My Life

Better Late than Never

End of the school year festivites.  End of May/beginning of June is quite exhausting with trying to get to all the ceremonies and concerts and trying to finish up the spring sports seasons.  I love going to see my kids, however, it's always so annoying because there is never enough space for all the parents plus the kids.  I can never zoom in far enough with my lens and am always in the most awkard, far away places, behind lots of parents.  Guess I should start saving to invest in a zoom.

We are proud of the kids and their accomplishments.  I cannot believe that Lauren will be finishing up her last year of middle school this next year and Kyle will be entering 6th grade.  My Kade who I thought just finished kindergarten yesterday is already moving on to 2nd grade and Brandon will be headed off to Kindergarten.  Time flies!

Kade's class.  I got to go in every other week to help them with their sight words.  Cute bunch of kids. 

And so it seems every year friends move.  It's so sad :(  Here's Kade playing with his friend Kai before they head off to Texas.  He keeps telling me that he'll see Kai again when he's 11 and they move back :)

Project: Declutter and Organize

I'm feeling completely taken over by all the things in my home.  Most of it just needs to be thrown out. I've stocked up on garbage bags and I am not afraid to use them.  There are lots of places that need my attention.  I always aspire to accomplish it all, but fizzle out.  I need a plan and a simple one.  I thought I might just tackle one area a day.  Not too overwhelming, and then the rest of the household chores can be accomplished as well.  That way the whole house doesn't look like a bomb went off because I was focusing on deep cleaning one area.

• junk drawer(s) [please tell me I 'm not the only one with multiple junk drawers]
• under bathroom sinks
• under kitchen sink
• under laundry sink
• spice cupboard
• pantry
• linen closet
• coat closet
• bedroom nightstands
• front room console tables
• silverware drawer
• kids dressers
• rest of kitchen cupboards [this one is going to have to be a Saturday job]

I don't want to get over ambitious, but the garage, den closet, car, refrigerator could use a little help as well.

Got some messy spots?  Join me won't you.

Sunday Thoughts

 

Friday evening I sat just thoroughly exhausted from the week.  Wanting to veg and everyone to leave me alone.  I got the kids off to bed and was up late editing pictures.  I saw this video in my feed posted by my sister Amber. It was just what I needed.  I was feeling down about the kind of mom I had been that week.  We stressed about making everything super for summer camp, but it really put a cramp in our routine.  Stress usually makes me a grouchy momma.  I was short with my kids, my house was a disaster, no kind of order, we didn't have much time to relax, our daily scripture reading slid off the schedule. So I sat with tears streaming.  Realizing that the week had not been ideal family wise.  Sometimes I have really rough times, or rough weeks.  Thank goodness for new starts and a chance to begin new each day.  It was a great reminder to focus on what really matters and to enjoy instead of dread the tasks of the everyday.  

My family is the my most favorite of anything in the world :)

We survived

hosting summer camp that is, for 5 straight days at our house.

It was messy, HOT, and a little bit like having a birthday party over and over again.

We are exhausted, and still recovering. I must admit it was harder than I anticipated.

I cleaned most of my house today, and it feels so nice to have clean floors again :)

It's pretty safe to say all the little campers had a fabulous time.

Rasberry/Strawberry Lemonade Slushy

Have I ever shared this recipe?  It is divine.

It is a summer time treat at our house.  You'll need:

1 can of minute maid frozen rasberry lemonade concentrate

5-8 strawberries

5-7 fresh mint leaves

2 liter bottle gingerale

Put concentrate in your blender with one can of water, then add the rest of the ingredients minus the gingerale.  That's for after it's frozen.  Double up a freezer ziploc bag so you don't have any leaks in the freezer.  Put in the liquid from the blender and add 2 more cans of cold water.  Seal that baby up and put her in the freezer until firm.  I usually let it freeze overnight then whack it like crazy with a metal spoon.  Spoon out slush and pour cold gingerale over the top.  Sit back and enjoy.

Life Lesson

It's no secret, I like to be in control.  I like to know what to expect and I hate, hate change.  Some change is good, but I like to have initiated it.  I don't like kind of change that I didn't create by my own decisions, if that makes sense. I suppose it's the fear of the unknown and lack of security that always worries me.

I think it's no coincidence when I have conversations with people or experiences reading things that make me feel differently and ultimately change my perspective.  I suppose I need some lessons in trusting and knowing that I'm really NOT in control, but my Father in Heaven is. Trusting Him, that as I try to do what I know to be right, all will be well with me and my family.

I finished up a book the other day where one of the main characters was dying of cancer.  Their world stopped.  My problems seem super insignificant in comparision.  It made me think why do I hold on to things, why do I get shaken up about things that ultimately don't really matter?  All I need is my family, everything else is temporary. 

So today, I decided:

I will not worry

I will not fret

I will not loose sleep

I will not constantly play the what if game

I will be at peace

I will let go of my emotional attachments to things

Whatever happens will be for my good and benefit

I have to trust that everything will work out

Worrying does not help me.

Now I just need to replay that in my mind at night when I wake up at odd hours :)

April: Everyday Randomness

in photos.  I'm still catching up on my picture a day.  Here's a few from the month that I loved:

He's swinging on his own, which means he's for sure a big boy now.

After school snuggle and down time.

She's never far from that phone and most often looks annoyed in any picture I take of her lately.  I told her that she's going to look back on this phase of her life and think that she was super grumpy and unhappy. 

Spring Break at the skating rink.  Good times.  All my kids are dying to go back this summer.

First family bike ride of the season.  It will probably be the last until things start cooling down in mid November :)

Easter egg hunt at Grandpa and Grandmas.  It was a small group this year.  We are missing 5 of my siblings and 6 of the grandkids.  I love that we get together so often and that the grandkids have formed such strong little friendships.  We never had cousins living close by when we were growing up, so I think it's neat to see my kids experience that.  I hope they are always the best of friends and support each other when they get older.

 

Summer Break [Day 4]

Yep, it's here.  And this is how I know:

• My pantry is constantly being raided.  These kids are eating me out of house and home.
• Friends are always over, and in abundance.  My kids are free for a playdate at anyone's house anytime :)
• The back door constantly being left open!  The continual in and out all.day.long
• Swim team has started up for Kyle.  He's already sunburnt.
• Kade's hair is so blonde already and he's sporting a pretty serious tan.  That olive skinned boy is so lucky :)
• Arguments.  Endless arguments over silly things.  
• Messes.  Oh, the messes.  Everywhere I look messes.
• TV constantly streaming.  I'm really considering doing a few days of being unplugged.  It's driving me crazy!  If not all day, at least until the afternoon. Sheesh, you'd think they were on vacation or something :)
  
• An ongoing game of scrabble on the kitchen table.  We actually borrowed this from Grandma at Sunday dinner.  Kyle and Kade are most interested.  Kade thinks it's super awesome that it's "just like words with friends!"  Cool that they would make a game just like the one on my phone.  Silly boy doesn't realize that the game of scrabble is ancient!
• Otter pop wrappers all over the house and a freezer stocked full is mysteriously void of otter pops after 2 short days.
• Thinking about setting some definite vacation plans.  Sitting out in the 108 degree heat today just put me right in the mood to get out of here!

Birthday Season Begins

All of my kids have birthdays so close together.  We have already successfully hosted 2 parties.  Now we just have the older two to go in July.

Kade turned 7 at the end of April.  I happened to be traveling home on his birthday.  He was so good about not being upset.  He had a party at flip n out.  It is kind of tricky getting everyone there and back with limited seats, so he had to whittle his list down. He had a super time. 

I thought it was so cute that he really got into it when the kids were singing to him.  That's not typically his style.  He's more of the quiet, don't really want the attention type.  Apparently, he felt comfortable :) 

His party guests:

In honor of the 7th, I list 7 things I love about Kade:

1. His laugh.  It's really the cutest little thing and quite contagious.

2. His competitive nature.

3. That he tries his best always and works hard.

4. That he still likes to snuggle and doesn't mind when I give him a kiss in public.

5. His rock hard abs.....haha!  We tease him cause he's got this little cut body.  Probably because he doesn't ever put on any weight.

6. He is a good friend and is mostly easy to be around.

7. His sensitive nature.

We just finished up Kade's party and it was on to Brandon's.  He turned 5 on May 26.  It also happened to be preschool graduation that day, so we had double the fun at our house.  Brandon had been talking for months that he wanted his party at the skating rink.  Then he decided last minute that Kade's was so fun that he would do it at flip n out too.

He had been saying all month that he was the "birthday boy" so he should be able to get whatever he wanted at the moment (a donut at the grocery, a toy, a movie....) and this continued even after his actual day.  He really knows how to work it :) So, he wanted flowers for his birthday party, so he got them and some helium balloons too.

He is my little nature boy, so this was quite fitting.

I took him to Target to choose a present.  With all the busyiness of  getting ready for the end of the preschool year, I didn't grab him a gift.  We went down every aisle at Target.  I told him ONE thing.  He got out of there with a movie, four animals and a container to hold a tadpole.  Too bad the tadpoles won't be arriving until the fall.

And all his party guests:

Can't believe these guys are headed off to kindergarten :(

Since we love Brandon so and don't want him to feel left out, 5 things I love about him:

1. He is his own man.  Does things his own way.  Knows how to get what he wants.

2. His little squishy cheeks.

3. That he loves all things animal and nature related. 

4. His long lashes.

5. That he wants me to be his teacher forever :)

 

Ten on Tuesday

 
1. I love blueberries.  I got a whole container at Costco yesterday and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be the only one who eats them.  I can't wait to have them on my oatmeal in the morning.

2. I've headed back to the gym. It has worn me out.  I am determined to build up a little endurance, however, I feel like doing absolutely nothing for the rest of the day once I've gone :( 

3. Since summer has hit, that means I have more time for reading.  It's true, I only read in the summer.  I picked up a book at Target called Same Kind of Different As Me I'm halfway through and I like it.  Any good books that you've read lately? 

4. Next week is summer camp.  Gonna be a week of fun.  Honestly, I'm a tad bit nervous about all the fun we are going to be having.  I'm sure it will turn out perfectly. It's not too late, I may possibly have a couple of spots that just opened up because of a cancellation. Let me know if you're interested.

5. With the end of the school year, it forces me to go through and organize everything preschool.  It's kind of a headache.  But it's done and it feels good and I think I may just be able to stay that organized throughout the upcoming school year.  My poor closet is stuffed full of preschool.  Good thing Steve doesn't mind :)

6. All that organizing makes me feel like we need to attack every drawer, closet, cupboard.  I'm hoping to set up a plan to purge and declutter this place.  Funny how things can start to pile up.

7. I recently went on a photo shoot that made me so happy.  It was real life, everyday and it made me want to shoot everything just like that, all the time.  It's no secret that I embrace and love the everyday shots of life.  I really struggle with posed portrait style photography.  So happy to find what I love.  More on that later.  Tons more..... cause I/we got an awesome plan :)

8. My newest addiction: Pinterest.  For the love of everything good and holy, that place totally rocks.  I have found so much inspiration and fabulous ideas that I have actually used.  I LOVE it, it's brilliant.  Not sure what it is?  What an invite?

9. According to my kids, the next addiction is Words with Friends.  Kade frequently asks me in the evening to snuggle him and play some rounds of words with friends with him.  For the love of cute.  Speaking of, my friend Kristin played 168 points on one word on me.  My jaw dropped.  Best play ever I'm sure. She is definitely the queen of WWF as we so affectionately call it around here. 

10. Steve brought home a small refrigerator from the office.  He loaded it up with water, soda and capri suns and then he locked it.  Otherwise all of the beverages would be consumed.  Trouble is the lock is on the bottom.  Those little ones found a way to pull the top open and squeeze out a few capri suns.  It was funny to me and I didn't want to forget.