We Are a Happy Family

I entitled the post as I did because the kids say this lately---"We are a happy family". I think they learned the song at church, but it got me to thinking. So, two weeks ago, in Family Home Evening, we talked about what a happy family is. I think we'd talked about it before, but it's always so fun to hear their thoughts. It really gave me a chance to think about what is most important. I love those reminders because they always make all the insignificant garbage disappear.

I mean, happiness is profound. There's nothing silly or light or unimportant about it. We all know that we cannot be happy every second of every day because sometimes life is hard. However, having a happy core, knowing that you can come back to that as a default, is huge. When the kids talk about having a happy family, I feel even happier and so incredibly grateful that they feel that way. What could make a parent happier than to know that their kids consider their family to be happy?

Today, I'm grateful for a happy family. And millions of other things, yes. But today, I am focusing on this one thing. And what about you? Today, what are you grateful for?


The kids love feeding Baby Alex.

Our sweet, smiling 4-year-old

It's not clear in the picture, but Abraham is holding his Book of Mormon. He had told Annabelle they were going to read together. Notice how she's sitting attentively, ready to learn :)

She draws this same picture of "William" about once a week. She's very proud of her work.

She is pointing out that her Daddy has a big smile. That's how she always draws him too!

Alexander's latest tricks...He knows he is entertaining us and really hams it up

Another of his famous tricks!

Enjoy Some Random Pics

Alexander taking a stroll

Abraham still drilling us on those letters!

Annabelle being...Annabelle

She was excited to wear this dress to school.

Auntie Barb got Alex this tractor for Christmas and he loves it.

Our incredible, awesome, extraordinary missionaries!

Big brother feeding little guy some good 'ol mac n' cheese

TAG CATCH UP!!

I love this concept of tagging each other. We put a thought or specific question out there and invite our friends to respond. I’ve been tagged about at least 3 topics (well, one wasn’t an official tag but rather a good question posed by Tara) and it’s time to catch up! So, here you have it.

Tag Number 1: What’s For Dinner?
I think it was Bethany A. and maybe Wendy F. who asked about dinner. I was asked to simply list what my family ate for dinner the previous week. Here you go:

Monday: tilapia with white rice and green beans
Tuesday: pork/pepper/potato stir-fry dish with white rice
Wednesday: lotus root, carrot, celery soup thing with, you guessed it, white rice :)
Thursday: Papa Murphy’s pizza
Friday: salmon, asparagus, white rice
Saturday: kids had mac n’ cheese. We had noodles.
Sunday: sweet and sour chicken, tofu/tomato/spinach with white rice

Lately I’ve been pretty good about cooking and adding a fruit, even if it’s canned peaches, with dinner as well. Some nights, though, if William’s working late, I’ll offer up dino-nuggets, cheese sticks, and waffles. We take it one day at a time around here and “success” takes on a different meaning, depending on the day!

Tag Number 2: What’s Your Idea of Fun?
This was a hard one. I’ve struggled with some depression-related issues this year and so sometimes what would have otherwise been fun, hasn’t necessarily been so. I can only say that my happiest moments are those with William and the kids---eating dinner, playing, relaxing, going for a drive, and really talking with the kids or listening to them talk to each other.

I also have tons of fun with my sisters and niece, especially reminiscing about things only family members can understand. We always end up getting pretty crazy (usually in a good way) when we get together. All our goofiness comes out and that is really therapeutic!

I really like having fun girl time with good friends. I love to curl up on the couch and just chat with them, look at silly magazines, talk about the superficial and the deep, and, of course, have a diet coke :)

Sometimes my most fun moments are very simple ones. I’ll give you an example. For the past couple days, the kids and I have pretended to be a marching band. We put on some loud music, get out all the instruments, and march around the house. We take turns being the leader and the leader gets to decide what “moves” we do, whether we play our instruments loudly or softly, etc. We laugh our heads off---even the baby gets into it. I’ve also found it to be good cardio for me!
William and I have fun when we rent a movie, make some popcorn, and snuggle up on the couch. Kids are in bed, house is relatively in order, and we just kick back and chill.

Saturdays with no plans are also fun. I enjoy having a leisurely breakfast, taking everything slowly, maybe reading something while I’m still in my pajamas. I love spontaneous talks with William and letting the kids sort of lead us into their play world. Taking the day as it comes is relaxing and knowing the day is wide open is actually fun for me. I think it’s because normally I’m a pretty scheduled person (as you’ve seen in my previous post about daily routines) and so I appreciate free time to the fullest.

I could go on, but hopefully this gives you an idea of what’s fun for me!

Tag Number 3: What Renews You?

This was posted by Tara and I love the question.

Funny you should ask, but one thing is BYU’s annual Women’s Conference! I’ve only been to it twice but both times were pure renewal on so many levels.

Church meetings, and particularly Relief Society, used to really renew me. With small kids---make that very active small kids---it’s hard. But I look forward to a time when I can soak it all in again. In the meantime, I catch what I can.

Bubble baths and fun magazines. I can’t read anything deep in the tub. Superficial reading is required here.

Well, maybe this is obvious, but…how can I word this delicately…intimacy with my hubby. That can be quite renewing. Shutting up now.

Alone time. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t mind going to a movie alone. I also enjoy walking around a bookstore, or even going for a drive. With my three sweet kiddos, sometimes what I crave more than anything is just to be in this house alone---free to putter, free to enjoy the quiet. I love that.

Well, I’m caught up on my tags, I think. But, I liked this question posed by Tara so…if you like the question and wouldn’t mind sharing---consider yourselves TAGGED!!!

More Fun Memories From China 2006

In light of my recent post about Nai Nai's attempt to get a visa, I thought I would post a few pics of her ,and some of William's other family members in China. We spent three months there during the summer of 2006 and we hope that someday we can make more regular visits. Of course, we also hope they will be able to visit us here. Anyway, these are some fun memories and if you're interested in more pics from that trip, look under my older posts because I posted several China pics in another post, as well. Enjoy!

Nai Nai was teaching Abraham how to make jiao zi (pot stickers) and he decided to take matters into his own hands.

If you look closely, you'll see that he is holding a chicken nugget and she is holding a cheeseburger. We definitely "converted" her (at least in the fast food area). The kids and I would convince her to go to McDonald's more often than I care to admit here.

See any resemblance here? And who is that cute, bald little girl?!

Abraham gets introduced to mah zhong with several of William's aunts.

This is us with William's parents, his older brother, wife, and their daughter.

Here is Annabelle with her Ye Ye, visiting one of the uncles in the countryside.

Three generations of Qians. Could Ye Ye be any prouder?

Nai Nai, her Mother (who passed away last year) and me.

Nai Nai holding the rarely-sleeping boy.