For my Mother

My mothers passed on, it's sad, but it's true.
She sent me an angel, she sent me you.

It comes through a smile, it comes through a hug
She finds me my angels to bring me her love.

I know she is there by kinds words that you say.
She sends you along to brighten my day.

I see her in, the kind look in your eyes.
I know she is watching, she's very close by.

Sometimes she comes through a word of advise.
I know she is helping, she's just so precise.

Sometimes it's your thoughts or kind deeds that you do.
It's mom's way of saying, " Don't forget, I love you!"

So it's your curly hair, and it's you thoughtful phrase
That help me along on the loneliest of days.

It's in your profession, and in your demeanor.
Sometimes, although fleeting, it's just like I've seen her.

I feel her nearby with the smile that you give.
I know she is there, by the good way you live.

She wants me to be happy, not having it end.
My mother made sure, I have angel friends.

I find her in places that I never would have thought
So for my sweet mom, I'll do what I ought.

I pass it along a brighten a day.
I share my example in my own special way.

I can be someones angel, a friend for someone in need.
Maybe I bring it, by word or just a small deed.

I do this because I love to share.
By my mothers example, she'll always be there.

For now, while I'm living I'll do my small part.
Touch a life of another, impact someones heart.

And maybe someday I can be an angel for you
Sent for a reason, when you're feeling blue.

Why can't we all decide to be angel friends?
Helping each other through to the end.

So here is my challenge, this ones for my mother.
Find someone to help... a friend, neighbor or brother.

Mom, I sure miss you but, your legacy lives on.
I hope since you've taught me, your service lives on!

Charayne Herrmann Simister

I have had this poem bouncing around in my head for the past couple of days. It still needs a bit of tweaking, but I wanted to get it written down somewhere. I felt that since today was Mother's Day it was appropriate. I love my mom so much. I miss her enormously, but I hope that through the way that I live and the things she has taught me that her legacy will live on. I know she loves me and wants me to be happy and I am so thankful for the atonement in my life, to know that I will be able to see her again someday. I want to be the type of mother that she was. I hope I can be. I feel so blessed to have three little angels of my own. I hope that they will love and admire me as much as I do my own mother.
Today was such a special day. Rylan brought home a "surprise" from school on Friday and hid it until today. His excitement was so charming and cute. He made me a bracelet from colored beads, and also brought home a sunflower that he started growing at school. He informed me that there were lots of flowers to choose from, but that he picked a sunflower. He also gave me a little poem with his hand print on it.
Alana, had a program on Thursday. All of the mom's got to come and hear the kids sing. She was so cute, she was so excited that I was there to hear her sing. She kept waving and blowing me kisses.
I remember giving these kind of gifts as a kid and having my mom say that they were the best. As we got older, we wanted to spend money and buy her things, but she still loved the thought and the homemade stuff the best. That baffled us as kids for a long time, but now as a mother I totally understand how important those things are. How much the little things mean. It seems like things have been going by really fast lately. I am very busy most days. My kids get bigger every second. I guess I'm sentimental, but I know that these things are little treasures.
I want my kids to know how thankful that I am to be a mother. To be their mother. To have this opportunity to raise them, to snuggle them, to teach them. I hope they know and can feel my love for them, because just as my mother has passed on, someday I shall also. I hope they will always have that knowledge in their hearts!
I am so thankful for a good husband, who helped me become a mother. He treats me good and thinks so much about me. He was so thoughtful this year and got me a kindle, so that I could read my scriptures and other books easier. Today has been a really good day.

Dear Cupid

Dear Cupid,

This year Valentines Day was not what I expected it to be...however I want to personally write and thank you for all your hard work discharging those arrows of affection. You see this year my husband worked on Valentines Day, and one could gripe and complain that you did not take your job seriously, however I know differently since he loves me so much that he did other thoughtful things for me instead. (We celebrated my birthday and Valentine's two days before). So I would like to tell you how our Love day went. First we all got up and had breakfast. I made the kiddos heart shaped pancakes. They thought that was super neat. Then we went to Rylan's school for his Valentines party and Alana and Kelton got to come watch. Rylan had fun with the Valentine box that he made and he got a lot of compliments from other kids at school. When we got home from the school, we made some of our own Valentines. The kids got to pass them out to their friends in the neighborhood. The kids helped with dinner and then, because of the kindness of my HEART, I let them stay up late and watch a movie in our room before they went to bed. It was a really good Valentines, because I was able to do a lot of fun things with the kids and got to watch them have such an enjoyable day. So Cupid, I have to hand it to you....you are doing a great job. Your love arrows have struck all the people that I love. Thank you and I hope to happen upon you and your hard work next year and the years to come. Best of Luck to you....Your admirer,

Charayne

Thankfulness post Day 2

My parents. They've been good parents. It hasn't been until recently that I've realized how good. Mostly, because now my mom is gone. I know now how much she did for me. I miss that. So thankful that I still have my dad. He is so smart and wise. He is a patient man. They raised me good. Taught me to have good manners. Taught me the gospel. Let me do things. Made sure we were fed, clothed and entertained. Worried about me. Sometimes more than they should have had to. Spent time with me. Played with my children and are the most amazing grandparents ever. Sacrificed a lot in my behalf. I know this, why? Because I am a parent, and I see how wonderful they were/are. I love them. That is why I am thankful for them. It is because of them that I am here. So, so blessed to have amazing parents!!!

Merriment

This year, for some reason it has been easy for me to find joy in the simple things. Here is how we've made merriment around our house.

Rylan and his Santa beard made from tape.
Home made, hand drawn ornaments for the tree.
Snow (enough said...the kids love it)
Goodies
Wrapping gifts for OTHERS
Jesus having a birthday and planning his party.
Advent calendars
Santa

Keep it SIMPLE!

The past little while I have been thinking that I need to simplify my life and do only the things that are the most important. I'm going for that feeling like when you have your email in box totally full of so many messages and then you finally get it cleared out to just one or two important messages....ya that's the feeling I'm going for, but for my life and not just my in box (although that would be nice too!) I was looking for ideas on the internet and I came across these tips. Check it out here.
I just loved it, because it seems like it's this time of year that you start thinking about all the millions of things that you have to do, places to go, things to buy and all that, and then in January, you look back while you're setting those goals and think, what the heck was I doing. So this year, maybe I will try and follow these tips for simplifying and stay sane during the Holidays this year.


7 Tips for savoring the simplicity:

1. Plan ahead: I have my gift list bought before December begins. I buy a little throughout the year for extended family members and I depend on the items I buy after Christmas every year for small gifts (teachers, friends, Sunday School teachers, etc). I also make many of my gifts. (Every Friday in November, I'll be sharing some homemade gift ideas!)

2. Create a budget: Make your list and check it twice! If you commit to buy only three gifts for your children, stick to it. Don't impulse buy and don't use your credit card.

3. Plan birthdays/anniversary parties at the beginning of the month.

4. Be the Master of the calendar, not the slave: commit to things that you will enjoy! It's okay to say No.

5. Involve your kids in the decorating, wrapping, gift-making, and cleaning up of the aftermath. If there's a "kid's table" during holiday dinners, use brown paper as a table cloth, so they can draw place settings or turkeys. Use fun holiday kid-friendly plates too!

6. If your hosting a big family meal, it's okay to ask guests to help out. Delegate side dishes and desserts to willing guests. Don't try to do it all by yourself.

7. Be reflective with your family. Before you eat Thanksgiving dinner, share why you're thankful. At Christmas, remember what the day truly celebrates.

**Please let me know if you have any tips or have seen any cool tips on Keeping things simple. I would love to have you share them. (Not just for the Holidays either)

That's Spooky

Wanna know what's spooky? I'll tell you, this year for Halloween the the kids ended up having a whole week full of fun. As if one night full of fun and candy isn't enough!!!Tuesday started things off with Trunk-or-Treat with the ward. The youth provided hot dogs, chips, drinks and took the kids around to get their candy. It was a lot of fun to see the ward dressed up in their costumes.Alana and her friend Rylin (her mom and I made the tutu's together for them)Alana and her friend Rylin ((we made the tutu's for them together)

All of us at Trunk-or-Treat

Eating the hot dogs and passing out candy

Above is our Bishop...and below are some members of the ward in their costumes.Wednesday we carved pumpkins as a family. The kids came up with some pretty creative pumpkins and then Tony carved them. We had a yummy spaghetti dinner to boot.Check out the carving of this pumpkin compared to the picture Rylan drew. Pretty close huh?

Friday we went to a Halloween party at my cousins house and the kids got to play with the cousins and eat good food.

Saturday, we got costumed up and went Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. I think I'd have to say that this was my favorite part, because we were all looking forward to it. The weather was beautiful and we got to go for a nice stroll around the block. In my opinion Kelton probably had the most fun, he loved being outside and seeing everyone dressed up in the costumes. He loved the fact that when we got home to look at the loot, that his daddy gave him a sucker. I think that the kids are finally getting the concept of Halloween, because every time we would approach a door they would knock or ring the door bell and shout "Trick-or-Treat!" as loud as they could.Sunday, we went to "Nana's" house for her annual Halloween get together. She went all out this year with Homemade pizzas...made to order. Treat bags, a doughnut eating contest (how cool is that?), pictures in the leaves and let's not forget the leaf fight that somehow ensues after pictures every year. The kids just love this part. They have so much fun running to, jumping in and throwing the leaves. All the cousins together in the big pile of leaves

My kids in the leavesPlaying in the leaves/leaf fightThe doughnut eating contestWe celebrated the October birthdays. Then we all got sent home with more food and candy than we came with. Talk about a month of fun! So many fun activities and way too many treats. So if that doesn't frighten you, then I'm not sure what will!

Fat Tuesday

Just a little fun fact that I didn't know, but today is known also as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, National Pancake Day dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products…hence the name Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.
In celebration IHOP is giving free short stacks for anyone who comes in (the would like a donation for Children's Miricle Network) but I took the kids for pancakes for dinner since Tony wouldn't be home until late. They were really excited!!! It was yummy and a great option for dinner for me (since it has been harder for me to cook lately). The kids loved it and are already asking when we can go back again.

Count Down to Christmas

I am taking the challenge of writing 30 posts in 30 days. (Thanks Catherine for the idea). I am doing this because I need to be better about writing things down. After all this is supposed to be my family journal.
Yesterday, the kids and I made advent countdown chain calenders. The kids had a lot of fun. First I had them color a Christmas Picture. Then we made a chain out of red and green strips of paper connecting them together. Rylan finished his, but was quickly off to something else after and I had to finish Alana's. However they have been excited about ripping of one link of the chain off every night before bed. They quickly take it off, admire the rest of the links and say "that's how many days until Christmas" and then rush the one taken off to the trash can. It is very cute.
In the morning they get to eat a chocolate from their other advent calender (thanks Nana for buying them). They have been a fun tradition and both advents give the kids something to look forward to. One in the morning and one in the evening. They get so excited about it. That is what I love about it, children make the magic of Christmas possible. So we are officially counting down. 23 days to go!

Blessings in Abundance

This is the time of year that always lends to reflection on how thankful I am for what I have. I feel so blessed!! Not to say that I haven't had my fare share of trials (so it seems sometimes)...but honestly I do have a lot to be thankful for!!! It may seem cliche to list all the things that I am thankful for in my life, but since this is my family journal I will attempt to do it anyway (as incomplete as it may be....since I have so much to be thankful for!) I am going to start at the beginning....
My parents-I have the most amazing parents, and I wouldn't be where I am without them!!!
My testimony of the gospel and my Savior Jesus Christ. The Atonement and all He sacrificed for me.
My brothers-the older I get the more thankful I am for them, because they are my link to the past and to the future.
My husband-Someone who treats me good, and he is a wonderful father.
My Children-I am so blessed to have the most amazing kids!!! They are so smart, cute, and they teach me so much every day! They are what keep me going!!! Excited to have one more to love!
Being Pregnant-Even though it's difficult to be pregnant sometimes, I am thankful for the opportunity! I realized this early in my marriage, when it took us 3+ years to have kids. I know what a special blessing this is to be able to bring a child into this world.
A place to live-I am thankful for a place to live (there's no place like home...need I say more?)
Food-Yup food, I love food! But seriously it is a basic necessity.
Freedom-I am thankful that I live in a free country and that I am able to make my own choices!
The Internet-sounds silly, but you really can do so much and find good things on it. I guess I should say modern technology.
Showers-Ahhhhh! A nice hot shower. Try going with out one for a while, it makes you appreciate them.
Good Health-I am thankful for the most part that I am healthy. It's no fun to see people struggle with health issues.
My own trials-Sometimes it's easy for me to think that my trials stink, but sometimes when I see other people and their hardships it just makes me thankful for my own.
Good People and Friends-Other peoples examples, honesty, and my friends (it's just nice to know someone has your back).
I have so much more to be thankful for than this, but I figure this is a good start.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I will post more about the Holiday later.

Happy 4th of July!

Today my dad, Tony the kids and I all went to breakfast at Golden Corral. We started the tradition of going to breakfast the morning of the 4th last year. After eating together we watched some of the West Jordan parade, went home and relaxed and then got our things together and headed to Sugar House Park to picnic and watch fireworks (like we do every year). This is another great tradition that we have. The kids had a great time eating, running around and playing with their cousins. Tony's brother Greg and his wife Camille came, and Tony's sister Kathy and her husband Shawn also came. It was a lot of fun and by the time the fireworks were over the kids fell asleep. I don't think that Alana even made it across the street before she zonked out! What a wonderful day to celebrate our freedom in such a great country as well as spend time as a family making memories.

Happy Fourth of July!