Taking advantage of a rare warm day

I love living in Colorado. Despite the fact that we had a stretch where the high did not get out of the teens...you can always count on the advice "If you don't like the weather, wait a little while and it will change." This past Monday, the sun was shining, and you could actually stand to be outside without running for shelter.

Mason and I had to run some errands in the morning, and when we came home, instead of going to the house, Mason really wanted to play outside. It had been so cold lately that I could not refuse! It started with just playing in front of our house...then we decided it would be fun to take a walk. I figured since we were going for a walk anyways, we might as well walk to the park that is close by. Then, I noticed that it was lunch time, so we went inside, got the stroller and packed an improptu picnic lunch. I was so happy that my little boy was getting to play outside for the first time in a long time.

Mason had the greatest time climbing around on the equipment and going down the slide!

Here, he was throwing some snow up in the air in sheer delight!

It wasn't too long before he discovered the little creek and bridge that crosses it near the playground.

I think that it is just human nature to want to throw things into rushing (well maybe it wasn't rushing) but running...water! First, Mason would get a handful of snow and throw it over the side.

He was quite proud of himself.

When I showed him how fun sticks could be...he was entertained for quite a long time.

When it was time to go, I had to drag him away. He fell asleep on the floor when we got home before I even had a chance to put him down for his nap!

A great man

I want to just take a little bit of time and mention the passing of our dear prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. I know that almost everyone reading this already has heard the news, but I still feel like I should say something. I was 14 when President Hinckley became the prophet. This was just about the time that I was really starting to listen and pay attention during General Conferences. I have always looked forward to hearing our prophet's voice and always feel so happy and reassured whenever he spoke. He had such a way of making you feel right at home and you just knew that he was speaking with conviction. His sense of humor could always get the whole congregation laughing! There were a few times at college where I was able to hear him speak in person and the spirit was always there testifying that he was indeed God's prophet on earth.

I will deeply miss him. I think that especially this spring's General Conference will be hard. I have heard many people echo some of my first thoughts...that it is sad for us, but everyone is so glad that he is with his wife right now. Isn't it so wonderful that he loved and missed his wife so much that everyone knew it!

The day that he passed away, January 27, 2008, the topic of our Sunday School class started me thinking about modern day prophets and how wonderful a blessing they are. We were talking about how God has told us that He is unchanging. On my mission, we used this truth to teach that if God never changes, and he spoke through prophets in Bible times, then why wouldn't he speak through prophets now? The times that we are living in now are so unique in the challenges and blessings that they present, and I am so grateful that God loves us enough to provide a prophet. I am especially grateful that Presiden Hinckley was that prophet for much of the time that I can remember.

This boy of ours...

Being Mason's mom just keeps getting better and better! I love learning new things about his cute little personality!

Mason has always loved to read, and has quite a few books. I don't know how this started, but he has developed a routine in the morning. Usually, he makes his way into our bed sometime between 5 and 6 am and sleeps for a little bit longer. When he is ready to wake up for the day, he will alternate hitting and head-butting David and I until one of us opens their eyes. We, of course, try to fake being asleep for as long as p

ossible. The second that I open my eyes, he does the sign for milk with both of his hands and s

tarts pushing me out of bed. I then am obliged to go downstairs and get him a cup of milk. The second that David opens his eyes, Mason does the sign for book and starts

saying "buh! buh!". We then tell him to go get a book...and he brings 10-12 books up and sits very excitedly while Daddy reads them to him. He is such a cutie, so we humor this routine...at least he has stopped wanting to watch Shrek when he first wakes up.

The pictures weren't taken first thing in the morning...but you get the idea. In the first ones, he smiling and saying "sit" as he pats the bed next to him. :)

At random times during the day, Mason will come to wherever I am, usually the kitchen with a pile of books. He then pats the floor next to him and demands, "SIT!!". He can actually say that word quite well. I usually can't resist, and so I sit and read with him for a little while.

Mason also loves to help me unload the dishwasher. Whenever he sees it open, he drops what he's doing and comes in to help. I scramble to get the knives put away, and then put the plastic things on the door so that he goes for those first. Recently, he noticed that I always stacked the cups before I put them into the cupboard. Of course, he decided that this is what he wanted to do, too. Well, he stacked one particular group a little high, so I, without thinking, made the stack shorter so they would fit. Soon after, Mason started crying and I had no idea what was wrong. I asked him to show me what the matter was, and he pointed to the cupboard, so I lifted him up. He then got the cup that I had unstacked and wanted it joined with the stack that he had made. It was so sweet, and I didn't want him to think that I didn't appreciate all of his hard work, so I decided that we could put the cups in this way (the green and blue ones in the back):

Last night, I asked David if he could please entertain Mason so I could get the kitchen clean. I brought out the blocks because Mason hadn't played with them for awhile. Daddy's are so fun...they always think of the funnest games, and this time was no exception. Mason climbed into the block container and David would pile as many blocks as would fit on top of him. When he was done, Mason had the funnest time breaking out of them. This game was so fun that Mason insist that we repeat it over and over again for the next hour (not kidding). Then, today, he got his blocks out and promptly climbed in the container...guess what he wanted to do?

We love Mason so much and are so grateful for the fun that he brings to our family!

Goals

Sometime during college, I learned about the beauty of setting and achieving goals. I had some wonderful roommates who were very good at this, and it rubbed off on me. It was very satisfying to write down a goal, and then to check it off or put a sticker on it or something when it was accomplished. I think at one time, our apartment had a page for each of us, listing qualities that we wanted in a future husband, and thus needed to develop in ourselves. I also found that using a daily planner to block out which subjects I was going to study during which hours was an excellent way to help me keep a handle on my endless assignments and daunting tests that I had to study for.

When I served my mission, as you can probably suspect, goal-setting and achieving continued to play a big part in my life. Now with all of the rearranging and changes that have happened in missionary work since I was in the field, this may have changed, but when I was there...you set daily goals, weekly goals and monthly goals. You set personal goals, goals for and with your investigators, companionship goals, district goals, and mission goals. I definitely remember several companionship studies devoted entirely to making cute charts and ways to track our goals.

What I learned from my years spent in setting goals is that you won't always achieve them. You should set goals that are hard to reach, but reachable. But often you will fall short. What I also learned is that even if you do happen to fall short...it is not usually a terrible thing, and you usually accomplished more working towards the goal than if you didn't have a goal at all.

After all this, I have been thinking lately that I have definitely been slacking. I have the most important responsibilty I have ever had now---being Mason and his future brother's mom. I need to be continually improving myself so that I can rear my children in righteousness....yet this is the time in my life that I seem to be slacking in the goal department. I'm sure it's because when you're a mom...you don't really have to formally report...except maybe at the doctor's at checkups...but that's usually only about things like if your house is child-proofed, or if your child stares for long periods of time without responding.

Anyways, So...the point to this post...I am going to start setting goals. I know that if I don't have any accountability, they will not get accomplished, so I'm putting them up here for anyone who wants to to see. Here are a few things that I would like to accomplish or get into the habit of this year:
1. Check the ads and purchase at least one item on sale for our food storage a month-peanut butter is on sale this week!!
2. Read from the scriptures every day.
3. Every week, choose a scripture story or gospel principle to emphasize with Mason and his brother.
4. Go a month (starting tomorrow) without chocolate.
5. Get physical exercise 3 times a week (this may have to be adjusted in April for a little bit).
6. Finish my Medical Transcription course by March.
7. Read the RS lesson ahead of time.

Well, that should give me plenty work on...wish me luck! :)

Christmas Day!

It was a joy to be able to help Mason celebrate Christmas. He got very excited about everything! We feel truly blessed to be able to raise and be part of this special little boy's life!

I love this picture of him, he looks so amazed to see a brand new doggy towel just for him. :)

David and I both had a fun time helping Mason enjoy his gifts.

Mason got so excited about some of the chocolate that Santa brought him that he tried to eat right through the wrapper!

After David made us some delicious breakfast burritos, we were off for the festivities of the day. First, we went to David's family's house. We had a fun time visiting!

Here Mason is playing with his Aunt Cindy who was visiting from BYU.

Later, Mason got to do his most favorite thing-watch "Shrek"! He was so happy that Uncle Brian watched it with him. Unfortunately, I had unwisely tried some cheaper diapers and Mason had an accident all over Brian! I felt so bad, but Brian was really nice about it.

When we went to my parents' house, I sadly misplaced the camera, so I am relying on pictures taken by my sisters to help document the day. I haven't borrowed those pictures yet, though. We got to see my family more that week, so here are a few pictures of Mason playing with his cousins the next day:

Grandpa Barker has the tradition that he always puts the cousins on his shoulders. Now that Mason is old enough, he wants to join in on the fun-so Uncle Dan was nice enough to offer him a ride. :)

On Christmas morning, we woke up to falling snow...that didn't stop the whole day! We weren't even expecting a white Christmas. There must have been quite a few very good little children who asked for snow for Christmas!

Mason just couldn't stay out of the snow, here he is with Aunt Katie getting ready to go play!

A little bit from Christmas Eve

The elves brought us all pajamas on Christmas Eve while Mason was taking a bath. They decided to bring Mason a size bigger than he is wearing now so that he'll have plenty of time to enjoy them. Mason is very attached to milk and will walk around, especially towards bedtime and naptimes with his milk attached to his mouth.

In case anyone is interested, here is a picture of me at 25 weeks. I am feeling bigger and bigger and I know that that is a good thing, but I definitely need to take a fast from chocolate and sweets after this holiday season!