My Eldest Niece -

Natalie - how are you 18? 

I'm not ready for you to be an adult yet.

When you were first born - oh how I loved you.

You're stick straight hair, chub-i-fied everything, endearing personality - was so very precious to me.

And still is.

You're going to be an awesome grown up Nannie.

Graduation Day Photo Shoot:

With her spectacular Mama

Shannon and I posing in front of the vast collection of kitchen gadgets we gifted to her and her survival.
Why did we pose in front of it - that's kind of weird.

I think she's happy.
No, she was - I thinks she just thinks her aunts are crazy.

The card we bestowed upon her  -

or.... happy graduation.

I love ya!

Random Catch Up Photos

These funny boys decided to dress up one day and act like our servants. It was kind of great.

Little C and The Beloved playing a little game of catch

Ruckus surfing on the a/c unit

Little C crossing over into 11 year old scouts

Look at that wrist. Makes me proud Little Lou.

One day while driving I realized I was copying my mom's keen fashion sense -
turtle neck and overly large awkward sun glasses.
It made me laugh and miss her.

Moo wearing my earrings

"Mom, If Only you Had Four Arms...

Then you could feed the baby and make me lunch at the same time."

Hmmm.....

four arms.

I could get a lot done with four arms.

I started to day dream about life with double the upper body appendages.

Chore time cut in half.

Cooking dinner - cut in half.

Could I possibly cook dinner and do dishes at the same time?

Work out and brush my teeth  - AT THE SAME TIME.

I've always wanted somebody to brush my teeth for me.

It bugs me a bit to have to do that twice a day. 

(okay, I lied. Once a day.)

A second set of arms may make me less loathsome toward that necessity.

So many options....

restraining kids during sacrament meeting,

 being an amazing pianist,

drummer,

(talents I don't have now but maybe with four arms would desire to develop?)

I could cuddle more kiddos at the same time...

squeezing them lovingly in my abundance of arms. -

The possibilities were endlessly rolling in.

But maybe,

 multitasking isn't always wise.

It's possible that my busy arms would be a distraction from life. 

From loving. Enjoying. Serving.

I can see my brain (unfortunately) going a direction like this -

Wow, that person acts like they need help but really... they still have two arms available. Just hanging there, doing nothing. Hmmmm.... maybe someone needs to develop a better work ethic? Too bad.

Or maybe I wouldn't humble myself and ask for help - because for goodness sake -I have FOUR arms. I can should be able to do anything by myself. 

Constant anxiety attack.

And what if I didn't develop all of those glorious talents a quad armed person should?

The guilt.

The guilt my friends.

I decided my two arms are perfect. Simply perfect.

(not that I really had other options in life :)

And now you're prepared with some background knowledge on how to respond mentally when your toddler makes the four armed suggestion. Relief eh?

Then you can softly pull them in, using those two lovely arms, and say....

something really great and poetic that I couldn't for the life of me come up with. :)

Going Green.... Maybe Pink

For about a month I had a hot pink hair strip glued into my hair. (I know you're loving this mom :)

It was kind of fun to change things up for a bit and it was easy to conceal if necessary.

After I had, had enough of this vibrant hair color in my life I decided to try it out on my offspring. Some dug it, others humored me...and some definitely hated it.

Father's Day and The Beloved's B-day

He called me one day and said, "Thanks for my Father's Day present" - I hadn't given him one yet - but he felt like I desired to buy him a smoker, so he purchased it himself and than called sharing his gratitude. That guy. :)



I did however buy him a collage of his children. Which I know he loves almost as much as his smoker.

Modeling his bow tie he requested/was gifted for Father's Day.

 

Onto the Birthday -

The Beloved wanted vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Love the simplicity.

posing in front of his gifts with all his chillens'

Every b-day the kids each want a turn blowing out candles after the initial candles have been blown out by the bday person. This year we sang to The Beloved and then I gave each kid a cupcake with a candle, we sang Happy B-day again, and then we all blew out our candles together. It was kind of a fun new thing.

Oh The Beloved -

yes this year you get a letter too.

Why the pony tail my friend? :)

Why?

But that's what I kind of dig about you dog. People ask why you grew your hair out - simple answer - he wanted too. No specific reason. Just something to do.

I think it wasn't premeditated even - just one day you realized it was getting longer and you thought you'd go with it.

You're a funny human.

Remember that one time we were babysitting in the nursery during a relief society meeting and we didn't know one of the little kids names (he didn't know it either) so you renamed him Walter? And everyone  began referring to him as such and the amazing thing is - he responded.

They'd be like - Hey Walter.

And he'd reply - yes.

I think I was crying with laughter the whole evening.

Every day I can count on you for a laugh or some type of teasing.

Usually directed at yours truly. It's a good thing I'm the baby of my family and was trained for this because oh my word friend, you tease.

But I like our playful relationship.

What I don't like is the Tank Game.

(Mike, I know you read this blog.

Hate the Tank Game. You're grounded for the introduction.:)

What I do like is you and Little C bonding over the Tank game.

I think it's cute how he'll call you randomly throughout the day and you'll walk him through whatever military issue he is having.

My little fake soldiers. It's almost adorable.

Mostly though Jed  - I just wanted to tell you I love your guts. I don't want to be too overly sentimental because there are some who may throw up in their mouths. But truly, thanks for being my favorite pal for eternity.

Love you.

 

 

 

Spiritual Giant... that goes on and on and on.....

One night for Family Home Evening we had a little testimony meeting.

The Beloved began, then Ruckus, Moo, Me, Little C and finally Lou.

Lou was overcome with emotion from the very beginning of FHE and when he stood up to share his testimony the flood gates opened wide.

After about 20 minutes of baring his soul he said something like -

I am so thankful for my mom and dad and when they comfort me when I am sad.

Ruckus right on cue said - Um, I think you should comfort him right now.

:)

Instead of the parents taking over, Lou's three brothers went up and encircled him with love.

But after another twenty minutes of testifying they were ready for Lou's sermon to be done. 

Oh my gosh, so funny and tender. My little six year old is a spiritual giant and I love his big heart.

The Beloved and I told him kindly to wrap it up and his message eventually came to a close.

Later in the evening when we thought all of the kids were asleep, Lou tip toed up the stairs telling The Beloved and I there were just a few more things he'd like to share. :)

.... and 30 minutes later....

his testimony complete, he finally went to bed.

Easter 2014

Easter photo of the offspring - 

Little C and The Baby

Ruckus and The Baby

I'm the party pooper who spilled the beans about the Easter Bunny to my kiddos a LONG time ago. I just don't have it in me to falsify another holiday with an artificial creation that covers up something so important and dear - our Savior. The Atonement. 
(p.s. don't fret, kids still get Easter baskets. Never fear)
If we had a re-do at life I'd be smarter though and speak to The Beloved about this first.... because I didn't and... let's just say we rehash it a bit every year. Whoopsy. Sorry dog.
This year was a really special Easter. 
Individually we each chose a story of Jesus and took turns throughout the week sharing a moment of His life.
So cool and meaningful.
The Beloved shared the story of His resurrection and then later when He visited the Americas.
Little C - when He taught as a young boy.
Lou - The Crucifixion and a bit of the Atonement.
Ruckus - His baptism.
Moo - His birth.
To wrap it up I made a name tag for everyone with a list of some of their spiritual gifts and talents.
I wanted them to be reminded of the knowledge that Christ knows each of us individually and perfectly.
That in those moments when He may have felt alone -
when His apostles fell asleep,
His suffering in Gethsemane,
being betrayed by a close friend, His disciple, someone He loved -
when He was ridiculed and reviled,
 His physical agony felt upon the cross-
He was thinking of 
Us. 
He was thinking of Me, The Beloved, Little C, Lou, Ruckus, Moo,
The Baby and You.
He was alone and thought of us. 
He knew we were counting on Him - that we would come to Earth one day to experience life and He wanted us to find the greatest joy possible -
And in order for this to be accomplished we needed Him.
Such outstanding love is so comforting and unfathomable to me at the same time.
So, because He's perfect, He followed through with the plan.
He died for us and then miraculously rose again. 
He's so much cooler than the Easter Bunny  - 
any freaking day.


p.p.s. Just so you're not lead astray -
we're trying to take advantage of those gospel teaching moments -
but it doesn't mean we're perfect and it definitely doesn't mean that our 3 year old didn't throw a punch at Ruckus during sacrament meeting today.
Always a work in progress my friend.
Always.