Costumes

Cody and Kyler were a Ventriloquist and his Dummy. Camdon was a Hobo. And,
I was Mom Jeans (SNL).

Thanks Caleb and Hayley for the picture.

Hard Day

Today was a hard day.

Camdon, who is usually a sweet and very obedient little guy, was not being himself. By 9:30 a.m., he had already been put in time-out three times (he woke up at 8:30). I was on the verge of hysteria as I sat next to his bedroom door, holding a screaming Kyler (who is another story all in his own), and listening to Camdon thrash on the other side.

When a day starts off like that, little can turn it around. I usually just have to cringe my way through it and hope the next morning things will be better. Not even lunch with my beautiful sister and hanging out with cousins cured what the horrible morning had started. I even tried to medicate with a Dr. Pepper. Its magic was lacking.

Finally bedtime came. Halle-freaking-lujah. I got him in his room and told him it was time for prayers, like I do every night. Still cringing. And, something magical happened. He didn't fight me. Instead he got on his knees, folded his arms, and said his very first unassisted bedtime prayer. As he finished, a smile (and maybe a tear) crossed my face.

The prayer did not erase the need I had for alone time and quite, but it sure reinforced why I am a stay-at-home mom; and that I do, in fact, love my children. They are beautiful, wonderful little souls that bless my life.

p.s. The other day, as I was changing Kye's diaper, Camdon ran into the room and said, 'You want to see my bum?' then mooned me. That kid.

Photo Finish

I have come to the conclusion that God loves a photo finish.

I have also come to the conclusion that I have some serious obsessive compulsive behaviors that I did not realize before.

I am a planner. I like to know...no...wait...I NEED to know, I HAVE to know what happens next. And, when I don't, I spend every waking moment trying to figure it out. I obsess, and obsess, and obsess.

Example: I almost always skip to the end of a book when it gets exciting to find out what happens. Then, calmly, I go back and read whatever is in between.

Horrible, I know.

Because of this incessancy, God always makes me wait until the very last second to answer my questions. I wiggle and squirm and fret, while he waits...and probably laughs. Then, when I'm scrambling to pick up the pieces, he releases the gates of inspiration and frees my worried mind.

Not cool.

Apparently he is trying to tell me something. You think?

Camdon Clarke

A few great things that my two-year-old said:

Every time I wipe his little potty-trained bum, "Mommy, do you want to eat my poop?"

After getting in trouble, "I still love you Mom."

Every bedtime prayer, "Heavenly Father. I thank thee. Jesus Christ, amen."

During family prayer: Cody: "We love you Heavenly Father..." Camdon: "...and Jesus too!"

Yet another prayer, "Jesus, today my bum hurt."

After scolding him for being naughty, "Oh Mom, don't be such a bawl baby."

"Mom, I have a hug?" then he ran up and spit on my shirt.

After asking him to pick up his toys, "I'll only be good for candy Mom."

I got a little upset at the Sprint worker, "Mom, you're not being patient with her."

Cody tried to put him to bed, "Mom, daddy's being naughty. He needs a time out."

While I was talking on the phone and not listening to him, "Mom, you're making me feel angry."

Payton and Camdon

I could go on...and on.
I love him.

Next

This last year in the life of the Hopkinson family has been insane. We moved. Then we moved again. And, now we're moving again. We have been through four jobs, a child, and family craziness that I can not even begin to describe. Things I never imaged would or could happen, did.

Stress and happiness have been felt at extremes that neither Cody nor I ever imagined possible.

There have been moments when I knew I could not handle anymore. Moments that made my soul ache, tremble, and cry. Moments necessary for growth and progression. Moments that showed the devil and angel inside me. And, moments full of happiness, love, and appreciation that stifled all else.

I've wondered if life was always this hard, and I just never realized it; or if the world has changed as I have aged. Maybe it's neither. Maybe it's both. And, maybe it's just me.

Why am I writing this now? After several lame posts of pictures, that even I get bored looking at? Because I really want to be good at blogging. Scratch that. I want to be good at journaling. I want to remember the good parts in life that happen each day, and even a few of the bad. I want to remember what I felt, and lived, and survived. I'm not sure I always want to share it with all of you (there are some people I would just rather not have access to this), but it is what it is.

So, here I am, waiting to see what happens next.

Fall

So far this fall we...

Rode a pony,

Played in corn,

...more than once

Went up the canyon,

and played at the park.

We drank some blood,

Then begged for some candy.

All in all, it's been a great season.

More Halloween pictures coming soon...maybe.