HAPPY SUNDAY

I am stealing an idea from a friend. She does a Happy Sunday picture of her family every Sunday. She says that she can never get them to all look at the camera and smile or even be normal and that is what makes it so funny. I love this one. It might be the first of many. Happy Sunday!

 

I am on a personal journey lately to be more like my Savior. Yes, I realize how difficult that is. Yes, I realize that my humanness is so glaring at times it is embarrassing to admit aloud that I actually think I am trying. I have tried to rid my life of anything that chases the Holy Ghost away. I am doing better, although I am not perfect at all. I am trying to focus on things that will bring the Holy Ghost into my life. 

 

Along with that, I have been trying to make the Sabbath a delight. The new emphasis has almost backfired on my soul. Sacrament meeting has become such a chore lately. It is more apparent that my children have no idea how to be reverent or listen. I feel like I am shushing my children and trying to distract them from melt downs so much I don't hear of feel anything. I have wanted to reject my babies or control them, to invite his spirit in.

 

I had this moment today as I looked at James's tiny hands grabbing too many pieces of bread. I thought about how the bread in a symbolic way, but in a very real way was going to ultimately save him and me and keep him mine forever. I thought of how the atonement doesn't just rescue us individually but as families. Instead of trying to close my eyes and think of the Savior I opened my eyes and thought of the Savior and what he literally has done for that chaotic bench. For this small precious family. How because of him I could be made perfect, because of him we were bond together each of us forever, because of him my life is beautiful, and through him I can do all things.

 

I have always wanted to be in this meditative prayerful state during the sacrament. I have always thought that would make me feel close to the Savior. Today I felt the raw beauty of this sacred ordinance by opening my eyes and being a mother. I think if I use this ordinance to look at my babies through the Savior's eyes I will be filled with his love. He never wanted to turn the children out or put them away but he beckoned them to come unto him. I love Him and am grateful for the love He shows me every day.

 

Amen

SWINGS

Nate was hilarious today. He asked me what was up with all the make shift tree swings in the yard. he told me if I was that desperate he would buy me a swing set. I said, "I want it playground grade." He looked up the cost, swallowed hard and then said I have a front porch to build. I said, "Then just help me fix the swing I made." He refused and listed about a billion reasons why it was unsafe. Don't worry, these little's will invent their own fun while mom and dad are trying to decide what to do with the swing situation.

KIRA

 Kira came to play last night. They ran all over the property. James pushed Ashton in his car. Then they came in and made pizza and watched The Good Dinosaur. They drank soda and laughed. Kira said Sierra and her are going to best friends because they are both weird. I am glad. She wants friends her age so badly.

(I experimented taking pictures at sunset again. I am not good at it. I had to throw a filter on my pictures because they were filled with this grey haze. I have been reading and they say a lens hood will cut that out. I am going to go and purchase one this week and try again. Wish me luck. Hoping to eventually create stunning outdoor pictures. Enjoy watching the journey.) 

JAMES my BOY

He fell asleep on the office chair in a super weird position today. I moved him to the couch. I thought of how beautiful he was sleeping. It reminded me of my sister words. She went to a funeral of a family friend. She recently lost her two year old baby girl to pneumonia. She died at Primary Children's Hospital. My sister went to the viewing and said, she looked like she was sleeping. 

 

I was so grateful as I watched this little boys chest rise and fall as I photographed his tiny little body. Life is so fleeting especially in death but even in life. Time goes by and he grows so fast every day. I can't bottle these moments up but I was born with a nice camera and through books and the internet I have acquired some skill. I had to drop down and just capture this boy and his too straight fingernails. His unruly hair, that has a bit of red in it when it is kissed by the sun. His little nose and little ears, and those unearthly eyelashes that he flutters all the time. I feel so blessed to have him in my life today.  



 



HOMEWORK with a FRIEND

Yesterday after school Kaylee and Natalie came over and did homework with my girls and then watched The Good Dinosaur, while putting together Legos and a marble run. My living room floor looks like it threw up toys. I normally don't allow toys downstairs but I made an exception because a sweet friend Teddy brought over some hand-me-down toys and clothes for James. It was like Christmas morning for the boy. He was so happy. I didn't want to burst his bubble. They played and played while Mom and Dad stepped over the toys and watched the debate together.

 

When the girls parents finished their project they came and got them and I put my little ones to bed. Madison was crying because everything in her body hurt. Here legs, arms, throat, and eyes. I told her "rest is best" and tucked her into bed. She came out of bed a handful of times to tell me she hurt. I think I have either raised a hypochondriac or a chronically in pain child. I don't know what to make of it. The doctor says she is fine, maybe growing pains but she is constantly complaining. My gut tells me she is fine and she just needs to eat more. I made her drink a glass of milk this morning and eat her vitamins. Then I told her I wouldn't take her to school until she finished her eggs. She just picked at them till she was late for school. I asked her, "Why won't you eat your eggs?" She said, "Because you made drink a full glass of milk."

 

I am lost for words. EAT princesses!!!!

 

 

GOOD MORNING

 I can't even begin to convey how blessed I have been over the last few weeks. I have felt Heavenly Father just pouring his spirit out upon me in great abundance. I feel as though I am living in this beautiful light. A light I have never experienced. I now know why people do missionary work. I know why people share the gospel. I love that I have been blessed with the opportunity to share my light and watch as someone can feel that light and want to grow in the light of Christ. 

 

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me. John 10:27

I am living in this scripture.

 

I am so blessed. I had the most beautiful day.

 

I have been privileged to have the most beautiful woman be apart of my life for the last two years, she has served me and loved me. I went to her home the other day and wept with her as she talked to me about hungering for truth and not knowing where to find it.  

 

I have invited her to take the missionary discussions. I have invited her to come to church and neither has worked out. I know it will.

 

Today we made a tent for her girls and made bread and she poured out her heart and talked about her life journey and I can't help but know that Heavenly Father is guiding her path. I just feel blessed to watch her grow in his light and help her along her path. It has strengthened my testimony of His infinite love.

PLAYDATE

 

I guess from now on every Monday and Friday will get to have Kaylee in our home. Her mother is coaching girls on the run. We trade Sierra for Kaylee. Kaylee is so sweet. You would never know she was even here. Her and Madsion get along perfectly. Quite frankly, they could be the same person. They are both quiet players. I had to put Ashton down for a nap, so they played even more quit than normal. They popped popcorn and sat on the couch and watched a show.  We feel so blessed to have such good friends so close.

TOLIET PAPER

BEAUTIFUL MORNING

 I bathed these babies this morning. (No small feat.) They smell so handsome. I clipped their nails and then went upstairs and sat on the floor and read to them and played with them. Then I put Ashton down for his nap. (My house is a mess see exhibit one below.) I have four loads of laundry to fold and I didn't do the dishes last night before I went to bed. The trash is always on the table or the counter anymore because Ashton empties it or eats from it. I know. YUCK. However, I don't care. I am focusing on being a good mother this week not a good homemaker. I don't know how to do both but I will work on the later while my babies are napping.

(Exhibit 1)

I love that my plants are thriving. They are so happy. I hoping they will be just as happy when they need to be planted in the garden.

  I love this little boy and his sweet hands.

These are the books I am reading with my babies this month. James loves The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh and so do I. It is my favorite chapter book for children. It is the only book I have read twice with my children, well that and the secret garden, which is another all time favorite. I love reading the classics to my children out loud. I am so glad my sweet sister-in-law Katrina gave me this collection of Mark Twain's books. Sierra and I have been giggling as we have read Tom Sawyer together. Madison has never seen the movie Charlotte's Web, how did I miss that? I am glad. She is hanging on every word and always begs to read more every night. I love the time I read with my children and I feel it is sacred time. Thus why the dishes aren't done from last night. They can wait, because babies don't keep.

ALL MY CHILDREN

 James decided to paint my carpet with my bright red fingernail polish, and my bedspread, and my brand new natural wood cabinets, all while I was going potty. He painted his brother too and when he got bored he handed the paint to his brother to enjoy. I am still dumbfounded by how much destruction happened in a short bathroom break. He is on duty to unload the dishwasher every day for the whole week. Did you know this kid is really good at unloading the dishwasher?

 This girl is always starving when she gets home from school. She is eating cheerios.

 This boy is my favorite thing.

This girl refuses to let me take her picture lately. She is gorgeous. She is growing so much. I bought her clothes at Christmas and they are all too short. I had to buy her more clothes this week. She almost fits in my shoes, what the? Oh, my.

FAMILY NIGHT

 

James was showing me that earlier in the week his sisters taught him how to make nests out of mud and grass. They were really cool. I love living on a farm and watching how creative my children are. I loved this little project of theirs.

Nate got his compact bow out and was shooting it in the front yard. James was so excited. I wish I could have captured his enthusiasm better. I took several videos but every time I was filming he was mellow and every time I dropped the camera he was over the moon excited.

This is the little birds nest they saw on our property and tried to copy it. It was in our little fountain on the side of the house.



Madison wanted to show me and tell her about how they made the nests and how they figured out how to make them. Then they placed several in the trees around our property. I guess to give the birds a little bit of a helping had. What a sweet gesture.

Madison was giggling because Ashton's belly was exposed. I flipped the camera around and took a picture of me and my boy on my hip. He was jabbering and as big a part of they whole evening as anyone else.

 

Where was Sierra? Girls on the run. She wanted to join again this year. I guess I will be running another 5K. This time I better train. 

FROM MY WINDOW

Sunday, from my window I watch my little ones play. They were having a picnic and playing together so sweetly on the lawn. I didn't want to break their childhood magic, but I wished I could hear their conversations.

ASHTON MAXWELL

 He emptied a container of lotion. Got out my pots and pans. Found the kids sledding rope. Emptied a box of fabric. Grabbed my seed magazines off my desk. Dumped chocolate milk into the carpet. Dumped hash browns into the carpet. Has a dirty face. Has a dirty nose. Has a dirty diaper now. All while I was blogging. Time to go clean up. Don't look away for a half hour. Your world will be turned upside down. ASHTON MAXWELL. I love you.