Kendall's 4th Grade Field Day

Cardon and I headed over to Addenbrooke to watch Kendall slay some races on field day.  Boy, were they happy to see each other.  You would have thought the two of them had been separated for years but nope, just since breakfast that morning.

Kendall:

"My favorite event from field day was the bounce house races and racing Calum.  I also liked the 50-yard dash and the standing long jump because I got first place in both of them.  I was very hot but I got cooled off in the underwater race were you had the cup of water on your head. It was fun to be with my friends and talk about what we were going to do over the summer. I loved that my mom and brother were there to cheer me on.  Go Kendall!"

Kendall got a popsicle at the end of the day and very graciously gave it to Cardon.  Pretty sweet kiddo.

Kendall was in the same class as Shayna Shaw and Logan Shaw and Cardon really enjoyed watching their siblings playing on the slide together.

Mothers Day 2018

Mammy came over and crawled into bed with me this morning.  The boys spoiled us rotten.  Waffles with strawberries, scrambled eggs, and dark chocolates.  They shut the door and we got to laugh and talk uninterrupted.

My parents were young when they had me but that was my fault.  I had to get down to them as fast as I could.  I couldn't wait any longer.  Moms have a way of teaching us very important lessons.  Lessons I feel I will probably never master in this life.

My mom is simple yet full of substance.  She is classy to the core and has an energy and charisma that is as pure as you can get.  There is no one I would rather talk to 20 times a day.

I was showered with beautiful flowers and a homemade wall hanging of the mountains that Kendall hand stitched at school.

 I was surrounded by my sweet boys and thought about how much I love being a mom.  Then my second thought was that I cuss a lot in my head.  Being a mom is hard.  It's an ebb and flow of joy and misery and all the emotions in between.  I'm just embracing it all.  I will keep trying.

On this day I'm basking in gratitude for my little tribe.  I love them all so much my heart could burst.  And then I find the vacuum hose stuffed with 3 little pairs of socks in it and bright blue toothpaste all over the carpet and an empty container of fish food.  Well... that was fun while it lasted.

We headed to church and had a special lesson that Garrett and Stacy gave in Relief Society about women of light, the young men handed out bags of kisses, and a special treat was handed out after the class.

We changed our clothes and went to Mammy and Papas house for grilled chicken-thank you dad, salad, watermelon, and sweet potato fries.  We gave Mammy a book about the temple symbols, a mother-daughter necklace, and a bag that said you are my favorite.  So naturally, we had to fill it with all our favorite things about her.

The sisters were coming over to call their parents so we ate Aunt Peggy's famous banana cream pie at our house.

It was pretty much perfect... Sigh.

Kendall made me this mountain scene and I love it!  It makes me feel happy.

April Showers...

I mean SNOW!

We are really itching for spring around here but we need the moisture so bad so we will take it.  This little guy can have fun in any circumstance.... as long as he has his cowboy boots on.

Hanging Lake Hike

As you are heading to Glenwood Springs, Colorado there is a sign on the side of the road that says Hanging Lake Hike.  There have been many times that I wished that we could stop and do the hike as we were driving by but travel plans never allowed it.

So, one weekend knowing that we were going to be going to Grand Junction we planned to take the pit stop.

We got a hiking backpack to carry Cardon in, hats, sunscreen, and water for each person and headed up the trail.  

I'm not going to lie... It was not a hike for beginners and Dad, who carried Cardon, definitely got some major bonus points.

The trail was windy and rocky and the views were spectacular.  The stream running down the mountain was a delight to listen too and the benches scattered here an there were refreshing but the lake at the very top of the mountain was glorious.

It was just about the most beautiful sight you could ever see in the middle of the mountains.  The colors didn't seem real and we got there just as the hot sun lowered down the other side of the mountain making it glowy and perfect.

A few minutes towards the back of the hike was a waterfall that just shot out of the mountain.  It was called Spouting Rock and it was amazing.  The boys dipped their hair into a small side part of the running water that was bursting out of the hole and climbed a few rocks.  We loved getting all misted before we started our descent down the mountain.

Lots of beauty was seen on this adventure and lots of stubborn calories were burned.

My kind of outing.

Jellybean Baby

I LOVE this time of year!  So grateful to celebrate Easter and all that it represents.

#princeofpeace

The Pinewood Derby 2017

Kendall was just hoping his car made it to the finish line.  Turns out it did and he got the award for "best-looking car!"

First Time...

As a mother, you cherish your child's "firsts".  

That first smile, giggle, and coo.  Their first word and when they dive into your face to give you an open mouth kiss for the first time.  The first time they roll over, crawl, and the first step.  The first time they make it through an entire Disney movie, the first time they lose a tooth and ride a bike.

Reading their first book, first time writing a thank you letter, and making their bed by themselves.

Reliving the first time Nathan got to go through the temple will be a moment I will cherish forever.  Seeing his dad being able to baptize him for the dead was such a sweet tender experience.  

Firsts are magical.  You will never have that moment again.  They stick in your head enveloped with an amazing permanent feeling every time you go back to that moment.

Witnessing "firsts" are gifts in the most precious form.

Sidewalk Chalk

Yesterday, Kendall and I were pretending it was summer vacation and this morning we woke up to 6 inches of snow so naturally, we had to play some Christmas music!

Oh Colorado, your weather!

Teddy Bear Toast

Teddy bear toast for these three little bears.

That's what we had for general conference breakfast.

They won't be little forever and I'm pushing it with Nathan to think it's still fun to play with your food.

Ribbit!

Shenanigans with Kendall are my favorite.