one year older and wiser too

Its my birthday today.

I've spent the weekend in Boise with my sister. Its always fun to be here. We (along with another sister) went to a movie and out to lunch.

My kids have loved playing in her backyard, even though the weather has been raining.

Dave's been working on the canoe and its looking really good.

I got new running shoes. Yay!

I love long weekends.

optimism

Last week we took Ana in to a surgery center in Twin Falls to get all her dental work done. They put her under general anesthesia and did it all at once: several crowns and fillings. By that afternoon she was feeling mostly normal and the next day she was fine. It all went really well.

She has 4 silver crowns. We call these her new teeth.

Today was her follow up appointment. On the way there she said, "Hey! My new teeth match my trophy!" (The trophy she got from dance.)

Now that is being optimisitic.

moment forgotten

I was just reading back over some posts of mine from a few years back.

And I came across THIS one.

Funny, I don't remember that day at all.

What else am I forgetting? Am I forgetting the good stuff too?

I'm glad I am writing this stuff down.

slow day

Today is one of those days when I don't have anything to do.

Anything except clean house, that is. So naturally, I'm not doing anything. Well, I have done some laundry, but that's because we don't have any clean clothes.

We're just having a slow day.

You know, one of those days when you are still in pjs at 1:30. (That's partly because we don't have any clean clothes.) And we go for bikerides in the afternoon. (If the wind stops blowing, anyway.)

Jack is wearing his "red basketball shorts" by request for the 3rd day in a row. And no shirt because when a little bit of milk dripped on his shirt at lunch he said, "take-a my shirt off... because milk is wet."

And his sunglasses, because he's cool like that.

And he's ready for a nap.

busy-busy

Somehow my calendar went from almost empty to very full for the first two weeks of May. (And though I say very full, I'm not even as close to being as busy as any of my sisters with 3, 4, 5 or 6 children to run to and from school, play practices, lessons, sports, etc. But still, its been busy for me.) We've had doctor appointments (Ana's dental work was done today), Relief Society meetings, and dance recitals that have kept me running and my house not-as-orderly-as-I-would-like. (Or course there is also the Lord of the Rings trilogy and facebook's family feud that have interfered with that as well, but whatever.)

But more than the comings and goings, I want to remember:

*How much Ana likes the story of Jesus in the home of Mary and Martha and has asked me to tell it to her the last few nights.

*How great Jack did his first night and his first nap in a big boy bed.

(picture unrelated, but very cute.)

*How Ana said "Mom, I don't want you to be a grandma; I want you to stay my mommy forever!" and gave me a big tight hug.

*How excited Ana was to get her attendance trophy at dance.

*The movie night I had with the kids that started like this:

and ended with Jack standing on the couch throwing pillows at me and Ana.

*How we've been riding our bikes to the park when the weather is nice and that Ana is so good/fast at riding her bike!


Of course, I would rather not remember that Jack has begun throwing temper tantrums during dinner saying, "I don't really want it!" as he pushes his food away or that Ana has started peeing the bed almost nightly after about 6 weeks of staying dry.

But now its time to snuggle in bed with my tired little girl and then off to finish Lord of the Rings!

post mother's day thoughts

Last night Dave asked me that out of all of accomplishments and achievements in my life, what brought me the most satisfaction.

That was easy. There is nothing like being a mother.

Most days I do not feel the endless joy and satisfaction as I clean up the toys for the 15th time, or do the dishes, again, or fold the laundry just to have the kids run in and topple my pile over. Most days when I go to bed, I'm just worn out.

But there are moments when a wave of happiness wash over me and I think,"motherhood rocks."

*Like when I watch Jack doing the same thing Ana did two years ago.

(Ana. May 5, 2008)

(Jack. May 3, 2010)

*Watching Ana sing "Mother, Tell Me the Story" in Sacrament meeting. Just like I did in primary.

*Seeing this face in the backseat of the car:

*Or anywhere for that matter.


*And moments like this:

(Ana helping my mom peel potatoes yesterday)

*Taking Ana for a bike ride on her new big girl bike - just Ana and mommy.

(We ended up having Dave come pick us up because half way through the wind picked up and Ana kept saying "whew! i'm getting tired mommy.")

*And of course, watching a sleeping child.

*And a million other things like Jack wanting kisses for every hurt - including hurt feelings.

After a week full of happy moments, I didn't want a day off for mother's day. I wanted a day "on." I love this little family I have.

back to work

Women's conference was wonderful. My sisters-in-law pretty much rock. I had some wonderful thoughts and insights in to how to make my home a little happier.

For now, I need to make my home a little cleaner.


In other news:

It is my 5 year anniversary today. 5 years! Can you believe it? That seems like such a landmark. Then again, I think "only 5 years?"

In honor of that:

(Christmas 2004, we just started dating.)