Let's Go Fly a Kite

An unexpected weather system rolled through our parts, and created the perfect Family Home Evening activity - flying a kite! To be completely honest, I was blown away by how well Sariah can fly a kite all on her own.
James didn't want anything to do with the kite. He just wanted to snuggle with his mommy and explore the stomping grounds.
If you look REAL CLOSE, you can see the kite in the upper right corner, with Sariah in the lower left corner. Tried to get a shot of the both of them!
Love this handsome man of mine. Seriously - doesn't he have the most gorgeous profile?
Once the kites were old news, the kids returned to the playground.

I love my family, and I love my job. Days like this don't get any better!

"Heart" Balloon

It's not every day that you wake up and find this in the neighborhood behind you:
James can't say hot air balloon, so he calls it a heart balloon. Was so much fun to watch!

No old lady organ player here!

When you think of someone who plays the organ at church, a sweet little old lady with gray curly hair, glasses with a pearly chain, and a knitted sweater, are typically what come to mind, right?

I am one of the organists in our ward, and I got one of the sweetest compliments. A woman came up to me after Sacrament Meeting, and told me what a breath of fresh air I was up on the organ! With my big earrings, fun purple flower in my hair, frilly sweater, a gorgeous chunky necklace, and pretty makeup, I put the stereotypical organist to shame.
I was so shocked! I'm usually not the cute one - the one with cute hair, clothes, jewelry, or make-up. But it was so fun and unexpected that it made my day! I gave the woman a huge hug and thanked her for her heart-felt compliment. There is almost nothing better than putting a stereotype to shame...and have someone notice.

Parks and Rec

The park was calling our name!
It was chilly, sunny, and the kids had fun exploring. And there's almost nothing better than having the whole entire park to yourself!

Jumpin' Jellyfish!

I hope you did, too!

But around 5pm, everyone got grumpy.

G.R.U.M.P.Y.

Sariah wouldn't let bacon-bringer wash her hair. So dad had to do it a little grumpily, and her consequence is right to bed. So she's back in her room, whimpering because she is now miraculously distraught over her choice.

James isn't feeling 100% quiet yet (been sick since Sunday afternoon).

I was trying to cook dinner and kids were arguing, and ARG! Just one of those moments where I wanted to put everyone outside and close the door. But I didn't. I turned on some music, let the kids pepper the living room with books, and I finished dinner...was a small miracle.

Little Big Boy

He grew up. I knew he would, and he's such a handsome boy now. He's a stinker, but what else would you expect from an almost 3 year old? He beams with glee when he does or says the right thing that sends his sister into a tizzy. Which means he's fitting into his role as younger brother just perfectly.

But one night, as I put him in his crib, I realized that he didn't even fit. He's too tall/long for his crib. The very next weekend, I took him to Target to pick out a blanket and pillow for his brand new big boy bed. He LOVES it! He probably loves it because he actually has room to sprawl out and get comfortable. But the funny thing is he doesn't know he's allowed to get out. When he wakes up in the morning or in the afternoon from his nap, he'll call for me just like he used to from his crib. Shhhhh - don't tell him!
Before I know it, he'll be in school, then passing the sacrament, then dating, then on a mission, and then having a family of his own. And I'm going to enjoy each and every stage because being a mom is the second greatest gift (only second to being a wife to my handsome bacon-bringer).

But for now, I'll lay by him at night, sing him a song, and snuggle with him until he can't stand it anymore. I'll wash his hair, count his toes, and kiss his owies. I'll let him say his prayers, where he's thankful for quesadillas, story time, and mud. I'll walk away when he throws his temper tantrums, count to 3 before a timeout until I'm blue in the face, and play referee. I'll melt when I look into his chocolate brown eyes, smile when he says, "I lub you too mommy," but I won't give in when he says, "Last time, mommy" when he is jumping into my pile of clean clothes on the bed.
Every day I get with this boy is heaven.

P.S. Sorry, Grandma Franklin! He inhabited your bed out of necessity. But don't worry! By the time you get here for the summer, you can either have the bottom bunk of Sariah's beds, or you will have your bed back.

No Excuses

(My bootcamp buddy!)

I'm overweight. I have been since I was about 6 years old. This comes as no surprise to anyone, and I haven't ever really cared what anyone else thought of me. I was happy, I was athletic, and I was strong. I could squat more than half of the boys in high school, and I could ride a horse like nobody's business. I had a lot of muscle, and didn't ever think much about trying to be thin because I knew I never would be.

Fast forward to me a couple months ago. 30 years old. Still overweight. My body doesn't function quite like a normal person's. I have cysts on my ovaries, which complicates my blood sugar, which complicates a lot of things. But I'm still incredibly healthy! But in order for my body to function at its best, I had to eliminate flour and sugar from my diet. Not everyone has to do this but for me, my body, my mind...it's what I had to do.

Fast forward to today. Still 30 years old. No flour. No sugar. Bootcamp strength training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and jogging on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. And guess what? I gained weight. Frustrated? If only there were the words. But still healthy! (Thank goodness.)

I met with my new doctor, who I ADORE. She and I are thinking there's a missing puzzle piece because the weight should be coming off steadily with what I am doing. But it's not. So we did a whole bunch of blood word to see if we can find something else going on that I wasn't aware of. This is really hard for me because I'm not one for excuses. I do what I need to do and for a while, the weight was coming off. But then it came right back on and I didn't change anything. Perplexing.

So if something comes back in my blood, such as a hormone that's out of whack or something, will I be happy? Sure because maybe it will be an easy "fix." But if nothing comes back and I'm still 100% perfectly healthy? I will be happy about being healthy, but I will be irritated about my inability to lose this. 2 weeks is my follow up! In the mean time, I have made an amazing friend who's a walking nutrition bible. She doesn't think she is, but she is a wealth of knowledge. I've been picking her brain, and she even sent me her workbook! EEK! I'll keep doing what I'm doing - no excuses, remember?!

In other thoughts...I can hardly believe how grown up Sariah is. She will be 5 in July and starting Kindergarten. She's as beautiful as ever, tall and lanky, but said to her dad last night for the first time when he asked her to get in the bath: "You can't make me!" Oh no?

She was in bed 5 minutes later with no bath, no story, and no song. She did get a prayer, but that kind of sass will not be tolerated. I doubt that is the last time that phrase is heard, but it will never be reinforced, validated, or accepted.
She is getting to be so thoughtful towards James, and really "mothers" him a lot. She is very vocal about all of her emotions - whether they be positive or negative. That is one thing I truly admire about her - she will tell you what she thinks no matter what! I always try to listen and allow her to get all of her feelings out because it helps her to feel better, and then she will be in a better place to listen to my reply. I hope she always comes to me to share what she is feeling and thinking...and I hope I always listen. Even if the topic is hard for me to swallow.
What she doesn't realize is that Heavenly Father knew I needed her more than she needed me. She was sent to our family to teach Jared and I things, and that she is. Love. This. Girl.

Toilet Paper Tower

There's nothing that building a toilet paper tower can't fix! I unwrapped a huge package of rolls from Costco...and the kids went to town. Their imagination ran wild and they had so much fun!!

I had a thought cross my mind today, and that was this: by small and simple things, great things come to pass. I have no idea how this applies to building toilet paper towels. But it's a thought that has stuck with me all day. And when that happens...I must dissect it!

Maybe all it is is a reminder to spend more time with my kids doing silly things. This will help strengthen my relationship with my kids because we will know how to have fun together. I'm not going to get too deep here. But I want my children to have memories of us playing together, being silly together. I always want to have time for them, no matter how busy I am. In a recent stake conference, our visiting general authority told us to never be busy parents. Never even APPEAR to be busy. Because if we appear busy, our children will not come to us.

I am busy. I am incredibly busy - I have 2 children, and a third in my care 4 days a week. I teach full time for Arizona Virtual Academy, and part time for the University of Phoenix. I hold 3 (simple) callings in church. I am busy - but aren't we all?! Yet when my children are at home and awake...all of that gets put on the back burner. And I love it. And I hope I always remember to make it that way.

Grumpy Sundays

(Sariah's self portrait)

Sundays are supposed to be a day of rest. A day of peace. A day of worship.

But Sundays in my home are the WORST! I got very upset at my children this morning and put them both in time out...I hate that! Makes me feel like such a terrible mother!

Maybe it's because church is from 11-2, so the kids miss their naps? Maybe it's because we are all home all day and completely out of our weekly routine?

Whatever it is, I seriously need to change my attitude or this year is going to be the WORST.

What do you do to help make your Sunday grumpies better?

(No boogers for this booger!)