A Lovely Day (with the benefit of fresh air)

Today I put aside my craft projects, my bills, my phone calls, & anything that began with "my" that was weighing heavy or busy work, and met 2 sweet nieces in town at the splash pad with lonely little Sadie. It was so nice to get out of the house and get away from all the "my" things (that were still there when I got home waiting for me) and just get outside. Everyone brought their kids and they all went wild in the water for a good 2 hours. What is better than to see kids having so much fun they can't stop smiling? It was packed there but it turned out to be so relaxing. They loved eating lunch outside (I brought Taco Bell nacho's for them). One of the goals for the little peanuts was to get them really tired for a good afternoon sleep. As for our family, I don't know about Sadie, but I'm definitely ready for a nap!

Getting ready to jump in!

Lunch outside is so much fun.

Is she tired yet??

I loooooove Noah's Cheeks!!!

Baby Treagan- so sweet!

Nash- all smiles!

Thank you ladies for those sweet girls for sharing the day, their kids, and their company with me today.

Life is a song...

Remember the t.v. show Ally McBeal from years ago?

I loved it when she would get a theme song in her head and it would play at strategic moments during the show. I think I have a tad of that whacked thinking in me. I hear music, words to march through life to. Maybe I am feeling like I need to validate my quirk today but for some reason I'm always looking for encouragements to share, to take into my heart, and to lift spirits. Sometimes life is playing lullabyes, sometimes it's a jig, sometimes the blues. Whatever is playing in your head today, I hope it makes your day better and your home a happy place. Here's what is in mine...

1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
   • Refrain:
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
     Count your blessings, name them one by one,
     *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
     [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
   Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
   Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
   And you will keep singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
   Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
   Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
   Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
4. So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
   Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
   Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
   Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Love this song. We sing it a church from time to time. I saw a movie once when I was a girl, many years ago, where a family who had lost everything and was starving sat together holding each other and singing this song to lift their spirits. That image has stuck with me all these years, I will never forget it. They had nothing but each other at that minute and even if they could only count that one blessing they found the joy in it. Create joy today!

If you give a mom a minute...

Chances are she will do something that is not selfish, a child under each arm.
She may head to the grocery store (a place mothers tire of very quickly).
She'll get to the grocery store and manage to remember all the things that her children like to eat that are not good for her diet.
Chances are that once in line to check out she will realize she's forget something she needed.
On the way home she'll have to stop at the gas station for the forgotten item and will notice that she is also out of gas.
Chances are once she pumps the gas she will be thirsty and need a drink from inside.
Once she finally gets on her way she will remember that her cell phone is dead and needs to be charged.
Chances are once she charges it she finds many messages from home saying "MOM- Where are you?" Oops, kids are home from school already.
Then she will remember that there is a prescription to pick up at Target.
Once inside Target, she remembers her daughters need new shorts.
Once she finds some shorts she remembers that Mothers Day is coming and must find something to send across the country to her mother.
Chance are she will not find the perfect item at Target and must go somewhere else.
Once she finds the perfect something she rushes home to her starving family that will want dinner immediately.
Chances are they will complain on what she makes.
Once the husband gets home from work he notices how messy the house is and asks her what's she's been doing all day.
Chances are THAT will not go over well.
This is when mom needs a minute... for herself.

For the beauty of it...

Just wanted to share these shots that Chloe and I took on a walk today in the desert hillside. This is for those who say the desert is a barren wasteland. Check out these wildflowers...








The views from the top of the hill...





And then there is an endless supply of red dirt and beautiful rocks...






And wuh? Is that actual vegetation?????

What a beautiful day it's been.

Of good report...

I have been trying for some time now (this afternoon) to find a good news story, at least something positive or something that shows there is still good out there in humanity. NOT ONE THING on the news channels. No wonder depression is on the rise. I have tried multiple resources and nothing. Finally, I thought I would try LDS.org. THANK YOU- Nothing but good stories on there. Thank you for the help you give to the world and for shining that little ray of hope. Check them out here if you need a good news minute like I needed today.

Update... thanks Sarah for this suggestion for another source of good news.

Backyard Shananigans

Now that it's nice outside, no one wants to come in. (Including me!)



My husband disappeared today and I found him in the sandbox playing with his baby girl. Awwww....


Sadie was treated to Wendy's and ate it on the top of the slide tower, which she has always loved to do.



So, I've been keeping all the sweet little pumpkins outside as much as possible even into the evening hours. They love it, it tires them out, and guess what? The inside stays CLEANER. I heart spring.

Hanging on for dear life...

Poor lizard...
After being the cat's play toy, this poor thing has been hanging on to the wall for quiet some time now that it got away from Lucky. I love the cat's pride in this picture. He's thinking about how great it is to be the king. I think I can relate to this little lizard who is in a predicament. Sometimes I feel like I've been dragged around in dirt and mistreated as I drag myself through everyday life and I'm just hanging on. Then there are the other days when I am the cat, in control and no one better step out of line. Today I feel more like the wall, just holding things up and being leaned on.

Baskets of Bliss

This is how I escape a stressful situation... I always seem to do this. Sew, sew, sew through the stress. With a week where I felt helpless and stressed, I found this little pattern online and went at it. I'm gonna fill the little baskets with notecards, lotions, pictures, and use them for Mothers Day. The remaining baskets will probably contain Barbies and beanie babies. If you'd like to try them for yourself, look here. The one below is my favorite, the one I thought looked ugly cut out.

Fly like an EAGLE...

If you have a son in scouting, you will understand this or you will have this to look forward to...My son Christian, my only boy (after 2 years of pushing) is finally doing his Eagle Project. (The threat of NO drivers permit until this is done has worked wonders here). We got word of a eagle-esque job last week through the Forest Service and it has been non-stop since BECAUSE the project needs to be done on May 9th. I love how it's all planned for Mothers Day weekend. That was thoughtful, thank you forest service for that date, it was not Christians decision. Complaining? NO! I'll just take any date before school is out and focus is lost.

So we worked on papers all weekend. Monday the boys took the 45 minute drive each way up to the mountain to take pictures of the Museum that will be painted then hurried home and put the pictures in the paperwork and dropped them off for examination. Tuesday, corrections were made on the papers and the boys ran around town getting signatures on them from the Ranger and other leaders. Wednesday was the board of review, where Christian had to present the project for approval. We discovered 20 minutes before he was to walk out the door that his uniform did not fit, the kid grew. Solution? Call all friends of similar size and shape(who lived CLOSE) and FINALLY found something that worked. Approval achieved but not without effort.

Next? He needs 3 letters of recommendation on his character, and what a character he is. He needs to raise some money to feed the army it will take to get this done (the forest service is providing the paint). He needs to get caught up on school work before the 4 weeks remaining of school are done and we find it too late to bring up grades to their full potential. Basically, the kid needs to be going nonstop 60 mph until schools out. Time to see how high you can soar.

Tasty Tuesday

I am craving this lately. This recipe is so good in the summer because it tastes so fresh. Unfortunately, it's addicting and doesn't last long around here, but I wanted to share it with you because it's so worth it. (It's sweet, not spicy).

Black Bean and Mango Salsa-
1 can of black beans, rinsed
1 mango, chopped into tiny pieces about the size of the beans (I like them pre-chopped, they are not an easy fruit to master a chopping technique on. Buy them somewhat soft if whole. Can also substitute fresh peaches.)
1-2 chopped tomatoes (I like them about the same size as the mango's are chopped)
1 packet of DRY Italian dressing
3 Tablespoons of fresh cilantro (I cut it small with scissors)
Juice of 3 limes
(You can also jazz it up with green or chopped red onion if desired, but we don't add it)
Mix it all together and cover. Put in refrigerator to chill.
Let me know if you love it as much as I do!

Family Night Fun Mon...

Oh dry, desert heat: how I've missed you! Not quite here yet, but coming... I can feel it. This week we are hitting 90! Yippee! Kids can play outside again! I want to enjoy this day before it's gone!

Tonight is our Family Night (always on Mondays). Thinking of something to do together...
Idea 1: Hit KFC for dinner and eat it up on the mountain picnic area then climb on the rocks.
Idea 2: BBQ hamburgers (eat OUTSIDE) and have a water fight.
Idea 3: Bike ride.

Not sure yet exactly what will work out best. I sure love these nights. After the homework comes the fun (and I love my DVR for recording my shows). These nights are a chance for us to shape our children, mold their growing characters. We try to do that everyday of course, but just in case time slips by without inspiring them, this night is dedicated to that.

It's important to me to dedicate at least one night to this since they are at school more then they are home during the week. I'm always amazed at the things we discuss, all the schedules that need to be coordinated, and we all love the stories that come out of them. I like being reminded of what fun my kids are.

Trespassing

Had a nice little outing this Sunday evening running around on the beautiful green grass of the golf course across the street... yup, totally trespassing, but hey, there weren't any golfers anyway. It was warm, the sun was low in the sky, and my 2 bitty girls had way too much energy so we had to do something to run it off.

It brought back memories of how much I used to love to roll down hills as a child. I remember the hair flying into my mouth, the gnats in my eyes, all of it and a total re-creation was going on. They brought a ball to chase around on the rolling hills but that ended up causing trouble. Sadie didn't want to share and went into a big daddy tantrum (note the pic in prone position) and being that the temperament was nothing new, I just kept snapping pictures. Then she got mad at my photo op and ran off and jumped into a sand trap. Poor golfers. They'll love that tomorrow.

I love the moments with my kids that I see my them just being kids, it's a beautiful thing. Kids being kids at a magic hour such as sunset is truly bordering on pure, priceless beauty.

Let's go fly a kite...

Our Saturday outing was to go to a Kite Festival. My daughter read for 3 months for her free kite so we had to make sure she got it today at the event. It was actually a decent kite with Hello Kitty on it, we just had NO wind (problem 1). Everyone was having trouble getting the kites up. There were rides and bounce houses that filled the disappointment of non-airborne kites oozing from the little ones though and we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

Problem #2 was... Christian was not happy to be there. He's in a black hoody in one of the pictures below. He spend quite a bit of time trying to help it fly. He spent most of the time after that in the car with his Ipod and then complained of how boring the whole things was... typical teenager. He is happier after he is fed and after he sleeps in til noon (which never happens).

Nope, it's just not gonna fly. :(