Just another day in paradise....

Some days are so blissfully simple that you can't help but step back and realize what a blessing it is to just enjoy the nothingness.  That is kind of how this weekend has been.  Nothing really important, and yet, moments where you take snapshots on your heart to remember always. 

Kimi and Jared came to visit.  We were hoping Matt got to come too but his schedule changed and he had to work.  But we were SO glad to have Kimi and Jared.  It's amazing how quickly that little boy is changing.  He is so big, and so busy... Kimi says he sleeps with one eye open just so he won't miss anything.  (It's true, he does!!)  We were grateful to enjoy some time with him.  He has the funnest personality and he sure loves his mommy!  There is nothing greater in the world than to see your own kids have kids of their own, and find the same kind of joy that we always found in them.

We were able to go for a walk.  No hurry, no place to be.  Just simply walking and talking and enjoying each other's company.  And in the middle of ordinary, my heart was filled with joy!

Walking into our yard... sometimes the sight is breathtaking

I love to see the joy on Kimi's face because she is a mom!!!

Kalli is just hanging around

Taking a break...

Hyrum

Pretty amazing that we don't even really scare the deer off...

Just hanging out enjoying the nice weather... it's been a long time coming!

Watching the sun go down....

My little man brings so much joy!

Because THIS is so typical at our house!

Kimi and Jared... we don't want them to have to go home!

LOOK AT THIS FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wyatt loves these babies!

2nd Grade Program

Weeks of practice have finally paid off!!!  The second grade program was a huge success!!! 

Kami has been so excited for her program.  She knew her lines, she knew the songs.  She practiced, and practiced, and by the time the big night came she could sing those songs in her sleep!  It was fun, the kids did great and my sweet Kami Dene looked beautiful!!!

Kami and her bff Mary...

We kind of think as Wayne as family (he is related to Caitlyn which means in a round about way he is... but we love him!)... he sang a solo and did AMAZING...

No nervousness here... she just got up there and did her thing!

Happy Birthday Hayden!

 It seems impossible to believe that Hayden turned 12 on April 7th.  This is a BIG birthday!  12 years old!  I know, I was thinking the same thing... just yesterday he was a newborn baby and when I blinked, he hit this milestone that kind of blows me away. 

He has such a tender heart.  There isn't a night that he doesn't come in and give us a kiss and a hug goodnight.  His family means the world to him.  He has the most intense spirit... a not so friendly teacher once complained that he reads too much nonfiction and knows too many facts.  As if that is possible!  How does one know too many facts???  But facts are important to him.  I love how his mind works.  He loves to discover exactly how something works and once he reads something, it is committed to his memory forever!

The beginning of the year brought some changes for us.  We decided to home school Hayden and Wyatt during middle school.  For some reason, middle school just doesn't seem to be a great fit, and I wanted very much to pull Hayden in and give him more one on one time.  I was worried exactly how it would work.  I can't explain it really... just that Hayden has a very intense personality (did I say that already???) and I wondered if we would clash spending so much  time together during the day.  What???  It's a legitimate concern!  :)   It had  the opposite  effect though!  He seems to thrive.  The online program they are doing is amazing, and he gets to move on as soon as he masters the concept.  Regular school is a one size fits all adventure.  And Hayden definitely is not a one size fits all kind of kid.  One of the reasons he asked me about home schooling is because he feels that too much time is wasted in school... he is pretty straight forward.  Get in, learn what you need to and get on with it.  He also HATES to sit still.  As in, sitting still is probably worse than torture.  Being at home allows him to get on the computer and do his work, and then he gets to go out and do things that really interest him.  He gets to move...  he gets to ride his bike and build forts and dig in the mud at the marina.  He is learning French.  But most of all, I have seen him thrive by being home.  The stress of the school day is gone.  And for that, I am happy!!!

Turning 12 means receiving the Aaronic Priesthood.  And moving on from Primary... being in the Young Men's program at Church and being able to go to the temple.  All of those things he got to experience in the past couple of weeks and he is so happy and so excited!  His dad was able to ordain him a Deacon and it just amazes me to see Thayne, and the boys standing together for such an amazing thing.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for Hayden.  I want him to know that he is such a gift to us, to the family.  I will be forever grateful for all that I have learned by being his mom!

Easter Weekend

 As far as pictures go for the weekend... I think we need a do over.   Because for some reason it was impossible to get everyone in one place before church to get any good pictures and then my battery died and by the time we got home from church, they scattered so fast.  I really need to dress them all up in their cute clothes and try this again!!!

The weekend was okay if you count that I was miserable and in pain from a horrible kidney infection.  We ran to Utah and Saturday spent the day in the City Center mall, and then at the Gateway.  The kids liked it, but I was hurting and didn't get anything as far as pictures go.  But the kids were happy.  I think... it's a blur!  The girls had to stay and work.  I really dislike growing up and the schedules we must keep because of it!  I want to tell them all to go get in the car and go.  It doesn't work like that any more!  The other kids always like staying in a hotel and going swimming and eating out and going to the malls.  So while the pictures were a complete fail, and while I was in so much pain I could barely stand up straight... the kids did seem to have a good time!  And isn't that what was important anyway?? 



Just not sure about these kids... I told them I wanted a serious picture.  THIS is serious???



The Easter Bunny had left candy everywhere.  It looks like he threw up candy everywhere

Nate knew where to look for candy



Checking out all of the candy... just what they needed!

My little girls are growing up too fast!

Nate loved the City Center mall... especially the fish



The girls rule...





Dying Eggs...

We got around to dying eggs this year... it's fun, but not one of my most favorite activities because well... it usually involves HUGE messes! This year was no different. We put it off the evening we had planned on doing it, with the promise of doing it the next morning. First thing. 8 am! I should have known that at least one of the children would count down the seconds until 8am. It was spring break, what was I thinking????

7:42 am Kami told me I had 18 minutes until it was time!

8:01 am Nate told me I was one minute late and I needed to get going!

8:03 am we started....

I think that we ended up doing 6 dozen eggs. Not too bad. They had a blast and even helped cleaned up the messes... and there were SEVERAL messes. Only a couple of cups of dye dumped over, and Nate's hands were covered! And YES we do wear Sponge Bob pajama tops and Cars bottoms.

Noah's first dye job!

It really wasn't horrible to get it off his hands... really it wasn't! It's actually quite amazing that his OCD allows him to get this way!

Hi Kalli!!!

This is how Kassi enjoys the experience! Poor girl, works too hard and is too tired to enjoy the fun! :)

For the first time we didn't run out of eggs before everyone was satisfied...

No... Kailee didn't really do this, she was just taking credit for the picture!

Braces on their faces

The big day finally came.  Willie, Kinzee and Harlon got their braces!  I can't believe we get to do this all again.  More road trips to Utah!!!  Which always gives us an excuse to eat at Applebees and Olive Garden! 

It worked out really well that Harlon needed to get braces also and we were able to go together.  What better way for cousins to bond???  haha!!!  They all did great.  They came out smiling.  I admit, that shocked me.  If someone put brackets on my teeth I would NOT come out smiling.  The pain hit a few hours later but they are all happy to be on their way to a perfect smile!!!