WARNING: vulnerable, raw, and candid post here. But it has a PURPOSE! So read on....I am writing this for one reason only, to share a bit of personal information in hopes of being able to reach out to others who have struggled similarly… Ok… For years I have struggled with weight issues, body image issues, obsessive thoughts, and have been a self proclaimed professional "diet-er". In fact in my late teens and early 20’s, my eating disorder was pretty severe with anorexia and bulimia… Since I was 16 years old, I have been on SOMETHING… I have done weight watchers, my fitness pal, juice diets, no carbs... etc... Well, I have decided that enough is enough. After years of restricting certain foods, way too many moments and hours and days spent thinking about calories or what the scale says, and binge after binge occurring after feeling guilty for eating some of my “forbidden foods”, I have decided that I want to build a healthier relationship with ALL types of foods, none being “off limits” AND I want to love my body for all it does for me… So, Lately, thanks to my awesome inspiring sister Bailee Morris , I have been delving in to an "intuitive eating" approach. Food is not BAD, food does not make you "bad"... there is no "cheating" its JUST FOOD. Now here’s the reason for writing this post…I have wanted to put together some sort of support group for any and all that want to learn more and learn together about this approach to life.... life with FOOD...This would NOT be a diet club, but more of a group to stop the madness of dieting and obsessive thoughts about ourselves etc... I do not by any means intend to offend anyone who is currently dieting or using any sort of tool to lose weight. I am simply trying to reach out to drum up some interest for a possible group that meets maybe once a month for support. Thoughts? Who would be interested? It would maybe be somewhat of a book club, in that the book "Intuitive Eating" would be our manual so to speak... If you are interested in participating, feel free to comment below, or if you would rather send me a private message please do. I really hope this will help any of you that have also had a similar struggle… lets help each other!

Wednesday Sept. 26, 2012

This week was full of things that I want to remember. Bowen and I laid together as we were putting the boys to bed, and we just loved on each other and told each other how much we love one another. It was so sweet. He expressed love for me, like a big boy, too big. Growing up too fast.

He was so proud of this project he got to do at big boy school... 



Ridge. Hmm, which binky tastes better? I love that I was able to catch his thought process about it, and then deciding to just stuff them both in his mouth. He is TALKING up a storm.
"I coming!" "Come on!" "Where are you?" etc etc!


Cole Man. So grown up. Here filling out his tithing slip. So excited about it. The other day he came home from school, with a note about how he is doing with his math facts, he is a bit behind, and I asked him about it, and he said, "Mom, math is just not one of my talents!" HA!






Here is us in Snowflake last weekend, right after we performed the concert version of "The Price of Freedom". What a blast, we all just piled in Jenee's van and laughed and discussed and just had a great time.

"Price of Freedom" at Hale. what an experience! More than just an amazing cast, amazing music, amazing orchestra... a feeling of patriotism, and gratitude and pride for America is what this show is all about for us... Love TPOF!

Thoughts from today...

Tonight I took these stinkers to the Chick Fil A Mother Son "Date Knight". It was a blast! The boys loved every little thing and were so delightful to be with. Luckily, Tyler got home early so we left Ridge at home with him.


Even had a horse and carriage ride around the parking lots afterward! So fun! (turned out it was my Uncle Larons business, DeWitt Stables, )

What the eye???

When we were almost done with the evening, I took Bowen's glow stick sword thing they gave us, and tried to break it up, you know, some glow sticks have to get kinda "broken" to start to glow... well it squirted in my eye and mouth, like quite a bit... my eye burned and watered for a good 15 minutes. It was a little bit of a scene in the restaurant. Leave it to me... the boys were so worried about me, it was kinda cute.. (not my eye,  the boys... )

The best part of the whole  night, was later when we were at Cole's soccer practice, I heard him say to his buddy, " I got to go on a date with my mom tonight". PRECIOUS! Warmed my heart.

On to some other things...
BOWEN

This is Bowen with our niece Libby. They are best buds. Today I asked him for a kiss, and I always comment and say something like, " now you know, no kissing until you are married right?" and he always says, " I'm gonna marry Libby."

COLE
I love the one on one time you can sometimes manage to get  with your kiddos. Today Bowen was at Grandma Dars for a bit, Ridge was napping, and so when Cole got home from school, we had some quime. ( that word is an inside joke with my sister Bailee, it means "quality time". ) He read to me for his 15 minute homework assignment. Bliss. Tonight as I was tucking him in and laying by him, ( he still loves for me to sing "by oh by oh baby by" to him each night) I said, "Cole, I Love you so much. I am so glad that I get to be your mommy." Cole: " I love you too Mom, I am so lucky to get to be your son!"


RIDGE

"Ridge, stop growing up SO FAST! " I swear he is growing up so much faster than the other two did...talking up a storm, and dancing, and hugging, giggling, I just want to say "STOP TIME!"
Love this guy.

His latest:
"Come on!"
"Mom, I hold you!"
"All Done!" (usually when we are changing his diaper.
"Sorry, Mom!"
"Yah!!"
"Twinkle Twinkle little star!"
" I love you, YOu love me..." ( yes thats the Barney song... can be annoying, yes, but he LOOVES it!

And lastly,
TYLER

My rock. My best friend. My lover. My therapist. He is amazing. I love him more every day.
This picture was taken as we walked in to the theater the other night where we are doing a two month  run of "The Price of Freedom".  I love tip toeing around and peeking through the curtain to watch him perform. It reminds me of those first few classes we had together where we would watch each other sing and I remember how one of the classes, he was singing, and I leaned over to my friend, Allyson Shumway VanPatten, and said, " Um, I wanna bear his children." Well I did. And here we are ten years later. Still Bliss.

Life. Is. Good.
Linsey

Mommy Moments...

So lately I have been thinking... I am GOING TO MISS THIS... by "this" I mean all those wonderful moments that being a mother bring... by "miss", I mean, its going to FLY by... already has, already is. So I am going to try to blog more, by way of documenting and journaling... so that I will be able to go back and remember these wonderful, and at times VERY trying, times...

A few thoughts on each of these little stinkers...First about Cole... Cole is  loving 2nd grade. He has a fantastic teacher, Lindsey Layton... he goes to school happy and he comes home happy. She expects the students' best, and she rewards their good behavior. She is calm, and the kids WANT to be good... so happy that he is in such a great classroom! Lately, Cole has been very inquisitive in his questions... asking me things like, "mom, why did you stop teaching school", and all kinds of other things...Yesterday, he learned about tithing in church. He COULD NOT WAIT to turn in his 1 cent that he owed. I took him back to church after we were home, after he filled out his tithing form, and he beamed all the way in and was beaming when he came out. We talked about how great he felt having done that...( Helping Jesus to build more Temples and churches, and helping people in need...) He loves being the center of attention, and can break dance like no other. He is very eager to start up Coles Cookies Bake sales...more info on that to come... love this kid!!




Next, Bowen Troy, what a joy!




Bowen is named after my dad, Troy Brinkerhoff, who passed away before Bowen was born. I love saying his full name, Bowen Troy as a tribute to my dad, but also because I love saying the "what a joy!" part with it. This is truly him, a JOY. The other day I said to him, "Bowen, why are you so cute?!" He said, "because I smile like this!", and this picture is the face he gave me. Bo just started pre k, or BIG BOY SCHOOL, as he calls it, ( NOT preschool...) and he LOVES it. He also has a great teacher Miss Janis, and a great aid, Miss Marcy. When I drop him off and sign him in, he says to me, "mom, its time for you to go now." We wondered if Bo was going to want to be in the spotlight as much as Cole does... well last night, we had our sunday school class over for cookies, and he performed over and over, singing " You are so beautiful" to the girls, and of course " Cause I'm a Guy"...The stinker is still SUCH a picky eater, and getting him to eat fruits and veggies is almost out of the question. But we have really tried to crack down and its getting better....I love seeing him play good with Cole, ( don't get me wrong they have plenty of brotherly spats....) when they play good, its so wonderful. He is also loving being a BIG brother to Ridge. So funny to see him talk "baby talk " to Ridge...This guy melts me!

Now on to Ridge. Or the O RIDGEinal., or RIGDE inator, or RIDGERator.....he has many fun nicknames...


(NOTE: FIRST OF ALL, I have to say I HATE that this cute picture of him was taken in the ever messy older boys room. I have officially given up on trying to keep it picked up... yes, we make them pick it up all the time, but it doesn't last long... I really try to keep the rest of the house clean, but this room... I ignore... mostly)

Ok, this boy... BOY! When did he turn into a BOY and not a baby anymore? UG! It goes so fast... too fast. This little stinker is talking up a storm. His favorite sayings are " NO more! " "All done!" " I want that!" and " Oh man!" he also loves calling and following and bugging his older brothers, " CO!! " and "BOOOWEN!". He has recently gone into the nursery at church, and surprisingly, he isn't diggin it... He has cried and cried most Sundays and one of us has had to go in there. It will get better I am sure... I love my little one on one time with him in the mornings while Bo and Cole are at school. He is so bummed when they leave, and can't wait for them to get home each day. Love this sweet BUSY boy so much!


Being a mom really is the best. The HARDEST, but best thing ever.

Bowen Turns 4!

Our sweet Bowen turned 4 years old today. Bowen Troy, what a joy! He is an absolute sweetheart, and we love being his parents. Here are some pictures from all his birthday festivities.

We had the best time celebrating Bo's birthday at his Birthday Carnival last Saturday. We had the funnest little carnival games... it was so great!

Here he is minutes after he woke up today, ( Tuesday April 17th ) on his actual birthday... still waking up, but happy its FINALLY here!

New green light "saver"!

Oh our dear sweet Bowen. Its so hard to put into words how much you mean to us! We love you so much, and are just honored and thrilled to be your mommy and daddy. Thank you for making each day so wonderful! Happy 4th Birthday Bo!
Love, Mommy and Daddy

Cole Man turns 7!

Cole turned the big 7 last week. He could hardly wait. Here are some pictures of all the festivities...

His new shirt to wear on his birthday...

His lego birthday party was so fun. Not sure who had more fun tho, him, or me planning and creating it all! Loved it.

When we were planning the party, I asked him if he wanted it to be an all boy party or invite girls too. He said, "this year, all boys, next year...girls too." Ha ha... What a great kid. We sure are so blessed to have him in our family. We love you so much Cole Man Maxson!

RIDGE TURNS ONE!

We had such a "ball " at Baby Ridge's First birthday party! He loves balls, so his invitation was in the shape of a ball, and said, "Come have a BALL with us..." We had lots of them for the kids to play with.

Any time I say to Tyler, "How is our baby a year already?" or "where did the time go?" He says, " it went to these two ( pointing to Cole and Bo) and to school, and practicum, and teaching, and church, and writing dissertations,

and workshop, and shows and to just... life! " So true right? It flies by, but when you look back at how MUCH happened in a year, its a lot.

This baby boy is so sweet. Such a fun personality. WE. ADORE. HIM.

Here are some fun pictures of the celebration.

We love you baby Ridge Tyler Maxson! So happy you came to live with us. You make us smile and laugh and you fill our world with joy!

Love,

Mommy, Daddy, Cole and Bowen