Saturday in May

Saturday was a glorious day! Like one of the best in a while.

We:

slept in until a whooping 8:00am and it was heavenly

scarfed cereal

ran to the soccer game, literally

Braxton scored 2 goals!!!

ran home.... and walked (it's all uphill!)

made fruit smoothies in our Ninja

played outside

jumped on the trampoline with the sprinkler

worked

mowed the lawn

friends stopped by

weed-eeded (sp?)

helped Emmett learn to potty in the plants

laid in the grass

made homemade salsa in our Ninja

ate lunch outside, picnic style

wore sunglasses

kids took nap

mom went to a beautiful baptism

dad changed the oil 

went to the most wonderful farm

ordered our baby chicks!!!

went to the farm store and bought more supplies for chicks

set up coop with the help of Uncle Brent

ate dinner.... way too late

put kids to bed

mom went on a walk with her sis

ate icecream

went to bed

It was a full day and we enjoyed every minute of it!

Why did I not have my camera at the soccer game to get a shot of my cute boy scoring....

probably because we left in a mad dash. Bummer!! He is a dang cute soccer player!

eye candy

Adelle is such a fun little girl to have around. I am so glad she is mine and that I get to hang out with her every day.

She is the town smile when we walk her brother to school. She waves and says "hi" to everyone along the way. If her toenails are freshly painted she stops and shows you. If she has a new dress and you like it she will spin and tell you all about it.

She is such a little person in such a miniature body.

This morning we were in Braxton's class, talking to his teachers (like we usually do every morning). As we went to leave another teacher walked in. She commented on how cute Adelle was with her dress and purse and....

She told Adelle, "wow, you look beautiful today," to which Adelle confidently responded, "thanks."

It was as though she already knew it. She didn't need confirmation from anyone but she was well mannered enough to say thank you for the compliment.

I love this little lady. She is a shining example to me of someone who knows who she is and knows how much she is loved. 

The best Prom date ever!

Jeff and I chaperoned the church's Spring Formal for the youth on Saturday. It was so much fun!!! I loved it. The decorations were amazing!! Like, my good friend was on the committee and she was at the church decorating for 3 days in a row, 10 hours each day. Super fancy!
We got this cute picture taken thanks to the super photographer they had ;)
The music was awesome. One of our buds who is leaving on his mission in a month in a half was the DJ and kept the party hopping.
The food was delicious. Tons of fruit, homemade danishes, pulled pork sliders, Doritos.... super yum at 11:00pm when I am usually hungry (if I am still awake).
Best of all I loved dancing with my husband. We spent most of the night eating and hanging out with the DJ and other chaperons, but we did dance the last slow song.

Our kids are awesome and my parents loved being here with them. They jumped on the trampoline for as long as it was light. Then they came in and Umpa gave them cheese popcorn and they watched a movie. The conversation apparently went something like this;
My mom: "do you guys usually have a snack before bed?"
Braxton, "No, we just go to bed hungry."
All 3 kids while eating their popcorn, "yum", " I yike dis!" "yum, yum...."

Cracked me up when my mom told me that story. We really don't do bedtime snacks but they don't go to bed hungry! They just go to bed a lot earlier, and that means usually dinner is still in the tum tum!
..............However, all 3 kids slept until after 9:00am on Sunday which is huge. They usually never sleep past 7:30am so maybe there is something to a bedtime snack? This will definetly be explored more come summer!

cutest thing ever

Every night, on our way to bed, Jeff and I walk in and stare at our kids while the sleep. They are so cute and we often find them in mysterious positions. 

Lately though, we have been finding them sound asleep, still loving on each other. It totally melts our hearts. The holding hands was first. We thought it was the cutest thing and had to take a picture.


Then a few nights ago we found them completely cuddling. Just precious!

Happy Mothers Day

Jeff and I, 7 years ago when my mom bought me this dress. The first maternity dress I ever owned. She bought it for me as a Mother's Day gift.

       My Gramy and all 5 of her children.

Me and my sweet kids today. Same dress, different angle... not as flattering as the first picture :)

20 weeks baby!

We had a wonderful weekend filled with sunshine and mom's requests being granted.

The requests started yesterday and went in this order:

1st request: please can I have poached eggs with toast..........check

(eating the same thing is so much better when someone else makes it)

2nd request: please can we all run to Braxton's soccer game and home...............check

(love running with Jeff so that he can push the stroller and not me!)

3rd request: please put the kids down for nap so I can finish weeding the front flower bed...........check

(love weeding my flower beds because they look so nice afterwards)

4th request: please make dinner..................check

(Jeff is getting really amazing at this cooking dinner thing!)

5th request: please lay on the couch and watch The Vow with me!

(ok, I didn't really ask for this but it happened and it was good)

I was showered with sweet cards from my husband and kids. Pretty pictures and lots of hearts.

Braxton made me really special cards this year that he wrote in himself. One of them said, "my mom  has green eyes, brown hair, and is 91 years old."

I am not sure about the number 91???? I have since been drilling him on my age.

The next one said, "my mom makes me good dinners." 

This I thought was really sweet and didn't surprise me. Braxton is a really good eater and is always thanking me for good meals to help him be strong.

Another said, "my mom likes to play the piano and helps me read the scriptures."

This one was also a bit surprising. I am trying to teach myself the piano, yes, but I can't say I enjoy it, nor do I work very hard at it. There are hundreds of other things I would rather do, and usually do do, instead... like help Braxton read his scriptures, which I have been doing :)

Last week I found Braxton up on his bed after school. I looked up to ask him what he was doing and he was laying there reading his scriptures. He is such a sweet boy! I am grateful for his desire to learn the Gospel.

I hope all of you mothers enjoyed a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. I am grateful for the mothers in my life who I continually learn from.

the difference of 7 years

Yesterday was beautiful. The sun shone and was calling my name. I wanted to go out and lay in it. I wanted to rest and relax and close my eyes and let the sun beat on my face. Seven years ago, that's what I would have done.... maybe, if I wasn't working or at school.
Instead, yesterday, my growing belly and I played a wild ferocious game of soccer with my 6 year old son. The one I would have been pregnant with back in May all those years ago. I ran around my backyard chasing him and the ball. I even scored a few times and at one point tied the game that I ended up losing.
At first I was bummed out. I just wanted to rest.  The other kids were napping and I wanted a break. Then I was thankful. Perspective is a wonderful thing.
I am thankful to be a mother. I am thankful for early release days and the one on one time it gives me with my oldest. I am thankful for strong, healthy children who can run and play wildly in the backyard. I am thankful for the many sunny days I will get to spend with them this summer...I will definetly get some basking in their somewhere!

The Happy Mormon Mom

I randomly found this article today while searching the internet in preparation for the lesson I am teaching on Sunday. The article has nothing to do with my lesson but I found it really interesting and a good read.
It's written by a non-Christian, highly educated, single lady who is addicted to reading Mormon blogs.
Who knew?



And with that, last night at Relief Society a friend of mine shared this poem. I loved it and I want to have it hanging somewhere in my home. The author is unknown.

Excuse This House

Some houses try to hide the fact
That children shelter there.
Ours boasts of it quite openly,
The signs are every where.

For smears are on the windows,
Little smudges on the doors;
I should apologize I guess
For toys strewn on the floor.

But I sat down with the children
And we played and laughed and read,
And if the doorbell doesn't shine,
Their eyes will shine instead.

For when at times I'm forced to
Choose the one job or the other,
I want to be a housewife . . .
But first I'll be a mother.

Sissy Says

Adelle: "Mom, when I grow up and when I'm a mommy, I am going to be the best mommy to my kids!"
Me: "Yes you are sis. Your kids are going to really love you. How are you going to be the best mommy?"
Adelle: "I am going to let my kids watch movies all day!"

I bet Emmett and Braxton wish Adelle was their mommy!

The most prettiest cake I ever made

My friends birthday was today so some of us got together and partied it up. I made this lovely cake, sorry the picture is so dark. It was tasty but more than that it was really pretty. I was proud of myself. I have never really focused on appearance when I've baked but.... I may be hooked!

All I did was make a chocolate cake. I used a recipe from my Betty Crocker Cook Book and subbed honey for sugar.
I cooked the cake in two round pans.
I put one layer of cake on the bottom.
Then one layer of sliced fresh strawberries.
Then another chocolate cake layer.
Then homemade whipped cream on top.
Some dark chocolate shavings.
And of course, the favorite of the kids, chocolate covered strawberries.
Yum!

Happy Birthday Jenny!

"Amen"

Yesterday morning started at 6:30am when the alarm clock rang. There was no ignoring it. No turning over. No snuggling. It was time to get up. My brother, and Jeff's new "employee" would be at our house in 15 minutes and we had a lot to do before then.
Jeff and I jumped up (well, that is an exaggeration) and out of bed. I hit the kitchen and started boiling water for poached eggs. Jeff got our toothbrushes ready and got himself dressed. Mid breakfast our unlocked door opens and in steps my brother. He's ready. We aren't quite. Meanwhile Braxton wakes up and starts working on some homework. I grab some stuff for Jeff's lunch and fill his water bottle. He grabs his big black book with all the important stuff and kisses me goodbye. Wow. All in a matter of about 20 minutes.
Adelle wakes up next and then Emmett. We all sit on the couch for a few minutes under the blanket until the heat finally fills the room and we can get up and start moving. Braxton and Adelle make their own toast, something they pride themselves on lately, and they make one for Emmett. We all eat together and talk about the day. Then we all get dressed and ready.
I am always the last one ready. I like to hang out and be comfy and get everyone else ready and then, go get ready. But it works, it takes me about 5 minutes. The kids are all looking for rain boots out in the garage, I grab my bag and cell phone and start walking towards the door only to realize that I hadn't said my morning prayers. I usually kneel right on my bed before I get out of it but this morning that did not happen. I was in too much of a hurry. So I stopped in my tracks and knelt.
I started to pray outloud and thank Heavenly Father for my blessings. In the background I heard the garage door open and all of my kids stepped inside and around the corner where they saw me, praying. The noise stopped. It was silent, except for my voice of course. I continued with my prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for each of my children, individually. I thanked Him for my good husband and for how hard he works for me and our family. I went on and on and when I was done I said Amen, only to hear 3 other little voices whisper "Amen." I looked up to see all 3 of my kids standing, in a row, arms folded in prayer. It was one of those moments that I want to seal up forever.
It made me grateful for the time I took to do such a simple gesture. I have forgotten to pray in my bed before and have settled for a silent prayer in the car on my way out or and afternoon prayer while my kids are asleep. But for some reason, yesterday, I stopped and prayed out loud, for all in the house to see, and I think we were all blessed because of it. I love my little ones so much. They are so reverent and meek and I am so happy that they heard me thanking my Heavenly Father for them.