Monday at our house

This afternoon, I came into the kitchen to find my boys on the floor reading scriptures. I heard Andrew say, "And the Lord commanded Tanner and Reid to be righteous." I thought was adorable and snapped this picture. I don't want to give false impressions about my boys, so I'll also reveal what I found in the same kitchen with the same boys only 45 minutes later. After hearing squeals of laughter, I found my kitchen floor covered in water and some very happy boys giving Reid a Mohawk!

Rex Lee and a swim

A couple of weekends ago April came down and she and Mike and I ran the Rex Lee Run. I love this race! I have such great memories of running this race every year as an undergrad. In 2001 I ran it the day after Mike proposed! Glenn was nice enough to keep the big kids on the sidelines while Mike pushed Tanner and Amelia and April and I ran. We had a great time!

Here's Glenn leading the kids in some stretches before the race began. There was threat of a storm, but we lucked out and it wasn't until after the race that the cold air and snow came.

Afterward, we took the kids to Glenn's grandma's for a swim in her exercise pool, kept at 95 degrees! Perfect for the kiddos.

Sister's Rock!

So, Rach made a surprise visit and it was so much fun to have her! She arrived Friday afternoon and April had arranged for two babysitters to take care of our kiddos while we went to Tai Pan Trading to shop for April's mantle. It was fun to shop without kiddos and get creative with April's front room. Monday, we went to work on painting April's wall green. Glenn had no idea we were doing this and Rach had a flight to catch in the late afternoon. We moved quickly and got it done and we think it looks great! Not sure why I don't have an after picture. Although we had three adults for the project, we still had seven kids in tow. What to do? We put the youngest four down for naps...

and sent the older three to the basement with a DVD player and a sleeve of oreos! I love projects like this.

Amelia's Blessing

On Sunday, March 7th, we blessed our little Amelia. Mike gave her a beautiful blessing and it was such a special day. It was so wonderful having our families with us, but I also found myself missing our Nebraska "family." My dear friend, and neighbor, Marcy, has been to all our babies' blessings, and it seemed funny that she wasn't there. At Tanner and Reid's blessing, Julie, our other neighbor and dear friend, commented that it was so tender and sweet to hear a father speak about his children with such love. Julie's comments are vivid in my mind because they made me realize that a child's blessing is very special and we talk about that child in a way that our Heavenly Father would want us to talk about him or her. With great love, reverence for who they are, and hope for who they will become.

Amelia's blessing day was just what I would have wanted. Her blessing was beautiful, she looked beautiful, and she was surrounded by so many people who love her and who will help her become who her Heavenly Father wants her to be.

Mike's parents on the left, my parents on the right, kind of obvious. April was kind enough to let us move the family lunch to her home. We had a great time eating and chatting and the cousins had a blast playing together. The evidence...these two pictures below.

Proud Nana with baby Amelia.
My cousin, Debbie, and her family were so nice to join us for the blessing and lunch afterward.

Rachael made a surprise visit for the blessing! April called me last minute and asked if I could watch her kids on Friday while she went to a "doctor's appointment I forgot about." April came home from the dr. office with Rachael! Ha! It was so fun to have her. We had a great weekend playing together and it was so sweet of her to come.

I think Reid was one tired boy by the end of the day. Soft tickles from daddy are his favorite!

These pictures aren't from Amelia's blessing day, but I put her back in her dress so I could get a few pictures when she wasn't so tired. She is such a happy and sweet girl! We feel so blessed to have her in our family!

6 months difference

I'm amazed at what six months can do for my sanity and a trip to the library! Last fall, I loaded the boys into my triple stroller and walked to the library. When we got there, the stroller didn't fit through the door (I knew this before I left), so I parked it and let my boys walk into the library. Yes, all three of them. It was a disaster! They were all off in different directions, no one listening to the very frustrated mama trying to prevent them from disappearing behind bookshelves and being abducted. I couldn't get them out of there fast enough!

After that experience, I never went to the library without my trusted double stroller. Of all six strollers I own, it's the one I have a love affair with!

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I decided it was time to get back to our weekly library trips. What to do with all four kiddos? I put Amelia in a single stroller and let the boys...walk! I held my breath as we entered and was thrilled at their obedience. They stayed close, they listened, and I enjoyed! I'm amazed at what six months time does to toddlers. It's a great reminder that when things seem to be rough with the kiddos, it's nothing a little time can't solve.

I haven't blogged in a while. I would like to say it's because of a new baby, but it's not. I guess I'm at a loss of words. What do I say about the loss of a dear friend, a sweet mother, a cherished wife, a loving daughter, a kind sister? There is a void that no one can fill but Catie, and she is gone.

The last two and a half weeks have been rough, but I'm so grateful I was able to go to sweet Catie's funeral. I cried harder than I've ever cried, yet I left feeling uplifted. Feeling like I want to be better, I want to try harder, and I want to smile more. I think that's just what Catie would want.

The Olympic Spirit Lives Here!

The Olympics can be addicting! I am amazed by some of the athlete's stories and talents and before I know it I've watched three hours of the Olympics (while folding laundry- my new favorite hobby!). Tanner and Reid liked watching, but Andrew really got into it and was asking all day long if the Olympics were on yet! At breakfast one morning, Andrew talked nonstop about how someday he was going to be in the Olympics. He listed all the sports he would compete in, which was every sport.

So, for Family Home Evening we had our own family Olympics! We had two planned events, speed skating around the kitchen table and the biathlon with Nerf guns. Then two subsequent spontaneous events because the boys didn't want it to end- snowboarding in the kitchen, and ski jumping off the couch. Mike and I love the Olympics and it's so fun to see our kids love them too!
Andrew was a serious competitor. He was out to win!

Andrew always comments on how Tanner is the cutest runner in our family. It's like he hops along.

We didn't play football, but Reid doesn't get too far from his BYU football.

Amelia took gold in Sleeping! This girl passed out while we were all cheering each other on while skating around the table.

First Bath

I love giving my babies their first bath! It's like a rite of passage as we pull out the camera and document getting lathered up and rinsed off for the first time. This is actually Amelia's second bath. She's like Andrew in that she spits up 90% of what she eats. So, her first bath was a rash decision after she had unloaded on herself and her mother for the umpteenth time. There was no time for pleasantries or cameras with Amelia screaming and the boys wanting to "help." So, a few days later we had a more appropriate "first bath." The boys were so interested and excited to help. They really adore their sister.