The BEST Mother's day gift in the world.

I love reading with my little goofy.

Tonight I read her "Goodnight Moon" as I do most nights before bed. When I was done, we said prayers, kissed and hugged, then I laid her down.

"Hannah turn read?" She asked. So I gave her the book in her crib and she opened it then read:

"Night moon. Night chairs. Bears. Night toy house. Night mouse. Comb Brush Mush, shhhhhhh."

Then she said "Ok, Mommy, you go." I took that to mean that she would read in her crib a little but I was free to go. So I kissed her again and said "I love you." She nodded her head. "Daddy loves you." She nodded again.

I turned to leave and she said "Mommy, precious."

I often call her "presh" short for precious and I tell her every day how precious she is to me. Today she told me I was precious to her.

Made. My. Life.

Tattling on my hubby

Adam has been working his tail off. Last semester he had 12 graduate level credits, this semester he has had 18. This is on top of his 50 hour work week and his calling in the Young Men Presidency. I've mentioned all this before.

Adam gets up each morning at 6am to be ready for work and to be able to spend time together as a family because we have to squeeze in the time while we can. Each night he goes to bed between 11pm and 1am in order to meet all his obligations. Last night he was so exhausted but swore he was going to stay up until he got this one last assignment done. I woke up at 1:20 am, alone in bed so I went downstairs to check on his progress.

He was watching House.

He was only about three minutes in and he'd just finished his assignment. He had gotten his second wind and decided that he needed a little alone time for himself. Of course that was cut short by his flabbergasted wife who couldn't understand why he would stay up ANOTHER HOUR just to have some alone time. He is working all day Saturday but I will try to give him some alone time at some point during the weekend because you don't stay up until 2:30 am to watch House. Not when you already stretch yourself too thin!

He came to bed :)

Dear Hannah

Dear Hannah,

I feel like you are growing up too fast before my eyes and I can't capture it adequately. It has been such a long time since I wrote about your milestones and growth that I feel like I've missed years of your life. You are ever the joy of my life and I am so proud to be your mother! I have felt so connected to my Heavenly Father each day as I try to raise you as He would want me to.

You have such a joy for life. You are very passionate! Every reaction of shock or wonder makes me giggle. You love to discover things, then with wide eyes and a mouth forming a circle you turn to me and say "Wow," or "ah MAN!" or "AWESOME!" Some of your favorite things include the park, (especially the swings, which used to terrify you, and the water)watching Disney movies, (especially Toy Story 3 with "Buzzyear and Woody" Tangled, and Bambi)riding bikes with Daddy, and reading books with Mommy.

Each Sunday is a struggle to get you to sit down with us. It is a battle we never win. Last week I meticulously picked your very favorite toys, snacks, and activities to bring with us to Sacrament meeting. It worked for about a minute, but then you saw your friends snacks, your friends toys, their books, and you fought tooth and nail to escape to Debbie McDonald's row so you could eat all the things that she packed for your friend Ian. When the sacrament is passed you quietly point to each tray and whisper "Jesus," because you know that we are supposed to be thinking about our Savior. You love nursery and have never been sad or afraid to go. You have lots of friends in nursery and your teachers tell me that you like to walk around with a phone on your ear, pushing the toy vacuum. I wonder where you get that from.

You play very well independently but you prefer if Mommy or Daddy is with you. Your favorite toys are Buzzyear and Woody, your shopping cart, your "tea party" set, any type of phone, and your car. You love to hear books, especially the "Push and Pop" books, and Where's Spot. Recently, you've enjoyed puppets and dumping all the toys out so you can sit in the "boat" (basket) where we keep the toys.

Daddy and I can't believe how sweet and tender you are. You always say "please" and "thank you" and "welcome" if you and a friend are getting in a fight, before it gets too escalated you take them in a hug and usually they are so surprised the fight is over and you go back to being friends. You love to play the game "Who Loves?" and it is so cute to hear who you are going to say. Yesterday I said "Who loves Daddy?" You said "Me! Who wuv Mommy, ME!" It made me feel so good. You love to talk to your family members on the phone (especially Grandma) and you frequently as for "kype" (skype) so you can see your family.

Every morning you wake up happy and wait in your crib until you are ready to get out. Then you say "MOOOOMMY!" Usually it is Daddy who comes to get you because he is already up and showered and then he brings you into bed with me. When I get you out of bed, the first thing that you request is a "diaper change?" and I happily oblige. You shower about every other day with either Mommy or Daddy and you love breakfast time. I do your hair each morning which can sometimes be a struggle if you aren't distracted by something. You struggle with your long hair and sometimes cry softly "hair" with the saddest expression in your voice that I struggle not to laugh when I turn to see the wind blowing your long strands in your eyes as you look so inconsolable to your fate. Such drama.

Night time is such a special time for the three of us. We all eat dinner together, then have family time. You are washed, your teeth are brushed and you get into jammies. Then we play in your room, read you books, sing songs, and crack up at your personality. At night our little ritual is for the three of us to hold each other while we say a prayer. You are so good to fold your arms and say "amen" at the end. Then Daddy lays you down and says goodnight beautiful. You say "Wheres my hug?" and Daddy bends down and gives you a tight hug and you say "Kiss?" so he gives you a big kiss. Then you say "Mommy's turn hug," and me and my big belly struggle to lean over and give you a tight hug and you ask "Mommy kiss?" Then as we leave we hear your very exaggerated snores pouring over the sides of your crib and Daddy and I hold each other outside your door because we cannot express the joy we feel at being your parent.

Some of my favorite things that you say include "top it" (stop it, it's fairly recent and it is pretty funny) "hands?" (the request you give after you have decided to be done with your food and you want clean hands. "Mommy, are you?" (when you ask where I am right after I tell you where I'm going) "Mommy/Daddy/Hannah turn" (you are big into taking turns). When you count to 13 I always crack up. Your ABC's are perfect. When you ask to watch a TV show on Netflix you ask for "Dooow" (Dora the Explorer) "Wurder Pets" (Wonder pets) and "Super Why" (Super Why, it is by far the clearest thing that you can say lol). Recently instead of saying just no you say "NO! Not!" You also vary between Thanks and Thank you and Yes and Yeah. Yesterday Daddy said something was dumb and you walked around saying "dumb dumb dumb dumb..." I guess we better watch out what we say.

We love you baby girl. We can't wait to see what else you have in store for us, and what antics you and your sister get up to :)

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

Letters to my Representatives

Today in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week I wrote to 63 representatives of my state (senators, legislators, etc) imploring them to provide proper funding for Nevada education. As I have written here before, Nevada is in dire need of proper funding as Education is taking the brunt of the economic crisis. Here is the letter I wrote:

Dear Representative,

I am writing you today to discuss my concerns with the way Governor Sandoval and the Nevada State Legislator have proposed funding education in Nevada. I have been educated in Nevada, employed in the Clark County school district along with my husband, and my daughters will shortly be entering the Nevada public school system.

I understand that in our difficult economic times, raising taxes is a difficult, unsavory decision; however, these dramatic cuts will have a far reaching effect on Nevada’s economy. By eliminating funding for education to levels that will increase class sizes, eliminate critical programs, and lay off between 1,500 and 5,000 employees in Southern Nevada alone, you are compromising the future of Nevada. You should be finding ways to increase funding for education in Nevada, not drastically slash the budget.

As a former educator, I believe that education is the foundation for a well rounded life. In 2010 Nevada ranked 50th in education. We should be focusing on improving education, rather than placing limits on it. To take away educational opportunities we are gambling on the future of our state socially, and economically as well.
It is vital in these times to build an educated work force and create well rounded citizens who can think critically in order to make vital decisions which will impact our state. I implore you to find a way to properly fund education in Nevada.

Sincerely,

Melissa Turney

Ok so my daughters entering CCSD "soon" is a little bit of a stretch...especially since one of them hasn't even entered earth properly...but the drastic budget cuts will affect the state for years to come so I thought it was ok :) I feel proud to have made my voice heard.