Yet another reason I love Spring

Fresh berries. This was so yummy it is all I wanted to eat for dinner. The baby loved the freshness just as much as the rest of us seemed to.
Today I met with the Dr to discuss my test results. On paper nothing is wrong with me. I should feel relieved but I don't. I was hoping that they would find something so that they could fix me. Now he is going to send me to a specialist. He thinks I might simply have IBS which is a life long problem that can only be helped threw lowering stress and sticking to the same strict vegan diet I already adhere to. At least it is not serious.

Starting fresh

My sister-in-law Sarah gave me this idea for helping to stop some of the fights that go on in my house. The kids are each assigned a number. With that number is assigned jobs, a seat at the table, a seat in the car, who showers in what order, who plays piano first,and also a special privilege. I don't know why I never thought of this. So far it seems to be working great. Joshua is having the hardest time with it but when I help him to see that next week he gets A b or C it seems to really help.

How sad is this?

Can you see the little bumps on his tongue? He was so grumpy yesterday and I thought maybe he had an ear infection. Guess I was wrong, hand foot mouth disease instead. Not really a big deal just a pain and to bad the kids spring break starts in a couple days and we can't really go anywhere. We will figure it out and make it work some how.

Baby Elle

What a sweetheart this little girl is. Look at all that hair. She was blessed today by her father(Ryan's brother Sean.) It was so awesome to see all the men that surrounded her. It gave me chills. What a wonderful family I belong to.

Car show on the beach

Again a wonderful family day. I was pretty excited at the prospect of running a 16 miler along this beach. It is mostly flat and very pretty. But on my Wednesday run I did something to my knee and by Tuesday I was not able to run more then a mile. So I decided to try to give it time to heal and I did the elliptical for 3 hours in the gym at the hotel. Run took the kids out for breakfast and saw a few of the cars. By the time I got back and showered they had many more cars so we took a family stroll to check it out.
Ryan loves the idea of a restored vw bus. He has talked about it since we first met so it is always fun to see them all decked out! After this we enjoyed a nice lunch on the beach then headed home. Once we got home we saw How To Train a Dragon. I didn't really want to see it but I was pleasantly surprised. It was super cute and Jacob lasted longer then he normally does.

Cousins

Aunt Sarah came brought her kids to the hotel as well. We enjoyed a nice breezy day at the beach. Thanks to Sarah being very prepared we had snacks, towels, toys. The kids all got along really well and it was such a nice mellow day. Lots of relaxing.
From what I heard Ryan did really well on his presentation. Wish I could have seen it. When he was done for the day we walked around the stores and found a wonderful Hawaiian restaurant. Then we all crashed back at the hotel. Oh so tired we all were.

Don't you love when hotals make mistakes?

I know my kids sure do. Ryan got put in a handicap room and since he complained they upgraded him to a two bed suite. It had a fold out couch as well. So instead of just heading home today I decided to get the kids and head back. It was a great spontaneous vacation. Very little planning and the kids were so excited when I told them.
They had back to school night before we could leave but that was fun. The kids loved showing off their teachers, rooms, and school work. I think they each would have spent the whole night in just their room had I let them. It was a good kid/mommy day. Love these little people.

Huntington beach

For work Ryan got to help with a conference at this wonderful hotel we love in Huntington beach. We were blessed to have Ryan's brother watch the kids so I could come up for the night. It was fun to enjoy dinner with all the business people but then to get him all to my self. We walked down the street and had frozen yogurt by the fireside. We also did a little shopping (love this yellow shirt we found at the guess store right below the hotel) I love him tons and love spending one on one time with this hottie man I get to call my husband.

Moving up

Tonight Jared received his Tenderfoot, first class, and second class, plus 8 merit badges and his totem chip. He has done this all on his own. I refuse to earn anything "for" him. I am noticing how proud he feels when he accomplishes this. He is looking forward to working towards his eagle project. He is such a hard worker and he really can obtain anything he wants.

Today he was telling me about the book, Think and Grow Rich and all the good stuff he is learning from it. One of them being how he can achieve anything he really wants.

Sweet moments

When Ryan came home from work today he started to play music and took turns dancing with his children. Emma loves her daddy so much and her face always seems to light up when they share special moments. I am so blessed to get to enjoy her and her happy beautiful spirit in my home.

Bop it

This was another gift that Sarah got at her party. We have all been playing it. I love it. Don't know why it is so addictive but it really is. I think someone was playing this for most of the day. Even Josh tried it out several times.

Today was also a big day for me because I feel like I am finally learning how to better teach my kids at church. I love these kids and I now can say I love the old testament and the lessons that are to be learned in their pages. I get excited to teach them what I have learned and I love to watch them receive what I have to offer.

PARTY

For Sarah's birthday she decided to invite her friends to an ice skating party. It was great for me because I had very little to plan. Some cute goodie bags filled with candy necklaces, glow in the dark bracelets, ice cubes gum, and tall socks to use under their skates to help with blisters. Most of the girls had a great time even if they couldn't really figure out how to get off the wall.

Sarah was so spoiled buy her friends. She received several gift cards to both Barnes and Nobles and target, cute clothes and accessories, some crafts, and of course candy. She was so tired but the end of the day she just sort of crashed.

Before her party we had a family bday party at her Aunt Sarah's house down by the beach. I was able to get my long run in along the beach before hand and it was so nice. I am up to 14 miles. I do love running.

I love spring

I bought a plant for Sarah two years ago when she was really big into growing anything. Surprising to us all it has survived as a simple little plant never blooming any flowers until this week. Out popped this beautiful orchid. I guess they only flower every other year. I guess it would seem that the most beautiful things require patience and tender love. Life is so much that way. You don't recognize how much you are growing until one day something wonderful and special blooms out and you can then see how all the work really was worth it.

Happy 10th birthday Sarah Bearah

I think Sarah had a wonderful day. She loved going to school and handing out goodie bags to her class. Then we took her out to dinner to Macaroni grill. We had such a good time just being together and laughing. It was a very happy evening as we celebrated this wonderful little girl. I know she is growing up but she will always be my little girl. Sarah was a little embarrassed when we all sang to her. I guess we are also hitting the age of embarrassment. That makes my job as the mother so much more fun. Hehe. I really am so blessed to be her mother. She is strong and smart and beautiful. Her spirit knows what it wants and won't allow anyone to push her around.
I sure love you girlie!

Todd

Todd was able to go to the temple for the first time in prep for his mission tonight. I love the feeling of being there surrounded by family. Smiles and hugs being shared freely as we see each other in this holy place. I guess that is what I imagine forever to be like. Peace and harmony amidst the people you love and hold dear.

I love the mind of this little man

Joseph decided he was going to write out the rules of our household and display it for everyone to read. He wanted it rolled up like a scroll before he decided to display it. He is very fair and loves to make sure things are just so. He is so easy going most of the times but if you offend one of his rules he will let you know.

Sundae Monday

I forgot to buy ice cream for sundaes yesterday so we got to enjoy them today. It was a really good FHE treat. I love that the kids enjoy family time. Joshua loves to pick out silly songs to sing and Jacob is even getting involved. I love my life so much right now. I just want to freeze time.

I love home cooking

This is one of my favorite meals. Vegan chili with sweet potatoes. The kids loved it as well and ate it all up. It's days like today that I don't mind being vegan.

This was so much fun

Some friends of ours invited us to a Toga party. (ok not really - it was a murder party but I thought toga party sounded fun) I have always wanted to go to a murder mystery party and who knew, I ended up being the killer. I love being with my husband. He always makes me laugh and tonight was no different. We had a blast. Thanks friends!!

We were both so happy to see eachother.

I have never left Jacob and I was so happy to be back with him. I missed him so very much and seeing him again Brought happy tears. While I was gone he really figured out the walking thing and it surprised me how much better he was walking around. Gone are the days of the mogul crawl.

How wonderful are these people?

I am sad the quality of this picture is not better but I love it anyway. This is my wonderful mom and her wonderful brother. We never got to be around them much growing up but I always loved to visit with My Uncle Bruce and Aunt Carol. They are such positive people and you can't help but smile when in their presence.

My cousins wedding ceremony was absolutely amazing. While in the temple I felt the presence of my great grandmother Mary Elizabeth. I don't know enough about her but I have always felt like I would like her. That in some way She would understand. Maybe our lives were similar. I am not sure. I plan to research her and find out more. I know she had 10 children and so she must have understood what a full house feels like.

We also went to the museum and we did find several pictures. They will be sent to us via disc and I can't wait to print them and then learn more about the beautiful people that make up my family tree.

My family

I flew up to SLC to join my parents for my cousins wedding. While in the hotel room tonight we looked at my family history. Tomorrow after the wedding we plan to visit a museum that holds pictures of my family. We are hopeful that we will be able to get several pictures. Family history excites me and when I don't have small people at home I want to learn more about my family and where I came from and what helped to make up who I am today. It is so nice to be with my parents and get to spend one on one time with them.

Remind me why I buy toys?

I was getting the kids ready for bed when Joshua goes missing. We look for him and then I hear him say in a quiet voice, "I'm in here." He had a box on top of him and he was hidden really well. When he took the box off to display where he had been he had this awesome grin.

This boy makes me smile.

Today was spent in the boys room going through toys and deep cleaning there room. Jacob helped us by pulling everything out and smiling the whole time. Today we also discovered that Jacob loves hats. I always buy my babies hats but they will never wear them. He would get mad if someone took it off.

He was no where to be found...

...so when I went to check on him this is what I was surprised with. Not much more to say but that this was a proud mommy moment.

Sisters!

Everyone needs one. And if you don't have one I hope some day you have a friend that feels like one. These girls love each other oodles. Not every minute of every day let me remind you but I think that is part of the experience. Tonight they sang together at a baptism and it is so cute to watch their different personalities come out.

Literature Parade

The girls have been working hard getting ready for this parade at school today. Emma was so cute. She was very serious and methodical while displaying her sign for her class. When I called her name I think she almost feel over from my distracting her. Sarah loved the bird guy they decorated (the guy walking in front of her with feathers) she told us all about it for a whole week leading up to today. It's times like these I am glad my children get to go to public school. I don't think this would be the same walking threw our living room.

Afterschool snack

I was busy today and I need to go grocery shopping so there really wasn't much for an afternoon snack. When I told the girls they could make there own cookies they were thrilled and got right to it. I need to let them help in the kitchen more since they love it so much.

I'm crafty!

I have been in a crafty mood lately and today I decided to finish sewing Joshua's church bag. I bought the material over a month ago but today I got my umpff back. Joshua was so thrilled and the second I was done he filled it will all his toys and took it outside to show his friends.

We are proud of him!

Tonight Jared earned his tenderfoot, second class and first class for scouts. And the best part...he earned it not me. He is so self motivated and works so hard to get his advancements. He was nervous he wouldn't pass at his board of reviews but he sure did and he is right on track to get his eagle at a young age. Way to go kid!!

Another side note - photography people, what did I do wrong with this picture? Every once in awhile I get to much graininess or noise when I am shooting indoors and I am not sure what to do differently.

My book came!!!

I follow this photo blog that I love and she just came out with a text book. When I saw that I was so thrilled. If it really teaches me to do anything like she does I will throw my self a party and do the happy dance. It came in the mail and i was so excited my kids expected there to be something amazing in the package. They may not have understood my exclamations of joy but oh I sure did. I guess this would be "my fire" (side note, if you have not read Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt I highly recommend it. It's a feel good book. If you have you will understand my last statement) Some day I will be amazing but for today I will simply enjoy the process of learning!!