Easter Sunday

The girls left for California yesterday to see the family there.  I told myself I was going to catch up on my blogging this week!  Things have been so busy, I have gotten rather behind.  So, rather than back track too much…I thought I would start off with our Easter.

It started off rather early since we have church at 9am.  

As usual, the Easter Bunny was up late the night before getting things together.  Why does it always work that way?  I was NOT in the best mood because I didn't have our usual Treasure Hunt all planned out, and was stressed even thinking about it.  Nothing happened before Church.  I felt fine about that. I really wanted them to focus on why Easter is such a special holiday.  This year we talked about it all week leading up to Sunday and I felt like it made a difference. After Church I had their Easter baskets all together and decided to forgo the usual hunt for the sake of my sanity.  

It worked out fine.  Not one child complained.  (Except Annie did tell me a few days later when that she did not like what she got in her basket.  Thanks, darling.  So kind of you to let me know.)  I ended up having each child come in my room one at a time and try to figure out which basket was theirs.  Then I sat them on my lap and told them a little about the meaning of Easter and how much I loved them.  I think they liked the attention and it made up for the lack of Easter Hunting.  Next year, however, I think I am going to to a regular hunt.  I missed seeing how excited the little kids get.  What do you do for Easter?  My mistake is I started off doing elaborate treasure hunts, so I feel the need to carry on the tradition.  Why do I do it?  

What was in their baskets this year?  The usual eggs stuffed with store bought Easter Candy.  They usually get a few treats they don't get very often.  Nana gave them each something new for Spring…a swimming suit, clothes, stuff like that.  We really missed our California Family.  We have lots of fun Easter Memories spent there.  It was sweet of them to think of us too on Easter!

We need some extra Easter Baskets…some were lost in our move and never were replaced.  This whole basket is really not full.  

This guy really looks like he scored.  It was all really equal of course. 

James was asleep during the whole get-your-easter-basket-moment.  He got his later that night.  

I think next year it will be a regular old hunt.  And no more cool stuff, that adds up in $$.  I don't think they care.  We shall see. They really are more excited about the hunt they have at Grandma's House with all the cousins.  

We headed over to Grandma's late that afternoon for dinner.  Man, makes me hungry just looking at all that food. 

It is tradition to all line up for a picture.  In the past the adults have done it too…but we have such a crowd, we were happy to bow out.  We always miss the other cousins when we do this.  :(  

Best age ever. 

Joshua was pretty excited this year because he scored the egg with the most money, despite Grandma's new system to hide the money.  The hunt was pretty genius….thanks, Grandma!

Everyone surrounding the master-of-ceremonies, Grandma, as they look through their candy to find secret codes and collect their cash prizes.  

Annie didn't make out too well this year.  She left her shoes inside by the back door when she came to dinner.  There were lots of prickly things out there and so she mostly tiptoed around and didn't collect too much candy.  This was her face for the hunt…poor girl. 

One thing about Luke, is he is almost always contact with whatever he gets. I love that. 

Annie is always happy to be with her cousins.  

A sweet neighbor from down the street came and spent the evening with us.  During the hunt he chatted with Grandpa. 

London and her brothers who turned THREE today.  Happy Birthday, boys!

Sophie was loves the horses.  We have to be careful because she doesn't have a bit of fear and will try to go right into the pasture to talk to them. 

Michael enjoying some of his loot. 

One of my favorite pics of the event…Jennifer is telling Mom some story and I love how dramatic it looks. hee hee.  I had someone take a picture of all the moms, but it was seriously like the worst picture ever.  Your welcome for not posting.  

James slept right up until we left for Grandma and Grandpas…this picture cracks me up.

Giggles...

It was a treat to have Easter so late this year.  Spring does not come early to Idaho and so when it falls early in March it makes for a cold hunt!  It was a beautiful day and despite stressing over needless and unimportant things, it turned out just lovely!  Happy Spring!

No Time

I have just been so busy lately and recording our daily haps has definitely taken a back seat.  My priorities each day seem to be:

-Keeping my house clean, laundry, and feeding my people.
-Helping each child learn, do chores and be where they need to be when they need to be there.
-Trying to be a good friend and neighbor.
-Trying to be patient and kind when things don't go as planned…this one can be difficult sometimes!

Just the regular tasks of getting everyone dressed, hair combed, teeth brushed, and ready and then back to bed again can sometimes seem to fill up hours and my list of to do's never seems to be done!  I know it is the same for Ryan…he has never ending things to be done with his work, and any free moments seem to be taken up with just daily things that come with running a house of eight!

The talk in General Conference by Sister Linda S Reeves seemed to jump out at me and stuck in my mind almost more than any other.  She shared something she and her husband learned when they had four small children at home...

"As we faced challenges of parenting and keeping up with the demands of life, we were desperate for help.  We prayed and plead to know what to do.  The answer that came was clear.  It's okay if the house is a mess and the children are still in their pajamas and some responsibilities are left undone.  

The ONLY things that REALLY need to be accomplished in the home are daily scripture study and prayer and weekly Family Home Evening.  

We were trying to do these things, but they weren't always the priority, and amidst the chaos were sometimes neglected. 

We changed the focus and tried not to worry about the less important things.  Our focus became to talk, rejoice, preach, and testify of Christ by striving to have daily prayer and study the scriptures and have weekly Family Home Evenings."

Emphasis was added up there for me.  :)  Now, if my house is a mess it is really hard for me to not feel stressed and get grouchy fast.  However, I have to say that housework is often the priority and we try to squeeze those other more important things in around everything else.  Sometimes the kids hairdo takes priority and family prayer is given in haste on the way to school.  Laundry will get done no matter what…but do I put the same priority on our scripture study?   This was a great wake up call about what is really important.  I loved what she followed that up with…

"A friend recently cautioned me, 'When you ask the sisters to read the scriptures and pray more, it stresses them out, they already feel like they have too much to do.' …Brothers and Sisters, because I know from my own experiences, I must testify of the blessings of daily scripture study and prayers and weekly Family Home Evenings.  These are the very practices that help take away stress, give direction to our lives, and add protection to our homes."  

Keeping the commandments takes AWAY stress, makes life EASIER, and makes us more HAPPY.  

Duh.  It was a great reminder for me. 

Another thing that makes me happy are funny moments captured on camera…here are a few I recently ran across.  

I love this moments captured of Ryan and his Dad (Papa) a few years ago.  Just made me smile when I saw it…a great teasing moment between father and son. 

We didn't go to California this year for Spring Break.  We miss our family there and are feeling the need for a reunion!  This is me (pregnant with Sophie)  cooking with the sister-in-laws at Thanksgiving.  I sure miss them all…even though I don't miss being pregnant so much. 

I have not gotten to posting about what we did for Valentines, but here are some funny pictures I found from the night.  (Ryan was in California and we spent the evening at my parents.)  I had about twenty of pictures with these two...

And quite of a few of me trying to recreate my own Olympic moment I think?

Michael's makes me laugh even more.  I don't think figure skating is in his future. 

A moment of brotherly love. 

And last…Sophie's Olympic Debut.  She is always a crack up. 

Speaking of crack ups, James will kill me, but this was taken back in January.  I needed him to do something really fast…I don't even know what it was.  But he was handy, put his boots on, and took of things in his undies.  Good work, son. 

Joshua didn't look too much better in his PJ's and socks.  I have some funnier pictures, but I am trying to not get into too much trouble.  

This was taken one afternoon last month.  Another shot taken after glancing out the window.  When I am at my kitchen sink I see all kinds of things!  I love how these girls "play" with the dogs so much!

In the last few weeks a lot of green has begun to spring up amidst that sea of drab beige outside.

 And the last picture that made me smile was taken during Conference on my phone…

 Good times!  And now, I must go get to SOME of the things on my list!

Memories through the Years with Heidi

When I am really behind in my life….my tendency is to want to do nothing. But alas, I know from experience, that doesn't really help.  So, I guess I will start somewhere.  How about first with a big LATE 40th BIRTHDAY to my sister, Heidi!  I was trying to find new pictures that I didn't use for my sister Jennifer's Birthday, back here.  I am sorry, Heidi, the 90s were just not a good look for us.  I swear most of the pictures I found were really terrible.  

Like this one circa 1990…what is going on people?  Jennifer was off at the BYU, and she might be grateful about that.  Michael and David are looking pretty cute.  Heidi looks good.  Me? When your bangs are as tall as the entire length of your head, that is when you know a terrible fashion mistake has been made.  Oh, well, good times...

Jennifer graduated from High School in Belgium.  She left straight to college when we moved to Kansas.  Heidi and I became a lot closer here as we spent her last two years of High School together.  I have lots of fun memories at church, seminary, firesides, and dances with her.  Back then we just didn't take pictures like we do now, so the few we have are really lame.  I still think this one is funny, because it just shows us (or more me) goofing around as normal.  

Here we are at Heidi's High School Graduation with Dad.  

This was my 16th Birthday Party, at you guessed it, Girls Camp.  Thanks to Heidi and my mom, they surprised me with a little party and I REALLY was surprised.  Heidi was always taking care of me through those years and beyond. If I needed gum, Heidi had it.  Clothes to borrow (or steal)…Heidi.  Spare change?  Heidi.   She was always responsible and organized and I depended on her to  help me out of any situation.  (Probably not the most healthy thing, but what are big sisters for!?) 

After we moved from Kansas, we moved into my grandparent's house for a summer.  Mornings began like this…all dressed up and wide awake for family scripture study.  This must have been on my birthday again.  Heidi is cuddled up with her baby blanket, as usual.  (She still sleeps with it.)

Warning:  Another hideous picture.  (Mom, you look good.)  This was at my Senior Commencement Dance.  Where did I get my dress?  It was Heidi's Prom Dress from a couple year's earlier…thanks, Heidi!  I am pretty sure I borrowed every single dress I ever wore to a dance.  That is what you get for being girl #3.  

Before you ask yourself about Heidi's mushroom cut in the above picture….remember the year was 1993/1994.  Think "Sleepless in Seattle".  

Remember Sam's first wife?  We thought she was so cutting edge and chic?  When I see this picture of Heidi, especially in that loose flowing dress, it just reminds me Sam's wife in the movie... 

Hey, I am no Meg Ryan, but in looking for a picture of Sam's first wife, I found this picture. I would say my dress is pretty close there!

Now jump back about 12 years…here we are in Maryland I believe. 

Heidi, cousin Rebecca, and I.  (Logan, Utah)  

We were in my Grandma Adams's front yard during a vacation. Of course, we were doing some sort of play.  

Thirty years later… (Gilbert, Arizona)

Over the years Heidi was always supportive of me in track, cheerleading and gymnastics.  I still remember in 6th grade she told me she would buy be a shake from the local Burger King in Germany if I won my mile race.  I didn't win, but she still cheered me all the way.  It was fun to be able to pay her back last year after all the times she cheered for me!

Love the bangs here…a little rabbit hunting trip with my Dad when we lived in Colorado.  Someone in the store took this picture of us.  

Heidi and I (Just loved that little kitchen set!)

Probably my least favorite picture of us…taken in Turkey.  I kind of wish we had adopted the local fashionable Burka at the time, it would have hid our scary hair. At least we brought our Liz Claiborne purses with us to the Mediterranean

Probably my favorite picture of us...

Thanks for all the laughs...

Happy Late 40th Birthday, Heidi Ann!

I LOVE YOU LOTS! Thanks for all you have done for me through the years! 

I hope that this next decade brings much happiness and joy!  

Time and a Season

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

A time to week, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…."

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

This is one of my favorite scriptures and overall concepts that brings peace in life. 

 However, to be honest, whenever I hear the actual scripture…I just hear it read in Kevin Bacon's voice. You know what I am talking about.  Footloose anyone?  ("a time to DANCE")

If I am not thinking about Footloose I start singing "Turn, Turn, Turn" by The Byrds…think Forrest Gump Soundtrack, 1994.  

Ok, but seriously, I think it helps put everything into perspective.  For sure it puts the "big" things into perspective.  Things like dying and whatnot.  But it also helps with the little things that we sometimes tell ourselves we are missing out on.  If you are not getting to that vacation you dreamed off, not working out like you wanted to because you are occupied with little ones, pretty much anything I feel bad about "not getting too" I just chalk it up to not being the season for right now.   I think the key to enjoying the stage of life when your kids are really small and you really can't do much, is to just get over it.  Accept that you can't go skiing all the time, go on the same vacations,  whatever it is that you used to do.  Once you get over that already, you don't sit and feel bad about it in your head every time you are faced with a hard choice.  And looking back I never regret those things I thought seemed like sacrifices at the time.  Little things like, not getting to ride barely any rides at Disney Land because you are 7 months pregnant.  (And you have a cranky two year old, and you look hideous.)

Having a new nursing baby on your family beach vacation kind of puts of a kink in your "relaxing" time at the beach. Going out on the boat and wake boarding isn't usually happening.  And to top it all off, if you only looked cute and skinny you could handle it all.  But instead you are wearing a pregnancy swimming suit and it is impossible to nurse discretely.  It is all a sacrifice, and one that you won't give a rip about later.  

Even trips to Exotic Locations were more like this…(diapers, floaties, strollers included).

Not a lot of snorkeling and hiking about.  My recommendation?  Just get a local pool pass if you want to take the kids to the pool.  

I like our season of life right now.  I wish it could just stay.  It will only be a few years and I will never again have all my kids living under one roof, and I won't have a squishy toddler that can say pretty much anything and it sounds funny. 

I love gymnastics with Annie…she is the one is Gray Sweatpants and the pink top.  

With four boys in a row, Cub Scouts seemed like it would go on for years, but in only two more years, no more Cub Scouts…THAT seems crazy.  (Michael received his Webelos Patch last night.)

Dance parties...

One old enough to drive, and one young enough to squish. 

And even moments like this one I found captured on my iPhone.  I am trying to plan the week out and Sophie was having a meltdown on the counter, and some child that took the picture obviously thinking it was all very funny.  

 It makes me sad, but I know I just need to enjoy each season, and just like there is something to love about Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall…there will always be something good to find about the season of life I am in.  

Want to know what is good about Winter here?  I was thinking about January and February and was thankful that God gave us Downton Abbey to watch during those months.  It gives us something to look forward to after Christmas and gets us through to March, when Spring is right around the corner.  See, you have to find joy in the small things.  So when I think, "I can't WAIT till the next Season of Downton!"  I just remember that with Downton, comes Winter, and then I can wait.  

Enjoy your Season.