A Challenging List

I have been listening to a podcast called Bold New Mom and I was listening to a free class about increasing confidence.  She suggested making a list of 100 things that I like about myself. It turned out to be a challenge. Mostly because as I was making the list, I found myself wondering what other people would think of my list. Would they agree? Do other people think this of me? I realized how much I do think about what others think of me. I realized it didn't matter what other people thought of my list, it only mattered what I like about myself, and what I think I'm good at. It was a great assignment, that helped me see myself a lot better. I do have a lot of good things going for me. I'm pretty awesome. You should try it.  Because you're pretty awesome too.
Then I took this and applied it to my kids.  I made a list of 50 things I like about them.  It was also challenging.  However, for them, it was challenging to not give a backhanded compliment.  You know what I mean?  For instance, I love it when you don't fight with your brother.  I love it when you actually do your chores. I love it when you don't have an attitude.  I made up my mind to only speak positively about my kids, and it was great.  Now I need to make a list for Ben.

And while I made a list for the boys.  Thomas made one for me.  I thought it was super sweet.

I let Thomas add one to my list- #71- You are good at buying things.  

This is the list that Thomas made for me. 

Ridiculously Awesome

Being a mom can be rough. However there is nothing like the awesomeness that comes when you aren't expecting it, like these gems. 

"You don't know me...I'm 100% awesome." ~ Jack

Standing on the soda aisle, looking at caffeine free Coke -"This is why America is awesome". ~Jack

Jack: What is your third favorite color?

Thomas: Black

Jack: No, it can't be. Black isn't a color, it's a shade. 

Ben: If it's in the crayon box, it's a color. 

"I'm really close to being a man, but Thomas, you still have a few years". ~Jack

Man my kids rock. 

The big summer concert.

What to say about Thomas' summer concert.  Hmmm...it was a lot of work.  The school asked me to help and I said of course.  They asked me to show up for rehearsal the next day, and I did.  Then they asked me to show up for rehearsal the next day, and the next, and the next.  Six weeks later, it is now over.  I loved being able to go to Thomas' school everyday and get to know his teachers and all of the students better, but it was a time consuming volunteer project. In the midst of rehearsals, they asked me to be the narrator. And since I love to be in front of an audience, it was quite awesome.

Thomas played the part of a crab, and he was definitely the cutest crab under the sea.  

The costumes and the set for this concert were over-the-top incredible. 

Normal life.

We don't have much going on around here, but we are still having a good time.

Some big things are coming up though.

1. Next week we celebrate our 2 year mark here in Sri Lanka.

2. The week after that--  Ben and I celebrate our 9 year anniversary. 

3. We officially have less than 60 days left here at post. 

And some really great pictures of the boys, just because. 

And my personal favorite.

What the kids say and some family pictures.

The other day Thomas did something for which he got in trouble. Part of his punishment was to replace the item he destroyed and he was sent to his room. 

As he was walking up the stairs this is our conversation:

Thomas: Mom, don't tell dad.

Me:  We don't keep secrets, so I am going to tell dad.

Thomas: (Now WAILING) NO, DON'T TELL DAD. I DON'T WANT TO GO TO JAIL.

Me: What?!?

Thomas: If you tell dad, I will have to go to jail, and I'm too little to go to jail.

Where does he get this stuff?

Then with Jack.

Ben and I have been talking about holding Jack back a year in school.  There are many reasons for this, and we have talked to Jack about some of them. 

The other day, I was reminding him of some of the changes we were looking for. 

Me: Now, Jack, you know that we need to see some improvement so that you can move on to grade 2.

Jack: Yes. But mom, I don't want to stay back another year.

Me: I know, but we need to see some changes.

Jack: I know, but mom, I don't want to wait an extra year to go to University.

Well at least he has motivation. 

I hope that motivation stays with him for the next few years, like until he graduates high school.

And now for some family pictures.  We all ended up wearing white shirts. In my opinion it might have been a little much, but we still looked nice, so we took some pictures.

This kid is ALWAYS picking his nose.

It's CHRISTMAS!!!

Ben and I greatly underestimated our two wonderful children.

There wasn't any crying or complaining about any Christmas presents or lack thereof. 

It was a Christmas miracle. 

 Our day was filled with legos and movies and chocolate.  It was a fabulous day.

Jack, smiling and getting excited over underwear in his stocking. 

The boys.

Christmas dinner, spent with our friends from church. 

This year for Christmas, our big present was a relaxing vacation at the beach.

We went to a resort in the town of Mirissa. A vacation where you never have to put shoes on, and a pool and an ocean are the sources of entertainment. Perfection.

A room with a view.

Thomas.  What can I say, but that this picture captures him well.

Jack. 

The boys having a make believe picnic.

Merry Christmas!

Love you,

Ben, Emily, Jack and Thomas

Oktoberfest.

Last weekend, we celebrated Oktoberfest with a few friends. The highlight was definitely the mechanical bull that Jack rode twice. Because in my mind, nothing says Oktoberfest like a mechanical bull.  

Life is pretty good around these parts.  

Jack is loving school, particularly math- he absolutely loves working with numbers. He is also preparing for his school production, which is at the end of the month, and is going to be epic.  He also has a singing solo in the Primary Program, (one Sunday a year in church where all of the children sing and have speaking parts).  

Thomas is constantly surprising us with his bouts of attitude. He is  developing his sense of self, and unlike Jack, I have no idea what to expect from him.  It is a lot of fun watching him.

Ben is excited because he has found some people to play basketball with...now they just need to find a place to do it.

I am busy with school, and am halfway through the semester. The next most exciting thing happening to me is that I am recovering from the most hideous and terrible boil on the back of my neck.  I wanted to put pictures of the horrid thing (which now resembles a volcano) on the blog, but Ben said ABSOLUTELY. DO. NOT. DO. THAT.  Therefore, for everyone's sake, including my own, I will refrain from publicly displaying the development of the growth on my neck- I photo documented the growth from the beginning.  I'm sorry and you're welcome. 

On a less grotesque note, we are in the midst of bidding, and hopefully in the next few weeks- maybe months- we will know where we will going next. We are coming back to the States next, so basically no matter where we go, we will be closer to family, and a lot of our friends. 

There you have it.  The basic summary of all of our goings on.  

Vacation is good.

Let's just jump right into it.  Last you read, we were preparing for our trip to Utah.  That time has come and gone, and we are back in Colombo.  As we speak I am struggling with a strange mix of jet-lag and uber disgusting digestive issues.  Welcome home.  Welcome home.

However, let's not dwell on the negative.  Let's talk about vacation.  This was probably the best vacation we have been on as a family.  Some highlights.

• Ben and I went on a cruise to Mexico.  Just the two of us, and it was wonderful.  We even ran into a family I knew from Moscow way back when. Crazy small world. 
• We spent a week in Salt Lake seeing family and friends.
• We spent the rest of the time on top of a mountain in a lovely place called Bear Lake, Utah.  Probably the most beautiful lake I have ever seen.  
• Ate some seriously good food.
• Celebrated the boys birthdays.  Ben and I are now the parents of a 4 year old and a 6 year old.  
• Spent time with family and friends.
• I went blonde for about a month, but it is back to brunette now.  It was a fun change, but you know, I like having brown hair.  

Some of Ben's family:

Our family at Temple Square:

Friends from my mission in Rochester, New York:

Some of the kids from the ladies above:

Jackson and Addie:

Cousins:

Fourth of July fun:

Taylor and Thomas:

I'm totally prepared for these crazy kids to date in the future:

I have more pictures, however, most of them are on facebook and instagram.

It was an awesome summer, and I am so grateful for the time that we had with friends and family.  We have been seriously blessed.