The Nuffer Nest

No, I'm not pregnant. I WISH! We want one more little person to join us, but it's not our time yet. Trust me, I would love to be out of the diapers stage as quickly as possible! Some know this and some don't, but I have never known my biological father. I've never seen a picture, never heard his voice, and I wasn't sure I knew his name. But all of that's changed. Last week I met (well spoke with on the phone and emailed) my real father AND half brother. My dad lives in southern California, where I'm from (some of you might not have even known I'm from California), and my older brother lives in Alaska with his family. I won't go into great detail, but my mother and father decided before I was born that it was best that my mother raise me alone. Anyway, 32 years later I found them. I've been looking since I was a teenager off and on, but my cousin actually found them this time. So far so good. He's kind and warm and welcomes me (and ...

I haven't updated the blog in awhile because life has been VERY busy. Lots of new things happening, but that's for another day, another blog. A week or so ago we had a special breakfast, we had dessert for breakfast, strawberry shortcake. Austin LOVED it, but he's not a picky eater. Jackson, however, was not impressed with this special treat. It was like pulling teeth just to get him to try it, then he responded with, "it's delicious!", but wouldn't take another bite. I even made fresh whipped cream which he usually loves, but he wasn't interested. Anyway here are the boys with their special breakfasts. I recently posted about the new chore chart that I made for Jackson and it is going SO well!! I thought he would flip out with the 15 minutes of game time, but he doesn't. He really likes moving the magnets around on the chart and cashing in chores for nickels every night. He even knows how to use the timer for his 15 minutes of game time. ...

I've been thinking about making Jackson a chore chart recently because we have taken away his electronic games. He was becoming a bit of an addict. I figured a chore chart would be a great way to earn time playing all the games he so dearly loves. I saw this chore chart on Pinterest the other day, and I really liked it. It was simple and even my toddler could understand it. I also liked how they rewarded their child for doing his chores, but I also wanted to incorperate game time rewards. And this is what I came up with: I found this metal dry erase board at Walmart for $6.49. I forgot to get a picture of it before I put the chore chart together. Then I just played around with some regular tape until I got a format for the chart that I liked. I used colored electrical tape that we had around the house from Austin's Halloween costume to section the chart how I wanted. I also used foam letters I found at Dollar Tree to spell out "Chore Chart" and the letters...

Last Sunday we started the new lesson book in Relief Society over President George Albert Smith. I was really impressed by the 11 "ideals" that make up his personal creed. You can read each of the 11 ideals from his personal creed here . I wish I could say that I am already living ALL 11 ideals, but that's not the case. So I'm challenging myself to take one ideal a month which will take me through November and honor that ideal by living it somehow (it will vary each month with each ideal). I will try very hard to do something representing all 11 ideals in the month of December. I will update the blog each month with whatever good deed or service project I have come up with for each month's creed. Writing about my monthly challenges is not to be boastful or prideful, but rather to ensure that I follow through with my challenge. You are welcome to take the same challenge. I would LOVE to hear about how you live each creed! January's creed: "I will...

This week was a special week for Jackson because it marked the beginning of a couple of firsts for him. First, Jesus wants Jackson for a SUNBEAM! I can't believe I have a child in primary. Time flies! We have been preparing him for awhile for his new start in Primary and he was super excited. Sacrament was filled with, "is it time for 'cry-mary' yet" (that's what he calls Primary), "bread and water, then singing and prayers, then 'cry-mary'?", and "is sacrament over yet?". He is definitely impatient like his momma! Finally, the time arrived for Primary and he found his seat in the first row with all the other Sunbeams in the 'Sunbeams A' group. He didn't even look back when I left the room. I felt tears coming quickly, but thank goodness I saw someone I had to talk to about visiting teaching which stopped the tears from coming. Phew! Then it was my turn to be super excited because it was time to pick him up and ...

Let me start by saying that I HATE New Year's resolutions because they are always broken by March. ...at least the resolutions I make. But I found this phenomenal resolution on a dear friend's blog that I want to make this year. Thank you, Melissa! "This year, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again." -Howard W. Hunter

This mommy is way too old to stay up till midnight anymore, but I still want the boys to celebrate, so midnight came at 8:40pm at our house. Austin didn't even make it to Nuffer house midnight, but Jackson did! He got to countdown to 2012 and cheer! I have a feeling 2012 will be the best yet. We started our celebration with a New Year's bath. Ignore the ugly tile, we rent. And then we got all dressed up! It was Austin's first New Year. Happy New Year from the Nuffers!