wonderful news also means a trip up to Alberta, Canada for us. Yea!!! Congratulations Russ and Esther!

Esther & Russ

The cute and happy couple set their date in May at the Cardston Temple. The same temple we were married in 8 years previous.

This photo has my cute kids in their cute clothes for the wedding (this is one of Esther's colours). My Mother-in-law bought these outfits for them from Janie & Jack. Fortunately the pants come with adjustable waist, otherwise they just wouldn't work for my children. This photo also shows the new haircuts I gave the boys, and, that the haircut Seija gave herself, is starting to look like bangs (yea!).

SPT Challenge - Welcome Home!

for tuesday, march 11th: if i came to visit you next week, how would i know which doorbell to ring? do you have a formal entrance? should i come to the front door? or do you prefer your guests to come around back? (would you be surprised if i came in through the garage?!?)

*I really wanted to have this post posted on Tuesday, especially since it's been a few weeks since the last time I SPTed, but after taking a few pictures my camera battery died. Died, right before I got a picture of me. And I couldn't very well post this without picture of me. So now that I have one I can. The "T" in SPT will stand for both "She photographs on Tuesdays" and "she Photographs on Thursdays" in this case.

Most people who come to visit knows which doorbell to ring, by looking for our vehicle in the driveway. Our vehicle has a couple features that makes it really stand out. If that's not there, then you need look for the house with an amazingly beautiful arbor beside the front door.

Doesn't that look gorgeous and exceptionally well made? My handy husband designed it and made it all by himself.


On that arbor you'll find two trellises that have beautiful vines a third of the way up. The goal is to have them all the way up the trellises one day.

My Recent Creations

For this last card swap I made 10 masculine thank-you cards

I also made a bunch of these carrot boxes for the card swap, for my children for Easter, for the kids I teach at church and for the sisters I visit teach (24 in all).

I was at a baby shower for a good friend's baby boy last Saturday (a post on that to come) and made this baby boy card.

I also recently gave another friend's baby girl a gift and gave one of these pink cards with it.

This spring / Easter card I made matches a bag I found (I made & had four in all).

Some Past Creations

These Valentines goodies were given to Brad's family on the Las Vegas trip.

The mini chocolate bar wrappers had the cutest sayings.

1. Chocolate - it's not just for breakfast anymore.
2. I'd give up chocolate, but I'm no quitter.
3. The best things in life are... chocolate.
4. Forget love - I'd rather fall in chocolate
5. Hand over the chocolate and nobody gets hurt.
   

I made this note pad & pencil holder as a Valentine Card for Caleb's school teacher.

This is a masculine birthday card

This is a gift card holder for a wedding.

During the Christmas season I gave out these bags filled with "Snowman Soup",

I also gave out these boxes with four mini chocolate bars in each.

This was my favorite Christmas card I made last year. I didn't end up sending out homemade cards though, because of lack of time. Hopefully this year.

This was another Christmas card I made.