my morning

I know I have done a post like this in the past.... see it here.

But seriously today takes the cake!

1. 6:20-woke up bright and early!

2. did last night dishes (too busy watching my tivo last night)

3. swept the floor

4. put mace's toys away

5. cleaned up the play dough off the counter (thx Brie for M bday present)

6. made my bed

7. kissed Ry goodbye (who invented the 8 hour work day.. W A Y toooo long!)

8. put a load of laundry away

9. put my workout clothes on (yes!)

10. woke up the kids for school (7:20 at this time)

11. put a load of Ashlyn's wash in

12. picked out Jake's clothes

13. started french toast for breakfast

14. Mace's starts crying for "daddy"

15. changed Mace's soaked-through diaper (why is he still in diapers?!)

16. turned on Curious George

17.finished french toast (2 each including Mace) milk, syrup, strawberries..the works!
18. put dishes away (again!)

19. got Austin lunch money

20. did Jake's hair

21. saw the sun shining through my windows and was thrilled for the blue skies!

22. found Jake's lost sock (argh)

23. gave Mason a sippy cup

24. found Austin's flute recorder for school

25. got jake's library book

26.Looked out the window deciding whether to hit the roads with Mace or hit the treadmill......

27. did Aus's hair

28.filled out Ashlyn's lost reading calendar....it's 8:08 and the bell rings in 7 min!

29. signed their homework folders

30. Mace still crying for daddy.....

31. helped Ash with her hair (where is her flower clip??)

32. boys whining for Ash to hurrrrry........

33. said morning family prayer

34. out the door for school that is about 200 ft away...(woohoo we made it!)

35. come back for a kiss and hug from all the kiddos... (sweet)

(okay wait! This sounds like my usual morning routine

...and it is only 8:20 and I have an entire day ahead of me and lots to do!)

I really do think us moms are quite extraordinaire! We keep the house running smoothly (well most of the time). Sometimes I feel we don't give ourselves enough credit for all of the work we do!

Life is crazy and taking care of our kiddos is definitely non-stop.

But I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything! (although I wouldn't mind a maid once in a while:)

Now off to the day.

Starting with hitting the sunny roads.....yay!

girlfriends

"A good friend is a connection in life-a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a insane world." I know I have the best friends in the world.

I have been blessed with not only sisters, but true friends who I count on daily.

I wasn't going to post today until I read my friends blog.

She asks the question," can a girl live without her friends?"read her post here.

Her words are p e r f e c t. They describe the importance of girlfriends and how valuable a true friend is.

and to answer the question, I know I could NEVER live without my girlfriends and sisters,

you mean the world to me,

you build me up,

you strengthen me,

and you help me be the best I can be.

(especially my last 3 crazy weeks!!)

Thank you

xoxo!

Joshua Radin, 'Friend Like You'

my spring week adventures

My Spring week.............. was crazy!

It started off with Jan's surprise secret sister brunch at Misty's house. WE do a sister lunch on all of our birthdays to brighten up the day.

We had 5 year old Lani try to take a pic of all of us.....

yeah didn't work.....My face. hah. (Misty you are such a poser!) Amber (far right) hopped out of the pic and took it.

Better! Left to Right Marissa (Jan's 20 yr old!), Brookie, Me, Jan (bday girl), Misty, and Angela in the front...(we missed you Brie, Kristin and Em!)

All the cousins jumping on the tramp on this warm spring day- We L O V E this weather. Misty's house is cool because she has back to back tramps. Looks like an accident waiting to happen, but the cousin's are pro!
Misty just left the "compound" and moved 4 miles away to a new house. It's beautiful. We are all still sad she left us and moved away....Brookie and Amber still live 5 houses away from me so it's good....We can still meet at the stop sign for walks, trade babysitting and go on diet coke runs! (oh yeah!)

Later in the week we had Nat's birthday's dinner. We all went to Texas Roadhouse. Seriously So Divine.

I joke with nat b/c she never eats sugar!! (such good self-control!) Now she is holding two, luscious brownie desserts! You go girl, I was proud of her. But in the end, she had a bite or two and I ate at least one of those entire plates! looooove chocolate. thank you!

WE sat outside the restaurant and talked till almost 11:00 P.M. That is late for mommas....The air was so warm and breezy, we didn't really want to leave. such a nice night. (notice my bare feet...to look shorter in the pic! didn't work though!)

Okay hair time! I finally went to the Salon and did Aveda's #4 red! I normally love my hair but I am kinda missing my highlights for the summer (and I got a little chopped more than I wanted.....oh well! It grows...)

BEFORE /AFTER

We had soccer, soccer, and more soccer. Every night we were going all over the valley. (Gma Penny got to see Aus's game in Provo..yay!) They enjoy it but it gets a little crazy coordinating the schedule's. Ry and I are happy they are finally just playing. It has rained and rained and rained...no more! It's sports time....love it!

They all won their games! Yay.
Jake plays Sandy City. (blue lighting)

Austin Inter Futbol Club.

Ashlyn Sparta United.


Last night we had Jan's surprise 40th. Hugh and Amber planned the whole night! No kids!! yay yay yay. Just adults. That never happens in my family. We have to many babies. But last night was only adults and we had. so. much. fun!
It was great to talk the night away and no interuptions. ahhhhh so nice.

Jan is my OLDEST sis but looks the youngest. She basically raised us all b/c she helped my mom the most. She was definitely the smartest and the peacemaker. She is a great sis and a fab mom to 5 kids! We love her and Hugh and are SO HAPPY they moved from California to be here in Utah. 16 years away from us all. so glad you are back!

surprise! She didn't know we were all coming to the restaurant. It was fun to see the look on her face!

some of the sis's. Angela, Amber, me, Misty, and Kristin! Why do I always look the tallest?!?

Some of the fam! Missing: Greg and CA, Brooke and John, Brandon and Em and Brie and Bran.

and let's not forget Mom and Dad, who are almost home from serving as mission pres's.... 2 more months! We can't wait because they have been gone for almost 3 years! That is a long time! We have missed them so much, we would of loved to have them here with us! soon.soon.

and last but not least, I taught 13 seven year olds in church today. Did you hear me? 13 kiddos..... Can I just say W I L D! (this is a pic of jake at school not at church, but you get the idea!)

When two of the boys came up to me and said, What is ADHD, ya know A D H D?? and then they said, "Cuz my mom says I got A D H D real bad." Then I know class is going to be, well craziness. And yes it was a little chaotic but in between all of the loud was so much good. I taught about the Book of Mormon and how it got translated. From the translation of Mormon, then Angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith and then Joseph retrieving the gold plates from Hill Cumorah. We then talked about Joseph translating the plates with the Urim Thummin for all of us to read. When I was finished with my story, you could hear a pin drop and all the kid's faces were looking straight at me. So it felt good to do a little good! (even if I only had their attention for 6 whole minutes!)

Now off to a new week and new adventures!

happy week to all of you!

Rascal Flatts 'This Everyday Love' (I loooooove his voice.)

A big decision (that many of you know already!!)

Arizona or the Rockies?? Arizona or the Rockies??




We are moving, we are not moving, we are moving, we are not moving , we are moving, we are not moving .......back and forth, back and forth! Ahhhh, craziness for sure.



Three days ago, Ry and I made our decision. After we came to our decision, we were exhausted, we were done. Our brains were worn out...that was the hardest 2 weeks we have ever lived. No lie.





We did not want to talk about it anymore. no more late-night endless conversation's, no more long lists, no more pros's and cons, no more "what ifs," ...No more period.





So I didn't announce it on my blog but then I started get emails from some of my friends and my blogging friends inquiring of our answer. Sorry I did not mean to ignore you all, I am actually flattered you all care.....



I will not go into the details of our decision because frankly I don't have that long! Ultimately we did what was right for Ry and I, we did what was right for our family, and we did what FELT right in our hearts...


But we are..........

staying.

We are home. and it F E E L S so good.

love the Rockies,






love Utah,






love our families,






love our friends,





and for now,




that's what counts the most.




sugarland 'Fly Away'

spring love

I don't feel like blogging much lately. Why? Cuz I am busy doing this:

Can you smell the blossoms? Can you feel the sunshine? Ahhh..

Why

I

run

every day

outside

from April through November.

I love Utah Spring weather.

Here are some pics of my run today:

~I seriously love it. Today was happy happy joy joy happy happy joy joy!

~Springtime. yes. finally. So I will be seeing ya in the sunshine!
~Get on out and run, I promise you will love it!

(If you have a baby, put them in the stroller and go for it.

It is so great to just get on out in the fresh air...! )

sugarland: 'These are the Days.' (yes they are!)

Mace's big day...3~

I woke up at 7:15 A.M, ran 10 miles, went to Jake's soccer game at 10:15, Austins S game at 11:30, Ashlyn's S game at 1:15 and then we frantically came home and got everything ready for M a s o n 's birthday

party I am so glad I decorated the night before.

He could not wait for H I S party to begin....

This was Mace's first birthday party! He was in heaven. He couldn't believe this day was JUST for him.

He kept looking up at me and saying, "my party? Mace's party? Cousins come play for me?" "Yes, I said this whole day is just for you, it's your birthday and you are so special." He got the biggest smile on his face!

getting the cake, games, prizes, treats, lunch, party bags all together....

I say I don't do birthday parties every year for the kids but I think I have. When it comes around to their birthdays, I know they love having their favorite friends and cousins come over for a party. Birthdays only come ONCE a year, so I want them to celebrate their one day.

Some years I spend more and others I don't spend too much, it doesn't take a lot to make it fun.

I was excited for Mace this year to have his first big party.....

and it was w i l d with nine 3 year olds but it was so fun....

WE had such a great time! On the birthday invite list: The 6-pack (Cade, Blake, Carson, Dax, and Trey) Lani, Will, and Josh....and a few extra cousins!

WE started off with a birthday egg H U N T. The kids looooved to find eggs with treats inside. It's so exciting to find an egg with candy inside. Don't you love our lovely landscaping? yes, no grass. (yet) Just dirt!

Hunt. hunt. hunt. hunt. hunt. kids. kids. kids. candy. candy. candy. fun. fun. fun



Next we played pin the butterfly on George. Mace picked the game out at the party store and surprisingly the kids had enough attention span to play....they all won a prize no matter what.

Next we went to the playroom and played duck duck goose. Mace's favorite. It seems the simplest of games are still the classic. I got each of the kids duckies so they knew who had a turn and who didn't yet. They loved playing this game.....

Mason's face....He was so happy.















It was funny, Ry kept saying to the kids, "line up straight or sit in a circle...and of course they don't! they are 3 !! They were all having such a good time going from game to game. Present time was a little crazy, they all wanted to see!



Pinata, pinata, pinata, pinata. Mace picked out a party hat. and.....

the kids LOVED whacking it and whacking it and whacking it....C a n d y g a l o r e. yum. Cake time, well cupcake time. I could NOT find a Max and Ruby cake anywhere...Target, Harmons, Wallmart, Maceys...noone. So he wanted Thomas the Tank cupcakes. Notice I had NO theme this year. Just whatever Mace wanted at the moment. He made it easy.


We all sang and he was smiling so big, I could tell he was embarrassed too. It was sweet. We all clapped after... my big boy....







When I asked Mace his favorite part of his birthday party.....games, icecream, presents....etc

Mace said:

( Mace's B.F's/cousins: Blake, Mace and Cade. pic of them hanging at the Burger King having a good time. I love the look on lil c's face! They are so cute together. (they are all within 2 months of eachother...!)

"my cousins." Oh so sweet. love that. Asleep with his ducky.....he was exhausted after such a big day! Mace had such a good time and I loved hosting a party with nine 3 year olds!

Thanks everybody for making the effort to come to our party and helping Mace celebrate his big day! loves to you and Happy Bday Mace!

Here's a quick snap of us after church today. We sort of missed the big "Easter" weekend pics being in Arizona and all.

....and my kids are not in their Easter clothes...I couldn't find Austin's belt, Ashlyn's dress needed ironing, Mace's Easter shirt was D I R T Y and well Jake, he is wearing Austin's hand me downs!

Does the whole Easter Sunday-new- clothes-everyone- smiling-perfect day-exhaust anyone besides me!? Still love it though, just L O T S of work and work and work.

We had a fab weekend with sunshine, soccer, and Mace's party! Sunday we spent the whole day at the park, playing outside, and going on walks. Yay for the sunshine finally! We are happy here.

song: 'Lollipop', by the chardottes.