I have to include ONE picture!

We are not thinking about Halloween right now, but this is such a cute picture of my cute kids. And I haven't posted pictures recently. Caleb chose to be a "sleepy old man brushing his teeth" (is that the most random costume you've ever heard of?), Norah was THE MOST ADORABLE pumpkin (you should have seen her strapped into her carseat!), and Ivie planned to be a witch but changed last minute because she wanted to wear her new birthday outfit from Grandma. We just said she was a little French girl. I love these kids.

Thoughts

I can't believe how long it has been since I've done anything with the blog. No time and lack of desire have been the culprits, and I find that keeping in touch through blogs leaves me wanting. It is a great way to catch up on the latest happenings, but promise me something, let's not let blogs interfere with really keeping in touch...I so love having an actual dialogue with loved ones (which often occurs through email, but that's OK). From now on, if you post a comment on this blog, I'll do my best to respond. Then we can have a little dialogue, you know, ask and answer questions and so forth. Maybe a dialogue isn't necessary, but at least I'll feel better knowing that I let you know that I know you are there and appreciate you checking in.
Wes is on call tonight and I needed a little break, so I called a baby-sitter and attended a Christmas concert put on by the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra directed by Craig Jessop. My father-in-law sings in the chorus. What a treasure for our community! I was really touched as I contemplated the efforts of the performers in creating such a wonderful event, and as I listened to songs celebrating the birth of one child, one special child that changed everything. I'm thankful for times like these where I can take a break from motherhood and think of lovely things not always associated with motherhood! The best part of my evening is that the babysitter had all my children sound asleep and snug in their beds. That alone is worth a lot of money!
My quiet reprieve is over. I'm headed upstairs to soothe a child and cuddle with her in my soft rocking chair. Life is good.

Estrogen

In about 12 years, we'll have THREE teenage daughters and ONE teenage son. Won't that be fun?

Announcing another darling Mortensen female mid-February 2010.

Goodbye Minnesota

It is my last night in Minnesota. I should be packing, but my mind is busy thinking of the three years we spent here, and my heart is heavy as I prepare to leave this wonderful place and wonderful people. I am thankful for memories so I will never forget our time here.

I will miss...
Living "on our own", away from our roots. We solidified ourselves as a family here.
Cabins "up north".
Oxbow Zoo.
Apple Orchards in autumn.
Welcoming visitors and cherishing our time with them.
Our violin teacher.
Celebrating holidays in our first home.
The friends we've grown to love. You know who you are!
Every moment spent with Scott, Kara and Will. They are our best friends, always there for us to sympathize, laugh, and have fun. We're so lucky we are family too!

Here's to three years full of growth and wonderful memories.

Only in Minnesota

Gigantic Paul Bunyan, headwaters of the Mississippi (so cool), a cherry on a spoon...also gigantic, a little white church, a collection of hats on a screened porch (charming, charming, charming), chimney rock at Whitewater State Park, and Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthplace (well, it's actually in Pepin WI).

Farm Dreams

Minnesota is pristine farm country. I will miss it. I have always love farms, thanks to childhood memories of my father's farm. My father is a farmer...salt of the earth, hard working, industrious. When I drive out of the thriving metropolis of Rochester (which takes about 5 minutes), I enter a picturesque world of rolling hills, neatly planted crops, and immaculate farms consisting of red or white barns, silos, and neat homes. The farms here are so tidy. No broken, rusty tractors or tired fences. Just neat and tidy. I often imagine myself living on a farm in the middle of a wide open space with plenty of sunshine. I can see myself in the garden as the sun rises, reading a book on the porch swing while the breeze rustles the crops. I can smell the apple blossoms in the spring, hear the old screen door slam as the children run in and out, and see the crisp laundry hanging on the line to dry. It is quiet and peaceful.

Too bad Wes isn’t a farmer. Good thing, I suppose. I’m sure my dreams are more romantic than real farm life.

10 Years

Wesley and I have been married for 10 years, 3,650 days. If our happiness and love continues to grow at the same rate, I can't wait for the next 10 years!

I was very surprised by my gift of luscious pink roses and an anniversary band! I was surprised only because Wes has never given me jewelry. Except for the occasional bracelet, I'm not a jewelry gal.

When we became engaged I would walk across Utah State University campus, left arm outstretched so I could admire my ring. I often thought how beautiful it would look partnered with a band.

10 years later, it looks stunning.

I love you Wes.

1 Year

Newborn Norah



















Happy Cake-Eating Norah


Norah is ONE year old.
I have put her to bed 365 times and she has yanked me out of sleep at least a million times.
But she has made me smile multiple times daily and has brought much joy to our home, so I forgive her.
Time flies. What a cliche', but how true. Where does time go?
I suppose it is spent, much like money. Never to be seen again. Spent fixing pancakes and casseroles, singing children to sleep, going on walks, wandering around Target, coloring with Ivie, nursing babies, driving to school, listening to grand ideas, watching our garden grow, learning about Jesus Christ, reading, laughing, dancing.
Aren't we blessed to have memories of our time well spent?
I'm thankful for birthdays that remind me of how far we've come and the splendid time we've had along the way.
I love you Norah.

My Favs

My favorites at the moment...
"About a Boy" soundtrack. It's perfectly quirky.
Watching Caleb dance to the quirky music.
Dining outside on a blanket.
Lying on my back in the sunshine.
Pussywillows and crocus.
SPRING after 7 months of Minnesota winter.
Brian Regan. His comedy is not to be missed!
The BBC movie, "North and South". Excellent.
What are some of your favorites? Please share.

Clean

I was tired and wanted to go to bed, but then I remembered what Wes always says that his mom always said, "You'll sleep better after you shower." True. Not much better than being squeaky clean and settling into crisp sheets for a long snooze. I needed to shower after running 2 miles to Target and back pushing a double jogging stroller. BUT, I just returned home from a month in sunny warm Florida. It is April in Minnesota, which means I'm cold. I wore fleece pants and two thermal shirts today. I didn't want to shower. Not much worse than getting out of a warm shower when it's FREEZING.

Well, I showered. I bribed myself with a big bowl of chocolate icecream if I'd do it. Now I'm going to go eat it.

JOY

What are you passionate about? What stirs your soul? What gives you joy...not just happiness, but joy? "Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have JOY." (2 Nephi 2:25). JOY is part of God's plan for each of us.

JOY is...
TIME with my little FAMILY taking in the EARTH'S BEAUTY. It's evening. The sun casts warm orange light signaling the day's end. There is white sand, blue water, a slight breeze. My baby is in my arms. My two oldest children are diving in the chilly ocean (because it is Spring) and my brave, selfless, handsome husband is with them despite the temperature. I stand back and soak it in. I feel JOY.

JOY is...
MUSIC. I'm 15. My voice is one among others singing, "Come thou fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing thy grace Streams of mercy never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise...... Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above" My throat is tight with emotion, my eyes wet at the power of the words. I feel warm, passionate, moved. I feel God's love. I feel JOY.

JOY is...
A deep friendship. An answered prayer. Spring. Kindness from a stranger. The miracle of birth. Answering to "Momma".

JOY is...
When I lay in my husband's arms for hours talking with him about everything. Cuddling with my children at night. Watching the pure delight my children experience when with cousins and grandparents. Seeing the love my siblings and my husband's siblings show for my children. Soaking in every moment with my mother when she came to the Midwest after the birth of my third. It's amazing how my heart needs Mom while I adjust to being a mom myself.

And the best part of all is that these JOYFUL relationships will last for ETERNITY. Families can be together forever because of our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is true JOY.

Red Hat

As a kid, I'd keep myself entertained during General Conference by crocheting long, long chains of yarn. One Christmastime, I locked myself in my room and spent the day crocheting bracelets for EVERYONE in my family. I'm pretty sure they were all thrilled.

In my maturity,
I've taken crochet to the next level. With my extra time here in Florida, Kara and I crocheted some pageboy hats during her visit. Doesn't Ivie just perfect the hat? Too bad she won't wear it. It interferes with her long flowing tresses of hair. Oh well.

Ivie's Prayer

"Please bless that Emily Russon can't learn how to snap her fingers for a long time because I want to be the one to teach her how even though I'm younger...and please bless Grandpa Glenn's fake eyeball that he can finally go to a doctor and see out of it a little better. Amen."

Grossness

My kids don't have many limits for what they will say regarding all things gross. Scott and Kara can attest to this...sorry for contaminating Will. I guess I don't have many limits for what I'll write about either.

Tonight, Ivie got out of bed for the hundredth time and this is what she said:
"Momma, I had a big hiccup that made throw-up come to my mouth. Then I needed a drink. Then I had to go potty. Then I washed my hands all by myself. Then (and this is finally the reason for her coming to me) the water made the duct tape on my thumb lose it's stick. I need some more."

Nothing she says is to the point.

Why the duct tape? Our Dr. recommended putting it on her wart. Somehow it makes them go away sometimes. He also told her to talk to her wart and tell it to go away....so she does. The wart is getting smaller...

On our way to the beach today, Ivie (in all seriousness) said:

"Momma, sometimes I pick my nose and get a big booger, then I don't know what to do with it."
Don't most kids just wipe it somewhere?
She carried her nose treasure ALL the way from the car, across the beach at low tide to the ocean to wash herself of the grossness. Good Girl Ivie!

Childhood

I love hearing stories of Wesley's quintessential childhood. Brothers, camping, fishing, beloved pets (Tiki, Thunder, Kelsey), best friends that lived on his dead-end street, swimming, playing in the band. Every child deserves a wonderful childhood. I'm thankful for my own laid-back childhood filled with hours of time to do whatever a kid wants. Cucumber boats in the ditch, night games at Grandma Ruth's, homemade icecream, ceramic class during the summer, night swimming at the local pool. That's what I want to give my children.

Hairdos

Norah had her first hairdo the other day! Time ticks by all to quickly in some respects! Although I thought she was very cute with her hairdo, I quickly took it out. It made her look too old.


Caleb often does his own hair. It takes a great amount of effort on my part to let him out of the house with one of his hairdos. I often slick things down as he heads out the door for school, hoping he doesn't notice. This hairdo went with him to Kindergarten. He reported later that one of the kids commented on his "mohawk". Yikes.

Loving My Baby

One of my dearest friends is considering adoption. She has 3 beautiful biological children and wants another. But she can’t due to some strong meds she’s taking. My friend is one that I want my children to know. She is charitable, inventive, sincere, honest, prayerful, FUN, unique, organized, kind, close to the Spirit, determined, a perfect friend, and wonderful mother. The other day, she called to ask if I’d be a reference for her. “Sure! For what?” I say, wondering if she’s decided to get a job and what kind of job allows friends as references. “Well, we’ve decided to adopt!” she says in her smiley voice. “And I have to tell you that your little Norah is one of the reasons we came to this decision. It’s like she’s talking to me, communicating with me. I just know there’s another baby to come into our lives.”

Of course every parent thinks their children are something special, but it’s fabulous to hear that someone else thinks so too.

Following are some of the things I love about Norah Faith.

I love…
How Norah hums when she nurses
When she wrinkles her nose as she smiles
The thump thump sound of her kicking in excitement when I go to get her out of her crib
That her daddy chose her first name and her second came about because of an answered prayer
Watching her try to hold water
That I feel the Spirit when I am with her
Kissing her soft, warm neck
That she is peaceful, mild, quiet (I secretly wished for a quiet child)
That she is still most at home in my arms, cuddling and nursing
To watch and hold her soft, warm, tiny hands
That I have the presence of mind enough to savor her babyhood
That she will be a part of our family forever