ORANGE SHIRT DAY

 The last few mornings I have been conversing with my girls at the breakfast table.

I decided to start making it a little more exciting.

 

Two days ago I grabbed up a box of cereal and said, "I bet you are wondering why I gathered you here together this morning. Well, last night I and Dad decided that our official family color is red!"

Sierra threw her head back and screamed, "Why, that is the worst color!"

I said, "I am sorry dear, red is a power color, you will understand when you are older."

Then I moved on to other equally stupid topics.

 

Yesterday as I grabbed the same box of cereal I said, "I bet you are wondering why I gathered you here together this morning. Well, today is orange shirt day. As such, all of us will be wearing orange shirts. For convenience I have laid your shirts out on the couch." Sierra refused to wear hers, but then went and put it on."

 

I wonder what other amazingly nonsensical things I will contrive, and get these kids to go along with.

LOVE THIS LITTLE MAN



Today was the last day for Art Heritage.

I have learned a lot over the last year.

Artists are crazy. Really crazy.

BUT, they sure made some beautiful ART.

 

Second, having a little toddler while teaching art heritage is a little difficult.

I had to stop mid-sentence several times to chase him today.

He thought he was hilarious.

 

I promise I would record the progress on our house.

I feel like there is none.

So, I haven't

But I need to.

Maybe tomorrow.

Until then I will leave you something better to watch.

Again, recorded on my ten year old camera.

But he is a cutie.



 

NEVER WERE THERE SUCH AWESOME GIRLS

 Madison asked if Treyden could come over and play.

She said "I think Treyden is so handsome, but that doesn't mean I am going to married him."

I think Treyden is pretty handsome myself.

 I love Sierra's note to the tooth fairy.

 I love even more the fact that Sierra is a fairy to her sister and leaves her wonderful notes, sometimes with treats in them, for her sister to find.

Her sister writes notes back to her fairy.

Then she writes wonderful replies.

I love it.

I use to leave Sierra notes from the fairies when she was about this age but have been less diligent with Madison. I am glad her sister has picked up where I have left off.

On another random note but it warms my heart, so I must share. Sierra has been reading to me every night for the past week. (I think about six months ago she simply refused to ever read again, so I have just let her be. I haven't asked her to read since but I have continued to read to her every night.) Well, a month ago I found The Boxcar Children at the thrift store. I bought it for her. I told her it was my favorite book at her age and suggested she might want to read it. She asked if she could read to me about a week ago and has brought it out to read to me every night. Then, the best part. We were driving to the Amish Paradise the other night and she told her sister the whole story every little detail. She kept telling her it is the best book. I smiled through happy tears. I may have a reader on my hands yet.

THREE GOOSLINGS

 Ten chicks and now three goslings.

They couldn't be more happy.

They love critters.

They made two friends, they live up the road.

I asked them their names and they said, Aspen and Ammon.

I said to the little boy, "How did you get your name?"

He shied away.

His big sister said, "It's okay you can tell her!"

He said, "From the scriptures."

I said, "I thought so!

You must be Mormons.

We are too."

1st BBQ

 Nate made some yummy hamburgers.

We had the missionaries and Bob and Nattalie's cute family over.

My children and her children get along so well.

They had so much fun sitting in the sandbox and playing in the sand.

TODAY WAS BUSY

 I have felt likes such a neglectful mother lately.

I have been so busy.

Everything has fallen through the cracks.

I made a 10:00pm Easter Run last night.

This morning we dyed eggs.

I let the girls dye while I made rolls, pies and cut a salad.
YOU should see my kitchen right now.

We were going to dinner at the Bob and JoAnn's home.

I hurried and got them ready.

James was super fussy all morning.

I put him down for a nap and realized it was 10:40, church starts at 11:00.

I grabbed some clothes and threw them on.

I asked Sierra to wipe up this mess.

Then she stained her new cream sweater with dye.

I couldn't get it off.

While I was trying to get the dye out of her sweater, I burned the banana cream pie filling.

I was frazzled.

She had to change into a t-shirt.

We will get Easter outfit pictures next week.

We were late for church.

I was snappy.

I am sad.

I know that outfits, eggs, candy and yummy dinners are all really fun but not at all the purpose in celebrating this amazing holiday.

In all my hustling I lost the meaning and purpose of it all.

I am grateful that because of Him I can do better tomorrow.

 

I am grateful, in my hardest moments, to know that there was someone who really knows me.

REALLY KNOWS ME.

ME.

He knows my desires and my heart.

He knows my motives.

He knows ME.

He loves ME.

I don't have words for the sacrifices he paid for me individually, but I am grateful he was willing.

I am grateful for new days.

FRESH STARTS.

HOPE and COURAGE to begin again.

 

I am grateful for a husband that let me take a nap while he went and had and Easter egg hunt with these two.

I NEEDED THAT NAP.

He was so sweet to let me have it.

BBQ at the COUSINS

 These two are precious.

The fact that they are friends is a testimony to what an amazing mother and father Caleb has.

The two of them didn't get along from almost the minute Sierra was born.

Now, they are two peas in pod. She wants to be everywhere he is.

I giggle at this picture.

Sierra is going through a faze where she doesn't want me to touch her hair. She says she wants it to be wild and free like she is. I force her to do her hair on Sunday and for school but when she doesn't have those two obligations I let her do whatever she wants with her hair.

She was being wild and free this day.

On the other hand Caleb is going through a faze where he really cares about his hair.

His mom says he makes sure it is always done.

I thought he looked so handsome, don't you?

 

It was so fun to roast hotdogs with Heather and Brandon.

Then we sat in there just finished basement and enjoyed how lovely and cool it was.

They joked that it cost three times as much and took three times as long as they anticipated.

I am pretty sure the Amish Paradise is going to be the same way.

I am scared and happy.

 

I can't even begin to explain in words what a gift this little project of ours has been to our marriage.

Nate and I were shoveling insulation out of the attic yesterday.

We were dressed in long sleeves and pants with respirators on.

(Yes, I know how dangerous our little job was.)

We were taking precautions and working hard together.

Sweat was pouring down our foreheads.

We were hauling bag after bag out.

We took a brake and drank gator aid together in our living room.

He said, "I bet I can hire a few folks to come in and get this done in a day."

I said, "I was trying to save us some money.

He said between swallows, "Well, thanks for that. I think you have saved us all of about.... fifty dollars."

We both laughed and laughed at our ridiculous plight and how slow our aching bodies were moving.

I love him.

We are becoming friends.

This silly Amish Paridise is cementing us.

I love it.

It is painful but so much fun.

SPRING IN THE VALLEY

 My girls love my parents back yard.

The especially love jumping on the trampoline with the sprinklers on.

Yes, they jumped in their clothes and got soaked and loved every minute of it.

Don't worry that isn't a cut above Sierra's eye it is just grandma's amazing raspberry jam.

She ate plenty of toast with raspberry jam.

I think every one is right these two are looking more and more alike.

WALKING WITH AUNT JENN and CHARLOTTE

 Jennifer and Charlotte invited us to take a little walk with them the next day.

James was excited to check out Charlottes Radio Flyer.

He couldn't get the hang of it, so Charlotte switched him.

Give him six months I think he will be begging to trade.

We walked over to the park I use to take Sierra to when she was a few months younger than James.

He fell asleep, so he didn't get to enjoy Sierra's favorite slide.

 

Jennifer made some beautiful Easter skirts for the girls.

They love them.

THE TEMPLE

 I love the temple.

I love that I got to go with these two last week.

I made a last minute trip.

They mean the world to me.

I couldn't miss it.

 

They are so beautiful inside and out.

I am so grateful for the example they set for my girls.

I pray my girls grow up to be as good and as pure.

 

Life is so beautiful.

There are some moments that fill me with so much joy.

This was one of them.

 

Dear TamBamSUMMERJAM and KimKimSHARI,

 

You make me smile.

I am so happy and honored to call you my little sisters.

I remember rubbing your faces and watching ET with you, over and over again.

I remember reading my college books to you as you fell asleep.

I remember cuddling with Tamara after our car accident and being with Kimberly in the hospital.

Remember, "Watch this extreme maneuvering?"

Remember floating down the Colorado river in a thunder storm

Remember when I used to sing to you at the top of my lungs when I ran you to school.

Remember our quick trip to Yellowstone.

You grew up too fast.

Time passes like a dream.

I am sad and happy.

 

Love you,

 

Lisa

FIRST BLACK EYE

 Battled with the cement stairs.

I wish I could say, "But you should see the other guy!"

However, he faired pretty well.

HE IS OUR BOY AN JOY

 Can't get enough of this kids lately.

Isn't he adorable?

I wouldn't be able to get anything done at the Amish Paradise, if it wasn't for his big sister watching him, loving him, and keeping him out of trouble.

They humor him a lot and give him chocolate and push him in the laundry basket.

He is spoiled.

Lately, he prefers Sierra over me. He reaches for her when I am holding him.

She plays with him and takes him on adventures..

They have a special bond.

I am grateful

I would show you more pictures of my progress on our home but you wouldn't notice a difference.

It is the little things that take the longest.

Ripping staples out of the floor. Removing the tacking strip. Scrapping the second layer of padding off the floor.

I did take out the square wall. It made me happy.



It made my little girl happier.

I gave her a hammer and let her swing at it.

She said it was so fun.

She said, "No wonder James loves to destroy, this is fun!"

I tried to take out the two by fours in the wall by kicking them.

It worked well with the first one, but the second one split. My leg skidded over the jagged remains.

It is scrapped and bruised.

First wound.

I am not quit the karate expert I appear to be.

Next time I will use a sledge hammer.

The room is more open and it makes me smile.

I am finally done with the floor in this room. Not bad for a three days worth of work, with three kids and only a few hours a day to dedicate to the project.

This is going to be my favorite room in the house.

I know it.