My thoughts today...

These are the best times....

Every morning I wake up with a song in my head. Seriously,...I get up,..go right to the bathroom, and I start humming the song that was there upon waking. This morning...I had the song "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music in my head. I've been singing it all day and the twins probably think I am crazy. I've been desperately wanting to catch up with some blogging and I realized that I might be able to get his tune out of my head if I use it "to death." So.....Here is my silly attempt to recap all the summer fun we have had. (to the tune of: My Favorite Things)

3 year-old parties, with Mickey and Minnie
Father-Son Camp Outs with Ethan and Daddy
Having to plan girl’s camp meals for thirty
These are the craziest times don’t you see.
Out of town guests for three weeks was quite crazy
Having late nights,…then morning we’re lazy
Starting his Masters, can’t wait ‘til that’s done
Summer’s been great,..summer’s been fun!

When there’s tantrums
When laundry's never done
When our garden's sad
We simply remember these are the best times
And then we don’t feel…so bad


Lesson plan writing cuz’ preschool comes quickly
Treehouse museum and fun getting dirty
Going to Logan for a weekend of FUN
We’ve camped and we’ve boated until we were done
Our 10th Anniversary we spent in a grand way
Our New York family flew out for a fun stay
We’ve gone to some temples both near and far
And now we are ready for autumn to start

When Daddy’s gone (for 10 whole days!)
When we've burned the lawn
When potty training goes bad
We simply remember these are the best times
And then we don’t feel so bad!

A Decade Old...

My sweetheart and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary this last weekend! As a tradition, we take turns every year and plan some type of surprise for eachother. This year was Marty's turn. My day started with breakfast in bed! French toast,...my favorite! The rest of our actual anniversary day was super busy with normal life so Marty planned the surprise for me on that Friday! He planned for my sister Machelle to watch the twins and told me to pack a bag! (I LOVE when he says that!)

He wisked me away to the Grand America Hotel. (I know,...expensive usually but he found a smashin' deal. Signs of the economic times I guess.) It is a STUNNING hotel! Our room was gorgoous and Marty had chocolates and a beautiful red rose already in the room when we arrived. I have a dream of one day having a grand piano in my home. So.,...Marty had a "baby grand piano" carved out of chocolate and placed in the room as well. So fun! Our room was also on the 22nd floor which made the view breathtaking!

We listened to Jazz in the Lobby, went for a late night stroll, slept-in, and had the most delicious food. The service was really great too and we were able to take home some complementary slippers which are nice and cozy and a beautiful bottle of French lemonade. I have to say we felt really pampered! I will remember this anniversary for sure!

Happy Annivesary to my sweetheart! I can't believe we are a DECADE old!

You are my everything!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Ethan & Nyah (Age 3)


Click on this link.....it is so worth watching!

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God


Oh,...how I needed to hear this! I feel so strongly that every mother should KNOW the things that Elder Holland so beautifully testified of. I think everyday I question if I am doing enough for my sweet babies. I often feel unworthy of being blessed with Ethan and Nyah. The best part is,...the LORD will help me if I ask! I need to be be better, less prideful, and realize that the LORD did not intend for me to do this alone. Just that thought,...is sooo very comforting.

~Silly Girl~

Nyah has combined two of her favorite phrases! Instead of...."Oh my goodness" OR "Holy Cow",.....She now says:

"OH MY COW!"

Silly Girl....

~Perfect~

After having a long battle with sickness in our home, I started to feel less on top of things than usual. I was pretty down on myself yesterday and shared my lament with my sweet husband who so PERFECTLY listened and waited for the right moment to respond. I told him that for the first time in my life I have felt like I've lost my "EDGE!" I used to be soooo on top of things, super sharp and with it! I embraced my LONG to-do-lists and completed most tasks with ease and not much thought! I mutli-tasked like crazy and it didn't even phase me! I welcomed a good challenge and loved the victory! Now,...not so much. Now,....I pray that life will stay simple and I can just make it! I reminded him of how I was when he met me,.. I considered myself at the top of my game! And.....this is what he said to me!

"Brigette, you were never perfect! I was just perfectly in love with YOU!"

Thank heavens I have a husband who loves me no matter what stage of life I am in! He said the perfect thing,...right when I needed it!

~Indulgence~

For Marty's birthday, (back in January--I am so behind) we went to a Jazz Game. His brother has season tickets and invited us to attend a special box seat event with some pretty extravagant amenities. Seriously, the only thing lacking was the "red carpet!" The night started with VIP parking right next to the Energy Solutions Arena. Then....we entered the Arena and took the elevator to the "suite" floor where we found the O.C. Tanner Executive Club. They took our coats and invited us in with a warm welcome and friendly smiles. We were directed to our table which was adorned with gorgeous linens, plates, polished silver, and flowers. The suite was HUGE and it probably had 20 tables, some of which were right up against the glass wall looking into the arena. (so cool!) There were also box seats directly below us available to sit in with a even closer view. We even had our own concierge who took very good care of us. We were served salads, fresh fruits, fine cheeses, prime rib, crab, and decadent desserts. We got a great deal on this package but it still cost a pretty penny. Since the twins have been born we haven't done "BIG" birthdays like we used to and I thought it was worth it for my sweetheart. EXCEPT.....

A week prior to us attending this LAVISH event, I was up really early getting ready for something when I turned the t.v. on to watch the early morning news. (something I enjoyed doing in my working days). I immediately was overcome with grief as I watched the news broadcast images from the recent tragic earthquake in Haiti. I was overwhelmed by images of death, destruction, lost families, and the worst sight....CHILDREN lying in the streets, horribly injured with not a soul around. I felt so extremely scared and sad for what was happening. I imagined what I would be doing if this were happening to me and my family. I cried, and cried until my makeup was completely gone! I was a MESS! All I could ask myself was...HOW DARE I go to this lavish event while there are people at that very moment living their worst nightmare,... some having lost everything they have and those they love? WHO AM I to sit and watch over payed basketball stars play a game that means much less to me than most things, and do so while eating fine food and being pampered by my own personal servant? WHO ARE WE to spend this kind of money when it could be used to help people survive and recover. I was ready to demand a refund, not attend the event, and donate every dime of that money to Haiti! I was a MESS. I had my mind to call O.C. Tanner and give them a piece of my mind for offering such extravagant entertainment at such a high price when clearly there are so much more important things to do, and be, and give than just temporary pleasures! AND then,..I calmed myself down and realized even if I boycotted the event....they wouldn't return our money and it wouldn't make much of a difference to them. It was then that I decided to go to our church website where I was confident that they would have already seen the need and started relief efforts. I was so comforted when I read that they had sent enormous amounts of aid already and requested that members donate more humanitarian aid. It was the first thing we did that next Sunday.

So,.... we went to the event and actually had an incredible time. I loved giving that to my husband on his special day! BUT I have to say,...I will evaluate more so in the future, the "THINGS" that we do as a couple and family. Because they are just THINGS and while it was a memory, which I will treasure, I now understand better that simple memories, ones that aren't lavish and don't require a lot of money, are just as precious to me. Maybe even more.

~He's all HEART~

When Ethan was born, they found that he had a condition called ASD. Basically, there is small hole in between the two chambers of his heart. We have monitored it since birth, and he has been blessed with no complications. They said it would do 1 of 3 things. 1~it would remedy itself. 2~it would stay small and not affect him at all even through adulthood or 3~he would need laproscopic surgery (very mild) to patch the hole. Our past visits to the pediatric cardiologist have gone so well that we don't need to see her for another year! What a blessing!

Ethan has another "heart condition." He has the most tender heart in the world! He also has the most precious ability to forgive. The amazing thing about him is that he feels what others feel and is very sensitive to what goes on around him. He also has such an amazing gift of the spirit! He KNOWS who our Savior, Je.sus Christ is! Since he was so small, he was drawn to ANYTHING that had to do with Jesus. Some are given the gift of faith, or to believe, but for Ethan he has the gift to KNOW Jesus and I feel so blessed to have that as an example in our home. When your son opens the scriptures or a book about Jesus and stares and studys the things on the page, all one could think is that he has a different heart, one that is weaker, but in a humble, meek, and child-like way. One that allows him to be touched and moved to be more Christ-like even at such a young age. I sincerely hope this gift remains with him forever!

~My Brown Eyed Girl~

Nyah and Ethan have seen an eye doctor since they were 6 months old. When they were born, the doctors recommended that we take them in because they were preemies and might have some vision concerns if things weren't developed fully. Well,....Ethan had "tosis" which is the drooping of the eyelid, but nothing else. Since then, it has mostly cleared up and the doctor says he is doing so great! What a little stud! Nyah, on the other hand, was tested and they found that she was far-sighted. It was significant enough that the doctor said we would eventually need to put her in glasses to prevent cross-eyed or lazy eye vision. Oh how cute she would be in stylish little glasses!!

So we went into the doctor today, whom I LOVE, and found out that our sweet brown-eyed girl has improved so much in her vision. She went from being 5 diopeters (sp?) to only 2! He was so pleased and said that while we will continue to monitor it,...he isn't sure that she will need glasses afterall!
The fun part of it all was that she was so willing and obedient at the visit and she lovingly melted the heart of her opthamalogist. I am so proud of her!

~The Big 32

Today is my sweetheart's birthday. He turned 32! We met 10 years ago and my life has been so blessed because of him! How could it not? He is everything I need........He is funny, smart, gentle, strong, stubborn, spiritual, and shows such great love to all people! He has so much patience when it comes to my many weaknesses and continues to build up our family! He adores our babies and shows them every day how much he loves them. He takes being a Daddy very seriously which means the world to me.

Happy Birthday to the man I ADORE....

~Terms of Endearment

Okay,.so I have had the same nickname for over 30 years! (Some of you may already know it!) I wish I could say it was something darling or totally endearing,.but it is not. Instead, it is quite silly and only a nickname I could love. It orginally came from my older sister Paige who has nicknamed our entire family and comes up with the craziest names. This is the same sister who has continued on with the tradition and nicknames all her children and her nieces and nephews. You will often hear her unexpectedly refer to one of our little ones in this way: "hi my cutest little snuggle bug of the scrumptiousness of the lovees!" I honestly don't know where she comes up with these things, but these terms of endearment just lovingly and so easily roll off her tongue like it is a second language! It makes us all giggle and it is so precious with the little ones. So you'd think my nickname would be just as clever and full of wonder but again it is not!

Are you ready?..... My nickname is......BUBBA. I know,...I think I hear this most when moms are lovin' on their little boys. It came from "Bubbalicious" as in the bubble gum which was oh so popular when I was born, I guess. This name has stuck with me my entire life. My family, my neices and nephews, my roommates, and my dearest friends still call me BUBBA! Although it is not feminine at all, I have grown to love and appreciate it. Hey,...all of my neices and nephews said my name long before anyone elses (which automatically makes me their favorite, right?) and kids love it.

So why do I tell you this? Well, this trend has trickled down into our little family! and it just brings me JOY. (simple things seem to these days) Just a couple of days ago, I heard Nyah call Ethan..." Monkey-Moo-Moo." This is something Marty calls him! So for fun,..I thought I would record some of the twin's nicknames so I wouldn't forget.

Nyah:

Sweetest Baby Girl--Baby Girl--Princess Baby Girl, Nyah-Lo

Ethan:

Sweetest Lil' Pun'kin-- Pun'kin Pie--Pun'kin--Lovey--Bug--Bugaboo and Marty's favorites: Turkey Burger & Monkey-Moo-Moo

I love it when I hear Nyah call Ethan ..."Bug", or Ethan call my sister..." Mama-Shell" (her new nickname) It just makes be think that we are tied together, with our little insider terms of endearment!

Does anyone else do this?