A Novel, by: Nikki

So, I officially had my first day of work yesterday. It was seriously great. I walked in and there were a bunch of flowers and a card on my desk from the staff welcoming me to Alliant and saying how excited they were that I was joining the team. It just brightened my day right from the start. I pretty much bawled all weekend thinking about taking my girls to daycare, and how hard it would be for them and everything. But Taylen did GREAT. She didn't even cry when I left her with Ms. Gina :) She was sad, and was telling me she didn't want me to go, but she did not have a melt down like I was expecting (based on how she is when I leave her just for nursery, I was terrified. She seriously screams and pulls my hair and clothes clinging to me...not pretty). Anyway, she was just bouncing around when I got her, and Ryah was happy as usual. I didn't get home until 7 (bleh), and then got dinner, jammies, some quick quality time and to bed for the girls by 8:15. Then took a shower, listened to voice mails, checked emails, opened bills...and before I knew it it was midnight. Wow. My days are going to be really busy from here on out. Which is actually a huge blessing, because it will make the time go by quickly, and before I know it, life will be more stable for us.

I am just so thankful that this job came into my life, and I am feeling really blessed. My boss is just a really good person, and I was telling her a little bit about my situation and she said, "We are all about families here. You do what you need to do to take care of your kids, and we will support you. There are lots of ways to be a good mom."

I almost started crying when she said that. She's right. All I have wanted, my whole life, is to stay home and raise my kids. Life threw some challenges at me, and now that's not an option for a while. But I am being the best mom I can by providing for my girls and by being a good example to them and by holding my head high through adversity. There really are lots of good ways to be a good mom.

I love my job :)

And the Taylen quote of the day is...

I was cooking dinner and Taylen came up and gave me a big hug from behind, burying her nose right in my backside. She pulled away from me, put her hands on her hips, tilted her head to one side and said, "Does somebody need a diaper change?"

Hahah! Seriously. I have no idea where this child comes from.

8 Months Old Today (well, the 22nd)

*Pulling herself up to standing

*No teeth yet

*Sleeping through the night (from 6-7:30!!)

*Happy, happy, sweetheart of a baby. I can't believe she's 8 months old!

Oh, and I cut her mohawk off! I'll post a picture soon. She now looks like a little boy instead of an old man with a combover. Fab.

Mani/Pedi

Taylen loves to get her fingers and toes painted. Do you think she might be slightly girly? I cannot keep her away from purses, high heels and makeup...

(That's my big foot in the middle, by the way.)

Shout out to chemo!

So, my mom is officially in REMISSION!! YIPEE!! She had her first official exam since her chemo and radiation today, and it is the best case scenario! She is sitting easy and goes in for another check up in six months. Thanks to everyone who kept our family in your prayers.

This is my mom and Ryah in October when she first started her chemo and radiation (notice the sleeve thing on her arm). Yay for not having to do that again! It's a good day :)

Almost Tahoe

My mom was up here this past week visiting me, and it was so SO nice to have her. Her parents live in Reno, so one of the days we met them halfway in Soda Springs (somewhere near Tahoe). We had lunch at a little restaraunt, and then Taylen played in the snow. We payed $5 for her to go sledding, and she had a blast. She went with me a couple times, and then wanted to go by herself. She even caught air a few times! She loved the snow. Except I forgot her gloves, so I put an extra pair of socks on her hands, ha ha. Ghetto. We only lasted about 3o minutes, but it was 30 minutes of chilly fun!

Here's Tay and my mom's dad...Great Grandpa McBride

Ryah and my mom

Collecting people's trash...what a good citizen.

While mom is away (or distracted)

This is what Taylen does while I get ready in the morning. Isn't she just breathtaking? Just so you can fully appreciate this, the red on her cheeks is red LIPSTICK. Glorious. "I'm getting ready for the day, mom." There ya go.

Valentine's Day

I woke up in the morning and had these happy hearts all over my garage. Thanks for the heart attack, Retamals!!

We went to our neighbor's house for sugar cookie making in the afternoon. There were lots of kids, candy, and chaos...the perfect afternoon :)


And I put the girls in their "my mom is hot" shirts as a Happy Valentine to Nikki :)

I'm Mature

So this is a favorite book of Taylen's, and it talks about the importance of reading to your kids (or bunnies, whichever). And last night we got bored and started changing what we were reading to. So we did, "read to your alligator often" and "read to your monkey" and on and on. Then we got even more creative and started reading to objects, such as "read to your umbrella," etc... Then we landed on the funniest of them all, and I'm going to share it with you. I seriously haven't laughed so hard in a long time, which is a signal to me that I need to get out more. I hope you enjoy this as much as Taylen and I did:

...

Read to your poop often.

It's twenty minutes of fun.

It's twenty minutes of moonlight,

It's twenty minutes of sun.

Twenty old-favorite minutes,

And twenty minutes brand new.

Read to your poop often,

And your poop will read to you!

...

Haha! And you know you're all laughing right along with me. Sickos.

Quote of the Day

Peace is not the absence of conflict. It is the presence of God.

I have gained an immense testimony of this during this past year, and especially the past few months. If we are striving to keep the commandments and better our relationship with our Father in Heaven, He will bless us with the strength and peace we need to overcome obstacles in our lives. He loves us. He is aware of us in every way. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, our sorrows, the deepest desires of our hearts. He will not put anything in our path that we cannot conquer, and He will never leave us alone in our trials. This past year has been the darkest of my life, and in those dark hours I had no choice but to cling to my faith and plead with my Father in Heaven to give me His peace. The Atonement is real. Jesus Christ took on the sins of the world so I wouldn't have to bear my sorrows alone. It was in my darkest moments that I was truly able to see the light, and to recognize that no matter what is going on around me--if I seek to have God in my life--I can feel peace.

I think I've got my hands full...

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On The Move

Ryah is officially mobile!! At seven 1/2 months she is crawling, slowly but surely. Taylen was crawling by about 5 months, so it's been nice having a non-mover for a little longer this time. This video is about 2 minutes long and pretty boring if you're not my mom or sisters. ha ha. Actually there is a funny part at the end with Taylen. Oh, and if you don't like baby talk, you might want to mute it :). Consider yourself warned.

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Play Dough Fun

Taylen's creation. It's a cat. Obviously.