A Talk

Guess who got to speak in Church?  She did amazing! I am so blessed to be her mom and so thankful that Heavenly Father sent me such a wonderful daughter.  Here's her first Sacrament Meeting talk.

I am Alexandria Cesar and I've been asked to speak on the youth theme for this year which is service. 

I would like to share the theme with you:

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.(D&C 4:2)

Our Savior, Jesus Christ wanted us to serve. I like this quote from Dallin H. Oaks in the April 2009 Conference. 

(Dallin H. Oaks April 2009) Our Savior gave Himself in unselfish service. He taught that each of us should follow Him by denying ourselves of selfish interests in order to serve others.

(Service: For the Strength of Youth)As you devote yourself to serving others, you will draw closer to Heavenly Father. Your heart will be filled with love. You will learn that service and sacrifice are ways to overcome selfishness. You will enjoy happiness that comes only from giving service to God and others. Your capacities will increase, and you will be an instrument in God’s hands to bless the lives of His children.

Service

I believe there is really no better example of service than our prophet Thomas S. Monson. I would like to share with you a story my family enjoys about Thomas S. Monson because it has to do with baseball. 

Baseballs and Service 

    When President Thomas S. Monson was a boy, people called him Tommy. Tommy loved to play baseball with his friends and his brother Bob. They didn’t have a grassy field for their games, so they used the dirt alley behind their homes as their ball diamond. The area worked as long as the hitter hit the ball straight to “centerfield.” But if he hit the ball to the right, it was headed for disaster.

    Mrs. Shinas lived in a little house near “first base” of the ball field. She would watch from her kitchen window as the boys played. Every time a ball landed near her porch, Mrs. Shinas would hurry out of her house, limping because of her stiff leg. She would grab the ball and take it inside.

 It finally came to a point where all the balls were gone. Mrs. Shinas had taken them and never returned them.  They eventually had to stop playing. But the conflict continued when some of the boys picked Mrs. Shinas’s home for their pranks.

   

   One day, Tommy decided to bring the conflict to a halt. As he did his daily chore of watering his family’s front lawn, he noticed that Mrs. Shinas’s lawn was dry and turning brown. He took a few more minutes and turned the hose on her lawn as well. He continued this all summer. When leaves started to fall, Tommy also raked Mrs. Shinas’s lawn.

    Not once that whole summer or fall did Tommy see Mrs. Shinas.  But he kept on going. 

     Then one evening Mrs. Shinas opened her front door and beckoned to him. She invited him into her living room and brought out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. Then she left the room and came back with a large box filled with baseballs—several seasons’ worth.

     “Tommy,” she said, “I want to thank you for being kind to me.” For the first time, he saw Mrs. Shinas smile and heard in her voice both kindness and gratitude. The two became friends.

   When you serve you love the person more than you already did. When I take care of my brothers and sisters most of the time I'd rather be doing something with my friends. But, by serving my mom and taking care of my siblings she is able to get the things done she needs to do.  If I can lighten her burden it'll help her to be a better mom. 

 

  I'd like to share my testimony with you. I know this church is true and I know that Joseph Smith did translate the Book of Mormon. I know that families can be together forever even after death and I know service can help you become more like our savior, Jesus Christ. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. 

Sick cuddles

It's crazy that I walk around with a camera all day and still manage to take absolutely no pictures. In my defense we have had a terrible, awful, sick week. But it has given us lots of excuses for cuddles and together time. 

Japan, bikes and Friday

Back in Japan I rode a bike to take Alexandria to school every morning. She sat on the back and I peddled. Now she rides her own bike and I ride mine pulling Stella in the trailer while we travel to her Jr. High. It feels good to be riding bikes to school again. Although there are days when our American ways win and we jump in the car but I usually go for the bike if possible. Like today, I made her bike to school. She was mad and didn't talk to me the entire way. If you know Alexandria you know she's a happy chatterbox. So it must have been super serious to not talk to me for 15 minutes. Thankfully, she got over it and was fine after school. How could she not be? It's Friday!!

Mikey

Dear Mikey,

Today was a lot harder than I was expecting.  It started off hard this morning even though I wasn't sending the kids to school.  Your birthday is one of their favorite days of the year because there's no school, at least not for them. I know they will be forever grateful to you for your birthday.  I learned a few things that I will do different for your birthday next year.  The kids will go to bed earlier the night before.  I will have more things planned to do to keep us busy on your special day and no devices, except my phone for pictures.

I feel like there is something more we can be doing to celebrate you.  That's possibly why it was such a hard day.  But I need to remember that the little things that we do, may be the same every year but, they are the traditions that will help to bring our family closer together.  So we wrote on a balloon and sent it up to you again.  As it floated straight into the sun one of the kids commented, "it's going toward the light."  Mikey, you are my light. 

Then the balloon stopped.  Really, it wasn't moving and I knew you were waiting for me to get the picture.  So I took it.  It's hard to see but it's right above the trees.  Then it floated away.  That was it.  We ate cheesecake, a white, creamy, sweet treat that you would have loved.  Then we packed up and came home to play games and nap.  On the way home we saw a little three year old boy crossing the street on his bike with his mom so we stopped and gave him a balloon that he quickly tied on to his handle bars. 

 

Even though your pinwheel was spinning out of control at the cemetery and I'm sure you were there with us I think what was missing from your day was you.  I felt like I was trying to fill a bucket but there was no bottom to the bucket.  Everything I put in just kept coming out.  The bucket never filled and I didn't feel any sense of joy or accomplishment.  I couldn't see your smiling face, or hug your little chunky three year old body.  We were celebrating you but there was no you.  Then in the quiet of the night I did feel your arms around me and I'm comforted knowing that you are still here when I need you. Suddenly, the bucket was full.  I know you're not around a lot but I love the times when you are.  I love you and look forward to the day when I can put my arms around you!

 

Love you always and forever,

Your mom 

Savoring Stella

 

So this happens...a lot!!

She loves playing with make up.

If she were my first baby it probably wouldn't be so cute anymore after the 100th time of her making a mess of the make up drawer.

Lucky for her, she's my youngest so it's still pretty cute and appreciated.

In some ways it's good to be an older mom.

Tomorrow is Mikey's birthday. 

I can't hold him or watch him grow so I savor every instance with Stella.

We went to the park today and instead of standing back and letting her play like I did with my older children, I played with her.

The other mom's probably thought I was a helicopter mom following her up and down the big toy and sliding down slides.

But chances are they don't know what I know.

They've never held a baby in their arms for a moment only to have him gone the next.

So I'll keep playing with my Stella, running in the sand, swinging on swings and soaking up every smile, giggle, tear and yes, even her messes.

Lessons by Grandpa

Tuesdays are busy but come 8:30 at night these kids are racing around like greyhounds trying to get ready for grandpa to come read their bedtime story. The adventures of Rush Revere and his time traveling horse, Liberty, have made history come to life. They love hearing Grandpa's stories. Tonight, after hearing about John Hancock and small pox inoculations, Alexandria brought up her science class and evolution. She loooks for opportunities to discuss science and history with grandpa because she knows he will give her the right answers, not just theories about how it all began. DJ's quote was the best though when talking about the Big Bang theory and something coming from nothing.  He put out his hand and said, "I can't just make a hamburger out of nothing. I don't get it."  It's fun to see how much my kids love their grandpa.  I love him too. 

Flexibility

Wow! She works hard at staying flexible. And now look what she does.

Virtual Papi

 

I woke up and ran to the gym this morning and left Stella here with Alexandria.  Stella figured out how to face time Papi.  He was on the phone with her the entire time I was at the gym.  He really was being a virtual dad. She doesn't talk to him.  She just carries him around and shows him everything she's doing.  He was even lucky enough to watch Frozen with her. I feel like I need a hash tag here.  #toomanydevices

Privileges

"At 16 you get to drive and you get other 'privileges'."-DJ

Can you tell this kid's a clown? Usually, I want them to stay small forever.  But there are the rare moments when I just can't wait for them to grow up just to see how they turn out.

Nada

Because some days there's nothing to say so you post a selfie with your babies.

Family scripture push ups?

Yes, during scripture time AJ does push ups while reading.  I let him because it's not video games. ;)

 

Christmas

It was a strange year for Christmas.  None of our extended family was arriving until the 26th.  Papi wasn't here.  It was just me and the kids.  But we still went full speed ahead with the traditions that we've loved.  We may not have had much family around but the traditions kept the holiday spirit alive.

Our little elf, Jingles caught Santa on the Santa camera!  We were so excited to actually see a picture of Santa in our living room.  That sneaky Jingles is one awesome elf.

The ritual

Stella always goes with me to the gym.  She goes to play on the toys.  I go to play on the weights. :) She has a ritual when we leave the gym.  If the ritual doesn't happen she is not my happy Stella.  First, ask for a smoothie. Second, take a picture by the bike rack. Third, ask to see picture of "Te-Taa" and say "awe, cute." Fourth, leave bike rack only when mom offers her the keys so she can push the button and find the car.  I'm telling you that is what we do....every day! If feels a little like deja vu. On the bright side though, I have tons of cute pictures of Stella by the bike rack. :)

Weblos Trained

While harvesting the sugar cane yesterday, DJ let me know that he's, "got this, I'm weblos trained!" Go scouting!

People Explosion

Can you believe how many people have exploded from our original family of 5 children? So much personality and beautiful little ones here with Grandma and Grandpa.

Uncontrollable

Mom wanted a picture of the seven of us.  But for some reason it became uncontrollable laughter when Mom couldn't stop laughing.  I love us!

New Year's Resolutions

I have a few of them for this year.  One of them is to stop Instagram and Facebook and start posting a picture a day here.  This blog is what I use to make my books every year.  So while it's fun to show friends pics on other social media sites, this is where it counts, on our family blog that will get printed out and maybe enjoyed for a generation or two.  We have loved having cousins here for the last few days.  Stella is obsessed with babies.  Ana is her youngest cousin.  They're going to be best buds!

My Birthday Girls

It's been awhile but we finally got to do a birthday party for Alexandria.  We took Stella to get her present during the day then Alexandria got to have her birthday party on New Year's Eve to celebrate my New Year's baby.  We had pizza, popcorn and hot Cheetos all while making smores and watching Maleficent. When it came time for the cake Alexandria was kind as always.  She is such a great big sister, sharing her cake with Stella and showing her how to blow out the candles. We had 15 candles on the cake, 13 for Alexandria and 2 for Stella.

Happy Birthday to my girls!! I love you both!