Somethings aren't taught

I try so hard to teach my boys to be polite, have manners, be nice, the normal things that any mother would want their boys to know.  My boys do things sometimes and I think, I never taught you that (good or bad) so how did you know that. 

Tegan has always been very sensitive and aware of other's feelings.  When he was about 9 months old or so we started noticing this because we were at pizzeria eating dinner and another baby started to cry and he looked at us and got huge tears in his eyes and started to cry.  After that happened if you pretended to cry or really were crying he would start to cry.  

A month ago we were at the doctor's office and I looked over at Tegan and he had tears in his eyes, I kind of ignored it because I don't like to embarrass him and I don't want him to feel stupid when he gets emotional about things.  I didn't say anything and then shortly after I looked at him he told me, "mom I feel sad for Boden".  I asked him why and then he told me "because he has to get shots and I didn't want Boden to hurt".  I then had to explain to him that he gets shots and has a little hurt now so he doesn't have a big hurt later and get really sick.  

When we go to pick up Kyson from preschool on Tues and Thurs Tegan loves to stop to get an Arby's roast beef sandwich because he gets dropped off at kindergarten after we pick up Ky.  About a year ago he would finish one sandwich and he would ask for another one, so now I order him two.  Well, a little while ago he finished his first one and I told him, "Teg, I have another sandwich for you" and he replied, "It's okay, Beckem can have it" I had to explain to him that I bought one for Beckem.  Then he says, "okay well, Kyson can have it."  I told him I bought one for Ky.  "Okay you can have it mom" was his reply, "Tegan I bought my own" was my response to him.  After going through everyone in the car and making sure everyone had been fed he finally took his sandwich.  I was so impressed by this small act but how huge it felt to me that my little boy would be so aware of others and make sure no one went without.  

Yesterday this similar thing happened again.  We stopped and got a sandwich but Tegan didn't want two.  This was our conversation,

Tegan: "mom, I don't want two today"  

Me: "I already ordered you two, how come you don't want two??"

Tegan: "Beckem or Kyson can have it"

Me: "I already got them one"

Tegan: "Okay I guess I will eat it"

Me: "You don't have to if you don't want it"

Tegan: "But mom, I don't want to waste it"

(What five year old worries about wasting food??)

Me: "It's okay it won't go to waste, I will give it to dad"

Tegan: "Okay mom, give it to dad, that will be good"

There was one time that Kyson got in trouble and I punished him.  After a few minutes Tegan came down from the bonus room with tears in his eyes.  I was frustrated at the situation of having to get after Kyson and said, now what is the matter with you?? He just looked at me with such a sweet look and said, mom I am sad because Kyson got in trouble. I was so humbled at that moment and felt bad for snapping at Tegan. 

There are multiple times this has happened, I wish I would be better at writing them down because they are so tender to me.

I don't feel that I have taught Tegan this.  I think that he has just been sensitive and has always had a huge heart.  I hope that he keeps this trait his whole life.  This is a quality that I pray all my boys will have.  However Tegan learned it I don't know how, but I truly believe that it wasn't completely taught to him, I think he was born with a huge heart and is so aware of others and their feelings.  He brings so much love to our family, I love him so much!!     

Called to Serve

This week in Primary the boys got mission calls for the Farr West 2nd Ward.  They got a letter that looked like an offical mission call and it stated all the things they need to do to prepare to become future missionaries.  They looked so cute wearing their tags with their black suits. 

 

Kyson had to give the scripture in opening exercises so I was sitting in the back of the room when they started primary and they went around and pinned everyone's tags on.  I watched Tegan stand up and he had the biggest smile on his face while he was looking down watching them pin on his tag.  It brought a tear to my eye, I could just picture him getting his offical mission tag pinned on and getting ready to go serve the Lord on a real mission.  That day will be here before I know it.  Whether or not he choses to serve is totally up to him though.  I hope that all my boys, whether they make that choice or not, gain a testimony of their own and gain a love for this Gospel and our Heavenly Father. 



Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day consisted of eating with the Mason family at a church in Perry, eating pie at Grandma and Grandpa Rogers house and our traditional bowling game.  You guys had such a fun day and were SO EXCITED to go bowling.  I was actually surprised you guys (Tegan and Kyson) broke a hundred, that's better than I usually do ha ha. 

 Happy Thanksgiving!! 

 

A time of blessings

About two weeks ago Zac tore his ACL and meniscus.  We didn't really know how bad it was until we went to the orthopedic surgeon and found out it was a complete tear.  Dr. Harrison told us he can't work until he gets it repaired and then after the repair it will need three months to heal.  The soonest they could fit him in is Dec. 21st for surgery.  Zac's job doesn't have any type of medical leave or benefits to help compensate for his wages.  I was very stressed after hearing the news and in my mind didn't know how we are going to make it, especially with the holidays coming up. 

Zac is not a hugely spiritual man, but he has a strong testimony of our Savior and has a ton of faith.  He could tell I was stressing, even though I was trying so hard not to show it because there was nothing he could do about the situation.  Zac just looked at me and told me, "Chelese, have faith.  The Lord will provide a way for us, just like He always has."  I love my Savior so much and truly believe with Him anything is possible, but I let life get in the way of that faith sometimes and I am so grateful for my husband's faith to help keep reminding me to have faith.  

There are so many things I am grateful for and I love Thanksgiving and this time of year that helps us stop and think about how blessed we really are.  This past Sunday in R.S. Katie Price taught our lesson and she said, "no matter how bad your life is, just remember it could always be worse" and that is so true!!  Even though our financial situation is tough right now and Zac is in pain, we could have such bigger problems.

I am so grateful for my life that I have.  I love spending everyday with my best friend.  I am so grateful that I have four amazing boys to call me mom.  I am so grateful for my career and the job I do have to provide for our family in this time of hardship.  I am grateful for the gospel and the strength it gives me and my family everyday.  I am so grateful for this beautiful world in which we live in and get to enjoy each day.  The list goes on and on, but mostly I am so grateful for all my many blessings that each day brings!!  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!    

 

Kyson's Birthday

My little Kyson turned FOUR!!  All he wanted for his birthday was a motorcyle.  This was as close as we are getting to a real motorcyle for now.  He was so excited, he rides it day and night in the basement, thank goodness for unfinished basements during the winter!! 

 He had a cake very similar to this last year, but he wanted the same one again, he LOVED it!!  He loves trackers, motorcycles, and pretty much anything else that has a motor. 

 During breakfast Beckem just sat with his blanket on his head, my kids are goofballs!!

 Boden stayed warm bunddled up in his blankets all day.

 We let the kids decide what they want to do for their birthday and Kyson chose to go to "Get Air" the trampoline park and eat at Chic-fil-a.  So, that is just what we did.  The boys love the trampoline park, they get to jump for a straight hour and do flips into foam pits, play trampoline basketball and just run and play. 

Happy Birthday buddy!!  We love you tons!! 

Snow Day

We had our first snow fall of the year and the boys were so excited.  They couldn't wait to go play in the snow.  We ate breakfast and got them all dressed up to stay warm in the snow.  They had a blast.  They are finally to the age where they can actually play in it and enjoy it.  They were making snow angels, throwing snowballs and they even loved eating it.  Oh the joys of being a kid. 

The love for a grandma

Kyson has always had a special place in his heart for Great-Grandma Miller and Great Grandma Rogers.  At least once a week we have a conversation about Great Grandma Rogers and Kyson asking how come she has to live all alone.  He usually says, "that is so sad huh mom that she is all alone"  You can tell from the way he says it that his little heart aches for the lonliness that Great Grandma feels.   Whenever she is around Kyson loves to go sit by her and give her some company.  

 

At Boden's blessing it did not take very long until Kyson made his way over to her side and snuggled right up against her.  He sat and LISTENED to sacrament for at least 30 or 40 minutes which is a world record.  That boy has so much energy that he usually never holds still for more than five mins tops.  Me and Zac just sat and watched in amazement how still he sat and and how good he was.  After sacrament I told my grandma she was hired to come each week with us so Kyson would listen in church. She just grinned and said to me, "There are three good things about today.  Number one, I made the choice to get up and get ready for church and got to partake of the sacrament, which is nice because I don't get it that much.  Number two, I got to hear Zac give a beautiful blessing and feel the spirit. Number three which is closely tied with number two is I got to snuggle with Kyson and he just made my day."  The smile on her face was so beautiful and it made me so happy that my son could bring her some joy for the day. 

 

Later that night my dad called me and told me that my grandma had told him on the way home the same thing she told me earlier, but she also told him something else that I didn't know even happened.  When the sacrament came around Kyson reached for the sacrament tray and got a cup out for grandma and gave it to her.  She was so impressed that a three year old boy would think of her.  She said most the time she wont take the water because she can't see very good and she is afraid to stick her finger in someone elses water, but today she didn't have to worry about it, Kyson took care of it for her.  I was so proud of my little man when I heard what he did.  I am so grateful for the joy that Kyson was able to bring to my grandma for a day.  I talked with my aunt today and she said that my grandma has been bragging all week to everyone about how amazed she is at the little act that Kyson did for her.  I love that Kyson has such a special place in his heart for the elderly and especially for his Great Grandma Rogers!! 

Boden's Blessing Day

Boden's blessing was yesterday.  I am so grateful for the priesthood in which Zac holds to be able to bless our children and our family. 

 

Boden really hasn't smiled much yet and I guess when Zac took him up in the circle as soon as everyone circled around them Zac looked down and Bo had a huge smile on his face.  I think it was exactly what Zac needed to help calm his nerves.  I love the spirit these little babies bring and how innocent and pure they are. 

 

Look how cute these boys are!! I still can't get over that I have four boys. I am so blessed!! 

 Boden's middle name "Lew" came from this man. My grandpa has a very special place in my heart!!

My nephew Jake, I love this little man.  He is such a ham and such a good boy.  He just melts my heart!!   

Rogers Minute to Win it

This past weekend we had a Rogers Minute-to-Win-it night.  It was so much fun.  We had yummy pizza, made amazing carmel apples, did a candy roll with the kids and played minute to win it. 

 

 

We wrapped the boys up in duct tape for the candy roll and Zac grabbed Tegan and stuck him to the wall and he stayed!!  It was hilarious, he was just hanging on our wall.  Apparently my dad bought some extra sticky duct tape. 

 

 

Whatever candy they got stuck to them they got to keep.

 

 

 

 My brother was amazing, he did this in 16 seconds.  I am pretty sure that's a minute to win it record.

 

 

 I was so impressed with this girl's mad skills to move around to keep the balloons in the air, she was amazing!!



Happy Halloween

We had such a fun Halloween.  We went and visited family, ate worms for dinner, and the best part. . .trick-or-treating. 

 Tegan as Batman, Beckem my little chunky monkey, Kyson as Robin, and Boden my little Doctor

 Justin as Bob Ross, Nicole and their girl as skeletons : ) and Jake the dragon.  Such a cute family!!

 Krystal and Harley even joined in on the fun

Tate as the bride of Frankenstein, Zander the mummy, Jorun the wolverine, Josh as Frankenstein, Izzy the ghost, and Abby as a vampire 

It was a fun Halloween!!