D-Man's 1st Birthday

I love being an aunt!

On a more personal note I did not have aunt's growing up. Living in Utah I did not have an extended family so being an aunt is foreign to me. I literally have asked Mike and my sister-in-laws what sort of role do aunts play. They smiled then realized I wasn't joking. So after giving me a quick tutorial I embraced my version of what sort of aunt I want to be.

I am going to be the aunt that goes to everything I'm invited too.(Or within reason at least)

I am going to encourage my kids to love and grow their relationships with their cousins.

 Hailey has been attached to D-man since he was a baby. Every time she sees him she's wanting to hold him.

Mason chasing his little cousin. I'm not sure what he's playing but all I know is she loves playing chase with him. This warms my heart seeing my 13 year old playing with his 3 year old cousin.

I love seeing my kids playing with their "2nd cousins"???

Mike's sisters' husbands' sister's kids. Make sense. I don't know how family trees work; all I care about is that we're related and we're all cousins. 

So for my nephew's first birthday his momma and dad planned his party at the local splash pad/park. Great setting since there were tons of kids.

 My kids loved it here!

 So much that we are planning on going back really soon.

  Mason is such a great brother. Lily and Ducati were playing "Dinosaur Chase" with him. So basically Mason is a dinosaur and he chases them to try to eat them. Anyways 2 little girls seen how much fun my girls were having and asked if their big brother can chase them too. So Mason had his hands full trying to eat 4 little girls.

 Hailey enjoyed this twirling thingy before she went back to her little cousin.

Like I said.... she absolutely loves him.

Once everyone was needing a break the little birthday man his his smash cake. At first he had no idea what he was suppose to do.

But once he got a lick of frosting he knew exactly what to do and loved the fact that this cake was all for him.

But that didn't stop him. There was a plate next to his chair that had a small piece of cake on it. So instead of just being satisifed with his huge cake he had to have it all. So he stretched his little arm with his fork and grabbed that small piece and ate it!

My lovely sister in law apologized to me afterwards that I stood up and only got a small nap in before work.
Please!!
I would have stood up all day and the next to see his little guy have the time of his little life.
Like I said I love being an aunt!

PS I love this picture of Daina and her boy. There's nothing she wouldn't do to ensure his happiness. Even if that means enduring fingers in the mouth just to hear him giggle. 

Kids idea

After doing chores my kids asked me if they could go outside and play in the water. 

I took a moment of silence to think about it and that's when I heard

"If we play outside we can learn about : 

Speed. 

War strategy. 

Forgiveness. 

Hand/eye coordination.

 Laugh together. 

So it will be really educational."

I smiled at their idea and gave it a stamp of approval. They are so cute! I love my kids!

Waterfall Hike

 Mike and I have set a goal to try and go out on an adventure with our kids after church. So far we've been somewhat successful.
This past week we took our kids to our traditional waterfall hike near our old house.

 Our kids of course enjoyed themselves.

 What I enjoyed the most was once we all got out of our truck they started down the trail themselves. Our little confident hikers knew this trail like the Disney channel schedule. So there were a few times where Mike or I had to call ahead for them to wait for us oldies.

 So with a backpack filled with lunches, 2 bottles of sunscreen and not a person in sight we stood at this waterfall for about 3 hours.

Mike was enjoying himself the most. There's usually a rock ledge where the water from the waterfall falls into creating a small pool that's maybe ankle deep. But with the weather and winter that ledge was gone. So my hubby took it upon himself to rebuild it. So rock by rock he built a small pool where you can soak in this cool water.

 Hailey and Lily were excited to try it out and they give it "2 smiles up!"

 Me- I relaxed. I found a soft spot to relax and just soaked up the sun and laughter. This was a perfect Sunday outing.

Impromptu Lagoon Day

So Mike woke me up this morning and tells me that we're going to Lagoon!

I wasn't sure on this since it's Sunday and we both just finished a busy work week but after his adorable blue eyes looking at me and him telling me that he'd leave without me- haha.... he'd never. Or would he? I didn't want to chance it so I got dressed faster than he can walk out our bedroom door.

 As we drove to Lagoon Mike was reminding me that since we both work now our family time needs to happen when we have time. Plus with another busy work week ahead this will be the only time we'd be together so I'm glad he woke me up to this impromptu Lagoon Day.

 Ducati loved the carousal! Each horse she named and giddy-up'd the entire ride time.

 Trying something new. She wasn't a fan. She wanted to switch mid-ride back to a horse.

  Lily is giving her approval with her "I Love You" sign.

While Mike, Mason, Hailey and Lily went on a rollercoaster Ducati and I sat under a tree and had a drink. I packed myself a few Mt.Dew since I only had a couple of hours of sleep since I worked the night before. She asked for a drink so I let her have a small one.

 The face she gave me when I asked for it back

 The face I got when I asked for a drink.

Ducati told me she needed the energy to make sure she could ride all the rides.

 Mike, Mason, Hailey, and Lily after riding the Colossus. Lily was really excited since she's tall enough this year to ride all the rides. Big day for her! And, yes, Ducati photo bombed with her Mt.Dew.

 Yeah! They get to shoot eachother!

 Mike taking the taller ones on another crazy ride.

 Hailey showing Lily the ropes on how things are done at Lagoon.

And away they go!

After lunch Mike and I made the plan to split up so he can take the taller kids on all the roller coasters and I would take Ducati to the kiddieland rides. Then meet up in an hour. So little miss and me enjoyed some alone time.

This picture above is so adorable! While in line Ducati jumps up and down squealing with joy and tells me, "I love Boondocks!"

I laughed so hard. Then told her that this is Lagoon not Boondocks. She says to me, "Really?"...deep thought....."I love Lagoon!"

This is where I laugh even more :)

I don't know the kid upfront with Ducati. But since she was a single rider she told the ride operator she'd sit with other kids so this helped her cut the lines and get on more rides.

 She enjoyed herself so much. And I enjoyed watching her show her independence and confidence.

 While waiting for the ride operator to strap in other kiddos Ducati asked me what the handle was for. I said to move her dragon up and down.
Another deep thought.... then asked me, "Will fire come out it's mouth?"
I said no and she smiled and gave me a funny face.

This was such a fun hour! Just the 2 of us :)

 We're riding the magical spinning tea cups. I spinned the first time and she giggled/squealed the entire time.

 The next time we rode she spinned the tea cup. I kept telling her that she was spinning too fast. She tells me,"You know me. You know I like things fast!"  I absolutely love this girl so much

 Mason and me. He doesn't want to get splashed on some water octopus ride. Yeah right! I'm flying right into it son!

It was such a great day! I'm so happy that we spent this quality family time. We really needed it.
When we got home Lily and Ducati took their Lagoon maps, circled all the rides they went on, and then glued them onto some poster board. They never want to forget this day EVER!

Taking a Break

So we are starting to get caught up again in the dreadful routine again. 

Our truck broke down which lead to a couple of weeks of borrowing a car and buying another one. 

Everyone in our family was ill for 2 weeks. 

This lead to us using most of food stockpile which I'm very much thankful for. 

But mostly our house has been filled with quick snaps, bickering, tantrums, and a few broken dishes so we had to mix things up. 

Last night we went to the drive in. Our kids were so exhausted from tension they weren't even excited. 

Mommy fail! 

So while we waited for our double feature of Tomorrowland & Avengers we played with chalk, enjoyed storytime,had a picnic dinner, and finally lightened up enough to enjoy our time together. I don't know why we struggle with having fun as a family. We allow things like meetings, chores, work stuff, homeschooling, and blah, blah, blah. 

New goal: family dates twice a month. 

Little Passports

My kids have not been a fan of geography. Looking at maps is not fun apparently. But when I seen a post about Little Passports I fell in love with the idea! Got the first box today. Hailey and Cati can't stop reading everything and matching the countries with the fun fact provided. Next month we'll get a box filled with facts about 1 country. They are so excited to learn! Best $ spent. :) 

Missionaries

One of the many things I love about my job is being able to look at art work all day. This piece really struck a cord in my heart and spirit. 

2 elder missionaries. Walking on a dirt road; only sure that they are going where the Lord wants them to go. This walk might of seemed bleak or wasteful almost. Like what could they possibly encounter at the end of this dirt road. But because of their faith they took that walk. 

This piece fills my heart with gratitude and love. 

 If it weren't for the two elder missionaries who approached me in a Target parking lot my life would be on a very different road. They took my name and phone number and since I lived in a different area they had to passed my info along to missionaries in my neighborhood. So they never heard from me again. 

 They don't know that because they took that bleak walk only sure that God wanted them to talk to me that they changed my life. I'm thankful they were being obedient in their guidance from God . I pray that they know I was baptized a few months later. Sealed in the Salt Lake Temple to my eternal companion. Witnessed two of my children make the choice to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Have my children sealed to me. Witnessed miracles. 

They asked me in that parking lot over 8 years ago if I was happy. At the time I said no. But today, Yes Elders I am very happy. Thank you.