Goals

Goal setting is easy, goal keeping is another story.  I always have grand plans but find it difficult to execute them because I get caught up in the busy that is my every day life.  For example, the paint swatches that are on a wall in my kitchen.  I have been wanting to paint this wall for a year, the paint swatches have been up for 6 months. 

 

The reason I want to paint this little area is two fold, one to cute it up a bit and two to cover Emily's artwork.  Yes, it says I love mom but still I'd like to have a place that isn't covered in her drawings. 

Things I have been doing lately instead of getting more organized/accomplishing projects/working on my preparedness and generally keeping grandiose goals:

Setting up a dinner for 32 kids from our ward and another ward for Mormon Prom (or MOPRO as the hep kids are calling it).  I may have gotten a little carried away:

 

 But these cuties are totally worth it.  David and his date Kristin on the right, Lauren and her date (I can't remember his name) and Ben and Calista on the left.  Such a fun group!! 

Chaperoning 2nd grade field trips to the Jungle Book Play with my favorite 2nd grader. 

 Watching my little energy ball hustle and fly at track meets. 

 

 

Planning an epic 20th anniversary trip by jointly reading guidebooks and watching Rick Steves videos with Dave.  My husbands little notes for me are hilarious!!  

 



 

Working in my yard and enjoying the beauty of Spring.

 

 

 

Laughing at Emily's awesome personality.  

 

 

 

Watching this girl compete at regional's, and win and then compete at State with her Women's 16 solo ensemble group.  They did awesome!!

 

Enjoying every minute of the last little one who is at home with me all day.  Next year he goes to pre-school and I will be sobbing so I am soaking in every second. 

 

When I really reflect on what matters I realize that having an immaculate, perfectly decorated home, accomplishing every task on my to-do list and other things do not matter.  What does matter are the 7 people that I love most in the world and I wouldn't trade these moments for anything.  I am so lucky to have them in my life. 

 

As one of my heroes Sister Marjorie Hinckley said, "I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully tailored clothes, with my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.  I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.  I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children.  I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.  I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.  I want the Lord to know that I was really here and that I really lived." 

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Starting Again

I am finding that my life is a series of starts, stops and starting again.  And once again I feel drawn to blogging as a way to keep our family journal.  I'm trying to edit the blog and make it more up to date and then I will begin again keeping a family journal. 

I was most successful doing the journal this way, and then found myself using facebook and instagram more.  But I would like more of a written log of what we are doing than one or two pictures here and there.  And so I begin again, hopefully it will stick for a while!! 
-R

BIRTHDAYTOPIA

The end of June-mid July is what we call BIRTHDAYTOPIA around here.  First is Bella's birthday then 5 days later Savannah's birthday then 11 days after that Emily's birthday.  Throw in Friend parties, and celebratory events and it becomes a month long series of one party after another.  The kids don't get parties every year, its every other year and on the off years they can choose something fun to do or a big gift. 

Gosh I love this girl, she is so spunky and reminds me a lot of Isabella with her large personality

Hard to believe she is 4!!  What a sweetheart

She is currently obsessed with my little pony and loves riding her bike, swimming and playing with her friends.  

Bella chose to go and get pedicures for her birthday, what fun to do that with my girls.   She is getting so grown up, is still a night owl and a total bookworm.  She talks non-stop and I love her energy.  And she knows absolutely everything about animals  

For Savannah's party we went with a "FANGIRL" theme, we took all of her favorite book series' and used them for the theme for games, cupcakes and decorations.  We shot bow and arrows like Katniss in The Hunger Games, We had The Fault in our Stars decorations and handouts (bookmarks) and we played pin the kiss on your favorite Fictional Hunk.  

Dauntless chocolate cake with TFIOS, Hunger Games, Mortal Instruments & Divergent cupcake toppers.  Little cesar flicker man pizza, edible Nighlock and other goodies from the books.  It was loads of fun.  It was a little weird to transition from party host who is in charge and involved in every detail of the actual party like you do when your kids are little to standing back and letting the girls giggle, talk and do things on their own.  Happy Sad.  Happy my girl is growing up to be so wonderful and beautiful and sad she is growing up and not my baby anymore.  Can't believe she is 13!  

We spent the weekend in Gearhart, OR outside of Seaside, what a fun relaxing few days.  You can see the Tilamook lighthouse in the distance

This beach was the best for catching live and dead sand dollars, we have never found so many before.  

Scott & Clarissa joined us for an afternoon and evening of playing together.  

Thursday we got up and celebrated Savannah's birthday with some go carting, and candy buying

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I don't think Emily has ever been this dirty

This was the only photo of us that wasn't photo bombed

Love these kids of mine

Back to Blogging

After a looooong hiatus I have had a desire to get back to blogging.  First as a journal for our family and second because it helps me to see the good in my life and recognize how our Father in Heaven is blessing me every day.  So to begin, I will give a little info on each member of our family.

School ended and so the obligatory last day of school pictures.  Savannah has had a great year, she is almost 13, got new glasses after a year of not wearing them she realizes how important they are to help her see better.  She did dance team, track and piano this year.  What a sweetheart she is and very helpful to me.

 Isabella had a great year, she is so friendly and her mind goes a million miles a minute.  She is always planning, plotting and thinking about her next big project/game/event.  She did track this spring also and loved it.  Right now she is plotting how to get horseback riding lessons.

 James is so sweet, talks a ton-and loves to sing.  His favorite song is Let it Go and his favorite movie is BEE DOO-or as everyone else calls it, Despicable Me.

 David, is almost finished with drivers ed so watch out on the roads.  He is growing up to be a good example of trying to do what is right.  He is a master scriptorian in seminary and got A's and B's.

 Ben graduated from Kindergarten.  Only a few tears were shed.  He loved his teacher Ms. Fuller and had a great year, learning to read and was very social.

 This is classic Emily, she is always taking selfless.  She can touch her tongue to her nose, and that is talent if you ask me.

 This is Dave, holding a picture at the temple for one of my crazy schemes.  He is getting pretty patient with me in his old age.  I guess everyone can learn that keeping the wife happy is the right thing to do.  J/K

The Best Day of our Buffalo Trip #1

The best day of our trip was the day we took to drive to Palmyra and see all the church history sites.  Somewhere I have always wanted to go.  It was amazing, spiritual and fun to do with Dave.

At the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center Enjoying the Sister Missionaries Presentation

The Hill Cumorah

The view of the area from the hill.  The Smith family farm was about 3 miles to the right of the Hill.  

 

The Palmyra Temple, a beautiful site.  

The best traveler.  All our kids have been good travelers, and he was no exception.

Walking in the sacred grove was a very special experience.    I kept telling Dave, my heart wants to sing. 

These rocks were from the original fence line from the Smith family farm.

Check back for more pictures.