Thursday, April 17, 2014

Thursday April 17

It was a pretty great day.
We started out by all the kids getting some homework done.
Then in the afternoon we headed to the MOA for a really amazingly beautiful exhibit.
It was named 'Sacred Gifts'.
It was so great, and I am so glad that Emmy got us tickets to go to it!
After that we wanted to go and see the progress on the Provo City Center Temple.
It was pretty cool to see the progress since we last saw it.
It is pretty exciting.
Then we were all 'starving'...so we made a stop by Wendy's and had some Frosty's and French fries.
Then we decided to take a little nature walk.
It was such a beautiful day.
Elsie has been a little grumpy today....her body sore from playing so hard yesterday....
And she did a lot of walking and a lot of stairs!
I gave her a good foot and leg massage tonight....so I hope that helps her for tomorrow.
We had a very fun day with Emmy!
Oh and we came home and had dinner and then Dad knocked down Em's old shed in the back.
I have pictures of that.....but I will do that later :)
 








(starving Porter)
 




















Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Wednesday April 16

I will go through all the pictures tomorrow that I took today.....
Cause I am tired and it's late, and there are a lot of pictures :)
BUT....
I had to share this one!
Brent and I went to Target to pick up some Easter stuff for the kids.
Brent had left to go find his own stuff, and I was getting some hair stuff, when I turn and look down the isle and I see Stephanie Nielson.
I was immediately frozen.
I love this woman.
I love her book....I love how she isn't afraid to share her testimony.
I love her love for her family.
She is amazing and I HAD to talk to her!
How could I not!!!!!
Actually, if we hadn't have made eye contact, and she saw the goofy smile on my face, I may have not had the nerve to say hi.
But she saw me, and I said "Hi!"
And I really don't know what I said after that......it is all a fuzzy numb blur!
I know she asked where I was from....
I know I told her that I was just talking to my sister about her just this morning, cause we were.
Talking about how amazing she is.....and how she handles everything that is dealt to her with such grace.
I remember saying, "I don't even know what to say!"
And she came over and hugged me.... and she allowed me (even though she may have thought I was a crazy woman) to take a picture of us together.
She was absolutely wonderful and kind and so sweet.
I am sure this must happen to her often, but it was a once in a lifetime thing for me.
And I must say, it was pretty cool!
She is beautiful inside and out!
*****
So Brent and I finished up shopping.....
We came back to Ems and we all got ready to head to Rachel's house.
It was great to be able to get so many family members together and have dinner and a fun Easter Egg hunt for the kiddos.
Lots of fun times with cousins....
The weather was perfect and everyone had a great time.
And I got to hold baby Kalia.....a lot :)
Pictures to come tomorrow!
 

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Tuesday March 15

We made it to Emmy's house!
We are ready for a fun filled few days :)
 

Monday, April 14, 2014

Monday April 14

Dad took his practical portion of his Captains test.
I know he is happy to be done with it....
He spent the whole morning going over everything again before he went in.
I think he is ready for a few days off now :)
Good thing we are headed out of town tomorrow.....
The kids are very excited!
We are all very excited!
Madi, Cass and Porter  cleaned the car out for us.....so we can get it all dirty again :)
*****
Port spent the morning packing his own bags to go to Emmy's and Grandmas :)
He put a Ninja Turtle mask on Woody, and called him the Lone Ranger...
If that's not the cutest, I don't know what is!
*****
Wuvey went with Elsie and me to PT with Katie today.
And Wuvey tried to convince Elsie to go on the zip-line.....
She didn't go for it today, maybe next time :)
Oh, and Wuvey wears clothes now...
 


 
 




Sunday, April 13, 2014

Sunday April 13

So I am kind of cheating....
This picture is of Elsie from a couple days ago.
I  took it on my phone, and forgot about it.
It was so sweet and pretty, I had to share it :)
Anyway.
It was a beautiful Sunday today.
It is gonna take time to get used to the time change.....
But it works out.
Madi had BYC this morning.
They are trying to figure out places to have all the extra meetings so people don't have to drive 20-25 minutes for a meeting, drive home, and then drive back for church.
It has been kind of a hassle.
But so far, things have been working out good.
It was fast Sunday today, so that means testimony meeting.
I always enjoy hearing the testimony of others and it always lifts me up and encourages me to try harder.
Elsie went back and forth all day about going to primary.
She loves it and loves her teacher.
Anyway.
I thought she was gonna be by my side the whole time.
I took her with me a little early into the primary room to get prepared before the kids came in....she wouldn't leave my side.
Then when Dad came and dropped Porter off, he took Elsie and sat with her in her class.
He's pretty great like that :)
After about 10 minutes, she said he could go and she was happy as a clam.
And guess what????
Her name was even called to come and help out during sharing time!!!!
Something that usually freaks her out!
But she hopped up, so excited to help out.
It was the cutest thing!
Yay for her!!!!
Port went to class too....good boy :)
So church went great!
*****
I had a yummy crock pot pork chop dinner waiting when we got home.
Then Cassi, Dad and I got ready again to go to her Activity Days Recognition Night.
It was such a great night.
They had each Mom bring a bag that had items in it that lets people know more about their daughter.
Then the girls shared what they have been working on.
Cassi played a song on her recorder (flute-like instrument) that she has been working on.
She is trying out for a part tomorrow in the 4th grade concert.
She did a great job.
There is a major feud brewing between the Activity Days leaders and the Primary President.
It makes my head hurt and I am trying to not get in the middle of it.....
I just don't know why we can't just all get along!!!!!
*****
But it was a beautiful Sunday and I am Thankful for my little family :)
 

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Saturday April 12

It was a good morning.
We got up and did our Saturday morning chores....
With very minimal fighting.
Headed outside and got some yard work done.
Not DONE done....but I can finish up on Monday :)
Heather called and invited the girls to come and hang out at their house.
They were very excited to go :)
I dropped them off and I took Porter to get some Easter clothes/other items shopping done.
I tried to be sneaky and not let him see stuff....but then he seemed less interested in what I was doing if I stopped acting like I was trying to hide something from him.
So I just went about as usual.
It was a pretty fun time, except that pretty much everyone else in Meridian decided it was a great day to shop too :)
I guess it is Saturday though...
I went and picked up the girls and went back home.
Elsie and I got dressed up to go to our Stake baptisms.
It is fun taking her with me.
I still don't know how it is gonna go when it is her turn.
She is so excited about it....
I am taking her with me to all the baptisms I can so that nothing will be a surprise to her.
She will know exactly what to expect.
That is my hope anyway :)
We came home and had cereal for dinner.
Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do....
Afterwards the girls played Candyland together.
And we got to bed early....well tried to.
Those big girls like to see how far they can push it......
 



Friday, April 11, 2014

Friday April 11

We are working on jumping with Elsie.
Any time her PT at school, Miss. Claire, or when we go see Katie....
If they suggest working on the jump or hop....Elsie shuts down.
No, she can't do it....yet.
And in her head, she just won't be able to do it...ever.
She is stubborn like that.
She likes working on things she knows she can do, but puts up a fuss when it is something different or hard.
Jumping is a very hard thing.
When you think about what goes in to it 'mechanically'....it's a big deal.
Especially for Elsie.
I asked the girls to try and work more jumping or hopping in when they are playing with her....
So she won't actually realize she is 'working' on it :)
Madi had her out on the tramp this evening, and she was having such a fun time.
She keeps her left leg stick straight, but bends her right knee every time.
She bends it when it is in the air, instead on when she needs to push off the tramp and go up....but her, we will take any bending we can get!
It was pretty cute watching her and Madi jump :)
The canal filled with water today.
I have mixed feelings about the canal.
I think it is a beautiful thing to have....for it's water uses, but also that it is like a mini river in our backyard...
And it isn't very deep....
But I also worry for obvious reasons.
We talk with Porter all the time about how the canal is scary and you shouldn't go in it.
But then I also think it is a fun thing to play in.....when adults are around and everything is safe.
Anyway....
I told Porter we had to move his secret hideout now that the canal is full of water because I don't want it to be so close to a canal full of water.
I have ideas brewing of where we can put another secret hideout :)
*****
After school today Madi started mowing the lawn, then I took over.
We will finish up tomorrow.
Man, there is a lot of grass to mow!!!
 





Thursday, April 10, 2014

Thursday April 10

Dad has been working so hard outside.
I know he is so happy for it to be nice outside and to get out there and work.
He has been working on leveling out our orchard area, so the irrigation water will flow better over it.
He has also been re-digging ditches....cutting down dead trees, and burning out stumps.
Today I cut all the vines away that were growing up in the tire swing tree.
I loved how it looked, but it was slowly choking the poor tree.
So I cut it all down, but there were still a million vines that were up in the trees.
And grape vines....my goodness!
They sure hold on tight!!!!
So dad helped me by getting up in the tractor and cutting some of the dead branches off, and then pulling them down, which also pulled down most of the vines.
We got it cleaned up pretty good.
It sure opened up the space.....I will miss it, but it will be better for the tree!
*****
Porter went to Preschool today!!!!!
There was more meltdowns.....and oh man, were they meltdowns!
He actually didn't go on Tuesday, and had to stay in his room the whole time of preschool.
We have been talking about going, and all was good, until about 20 minutes before we had to leave.
It really breaks my heart when I see him like that.
And there is no getting through to him.
After I got him to eat, and fixed his hair....I just kept moving along as if he was going....
He was having a hard time.
So I had him look in my eyes and told him to take big deep breathes with me.
That was enough to calm him down and then we said a little prayer for him.
He was good enough to actually get in the car.
The whole drive there he kept crying he didn't want to go.
We got there a little early, so we just sat in front of the house and I had him on my lap in the front seat.
He gave me every reason why he just wanted to stay home with me.
He also said "What kind of Mom takes away her kids Legos!"
(I told him that if he stayed home, then I would have to take all his Legos away....does that make me a bad mom???)
Anyway, the kids started showing up, so I climbed out of the car.....
Oh man, wish I had video of me walking with him up to the door.
I was trying to hold him, he was trying to get away, any way possible.
He was pushing with straight arms away from me and brought his legs up to help him get away.
I almost dropped him several times.
We got to the door, she opened it and we walked in and I put him down.
It was almost instant.
His teacher told him a little about what they were going to do that day, he took his shoes off at the door, and followed the other kids.
I was shocked.
NEVER did I think THAT would have happened.
I know that saying that prayer was what made the difference.
I know it.
I am thankful for it.
I am also thankful that I could talk to him about it afterwards and how praying to Heavenly Father helped him to be brave and know he was safe and know that everything was gonna be okay.
He had such a great time too.....as if there were no problem at all.
I don't know how it will go next Tuesday, but I sure hope we turned a corner....
*****
The rest of the day went good.
The kids played outside, Dad worked more outside, and I was inside making dinner.
Sometimes that doesn't seem fair, right :)
Oh it's okay.
I made Dads favorite chicken....
He's got a lot going on right now, so I wanted him to have a nice relaxing dinner.
After dinner, he took the little ones with him to pick up the things around outside and tie mater back up while the big girls helped me clean up the kitchen.
Dad gave Elsie a 4-wheeler lesson too.
She thought that was pretty great :)
 


Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Wednesday April 9

It was a fun night tonight.
The elementary school had a 'read in' night.
It was a super hero/princess theme.
The YW/YM in our ward were volunteers for it.
They read book. to the kids and they handed out milk and cookies.
There was a really great puppet show provided by the library....
and some fun crafts.
So I ran the kids there while Dad worked on the tractor.
He is trying to level out some land around the orchard area so it can be watered easier with the irrigation water.
Anyway, the kids had a fun time.
Elsie wore her princess jammies, and took Wuvey (the buffalo) with her, who was also dressed up :)
Porter wore his spider man outfit, which is in REALLY bad shape, but I let him anyway.
Cass wore her pink Batman shirt and a cape.
Madi was also Batman sporting all black with a black cape.
Fun stuff :)
*****
Oh, in case you are wondering, Mater is doing good today.
He sure hates that cone.
Poor doggy :(