San Diego Temple

Andy wanted to take a picture of the temple and I think he did a pretty good job fitting it all in. When we first arrived at the grounds the sister missionaries wanted the kids to take a quiz about the temple and prophets but they were so squirmy they let the kids off the hook. After walking around the grounds in the heat for a while they were ready to sit in the shade with the sister missionaries and I was impressed that they aced the quiz.

I love the San Diego temple, it is so beautiful. I tried to talk Nate into getting married here years ago, but he wanted to be closer to home so all of our family would attend, crazy guy. It was nice to be able to talk to the kids about the importance of temples and to see Maya get excited about getting married in a white dress someday instead of in her little rainbow dress that she tries to wear every day of the week.

Legoland

We had heard that Legoland was a park for kids between three and eleven years old so we decided to try it out. Legos everywhere, it couldn't have been more exciting for the kids. Maya and Andy had both saved up their allowance and were so excited to choose souvenirs from the toy shops. The thought of buying a toy with their own money was just as exciting as all the cool displays and rides. Andy bought legos, legos and legos and Maya chose a pink fairy umbrella of course.

We loved the miniature cities made completely from Legos. It was fun to see our old home New York city made up completely of Legos.

Most of the park's rides are made for the younger set so it was fun for our shorty pants kids to finally be tall enough to ride the rides!

52 Blessings Week 9

It may be weird with only 52 things to list that I am grateful for that I choose my couch, but I love it. We’ve had the set since we were first married and I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to get rid of it. I’d have no qualms about moving them to the basement and replacing it with a nice leather sofa set someday, but I’d still have to have it somewhere in my home. It is covered with all sorts of stains, shows its age and blends right into the floor where we live but it is so incredibly comfortable. It is as soft and warm as its mossy green color and pulls you into a big hug whenever you sit down. When I’m sick, when I need a break, when I need to be cozy I don’t run to my room, I run to my couch.

The other day on my way home the temperature dropped quickly and a snowstorm quickly turned everything white. The only thing I could think about was how soon I would be able to get into some pj’s, grab a blanket, turn on the fire and cuddle on my couch. It was then that I realized that I truly love this old couch and should list it as one of my blessings.

52 Blessings Week 8: Part 4..Last but not least.

Nate
I am so grateful for my husband Nate. I have an Aunt and Uncle that always have so much fun together that as a very young kid I decided my future husband would have to be my best friend. In high school for fun I made a list of qualities I wanted my spouse to have and “best friend” was on the top of that long list. In college after too many awkward dates I tossed out everything on the list but “best friend.” Then I went on a date with Nate. I wish I could say I knew right away we were destined to be married but I can at least say I knew I wanted a second date. That was big for me. I had so much fun and felt so comfortable that night. Instead of wondering how I would avoid him on campus as had happened so many times before I was intimidated and scared by the thought that he might not ask me out again. (I had an allergic reaction to horses on that first date that could make for a great post on another day.) I am so blessed that he saw beyond the puffy, bright red bloodshot eyes, wheezing throat and runny nose and asked me out again.

We’ve been married almost eight years now and he is still my best friend. Besides being a fabulous friend he is a wonderful husband and father. He does things for me and indulges in things he thinks are silly, just because he knows I love it. He gets up with the kids in the middle of the night even though he has to be up earlier than me just because he knows I have a hard time falling back to sleep. If I’ve had a rough day with the kids he slides right in and takes over and gives me a break without me having to ask even though with his line of work he might have heard just as much whining or crying that day. I know that if I were two inches from the TV remote and he was across the room if I asked him he would get me the remote. That’s Nate. He wouldn’t know how to be Nate if he weren’t taking care of someone. His love language is service. Lucky me! His kids love him and he loves them, as a family we couldn’t ask for anything more, but he still gives us everything. I can’t think of a better blessing than to have found a friend that I will love forever.

52 Blessings Week 8: Part 2

Maya

I am very grateful for my princess Maya. She is my little sweetheart and angel with a devil’s pitchfork! She has her own mind and refuses to follow anyone’s lead. She forges her own trails and isn’t afraid of anything. She can be the sweetest thing you’ve ever met; every other phrase out of her mouth is “Mommy, I love you”. She can also be the most stubborn thing; one day after being sick of nagging her to help Andy pick up their toys in the basement we just decided the next time to say calmly over and over that she could do the next activity as soon as she picked up her toys and leave it at that. The very next day we had a chance to try out our new technique. I spent two hours in the afternoon answering every request with “I’d be glad to do that when you’ve finished picking up your toys.” It came time for dinner for the rest of us and three more hours of screaming, yelling and crying (fortunately only on her part) the stand-off ended with her falling asleep in her fuzzy pink chair. We put her little sleeping body to bed and the next morning only had to spend two hours saying “Your breakfast will be ready as soon as you pick up those toys.” It took her all of three minutes to put the toys away as soon as she decided breakfast was worth putting away her things. That same stubbornness that tests our patience is also her gift which we hope to cultivate and never crush. When most kids freak out about medicine and shots she says, “I’m excited to get my shots so my body will be healthy”, she cringes for a second when the needle goes in, and then shakes it off and puts back on her brave face. She has the most beautiful smile and sings and dances her way around life and defies anyone not to love her for what she is.

52 Blessings Week 8: Part 1

ANDY

I am very grateful for my son Andy. He was born Andrew Nathan Stevenson on March 24, 2002 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I never grew up thinking I would be a stay-at-home mom. I always thought that was something I would do eventually after I had done something really cool with my life. When he was born though I finally felt I had done something for which I could be proud. When they handed him to me all I could think was that the tiny little stranger was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Andy consistently challenges us, surprises us, humbles us and loves us. He is very bright and inquisitive, which is part of the challenging part, and very passionate about everything. You never have to wonder what he is feeling and whatever he is doing is full-force.

I wish I were better at journaling because I could write a whole book on the funny things Andy comes up with, thinks about and says to others. A friend called me today to tell me that she has an antique secretary (piece of furniture) upstairs in her home that Andy asked her about when he was there the day before. She loves collecting antiques and was excited to tell him all about it. After listening to her and looking at it a little longer he told her he thought it looked more Egyptian than what she had described. As an art history major she remembered that he was actually right that particular pattern on the furniture had been modeled after an Egyptian design! The other day when I was driving Andy and his friend around I overheard Andy say to his friend, “Scientists think that it is impossible to count to infinity, but I don’t agree with them.” He talks so much it’s a wonder he ever has time to actually think about anything, but he soaks it all in and never stops searching for the next step or answer and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo.