Small Realization

This may seem insignificant to you, but it was a big thing for me.

The other night, after the girls were in bed, Kent and I settled down to watch the new Shrek movie. I expressed that I didn't love the first Shrek, because it was supposed to be a kids movie but had a lot of inappropriate adult humor.

Then I found myself holding my breath and bracing myself for something.

Kent acknowledged what I said and went to watching the movie.

I realized that I had been preparing for criticism. I had been expecting something along the lines of being called a prude and being told I was stupid. This is the reaction I would have been expecting 4 years ago, when I was still married to my ex-husband.

Through the movie, I thought about this. I could not think of a single time that Kent has criticized me. Don't get me wrong, we have had our disagreements, but that is different than cutting someone down. He has never made me feel bad about myself.

I do not often find myself reacting like I did that day, expecting repercussion. But I guess bits of old habits come out every now and then. With Kent, I can express any feeling, thought, or desire openly with him. While he may not always agree, he accepts and loves me just the way I am and is good at showing it.

The difference is monumental. It has made such a world of difference with how I feel inside.

Random Updates

I haven't posted for a long time, so I figured I'd go back through our pictures and post a bit about recent stuff going on at our house.

Camryn's school pictures

Camryn is loving Kindergarten and is doing amazing. She now reads us bedtime stories every night.

Her school has "Spirit Friday" when you are supposed to wear school colors. Their colors are red, white, and blue. They are the Harrison Huskies! The school sells red, white, and blue tie dye t-shirts. We thought we could do a little better than a tie-dye shirt with our money. We bought two blue polo's and embroidered a logo on them. I also made some matching hair bows.

Doesn't she look good! She loves her shirts!

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My mom tells me that I used to love to play with and suck on my toes when I was a baby. I tried, without luck, to find my picture of it. Anyway, although my daughter might not look much like me, part of me is in there somewhere.

I'm such a proud mommy!

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Kent made this delicious apple pie. Proof that he can bake, and actually does it very well. Just don't hold your breath for it to happen again.

It was so yummy!!! It didn't last long!!!

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We made a trip down to Utah to Travis and Nicole's house for Kaydence's 3rd Birthday Party!

These are two of the sweetest things! Even more so when we get them together.

BFF

The men took the kids to the Rec Center while Nicole and I got ready for the party.

Check out my little rock climber. They said she got pretty high up.

They got back just in time for the party.

Nicole went all out. She made tutus and capes for the kids. We played games, made bracelets, and decorated crowns. It was a lot of fun.

Kendra can barely contain her excitement!

Nicole asked for my help making a castle cake. She had the idea to have the kids decorate ice cream cones at the party for the castle.

THE FINAL RESULT

Later on.....

We had such a good time. We did a little shopping, hung out and watched movies, and ate lots of good food. Nicole and Travis are wonderful hosts. We can't wait to come again.

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For Thanksgiving, we went to my mom and dad's house again. Jonathan and Jessica and Nicole and her family also came.

The girls got together again. We get a break at parenting at mom and dad's house. We barely see our kids. They have a room full of fun girl stuff--dresses, and doll houses, and toys.

Mom let the girls paint. Notice the outfits. I think our kids wore real clothes twice over the whole 4 day weekend, once coming in the door when we got there and once going out the door on the way home.

Thanks Mom, for being such a wonderful grandma

...and such a wonderful cook. Mom put on a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

Later that night, we got out mom and dad's snow machine.

It was a BLAST

...of cold air in your face. We had a ton of fun.

A bunch of us did Black Friday, and got tons of deals. Kent, Dad, Dane, Nicole, and even Travis were shopping in the middle of the night. They did well. I had to work Friday morning, so I missed the ...fun.

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We are enjoying the Christmas Season and hope you are too!!!

Disclaimer: many of these pictures were stolen from Nicole's blog. I have not been very good at taking pictures lately. That is part of my mom in me (I love you mom=))