Cache Thomas turns SIX

How is it possible that my Cachee Boy turned six today?! It seems like yesterday we were worried sick about the baby in my belly and now we are celebrating his sixth birthday! 

He had a great day. The biggest bonus was the fact that school was out for the day. He was convinced it was because of his birthday rather than parent teacher conferences. He opened up his gifts first thing in the morning and then played with them all day. 

The big boys each had parties this afternoon, so we shipped Ky off to a neighbors house and took Cache out to a special lunch with just mom and dad. A couple of weeks ago Scott and I went on a date to a hibachi grill and brought home some left overs. Cache has been begging to go the “broccoli and chop sticks” place ever since. So today, we made that dream come true. He loved it! He loved watching the chef cook in front of him and he devoured the food until he was full to ears. And I loved having some one on one time with my third born. 

After we all made it back home, we headed out to pick pumpkins. I forgot my phone and wasn’t able to take any pictures. But as usual, it was super fun. 

Scott and Tayden headed out to go hunting, but not before we could sing happy birthday and eat cake. My cake was less than epic this year, but he was happy with it. 

It was a fun day for everyone. Cache is just the best. He makes up the wildest stories, like the one where he told his friend he’d been kidnapped before... the imagination from that kid is out of this world. He is smart and is soaking up school like a sponge. His memory is great which is proving beneficial for kindergarten. In fact he scored 2nd in his class on the overall reading tests and surprisingly enough his listening skills were over the 80th percentile for all of Idaho. Cache is a lover of lizards and tarantulas. He loves red, eats a ham and cheese sandwich everyday and says “they” instead of “the”. He runs with the big kids, but still loves his mama. And I love him. He is such a vital part of our family and we love him to the moon and back!! 

Happy birthday, sweet sweet boy!! 

Funeral Flowers

My kids principal died in a tragic accident last weekend. I’ve been so touched as the community has rallied around his family and the students and staff of Woodland Hills. My kids have seen and felt the love during this difficult time and wanted to do something kind to help during the funeral today. They decided to put flowers on the cars of the people attending the services.

After we picked up the flowers the plan was to go grab some lunch. The line was too long to wait and eat, so I decided to do the flowers first and eat second. The boys were less than thrilled. But as I talked to them about putting others first and our needs second, they relunctently agreed. However, as soon as we got going their attitudes changed and the good they were doing made them feel good. They were so happy to be helping. 

 I am so proud of them and their willingness to serve and honor a man they loved in their own small way. I’m grateful to live in this community and be surrounded by great people. I’m so blessed to know the good of this world.

The Hammer

Tayden has worked so hard this football season. He was worried that he might be behind since this is his first year, but he can keep up with the best of them. Honestly, he is a great defensive end and is a huge asset to his team. This last weekend he played the best I’ve seen all season. And his coaches saw it too and award him with Thors Hammer, the tackling award. He was so proud of himself! As well he should be. It was a great game. 

Being Content

My favorite life lesson that I’m learning is that, “It’s okay to be content.” In a world that expects a degree of disappointment and jealousy and pushes us to want more... more money, a bigger house, a better body, etc...it’s okay to be okay with what you are, where you are and what you have. While striving for improvement is perfectly justified, it’s still okay to be content. It about finding the right balance for you. 

I love this quote from Marjorie Pay Hinckley: "Fifty was my favorite age. It takes about that long to learn to quit competing and to be yourself and get down to living. It is the age I would like to be through all eternity!" I don’t want to wait until I’m fifty. I want to start now! Contentment and happiness is okay!!

12 years

Saturday marked twelve years of marriage for Scott and I. It’s crazy to me how much we have experienced and how much things have changed in just twelve years. We’ve lived in 2 apartments, 2 rental and 3 homes of our own. We’ve birthed 4 boys, had 4 tonsillectomys, 1 heart stent and countless trips to the doctors for well and sick checks. Together we’ve learned (and are still learning) to let the little things go and hold hands every chance we get. We know each other inside and out and at times it seems we know the other better then ourselves. Twelve years with Scott has made me a better person and I hope he could say the same. It’s only the beginning to our life together, but I feel like we’re off to a good start.

Our anniversary day was pretty low key. We watched both older boys play football, then went on a date to see the parade of homes and out to dinner. We came home and snuggled on the couch and ate ice cream treats. It was a great day. 

I love my man! 

September Catch Up

Wow! What a week. Its been a crazy one. As if two football team practices, school, scouts, dads school, book clubs and my school volunteering isn't enough...Scott manages to squeeze in an angioplasty for his heart. But first things first.

Last Saturday both the boys had a "bye" week for football and didn't have any games. We decided to take advantage of the weekend off and drove to Utah to the Hogle Zoo. It was fun. It was great to get out of the house and do something as a family. The kids didn't love it as much as we anticipated, but we still had a good time together.

Then to extend the family fun, Sunday night we spent the evening playing at the park. It was dreamy. 

Everything else during the week went well. School was good for the boys. Especially Kyle, who had his first day of Joy School.

Fast forward to Friday and Scotts little stay in the hospital. For the past few weeks he has been having some strange symptoms. He's been abnormally tired for months, but lately he has been short of breath and has been having chest pain. He went to the doctor where they conducted a stress test. The results came back abnormal and we was referred to a cardiologist. The cardiologist suggested an angiogram to scope his heart.

On Friday, Scott went in to the hospital expecting to have a quick procedure and come home later that day. We were surprised to find out his left artery was 85% clogged and he required a stent. The placement of his blocked artery is called the Widow Maker and the doctor expressed how lucky we were that we caught it when we did. Had he had a heart attack in that condition, the changes of survival are less than ideal.

Although its a scary thing, modern medicine is such a blessing. Scott was awake during the procedure as they inserted a catheter through his wrist. He only stayed in the hospital one night and immediately felt better. He was even able to go back to work Monday.

I am so thankful for Scotts Dad. He came up Thursday to give him a blessing and suggested I get a blessing as well. I felt so calm the night before and during the procedure and I'm sure it was because of the blessing. Then, on Friday he stayed with Scott in the morning while I got the kids to school. He was there during the procedure, when Scott met with the doctor and then hung out with him until I got there. He kept me updated and knowing he was there kept me calm. He is such a blessing to our family.

It was a good week and I feel so grateful to my Heavenly Father for watching over our family. I've felt his presence so strong lately and knowing he is with me is the greatest blessing of all.

Goodness

My kids are good. Not like well behaved good, I mean that too, but inherently good. The goodness that comes from deep down and makes you a good person. I’ve seen this trait from all of them, but this week two times stuck out to me. 

As Cache, Ky and I were heading home from the store the other day we saw a homeless person on the corner. He was looking pretty rough and Cache said, “Look!! A homeless person. Let’s help him.” I explained we didn’t have anything left in the car to help with, but Cache had seen a pack of ramen noodles in the back of the van. I really didn’t want to stop and help, but Cache was adamant. So I let him grab the ramen noodles at the stop light and hand them to the old man. He rolled down the window and said with the biggest smile and friendliest Cache voice, “Hi!! Here you go!!”. The gentleman smiled and thanked my son. Cache told him you’re welcome and to have a good day. As I rolled up the window he said, “I’m glad we helped!! Even if you can’t cook them, they still taste good.” I was moved and explained to Cache how proud I was of him for finding a way to serve his fellow man. He didn’t see the same homeless man I did, he saw a Child of God that needed a little assistance and recognized that he could help. He has a pure love like Christ. 

Second is my hothead, Beckett. Beckett has been doing an attitude challenge for the last six weeks. He tends to get fairly mean when he gets upset. So, his challenge was to learn to control his actions when he gets upset. It’s totally okay to get mad, but there is an appropriate way to act when you are. So for six weeks he was not to throw a fit (or anything else), not call names or say rude things. At the end of the six weeks, he would be rewarded with a new nerf gun. (His love language is gifts. I hate it, but there it is) So for six loooong weeks, he worked hard. Ridiculously hard to keep his actions in check. And you know what, he did it! He did amazing. The day had come to pick out his new Rival and he was ecstatic. As we were looking at the computer for it, he said, “Mom. I don’t want to hurt my brothers feelings. What if I buy everyone a small toy instead.” He has been working endlessly for this specific nerf gun and the moment he realized it might make his brothers upset, he changed his tune for everyone’s benefit. I was so proud of him. The proud that makes your heart feel like it’s going to burst out of your chest. As we walked out of the store he said, “My heart feels so good. I feel very Christlike.” I could not agree more. I probably told him at least 12 times how happy he had made me. I’m not joking, he has the best heart. 

My kids are gold. And I love the reminders they give me to be a better person. It’s not wonder we are commanded to be as little children.