My gratitude list

So I know its been awhile since I have posted any adorable pictures of my adorable kids... I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I am still here. Shawn has been working out of town, trying his hand in a new line of biz, and so I have been a single Mama. To the say the least its been a roller coaster around here, we have ups and downs. I feel kinda bipolar to be honest with ya! And it usually goes hand in hand with how Shawn's days are going. If he is having a good day then I feel good, like I can conquer another day until we see him again. On his bad days I wonder why the heck we are doing this, and I am ready for him to just to come home to me, RIGHT NOW.

The other day I was having a low day, and I sat down to do what I always do when I am having a rough day, I journal. I like to vent out all my feelings, and when I close my book, I always feel better. So as I sat down to whine my heart out, something different happened. I didn't feel like whining, I was sick of my endless whining! Instead I started to make a list of all my favorite parts of my day. And something miraculous happened, I had a change of heart, and realized that I needed to stop focusing on everything that wasn't going my way that day. Because I truly do have SO MANY things to be grateful for. I mean seriously! I do feel so lucky for so many things, and that is what I need to focus on. Not just for the kids, or for Shawn, but for me too.
So I wanted to share a few of my favorite parts of my day:

Ethan bringing Libby into my room in the morning, and listening to him talk to her softly. And the way she is all smiles and giggles in his arms.

Ethan making breakfast for Hayden. He doesn't always do it happily, but he always does it obediently, and that makes me happy.

I love the way Hayden has become our chaplain, he always wants to say the prayers. And he loves to take his turn to read the scriptures to us, with Daddy on speaker phone.

I love how at the bus stop the kids always have to give me and Libby a hug and kiss, and say I love you! before they run off.

I love the way Libby's face lights up every time she sees me, even if its only been a few minutes.

I love that she copies me. She likes to pretend to put on make up, and chap stick.

I love when she pulls herself up and hugs my legs, or will walk around the kitchen attached to my legs!

I love that I get to cuddle on the couch with Hayden and read books after school.

These are just a few of my favorite things. But making this list really helped me put my day back in perspective. My day is way to short, and goes by to fast for me to waste it away being grumpy!

Whats your favorite part of your day!?

Lake Time Again

It is getting hot here, already! I mean really hot, like close the windows turn on the ac, hot! And I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I am scared, its barely April, and the summers last forever here, so its way to early to be so hot already! But on the other hand I am really looking forward to swimming at the pool and going boating.

So on Saturday I talked Shawn into taking us out to the lake. We knew the water would be FREEZING, but I didn't care. It was such a beautiful day! And we are always so busy so we had to cease the moment! The boys invited friends and had a blast. They even got in the water, I was totally shocked! And they kept getting in! Hayden knee boarded, and Ethan and Alec inner tubed! It was awesome. Libby is not crazy about her life jacket. I wish they made baby life jackets that aren't so bulky, but oh well. She dealt with it. It was a great morning!

Arrow of Light

Ethan earned his Arrow of Light last week, which is the final award for cub scouts. It is really important to me that he earns his eagle scout, and I felt like if we did not make earning his Arrow of Light important too, then we would be missing out on the scouting journey. He was proud of himself for accomplishing this award. He worked hard on earning all of his beads, badges, pins and belt loops, and I believe he (we!) learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way in scouts. I am really glad we stuck with it and did not give up.

Now that Ethan is eleven he is officially a boy scout, and he is excited to be one!

Only what? 7 more years of scouting! Yippee!

Eleven! Oh my!

Ethan decorated his own cake Pokemon style! Everyone skating together!

I can not believe my Ethan is eleven! Doesn't that sound so old? It has taken me a while to get used to the idea. For Ethan's birthday celebration we went to USA skate. Ethan's cousins have had a few parties there and they are always a blast, so he really wanted to have a skate party too. It was so fun for everyone; It was a lot of the kids first time but they picked it up really fast and became quick experts, Hayden did a really good job, and Shawn and I even got to push the stroller around the rink. I would totally recommend a party here. You know how I like my home made parties, but this one was fabulous, and by far the easiest!

Ethan is:

Eleven years old

loves to hang out with his friends

loves to build Lego's creations

the most creative kid I know

(for example: last week he figured out how to make a paper gun that actually shoots)

loves his baby sister and begs everyday to let her sleep with him

loves to be the one to get Libby out of her crib every morning

still cuddles with Mommy every morning

(and better still when he is 12!)

loves to read at night

loves to draw

idolized by lil' brother

loved to death by Mom

I love you, more then you can know! Happy Birthday Ethan! Thanks for being you!

A family Weekend

This last weekend my sister Amberly picked up my Mom and my other sister Taryn and drove out to my house in their huge RV. We had the best weekend. It was so special that we could spend the whole weekend together! Sadly it doesn't happen nearly enough, but we just live so far apart. We did a lot of just hanging out at my house. The kids had a blast walking to the park next to our house, playing Lego's and jumping on the tramp. The weather was perfect so we also went to the community park and played kick ball and ultimate Frisbee. We celebrated the babies birthday in the afternoon on Saturday then Saturday night Amberly and my Mom made me a delicious birthday dinner and dessert.

It was a perfect weekend! Thanks so much for coming out guys! We love you tons!!!

The Birthday Party

Make a wish! Libby loved her cupcake and didn't waste any time polishing it off! Elle on the other hand wasn't crazy about it, or maybe she didn't like that we were all watching her!

Opening presents! These two girls got all kinds of good loot! Thanks guys!

The cousins eating their mini hamburgers and chips.

Since Elle and Libby's Birthday's are only two weeks apart we thought it would be fun to have a big double party! So lucky me, my Mom and both my sisters came out for the weekend to celebrate. The party was so much fun, even Shawn's parents were able to be there for the party.

A little birdie party

For Elle (my neice) and Libby's first Birthday party I wanted to do something really soft and lovely. After all a first birthday is really more for the family, right?...although Libby did LOVE her birthday cake! So I choose a bird theme and decorated with lots of paper garlands and doilies. My favorite decoration was the photo garland of the first year of the two birthday girls, its amazing how much they change over a year.