Day 5: Little Things

A writing memoir prompt series by Ann Dee Ellis that I found through the C. Jane Kendrick blog. I'll be trying my hand at these 8 minute memoirs because I miss writing, and I need something relatively productive to use my brainpower for that doesn't involve the ABCs or 123s. #momlife #poundit

That look on Rigg's face when he knows he's being naughty.

Reese asking for a hug lately, wrapping her arms tight around me and tickling my back while we hug.

Memories of watching Harry Potter movies with my siblings around Christmas time.

Treats from my visit teachers even when I completely forget about our appointments.

Riggs busting a move to Justin Timberlake.

Reese smiling so cute when I get excited about her pooping on the toilet. 

Riggs waddling around with his bottle before bedtime.

Halo top ice cream after kids are in bed.

Buns doing the dishes, even if was just because he was rectifying an argument.

A clean living room.

Making a fall and winter bucket list.

Holding Reese's hand.

Kissing Riggs juicy cheeks.  Those real big suction cup kisses. Like 20 of them.  In a row.

Protein hot chocolate.

Making plans for a magical summer.

Reading Harry Potter books in the fall.

My 3rd grade class I student taught.  Faith.  She was my favorite student.

Back tickles from Buns.

It really is the little things that make life so beautiful!

Day 2: I Don't Remember

A writing memoir prompt series by Ann Dee Ellis that I found through the C. Jane Kendrick blog. I'll be trying my hand at these 8 minute memoirs because I miss writing, and I need something relatively productive to use my brainpower for that doesn't involve the ABCs or 123s. #momlife #poundit

Doctors' check-ups for my babes. Ever. #reschedulethatbizz

Why I thought it would be a good idea to get pumpkin granola that I eat like candy.

Rigg's birth very well. So sad.

Friends' birthdays until Facebook alerts me the day of. *Sigh*

To wash my face before bed every night.

Sunscreen.

TWO water bottles for the kids. Only remember one. Never goes over well.

My belt for back squats.

What happened after the 3rd episode of Blacklist last night.

The no-bake chocolate peanut butter recipe anymore. Gonna have to look it up stat.

Why I volunteered to be a Primary substitute.

Why I try to take the kids out to do fun things. 

Why anyone wears jeans anymore. Ever. This is not a dramatization.

On Growth

“One of a mother’s greatest gifts is to teach her child that to grow is not to timidly sit on some safe shore at water’s edge and clumsily grab whatever happens to float by. Rather, it is to deliberately step into waters both calm and turbulent in order to wrestle great things to shore. And that lesson can be best taught by a mother who stands before her child dripping wet.” 

(Craig D. Loundsbrough in "Flecks of Gold on a Path of Stone: Simple Truths for Profound Living")

A few videos from the last couple months:

Favorite Things

Lots of snuggling goes on in the corner of this couch.  And climbing.  And wrestling.  And snacking.  And hitting.  And jumping.  And laughing.  And crying. Today I'm grateful for this couch that creates a platform for those memories.  Reese has been into Lilo & Stitch lately, so we usually watch half of it in the morning together when Riggs is taking his morning nap.  Then Riggs wakes up, and we get kicked off the couch because he's been claiming his territory in the corner of it lately. Seriously.  He hangs out in that corner all the time.  It's hilarious.

Favorite things of my babes lately:

//Reese// Lilo & Stitch, climbing to the top of playgrounds, racing Daddy, wrestling Riggs, strawberries, greek yogurt, coloring in her princess coloring book, counting everything, the number 8, sorting shapes, the song from Aladdin that the genie sings, Tiana from Princess and the frog, Lionhart children's book, and fish.

//Riggs// Super Simple Songs from youtube, dancing, jumping, wrestling Reese, climbing into Reese's bed, tickle time, peaches, oatmeal with peanut butter, building blocks, digging in the dirt, jumping on the couch, reading books, animal sounds (lion is his specialty), and chasing Reese.

Juicy & Sloppy

The uncertainty of where we'll be in a year is a little unsettling sometimes, but we're over here just trying to keep it real in the present.  Sometimes I can't believe I have two kids right now.  Two kids while Buns was going to school.  What were we thinking?  And then almost immediately I'm like, we weren't thinking!  But good thing we weren't thinking because then we wouldn't have these two beautiful babies at our fingertips.  These two precious little humans that make us laugh so hard.  These two crazy tinies that keep us on our toes and let us give them juicy, sloppy kisses.  Riggs especially is down for the juicy, sloppy kisses.  I'll take 'em while I can get 'em! Before long he'll be turning the other cheek to my big, fat momma kisses.  Or maybe he won't.  I hope he never stop letting me give him kisses.

Today we went swimming.  Even if we just go for a half hour, it's a great way for us to get out of the house and for them to get some energy out.  Reese especially loves the pool.  She's so independent these days.  She'll go down the slide over and over and over again.  Absolutely giddy about it each time.  I love that the littlest things make her so happy.  She also likes the buckets that fall from the top of the playground.  She'll watch them, waiting anxiously for them to splash on her head.  Cracks her up when she gets hit by the water!  Speaking of water, she also has been interested in the potty lately.  She's always telling me when she's going pee-pee and poo-poo.  And she's constantly irritated by her diapers.  What does this mean you ask?  Oh I think you know.

And this momma is NOT ready for it.

Rapunzel and Neglectful Parenting

Reese has been super into brushing my hair and her hair lately, and I LOVE IT.  Today she did it for like 10 minutes.  I feel like I'm cheating the system somehow.  This morning we watched our friends' kiddos while they went to the temple, and they have the sweetest little newborn baby girl.  It always blows my mind how little they start out!  Time flies by so fast!

Riggs was diggin' the animals at the library the other day.  That's about the only thing that keeps him at bay when we go.  All he wants to do is pull the books off shelves.  Honestly this age is the worst for the library.  I would avoid it at all costs.  Lol.  I try to get in and out when we go.  Grab some news books and out the door!  I actually lost Riggs in the library the day I took these pics.  I was all casually looking around at first, then I could feel the panic attack coming, then I starting running, then I told the librarian I lost my son, then she told the security guards, then like 5 moms starting helping me look, then I starting yelling RIGGS...in the library, then I was ugly crying, then 3 minutes later he comes waddling out of one of the children's library aisles, then I hugged him, then I darted out of the library, then I cursed all the Blue Bloods I'd been watching, and then we went home and all took a loooong nap. #momfail #neglectfulparenting #imstillrecoveringfromit 

Rigg's First Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Bubba! Our sweet chunk of handsomeness.  You make our world happier buddy boy.  You are sweet and easy-going and the happiest baby around.  Your smile is contagious.  You're the juiciest baby boy in all the land, I just want to squeeze you all the time!  We couldn't have asked for an easier going baby boy at this crazy time of life.  You love chasing balls around the house, outside, at the park, and basically anywhere you can!  You love to read peek-a-boo books and are loving animals lately.  You love doing animal sounds with momma.  You love when your daddy sing the genie song from Aladdin.  It cracks you up!  You are so ticklish and love chasing your big sis around.  You're the perfect tormentor haha.  You follow her around everywhere!  Your a good sport when she pushes you down or tickles you too hard.  You are the glue that holds this little family together these days.  Your happiness is the biggest blessing in our life right now, and we couldn't imagine life without you!

LOVE YOU BUBBA!!

Rigg's 1st Birthday Fiesta! from Ashton Barrett on Vimeo.

 

Riggs Recently {8 Month Edition}

You sweet, sweet thing you.  I was thinking about you a lot tonight baby boy.  How much of a joy you have been for your dad and I.  You were so meant to be in our family at this exact time, I can't even express it.  You are the perfect addition.  Your calm, sweet nature keeps us all level-headed and reminds us just how blessed we are when sometimes the chaos of life right now makes it easy to forget.  You smile like it's your job.  That smile engulfs the entire bottom half of your face.  It's hysterical!  We can't help but laugh and smile when you smile at us!  

You've been getting into everything lately.  You love anything electrical and off-limits.  You pull yourself up on just about anything.  You live on the outer rim of our living room right now, pulling yourself up on the TV stand, the chair, the couch, your sister's trampoline, the toy shelves.  You've gotten some bumps to the forehead, but you just keep goin' at it.  You fall, but keep getting up over and over again.  I feel like you'll always be this way.  I feel like you'll be my positive, happy boy who realizes that trip-ups are gonna happen, and that even when you fail, it's not the end of the world.  You'll know that all it means it that you put yourself out there.  It means you're trying and you're getting stronger.  Because everytime you pick yourself up you get stronger and wiser.  You learn more about yourself and you grow.  You are our little buddy.  I hope you always find a friend in your parents.  I hope you can always talk to me.  Sometimes you'll probably be embarrassed, nervous, or think I won't understand, but I hope you try anyways.  I will always love you and always listen to you. 

You are our sweet, angel boy.   Don't you ever forget how far sweetness will get you!  Sometimes you might feel like you have to prove something by being tough and hardcore, but in the end the kind ones are always the best guys.  You can be tough, but be sweet.  Be loving.  Be a good friend.  Be a good brother.  Love the people around you.  I have a feeling you'll be very personable and friendly.  People will be drawn to you because of your positive energy.  

I love you Riggs!

Goals for the New Year {2016 Edition}

I've been trying to set a time to write this post for a while, but every time I think about doing it, I hadn't really known what to write yet!  Usually I feel like I'm right on the bandwagon with all sorts of New Years Resolutions, and jump right into it.  This year felt a little different/  I had so many freaking things swimming around in my brain that I wanted to improve on, work on, and change, but I couldn't decide what was most important or what the best use of my time was.  I have a tendency to overload myself with a bunch of ideas and then only a select few remain on the bandwagon.  I always think of how much more time I could've focused on those select few goals if I would've taken the time to seriously think about what I wanted to focus on.  SO...

This year, I decided I wouldn't set my resolutions until I had thought through what I wanted to improve on personally.  What spaces needed to be filled in my heart and mind.

I wouldn't say this is a solid list or that I spent hours upon hours deciding on it haha, but when I thought about it this morning, it just felt so right!  Like I was finally able to put into words what I wanted to improve and focus on.  Our family theme for this year plays a huge role in my goals and our family goals, "Put Loving Arms Around Them." (Mosiah 18:21)

Buns and I both feel like we could do a little bit better to think of others before thinking of ourselves.  The "Me, Myself, and I" ship has docked too long in this household.  Especially with the last couple of weeks with very sick kiddos, tempers were quick and patience was nowhere to be found.  That's honestly what sparked the theme, but once we thought about it more, we decided it genuinely was something we wanted to improve on not just in our home, but in our relationships with friends and family.  We love our friends and family so much, but feel like we don't show just how much sometimes!  Just an overall effort to think more outside ourselves.  And then there's the more personal goals for me...

Goals as a Momma for Reese:

//Routine.//

//Get on the floor more to interact.//

//Smile, encourage, love, empower, and TEACH. Lots more of all these things.//

//ACT instead of REACT.//

//Never turn down when she reaches out to spend time together.  Whether that's reading, playing with her princesses, or playing hide and seek.//

Goals as a Momma for Riggs:

//Hold my lil boyfren more. #secondbabyprobs//

//Eye contact and laughter.//

//Baths.//

//Be in the moment.//

Goals as a Wifey for Buns:

//Think before you speak.//

//Small acts of love everyday.//

//Listen without thinking of what I want to say.  TRULY listen.//

//Weekly date nights. At least two of those weeks getting out of the house to do something fun!//

Goals as Ashton:

//Commitment.  To self.  To family.  To God.  To friends.//

//Things will not go perfectly.  That is OK.  Live and let be.//

//SERVICE. Put loving arms around them.//

♥, Me

Thanksgiving 2015

Oh my goodness gracious.  Where to begin.  I've actually been trying to find the time to write this post for a while.  I've had the pictures in a draft but kept wanting to find an adequate chunk of time with no interruptions to write down just all the little things that made Thanksgiving this year so wonderful.  But alas that perfect time has not come, so here I am just writing a quick little tidbit of what comes to mind, so that I can get this bizz done!  

This year my parents flew in from Tennessee to spend Thanksgiving here in Utah!  I was counting down the days for quite some time.  We spent a lot of the time up in Salt Lake City at Megan's place, and it was so fun.  The place was decorated for Christmas, and it was just magical.  Cozy.  Surrounded by people I love so much.  

We ate lots of good food, relaxed, snuggled, watched Christmas movies, drank hot chocolate, ate leftovers like 5 times, hanging, talking, and just enjoying everyone's company.  Todd and I really enjoyed ourselves, and we were grateful for a relaxing, beautiful Thanksgiving break.  

I am so grateful for family.  I take them for granted, but I truly have a wonderful family.  Nothing like it.