Is she asleep?

Sshh! Sadie is FAST asleep!

What is up with the weather??

Every day I get up lately, I can't wait to look out the window to see what sort of a day it may be. Loved that we got a beautiful day today for weeding, spinning kids, riding bikes, picnics. For about 4 minutes today I got to lay by myself on my lawn in absolute peace, enjoying an absolutely glorious spring day... then someone jumped on my head and and some other little person jumped on my gut and my day got even better...

This is GLEE

After the spinning..

Luke MID SPIN

Sadie MID SPIN (look at that grin)

Mother Nature can't seem to make up her mind.  I can't seem to keep my house at a comfortable temperature. Heat is on, then it is 70 degrees outside, then windows get open and then we freeze to death.  It could be fairly annoying, except  I am enjoying the every other day warm weather.  Every other day is fun, especially when in between is a rainy day.

Our last rainy day was fun.  Poor Maddie was sick, so it wasn't much fun for her, but her and Sadie had a girls party in her room, watched movies, colored pictures, listened to the rain and wind.

Maddie is under the blanket.

Love those threatening skies..

Made homemade noodles for chicken noodle soup for Maddie.

Then on to the warm day.  Maddie feeling better.  Sitting outside to get some sun, while studying for a test.  

Luke playing with his shark from the aquarium.

Sophie in all her glory.

Bring on SPRING!! Even if it is rainy, then sunny, then windy, then sunny.  I love it!

100 % ADORABLE

Sadie on the morning of her dance class pictures. 

She has such a dangerously cute face.

I just want to eat her up.

She will be performing to "Good ship Lollipop" in a few weeks.

What would it be like to live your life with this face and level of sweetness?

I don't know, I can not relate.

I just know as her mother, I can not stop myself from kissing her at least 500 times a day.

Love you, sweet Sadie.

You are such a doll and I love being your mommy.

Some of her latest favorites:

Singing "Jesus wants me for a 'Sunbeep'"

Spinning

Dressing herself

Having Maddie put make-up on her

"Girls Party" (invented by Maddie-nails, makeup, coloring in Maddie's bed)

Saying a prayer by herself

Going swimming

Picking Dandelions

Having Daddy play "puppy and kitty" with her

Doing our hair-combing & putting bows in our hair

Why were eels created?

I should be exercising, but I have a headache and I am waiting for my medicine to kick in so I can go tackle Day 19 of Insanity.  Why oh Why do I do this to myself..?

Instead of getting my heart rate up, I decided to post some pictures of our aquarium visit the other day with Steph and her 3 youngest kids.  Love 'em to pieces and we are so glad they called and got us out of our pajamas..

The white eel thing may be the most hideous creature that was ever created.  It almost makes me want to vomit.  Looking at it gets my heart rate up... could I count this as my workout?

It was a fun 45 minutes.. Yes, that is all it took for my children to run through the exhibits.  That equals about $1.50 per minute.  I guess it was worth it.  

I did LOVE the new penguin exhibit-As ugly and creepy as the nasty eel-thingy is, the penguins are just as adorable.  Penguins got all of the cuteness nature has to offer. Penguins and Ducks.  They have all the cute.  Oh, and Sophie.  Penguins, Ducks and Sophie got all the cute.  

Family Home Evening

Watched some nature show on a HD channel and had popcorn.  Luke and Sadie were so cute and in awe over the cool sea critters.  Sure do love me my sweet husband and wonderful offspring.  

My worst nightmare

The older my children get, the worse my nightmares become.  

There is the nightmare of my 15 year old daughter, soon becoming 16.  Dating, Driving. Taking college courses.

There is the nightmare of my 13 year old shaving, and having armpit hair.

There is the nightmare of me being 40 and having 2 children still in preschool.

One of the worst nightmares I currently have again involves my 13 year old scout.

Scouts-- not only is it frightening to send your son (who tends to be somewhat 'dense' when it comes to safety) to overnight camps, but I must trust that the males that are responsible for his safe return are not 'dense' and will make sure he returns to me in all of his teen glory.  This is not to say that I don't trust our Scout leaders.. I do, for the most part.  And the other part (the non-trusting part) is just because they are not females and thus can't possible be as nuturing and safety-oriented as a mom would be.  Which is probably for the best, right?  To be honest, I can't imagine a more dedicated group of scout leaders than the ones we have right now.  I am thrilled to report that Tanner has survived several overnight camps, including 2 Klondike (who thought of this ridiculous thing-camping in the winter! Someone is for sure 'dense'!).   

Just this weekend, the scouts were working on their cycling merit badge and so they planned and executed their 15 mile ride.  On Redwood Road.  At 5:00 p.m. on a Friday.  So freakin' scary.  I insisted (several times) that they remember to pray before they left and then I snapped a few dozen pictures.  I was feeling anxious about this bike ride, but I didn't know how anxious, until I went home and passed by a mirror.  OH THE HORROR! I had the biggest, fat-man-in-front-of-buffet, sweaty pit marks I have ever seen on someone my size.  I mean, seriously- I may have excreted at least 1/2 pound of liquid out of my pits.  Guess that is one way to get some weight off.  Have your scout ride his bike with 15 other young men on Redwood Road at commuting time.  You too, can reach your goal weight.  

How embarrassing.

It could be worse though.  I think Tanner's embarrassment was worse as I waited all of 30 minutes and then drove down Redwood Road to make sure he was still alive.  I found them, alive and well.  Yes, I honked and waved.  

Now THAT is embarrassing! ("Hey Tanner-isn't that your mom with the sweaty pits driving by and honking?")

Another Great Read

I did not discover this. It came highly recommended to me by a patient. She said it was one of her all time favorites, and she reads a TON! I really enjoyed it and I think if you enjoy historical fiction, you will, too!

We don't need no stinkin OPRAH!

My dog is awesome, part 2

Laying down

Trying to scare you while laying down

My dog is awesome

Sophie is a good dog. Sophie is a sweet dog. My children love Sophie. Sophie loves the car. Sophie loves to sleep. Sophie does not wish to run at this time. Sophie is bugged that I am taking her picture. She was hoping for a ride in the car. But napping in the care will have to do. Sophie is the best dog in the world. She only requires a couple of things-- a place to lay down and kibble..

A few of my favorite things..

You may think it is strange, but these are absolutely necessities in my life right now.  

I am attempting to complete 60 days of the Insanity workout.

They say a picture says a thousand words..

This picture is of my recovery drink (which is only 1/2 gone because I couldn't catch my breath enough to drink it) and of my puke bowl (just in case!).  

My darlings...

My children that can make me crazy before I even roll out of bed in the morning, but are the reason I get out of bed every morning.  What sweet little faces.  Love you Luke and Sadie and I am so glad you have chosen me to be your mommy.  Now, could you please let me sleep??

Easter Fun

We had such a great Easter weekend at our home.

And when I say "at our home", that is literally what I mean.

It was so nice to have a few days to just relax with everyone at home.

So many times, when we have a few days off, I tend to feel like I need to

fill them with lots of activities, running around, etc..

I resisted this temptation this year and we just CHILLED at home for the most part.

We did venture out after conference on Saturday to color eggs

with cousins while the menfolk attended priesthood session together.

I am so thankful for all I have been given and the love I have for my little family

just grows and grows, as they grow and grow.  

I am so thankful for the messages about the importance of family

and good parenting, that we heard this General Conference.  

The gospel is such a blessing and I know now that I am a true grown-up

because I can sit through 8 hours of "church" and 

wish for some more...

Love it, love it, love it.

Aftermath

FYI- I think I am having a gallbladder attack from my binge yesterday.  "Death by chocolate and peanut butter" is my last cry!  Ouch...  I think that last pain was from the queso dip...

Even through my suffering, I remember with fondness the feel of robin eggs on my tongue.

Gospel Doctrine by Luke

As part of our Easter Sunday, I asked Maddie and Tanner to come up with some scriptures or questions relating to Jesus Christ and his resurrection. They then wrote down their questions and we put them in plastic eggs and we hid them around the house for Sadie and Luke to find. After the scramble to gather their eggs, we met up on our bed to open them and discuss our Savior's resurrection. The second egg contained a question from Tanner...

Me: "The question is 'Where were the savior's apostles when he was resurrected?'"
Luke: "I know, I know!!"
Me: "You want to answer, Luke? OK. Where do you think they were?"
Luke: (no hesitation) "Canada?"