Pink Balloons and Angel Cake

It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years.

These are pictures from last year’s balloon release to our sweet baby, Honey.

We’ll do the same again tonight, enjoy angel food cake inside together, counting our blessings.

Halloween 2012

(with a couple extra children)

Their Spoils

The littles had retired early while I continued around the neighborhood with the older kids.

I’d have to say our best year of trick-or-treating yet.

Happy Halloween!

 

I only bought one pumpkin and it was a while ago.

The kids worked together to come up with this design.

Rylee's request: a handlebar mustache.

A girl after her Dad's heart!

Kind of looks like the bad guy from Mulan, no?

Happy Halloween!

That’s All it Takes

Dark and dreary snow days are fantastic -  especially if you have no where to be.  So nice and cozy.

However, this is also what it takes to tell me that I’m so not ready for this.

I thought I’d happily trade in shorts and flip flops for cardigans and boots. But, do you wanna know what I’ve figured out? I need more cardigans.  And, maybe another pair of boots…

Hey, Fall, why don’t you stick around a little longer? We’re not ready for Winter here.

Ten!

Happy Birthday to Clay!

Clay was very excited to turn 10 because he knew what we was getting –  his own POCKET KNIFE.

(which also happens to have a real - although dead - scorpion in it.)

I told him that we reserve the right to take it away at any time if he’s caught misbehaving with it or has left it loose. On the way out the door this morning, he let me know where it was stashed. Good boy.

(like our candles?)

Happy Birthday, Clay!

Thirty-four!

 

Someone turned 34 yesterday!

Our handsome and dashing Dad.

I made my first chocolate cake from scratch.

It turned out pretty well and miraculously came out of the bundt mold 

that I freaked out about all afternoon.

It wasn't much to look at - especially with the from scratch frosting.

(I know, look at me go. ;) 

But, it tasted good.

We sure love Ryan.

It makes me happy to know that we're growing OLD together. ;)

In the meantime, look who's started pre-school.

Miss Olivia!

 

 Henry wasn't too sure what to do the first couple days Olivia was gone being the only one at home.

(I almost didn't know what to do either! This is a first for us - only ONE at home.) 

But he found some things to do.

A Whirlwind Weekend

We had so much to this weekend, it was insane.
Just trying to coordinate everything with Ryan on Friday was cra-zy.

Friday night:
*With mini cornbread muffins in hand we ventured over to the church for our Ward Chili Cook off. Great party.

Saturday:
 *back to the church first thing to clean the building. (Just between you and me, I've got a bone to pick with my cleaning group. It sure takes a long time to clean when you only have two out of the six families come - 3 adults. So grateful they showed up.)

*I left cleaning early to coach a YW volley game in the gym - lost by two points in the tie breaking set.

*Ryan hustled home with 5 kids to start making lemon bars for a wedding.

*Lemon bars dropped off 15 minutes late. Blah.

*Kaycee taken to the store to find a birthday gift.

*Head over to the wedding reception of one of my Beehives. (Feeling old, but just wait for it!)

*Take Kaycee to her party

*Start making stuffed mushrooms for our first Murder Mystery Party.

*Pick up Kaycee.

*Change into costumes and head up to the party. I was so stressed out about this, but had so much fun. We'll have to try it again. Pictures to come. Maybe.

Sunday:
*we're off and ready for 9am church

*enjoy a quiet afternoon visiting with friends.

*4:45 back to the church for the highlight of the entire weekend.

Remember this post? We'll the boyfriend, Ryan - also the one who married my Beehive (obviously not a Beehive anymore!) the day before, was getting baptized. We were thrilled we could be part of it. My Ryan had a chance to talk to him after, and the newly baptized Ryan, mentioned that his road to conversion started when he was at our house and we gave him the Book of Mormon.

How awesome is that?

Of course, as much as I'd like to take credit for everything, that was the only role we played. He and Alexa (his new bride) had visited Temple Square and a missionary couple began teaching him via skype. They've since moved out to Utah and came back to get married and baptized. How I wish that couple could have been there. But, they'll be there for these two along the way. :)

 The Happy Couple after the Baptism

A fabulous, fabulous weekend.

Learning and Growing

For a few weeks now I've been thinking a lot about finding and becoming my best self. I notice when I fall into complacency, and I know that I can be (and do) so much more.  Personal growth. How or what exactly, I'm still searching, but it's been on my mind and I'm learning.

We have sweet friends who delivered their 20 week old son last week. Just thinking of their heart break and remembering our own experience has been so emotional. Tender mercies for us, really. We have been trying our best to reach out to them, the best way we know how, with comfort and love. The phrase my Dad said the day we found out about baby Honey has been on my mind. "Just think of the compassion you will have for all those mothers that lose their babies." We're grateful our sweet experience has been able to help us comfort and console our grieving friends.

I'm learning to listen more closely to and trusting the Spirit. That often times, my thoughts are little pieces of inspiration or guidance and that I need to be paying more attention. When Ryan called to let me know of our friends, after I hung up sobbing, I knew in my heart that my Mom would call. It was when I was texting a response to Ryan's question that I had an incoming call. It was my Mom. I answered the phone and told her, " I knew you would call." I filled her in with what was going on and thanked her for following the Spirit and calling me - right when I needed it. Thanks, Mom!

I'm learning to be more willing to step up. To serve. It's harder for me to step out of my comfort zone.  I wish it wasn't, but it is. Especially when it may seem more trivial - like being a room parent for the first time! Don't laugh, but it makes me nervous. I'm feeling less nervous now as I've roped in a friend of mine to do it with me. ;)

I love the feeling of knowing that I'm trying. And, that counts!

Now, I may have just answered the question of flying down to AZ and doing a half marathon in March. I had already decided I wasn't going to do it. (Sorry, Carla!) I'm not sure I can explain just how much I hate - and I know that's a strong word - but how much I hate running. But part of me wants to push and do it. (The other part tells me I'm crazy, I hate running.) I'm afraid of training - especially entering the Winter months. I'm afraid I won't do it, then I'm stuck with a race.... see I've talked myself out of it again! Ugh. Learn and grow. Learn and grow.

Someday, I'll have all this down, right? Wouldn't it make life easier to learn it faster? ;)

Fall is Here!

The Bomb dot Com

Just baking some bread.

This past Wednesday was Stake Temple Day. Ryan took the day off to help with sealings at 9:30 and then baptisms at 11. When he came home, I went to the 1pm Endowment session. I returned home to a clean kitchen and bread baking in the oven. (I love this man. Not just because he cleans and bakes bread, but because he is so so helpful. He recognizes my needs even before they’re voiced.) We returned to the Temple that evening at 6 together. I love it when we can go together.

Two days later, Friday evening, was our turn to babysit. Ryan was willing let me go help my friend for several hours while he held down the fort.

Saturday,  he took the kids up in the mountains while I coached YW volleyball and crafted with friends. We had a couple hours in the afternoon together before I went to watch the Relief Society Broadcast.

Not one complaint from my husband the entire weekend. I am blessed.

Today after church, Olivia asked to bake some more bread with Ryan. Without missing a beat, he donned an apron and got to work. While the bread was rising, he and I went for a walk. We walk around the neighborhood and up around the Temple. I love my time with him.

I’m not a fan to get all mushy about my husband on our blog, but he is so incredible. Certainly the Bomb.com.