Blessings

Have you ever taken time to think about your daily blessings, or ways the Lord has blessed your life all throughout the day. If you haven't, you should take a second to think about it. Just try it for a few days and you will be amazed at how much the Lord is in your life.
 Today I was thinking about the past year and counting my blessings. I was thinking about tender mercies of the Lord and how this year has played out. When I wrote my New Years resolutions on January 5, 2014 I didn't know I was having twins yet. It's funny to read my resolutions and what I THOUGHT was going to happen over the year.

So anyways, I was counting my blessings and thinking about how amazing God is in blessing me with exactly what I need and what fits me personally. It's like getting a gift from a person who knows you so well that you are so amazed by getting something that is just perfect for you. That is how blessings from the Lord are. Situations in my life aren't perfect or always ideal but I still receive blessings that help in those situations and when I look back it's cool to see how perfect those blessings were. Like for example, all through nursing school and then when I received my degree I never planned on actually working as a nurse. I figured I would work while Marshall was in school until we had James and then be a full time mom. I was happy to check "college degree" off my list but didn't think I would actually do more than that. Certain situations in life have changed that and now I've been a nurse for almost ten years (Wowza!) and worked nine of those. When Marshall lost his job five years ago I went back to work full time and supported our family financially. Now I've been able to get health benefits for our family through working. It's not ideal but it's a huge blessing since I have medically needy kids. 

I've been writing down my resolutions for 2015. It's fun to write down what I hope to happen and then at the end of the year it will be fun to read them after all is said and done. I have my personal resolutions but it is also fun to include my kids.

I hope I can teach James a few songs on the piano this year.

Lynnlee is beginning to read and I hope I can teach her to have a love for books and to read a lot.

I want to teach Kaden how to ride a scooter and balance bike, once it's warm. For now I want to work with him on preschool stuff: counting to 20, colors, shapes, abcs.

The minis will have an exciting year of milestones and I want to teach them how to sit up, crawl, and walk.

After I thought about all my blessings this morning I decided to take a picture of each of my biggest blessings. So I took a picture of each of my children on the spot with whatever they were doing this morning. I hope you enjoy the pictures (above).

Red Couch Sunday

Since the minis were wearing their Christmas outfits again this week I decided to take their pictures on our red couch.  Here's the money shot.

Then Kaden wanted in on it.

Then the minis started to get wiggly.

Then Si Si decided to attack Taggie. Going for the ear!

Then it's like she wanted to whisper secrets.

And one more shot of them smiling and wiggling.

James and Lynnlee are best buds about 95% of the time. James and Kaden are friends 30% of the time. Lynnlee and Kaden are friends 15% of the time. Kaden is difficult to get a long with since he mostly steals and breaks toys from the other two. So it's a big day when these three are all holding hands walking into church. It will be nice when Kaden gets to be a little older and can be best buds with James and Lynnlee.

Here are a few more pictures of the minis for your enjoyment. They wiggle and roll so much. They both started out on their own blankets and then were practically wrestling with each other. Taggie was trying to chew on Sienna's legs.

They got some new toys for Christmas and thankfully they are big enough to share and play with at the same time.

Christmas '14

I always tell my kids that they can sleep as long as they want. James woke up at 7:15. He hopped in bed with us and we told him to wait until the others woke up or 8:00, whichever came first. At 8:00 we woke the others up.

Once awake, James and Lynnlee were so excited. Kaden was too sleepy.

Even after we said the kids could go downstairs, he sat on the top step by himself. Thank you Kaden 2.0, such a funny kid.

They had fun opening their presents and then we had breakfast. Thanks to the nice basket from Kneaders that Marshall's secretaries gave him, we had cinnamon bread french toast and yummy cinnamon syrup.

I took this picture the next day. We have an in house doctor! She is the cutest doctor and will give you check ups anytime you want. She is also a doctor to all the toys and stuffed animals. She prefers to be called Doc McStuffins. She has a mobile cart with all of her supplies. Her Christmas present is definitely well used.

We went to my parent's house later that afternoon. Charlie's family is in town visiting. Kaden loves Tanner and these two had fun playing.

The rest of the evening was spent eating a delicious smorgasbord, playing games, and laughing at YouTube videos. I love spending time with family.

Christmas Eve '14

Christmas Eve kicked off with family bowling. We have needed new shirts for the last two years. Kaden and the minis needed shirts and James and Lynnlee grew out of their shirts. Marshall took on the job of making the shirts and I was so grateful because I did not want to do that. He ordered red shirts and then used iron-ons for our logo and such. Each shirt says Team Lowry on the front. Then on the right sleeve is the number each person is in the family.

The back is our same design and past bowling shirts.

The kids were well behaved and bowled together on the end lanes.

My Uncle Ken gives out quarters to all of the kids. There are lots of quarter machines and whoever owns them made bank off my family. The kids all ended up with lots of treasures from the quarter machines. These mustaches were some of the prizes.

After bowling we hung out at my parents house so the minis could nap and eat. This window seal is not that wide but for some reason Kaden saw it as a great place to stretch it out and relax. I guess it goes along with Kaden 2.0 .
Kaden 2.0 is a new version of Kaden but not necessarily improved. He woke up updated on Monday after his nap on the day we were going to Temple Square. I thought he was so grumpy and feisty because of not getting enough sleep. Turns out it's just the new Kaden. He has been acting the same way every day since. It includes more tantrums, melt downs, hitting, stubbornness and yelling. I hope there is a new update for Kaden 2.0 soon!

Christmas Eve night was our usual party at Grandpa and Grandma Lowry's and it never disappoints. We started off with watching Share the Gift. It is so touching and spiritual. If you haven't had a chance to see it click here.

The minis got to snuggle with cousins and Aunt Miranda and Uncle Eric.

Charley didn't disappoint with his presents. Each of my children love this part.

Even Lynnlee being so shy wasn't afraid to go get her present.

Kaden was rough as always.

Taggart wasn't so sure.

Sienna gave him a big smile.

It is funny the random things my kids say. While we were loading up the car to head home Lynnlee said, "I have bad breath." We all stopped and started laughing. I don't know where that came from.


Once home we had to sprinkle the Reindeer food that James made at school around the yard. It included oats and lots of glitter.

These kiddos always need pajamas so it's fun giving them some on Christmas Eve. The girls got matching Minnie Mouse nightgowns. The boys got matching Spiderman. They were all so excited at bedtime I didn't think they would ever fall asleep but thank goodness about 9:30 they were all asleep.

Temple Square '14

It's not easy taking the minis places but it's important to me to keep up with traditions. Even if it is a lot of work. I don't want James and Lynnlee remembering that the year after the minis were born was a dud, lame and a year when we didn't do anything. I feel bad enough having the minis be reasons why we don't do a lot of things so for the big things I try to keep up.

So off we went to Temple Square with my family. It's always a good time and I really look forward to it. My older nieces and nephews take good care of my kids. We started off at City Creek food court where we all got dinner. We don't eat out much so my kids were so excited to get happy meals. Then we walked through City Creek and down Main Street so we could walk by the candy windows.

We do a sped up version when see the lights. We see the reflecting pond and then head up to the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building where we look out the window at all the lights. It is a nice way for kids. They don't get too cold and the view from the top is amazing!

The minis were great in the stroller the whole time. They were snug and warm in their snow suits.

James has now hit the age where it is impossible to get him to smile or have a serious face in the picture. It is seriously so hard for him. Side note about James: His top front teeth are loose. He decided he wanted to lose them both before Christmas so he could sing the song, All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth. So Sunday during primary he kept wiggling the tooth that was the loosest. Then he told his teacher he wanted to get it out. So the teacher pulled it out for him. Who knew that was in the job description for a primary teacher?

I wish I could have gotten a clear picture but these two wouldn't stop moving. They have so much fun together!

Marshall wasn't able to make it but my family helped me out a ton with all my kiddos. Here is a picture of all us and cousin Lucy who is pretty much James's twin sister.

Promises

Most of the time the first words out of Lynnlee's mouth are usually, "Remember when you said..." Then followed by, "We never did that and you SAID we would." She remembers everything. It seems like even more now there are times I tell her we will do something and then we don't get to it. In November I told her we could play hopscotch outside (it was during the really nice summer weather). We ended up not doing it and she still remembers it and tells me. She holds everything against me and I feel so bad. I now usually don't promise her anything unless I know for sure we can do it or I give strict stipulations and conditions for a hundred other things that have to happen before we can do something. That way I'm not always having to say no every time.

I was regretting telling her she could see Santa at the ward party after he showed up a half hour late, he was missing teeth and had his teenage daughter elf (pictured below) with him chomping her gum with her belly hanging out (not pictured).  Lynnlee refused to sit on the nice looking, non creepy Santa a few weeks ago at the Edge Homes open house. (Pictured below with James). Of course she had to pick the scariest looking one that was found on KSL classifieds with no back ground info, to be the Santa who's lap she would sit on. This girls has it totally backwards! She is so shy to family but will talk to strangers at the store.

The rest of the night was successful thankful to ward members holding the minis, no major spills, my kids ate a majority of their dinner which never happens and there was minimal crying. The primary kids sang and did the nativity.

Couch Sunday and Bonus Pics

A few weeks ago we tried to take a family picture outside but it was a crazy wind storm and so this was about the only semi cute picture we got.

This Sunday we decided to take a picture of all the little people before Marshall went to his meetings. There was a small amount of time to get everyone ready while the minis had their "happy window." We kind of missed the happy window but at least they weren't at the point of crying and completely tired.

I love my girls! It is so cute to see how happy Sienna gets when Lynnlee plays with her and talks to her.

I love my boys! Even Kaden who is always going at 110%. He puts the Energizer Bunny to shame.

I waited to take couch pictures until after their morning nap. They were happy but very distracted by Si Si's polka-dots and Taggie's tie.

Easily distracted!

These last two were my favorites.